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If a leaf is obcordate, what shape is it?	Plants are the Strangest People: List: Houseplants With Heart-Shaped Leaves Plants are the Strangest People PATSP is a long-winded, intermittently humorous blog which is mostly about houseplants, particularly Anthuriums. Pages List: Houseplants With Heart-Shaped Leaves This would possibly have been more helpful to people, or at least more timely, if I'd posted it earlier, but you know how things go sometimes. Houseplants with heart-shaped leaves are surprisingly uncommon. I looked through the " yearbook " expecting to find them all over the place, but actually, most of the stuff that looked heart-shaped were actually either round (orbicular) or lens-shaped (elliptic) leaves, that only appeared to be slightly heart-shaped when viewed from a particular angle (e.g. Saxifraga stolonifera ). I was really expecting to find a lot more than this. Even a lot of plants that have leaves which are technically the right shape are a little more elongated than people normally think of as heart-shaped. More spear-shaped (hastate) or triangular (deltoid) than cordate (the botanical term for "heart-shaped"), really. There's also a word, obcordate, which means heart-shaped-but-with-the-petiole-attaching-at-the-"bottom"-of-the-heart-instead-of-at-the-"dent." You can see why having a shorter word is useful. I'm counting obcordate leaves too, because the shape isn't any different, it's just the point of attachment that changes. I am, no doubt, forgetting some plants here (in which case please, remind me in comments), but here's what I came up with: Anthurium crystallinum 'Mehani.' Anthurium andraeanum 'Pandola,' plus some other Anthurium andraeanum cvv. (bonus: many have flowers with heart-shaped spathes, too! Including some that are both red and heart-shaped!) Cyclamen persicum cvv. (florist's cyclamen) Hedera helix (English ivy), some cvv. Hemionitis arifolia (heart fern). Monstera deliciosa 'Cheesecake' (variegated split-leaf philodendron), as well as other Monstera deliciosa cvv. Mature leaves will develop splits, but the overall leaf shape remains cordate. Peperomia caperata (ripple peperomia, Emerald Ripple), all cvv. (also the very similar P. griseoargentea) Philodendron gloriosum. Philodendron hederaceum 'Brazil' and other P. hederaceum cvv. (heart-leaf philodendron) Scindapsus pictus (satin pothos). We'll be doing anti-recommendations for this set, because most of these are perfectly nice folks, who would fit in just fine in most households. However, Hemionitis is not easy to grow at all -- miss one watering, even by half a day, and it'll tell you it hates you and will never forgive you before stomping off to its room to cut itself and write bad angsty songs on the guitar you bought it for its birthday. And it doesn't like direct sunlight that much either. I don't know how they are about humidity because I've only ever seen one in the greenhouse, but it's a fern, so, make your own guesses. I've also never owned a Cyclamen, though I know of enough people who have that I'm thinking they may not be that bad. I'm a little scared to try, because plants with serious dormant periods freak me out. Maybe someday. Finally, Peperomia caperata and I have had a bit of a falling-out since I wrote the profile for it; a few plants have failed to survive repottings (repottings that they actually needed, and were requesting), one got knocked over and broke off a good 80% of its leaves (it might be coming back, though), the one in Nina's terrarium got too dry, or too wet, or both, and went ffffft on me, and so I'm down to a small fraction of the number I had originally. In the right circumstances, they're still okay, but I don't have the kind of time available to deal with a Peperomia caperata anymore. Which is a shame, 'cause I think they're really pretty. (If I do get a new terrarium for Nina, though, I'll probably attempt to stock it with at least one Peperomia, either a caperata or argyreia.) Not pictured: Alocasia cvv. (elephant ears), to some degree Anthurium 'Faustino Giant'	Heart (symbol)
The ground-dwelling mesite bird is confined to which island, fourth-largest globally, behind Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo (given that Australia is regarded as a continent, not an island)?	Scientific Names for Plant Leaves \| Garden Guides Scientific Names for Plant Leaves Scientific Names for Plant Leaves Reason for flagging? Submit There are many ways to describe a leaf in scientific terms. You can refer to the leaf's arrangement, shape, the shape of its edges, the way it is structured, the shape of the top of the leaf, the bottom of the leaf, whether it has a stem and how it feels. Using the proper scientific terminology when referring to leaves can help aid in the description of a plant. Simple Leaves A leaf that is simple has only one blade. A simple leaf may be stipulate, or have a small cuff at the bottom of the stem (scientifically, the leaf's terminal stem is called the "petiole"). An exstipulate leaf does not have a cuff, or stipule. A sessile leaf has no petiole or stem. Clasping base simple leaves directly hook onto the stem of the plant. Compound Leaves Compound leaves have more than one blade. Compound leaves can be palmately compound, with individual leaflets arranged in a spread out fashion much like the fingers radiating around your palm. Pinnately compound leaves have leaflets arranged on either side of an individual leaf stem - called a rachis. Trifoliate leaves have three pinnately compound leaflets. A bipinnate leaf has multiple rachis with many leaflets arranged around a central plant stem. A pinnatified leaf is a compound leaf that appears almost shredded, like that of a fern. Arrangement Leaves may be arranged in three ways--alternately, opposite or whorled. Alternate leaves have only one leaf per leaf node, the spot where the leaf attaches to the stem. No two leaves match up on opposite sides of the stem. Opposite leaves are matched with one leaf per side of the stem, or two leaves per node. Whorled leaves are arranged with three or more leaves per leaf node. Shapes Plant leaves can also be scientifically described by their shape. Cordate leaves are heart shaped. Obcordate leaves appear as an upside down heart, with the widest part of the heart at the base of the stem. Linear leaves are long and skinny, while lanceolet leaves are long and blade shaped. Oblanceolate leaves appear as upside down lanceolet leaves. Oblong leaves appear as a stretched out oval with a rounded top edge. Elliptical leaves are an irregular oval appearing only slightly thinner at the top. Ovate leaves are oblong leaves that have a wide base and pointed top. Obovate leaves are the inverse of ovate leaves. Spatulate leaves begin skinny, terminating at a large irregular oval near the top of the leaf. Cuneate leaves look like rounded upside down triangles. Falcate leaves are curved leaves that are skinniest near the terminus or node. Aruculate leaves look like arrowheads with curled edges near the rachis. Hastate leaves look like triangles that have been pinched between each point. Deltoid leaves resemble the suit of spades in a deck of playing cards. Reniform leaves resemble kidney beans, while peltate leaves are circular in nature. Margins There are even special terms to define the edges, or margins, of leaves. An entire leaf margin is smooth and without interruption. Serrate leaf margins resemble a serrated kitchen knife. Doubly serrate margins are jagged in appearance. Serrulate leaf margins are those that are very finely serrated. Dentate leaves appear to have small squares taken out of the margin, while incised leaves look as though they have been chewed on by an insect or animal. Crenate leaves have a dainty half circles at their margins, while undulate leaves appear to roll or wave. Sinulate leaf margins have deep, oval grooves on the edges. Coatings The coatings of leaves have a specific terminology as well. Glaucous leaves are covered in a white powder or wax. Farinose leaves feel gritty to the touch and may leave particles on your fingers when manually examined. Scurfy leaves feel scaly, while viscid and glutinous leaves are sticky. Punctate leaves are dotted with transparent pits, while papillose leaves are covered in raised dots. Tuberculate and verrucose leaves have large bumps. Rugose leaves are highly wrinkled, such as those in the mint family. Glaborous leaves are smooth, without any hairs or protuberances. Pubescent leaves are covered in hairs of any sort. Who Can Help	i don't know
In Arthurian and Welsh Romance legendary stories, who was the faithful wife of Geraint/Gereint?	Geraint and Enid Geraint and Enid Geraint and Enid are the principle figures in the both Welsh tale of Geraint, the Son of Erbin, and a similar story by Chrétien de Troyes. Chrétien's Erec et Enide, written c. 1170, is his earliest surviving Arthurian romance. The Welsh story dates from the thirteenth century and is later than Chrétien's. In both versions, the hero wins a tournament in which the knight defends the boast that his woman is the most beautiful and fights for the prize of a sparrow hawk. When Enid and Geraint (or Erec) marry, the knight is so happy that he neglects his knightly duties. Geraint, hearing his wife bemoan that she has been the cause of his shame, believes that she must have been unfaithful. Together they embark on a quest that proves Geraint to be a true knight, and her to be a faithful wife. Chrétien's romance is the the basis of Hartmann von Aue's Erec and the thirteenth-century Icelandic Erex Saga. Tennyson used Welsh tale, Mabinogion as the basis of his story of the two characters. Called "Enid," it was one of the first four idylls published in 1859 in the volume called Idylls of the King.	Enid
How many stars are on the national flag of The Cook Islands?	Enid and Geraint/Erec \| Robbins Library Digital Projects Characters Background Essay Author: Alan Lupack Enid and Geraint are the principle figures in the Welsh tale of Geraint the Son of Erbin , to use Lady Charlotte Guest's title, or Geraint and Enid, one of three Welsh stories analogous to romances by Chrétien de Troyes (the others being Owain and Peredur). Chrétien's Erec et Enide, written c. 1170, is his earliest extant Arthurian romance. (Earlier he wrote a Tristan story, which does not survive.) The Welsh version dates from the thirteenth century and thus is later than Chrétien's. In both versions, the hero--called Erec by Chrétien--fights in and wins a tournament in which each knight fights to defend the assertion that his beloved is the most beautiful and in which the prize is a sparrowhawk. When Enid and Geraint (or Erec) marry, the hero, delighting in married bliss, forgets his knightly duties. In the Welsh tale, Enid laments that she is the cause of her husband's dishonor. Geraint, hearing only the last part of her lament in which she fears she is not a true wife because of the shame their marriage has brought to his knightly reputation, believes his wife to have been unfaithful, and takes her with him on a quest in which he proves his prowess and she her fidelity. In Chrétien's version, Enide tells Erec directly of the talk of the court about his failure to act in a knightly manner, and a similar quest ensues. In both versions, after a series of adventures, the couple prove to each other their noble qualities. Chrétien's romance is the source for Hartmann von Aue's Erec and the thirteenth-century Icelandic Erex Saga. But it was to the Welsh tale, known to him from its translation in Lady Charlotte Guest's Mabinogion that Tennyson ... Read Less Enid and Geraint are the principle figures in the Welsh tale of Geraint the Son of Erbin , to use Lady Charlotte Guest's title, or Geraint and Enid, one of three Welsh stories analogous to romances by Chrétien de Troyes (the others being Owain and Peredur). Chrétien's Erec et Enide, written c. 1170, is his earliest extant Arthurian romance. (Earlier he wrote a Tristan story, which does not survive.) The Welsh version dates from the thirteenth century and thus is later than Chrétien's. In both versions, the hero--called Erec by Chrétien--fights in and wins a tournament in which each knight fights to defend the assertion that his beloved is the most beautiful and in which the prize is a sparrowhawk. When Enid and Geraint (or Erec) marry, the hero, delighting in married bliss, forgets his knightly duties. In the Welsh tale, Enid laments that she is the cause of her husband's dishonor. Geraint, hearing only the last part of her lament in which she fears she is not a true wife because of the shame their marriage has brought to his knightly reputation, believes his wife to have been unfaithful, and takes her with him on a quest in which he proves his prowess and she her fidelity. In Chrétien's version, Enide tells Erec directly of the talk of the court about his failure to act in a knightly manner, and a similar quest ensues. In both versions, after a series of adventures, the couple prove to each other their noble qualities. Chrétien's romance is the source for Hartmann von Aue's Erec and the thirteenth-century Icelandic Erex Saga. But it was to the Welsh tale, known to him from its translation in Lady Charlotte Guest's Mabinogion that Tennyson took his idyll about the two characters. Originally entitled "Enid," it was one of the first four idylls published in 1859 in the volume called Idylls of the King. This idyll was expanded in the 1870 edition and titled "Geraint and Enid"; then in 1873 it was divided into two idylls: "Geraint and Enid I" and "Geraint and Enid II." In 1886, Part I was renamed "The Marriage of Geraint" and part two simply "Geraint and Enid." Tennyson uses the motif of the mishearing from the Celtic tale as part of the large theme in the idylls of appearance and reality. He also makes the story a tribute to faithful married love. Though not common figures in modern Arthurian literature other than Tennyson's idylls, Enid and Geraint are the focus of two plays: Ernest Rhys's Enid: A Lyric Play (1918) and Donald R. Rawe's Geraint: Last of the Arthurians (1972). They also play a minor role in Edgar Fawcett's play The New King Arthur (1885) and are the subject of the book-length poem Geraint of Devon by Marion Lee Reynolds (1916). Bibliography	i don't know
Producing meibum, an oily sealant, where on the human head are the meibomian glands ?	Eye Discharge - Causes, Types, Treatment See also: More about eye infections • 17 red eye causes • How long does pink eye last? Eye discharge, or "sleep" in your eyes, is a combination of mucus, oil, skin cells and other debris that accumulates in the corner of your eye while you sleep. It can be wet and sticky or dry and crusty, depending on how much of the liquid in the discharge has evaporated. Other slang terms used to describe eye discharge include eye boogers, eye mattering, eye gunk and eye pus. Sometimes called rheum, eye discharge has a protective function, removing waste products and potentially harmful debris from the tear film and the front surface of your eyes. Abnormal eye discharge could indicate an eye infection or disease. Your eyes produce mucus throughout the day, but a continuous thin film of tears bathes your eyes when you blink, flushing out the rheum before it hardens in your eyes. When you're asleep and not blinking eye discharge collects and crusts in the corners of your eyes and sometimes along the lash line, hence the term "sleep in your eyes." Some sleep in your eyes upon waking is normal, but excessive eye discharge, especially if it's green or yellow in color and accompanied by blurry vision , light sensitivity or eye pain, can indicate a serious eye infection or eye disease and should be promptly examined by your eye doctor . If you haven't established an eye doctor, click here to find one near you . Where Does Eye Mucus Come From? Eye discharge is a function of your tear film and a necessary component of good eye health. Eye rheum primarily consists of thin, watery mucus produced by the conjunctiva (called mucin), and meibum an oily substance secreted by the meibomian glands which helps keep your eyes lubricated between blinks. When not washed away by tears, the accumulated debris, or "mattering," collects in the inner corner of the eye as well as along the lash line. Causes Of Eye Discharge Sleep in your eyes usually isn't cause for alarm, but if you notice a difference in consistency, color and quantity of eye gunk, it could indicate an eye infection or disease. Recommended For You TheraTears contains nutrients that match your natural tears. Get $2 off! Common eye conditions associated with abnormal eye discharge include: Conjunctivitis. Eye discharge is a common symptom of conjunctivitis (pink eye), an inflammation of the conjunctiva the thin membrane that lines the "white" of the eye (sclera) and the inner surface of the eyelids. In addition to itchy, gritty, irritated and red eyes , conjunctivitis typically is accompanied by white, yellow or green eye mucus which can form a crust along the lash line while you sleep. In some cases, eyelid crusting can be so severe that it temporarily seals your eye shut. There are three types of pink eye : viral, bacterial and allergic. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and is caused by a virus such as the common cold or herpes simplex virus. Eye discharge associated with viral pink eye typically is clear and watery, but may include a white or light yellow mucus component. Bacterial conjunctivitis, as the name indicates, is caused by bacterial infection and can be sight-threatening if not treated promptly. Eye discharge is usually thicker and more pus-like (purulent) in consistency than viral pink eye, and is commonly yellow, green or even gray. Often, the sticky mattering will cause your eyelids to feel completely glued shut upon waking in the morning. Causes of Eye Goo Watery viral conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eye allergies, dry eyes, eye injury, dacryocystitis. Crusty blepharitis, bacterial conjunctivitis and other eye infections, stye. Sticky and gooey stye, bacterial conjunctivitis and other eye infections, corneal ulcer, dacryocystitis. Stringy dry eyes, corneal ulcer, allergic conjunctivitis, eye allergies. Allergic conjunctivitis is triggered by allergens pollen, dander, dust and other common irritants that cause eye allergies . It also can be caused by an allergic reaction to chemical pollutants, makeup, contact lens solutions, and eye drops . Eye discharge associated with allergic conjunctivitis is typically watery. Unlike viral and bacterial pink eye, allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious and always affects both eyes. Other eye infections. In addition to conjunctivitis, there are many eye infections that cause abnormal eye discharge. These include: eye herpes (a recurrent viral eye infection), fungal keratitis (a rare but serious inflammation of the cornea) and Acanthamoeba keratitis (a potentially blinding parasitic infection typically caused by poor contact lens hygiene or swimming while wearing contacts ). Discharge from an eye infection varies considerably it could be clear and watery or thick, green and sticky so make sure you see your eye doctor promptly for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Blepharitis. A chronic disorder of the eyelids, blepharitis describes either inflammation of the eyelash hair follicles or abnormal oil production from the meibomian glands at the inner edge of the eyelids. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) can cause foamy eye discharge, eyelid crusting, as well as yellow or green eye pus, among other irritating and often painful symptoms. Stye. A stye is a clogged meibomian gland at the base of the eyelid, typically caused by an infected eyelash follicle. Also called a hordeolum, it resembles a pimple on the eyelid margin and is commonly accompanied by redness, swollen eyelids and tenderness in the affected area. Yellow pus, eyelid crusting and discomfort while blinking also can occur. An eye stye usually resolves on its own, but it's important to refrain from squeezing the pus from a stye to reduce the risk of the infection spreading to other areas of the eye. SEE ALSO: How to Get Rid of a Stye > The tear drainage system keeps the eye moist and protected. Dry eyes. Insufficient tear production or dysfunction of the meibomian glands can lead to dry eye syndrome an often chronic condition in which the surface of the eyes is not properly lubricated and becomes irritated and inflamed. Symptoms of dry eyes include red, bloodshot eyes, a burning sensation , blurry vision and a feeling something is "in" your eye (foreign body sensation). Sometimes, dry eyes also can cause a very watery eye discharge to occur. Contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, you may find more sleep in your eyes than normal. This can be due to a number of reasons, including a contact lens-related eye infection , contact lens discomfort resulting in dry and irritated eyes, as well as rubbing your eyes more while wearing contacts. If you experience an increase in eye discharge when wearing contacts, remove your lenses and see your eye doctor to rule out a potentially serious eye condition. Eye injury. A foreign body in the eye (such as dirt, debris or a chemical substance) or an eye injury can cause your eyes to secrete a watery discharge as a natural protective response. If eye pus or blood in the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) occurs after an eye injury, see your eye doctor immediately for treatment. All eye injuries should be treated as a medical emergency. Corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is a sight-threatening, abscess-like infection of the cornea , usually caused by trauma to the eye or an untreated eye infection. If not treated promptly, corneal ulcers can lead to complete vision loss. Eye pain , redness, swollen eyelids and thick eye discharge are characteristic of a corneal ulcer. Eye pus can be so severe that it clouds the cornea and impairs vision. Dacryocystitis. When a tear duct is blocked, the lacrimal sac in the tear drainage system leading to the nose can become inflamed and infected, causing a tender and swollen bump to appear under the inner eyelid. In addition to pain and redness, common symptoms of dacryocystitis include watery eyes, a sticky eye discharge and blurred vision. Note for Parents Babies And Blocked Tear Ducts Many babies are born with underdeveloped tear ducts the tubes that carry excess tears from the eyes to the nasal cavity and tears cannot properly drain away from the eye. Symptoms of a blocked tear duct include a constant pooling of tears in the eye (even when the child isn't crying), which can spill onto the cheek. Sticky eye mucus also may be present, especially collecting on the eyelid margin and causing the eyelashes stick together. Sidebar continued >> To help relieve symptoms, keep the area clean by regularly wiping your baby's eyes with a clean, moist cloth. Gently massaging the corners of his eyes may help to open or unblock the tear duct. While most cases of blocked tear ducts resolve over the first several months of a child's life, at the first signs of a blocked tear duct always see your baby's eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to rule out a more serious problem. If your infant's eyes are producing a thick yellow or green discharge, or there is redness and swelling around the eyes, this could indicate an eye infection and should be treated by your eye doctor straightaway. Eye Discharge Treatment A small amount of eye discharge is harmless, but if you notice changes in the color, frequency, consistency and amount, consult your eye doctor. If an eye infection is the cause of eye mucus, your eye care practitioner may prescribe antibiotic or antiviral eye drops and ointments. If eye allergies are making your eyes watery and irritated, over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops and decongestants may relieve symptoms. Warm compresses placed over your eyes may help relieve symptoms of itching and general eye discomfort, as well as help remove eye mucus. If your eyelids are stuck together, the best way to "unglue" your lids is to wet a washcloth in hot water and place it over your eyes for a few minutes, before gently wiping away the eye gunk. At-Home Checklist Follow these simple tips to avoid or manage eye discharge: Refrain from touching your eyes to avoid the onset or spread of an eye infection. Wash your hands frequently, especially if you have contagious pink eye. If you experience eye discharge when wearing contacts, remove your lenses and see your eye doctor. Sometimes switching to daily disposable contacts can reduce the risk of contact lens-related discharge. If you have an eye infection, discard any potentially contaminated cosmetics such as mascara and eyeliner. If allergies are the cause of your watery eyes, investigate your environment and try to remove or minimize your exposure to the irritants. And if you're sensitive to eye drops, try using preservative-free drops . Home » Conditions » Eye Discharge About the Author: Aimee Surtenich has many years of editorial experience in consumer publishing, with an emphasis on the health, pharmaceutical and beauty fields. Previously she was the executive editor for this website. Connect with Ms. Surtenich via Google+ . [Page updated November 2016] Like This Page? Please Share! Recommended For You	Eyelid
By what name is Siddartha Guatama better known?	Blepharitis - Eye Disorders - Merck Manuals Professional Edition Blepharitis may be acute (ulcerative or nonulcerative) or chronic (meibomian gland dysfunction, seborrheic blepharitis). Acute blepharitis Acute ulcerative blepharitis is usually caused by bacterial infection (usually staphylococcal) of the eyelid margin at the origins of the eyelashes; the lash follicles and the meibomian glands are also involved. It may also be due to a virus (eg, herpes simplex, varicella zoster). Bacterial infections typically have more crusting than the viral type which usually has more of a clear serous discharge. Acute nonulcerative blepharitis is usually caused by an allergic reaction involving the same area (eg, atopic blepharodermatitis and seasonal allergic blepharoconjunctivitis, which cause intense itching, rubbing, and a rash; or contact sensitivity [dermatoblepharoconjunctivitis]). Chronic blepharitis Chronic blepharitis is noninfectious inflammation of unknown cause. Meibomian glands in the eyelid produce lipids (meibum) that reduce tear evaporation by forming a lipid layer on top of the aqueous tear layer. In meibomian gland dysfunction, the lipid composition is abnormal, and gland ducts and orifices become inspissated with hard, waxy plugs. Many patients have rosacea and recurrent hordeola or chalazia . Many patients with seborrheic blepharitis have seborrheic dermatitis of the face and scalp or acne rosacea. Secondary bacterial colonization often occurs on the scales that develop on the eyelid margin. Meibomian glands can become obstructed. Most patients with meibomian gland dysfunction or seborrheic blepharitis have increased tear evaporation and secondary keratoconjunctivitis sicca , also known as dry eye. Symptoms and Signs Symptoms common to all forms of blepharitis include itching and burning of the eyelid margins and conjunctival irritation with lacrimation, photosensitivity, and foreign body sensation. Acute blepharitis In acute ulcerative blepharitis, small pustules may develop in eyelash follicles and eventually break down to form shallow marginal ulcers. Tenacious adherent crusts leave a bleeding surface when removed. During sleep, eyelids can become glued together by dried secretions. Recurrent ulcerative blepharitis can cause eyelid scars and loss of eyelashes. In acute nonulcerative blepharitis, eyelid margins become edematous and erythematous; eyelashes may become crusted with dried serous fluid. Chronic blepharitis In meibomian gland dysfunction, examination reveals dilated, inspissated gland orifices that, when pressed, exude a waxy, thick, yellowish secretion. In seborrheic blepharitis, greasy, easily removable scales develop on eyelid margins. Most patients with seborrheic blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction have symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, such as foreign body sensation, grittiness, eye strain and fatigue, and blurring with prolonged visual effort. Diagnosis Slit-lamp examination Diagnosis is usually by slit-lamp examination . Chronic blepharitis that does not respond to treatment may require biopsy to exclude eyelid tumors that can simulate the condition. Prognosis Acute blepharitis most often responds to treatment but may recur, develop into chronic blepharitis, or both. Chronic blepharitis is indolent, recurrent, and resistant to treatment. Exacerbations are inconvenient, uncomfortable, and cosmetically unappealing but do not usually result in corneal scarring or vision loss. Treatment	i don't know
Galena is the primary ore mineral of which metal?	Galena: Galena mineral information and data. Galena Group . Galena is the primary ore mineral of lead. Worked for its lead content as early as 3000 BC, it is found in ore veins with sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tennantite-tetrahedrite, etc. and in skarns, as well as in sedimentary rocks where it may replace carbonate beds or be deposited in pore spaces. The crystals are bright when fresh but often tarnish after exposure to air. Classification of Galena	Lead
The world's largest working waterwheel, the Lady Isabella (also known as the Laxey Wheel), is on which island, known in its national language as Ellan Vannin?	lead ore galena lead ore galena Galena - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Galena is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide ... GALENA (Lead Sulfide) - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery Galena is a common and popular mineral for rock hounds. Its characteristic cubes, distinctive cleavage and high density make it easy to identify and a favorite in ... Galena/Lead - ThinkQuest What is it and where is it formed? Galena is the main ore of lead and silver. It is a combination of lead and sulfur. Galena is found combined with zinc ... Lead Ore,Galena,Lead Galena,Lead Galena Buyer,Lead Ore … Lead Ore is found from ores dug from ground mines. Some form of Lead is found in many minerals but the Galena is a one of the most important product for getting Lead. Missouri State Mineral: Galena (lead) - e-ReferenceDesk - 50 … Missouri State Mineral Galena (lead) Adopted on July 21, 1967. On July 21, 1967, the mineral galena was adopted as the official mineral of Missouri. Galena: Galena mineral information and data. <m>Galena Group</m>. Galena is the primary ore mineral of lead. Worked for its lead content as early as 3000 BC, it is found in ore veins with sphalerite, pyrite ... lead ore - definition of lead ore by the Free Online Dictionary ... Noun 1. lead ore - ore containing lead ore - a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined massicot , massicotite - the mineral form of lead ... Lead \| Minerals Education Coalition Natural resources are the foundation for our lives and lifestyles. What would our lives be like without mining? Imagine a world without transportation such as jet ... Missouri State Mineral - Galena Missouri designated galena (lead sulfide) as the official state mineral in 1967. Galena is the major source of lead ore, and Missouri is the top producer of lead in ... Lead Ore / Lead Concentrate Smelting, Manufacturing Technique … Lead Ore Smelting. Any of several minerals from which Lead is extracted. The primary ore is galena or Lead sulphite PbS. This is unstable, and on prolonged exposure ... Galena: Galena mineral information and data. <m>Galena Group</m>. Galena is the primary ore mineral of lead. Worked for its lead content as early as 3000 BC, it is found in ore veins with sphalerite, pyrite ... Galena, Kansas - A Lead Mining Maven - Legends of America ... In the rocky hills and gravel-filled valleys of southeast Kansas is the small town of Galena, born of rugged characters when lead was discovered in ... Lead - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group with symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft and malleable metal, which is regarded as a ... Lead Ore Milling 1934 US Bureau of Mines - YouTube Nestled deep within the eastern Ozarks is an area known as the Old Lead Belt; it is a major part of the great Southeast Missouri lead district, the premier ... Where is the mineral galena found - The Q&A wiki Galena, the mineral that is the primary ore of lead, is common in several areas of the United States. In addition, Mexico, Australia and a number of European ... Lead: Lead mineral information and data. Native lead is rare; lead is far more commonly found and mined as the lead sulphide mineral <m>galena</m>. The Romans named the refined metal 'plumbum' and used … Lead ore - crossword puzzle clue Clue: Lead ore. Lead ore is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 13 times. There are related clues (shown below). What is Galena Ore and what is it used for? - Yahoo! UK & … 上次更新日期: May 19, 2008 · 3 条留言 · 首次发布时间: May 19, 2008 May 19, 2008 · Best Answer: Derivation: From "galena" (Latin) lead ore Formula: PbS Description: Shiny with square crystals interlocking with each other. The thing you ... Lead Processing ,Lead Ore Beneficiation, Lead Ore Flotation, Lead ... Cathay is a professional supplier for overall solutions for Lead Ore Processing Machine, Plant ,Equipment in China. Our Lead Processing Machine may be your best ... Missouri Secretary of State Kids: History & Fun Facts The State Mineral. Galena was named the state mineral of Missouri on July 21, 1967. Galena is dark gray in color and breaks into small blocks. This mineral is a major ... Lead - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lead (pronounce: "lehd") is a chemical element. Its chemical symbol is Pb, which comes from plumbum, the Latin word for lead. Its atomic number is 82, atomic mass is ... Lead Minerals,Lead Properties,Lead Uses,Lead Information,Lead ... Read about lead minerals, lead mineral, lead physical properties, lead chemical properties, lead atomic properties, lead uses, lead information, lead facts, aluminum ... lead: Definition from Answers.com lead n. ( Symbol Pb ) A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes Museum of Classic Pennsylvania Minerals Museum of Classic Pennsylvania Minerals! Welcome to the museum! Page one includes minerals from the Wheatley Mine, the French Creek Mines and the Cornwall Mine. Minerals; Rock and Mineral Specimens; Crystals; Mineral Dealer ... Weinrich Minerals, Inc. A Dealer in Fine Mineral Specimens - Since 1989! There are currently 1566 searchable specimens on the website, ranging in all price and ... Lead \| Define Lead at Dictionary.com verb (used with object) 1. to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike. 2. to conduct by holding and guiding: to ... What does lead or silver look like - Gold Hunters Forum - Gold ... What does lead or silver look like - posted in Gold Hunters Forum: What does raw lead or silver or maybe even platinum look like in it raw form I have been messing ... lead on - definition of lead on by the Free Online Dictionary ... lead 1 (l d) v. led (l d), lead·ing, leads. v.tr. 1. To show the way to by going in advance. 2. To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter. Trade-Lead - Business To Business (b2b) Marketplace ... International Trade Lead marketplace to connect buyers and suppliers around the world, Illinois Adventure - Vinegar Hill Lead Mine · 8885 North Three Pines Road. Galena, Illinois 61036 (See Map and Directions below) Type: Historic Locations, Illinois Tourism District: Northern Galena: Galena mineral information and data. <m>Galena Group</m>. Galena is the primary ore mineral of lead. Worked for its lead content as early as 3000 BC, it is found in ore veins with sphalerite, pyrite ... Galena, Kansas - A Lead Mining Maven - Legends of America ... In the rocky hills and gravel-filled valleys of southeast Kansas is the small town of Galena, born of rugged characters when lead was discovered in ... Lead - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lead is a chemical element in the carbon group with symbol Pb (from Latin: plumbum) and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft and malleable metal, which is regarded as a ... Lead Ore Milling 1934 US Bureau of Mines - YouTube Nestled deep within the eastern Ozarks is an area known as the Old Lead Belt; it is a major part of the great Southeast Missouri lead district, the premier ... Where is the mineral galena found - The Q&A wiki Galena, the mineral that is the primary ore of lead, is common in several areas of the United States. In addition, Mexico, Australia and a number of European ... Lead ore - crossword puzzle clue Clue: Lead ore. Lead ore is a crossword puzzle clue that we have spotted 13 times. There are related clues (shown below). What is Galena Ore and what is it used for? - Yahoo! UK & … 上次更新日期: May 19, 2008 · 3 条留言 · 首次发布时间: May 19, 2008 May 19, 2008 · Best Answer: Derivation: From "galena" (Latin) lead ore Formula: PbS Description: Shiny with square crystals interlocking with each other. The thing you ... Lead Processing ,Lead Ore Beneficiation, Lead Ore Flotation, Lead ... Cathay is a professional supplier for overall solutions for Lead Ore Processing Machine, Plant ,Equipment in China. Our Lead Processing Machine may be your best ... Missouri Secretary of State Kids: History & Fun Facts The State Mineral. Galena was named the state mineral of Missouri on July 21, 1967. Galena is dark gray in color and breaks into small blocks. This mineral is a major ... Mineral Gallery from Missouri - John Betts - Fine Minerals, New ... Calcite from Tri-State Lead-Zinc Mining District, near Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri	i don't know
In which African country is the town of Lassa, where Lassa fever was first identified?	Nigeria: Tackling the Outbreak of Lassa Fever - allAfrica.com Nigeria: Tackling the Outbreak of Lassa Fever more Forty-five years after the first outbreak of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, the health sector is still grappling with the scourge currently ravaging some cities in the country. Martins Ifijeh writes The smile on the faces of Nigerians since the containment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) over a year ago is being threatened by the recent outbreak of Lassa Fever, which has so far spread from Taraba to Rivers, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, Gombe, Niger, Oyo and Edo State, killing several persons in a space of two months. This, again has brought Nigerians into a familiar scenario of fear and uncertainty, as people express deep concern whenever there are disease outbreaks in the country, considering that every epidemic of this nature leave scores dead, while several others struggle with treating themselves. As at the last count, available information suggests that over 40 persons have been said to had lost their lives to the disease which has assumed epidemic proportions with over 90 persons already infected, this year alone. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment, in the absence of adequate infection control measures. Though it was first discovered in the 1950s, the virus causing Lassa fever was not identified until 1969 in a town named Lassa in Borno State. Apart from Nigeria, Lassa fever is also endemic in other African countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central African Republic and Congo DR. Experts are of the opinion that the government should as a matter of urgency embark on massive sensitisation programmes across the country in other to forestall further spread of the disease. Speaking with THISDAY, a Virologist, Professor Sobowale Oludare, said if the country had upgraded its surveillance system, as well as laboratory support facilities after the last Ebola outbreak, it would have been much easier to quell the growing spread of Lassa Fever currently in several states of the federation, adding that until the country get it right, there will continuously be outbreaks. "With our surveillance system in place, it would be much easier to predict various outbreaks and then promptly address it before it snowball into taking several lives, which is unfortunate for a country that prides itself as the giant of Africa," he explained. According to the virologist, over 80 per cent of infected persons may not present symptoms, but that about 20 per cent of those infected will present symptoms, adding that on majority of cases, the symptoms could be mistaken for malaria, cold or flu. "Early symptoms of the disease occur within the first and third week after being infected, and they include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, chills, nausea, sore throat, conjunctivitis, backache, facial swelling, mucosal bleeding, and joint pains. Late symptoms include bleeding from the mouth and rectum, bleeding from the eyes, ears and nose, eye swelling, swelling of the genitals and rashes all over the body that often contain blood, coma and even death. In some patients, temporary or permanent neurological problems may occur," he noted. He said with the several symptoms presented by the virus, it was best to carry out diagnosis whenever any of the symptoms was noticed, so as not to confuse other illnesses like typhoid and malaria for Lassa Fever. But how can the virus be transmitted and what should be done to prevent it? Prof. Oludare provides a guide. According to him, not all types of rats present the Lassa virus, "the mastomys rodents, often known by locals as the rat with the long mouth, is the specific type of rat that carry the virus. Though it's a bush rat, it can also live within and around homes or anywhere they find food. Homes with poorly stored food could be a ready host for them," he explained. He said apart from their fluids, urine or faeces in foods, other ways they can infect humans are when they are killed and prepared for food. "It can also spread through person-to-person contact. When body fluids, blood, urine or semen of an infected person gets in contact with an uninfected person's fluid, there is the possibility of transfer of the virus through such medium. "Lassa fever transmission can also occur when one comes in contact with fluid discharge from dead bodies," noting that it could also remain in the semen of an infected person for up to three months. With the fatality rate associated with the disease, coupled with the frequency of occurrence in the country, one wonders if the various governments are doing enough to tackle the scourge which has taken the lives of thousands of Nigerians. Available information suggests that there are only two laboratories in the country with the capacity to screen blood for Lassa fever. The Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in Irrua, Edo State and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). However, the federal government has consistently said there were other centres where the tests can be done, but the level of capacity of these centres still remain subjects of debate. In addressing the current outbreak in the country, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health has said that it was putting all measures in place to quell the growing epidemic now confirmed by laboratories to be Lassa Fever Viral Disease. According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, he said the outbreak would be brought to a timely end in the shortest possible time, adding that since the first case of the recent current outbreak was reported from Bauchi in November, 2015, the ministry has not been unaware of how to tackle it. He stressed that "in response to these reported outbreaks, the Health Ministry has taken the following measures to curtail further spread and reduce mortality among those affected: Immediate release of adequate quantities of ribavirin, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of cases, including deployment of rapid response teams from the ministry to all the affected states to assist in investigating and verifying the cases as well as tracing of contacts, clinicians and relevant healthcare workers had been sensitised and mobilised in areas of patient management and care in the affected states." He also advised the affected states to intensify awareness creation on the signs and symptoms of the disease, including preventive measures such as general hygiene. The minister assured Nigerians that the country has the capability to diagnose Lassa fever, adding that all cases reported so far were confirmed by our laboratories. "However, due to the non-specific nature of Lassa fever symptoms and varied presentations, clinical diagnosis is often difficult and delayed, especially in the early course of the disease outbreak," Adewole said. He explained that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was already coordinating all response activities, while they report to him. He advised healthcare workers seeing patients suspected to have Lassa fever to immediately contact the State Epidemiologists or call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Federal Ministry of Health using the following numbers: 08093810105, 08163215251, 08031571667 and 08135050005. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has also called on its residents to be vigilant and imbibe basic proper hygiene, as well as avoid contact with rats and store foods in rat proof containers. "Lagosians should observe good personal hygiene, including hand washing with soap and running water regularly, while also disposing waste properly in order to discourage rodents from entering the house." The State Government also called on the public to report cases of symptoms or persistent high fever to the nearest health centre, as fluids from an infected person can be extremely dangerous. Copyright © 2016 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ( allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us .	Nigeria
Englishman John Wycliffe's 14th century Lollardy movement addressed reform of what?	Nigeria: Scientists Establish Link Between Lassa Fever, - allAfrica.com Nigeria: Scientists Establish Link Between Lassa Fever, more By Chukwuma Muanya As the Lassa fever epidemic continues to spread in Nigeria and the report of World Health Organisation (WHO)-confirmed case of the Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone on Friday, there are fresh concerns of possible new outbreak of the virus in West Africa. In fact, the WHO, in a statement, on Friday, said there is ongoing risk of new flare-ups of the virus in affected countries even as the latest death from Lassa fever in Rivers State and new confirmed case in Lagos bring the total number of deaths to over 43 with over 90 cases in 12 states of the federation. WHO stressed in a statement on Thursday, that Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone remain at high risk of additional small outbreaks of Ebola in the coming months due to the virus persisting in survivors after recovery. The Guardian's investigation had revealed that the fresh outbreaks of another haemorrhagic fever (Lassa fever) might be a prelude to possibly another outbreak of Ebola. The Guardian's investigation revealed that Nigeria and indeed West Africa are presently in the peak season for Lassa fever. It was reliably gathered that the viral haemorrhagic fever has been largely forgotten in the Ebola crisis, and health workers are warning that they may not have the resources to deal with the disease if cases increase. It was also gathered that at first sight the symptoms of Lassa are identical to Ebola; there can be bleeding, vomiting and fever. But whereas Ebola is a new outbreak, Lassa is a constant presence. According to the WHO, every year it infects from 300,000 to 500,000 people, killing up to 20,000. The Guardian learnt that all of the countries worst hit by Ebola are home to Lassa fever and that there is one main difference between an outbreak of Ebola and Lassa. Rats cause a Lassa outbreak. The rodents carry the disease into homes and food stores, especially in the dry season running from November to April. Once infected, Lassa can spread from person-to-person. Not everyone who catches it becomes seriously ill, but fatality rates have been known to be as high as 70 per cent. It is less easily transmitted than Ebola, but nonetheless patients must still be treated in complete isolation. The remaining health workers in West Africa are already overstretched with Ebola. As cases of a second haemorrhagic fever begin to rise, some are worried that Lassa may go undiagnosed and untreated. Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer's University, Ogun State, told journalists: "Attention has completely shifted now from Lassa to Ebola. There are cases of Lassa fever being actually considered to be Ebola cases in many places. In that regard it is a very complicated situation for us, especially in Liberia and in Sierra Leone." It has been shown that Lassa fever is less fatal than Ebola and can be treated with a drug. Ribavirin is used to help patients recover but it is useless for Ebola and is only given once Lassa has been confirmed. Rapid tests are not widely available and without them only a laboratory can tell the difference between an Ebola patient and a Lassa patient. Delays in treatment can be fatal. The Guardian investigation also found that Ebola, Lassa fever, Dengue fever and Yellow fever are some of the haemorrhagic fevers that have been reported in Nigeria in the last three years; and that an outbreak of Lassa fever in early 2014 in Edo State and some other states heralded the Ebola outbreak in Lagos and Port Harcourt. Several studies have shown that the spread of Lassa fever in a number of communities in different parts of the country was as a result of poor personal hygiene. The primary animal host of the Lassa virus is the Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), an animal found in most of sub-Saharan Africa. The virus is probably transmitted by contact with the faeces or urine of animals accessing grain stores in residences. Also, a new study published Tuesday in PLOS suggests that areas of increased poverty are associated with higher rates of Ebola virus transmission. It was also gathered that at first sight the symptoms of Lassa are identical to Ebola; there can be bleeding, vomiting and fever. But whereas Ebola is a new outbreak, Lassa is a constant presence. According to the WHO, every year it infects from 300,000 to 500,000 people, killing up to 20,000. The Guardian learnt that all of the countries worst hit by Ebola are home to Lassa fever and that there is one main difference between an outbreak of Ebola and Lassa. Rats cause a Lassa outbreak. The rodents carry the disease into homes and food stores, especially in the dry season running from November to April. Ebola and Lassa fever belong to the same family. They are called viral haemorrhagic fever. It is a general term for a severe illness, sometimes associated with bleeding, that may be caused by a number of viruses. The term is usually applied to disease caused by Arenaviridae (Lassa fever, Junin and Machupo), Bunyaviridae (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Rift Valley Fever, Hantaan haemorrhagic fevers), Filoviridae (Ebola and Marburg) and Flaviviridae (yellow fever, dengue, Omsk haemorrhagic fever, Kyasanur forest disease). Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. It is transmitted to humans from contacts with food or household items contaminated with rodent excreta. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in the hospital environment in the absence of adequate infection control measures. Diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential. Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of one to four weeks duration that occurs in West Africa. The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevent and control measures. Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin (where it was diagnosed for the first time in November 2014), Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and parts of Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well. The overall case-fatality rate is one per cent. Observed case-fatality rate among patients hospitalized with severe cases of Lassa fever is 15 per cent. Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. WHO's Special Representative for the Ebola Response, Dr. Bruce Aylward, said: "We are now at a critical period in the Ebola epidemic as we move from managing cases and patients to managing the residual risk of new infections. "We still anticipate more flare-ups and must be prepared for them." Sierra Leone is still in a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance following the declaration on November 7, 2015 of the end of Ebola transmission in the country. This period is designed to ensure no hidden chains of transmission have been missed and to detect any new flare-ups of the disease. The Sierra Leone government acted rapidly to respond to this new case. Through the country's new emergency operations centre, a joint team of local authorities, WHO and partners are investigating the origin of the case, identifying contacts and initiating control measures to prevent further transmission. The WHO had said all known chains of transmission in West Africa have been stopped, as they declared the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia to be over. However, there is evidence the Ebola virus can persist in the bodies of survivors after they have recovered from the disease. This is not the first time Liberia has been declared free of Ebola transmission - the WHO made a similar announcement in May 2015, but the virus returned twice, once in June and then again in November. What makes this occasion different is that the other two countries most affected by the recent outbreak - Guinea and Sierra Leone - have also been declared free of Ebola. The WHO declared Sierra Leone free of Ebola in early November, and Guinea achieved the same status in late December. For the first time since the start of the epidemic two years ago, say WHO, all three countries have reported zero cases for at least 42 days. To be declared free of Ebola, a country must achieve 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) since the last confirmed patient tests negative for the disease two times. The recent outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in world history. It has infected over 28,500 people and claimed over 11,300 lives. It has devastated families and communities and significantly weakened the health systems and economies of all three countries. Risk of additional Ebola outbreaks continues While praising the monumental efforts of the governments and people of the countries affected, and the organizations that have partnered with WHO in bringing the epidemic to an end, the UN agency warns that "the job is not over" and "strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come," as it is likely that flare-ups will occur. There is a high risk that small outbreaks of Ebola - like the most recent one in Liberia - will occur. The WHO say 10 of the flare-ups that have occurred were not part of the original outbreak and were likely a result of Ebola persisting in survivors who have recovered. There is evidence that while the Ebola virus may disappear from the bloodstream of survivors relatively quickly; it can survive in "niches" in the body. For example, it can survive in men's semen for seven to nine months and in the eye for two months after recovery. Aylward said the epidemic is in a critical period as countries move from managing infected patients to managing the risk of new infections. He noted that the risk of new infections is gradually reducing as the virus clears from the survivor population, but "we still anticipate more flare-ups and must be prepared for them." Aylward added: "A massive effort is under way to ensure robust prevention, surveillance and response capacity across all three countries by the end of March." Looking after survivors is an important part of this phase. As well as screening for persistent virus, they will need medical and psychological care, and support to help them return to normal life in their families and communities, who will also need education and help to reduce stigma and minimize risk of Ebola virus transmission. One of the factors that appears to have hampered control of the recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and made it difficult to apply aggressive quarantine programmes, is the lack of maps or census data. This was the conclusion of a review on the role of mapping in preventing epidemics that Medical News Today reported recently. Copyright © 2016 The Guardian. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ( allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. AllAfrica publishes around 700 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us .	i don't know
In UK politics, what flower is the emblem of the Labour Party?	Labour Symbol - The UK Politics Forum Labour Symbol Joined: 19 Jan 2008, 20:34 Forum Member Why the hell is the symbol of the Labour Party a prissy flower? How about a pick axe, or a wrench or some other frigging tool? And why does it seem that all 'democratic socialists' are a bunch of wusses? Joined: 22 Jun 2011, 21:43 Forum Member 25 Oct 2011, 07:31 It's been a long time since a Labour supporter used a pickaxe at work. After all, if you have a degree it's a bit beneath you. And on the sixth day he made Man ... chester! Joined: 07 May 2010, 16:56 Forum Member 25 Oct 2011, 11:35 Desperate Dan wrote: been a long time since a Labour supporter used a pickaxe at work. After all, if you have a degree it's a bit beneath you. Honestly - Labour Party supporters have degrees? This is the criticism? Do all Labour Party people have degrees then? Or just some of them? Some of them. Like any other party then? And if they do have a degree that's bad because...? Joined: 22 Jun 2011, 21:43 Forum Member Joined: 07 May 2010, 16:56 Forum Member Joined: 22 Jun 2011, 21:43 Forum Member True, but I thought it was so obviously ironic ... And on the sixth day he made Man ... chester! Joined: 27 Oct 2010, 12:12 Forum Member 25 Oct 2011, 20:11 symbols don't win votes so it's not worth arguing about them though it is interesting that the tories now have a tree and labour a flower, two more non offensive symbols would be hard to find and no doubt that was deliberate in the attempt to appeal to all. oh and whatever you think of democratic socialists labour aren't that either. Joined: 22 Jun 2011, 21:43 Forum Member Is the Libdem emblem still a cannabis plant? And on the sixth day he made Man ... chester! Joined: 07 May 2010, 16:56 Forum Member Joined: 22 Jun 2011, 21:43 Forum Member Sounds about right just now. And on the sixth day he made Man ... chester! Joined: 18 Dec 2003, 17:26 Forum Member 28 Apr 2012, 06:06 The red rose is the traditional social democratic party symbol. That's why it was chosen in the 1980s under Neil Kinnock; to win over Middle England, etc Political Compass: Joined: 10 Jan 2012, 20:27 Red Card 01 May 2012, 05:34 Id rather live in a country where the Main parties are represented by a tree and a flower than ones where Eagles and Hammers battle it out. Joined: 29 Jun 2007, 11:35 Forum Member True, but I thought it was so obviously ironic ... Don't despair! Joined: 26 Nov 2009, 20:40 Forum Member 05 May 2012, 16:41 (Given the Tory symbol is a tree) Ed Miliband should choose a Chainsaw as the Labour symbol! This sounds humorous, but to dismiss it as a joke, is also to ignore how (in theory) all publicity can be good publicity. The fact it’s humorous (more or less) guarantees press reporting is 90 plus % positive. However: the rose is appropriate as: In nature trees are far more sturdy organisms than flowers –especially if they're the variety that only prospers on bags, of decaying money! So as: Under Ed’s leadership, the party doesn’t really know, what a policy is, I’d imagine a mirror would be a more fitting image. Likewise: Cameron taking a chainsaw, to his own party's oak tree, would better reflect his policies! Update... I almost forgot the Lib-Dem's! It should be obvious to anybody who knows what I think about them, but the best symbol would probably be... You know those "docking ropes" used to hold a ship in Harbor, to the Harbor walls? Well years ago, rats used to do a tight-rope, walk down them, and in this way infect new islands-continents. With their principles hardly being their strongest point; surely an image of a black rat, against a red skyline, walking down docking rope, from a ship (sinking in harbor) would do justice? Anyhow just an idea... Can't think why they wouldn't employ me in marketing So whatever you do, do it as best you can.	Rose
According to the gospel of Luke, Zachariah and his barren wife Elizabeth were the parents of which great Biblical character?	Political parties in the United Kingdom This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Political parties in the United Kingdom images by Ant�nio Martins-Tuv�lkin, 5 June 2008 According to the English Wikipedia , in mid-18th cent. English elections, an orange flag stood for the Whigs and a blue flag for the Tories, as seen in paintings of The Humours of an Election (see below), one of which shows these as plain square flags in light shades of the mentioned colors. As noted below , correspondence is given for blue and primrose with Tories (later, Conservatives), and yellow/orange and daffodil with Whigs (later, Liberal Democrats). The current LibDem orange was yellow in the 19th century, but we have this earlier account of unmistakable use of orange: The Humours of an Election ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humours_of_an_Election ) is a series of four 1755 oil paintings and later engravings by William Hogarth (1697-1764) ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hogarth ) that illustrate the election of a member of parliament in Oxfordshire, England, in 1754 (originals at the Sir John Soane's Museum, London). Two of them show flags: An Election Entertainment ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:William_Hogarth_028.jpg ) depicts a tavern dinner organised by the Whig candidates where a large orange flag is shown propped against a wall: It seems to be very oblong, with golden (?) lettering reading in three upper-case lines "Liberty and Loyalty". The Polling ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:William_Hogarth_031.jpg ) shows an English countryside polling station with two flags hoisted up on makeshift poles, with no lines nor finials. The flags are monocolored, quadrilateral (possibly square) one is light blue, prominent on the middle of the painting, and the other is (light) orange, at the upper right corner of the painting. Ant�nio Martins-Tuv�lkin, 5 June 2008 Floral Symbolism in British Political Parties Didn't British political parties traditionally have flowers associated with them? Is it true that primroses are for the Conservatives and something yellow--perhaps daffodils?--for the Liberals. Could the rose have originated as the symbol of Labour, then carried over to other parties? Joe McMillan, 24 February 2003 I'm fairly sure that the rose, as a symbol of the Labour Party, is a fairly recent phenomenon, say, 1980s. The old symbol included a torch and a spade. The primrose was Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli's favourite flower. The Primrose League was an association founded in 1883 by Lord Randolph Churchill (Winston's father) to promote Conservatism, but from outside the Conservative Party. It was named after the primrose in Disraeli's honour. The usual colour usually associated with the Conservatives is blue. Confusingly, Primrose was the family name of the Earl of Rosebery, Prime Minister between 1894 and 1895 - but he was a Liberal. I haven't been able to find anything that links daffodils with the Liberal Party, unless the connection is David Lloyd George, who was Prime Minister during the First World War. Lloyd George was prominent in a campaign at the start of the 20th century to have the daffodil replace the leek as the Welsh national emblem (why the daffodil was chosen remains unclear, unless it is the almost-rhyme between daff and taffy. Yellow has been used for Liberal party favours and literature since the 19th century. But now that they are the Liberal Democrats, they use orange. Ian Sumner, 26 February 2003	i don't know
What is an angle called which is larger than 180 degrees and smaller than 360 degrees?	Geometry Angles And Types Of Angles Acute Angle: An angle whose measure is less than 90 degrees. Obtuse Angle: An angle whose measure is bigger than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. Straight Angle: An angle whose measure is 180 degrees. Right Angle: An angle whose measure is 90 degrees. Reflex Angle: An angle whose measure is bigger than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees.	Angle
In which European country did the 16th Century St Bartholomews Day Massacre take place?	Degrees (Angles) Degrees (Angles) We can measure Angles in Degrees. There are 360 degrees in one Full Rotation (one complete circle around). (Angles can also be measured in Radians ) (Note: "Degrees" can also mean Temperature , but here we are talking about Angles) The Degree Symbol: ° We use a little circle ° following the number to mean degrees. For example 90° means 90 degrees One Degree This is how large 1 Degree is A Full Circle is 360° Half a circle is 180° (called a Right Angle ) Why 360 degrees? Probably because old calendars (such as the Persian Calendar) used 360 days for a year - when they watched the stars they saw them revolve around the North Star one degree per day. Also 360 can be divided evenly by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40, 45, 60, 72, 90, 120 and 180, which makes a lot of basic geometry easier. Measuring Degrees	i don't know
What was the previous name of Taiwan, the island off the southeast coast of mainland China?	Taiwan \| history - geography - self-governing island, Asia \| Britannica.com Country Data Overview (PDF) Taiwan, Chinese (Wade-Giles romanization) T’ai-wan or (Pinyin) Taiwan, Portuguese Formosa, island , located about 100 miles (161 km) off the southeast coast of the China mainland. It is approximately 245 miles (394 km) long (north-south) and 90 miles across at its widest point. The largest city, Taipei , is the seat of the government of the Republic of China (ROC; Nationalist China). In addition to the main island, the ROC government has jurisdiction over 22 islands in the Taiwan group and 64 islands to the west in the Pescadores archipelago. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Taiwan is bounded to the north by the East China Sea , which separates it from the Ryukyu Islands , Okinawa, and mainland Japan; to the east by the Pacific Ocean; to the south by the Bashi Channel, which separates it from the Philippines; and to the west by the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait, which separates it from the China mainland. From the mid-1660s to 1895, Taiwan was administered by the imperial Chinese government, after which (until 1945) the island was ruled by the Japanese as a colony. In 1945 Taiwan reverted to China, and in 1949 it became the last territory controlled by the Nationalist government. The government of the ROC continued to claim jurisdiction over the Chinese mainland, whereas the government of the People’s Republic of China on the mainland claimed jurisdiction over Taiwan; both governments remained in agreement that the island is a sheng (province) of China. Taipei was the provincial capital until 1967, when the capital was moved to Chung-hsing Hsin-ts’un . Elevated segment of the municipal rapid-transit system, central Taipei, Taiwan. © Corbis The land Relief Taiwan is part of the great island system rimming the western Pacific Ocean . The island of Taiwan is formed by a fault block trending north-northeast to south-southwest and tilted toward the west. The more gently rising western face of the block borders the shallow Taiwan Strait , under which the continental shelf connects the island to the Chinese mainland. The terraced tablelands and alluvial plains along the western face of the block provide the principal areas of dense population and the major cities. The steeply sloping eastern face of the block marks the edge of the continental shelf and the beginning of the Pacific Ocean. Aside from one major rift valley, the east coast provides little room for human settlement. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Urbanization was the dominant settlement pattern of the 20th century. There has been a noticeable migration from rural areas to towns, especially since mid-century, when the urban population increased from less than half to more than three-fourths of the total population. Three major urban areas have developed: Taipei and its port of Chi-lung in the north and the two port cities of Kao-hsiun in the south and Tʾai-chung in the west. The people Ethnolinguistic groups The original inhabitants of Taiwan were Malayo-Polynesian aborigines. Taiwan’s indigenous peoples have historically been referred to in terms of their language groups, the largest of which are the Ami , Atayal, and Paiwan. Chinese immigrants largely displaced or assimilated the plains aborigines and carried on a protracted conflict with the mountain aborigines, who were subdued only by the Japanese. The aborigines, nearly all of whom now live in the foothills and highlands, constitute about 2 percent of the population. Although several aboriginal dialects and many tribal customs have been retained, the people have increasingly become assimilated, linguistically and culturally, into modern Taiwanese society. Nonetheless, many indigenous groups increased their political activity in the early 21st century, with 14 gaining official recognition as of 2008. The great majority of the population—those now called Taiwanese—are descendants of the original immigrants from the Chinese provinces of Fukien and Kwangtung . The Hokkien from southern Fukien constitute the largest of the immigrant groups; their dialect of Chinese is often called the Taiwanese dialect. The Hakka , originally from northern Kwangtung, also have a distinct dialect. The most recent addition to Taiwan’s population are the predominantly Mandarin-speaking Nationalist adherents, who came to Taiwan from all parts of China in the late 1940s. These “mainlanders” still compose about 15 percent of the population. Because of their prominence in the Nationalist government, Mandarin has become the principal language of Taiwan. Religions Numerous religions have been introduced into Taiwan from many parts of the world. The Chinese brought their religions, principally Buddhism and Taoism . In 1622 the Dutch introduced Protestant Christianity; two years later the Spanish brought Roman Catholicism to the island. In addition, Confucianism has immensely influenced the Chinese people of Taiwan in ethics , morality , and academic thinking. Religion, however, is not a divisive factor on Taiwan. The Chinese tend to be eclectic about religion, many practicing a little of several kinds. Related Topics nation-state The principal religions in Taiwan, in addition to the forms of worship of the aborigines, are Taoism and Buddhism. Christians constitute a small but significant percentage of the population; about three-fifths are Protestant and the rest Roman Catholic. There are also a large number of Muslims, most of whom live in the larger cities. Demography The population of Taiwan tripled in the first half of the 20th century. From mid-century, however, the rate of growth steadily declined from about 4 percent to less than 2 percent per year. Modern health measures had lowered the death rate, and Nationalist land reform temporarily raised the birthrate by expanding rural opportunities. In response to growing urban opportunities, however, families soon began concentrating more resources on fewer children. In addition, the government actively promoted family planning and birth control. Family structure The family has long been the most important organizing unit in traditional Taiwanese society. Based on the Confucian precepts of filial piety and ancestor worship, the patrilineal extended family performs many of the savings, investment, and production functions of Western corporations and provides many of the social services assumed by Western governments. The family owns property, pools its resources, and diversifies the occupations of its members, thus maximizing the returns and spreading the risks across the multiple branches and generations. The economy During the 20th century Taiwan’s economy has been transformed from agricultural to industrial, and the island’s postwar economic development has been one of the most spectacular of any developing country. In constant prices, gross national product increased more than 10 times between the mid-1950s and mid-1980s. The major reason was vigorous export promotion in an expanding global economy. Per capita product and personal income quintupled, while a relatively equal distribution of income became more equitable. The major reasons were the initially broad distribution of ownership of land and capital and the high returns to labour, first in agriculture and later in the export industries. The obligation to increase and repay family resources has motivated the individual Chinese and has produced much of the rapid growth of Taiwan’s economy. This growth has proceeded in three phases. The first (c. 1905–55) was the modernization of agriculture and the development of other primary or extractive industries. The second (c. 1935–85) was the development of modern secondary manufacturing industries. The third (since 1965) began the modernization of service industries. Resources Although more than 50 kinds of minerals have been found in Taiwan, total mineral resources are modest. In the north, copper, gold , iron, sulfur, and pyrite exist in only token amounts. In the east, limestone, marble, and dolomite are abundant, although their exploitation contributes little to the economy. Coal reserves are rapidly becoming exhausted. Petroleum and natural gas exist in small quantities on shore, but the continental shelf may contain extensive reserves, particularly of natural gas. Forests are most abundant in the high mountains, but their inaccessability makes exploitation uneconomical. Agriculture Until the mid-20th century Taiwan’s best assets were its fertile soils, tropical climate, and large agricultural labour force. Agriculture provided the logical starting point for economic development after World War II . Since about 1970, however, rising agricultural costs have made agricultural exports uncompetitive, and Taiwan has had to rely increasingly on food imports. One-quarter of Taiwan’s total area is arable, and all available land is fully cultivated , including sloping areas, dry riverbeds, and reclaimed tidal lands. The single most important crop is rice, with which more than one-half of the total cultivated area and most of the irrigated portion is planted. More than two-thirds of the paddy fields are double-cropped. The Japanese introduced improved strains of rice, chemical fertilizers, and modern irrigation methods, and the Nationalists continued to modernize rice production. Rice yields per acre have therefore increased dramatically, although this has created an oversupply. Sugarcane, tea, and fresh bananas, once principal exports, are still important domestically. Other fruits, such as pineapples, litchis, longans, oranges, grapes, and strawberries, abound. Most vegetables—including mushrooms and asparagus, which are canned for export—are produced in the central and southern regions. Forestry and fisheries With many mountains, Taiwan has abundant timber. Inaccessibility, low quality, and high costs limit production, however, and have made it necessary to import lumber. In addition, overcutting and inadequate reforestation measures have caused erosion and destructive floods. With the exception of eels and snails, which are high-value exports, fishery production is mostly for domestic consumption . The warm currents off the east coast provide good deep-sea fishing grounds, especially for tuna. Mining and quarrying Petroleum has replaced coal as the major energy source. Domestic natural gas also is produced. The quarrying of marble and dolomite is increasing as rail connections are improved. Salt is produced by solar evaporation along the southwestern coast. Energy Northern Taiwan once produced some coal, but its poor reserves are now exhausted. Heavy rainfall and high mountains hold great hydroelectric potential, but most economical sites have been exploited, and hydropower provides a declining proportion of the energy supply. In the 1960s and ’70s the principal growth in energy sources came from thermal electric power generation using imported petroleum. Rising oil costs and national defense needs, however, accelerated the development of nuclear electric power. By the 1980s three nuclear plants accounted for one-third of Taiwan’s installed capacity and about one-half of actual generation. Industry In the 1950s and ’60s Taiwan’s comparative trade advantage lay in its abundant cheap labour supply. Consequently, labour-intensive light industry predominated, producing such nondurable consumer goods as foodstuffs and textiles, at first largely for domestic consumption but after 1960 increasingly for export. By the 1960s and ’70s investment had shifted to more capital-intensive heavy industries turning out consumer durables (appliances, vehicles), producer nondurables (steel, petrochemicals), and producer durables (machinery, ships). Some capital-intensive industries, particularly those run by state firms, have proved unprofitable, but the government maintains them to supply the private sector and to bolster national defense. In the 1970s labour became scarce and wages increased, making Taiwan’s labour-intensive exports less competitive. Consequently, both government and private business accelerated efforts to develop skill-intensive high-technology industries such as those producing specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, precision instruments, sophisticated electronics, and information-processing systems. Trade Because of Taiwan’s limited resources and intermediate technology, its manufactures long depended heavily on imported materials, equipment, and technology (particularly from Japan and the United States ). Moreover, because of the limited domestic market, Taiwan’s manufactures also depended heavily on exports (particularly to the United States). Thus until the mid-1980s Taiwan balanced a chronic trade deficit with Japan against a chronic trade surplus with the United States. In the 1980s Taiwan attempted to diversify its trade with Europe and the Third World. By the late 20th century manufactured goods accounted for more than 95 percent of all exports, led by electronic products and appliances, articles of clothing, footwear, textile yarns and fabrics, toys and sporting goods, and metal products. Imports were highly diversified, consisting of a variety of consumer goods and raw materials, including petroleum and petroleum products, electronic products, nonelectrical machinery, and chemicals. Services Since the mid-1970s there has been an accelerating shift from traditional personal services (small shops and restaurants) to modern personal services (department stores and hotels) and modern commercial services (finance and communications). Commerce and services became internationalized as Taiwan handled a larger proportion of its own trade, imported foreign services such as fast food, and exported services such as construction management and computer programming. Nevertheless, most private businesses remained family firms, most of them small. The cultural importance of the family has made Taiwan’s economy lean and flexible, but it also has inhibited an increase in the scale and modernization of accounting, finance, advertising, and trade. Management of the economy Since 1945 the state has played a dominant economic role, although a private sector also has functioned. Since about 1975 private business increasingly charted its own course, often ahead of government initiatives and often in collaboration with foreign firms. Economic development has since acquired much momentum of its own. The government continues, however, to run key industries (electricity, steel, petroleum), construct basic infrastructure (railways, highways, waterways), oversee the financial system (both government and private banks), and initiate the development of new sectors by facilitating the transfer of technology and by disseminating market information. Taxes in Taiwan include income, legacy , commodity, stamp, stock, farm, land, increment on land value, and business taxes. They are levied according to a progressive rate; people with small incomes pay little tax. The Chinese Federation of Labour (CFL) is a nationwide organization of industrial and craft unions. Other national labour organizations include those for seamen, railway workers, and postal workers. There are local unions in all factories, transportation and public utility units, and occupational and vocational groups. Transportation The primary internal transport links are the well-developed highway and railway networks, although domestic air travel is also important. The principal roads consist of a highway running around the perimeter of the island; three east–west highways crossing the island in the northern, middle, and southern regions; and a north–south expressway connecting the major west coast cities. Passenger-bus transportation is provided between large cities and small towns throughout the island. Few people own cars, but many have motorcycles. The railway system of Taiwan consists of a trunk line that roughly parallels the north–south expressway and a smaller line along the east side of the island that extends to the southeastern port of T’ai-tung; the construction of a line in the south will complete the encirclement of the island. The major domestic air routes are between Taipei and the larger cities. External transport links are by sea and air. The international seaports are Chi-lung, Kao-hsiung, T’ai-chung, Su-ao , and Hua-lien . Chi-lung, Kao-hsiung, and T’ai-chung have good facilities for anchoring large ships; Hua-lien has facilities that are somewhat more limited. The Chiang Kai-shek Airport at T’ao-yüan is the facility for international air travel in northern Taiwan. The southern part of the island is served by the international airport at Kao-hsiung. Administration and social conditions Government For centuries Taiwan has been ruled by outsiders—Imperial Chinese bureaucrats , colonial Japanese administrators, and, most recently, Nationalist Party (Kuomintang; KMT) refugees from the Chinese mainland. In 1949, with the success of the communist rebellion in mainland China, the KMT retreated to Taiwan and set up office. For most of the post-World War II period (1945–90), the Nationalist government’s claim to rule Taiwan was predicated on its claim to rule all of China, and so-called temporary emergency measures in effect led to the creation of an authoritarian regime in Taiwan based on martial law . By the 1990s, however, the Nationalist party-state had largely shifted its focus to Taiwan, restaffing its leadership with Taiwanese and submitting itself to election, and the government began initiating liberalization measures. Some groups on Taiwan agitated for independence, but such calls were met with considerable opposition from the government of the People’s Republic of China . Constitutional structure Formally, the KMT applied to postwar Taiwan the constitution they had drawn up in 1947 for all of China. This eclectic document includes elements from traditional China (personnel and investigative councils), from Western parliamentarism (a cabinet and premier approved by the legislative body), and from Western presidentialism (a president elected by a National Assembly). The 1947 constitution permits democracy , guarantees civil liberties, and promotes political participation and cultural development. The central government also includes five constitutionally mandated councils ( yüans): Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Examination, and Control. The Legislative Yuan, the membership structure of which parallels that of the National Assembly , enacts legislation. The Executive Yuan, the cabinet, is headed by a premier, who is appointed by the president but is nominally answerable to the Legislative Yuan. The Judicial Yuan oversees the court system. The Examination Yuan fulfills the functions of a civil service commission , and the Control Yuan oversees government administration. The constitution also provides for provincial and local administrative institutions. The island of Taiwan and the cities of Taipei and Kao-hsiung have provincial status. At the local level are 16 counties (hsien) and five municipalities (shih), which, according to the constitution, are self-governing. In reality, however, they have had little autonomy from the national government. Power structure In practice, for most of the period since 1949, Taiwan has been ruled by a dictator who led three sectors: an external and internal security apparatus, a quasi-Leninist party, and a technocratic government. The dictator’s position as “paramount leader” was the most important, tying together institutional sectors through personal networks. The security sector was the ultimate foundation of the regime, reinforced by a large military budget. The KMT was the arena for promoting personnel and deciding policy. For more than four decades the National Assembly consisted mostly of the same representatives that had been elected on the mainland in 1948, supplemented by minority additions periodically elected by Taiwan. The KMT held regular elections for representatives to the community , local, and provincial offices, but these posts had little power. The government managed the economy with a success that became an example among developing countries and which facilitated Taiwanese acceptance of Nationalist rule. Beginning in 1986, responding to opposition and public demands, the KMT began allowing increased liberalization of government. The KMT abolished martial law in 1987 and legalized the formation of opposition political parties; opposition candidates, notably those of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), began winning seats in the legislature . In 1991 the KMT rescinded the emergency provisions and forced all original mainland national representatives to retire. A National Security Council was created. With the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2000 and 2001, respectively, the DPP became the first party to oust the KMT from the government. In 2008, however, both the presidency and control of the legislature (with more than a two-thirds majority) returned to the KMT. Armed forces The military and security forces have had considerable power, particularly during the decades of martial law. The armed forces include the air force, army, navy, combined service force, military police, and garrison force. Education Both the Chinese government and the Chinese family have long believed in investing heavily in education, in the postwar period increasingly for girls as well as for boys. In the past, educational opportunities usually were open only to the elite. The Japanese during the early 20th century, when they ruled the island, began to extend primary education to ordinary Taiwanese in an effort to train loyal citizens and literate workers. Taiwan now has one of the best-educated populations in Asia , second only to that of Japan. The preferred educational route is through liberal arts, looking to a career in government, or through professional training at a prestigious university. As postwar economic development gathered momentum, however, both government and families have also recognized the value of commercial and technical education. Education is compulsory for nine years (six years of primary school and three years of middle school); secondary education includes senior high schools and vocational schools. There are also preschool education and social education, including adult education and special education. There are over 100 institutions of higher education, more than two-thirds of them private. Among the major public ones are the National Taiwan University (founded 1928) at Taipei, National Cheng Kung University (1931) at T’ai-nan , National Chung Hsing University (1961) at T’ai-chung, and National Sun Yat-sen University (1980) at Kao-hsiung. Health and welfare Modern health practices were instituted early in the 20th century by the Japanese and were further developed by the Nationalist government. The Japanese largely eliminated tropical diseases—which until then had been a principal barrier to development in Taiwan—by installing water- and sewage-treatment plants and by training and equipping medical personnel. Taiwan now has a well-developed hospital system and medical profession. Life expectancy and infant-mortality rates are about the same as in most Western countries. The overall economic growth and the Chinese custom of families caring for their elderly and unemployed members have kept government welfare spending low, but, because the birth rate is decreasing as the number of elderly is increasing, concern has been growing about the Chinese family’s ability to provide social security in the future. The government has thus been instituting social insurance programs covering an increasing percentage of the population. The rapid growth of Taiwan’s large urban centres has resulted in housing shortages, which generally have been met by private developers. The government has built some apartments that have then been sold to the public by means of long-term, low-interest loans. In addition, the government has provided free housing for the poor. Page 1 of 2	Geography of Taiwan
Born Joseph Frank... by what name was the US silent film comic actor noted for his deadpan expression and pork-pie hats better known?	Taiwan Facts and History Tainan, 1,874,700 Taiwan's Government: Taiwan, formally the Republic of China, is a parliamentary democracy. Sufferage is universal for citizens 20 years old and older. The current head of state is President Ma Ying-jeou. Premier Sean Chen is the head of government and President of the unicameral legislature, known as the Legislative Yuan. The President appoints the Premier. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance The Legislature has 113 seats, including 6 set aside to represent Taiwan's aboriginal population. Both executive and legislative members serve four-year terms. Taiwan also has a Judicial Yuan, which administers the courts. The highest court is the Council of Grand Justices; its 15 members are tasked with interpreting the constitution. There are lower courts with specific jurisdictions as well, including the Control Yuan which monitors corruption. Although Taiwan is a prosperous and fully-functioning democracy, it is not recognized diplomatically by many other nations. Only 25 states have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, most of them small states in Oceania or Latin America, because the People's Republic of China (mainland China ) has long withdrawn its own diplomats from any nation that recognized Taiwan. The only European state that formally recognizes Taiwan is Vatican City. Population of Taiwan: The total population of Taiwan is approximately 23.2 million as of 2011. Taiwan's demographic make-up is extremely interesting, both in terms of history and ethnicity. Some 98% of the Taiwanese are ethnically Han Chinese, but their ancestors migrated to the island in several waves and speak different languages. Approximately 70% of the population are Hoklo, meaning that they are descended from Chinese immigrants from Southern Fujian who arrived in the 17th century. Another 15% are Hakka , descendants of migrants from central China, mainly Guangdong Province. The Hakka are supposed to have immigrated in five or six major waves beginning just after the reign of Qin Shihuangdi (246 - 210 BCE). In addition to the Hoklo and Hakka waves, a third group of mainland Chinese arrived in Taiwan after the Nationalist Guomindang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong and the Communists. Descendants of this third wave, which took place in 1949, are called waishengren and make up 12% of Taiwan's total population. Finally, 2% of Taiwanese citizens are aboriginal people, divided into thirteen major ethnic groups. This are the Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyat, Sakizaya, Tao (or Yami), Thao, and Truku. Taiwanese aborigines are Austronesian, and DNA evidence suggests that Taiwan was the starting point for the peopling of the Pacific islands by Polynesian explorers. Languages: The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin ; however, the 70% of the population who are ethnic Hoklo speak the Hokkien dialect of Min Nan (Southern Min) Chinese as their mother tongue. Hokkien is not mutually intelligible with Cantonese or Mandarin. Most Hoklo people in Taiwan speak both Hokkien and Mandarin fluently. The Hakka people also have their own dialect of Chinese which is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien - the language is also called Hakka. Mandarin is the language of instruction in Taiwan's schools, and most radio and TV programs are broadcast in the official langauge as well. The aboriginal Taiwanese have their own languages, though most can also speak Mandarin. These aboriginal languages belong to the Austronesian language family rather than the Sino-Tibetan family. Finally, some elderly Taiwanese speak Japanese , learned in school during the Japanese occupation (1895-1945), and do not understand Mandarin. Religion in Taiwan: Taiwan's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and 93% of the population profess one faith or another. Most adhere to Buddhism , often in combination with the philosophies of Confucianism and/or Taoism . Approximately 4.5% of Taiwanese are Christians , including about 65% of Taiwan's aboriginal people. There are a wide variety of other faiths represented by less than 1% of the population: Islam , Mormonism, Scientology , Baha'i , Jehovah's Witnesses , Tenrikyo , Mahikari, Liism, etc. Taiwan's Geography: Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, is a large island about 180 kilometers (112 miles) off the coast of southeast China. It has a total area of 35,883 square kilometers (13,855 square miles). The western third of the island is flat and fertile, so the vast majority of Taiwan's people live there. In contrast, the eastern two-thirds are rugged and mountainous, and hence much more sparsely populated. One of the most famous sites in eastern Taiwan is the Taroko National Park , with its landscape of peaks and gorges. The highest point in Taiwan is Yu Shan, 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level. Taiwan sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire , situated at a suture between the Yangtze, Okinawa and Philippine tectonic plates . As a result, it is seismically active; on September 21, 1999, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the island, and smaller tremors are quite common. Climate of Taiwan: Taiwan has a tropical climate, with a monsoonal rainy season from January through March. Summers are hot and humid. The average temperature in July is about 27°C (81°F), while in February the average drops to 15°C (59°F). Taiwan is a frequent target of Pacific typhoons. Taiwan's Economy: Taiwan is one of Asia's " Tiger Economies ," along with Singapore , South Korea and Hong Kong . After World War II, the island received a huge influx of cash when the fleeing KMT brought millions in gold and foreign currency from the mainland's treasury to Taipei. Today, Taiwan is a capitalist powerhouse, and a major exporter of electronics and other high-tech products. It had an estimated 5.2% growth rate in its GDP in 2011, despite the global economic downturn and weakened demand for consumer goods. Taiwan's unemployment rate is 4.3% (2011), and a per capita GDP of $37,900 US. As of March 2012, $1 US = 29.53 Taiwanese New Dollars. History of Taiwan: Humans first settled the island of Taiwan as early as 30,000 years ago, although the identity of those first inhabitants is unclear. Around 2,000 BCE or earlier, farming people from the mainland of China immigrated to Taiwan. These farmers spoke an Austronesian language; their descendants today are called Taiwanese aboriginal people. Although many of them stayed in Taiwan, others continued on to populate the Pacific Islands, becoming the Polynesian peoples of Tahiti, Hawai'i, New Zealand, Easter Island, etc. Waves of Han Chinese settlers arrived in Taiwan via the off-shore Penghu Islands, perhaps as early as 200 BCE. During the "Three Kingdoms" period, the emperor of Wu sent explorers to seek islands in the Pacific; they returned with thousands of captive aboriginal Taiwanese. The Wu decided that Taiwan was barbaric land, not worthy of joining the Sinocentric trade and tribute system. Larger numbers of Han Chinese began to come in the 13th and then again in the 16th centuries. Some accounts state that one or two ships from Admiral Zheng He's first voyage might have visited Taiwan in 1405. European awareness of Taiwan began in 1544, when the Portuguese sighted the island and named it Ilha Formosa, "beautiful island." In 1592, Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan sent an armada to take Taiwan, but the aboriginal Taiwanese fought the Japanese off. Dutch traders also established a fort on Tayouan in 1624, which they called Castle Zeelandia. This was an important way-station for the Dutch on their way to Tokugawa Japan , where they were the only Europeans allowed in to trade. The Spanish also occupied northern Taiwan from 1626 to 1642, but were driven off by the Dutch. In 1661-62, pro-Ming military forces fled to Taiwan to escape the Manchus , who had defeated the ethnic-Han Chinese Ming Dynasty in 1644, and were extending their control southward. The pro-Ming forces expelled the Dutch from Taiwan and set up the Kingdom of Tungnin on the southwest coast. This kingdom lasted just two decades, from 1662 to 1683, and was beset by tropical disease and a lack of food. In 1683, the Manchu Qing Dynasty destroyed the Tungnin fleet and conquered the renegade little kingdom. During the Qing annexation of Taiwan, different Han Chinese groups fought one another and the Taiwanese aborigines. Qing troops put down a serious rebellion on the island in 1732, driving the rebels to either assimilate or take refuge high in the mountains. Taiwan became a full province of Qing China in 1885 with Taipei as its capital. This Chinese move was precipitated in part by increasing Japanese interest in Taiwan. In 1871, the Paiwan aboriginal people of southern Taiwan captured fifty-four sailors who were stranded after their ship ran aground. The Paiwan beheaded all the shipwrecked crew, who were from the Japanese tributary state of the Ryukyu Islands. Japan demanded that Qing China compensate them for the incident. However, the Ryukyus were also a tributary of the Qing, so China rejected Japan's claim. Japan reiterated the demand, and the Qing officials refused again, citing the wild and uncivilized nature of Taiwanese aborigines. In 1874, the Meiji government sent an expeditionary force of 3,000 to invade Taiwan; 543 of the Japanese died, but they managed to establish a presence on the island. They were not able to establish control of the entire island until the 1930s, however, and had to use chemical weapons and machine guns to subdue the aboriginal warriors. When Japan surrendered at the end of World War II, they signed control of Taiwan over to mainland China. However, since China was embroiled in the Chinese Civil War, the Unted States was supposed to serve as the primary occupying power in the immmediate post-war period. Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government, the KMT, disputed American occupation rights in Taiwan, and set up a Republic of China (ROC) government there in October of 1945. The Taiwanese greeted the Chinese as liberators from harsh Japanese rule, but the ROC soon proved corrupt and inept. When the KMT lost the Chinese Civil War to Mao Zedong and the Communists, the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan and based their government in Taipei. Chiang Kai-shek never relinquished his claim over mainland China; likewise, the People's Republic of China continued to claim sovereignty over Taiwan. The United States, preoccupied with the occupation of Japan, abandoned the KMT in Taiwan to its fate - fully expecting that the Communists would soon route the Nationalists from the island. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, however, the US changed its position on Taiwan; President Harry S Truman sent the American Seventh Fleet in to the Straits between Taiwan and the mainland to prevent the island from falling to the Communists. The US has supported Taiwanese autonomy ever since. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Taiwan was under the authoritarian one-party rule of Chiang Kai-shek until his death in 1975. In 1971, the United Nations recognized the People's Republic of China as the proper holder of the Chinese seat in the UN (both the Security Council and the General Assembly). The Republic of China (Taiwan) was expelled. In 1975, Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, succeeded his father. Taiwan received another diplomatic blow in 1979, when the United States withdrew its recognition from the Republic of China and instead recognized the People's Republic of China. Chiang Ching-kuo gradually loosened his grip on absolute power during the 1980s, recinding the state of martial law that had lasted since 1948. Meanwhile, Taiwan's economy boomed on the strength of high-tech exports. The younger Chiang passed away in 1988, and further political and social liberalization led to the free election of Lee Teng-hui as president in 1996.	i don't know
Which island group is known by the French as Iles Normande?	The Channel Islands - Normandy: regions of France Normandy: regions of France Site Map » Normandy » The Channel Islands The Channel Islands (Îles Anglo-Normandes) are a group of British dependent islands in the English Channel (or the Manche), off the French coast of Normandy. They have a total population of about 160,000. The main islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. But there are other small islands as well. By Channel islanders - when speaking French - the islands are called the 'Îles de la Manche'. In France, however, they are known as the 'Îles anglo-normandes' (Anglo-Norman isles). Although the islands are very British in many respects, as the photographs above show, there are certain differences! Why not visit our Art Wiki? You can read or write about art and artists. And even add a page about yourself… ".. Renoir, Picasso, Cubism, Renaissance art, Georges Seurat, Michael Asher, da Vinci, lautrec, leger, Joan Miro, Impressionism, Edvard Munch, Hans Holbein, Matisse, realism, rococo, baroque, Bosch art, Mark Rothko, orkin, poynter, pollock, Geoff Bunn art, Turner, Sol LeWitt, hirst, emin, Max Ernst, still-life, Richard Serra, landscapes, Primitivism, John Sargent, Madge Gill, pre-raphaelites, Conceptualism, Claude Monet, art brut, art povera, Mel Bochner, bridget riley, LS Lowry, Expressionism, modigliani, Marcel Duchamp, Victor Burgin, dada, surrealism and much more besides…"	Channel Islands
From the Greek meaning 'against', and 'a name', what is a word called which has the opposite meaning to another word?	Norman Isles - definition of Norman Isles by The Free Dictionary Norman Isles - definition of Norman Isles by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Norman+Isles Also found in: Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Chan·nel Islands (chăn′əl) 1. A group of British islands in the English Channel off the coast of northern France. Settled by Norse mariners, the islands became part of the duchy of Normandy in the tenth century and passed to England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. 2. also Santa Barbara Islands A chain of islands and islets off southern California in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are separated from the mainland by the Santa Barbara Channel in the north and the San Pedro Channel in the south. Channel Islands pl n (Placename) a group of islands in the English Channel, off the NW coast of France, consisting of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Brechou or Brecqhou, Sark, Herm, Jethou, and Lihou (all between them representing the United Kingdom Crown Dependencies of the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey) - the only part of the duchy of Normandy remaining to Britain - and the Roches Douvres and the Îles Chausey (which belong to France). Pop: 149 878 (2001). Area: 194 sq km (75 sq miles) Chan′nel Is′lands n.pl. a British island group in the English Channel, near the coast of France, consisting of Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, and smaller islands. 126,156; 75 sq. mi. (194 sq. km). Translations	i don't know
What are the fertile South American lowlands covering more than 750,000 square kilometres in Argentina and most of Uruguay?	Endless Pampas, a photo from Buenos Aires, South \| TrekEarth Only registered TrekEarth members may write critiques. Photographer's Note The Pampas (from Quechua, meaning "plain") are the fertile South American lowlands that include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, and Cï¿½rdoba, most of Uruguay, and the southernmost end of Brazil, covering more than 750,000 kmï¿½ (290,000 square miles). These vast plains are only interrupted by the low Ventania mountain range near Bahï¿½a Blanca (Argentina), with 1,300 m height. The climate is mild, with precipitation of 600 to 1,200 mm, more or less evenly distributed through the year, making the soils appropriate for agriculture. Frequent fires ensure that only small plants such as grasses flourish and trees are exceptional. The dominant vegetation types are grassy prairie and grass steppe in which numerous species of the grass genus Stipa are particularly conspicuous. "Pampas Grass" (Cortaderia selloana) is an iconic species of the Pampas. Vegetation typically includes perennial grasses and herbs. Different strata of grasses occur due to gradients of water availability. The Pampas are home to a wide variety of native species, although there is an almost absolute lack of native trees, except along main watercourses. The World Wildlife Fund divides the Pampa into three distinct ecoregions. The Uruguayan savanna lies west of the Uruguay River, and includes all of Uruguay and the southern portion of Brazil's state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Humid Pampas includes western Buenos Aires Province, and southern Entre Rios Province. The Semi-arid Pampas includes eastern Buenos Aires Province and adjacent portions of Santa Fe, Cordoba, and La Pampa provinces. The Pampas are bounded by the drier Argentine espinal grasslands, which form a semi-circle around the north, east, and south of the Humid Pampas. Its climate, as in the mid-latitudes, is naturally changeable. Winters are cool to mild and summers are very warm and humid. Rainfall is fairly uniform throughout the year but is a little heavier during the summer. Annual rainfall is heaviest near the coast and decreases gradually further inland. Rain during the late spring and summer usually arrives in the form of brief heavy showers and thunderstorms. More general rainfall occurs the remainder of the year as cold fronts and storm systems move through. Although cold spells during the winter often send nighttime temperatures below freezing, snow is quite rare. In most winters, a few light snowfalls occur over inland areas. Snow is extremely rare near the coast. Central Argentina boasts a successful agricultural business, with crops grown on the Pampas south and west of the Buenos Aires. In particular, the harvested area of soybeans is on pace to set a record, according to the Food and Agricultural Service. Much of the area is also used for grazing cattle. These farming regions (i.e., modified of disturbed Pampas) are particularly susceptible to flooding during heavy rainfall. In October 2001 an estimated 35,000 kmï¿½ of the pampas were flooded. Buenos Aires reported nearly 250 mm (9.84 in) of rainfall during that month, which is more than double the normal amount. From wikipedia.	Pampas
Austrian monk and scientist Gregor Johann Mendel used which plant for the study and experiment of genetics and heredity of certain traits?	Argentina Argentina SOS Children works in Argentina. For more information see SOS Children in Argentina República Argentina Motto: Spanish : En Unión y Libertad ( English : "In Union and Freedom") Anthem: Himno Nacional Argentino Capital (and largest city) Buenos Aires (1)) 34°20′S 58°30′W Official languages Spanish Government Federal republic - President Néstor Kirchner - Vice President Daniel Scioli Independence From Spain - May Revolution 25 May 1810 - Declared 9 July 1816 - Recognized 1821 (by Portugal ) Area - Total 2,780,400 (1) km² ( 8th) 1,073,514 sq mi - Water (%) 1.1 Population - 2006 estimate 39,921,833 ( 32nd) - 2001 census 36,260,130 - Density 14/km² ( 195th) 36/sq mi GDP ( PPP) 2006 estimate - Total US $548.754 billion ( 22nd) - Per capita US $14,838 ( 48th) HDI (2006) 0.863 (high) ( 36th) Currency Peso ( ARS) Time zone ART ( UTC-3) - Summer ( DST) ARST ( UTC-3) Internet TLD .ar Calling code +54 (1) Argentina also has a territorial dispute with the United Kingdom over an additional 1,000,000 km² of Antarctica , the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands , for a total of 3,761,274 km² (1,452,236 sq mi). Argentina is a country in southern South America. It ranks second in land area in South America, and eighth in the world. Argentina occupies a continental surface area of 2,791,810 km² (1,078,000 sq mi) between the Andes mountain range in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south. It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast, and Chile in the west and south. The country claims the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands ( Spanish : Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands . Under the name of Argentine Antarctica, it claims 969,464 km² (374,312 sq mi) of Antarctica , overlapping other claims made by Chile and the United Kingdom . The country is formally called the Argentine Republic ( Spanish : República Argentina, IPA [reˈpuβlika aɾxenˈtina]). For many legal purposes, Nación Argentina (Argentine Nation) is used. Origin and history of the name "Argentina" derives from the Latin argentum ( silver ). When the first Spanish conquistadors discovered the Río de la Plata, they named the estuary Mar Dulce ('Sweet Sea', as in a fresh water sea). Indigenous people gave gifts of silver to the survivors of the shipwrecked expedition, who were led by Juan Díaz de Solís. The legend of Sierra del Plata — a mountain rich in silver — reached Spain around 1524, and the name was first seen in print on a Venice map from 1536. The source of the silver was the area where the city of Potosí was to be founded in 1546. An expedition that followed the trail of the silver up the Paraná and Pilcomayo rivers finally reached the source only to find it already claimed by explorers who reached it from Lima , the capital of the Viceroyalty. The name Argentina was first used extensively in Ruy Díaz de Guzmán's 1612 book Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata), naming the territory Tierra Argentina (Land of Silver). History Río de la Plata aboriginals, as pictured by Hendrick Ottsen (1603) The first signs of human presence in Argentina are located in the Patagonia ( Piedra Museo, Santa Cruz), and date from 11,000 BC. Around 1 AD, several corn-based civilizations developed in the western Andean region (Santa María, Huarpes, Diaguitas, Sanavirones, among others). In 1480 the Inca Empire , under the rule of emperor Pachacutec, launched an offensive and conquered present-day northwestern Argentina, integrating it into a region called Collasuyu. In the northeastern area, the Guaraní developed a culture based on yuca and sweet potato. The central and southern areas ( Pampas and Patagonia) were dominated by nomadic cultures, unified in the 17th century by the Mapuches. Buenos Aires in 1536 Europeans arrived in 1502. Spain established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580; the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created in 1776. In 1806 and 1807 the British Empire launched two invasions to Buenos Aires, but the creole population repelled both attempts. On May 25, 1810, after confirmation of the rumors about the overthrow of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon, citizens of Buenos Aires took advantage of the situation and created the First Government Junta ( May Revolution). Formal independence from Spain was declared on July 9, 1816 in Tucumán. In 1817, General José de San Martín crossed the Andes to free Chile and Peru , thus eliminating the Spanish threat. Centralist and federalist groups (Spanish: Unitarios and Federales) were in conflict until national unity was established and the constitution promulgated in 1853. Foreign investment and immigration from Europe led to the adoption of modern agricultural techniques. In the 1880s, the " Conquest of the Desert" subdued or exterminated the remaining indigenous tribes throughout the southern Pampas and Patagonia. From 1880 to 1930, Argentina enjoyed increasing prosperity and prominence through an export-led economy, and the population of the country swelled sevenfold. Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics until 1916, when their traditional rivals, the Radicals, won control of the government. The military forced Hipólito Yrigoyen from power in 1930, leading to another decade of Conservative rule. Political change led to the presidency of Juan Perón in 1946, who tried to empower the working class and greatly expanded the number of unionized workers. The Revolución Libertadora of 1955 deposed him. President Juan Perón (1946) From the 1950s to 1970s, soft military and weak civilian administrations traded power. During those years the economy grew strongly and poverty declined (less than 7% in 1975), but became increasingly protectionist. At the same time political violence continued to escalate. In 1973, Perón returned to the presidency, but he died within a year of assuming power. His third wife Isabel, the Vice President, succeeded him in office, but the military coup of March 24, 1976 removed her from office. The armed forces took power through a junta in charge of the self-appointed National Reorganization Process until 1983. The military government repressed opposition and terrorist leftist groups using harsh illegal measures (the " Dirty War"); thousands of dissidents " disappeared", while the SIDE cooperated with DINA and other South American intelligence agencies, and with the CIA in Operation Condor. Many of the military leaders that took part in the Dirty War were trained in the U.S. -financed School of the Americas, among them Argentine dictators Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola. Economic problems, charges of corruption, public revulsion in the face of human rights abuses and, finally, the country's 1982 defeat by the British in the Falklands War discredited the Argentine military regime. Democracy was restored in 1983. Raúl Alfonsín's Radical government took steps to account for the "disappeared", established civilian control of the armed forces, and consolidated democratic institutions. The members of the three military juntas were prosecuted and sentenced to life terms. Failure to resolve endemic economic problems and an inability to maintain public confidence led to Alfonsín's early departure six months before his term was to be completed. President Carlos Menem imposed a peso- dollar fixed exchange rate in 1991 to stop hyperinflation and adopted far-reaching market-based policies, dismantling protectionist barriers and business regulations, and implementing a privatization program. These reforms contributed to significant increases in investment and growth with stable prices through most of the 1990s. Protest against the corralito (2002) The Menem and de la Rúa administrations faced diminished competitiveness of exports, massive imports which damaged national industry and reduced employment, chronic fiscal and trade deficits, and the contagion of several economic crises. The Asian financial crisis in 1998 precipitated an outflow of capital that mushroomed into a recession, and culminated in a financial panic in November of 2001. The next month, amidst bloody riots, President de la Rúa finally resigned. In two weeks, several presidents followed in quick succession, culminating in Eduardo Duhalde being appointed interim President of Argentina by the Legislative Assembly on 2 January 2002. Argentina defaulted on its international debt obligations. The peso's almost 11-year-old linkage to the U.S. dollar was abandoned, resulting in major depreciation of the peso and a spike in inflation. With a more competitive and flexible exchange rate, the country started implementing new policies based on re-industrialization, import substitution, increased exports, and consistent fiscal and trade surpluses. By the end of 2002, the economy began to stabilize. In 2003, Néstor Kirchner was elected president. During Kirchner's presidency, Argentina restructured its defaulted debt with a steep discount (about 75 percent) on most bonds, paid off outstanding debts with the International Monetary Fund, renegotiated contracts with utilities, and nationalized some previously privatized industries. Currently, Argentina is enjoying a period of high economic growth and increased political stability. Politics Government Congress building in Buenos Aires Argentina's political framework is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of Argentina is both head of state and head of government, complemented by a pluriform multi-party system. Argentina's current president (2006) is Néstor Kirchner, with Daniel Scioli as vice president. The Argentine Constitution of 1853 mandates a separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the national and provincial level. Executive power resides in the President and his cabinet. The President and Vice President are directly elected to 4-year terms, limited to two consecutive terms, and the cabinet ministers are appointed by the president. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Nación, consisting of a Senate ( Senado) of 72 seats, and a Chamber of Deputies ( Cámara de Diputados) of 257 members. Senators serve 6-year terms, with one-third standing for reelection every 2 years. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are directly elected to 4-year term via a system of proportional representation, with half of the members of the lower house being elected every 2 years. A third of the candidates presented by the parties must be women. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Argentine Supreme Court of Justice has 9 members who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Senate. The rest of the judges are appointed by the Council of Magistrates of the Nation, a secretariat composed of representatives of judges, lawyers, the Congress, and the executive. (see also law of Argentina) Foreign relations Argentina is a member of Mercosur, an international bloc which has some legislative supranational functions. Mercosur is composed of five full members: Argentina, Brazil , Paraguay , Uruguay , and Venezuela . It has five associate members without full voting rights: Bolivia , Chile , Colombia , Ecuador , and Peru . Current and Former Presidents of Brazil and Argentina on the 20th anniversary of the Mercosur. Argentina was the only country from Latin America to participate in the 1991 Gulf War under mandate of the United Nations , and in every phase of the Haiti operation. It has also contributed worldwide in peacekeeping operations, including in El Salvador - Honduras - Nicaragua , Guatemala , Ecuador - Peru , Western Sahara , Angola , Kuwait , Cyprus , Croatia , Kosovo , Bosnia and Timor Leste. In recognition of its contributions to international security, U.S. President Bill Clinton designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998. In 2005, it was elected as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. In 2005, on November 4 and November 5, the Argentine city of Mar del Plata hosted the Fourth Summit of the Americas. This summit was marked by a number of anti-U.S. protests. As of 2006, Argentina has been emphasizing Mercosur as its first international priority; by contrast, during the 1990s, it relied more heavily on its relationship with the United States . Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands , the South Shetland Islands, the South Sandwich Islands and almost 1 million km² in Antarctica, between the 25°W and the 74°W meridians and the 60°S parallel. This slice of the continent is known as Argentine Antarctica, which Argentina considers part of the national territory. For more than a century, there has been an Argentine presence at the Orcadas Base. Argentina is a founding signatory and permanent consulting member of the Antarctic Treaty System and the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is established in Buenos Aires Military The President is the Commander-in-Chief, and the military is under the control of the Defense Ministry. Argentina's military establishement has historically been one of the best equipped in the region (for example, developing its own advanced jet fighters as early as the 1950s), but has faced expenditure cutbacks in comparison to other regional militaries. The age of allowable military service is 18 years; there is no obligatory military service and currently no conscription. The military is composed of a traditional Army, Navy, and Air Force. Controlled by a separate ministry (the Interior Ministry), Argentine territorial waters are patrolled by the Naval Prefecture, and the border regions by the National Gendarmerie; both branches however maintain liasions with the Defense Ministry. They mostly perform patrols against organized crime, drug smuggling, and rescue operations of civilians in distress. Argentina's Armed Forces are currently performing major operations in Haiti and Cyprus , in accordance to specified UN mandates. Administrative divisions Provinces of Argentina. Argentina claims control of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and a slice of Antarctica , both of which it considers a part of its Tierra del Fuego Province (23). Argentina is divided into 23 provinces (provincias; singular: provincia), and 1 autonomous city (commonly known as capital federal but constitutionally: "Capital de la República" or "Capital de la Nación"), marked with an asterisk: Tucumán * The current official name for the federal district is Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires has been the capital of Argentina since its unification, but there have been projects to move the administrative centre elsewhere. During the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín a law was passed ordering the transfer of the federal capital to Viedma, a city in the Patagonian province of Río Negro. Studies were underway when economic problems killed the project in 1989. Though the law was never formally repealed, it has become a mere historical relic, and the project has been forgotten. Provinces are divided into smaller secondary units called departamentos, or departments. There are 376 departments. The province of Buenos Aires has 134 similar divisions known as partidos. Departamentos and partidos are further subdivided into municipalities or districts. In descending order by number of inhabitants, the major cities in Argentina are Buenos Aires , Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Tucumán, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Salta, Santa Fe, San Juan, Resistencia, and Neuquén. Geography Topographic map of Argentina (Including some territorial claims) Main features The total surface area of Argentina (not including the Antarctic claim), is as follows: Total: 2,766,890 km² Land: 2,736,691 km² Water: 30,200 km² Argentina is nearly 3,700 km long from north to south, and 1,400 km from east to west (maximum values). It can roughly be divided into four parts: the fertile plains of the Pampas in the centre the country, the source of Argentina's agricultural wealth; the flat to rolling, oil-rich plateau of Patagonia in the southern half down to Tierra del Fuego; the subtropical flats of the Gran Chaco in the north, and the rugged Andes mountain range along the western border with Chile . The highest point above sea level in Argentina is located in Mendoza. Cerro Aconcagua, at 6,962 meters (22,834 feet), is the highest mountain in the Americas, the Southern, and Western Hemisphere. The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón in Santa Cruz, −105 meters (−344 feet) below sea level. This is also the lowest point on the South American continent . The geographic centre of the country is located in south-central La Pampa province. The country has a territorial claim over a portion of Antarctica, where it has maintained a constant occupied presence for more than a century, starting in 1904. Geographic regions The country is traditionally divided into several major geographically distinct regions: Pampas: The plains west and south from Buenos Aires are some of the most fertile in the world. Called the Humid Pampa, they cover most of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and big portions of the provinces of Santa Fe and La Pampa. The western part of La Pampa and the province San Luis also have plains (the Dry Pampa), but they are drier and used mainly for grazing. The Sierra de Córdoba in the homonymous province (extending into San Luis), is the most important geographical feature of the pampas. Gran Chaco: The Gran Chaco region in the north of the country is seasonal dry/wet, mainly cotton growing and livestock raising. It covers the provinces of Chaco and Formosa. It is dotted with subtropical forests, scrubland, and some wetlands, home to a large number of plant and animal species. The province of Santiago del Estero lies in the drier region of the Gran Chaco. Mesopotamia: The land between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers is called Mesopotamia and it is shared by the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Ríos. It features flatland apt for grazing and plant growing, and the Iberá Wetlands in central Corrientes. Misiones province is more tropical and belongs within the Brazilian Highlands geographic feature. It features subtropical rainforests and the Iguazú Falls. Patagonia: The steppes of Patagonia, in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz, are of Tertiary origin. Most of the region is semiarid in the north to cold and arid in the far south, but forests grow in its western fringes which are dotted with several large lakes. Tierra del Fuego is cool and wet, moderated by oceanic influences. Northern Patagonia (roughly Río Negro south of the homonymous river, and Neuquén) can also be referred as the Comahue region (not commonly in use). Cuyo: West-central Argentina is dominated by the imposing Andes Mountains. To their east is the arid region known as Cuyo. Melting waters from high in the mountains form the backbone of irrigated lowland oasis, at the centre of a rich fruit and wine growing region in Mendoza and San Juan provinces. Further north the region gets hotter and drier with more geographical accidents in La Rioja province. NOA or Noroeste: This region is the highest in average elevation. Several parallel mountain ranges, several of which have peaks higher than 20,000 feet, dominate the area. These ranges grow wider in geographic extent towards the north. They are cut by fertile river valleys, the most important being the Calchaquí Valleys in the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta. Farther north the province of Jujuy near Bolivia lies mainly within the Altiplano plateau of the Central Andes. The Tropic of Capricorn goes through the far north of the region. Rivers and lakes Espejo Lake, in Neuquén Major rivers in Argentina include the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado, Uruguay and the largest river, the Paraná. The latter two flow together before meeting the Atlantic Ocean , forming the estuary of the Río de la Plata. Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and the San Francisco River in Salta. There are several large lakes in Argentina, many of them in Patagonia. Among these are lakes Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi in Río Negro and Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Buenos Aires and O'Higgins/San Martín Lake are shared with Chile. Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water lake in the country. There are numerous reservoirs created by dams . Argentina features various hot springs, such as those at Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 30°C and 65°C. Coastal areas and seas Argentina has 2,665 kilometers (1,656mi) of coastline. The continental platform is unusually wide; in Argentina this shallow area of the Atlantic Ocean is called Mar Argentino. The waters are rich in fisheries and suspected of holding important hydrocarbon energy resources. Argentina's coastline varies between areas of sand dunes and cliffs. The two major ocean currents affecting the coast are the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falkland Current (Spanish: corriente Antártica). Because of the uneveness of the coastal landmass, the two currents alternate in their influence on climate and do not allow temperatures to fall evenly with higher latitude. The southern coast of Tierra del Fuego forms the north shore of the Drake Passage. Climate Calchaquí Valleys in the province of Salta Because of longitudinal and elevation amplitudes, Argentina is subject to a variety of climates. As a rule, the climate is predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from subtropical in the north to subpolar in the far south. The north of the country is characterized by very hot, humid summers with mild drier winters, and is subject to periodic droughts. Central Argentina has hot summers with thunderstorms (in western Argentina producing some of the world's largest hail), and cool winters. The southern regions have warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall, specially in mountainous zones. Higher elevations at all latitudes experience cooler conditions. The hottest and coldest temperature extremes recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina. A record high temperature of 48.8 °C (120 °F), was recorded at Rivadavia, Salta on December 11, 1905. The lowest temperature recorded was −32.7 °C (−27 °F) at Sarmiento, Chubut, June 1st, 1907. Major winds in Argentina include the cool Pampero blowing on the flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas after a cold front; the Viento Norte, a warm wind that can blow from the north in mid and late winter creating mild conditions; and the Zonda, a hot and dry wind ( see Föhn wind), affecting west-central Argentina. Squeezed of all moisture during the 6,000 meter descent from the Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to 120 km/h, fueling wildfires and causing damage. When the Zonda blows (June-November), snowstorms and blizzard (viento blanco) conditions usually affect the higher elevations. The Sudestada (literally "southeaster") could be considered similar to the Noreaster, though snowfall is rarely involved (but is not unprecedented). Both are associated with a deep winter low pressure system. The sudestada usually moderates cold temperatures but brings very heavy rains, rough seas, and coastal flooding. It is most common in late autumn and winter along the coasts of central Argentina and in the Río de la Plata estuary. The southern regions, particularly the far south, experience long periods of daylight from November to February (up to 19 hours), and extended nights from May to August. All of Argentina uses UTC-3 time zone. The country does not observe daylight savings. Extreme points Argentina's eastermost continental point is northeast of the town of Bernardo de Irigoyen, Misiones ( 26°15′S 53°38′W), the westernmost in the Mariano Moreno Range in Santa Cruz ( 49°33′S 73°35′W). The northermost point is located at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete rivers, Jujuy ( 21°46′S 66°13′W), and the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra del Fuego ( 55°03′S 66°31′W). Enclaves and exclaves There is one Argentine exclave, the Martín García Island (co-ordinates 34°11′S 58°15′W). It is near the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, a kilometre (0.62 mi) inside Uruguayan waters, and 3.5 kilometres (2.1 mi) from the Uruguayan coastline near the small town of Martín Chico (itself halfway between Nueva Palmira and Colonia del Sacramento). An agreement reached by Argentina and Uruguay in 1973 reaffirmed Argentine jurisdiction over the island, ending a century-old dispute. Under the terms of the agreement, Martín García is to be devoted exclusively as a natural preserve. Its area is about 2 square kilometres (500 acres), and its population is about 200 people. Flora and fauna Vegetation Ceibo is Argentina's national flower Subtropical plants dominate the north, part of the Gran Chaco region of South America. The genus Dalbergia of trees is well disseminated with representatives like the Brazilian Rosewood and the quebracho tree; also predominant are white and black algarrobo trees ( prosopis alba and prosopis nigra). Savannah-like areas exist in the drier regions nearer the Andes . Acquatic plants thrive in the wetlands dotting the region. In central Argentina the humid pampas are a true tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The original pampa had virtually no trees; today along roads or in towns and country estates (estancias), some imported species like the American sycamore or eucalyptus are present. The only tree-like plant native to the pampa is the ombú, an evergreen. The surface soils of the pampa are a deep black colour, primarily humus, known commonly as compost. It is this which makes the region one of the most agriculturaly productive on Earth. However, this is also responsible for decimating much of the original ecosystem, to make way for commercial agriculture . The western pampas receive less rainfall, this dry pampa is a plain of short grasses or steppe. Most of Patagonia in the south lies within a rain shade of the Andes . The plantlife, shrubby bushes and plants, is well suited to withstand dry conditions. The soil is hard and rocky making large-scale farming impossible except along river valleys. Coniferous forests grow in far western Patagonia and on the island of Tierra del Fuego. Conifers native to the region include alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), ciprés de la cordillera (Austrocedrus chilensis), ciprés de las guaitecas (Pilgerodendron uviferum), huililahuán (Podocarpus nubigenus), lleuque (Prumnopitys andina), mañío hembra (Saxegothaea conspicua), and pehuén (Araucaria araucana), while native broadleaf trees include several species of Nothofagus including coigüe or coihue, lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), ñire (Nothofagus antarctica). Other introduced trees present in forestry plantations include spruce, cypress, and pine. Common plants are the copihue and colihue ( Chusquea coleou). In Cuyo, semiarid thorny bushes and other xerophile plants abound. Along the many river oasis, grasses and trees grow in significant numbers. The area presents optimal conditions for the large scale growth of grape vines. In the northwest of Argentina there are many species of cactii . In the highest elevations (often above 4,000mts), no vegetation grows due to the extreme altitude, and the soils are virtually devoid of any plant life. The ceibo flower (belonging to the tree Erythrina crista-galli), is the national flower of Argentina. Animal life Many species live in the subtropical north. Big cats like the jaguar, puma, and ocelot; primates ( howler monkey); large reptiles ( crocodiles), and a species of caiman. Other animals include the tapir, capybara, anteater , ferret, raccoon, and various species of turtle and tortoise. There are many birds, notably hummingbirds, flamingos, toucans, and parrots. The Condor in flight The central grasslands are populated by the armadillo , pampas cat, and the rhea (ñandú), a flightless bird. Hawks , falcons, herons, partridges inhabit the region. There are also deer and foxes. Some of these species extend into Patagonia. The western mountains are home to different animals. These include the llama, guanaco, vicuña, among the most recognizable species of South America. Also in this region are the jackal , andean cat, and the largest flying bird in the New World, the condor. Southern Argentina is home to the puma, huemul, pudú (the world's smallest deer), and wild boar. The coast of Patagonia is rich in animal life: elephant seals, fur seals, sea lions, and species of penguin . The far south is populated by cormorant birds. The territorial waters of Argentina have abundant ocean life; mammals such as dolphins , orcas , and whales like the southern right whale , a major tourist draw for naturalists. Sea fish include sardines, argentine hakes, dolphinfish, salmon, and sharks; also present are squid and spider crab (centolla) in Tierra del Fuego. Rivers and streams in Argentina have many species of trout and the South American dorado fish. Outstanding snake species inhabiting Argentina include boa constrictors, and the very venomous yacará pit viper and south American rattle snake. The Hornero was elected the National Bird after a survey in 1928. Economy Recent developments Current Argentine peso bills Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. The country historically had a large middle class compared to other Latin American countries, but this segment of the population was decimated by a succession of economic crises. Today, while a significant segment of the population is still financially well-off, they stand in sharp contrast with millions who have seen their purchasing power drastically reduced. Since 2002, there has been an improvement in the situation of the poorer sectors and a strong rebound of the middle class. Since the late 1970s, the country piled up public debt and was plagued by bouts of high inflation. In 1991, the government pegged the peso to the U.S. dollar and limited the growth in the monetary base. The government then embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. Inflation dropped and the gross domestic product grew, but external economic shocks and failures of the system diluted its benefits, causing it to crumble in slow motion, from 1995 and up to the collapse in 2001. By 2002, Argentina had defaulted on its debt, its GDP had shrunk, unemployment was more than 25%, and the peso had depreciated 75% after being devalued and floated. However, careful spending control and heavy taxes on now-soaring exports gave the state the tools to regain resources and conduct monetary policy. Hilton Hotel to the right of River View Towers, Buenos Aires In 2003, import substitution policies and soaring exports coupled with lower inflation and expansive economic measures, triggered a surge in the GDP. It was repeated in 2004 and 2005, creating millions of jobs and encouraging internal consumption. Capital flight decreased, and foreign investment slowly returned. The influx of foreign currency from exports created a huge trade surplus. The Central Bank was forced to buy dollars from the market, and continues to do a various times today to be accumulated as reserves. It does this to prevent the argentine peso from appreciating significantly and cutting competitiveness. The situation by 2006 was further improved, the year is on track to match the large GDP growth of the last three (predictions are between 8.5% and 9.0%), though inflation, estimated at around 10 to 12%, has become an issue again, and income distribution is still considerably unequal. In a variety of reports, internationals organizations criticize Argentina for remaining a somewhat closed economy. Even as the effects of the crisis have abated but not disappeared, Argentina remains one of the most developed countries in Latin America. Even though the income distribution is an important pending problem, it boasts the highest GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity, and the 3rd highest in US$ (nominal) GDP. The country enjoys the highest levels of education measured by university attendance, and a reasonable infrastructure that in many aspects equals that found in fully industrialized nations. In 2002, 57,5% of the population was below the poverty line, but the last report of August 2006 showed a 31,4% poverty level. Similarly, unemployment was more than 25 percent, by July 2006 it was 10.2 percent. GDP per capita has surpassed the previous pre-recession peak of 1998 in PPP, but still lags in nominal GDP, mostly due to an undervalued currency. The economy grew 8.9 percent in 2003, 9.0 percent in 2004, and 9.2 percent in 2005. As of 2006 foreign debt stands at 68 percent of GDP and is slowly decreasing. Sectors Calatrava's Women's Bridge in Puerto Madero In 2004, agricultural output accounted for 11% of GDP, and one third of all exports. Soy and vegetable oils are major export commodities at 24% of exports. Wheat , maize , oats , sorghum , and sunflower seeds totalled 8%. Cattle is also a major industry. Beef, milk , leather products, and cheese were 6% of total exports. Sheep and wool industries are important in Patagonia, pigs and caprines elsewhere. Fruits and vegetables made up 3% of exports: apples and pears in the Río Negro valley; oranges and other citrus in the northwest and Mesopotamia; grapes and strawberries in Cuyo, and berries in the far south. Cotton and yerba mate are major crops in the Gran Chaco, sugarcane and tobacco in the northwest, and olives and garlic in Cuyo. Bananas ( Formosa), tomatoes ( Salta), and peaches (Mendoza) are grown for domestic consumption. Argentina is the world's 5th wine producer, and fine wine production has taken major leaps in quality. A growing export, total viticulture potential is far from met. Mendoza is the largest wine region, followed by San Juan. Industrial petrochemicals, oil , and natural gas are Argentina's 2nd group of exports, 20% of totals. The most important oil fields lie in Patagonia and Cuyo. An impressive network of pipelines send raw product to Bahia Blanca, centre of the petrochemical industry, and to the La Plata- Rosario industrial belt. Coal is also mined. Mining is a rising industry. The northwest and San Juan Province are main regions of activity. Metals mined include gold , silver , zinc , magnesium , copper , sulfur , tungsten and uranium . In only ten years exports soared from US$ 200 million to 1.2 billion in 2004, 3% of total.. Estimates for 2006 are US$ 2bn, a 10 fold rise from 1996. In fisheries, argentine hake accounts for 50% of catches, pollack and squid follow. Forestry has expanded in Mesopotamia; elm for cellulose, pine and eucalyptus for furniture, timber and paper products. Both sectors account for 2% of exports each. The Yaciretá Dam hydroelectric complex is the 2nd largest in the world Manufacturing is the nation's leading single sector in GDP output, with 35% of the share. Leading sectors are motor vehicles , auto parts, and transportation and farming equipment (7% of exports), iron and steel (3%), foodstuffs and textiles (2%). Other manufactures include cement, industrial chemicals, home appliances, and processed wood . The biggest industrial centers are Buenos Aires , Rosario and Córdoba. The service sector is the biggest contributor to total GDP. Argentina produces energy in large part through well developed hydroelectric resources; nuclear energy is also of high importance. The country is one of the largest producers and exporters (with Canada and Russia ) of Cobalt-60, a radioactive isotope widely used in cancer therapy. Telecommunications are extremely strong, with an important penetration of mobile telephony (75% of population) and internet (30%), broadband services (3%) are expanding rapidly. Regular telephone (85% of households) and mail are robust. Construction has led employment creation in the current economic expansion, and is 5% of GDP. Tourism is increasingly important, now providing 7% of economic output. Argentines are travelling more within their borders, and foreign arrivals are flocking to a country seen as affordable, safe, and incredibly diverse: Cosmopolitan Buenos Aires and Rosario, incomparable Iguazu Falls and colonial Salta. From native amerindian Jujuy Province to fun filled Córdoba, the wineries of Mendoza; skiing in scenic Bariloche to the beaches of Pinamar, and Perito Moreno Glacier to legendary Tierra del Fuego. 3.7 million tourists visited in 2005. Transportation A cargo ship in front of the Rosario-Victoria Bridge Argentina's highway system is well developed and paved roads reach all corners of the country. There are nearly 640,000 kilometers of highways and roads. Multilane highways now connect several main cities and more are now under construction. The railway network was one of the largest in the world, at over 40,000 kilometers of tracks. After decades of decaying service and lack of maintenance, most passenger services shut down in 1992 when the rail company was privatized, and thousands of kilometers of track are now in disrepair. Currently, railway services are being reactivated between several cities, along with upgrades in the system. A high-speed train project between Buenos Aires and Rosario is due to break ground in 2007. The country has around 3,000 kilometers of waterways, most significant among these the Río de la Plata, Paraná, Uruguay, and Paraguay rivers. Population Current figures The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) 2001 census showed the population of Argentina was 36,260,130. It ranks 3rd in South America in total population and 30th globally. The 2005 estimate is for a population of 38,747,000. Argentina's population density is 14 inhabitants per square kilometer. However, the population is not evenly distributed: areas of the city of Buenos Aires have a population density of over 14,000 inhab./km², while Santa Cruz province has less than 1 inhab./km². Argentina is the only nation in Latin America with a net positive migration rate, of about +0.6 persons. Cities and metropolitan areas The 15 largest metropolitan areas of Argentina as of 2005 are as follows: Oroño Boulevard, Rosario Demographics Queen and Princesses of the 2004 National Immigrants' Festival, Oberá, Misiones. More than any other Latin American country, Argentina's population is of European origin. Most of the population is made up of descendants of Spanish , Italian , and other European settlers. Europeans After the regimented Spanish colonists, waves of European immigrants settled in Argentina from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. Major contributors include Italy (notably Campania, Piedmont, Calabria, Veneto, Lombardy), Spain (foremost among them ethnic Galicians and Basques), and France (mostly to Buenos Aires and Mendoza). Smaller but significant numbers of immigrants came from Germany and Switzerland (in the so-called Lakes Region of Patagonia; and in Córdoba), Scandinavia ( Denmark , Norway and Sweden ), the United Kingdom and Ireland (to Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, and Patagonia), and Portugal . Eastern Europeans were also numerous, from Poland , Russia , Ukraine , Romania and Lithuania , as well as Balkan countries ( Croatia and Serbia , particularly in Chaco). Smaller waves of settlers from Australia , South Africa and the United States are recorded in Argentine immigration records. There is a large Armenian community, and the patagonian Chubut Valley has a significant Welsh -descended population. The majority of Argentina's Jewish community (the largest in Latin America and fifth worldwide) derives from immigrants of north and eastern European origin ( Ashkenazi Jews), and about 15-20% from Sephardic groups from Spain or Muslim nations. Many Syrians and Lebanese chose to emigrate to Argentina, which prior to 1924 were recorded as arrivals from the Ottoman Empire . Minorities The largest ethnic minority is the Mestizo (European/Amerindian) population, especially in the northern provinces. Estimates range from 3 to 15%. In recent decades, especially during the 1990s, there has been an influx of immigrants from neighboring countries, principally Paraguay , Bolivia , and Peru ; but some Mexican and Central American immigration took place. Argentine Gaucho Small but growing numbers of people from East Asia have also settled Argentina, mainly in Buenos Aires. The first Asian-Argentines were of Japanese descent; Koreans , Vietnamese , and Chinese followed. The Chinese population alone has risen dramatically, now at over 60,000. Argentina is home to a significant refugee population from Laos . Argentina has a large Arabic community, made up mostly of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon . Many have gained prominent status in national business and politics, including former president Carlos Menem, the son of Syrian settlers from the province of La Rioja. Most of the Arab Argentines are Christian of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, other than Muslims who represent a small portion of Arab Argentines. The officially recognized indigenous population in the country, according to the 2005 Complementary Survey of Indigenous Peoples, stands at approximately 318,700 people (0.8 percent of the total population), who are either members or first-generation descendants of a recognized indigenous community. These parameters may imply an under-count, as most indigenous Argentines are no longer tribally affiliated; in some circumstances they have not been for several generations. Illegal immigrants Illegal immigration has been a relatively important population factor in recent Argentine demographics. Most illegal immigrants come from Bolivia and Paraguay , countries which border Argentina to the north. Smaller numbers arrive from Peru , Ecuador , Romania , and the People's Republic of China . The number of stowaways inside incoming ships from West Africa have increased in recent times. The Argentine government estimates 750,000 are undocumented and has launched a program called Patria Grande ("Greater Homeland"), to encourage illegal immigrants to regularize their status; so far some 200,000 applications have been processed under the program. Other unofficial estimates suggest that over one million people reside in Argentina illegally. Urbanization Government house of Tucumán Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, Mar del Plata Argentina's population is very highly urbanized. About 2.7 million people live in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires , and 11.5 million in Greater Buenos Aires (2001), making it one of the largest urban conglomerates in the world. Together with their respective metropolitan areas, the second- and third-largest cities in Argentina, Córdoba and Rosario, comprise about 1.3 and 1.1 million inhabitants respectively. Most European immigrants to Argentina settled in the cities, which offered jobs, education, and other opportunities that enabled newcomers to enter the middle class. Many also settled in the growing small towns along the expanding railway system. Since the 1930s, many rural workers have moved to the big cities. The 1990s saw many rural towns become ghost towns when train services ceased and local products manufactured on a small scale were replaced by massive amounts of cheap imported goods. Many slums ( villas miseria) sprouted in the outskirts of the largest cities, inhabited by impoverished lower-class urban dwellers, migrants from smaller towns in the interior, and also a large number of immigrants from neighbouring countries that came during the time of the convertibility and did not leave after the 2001 crisis. Argentina's urban areas have a European look, reflecting the influence of European settlers. Many cities are built in a Spanish-grid style around a main square called a plaza. A cathedral and important government buildings often face the plaza. The general layout of the cities is called a damero, or checkerboard, since it is based on a pattern of square blocks, though modern developments sometimes depart from it (the city of La Plata, built at the end of the 19th century, is organized as a checkerboard plus diagonal avenues at fixed intervals). The El Faro Towers, show the modern architecture for urbanization. Culture European and modern styles in Buenos Aires Argentine culture has been primarily informed and influenced by its European roots. Buenos Aires , considered by many its cultural capital, is often said to be the most European city in South America, due both to the prevalence of people of European descent and to conscious imitation of European styles in art forms such as its architecture. The other big influence on the development of a national identity is the culture of the gauchos and their traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Finally, indigenous American traditions (like mate tea drinking) have been absorbed into the greater cultural realm. Literature Argentina has a rich history of world-renowned literature, including one of 20th century's most critically acclaimed writers, Jorge Luis Borges . The country has been a leader in Latin American literature since becoming a fully united entity in the 1850s, with a strong constitution and a defined nation-building plan. The struggle between the Unitarians (who favored a loose confederation of provinces based on rural conservatism) and the Federalists (pro- liberalism and advocates of a strong federal government that would encourage European immigration), set the tone for Argentine literature of the time. José Hernández was the author of the epic tale The Gaucho Martín Fierro The ideological divide between gaucho epic Martín Fierro by José Hernández, and Facundo by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, is a great example. Hernández favored the pastoral lifestyle of early Argentina and vehemently opposed European immigration. Sarmiento wrote immigration was the only way to save Argentina from becoming subject to the rule of a small number of dictatorial caudillo families, arguing such immigrants would make Argentina more modern and enlightened to Western European thought, and therefore a more prosperous society. Argentine literature of that period was fiercely nationalist. It was followed by the modernist movement, which emerged in France in the late 19th century, and this period in turn was followed by vanguardism, with Ricardo Güiraldes as an important reference. Jorge Luis Borges is Argentina's most acclaimed writer. Borges found new ways of looking at the modern world in metaphor and philosophical debate, and his influence has extended to writers all over the globe. Borges is most famous for his works in short stories such as Ficciones and The Aleph. Argentina has produced many more internationally noted writers, poets, and intellectuals: Juan Bautista Alberdi, Roberto Arlt, Enrique Banchs, Adolfo Bioy Cásares, Eugenio Cambaceres, Julio Cortázar, Esteban Echeverria, Leopoldo Lugones, Eduardo Mallea, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, Tomás Eloy Martínez, Victoria Ocampo, Manuel Puig, Ernesto Sabato, Osvaldo Soriano, Alfonsina Storni, and María Elena Walsh. The one and only Quino (born Joaquin Salvador Lavado), has entertained readers the world over, while dipping into the events of modern times, with soup-hating Mafalda and her comic strip gang. Film and theatre The Nueve de Julio Avenue, the world's widest street. Its name honours Argentine Independence Day (July 9, 1816). Argentina is a major producer of motion pictures . The world's first animated films were made and released in Argentina, by cartoonist Quirino Cristiani. Argentine cinema enjoyed a 'golden age' in the 1930s through the 1950s with scores of productions, many now considered classics of Spanish-language film. More recent films have achieved worldwide recognition, such as The Official Story (La Historia Oficial) , Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas) , Man Facing Southeast, Son of the Bride, The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de Motocicleta) , or Iluminados por el Fuego. Although rarely rivaling Hollywood-type movies in popularity, local films are released weekly and widely followed in Argentina and internationally. Even low-budget films have earned prizes in cinema festivals (such as Cannes). The city of Mar del Plata organizes its own film festival, while Buenos Aires has its independent cinema counterpart. The per capita number of screens is one of the highest in Latin America, and viewing per capita is the highest in the region. A new generation of Argentine directors has caught the attention of critics worldwide. Buenos Aires is one of the great capitals of theatre. Besides the Teatro Colón ( Colón Theatre, one of the great opera houses of the world), with its program of national and international caliber, Calle Corrientes, or Corrientes Avenue, is synonymous with the art. It is dubbed 'the street that never sleeps', and sometimes referred to as the Broadway of Buenos Aires. Many great careers in acting, music, and film have begun in its many theaters. The Teatro General San Martín is one of the most prestigious along Corrientes Avenue; the Teatro Nacional Cervantes is designated the national theater of Argentina. Another important theatre is the Independencia in Mendoza. Florencio Sanchez and Griselda Gambaro are famous argentine playwrights. Julio Bocca is one of the great ballet dancers of the modern era. Painting and sculpture Día de Sol (Sunny Day) by Benito Quinquela Martín. ( 1958) Perhaps one of the most enigmatic figures of argentine culture is Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, aka Xul Solar, whose watercolour syle and unorthodox painting media draws large crowds at museums worldwide; he also 'invented' two imaginary languages. The works of Candido Lopez (in Naïve art style), Emilio Pettoruti ( cubist), Antonio Berni ( neo-figurative style), Fernando Fader, and Guillermo Kuitca are appreciated internationally. Benito Quinquela Martín is considered to be the quintesennial 'port' painter, to which the city of Buenos Aires and particularly the working class and immigrant-bound La Boca neighbourhood, was excellently suited for. Lucio Fontana and Leon Ferrari are acclaimed scuptors and conceptual artists. Food and drink Asado Argentine food is influenced by cuisine from Spain , Italy , Germany , France and other European countries, and many foods from those countries such as pasta, sausages, and desserts are common in the nation's diet. Argentina has a wide variety of staple foods, which include empanadas, a stuffed pastry; locro, a mixture of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd; and chorizo, a meat-based spicy sausage. The Argentine barbecue, asado, is one of the most famous in the world and includes various types of meats, among them chorizo, sweetbread, chitterlings, and blood sausage. Thin sandwiches, sandwiches de miga, are also popular. Being an important wine producer, the yearly consumption is among the highest worldwide ( Malbec has become a representative variety from Argentina). Also, a common custom among Argentines is drinking mate. Dulce de Leche is a famous sweet caramel spread. Sports The stadium for Boca Juniors football club, currently the team with the most international championships (16) Argentina is a world power in team sports. Football ( soccer ) is the most popular sport in Argentina, whose national team is twice FIFA World Cup Champion and one-time Olympic Gold medalist (also 14 times Copa América winners). Yet the national sport of the country is pato, played with a six-handle ball on horseback. Also popular are volleyball and basketball ; a number of basketball players participate in the NBA and European leagues, and the national team won Olypmpic Gold in the Athens Olympics. Argentina has one of the top ranking teams in rugby union (see Los Pumas). Argentine tennis is very competitive on the world stage, with dozens of players male and female in active tour. Other popular sports include field hockey (the top female sport), golf, and sailing. Argentina has a number of highly-ranked polo players and the national squad has historically been the world's strongest. Cricket and baseball are played in a limited fashion. Motorsports are well represented in Argentina, with Turismo Carretera and TC 2000 being the most popular car racing formats. People all over the country enjoy the races, but it is most fervently followed in small towns and rural Argentina, attracting a rather similar demographic as NASCAR in the United States . The Rally Argentina is part of the World Rally Championship (currently held in Córdoba Province). World famous Argentines in sport include football superstar Diego Maradona and five time Formula 1 champion Juan Manuel Fangio. Other great sporting figures are Alfredo Di Stéfano, Amadeo Carrizo and Gabriel Batistuta in football (soccer) ; Guillermo Vilas, Gabriela Sabatini, and David Nalbandian in tennis ; Roberto DeVicenzo and Ángel Cabrera for golf; Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni in basketball ; Luciana Aymar in field hockey; Hugo Porta and Agustin Pichot in rugby union, boxers Pascual Pérez and Carlos Monzón; the Heguy Family of Polo players, and many more. Music The major genres of popular music in Argentina are folclore ( folk music ), tango, rock, tropical music ( cumbia), and dance- electronica. Tango, the music and lyrics (often sung in a form of slang called lunfardo), is Argentina's musical symbol. The Milonga dance was a predecessor, slowly evolving into mordern tango. By the 1930s, tango had changed from a dance focused music to one of lyric and poetry, with singers like Carlos Gardel, Roberto Goyeneche, Hugo del Carril, Tita Merello, and Edmundo Rivero. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid-1950s) mirrored that of Jazz and Swing in the United States , featuring large orchestral groups too, like the bands of Osvaldo Pugliese, Anibal Troilo, Francisco Canaro, and Juan D'Arienzo. After 1955 tango turned more intellectual and listener-oriented, led by Astor Piazzolla. Today tango has worldwide popularity, and the rise of neo-tango is a global phenomenon with groups like Tanghetto, Bajofondo and Gotan Project. Argentine rock is the most popular music among youth. Arguably the most listened form of Spanish -language rock, its influence and success internationally owes to a rich, uninterrupted evolution. Bands such as Soda Stereo or Sumo, and composers like Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta, and Fito Páez are referents of national culture. Mid 1960s Buenos Aires and Rosario were craddles of the music, and by 1970 argentine rock was established among middle class youth (see Almendra, Sui Generis, Pappo, Crucis). Seru Giran bridged the gap into the 1980s, when Argentine bands became popular across Latin America and elsewhere ( Enanitos Verdes, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Virus, Andres Calamaro). There are many sub-genres: underground, pop oriented, and some associated with the working class ( La Renga, Attaque 77, Divididos, Los Redonditos). Current popular bands include: Babasonicos, Rata Blanca, El Otro Yo, Attaque 77, Bersuit, Los Piojos, Intoxicados, and Miranda!. "Tropical" music, a mixture of cumbia, local folk, and Caribbean syles, made it to Buenos Aires with South American migrants. This along with Cuarteto ( Córdoba, where artist La Mona Jiménez has inmense popularity) and chamamé ( Corrientes), gave rise to cumbia villera. The preferred musical style in the villa miseria (slums), its lyrics can parallel those of U.S. gangsta rap ( poverty , drugs and crime ). Cumbia villera is increasingly accepted within the middle class, particularly bands with ties to football idols (popular bands: Yerba Brava, Pibes Chorros, Damas Gratis, Nestor en Bloque). Rodrigo Bueno, simply known as Rodrigo, was a surging cuarteto star until his untimely death in 2000. Buenos Aires has a major techno and electronica scene in Latin America, hosting a variety of events like local raves, the South American Music Conference, and Creamfields (which has the world record of 65,000 people). European DJs tour Buenos Aires to perform at clubs or in festivals. The city has its own form of house music, and is home to many successful electronic tango groups. Famous DJs from Argentina include Hernan Cattaneo and DJ Dero. Mar del Plata and Bariloche are other important dance and club-oriented cities. European classical music is well represented in Argentina. Buenos Aires is home to the world-renowned Colón Theatre. Classical musicians, such as Martha Argerich, Lalo Schiffrin, Daniel Barenboim, Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, and classical composers like Alberto Ginastera are internationally acclaimed. All major cities in Argentina have impressive theaters or opera houses, and provincial or city orchestras. Argentine folk music is uniquely vast. Beyond dozens of regional dances, a national folk style emerged in the 1930s. Perón's Argentina would give rise to Nueva Canción, as artists began expressing in their music objections to political themes. Atahualpa Yupanqui, the greatest argentine folk musician, and Mercedes Sosa would be defining figures in shaping Nueva Canción, gaining worldwide popularity in the process. The style found a huge reception in Chile , where it took off in the 1970s and went on to influence the entirety of Latin American music. Today, Chango Spasiuk and Soledad Pastorutti have brought folk back to younger generations. Leon Gieco's folk-rock bridged the gap between argentine folklore and argentine rock, introducing both styles to millions overseas in successive tours. Other notable musicians include Gato Barbieri with his seductive saxophone and free jazz compositions, and Jaime Torres and his spacious andean music. Religion Cathedral of Córdoba (dating back to the 17th century). Argentinians are predominantly religious. Around 80% declare themselves Roman Catholic according to different surveys, though most are not practising; the Church estimates an affiliation of 70%. Catholicism is supported by the state and endorsed in the Constitution. Evangelical churches have gained a foothold in Argentina since the 1980s, and their followers now number more than 3.5 million, about 10% of the total population. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) number over 330,300, the seventh-largest concentration in the world. Traditional Protestant communities are also present. The country also hosts the largest Jewish population in Latin America , about 2 percent of the population. It is also home to one of the largest mosques in Latin America, serving Argentina's Muslim community, estimated at 500,000–600,000 (93% Sunni). Language A film poster in Buenos Aires. The title exemplifies the phenomenon of voseo. The only national official language of Argentina is Spanish (which the Argentines call "Castellano" or Castilian), though the Amerindian language Guaraní also holds official status in the province of Corrientes. Quechua is spoken in Santiago del Estero, Buenos Aires , and the Capital City and has 850.000 speakers of South Bolivian Quechua and 66,000 speakers of Santiago del Estero Quichua nationwide . There are 100,000 Mapudungun speaking Mapuches in the provinces of Neuquen, Río Negro, Chubut, Buenos Aires, and La Pampa. Some immigrants and indigenous communities have retained their original languages. For example, Patagonia has many Welsh-speaking towns, and there are a number of German -speaking neighborhoods in Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires and again in Patagonia. Italian, English and French are widely spoken, and other languages such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Russian are easily found in Buenos Aires. Aymara is spoken by members of the Bolivian community who migrated to Argentina from remote rural areas in Bolivia . Argentines are the only large Spanish -speaking society that universally employ what is known as voseo (the use of the pronoun vos instead of tú (you), which occasions the use of alternate verb forms as well). The most prevalent dialect is Rioplatense, whose speakers are primarily located in the basin of the Río de la Plata. A phonetic study conducted by the Laboratory for Sensory Investigations of CONICET and the University of Toronto showed that the accent of the inhabitants of Buenos Aires (known as Porteños) is closer to the Neapolitan dialect of Italian than any other spoken language. This immigration of Italians had a profound influence on Lunfardo, the famous slang spoken in Buenos Aires and elsewhere in the Río de la Plata region, permeating the vernacular vocabulary of other regions as well. See also: List of indigenous languages in Argentina and also for a more complete report see Languages of Argentina Education After independence, Argentina rapidly constructed a national public education system in comparison to other nations, placing the country high up in the rankings of global literacy . Today the country has a literacy rate of 97.5%, comparable to other developed nations. The ubiquitous white uniform of Argentine school children; it is a national symbol of learning School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14. The Argentine school system consists of a primary or lower school level lasting six or seven years, and a secondary or high school level of between 3-5 years. In the 1990s, the system was split into different types of high school instruction, called Educacion Secundaria and the Polimodal. Some provinces adopted the Polimodal while others did not. There is a project in the Executive to repeal this measure and return to a more classic secondary level system of five years. President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento is overwhelmingly credited in pushing and implementing a free, modern education system in Argentina. The 1918 University reform shaped the current tripartite representation of most public Universities. Education is free at all levels except for graduate studies. There are many private school institutions in the primary, secondary and university levels. Around 11.1 million people were enrolled in formal education of some kind: 9,551,728 people attended either kindergarten, primary (lower school), or secondary (high school) establishements 494,461 people attended non-university level establishements (such as training or technical schools) 1,125,257 people attended colleges or universities There are 35 public universities across the contry, as well as several private. The Universities of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Plata, UTN (Technology University) , and Cuyo (Mendoza), are among the most important. Terciary (university) attendance is very high for global standards. Public universities faced cutbacks in spending during the 1980s and 1990s, which led to a decline in overall quality. Holidays Public holidays include most of the Catholic holidays, though holidays of other faiths are respected. The main historic holidays include the anniversaries of the May Revolution (May 25), the Independence Day (July 9), National Flag day (June 20), and the death of national hero José de San Martín (August 17). Science and technology Argentina has contributed to the world many distinguished doctors, scientists, and inventors. Luis Federico Leloir won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1970 Argentines have been responsible for major breakthroughs in world medicine . René Favaloro developed the tecniques and performed the world's first ever coronary bypass surgery, and Francisco de Pedro invented a more reliable artificial cardiac pacemaker. Bernardo Houssay discovered the role of pituitary hormones in regulating glucose in animals; César Milstein did extensive research in antibodies; Luis Leloir discovered how organisms store energy coverting glucose into glycogen, and the compounds which are fundamental in metabolizing carbohydrates. Luis Agote performed one of the first two blood transfusions with pre-stored blood in history. Enrique Finochietto designed operating table tools such as the surgical scissors that bear his name ("Finochietto scissors"), and a rib-spreader. Roberto Zaldívar is a pioneer in laser-eye procedures and research. Argentine research has led to advancement in wound-healing therapies, heart disease, and in several forms of cancer . Argentina's nuclear program is highly advanced. Argentina developed its nuclear program without being overly dependent on foreign technology. Nuclear facilities with Argentine technology have been built in Peru , Algeria , Australia , and Egypt . In 1983, the country admitted having the capability of producing weapon-grade uranium , a major step to assemble nuclear weapons . Since then Argentina has pledged to use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. In other areas, Juan Vucetich is the father of modern dactiloscopy (see fingerprint), Raúl Pateras de Pescara demonstrated the world's first flight of a helicopter, Hungarian-Argentine László Bíró mass-produced the first modern ball point pens, and Eduardo Taurozzi developed the more efficient pendular combustion engine. Juan Maldacena, an Argentine-American scientist, is a leading figure in string theory . Communications Print The printed media in Argentina is highly developed and independent. There are over 200 newspapers in the country, influential in their home cities and regions. The major national newspapers are from Buenos Aires, including the centrist Clarín, one of the best selling daily in the Spanish speaking world. Other national papers are La Nación (centre-right), Página/12 (centre-left), Ámbito Financiero (business conservative), Argentinisches Tageblatt in German, Le Monde Diplomatique in Spanish and French and Crónica (populist). Regional papers of importance include La Capital ( Rosario), Los Andes ( Mendoza), La Voz del Interior ( Córdoba), and El Tribuno ( Salta). The Buenos Aires Herald is a well-respected English language daily. The Argentine publishing industry is together with those in Spain and Mexico the most important in the Spanish-speaking world. Argentina features the largest bookstore chains in Latin America, the El Ateneo and Yenny bookstores; numerous well-stocked independent stores abound. A number carry titles in English and other languages. There are hundreds of magazine publications covering a plethora of issues and hobbies, which are sold in kiosks on city sidewalks and in bookstores. Radio and television Argentina was a pioneering nation in radio broadcasting. At 9 PM on August 27, 1920, Sociedad Radio Argentina announced: "We now bring to your homes a live performance of Richard Wagner 's Parsifal opera from the Coliseo Theatre in downtown Buenos Aires"; only about twenty homes in the city had a receiver to tune in. The world's first radio station was the only one in the country until 1922, when Radio Cultura went on the air. By 1925, there were twelve stations in Buenos Aires and ten in other cities. The 1930s were the "golden age" of radio in Argentina, with live variety, news, soap opera, and sport shows. At present there are more than 1,500 radio stations licensed in Argentina; 260 are AM broadcasting and 1150 FM broadcasting. Radio remains an important medium in Argentina. Music and youth variety programs dominate FM formats; news, debate, and sports are AM radio's primary broadcasts. Amateur radio is widespread in the country. Radio still serves a vital service of information, entertainment and even life saving in the most remote communities. The Argentine television industry is large and diverse, widely viewed in Latin America, and its productions seen around the world. Many local programs are broadcast by networks in other countries, and others have their rights purchased by foreign producers for adaptations in their own markets. Argentina has five major networks. All provincial capitals and other large cities have at least one local station. Argentina boasts the highest penetration of cable and satellite television in Latin America, similar to percentages in North America. Many cable networks operate from Argentina and serve the Spanish-speaking world, including Utilísima Satelital, TyC Sports, Fox Sports en Español (with the United States and México), MTV Argentina, Cosmopolitan TV, and the news network Todo Noticias. Trivia on Argentina	i don't know
What is the name of the ship of (1960s UK TV) cartoon pirate Captain Pugwash?	Captain Pugwash (TV Series 1957–1966) - 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 The adventures of Captain Pugwash and his crew aboard the pirate ship - the Black Pig. Creator: Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence. a list of 120 titles created 06 May 2012 a list of 981 titles created 24 Sep 2012 a list of 14 titles created 10 Nov 2012 a list of 2 titles created 24 Jan 2013 a list of 36 titles created 01 Nov 2013 Search for " Captain Pugwash " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: Captain Pugwash (1957–1966) 6.8/10 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. The Trap Door (TV Series 1984) Animation \| Adventure \| Comedy 3D plasticine animation, featuring Berk, a blue creature who lives as servant to the unseen 'Thing Upstairs' in an old dark house. Every time the trap door opens a new adventure begins for ... See full summary » Stars: William Rushton 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.5/10 X A team of 6 contestants play a series of physical, mental, skill and mystery games across 4 themed zones gaining as many crystals as possible which determine how many seconds they get as they attempt to win a prize inside the Crystal Dome. Stars: Richard O'Brien, Edward Tudor-Pole, Sandra Caron A melancholic children's animation from the 'Smallfilms' team of Postgate and Firmin. Bagpuss and his friends are toys in a turn of the century shop for 'found things'. When young Emily ... See full summary » Stars: Oliver Postgate, Sandra Kerr, John Faulkner When Jamie shines his Magic Torch on the floor of his bedroom a hole appears, leading Jamie and Wordsworth the sheepdog to the psychedelic fantasy world of Cuckooland. Stars: Brian Trueman, Kate Murray-Henderson Children's puppet programme featuring music and stories. Stars: Geoffrey Hayes, Roy Skelton, Stanley Bates Popular British children's animation series, repeated almost constantly since 1971. Mr Benn is the ordinary, bowler-hatted office worker who lives in the ordinary suburban street of Festive... See full summary » Stars: Ray Brooks Button Moon (TV Series 1980) Family Mr Spoon and his family live on Junk Planet. He travels in his baked bean tin spaceship across blanket sky to Button Moon. There he meets many strange characters and watches stories unfold on other planets using his telescope. Stars: Robin Parkinson The true story of Sherwood Forest is finally revealed: Robin was a cowardly tailor from Kensington, and Marian was the brains behind the Merry Men. With her ruthless band of freedom ... See full summary » Stars: Kate Lonergan, Adam Morris, Danny John-Jules The Wombles (TV Series 1973) Animation \| Family The misadventures of a fantasy folk community dedicated to cleaning up litter and put it to their own use. Stars: Bernard Cribbins, Dieter Hallervorden The long running television series of the Grange Hill Comprehensive School, and the children's everyday lives. Stars: Stuart Organ, Gwyneth Powell, Lee Cornes In 17th century France, young Dogtanian travels to Paris to fulfill his ambition to become one of the King's Musketeers. He befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis and falls in love with Juliette. A doggy version of the tale. Stars: Eduardo Jover, Gloria Cámara, Manuel Peiró The adventures of a little boy called Bod, who lives in a town with his friends Aunt Flo, P.C. Copper, Frank the Postman and Farmer Barleymow. Each episode also featured Alberto Frog and his Amazing Animal Band. Stars: John Le Mesurier, Maggie Henderson Did You Know? Trivia On 13 September 1991 national British newspaper 'The Guardian' claimed that certain characters names could be viewed in a vulgar context (e.g. Master Bates and Seaman Staines). Such character names did not form any part of the series and creator John Ryan successfully won retractions and settlements from both 'The Guardian' and another British newspaper, 'The Sunday Correspondent', which also printed a similar story. See more » Connections (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews Aboard his ship, Captain Pugwash is a jovial and rather innocent pirate certainly a stark contrast to the scheme and rather underhand personae of fellow pirate but mortal enemy Cutthroat Jake. Along with Master Mate, Pirate Barnabas, Pirate Willy and Tom the cabin boy, Pugwash sails to adventure on a regular basis. Spread over 86 episodes, this is one of those animations that many viewers remember from childhood and tends to get great praise because it is viewed through the fog of nostalgia and so forth. The animation is naturally dated as it tends to use drawn backgrounds and cut out figures that are manipulated on screen there is limited motion of the characters and things are left as static as they can be; imagine a story book where the pictures change on each page to get the rough idea. However it still works well enough once you have accepted that it is doing this, and the main reason it does work is because the stories are mostly well written and interesting. The narration is wholesome and clean, as are the stories, although there is a fine smattering of wit throughout it. Overall this is not a cartoon that will win many new fans particularly not among younger viewers used to fancy animation, noisy and action; but it is still a pleasurable watch when you have a nostalgic link to it. The animation is basic but the stories are mostly interesting and it rarely bores. 11 of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes	Black Iberian pig
In the British honours system where a man is made a Knight (i.e., becomes 'Sir...') what is the female equivalent?	Captain Pugwash Captain Pugwash Signature tune "Plundering Porpoises! Jumping jellyfish! Harrowing hurricanes!" blustered pirate Captain Pugwash to the work-shy crew of his ship the Black Pig as they sailed the Seven Seas and encountered adventures. The rotund Captain. always bold before the event, with a tendency to get into scrapes (and make a speedy exit forthwith) was a star of this, originally, very basic animated programme, in which speech was simulated by moving a piece of card behind the character's open mouths. The Good Captain was a simple man and no match for his various shiver-me-timbers foes but fortunately he was regularly rescued from the clutches of black-bearded arch villain Cut-Throat Jake (of the 'Flying Dustman') by the cunning and courage of the Black Pig's cabin boy Tom. All the characters were voiced by Peter Hawkins (who also spoke for The Flowerpot Men and, later, some of the Daleks) and the catchy sea-shanty signature tune , called The Trumpet Hornpipe, became a firm children's favourite. Author-artist John Ryan, creator of Captain Pugwash and, later, Sir Prancelot recorded the Captain's adventures for over twelve years through four series. Pugwash chess peices are available at Chessnuts	i don't know
What does the cockney rhyming slang, Butcher's, traditionally mean?	cockney rhyming slang Cockney Rhyming Slang As far as the Internet and slang dictionaries go, you probably won't find a more widely covered subject than Cockney rhyming slang. The following article I hope will dispel some of the enigma. What exactly is Cockney rhyming slang? Cockney rhyming slang at its most simplest uses a conjunction of words, whose last is used to suggest a rhyme, which is its definition. For example one of the most famous and one that is very rarely used in all seriousness is apples and pears, meaning stairs. Usually the rhyming slang is abbreviated to just the first word, so the above example would become apples. This in effect makes a sentence in which it is employed much harder to understand and when a phrase incorporates two or more elements of rhyming slang the meaning becomes so obscure that to the ininitiated confusion is the result. There lies its original purpose, as a form of coded speech. The most amusing and cleverest rhyming slang forms a connection with its subject matter and the with sense it imbues, often employing strong irony. Whether or not that irony was intended at the outset doesn't matter greatly, it just helps to entertain. The origins of rhyming slang This often bewildering form of slang, although now actually heard throughout the English speaking world, originally developed in an area of inner London now known as the East End. This area, Cockney London, was once defined as being that which was within the sound of Bow bells, the church bells belonging to the Church of St Mary Le Bow , in Cheapside. The word Cockney itself, from an earlier spelling cokeney, literally means cock's egg, a small malformed egg that is occasionally laid by young hens. During the 1700's the term, used by country folk, was applied to town's folk who were considered ignorant of the established customs and country ways. This term in due course became synonymous with working class Londoners themselves and has now lost its once denigrating qualities. Despite the current definition of a Cockney, to most outsiders a Cockney is anyone from London itself. Rhyming slang, just part of the Cockney vernacular, is believed to have come to prominence in the early to mid 1800's. It is frequently suggested that it began its life as the tongue of the London street trader, the costermongers, perhaps in an attempt to conceal their often illicit practices from the public or more importantly any illegal activities from the recently established police force, the Peelers. It may well have begun its evolution many years before then. Another area of speculation is how from being such a localised dialect it gained so much prominance; the suggestion here, is that Cockney rhyming slang was adopted by the underworld. It was the necessity of the police to learn this criminal language and by its subsequent publication in law enforcement manuals rhyming slang became widely known. Current rhyming slang Cockney rhyming slang is so prevalent in British English that many people unwittingly employ it in everyday speech. You will hear several established terms used in conversation throughout Britain: "Let's have a butchers at that magazine" (butcher's hook = look) "You're a berk!" (berkshire hunt = cunt) "I haven't heard a dicky bird about it" (dickie bird = word) "Use your loaf and think next time" (loaf of bread = head) "Did you half-inch that car?" (half-inch = pinch, meaning steal) "You will have to speak up, he's a bit mutton" (mutt'n'jeff = deaf) "I'm going on my tod" (tod sloan = alone, or own) "Are you telling porkies?" (porkies = pork pies = lies) "Are you going to rabbit all night?" (rabbit and pork = talk) "Scarper lads! The police are coming" (scarpa flow = go) Most English speaking countries now employ their own rhyming slang expressions, Australia has been a particularly strong user since the mid 1900's. It should be emphasised that the most recently invented rhyming slang doesn't originate from Cockney's themselves, the name Cockney rhyming slang is now a loose term for the style of slang that uses the rhyming technique. Many true Cockney's have a strong pride in their own special vernacular and their resentment for much of the current batch of rhyming slang will be very evident, especially when it is given the name Cockney rhyming slang. Since the 1980s there has been a resurgence in the popularity of rhyming slang, with numerous new examples popping up in everyday in speech. Some make a bold attempt to infiltrate language use at a national level, usually employed by eager and cocky (sic) adolescents and especially young male adults in an attempt to strengthen their identity. The popularity of 'new laddism', 'girl power' and youth culture in general in the 1990's, encouraged by the media as a profitable commodity, has led to a wealth of rhyming slang taking hold throughout the United Kingdom. Much of this new breed of rhyming slang will undoubtedley die as quickly as it appeared although the broadening of accessible reference resources such as can be found on the Internet, like this dictionary, will help further its longevity. Modern rhyming slang often utilizes the names of the famous who will surely on their own demise from the limelight take their namesake slang with them. Having said that perhaps a few will survive as have Mutt'n'Jeff, Tod Sloan and Jack Jones. A few topical examples focussing on the famous are: Ayrton Senna = tenner (a monetary note) Claire Rayners = trainers (the footwear) Darren Gough = cough Gary Ablett = tablet (ecstasy pill) Gary Glitter = shitter (anus) Janet Street-Porter = quarter (a weight of drugs) Tony Blair (s) = flairs or hair Here's a small selection of general, but older, currently used expressions: ruby murray = curry deep sea diver = fiver (a monetary note) mince pies = eyes	Look
What is the commonly used term for the subtle form of advertising by which brands are featured in films and TV programmes?	Language: Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases - Londontopia Londontopia You are here: Home / Culture / Language: Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases Language: Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases Jan 29, 2012 By jonathan 129 Comments Hot on the heels of our success with our Top 100 Best British Slang Phrases , we thought we’d explore the beauty of Cockney Rhyming Slang next. Rhyming slang is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century in the East End of London, with sources suggesting some time in the 1840s. It dates from around 1840 among the predominantly Cockney population of the East End of London who are well-known for having a characteristic accent and speech patterns. It remains a matter of speculation whether rhyming slang was a linguistic accident, a game, or a cryptolect developed intentionally to confuse non-locals. If deliberate, it may also have been used to maintain a sense of community. It is possible that it was used in the marketplace to allow vendors to talk amongst themselves in order to facilitate collusion, without customers knowing what they were saying. Another suggestion is that it may have been used by criminals (see thieves’ cant) to confuse the police. Whatever the origins – there are many fun turns of phrases and we’ve put together the Top 100 Words and Phrases that we could find for your reading pleasure. Here’s an interesting lesson on the slang from locals in London: Top 100 Cockney Rhyming Slang Words and Phrases: Adam and Eve – believe bird lime – time (in prison) Boat Race – face Brahms and Liszt – pissed (drunk) Brass Tacks – facts butcher’s hook – a look Chalfont St. Giles – piles Cows and Kisses – Missus (wife) currant bun – sun (also The Sun, a British newspaper) custard and jelly – telly (television) Daisy Roots – boots dog’s meat – feet [from early 20th c.] Duck and Dive – skive joanna – piano (pronounced ‘pianna’ in Cockney) Khyber Pass – arse Laugh n a joke – smoke Lionel Blairs – flares sherbert (short for sherbert dab) – cab (taxi) Skin and Blister – sister syrup of figs – wig (sic) tables and chairs – stairs two and eight – state (of upset) Vera Lynn – gin whistle and flute – suit (of clothes) Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Share this:	i don't know
Which fashion house sacked designer John Galliano in 2011, after his racist rant at fellow customers in a Paris cafe?	Galliano sacked over racist rant – The Sun SHAMED designer John Galliano has been sacked by fashion giant Christian Dior after Oscar winner Natalie Portman today declared she was appalled at his racist rants. Natalie who is the face of a perfume made by Dior slammed Galliano and said she would have nothing more to do with him. The Israeli-born beauty, 29, spoke out after we revealed shocking footage of Galliano declaring his love of Hitler and suggesting two women should be GASSED. Christian Dior Chief Executive Sidney Toledano today said in a statement: “I very firmly condemn what was said by John Galliano, which totally contradicts the values which have always been defended by Christian Dior.” Galliano was suspended by the label last week after he was arrested for allegedly launching a vicious verbal attack on two people at the same Paris cafe where the video was filmed. The footage showed him directing vile abuse at two French and Italian customers. He told them: “People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, would all be f**** gassed. I love Hitler.” WENN A woman is then heard asking him if he had a problem. He added: “With you. You’re ugly.” Asked where he was from, he said: “Your a*hole.” Natalie who won best actress at the Academy Awards for Black Swan said in a statement: “I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. “In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr Galliano in any way. “I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.” Last Thursday Galliano allegedly insulted Geraldine Bloch, 35, and threatened to kill her pal Philippe Virgitti, 41, in La Perle Bar. Galliano, 50, turned up at a police station in the French capital today to deny all the charges against him and declared: “I’m no racist.” Ms Bloch has told cops he called her a “dirty Jew face”. None of those allegedly targeted by Galliano is Jewish. Galliano, who was brought up in South London, has launched a counter-claim for defamation against Miss Bloch and Mr Virgitti. A Paris detective said of the case: “The accused has insisted that he is not a racist, and certainly not anti-Semitic. “On the contrary, he is taking legal action against his accusers.” Galliano’s lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, has insisted the video has no value and that Galliano has never been anti-Semitic while working at Dior.	Christian Dior
Which tropical fish, named after an iconic four-legged beast, has the ability to regenerate its fins, skin and heart?	Paris court fines Galliano €6,000 for anti-Semitic rant - France 24 Paris court fines Galliano €6,000 for anti-Semitic rant Text by News Wires Latest update : 2011-09-08 A Paris court found fashion designer John Galliano guilty of two counts of anti-Semitic behaviour and handed him suspended fines totalling 6,000 euros on Thursday. Galliano blamed his actions on his addiction to alcohol and drugs. AFP - Fashion designer John Galliano was Thursday found guilty of anti-Semitism and handed a suspended fine over a series of drunken outbursts against fellow customers in a Paris bar. The 50-year-old British designer, who was sacked from fashion house Dior over the scandal, was handed total suspended fines totalling 6,000 euros (8,400 dollars) over two incidents, in February this year and October 2010. Galliano -- who had faced a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of 22,500 euros on the charge of making anti-Semitic insults -- was not in court to hear the verdict. The Paris criminal court also ordered him to pay a symbolic euro in damages to each of his victims, as well as to five anti-racism groups that were plaintiffs in the case. He was also ordered to cover the legal costs of four anti-racism bodies. One of the most celebrated designers of his generation, Galliano had been at the creative helm of Christian Dior for 15 years, as well as running his own label, until the outburst brought his career crashing to a halt. At his one-day trial in July, he apologised for his conduct. Galliano insists he is not an anti-Semite but admits he can not remember the evenings in question, blaming a "triple addiction" to drink, sleeping pills and painkillers for his behaviour. The designer told the court he had since undergone two months of rehab in Arizona and Switzerland.	i don't know
The defence minister of which European country resigned in 2011, after he was found to have copied large parts of his 2006 university doctorate thesis?	Annette Schavan German education minister stripped of doctorate after her university found she 'plagiarised large parts of her thesis' \| Daily Mail Online comments Embarrassing: Germany's education minister Annette Schavan has been stripped of her philosophy doctorate after her university found her guilty of plagiarism The German minister for education is under pressure to resign after being stripped of her philosophy doctorate for alleged plagiarism. Annette Schavan, a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, has been rocked by the decision of the University of Duesseldorf after they said parts of her 1980 doctoral thesis had been copied. Incredibly, she is the second minister to be accused of plagiarism in the German government after defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was also found to have copied work for his thesis and quit in 2011. The University of Duesseldorf launched an investigation after an accusation against Mrs Schavan was posted online by an anonymous blogger. A faculty committee concluded that her work, which dealt with the formation of conscience, included a 'substantial number of unaccredited direct quotes from other texts'. In a statement declaring the doctorate invalid and withdrawing it from Ms Schavan, the faculty head Bruno Bleckmann said they had 'decided by secret ballot, by 12 votes to two, with one abstention'. Mrs Schavan has said she will take legal action against the decision, but it is an untimely distraction for Angela Merkel ahead of September's national election. 'I will not accept the decision of the University of Duesseldorf and I will file a lawsuit against it,' Mrs Schavan, 57, told reporters during a visit to Johannesburg, South Africa. She declined to make any further comment for legal reasons. Pressure: The scandal surrounding Mrs Schavan (left) is an unwelcome distraction for Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) ahead of German national elections in September The accusations of plagiarism are especially embarrassing for Mrs Schavan because she oversees Germany's universities and had previously been scathing in her criticism of Mr Guttenberg, who resigned a month after losing his doctorate. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'An education minister who is proven to have grossly violated academic rules cannot continue in the post,' said Renate Kuenast, a leading member of the opposition Greens. 'I assume that Frau Schavan will spare herself and education a prolongation of this affair by resigning.' Mrs Merkel has not publicly commented on the Schavan case. But members of her centre-right coalition said the minister had fallen victim to a politically motivated campaign to damage the government ahead of the autumn federal election. Recurring problem: Mrs Schavan is the second government minister to be found guilty of plagiarism after former defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg who resigned in 2011 Plagiarised: The University of Duesseldorf said Annette Schavan's work had a 'substantial number of unaccredited direct quotes from other texts' The German media has been mostly critical of Mrs Schavan. 'If the education minister has cheated in her doctoral thesis, it is like the finance minister secretly hiding away his money in Switzerland or the traffic minister driving a car while drunk,' said the Bild newspaper. 'There is no alternative (to resignation) for her.' In Tuesday's ruling, the Duesseldorf University commission said Schavan had 'systematically and intentionally presented intellectual performance that in reality she did not generate herself'. The decision left Schavan without an academic title, an important symbol of status in German politics and business, as her degree programme in philosophy finished solely with a PhD. Since the allegations first arose in May last year, Schavan has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said she wrote her dissertation with a clear conscience. Her lawyers have said the proceedings of the commission had been riddled with mistakes and were unlawful, not least because information was leaked to the public in the process.	Germany
What 1790 poem by Robert Burns inspired the naming of a hat, and also indirectly the tea clipper Cutty Sark?	Der Spiegel: University Withdraws German Defense Minister Guttenberg's PhD - Google Groups Der Spiegel: University Withdraws German Defense Minister Guttenberg's PhD Showing 1-3 of 3 messages University Withdraws Guttenberg's Doctor Title German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg faced a parliamentary grilling on Wednesday. German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has gotten his wish. After requesting that his alma mater withdraw his doctor title in the face of accusations that he plagiarized large sections of his dissertation, the University of Bayreuth complied on Wednesday evening. The minister's popularity does not seem to have suffered. Now it is official. On Wednesday evening, following more than a week of mounting indications that German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg had inadequately cited several extensive passages in his dissertation, the University of Bayreuth, which had awarded him a Ph.D. in 2006, withdrew the title of doctor. Guttenberg, said university president Rüdiger Bormann, had "objectively not conformed" to academic standards. It is not permitted, he continued, to take passages word-for-word without adequately citing where they originated. The university, however, stopped short of a judgement as to whether Guttenberg had intentionally sought to mislead the university. Such a finding, Bormann said, would "surely have been an extended process" -- one that the university deemed unnecessary after Guttenberg himself had requested earlier in the week that the university withdraw the title. It was a strategic move by Guttenberg, one clearly aimed at allowing Chancellor Angela Merkel to resist calls from the opposition to relieve her defense minister of his cabinet position. And it was an opportunity she took full advantage of. On Tuesday, she gave Guttenberg her full political support, saying that his Ph.D. title was a private affair and that, when she named him to her cabinet, she had not been seeking an "academic assistant." 'You Have Lied and Deceived' Germany's opposition remains unconvinced. Guttenberg was in parliament on Wednesday to face questions about the affair, and politicians from the center-left Social Democrats, the Green Party and the far-left Left Party demanded that he resign. "You have lied and deceived," said leading SPD parliamentarian Thomas Oppermann. "I find it intolerable that the chancellor has decided that an academic impostor and a liar can continue to be a member of her cabinet." Jürgen Trittin of the Green Party said, "Ms. Chancellor, it cannot be allowable that the German military is commanded by a Felix Krull," a reference to Thomas Mann's famous con-man. Left Party parliamentarian Dietmar Bartsch, referring to Guttenberg's title as a baron, said "there was a time when the nobility knew what to do in such a position." The defense minister, however, displayed remarkable calm throughout the grilling. And it was a calm born out of confidence. A survey released on Wednesday by the German public television station ARD found that fully 73 percent of Germans are satisfied with his job performance. Seventy-two percent believe that Guttenberg's relinquishment of his doctor title is sufficient punishment and that he should be allowed to continue in his position. Squaring the Circle Even as Guttenberg looks to have withstood the scandal, the number of passages in his dissertation that seem to have been plagiarized continues to mount. Whereas last week's story in the Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, which triggered the affair, spoke of a handful of inadequately cited paragraphs, the number of problematic sections has since ballooned to well over 100. In addition to copying and pasting parts of newspaper articles and journals, Guttenberg also included entire research notes he commissioned from parliamentary research assistants. Indeed, the opposition has accused Guttenberg of abusing his position as a result -- it is not allowed for government officials to make use of parliamentary research assistants for private matters. It remains to be seen what the long term effects of the affair might be for Guttenberg. He has long been seen as the future of Germany's conservatives and has even been mentioned as a possible chancellor candidate. For now, however, it looks as though the damage has been minimal. And Guttenberg himself has sought to portray himself as being suitably chagrined. The "errors," he said, stemmed from his attempt to write the dissertation in parallel with his position as a parliamentarian and his duties as a husband and father. "It was surely cavalier of me to believe that I could square the circle." He failed to indicate if the sentence was his alone -- or if it was borrowed without citation. German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg announced his resignation during a press conference in Berlin Tuesday. gerquit0301 "I was always ready to fight, but I have reached the limit of my abilities," he said. Overall support for Mr. zu Guttenberg, a Bavarian baron who was featured with his attractive, young family on newspapers' society pages as often as he made political headlines, has remained strong even since the plagiarism allegations surfaced two weeks ago. But pressure from academia and opposition politicians for him to resign has been steadily increasing. The University of Bayreuth, which awarded the dissertation a grade of highest honors in 2007, revoked Mr. zu Guttenberg's doctorate last Wednesday, and this week a group of professors and doctoral students called for his resignation in an open letter, which has now been signed online by more than 50,000 people. Mr. zu Guttenberg's resignation is a serious headache for Mrs. Merkel, whose party benefited from Mr. zu Guttenberg's broad popularity with German voters. Her Christian Democrats face a tough regional election in Baden-Wuerttemberg on March 27 and Mr. zu Guttenberg, a member of the allied Christian Social Union in neighboring Bavaria, was a strong asset. Mrs. Merkel had repeatedly affirmed her support for her defense minister since the Sueddeutsche Zeitung first reported that large portions of his dissertation in constitutional law appeared to be copied almost verbatim from academic journals and newspaper articles. That support was seized upon my opposition politicians, who had been stepping up their criticism of Mrs. Merkel for standing by an ally they repeatedly denounced as a liar.	i don't know
Born in 1678, which Italian composer of choral works, over forty operas, and notably The Four Seasons violin concertos, was known as The Red Priest because of his auburn hair?	Antonio Vivaldi Antonio Vivaldi Click to preview or download this music The Four Seasons (Complete) Vivaldi cast "The Four Seasons" in the form of four concertos for solo violin and string orchestra. Concertos are designed to feature an instrument which not only enjoys an especially prominent role but plays technically brilliant, or virtuosic, passages. In addition to juxtaposing the sound of the solo violin to the full ensemble, Vivaldi occasionally added a few instruments with the solo violin to create the musical textures of chamber music. Each of the concertos that comprise "The Four Seasons" follows a three-movement plan that Vivaldi helped to establish as the standard concerto form. Gerard Schwarz, Conductor 1. The Four Seasons Spring I Allegro 2. The Four Seasons Spring II Largo 3. The Four Seasons Spring III Allegro 4. The Four Seasons Summer I Allegro non molto 5. The Four Seasons Summer II Adagio 6. The Four Seasons Summer III Presto 7. The Four Seasons Autumn I Allegro 8. The Four Seasons Autumn II Adagio molto 9. The Four Seasons Autumn III Allegro 10. The Four Seasons Winter I Allegro non molto 11. The Four Seasons Winter II Largo 12. The Four Seasons Winter III Allegro 13. Vivaldi’s Life and Music 14. Listener’s Guide: Four Seasons Spring 15. Listener’s Guide: Four Seasons Summer 16. Listener’s Guide: Four Seasons Fall 17. Listener’s Guide: Four Seasons Winter Antonio Vivaldi and the Italian Baroque The seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries saw an extraordinary flowering of musical culture in Italy. This period, known in music history as the Baroque era, was one of great innovation. Before this time, in the Renaissance and Middle Ages, European music had been largely religious and choral. The two most important developments in Baroque music were the emergence of non-religious vocal music, opera, and the rise of purely orchestral music. Italian composers led the way in exploring these new areas of musical expression. Among other things, they adapted the type of sensuous and dramatic singing born in the opera house to other genres, including instrumental music. In the fist half of the Baroque, composers mainly tried to mimic the homogenous sound of vocal music in their instrumental works. Eventually, composers began taking advantage of the natural expressive abilities of new instruments developed by virtuoso instrument makers. By exploiting the specific traits of each instrument, Italian composers brought a new sort of liveliness to music in the years around 1700. Their fondness for lyrical expression resulted in an unprecedented melodic warmth and sweetness, along with an increasingly expressive harmonic vocabulary. At the same time, their efforts to maximize the natural expression of instruments, particularly of the violin, resulted in writing of unprecedented rhythmic verve. It is significant in this regard that the great composers of the Italian Baroque – men like Arcangelo Corelli, Guiseppe Tartini, Pietro Locatelli, Francesco Veracini, Giovanni Legrenzi and Francesco Geminiani – tended to be violinists rather than keyboard players, as the leading musicians of northern Europe were. Of the many remarkable violinist-composers Italy produced during the Baroque era, the most remarkable of all was Antonio Vivaldi. An artist of astonishing vigor and productivity – he wrote more than 450 concerto, 40 operas and many other solo, chamber and vocal works over the course of his career – Vivaldi was one of the most innovative and influential musicians of his day. His energetic instrumental writing contributed importantly to popularizing the concerto, a fairly new compositional genre during his day, and had a great impact on his musical contemporaries, most notably Johann Sebastian Bach. Vivaldi’s Life and Career Vivaldi was born in Venice on March 4, 1678. His father played the violin in the resident orchestra of the city’s most famous monument, the great Cathedral of Saint Mark. It was undoubtedly from his parent that the young Vivaldi first learned to play the instrument himself. While the rest of his family does not seem to have been particularly musical, Vivaldi became an outstanding violinist, as a number of reports testify. His early years also saw the onset of what would be a lifelong respiratory ailment, probably asthma,that would impact but certainly not curtail his career. While showing considerable musical talent, Vivaldi nevertheless prepared for the priesthood. He began religious studies at 15 and was ordained ten years later. A few years after his ordination, however, he was excused from liturgical duties under questionable circumstances. On one occasion he failed to finish saying Mass and retired to the sacristy. Vivaldi later claimed that he did so because of what he called his “tightness in his chest”, but according to another account he had suddenly thought of a good musical theme and wanted to write it down at once. In any event, the composer returned from most clerical duties in 1705, although he remained a priest at least nominally. Indeed, he became known in musical circles as “il prete rosso” – “the red priest” – as a result of his standing in the Church and his striking red hair. Vivaldi’s first known activity as a musician came in 1696, when he was engaged as an extra violinist by Saint Mark’s Cathedral. But his musical career began in earnest in 1703 with his appointment to the faculty of the Pio Ospedale della Pieta. This convent school was no ordinary academy. Founded and supported by the city of Venice, it offered girls and young women a superior education that included musical training. The most capable students received specialized instruction in what amounted to a conservatory setting, and a number of them developed into virtuoso performers of the first rank. Their concerts were among the premier music events in Venice. Vivaldi initially joined the conservatory faculty at the Pieta as a violin instructor, though from early in his tenure he was also active as a composer. In 1705 he published a set of trios, and followed it with a set of violin sonatas in 1709. But he had already begun to cultivate what would become his most congenial and characteristic compositional form, the concerto. Many of his works of this type must have been written specifically for certain players at the Pieta – especially Vivaldi’s best violin students – and performed by the school’s orchestra. The impression his pieced made probably contributed to Vivaldi’s promotion to the post of maestro dei concerti at the Pieta in 1716. By this time, Vivaldi had secured an international reputation with the appearance of his first published concertos, a group of twelve such works collected under the title L’estro armonico, or “The Inspiration of Harmony”. These pieces proved popular and enormously influential, sparking a surge of interest in the Italian concerto style. Among the musicians who studied this music was Johann Sebastian Bach, who arranged a number of L’estro armonico concertos so that they might be played on the organ or harpsichord. In the years that followed, Vivaldi published several other collections of concertos. He also began writing sacred music and made forays into opera. The latter venture seems surprising for a priest in view of the contemporary opinion of the theater world as something decidedly profane. But Vivaldi was never one to let his ecclesiastical status hinder his freedom, nor his enjoyment of life. While he remained a priest and retained a reputation for piety throughout his life, the composer was no ascetic. On the contrary, he was devoted to money, which he earned and spent in considerable quantity. Reportedly vain about his appearance, he indulged an expensive taste in clothing. When he traveled, he did so in first-class conveyances with an entourage and stayed in luxurious accommodations, tough concern for his asthma may have partly impelled him to do so. And although he was a man of the cloth, scandalous rumor linked him to a pair of French singers, sisters named Anna and Paolina Giraud, one or both of whom may have been his mistress. (These rumors persisted despite Vivaldi’s vigorous denials.) Periodically over the course of his career Vivaldi took leave of his duties at the Pieta for extended travel to other parts of Italy and elsewhere in Europe. In Rome he provided operas for the pre-Lent Carnival season and played the violin before the Pope. He also spent time in other Italian cities and made trips to Vienna, Prague and other centers north of the Alps. When he was back in Venice, he not only attended to duties at the Pieta but acted as a theatrical entrepreneur, mounting productions of his own operas at one of the city’s leading theaters. All the time he continued to write instrumental music, especially concertos. The large output Vivaldi produces amid a busy schedule of teaching, travel, rehearsals and performances suggest a quick and facile composer. So he was. He reportedly wrote an entire opera in just five days, and he boasted that he could compose a concerto faster than a copyist could copy it. Although he enjoyed fame and no small degree of wealth at the height of his career, Vivaldi suffered a series of setbacks during his final years. During the late 1730s a number of his operas failed to please audiences for various reasons, most apparently related to flaws in their production. In 1738 the Ospedale della Pieta refused to renew his contract, probably out of dissatisfaction with his incessant traveling. In light of these difficulties, Vivaldi decided in 1740 to leave Italy for Vienna. Little is known of this final journey or what the composer did in the Austrian capital in his last year. Apparently, though, he could not adapt his spending habits to his new circumstances. For when he died, on July 28, 1741, Vivaldi had spent all of his once substantial fortune. Accordingly, the body of the prodigal and now impoverished musician-priest was laid in a pauper’s grave. Obscurity and Rediscovery After his death Vivaldi’s reputation went into decline, a victim of the rapid change in musical taste that swept aside the style of the Baroque era in favor of the Classical-period expression in the middle of the eighteenth century. Vivaldi’s music fell into rapid obscurity. One hundred years later, the beginning of scholarly interest in Baroque music prompted some interest in the Venetian master. But little of his music was known, since only a fraction of Vivaldi’s total output was even printed during his lifetime. Most of the early comment on the composer’s music came from German Bach scholars upon discovery that many of Bach’s concertos were in fact transcriptions of concertos from Vivaldi’s Opus 3. Still, these scholars, in pursuit of the genius of Bach, generally compared the Venetian master unfavorably with the subject of their studies. As a result, his name figured as little more than a passing reference in histories of musical life during the Baroque period. But as interest in music from the Baroque period increased during the decades around 1900, musicians gradually began investigating the Venetian composer and his works. However, his true importance still remained unsuspected almost 200 years after his death. All this changed suddenly and dramatically in 1926, when there occurred in Italy one of the great musicological discoveries in history. In the autumn of that year a friar from a small monastery unexpectedly called on experts at the Turin National Library, requesting appraisal of a collection of old manuscripts that his order needed to sell in order to finance repairs to its aging quarters. When the Turin scholars examined this collection, they could scarcely contain their amazement. Here was an unsuspected treasure: nearly a hundred large volumes of musical scores from the early eighteenth century. By far the greatest number held compositions by Vivaldi, apparently from what had once been the composer’s personal collection. And upon inspecting it closer, the experts could tell from cross-references and missing page numbers that their discovery represented just half of a larger collection. Over the ensuing three years, investigators conducted a diligent search for the missing portion, which they finally located in Genoa. The Turin collection restored a huge amount of Vivaldi’s music to the world: some three hundred concertos, fourteen operas, sonatas, secular vocal works and five volumes of sacred music. As these works have made their way into the concert hall and onto recordings, and as still more of his music has come to light, a general re-evaluation of Vivaldi’s stature has taken place. Having risen from the dust of history, the composer and his music are once again a vital presence on the musical scene. His concertos and other compositions figure prominently on the programs of orchestras throughout the world, and he is now widely acknowledged as one of the great masters of the Baroque era. Venice and the Pio Ospedale Della Pieta Vivaldi enjoyed an international career but nevertheless spent most of his life in his native city of Venice. This was, throughout the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, one of the great cultural centers of Europe, and Vivaldi had associations with all its leading musical institutions. These were of three kinds: the Church, especially the great Cathedral of Saint Mark, where Vivaldi worked as a violinist early in his career; the theaters, for which he wrote most of his operas; and the “Pio Ospedale della Pieta”, with which Vivaldi was closely connected for most of his professional life. The Pieta was one of four convent schools maintained by the city of Venice, and in many respects the most remarkable of them. Staffed mainly by nuns and priests, it sheltered orphaned, indigent and illegitimate girls – up to six thousand of them at a time, according to one contemporary report. Music formed an important part of the curriculum at each of the four Venetian “Ospedali”, but it seems to have received special emphasis at the “Pieta”. The school employed a number of distinguished musicians as instuctors, Vivaldi among them, with the result that some of its pupils attained a high degree of proficiency as performers. And while the “Pieta” hoped to find husbands for the girls at a conveniently early age, a number of them never married but remained at the school to hone their musical skills. In time, the musical elite among the girls of the “Pieta” included some of the finest singers and instrumentalists in Italy. As a result, the school’s orchestra and chorus made services in the “Ospedale” chapel one of the premiere musical offerings in Venice, an attraction to residents and visitors alike. One of the latter, the French writer Charles de Brosses, after attending concerts at the “Pieta”, wrote of the young ladies who performed it: “They are reared at public expense and trained solely to excell in music. And so they sing like angels and play the violin, the flute, the organ, the violoncello, the bassoon…..Each concert is given by about forty girls. I swear to you that there is nothing so pleasing as the sight of a young pretty nun in a white habit, a bouquet of pomegranate blossoms above her ear, leading the orchestra and beating time with all the grace and precision imaginable.” From his initial appoinment in 1703 as instructor of violin playing, Vivaldi attained a succession of higher and more responsible positions at the “Pieta”, finally rising to the post of “maestro dei concerti” – essentially music director and conductor – in 1716. More important, he evidently wrote a great many of his concertos and other works for performance by his charges at the academy. (Even when absent from his duties at the “Pieta” due to travels, the composer was known to send newly written concertos back to Venice for performance at the school.) Though a number of his concertos eventually circulated throughout Europe, winning considerable acclaim, it seems likely that Vivaldi developed his concerto style as a result of his close working relationship with the young lady instrumentalists of the “Pieta”. Vivaldi and the Concerto Although he devoted considerable time and effort to opera and sacred choral music, Vivaldi made by far his richest contribution to the concerto. More than 450 of his compositions for solo instruments and orchestra are known to us, and they constitute one of the most important bodies of music from the Baroque. The Baroque period saw the birth of concert music as we know it today. Advances in instrument making, particularly by Italian violin makers, and the development of woodwind instruments like the oboe, bassoon and transverse flute, gave rise to the orchestra. The heart of the Baroque ensemble was the string ensemble, with one keyboard instrument like the harpsichord. One or two other instruments might be added for special effects or dramatic reasons. Vivaldi’s concertos include works featuring virtually every instrument in use during his lifetime, and he skillfully exploited their particular capabilities. Moreover, his concerto explored a wide range of expressive devices, including echoing counterpoint, represent or “program” music, dramatic shifts in the level of sound and contrasting small groups of instruments with the full orchestra. Vivaldi’s effective scoring of new instruments gave impetus to the growing preference among composers of his day for orchestral music – more specifically, for music conceived in terms of the natural expressiveness of orchestral instruments. The great rhythmic vitality of his fast movements, the formal clarity of his movements,, the formal clarity of his scores and his penchant for virtuoso passage-work all were progressive developments in the early eighteenth century. That so discerning a musician as J.S. Bach valued Vivaldi’s concertos enough to transcribe and study them testifies to their novelty and importance. Ritornello Form Generally, though not invariably, Vivaldi cast his concertos in three movements yielding a fast-slow-fast pattern. The quick outer movements usually feature a recurring theme, known as a ritornello, assigned to the orchestra. As its name implies, this theme returns periodically over the course of the movement, usually with some variation at each appearance. The ritornello was originally used in the 17th century for a short instrumental passage that served as a recurrent refrain between stanzas of vocal works. Gradually, it came to be adopted as a shaping element in larger movements, useful in creating a memorable opening musical idea that would lay out the basic character of the movement. It would then return several times during the movement, usually in different keys, and finally end in the home keys. Between the ritornello’s several statements Vivaldi wrote virtuoso passages featuring his solo instrument. The ritornello form is an efficient organizing principle that Vivaldi used in nearly all of his concertos. The central slow movements tended to be simpler in form, an expressive aria for the solo instrument. In these movements, Vivaldi frequently adapted characteristics of vocal music to an instrumental setting, writing song-like melodies for the featured player over a discreet accompaniment by some portion of the orchestra. Vivaldi may not have invented the ritornello form of the Baroque concerto, but the twelve compositions of his Opus 3 did more than any others to establish the form all over Europe. The alternation of ritornello and solo episodes imparted a combination of variety and coherence to these movements that greatly impressed Vivaldi’s contemporaries and remains an attractive feature even today.	Antonio Vivaldi
Which Indian city, second largest in Rajasthan state behind capital Jaipur, after which styles of trousers and boots were named in the late 1800s, is known as 'Sun City' and the 'Blue City'?	Mariposa Elementary School Carlos Santana ï¿½ Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Carlos Santana is one of the world's best-known musical signatures. For more than four decadesï¿½from Santana's earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Franciscoï¿½Carlos has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries. Long before the category now known as ï¿½world musicï¿½ was named, Santana's ever-evolving sound was always ahead of its time in its universal appeal, and today registers as ideally in sync with the 21st centuryï¿½s pan-cultural landscape. And, with a dedication to humanitarian outreach and social activism that parallels his lifelong relationship with music, Carlos Santana is as much an exemplary world citizen as a global music icon. Santana's star arrived in the era-defining late 1960s San Francisco Bay Area music scene with historic shows at the Fillmore and other storied venues. The group emerged onto the global stage with an epic set at the Woodstock festival in 1969, the same year that its self-titled debut LP Santana came out. Introducing Santana's first Top 10 hit, ï¿½Evil Ways,ï¿½ the disc stayed on Billboardï¿½s album chart for two years and was soon followed by two more classics ï¿½ and Billboard #1 albums ï¿½ Abraxas and Santana III. Ever since, for more than forty years and almost as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won 10 GRAMMYï¿½ Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999ï¿½s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for ï¿½Smoothï¿½) as well as three Latin GRAMMYï¿½s.ï¿½ In 1998, the group was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose website notes, ï¿½Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rockï¿½s true virtuosos and guiding lights.ï¿½ Among many other honors, Carlos Santana received Billboard Latin Music Awardsï¿½ 2009 Lifetime Achievement honor, and, he was bestowed Billboardï¿½s Century Award in 1996.ï¿½ On December 8, 2013 he was the recipient of the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors Award. Rolling Stone has also named him #15 on the magazineï¿½s list of the ï¿½100 Greatest Guitarists of All Timeï¿½ noting that ï¿½Santana's crystalline tone and clean arcing sustain make him the rare instrumentalist who can be identified in just one note.ï¿½ï¿½ And, with the 2014 release of Corazï¿½n, Santana surpassed the Rolling Stones and, along with Barbara Streisand, is one of only two music acts in Billboard history to score at least one Top Ten album for six consecutive decades from the 1960s on. ï¿½Santanaï¿½s new album Corazï¿½nï¿½(RCA/Sony Latin Iberia) released May 6, 2014 is a collaborative effort with the biggest names in Latin music including ChocQuibTown, Lila Downs, Gloria Estefan, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Juanes, Ziggy Marley, Miguel, Niï¿½a Pastori, Diego Torres, Samuel Rosa of Skank, Cindy Blackman Santana, Romeo Santos, Soledad, Wayne Shorter, and more. This is Santanaï¿½s first Latin music album of his iconic career. ï¿½The album is certified U.S. Latin Double Platinum and was the top selling Latin Music album in the United States for six consecutive weeks. HBO Latino & HBO Latin America celebrated the release with multiple HBO specialsï¿½through a two part TV event: a behind the scenes reality themed special called ï¿½Santana: De Corazï¿½nï¿½ and the airing of his mega concert and documentary ï¿½Santana-Corazï¿½n: Live From Mexico, Live It To Believe It.ï¿½ On September 9, 2014 a DVD/Live CD of the event was released documenting the show in its entirety. Both specials, and the DVD, include performances from the all-star line up that graces the album Corazï¿½n. In the fall of 2014, Carlos Santana released his memoir ï¿½The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Lightï¿½ which offers a page-turning tale of musical self-determination and inner self-discovery, with personal stories filled with colorful detail and life-affirming lessons. It's a profoundly inspiring tale of divine inspiration and musical fearlessness that does not balk at finding the humor in the world of high-flying fame, or at speaking plainly of Santana's personal revelations and the infinite possibility he sees in each person he meets. Beyond music, in the lifestyle and entertainment realm, River Of Colors (ROC) has enjoyed tremendous success with the Carlos by Carlos Santana and Unity by Carlos Santana brand names.ï¿½ Founded in 1997, ROC is dedicated to bringing products to market that embody the passion and integrity of Carlos Santanaï¿½and that are true to his distinctive style and taste.ï¿½ ROCï¿½s endeavors encompass products including shoes, handbags, headwear and sparkling wine, as well as signature musical instruments including electric guitars and hand percussion instruments. ROC products are distributed at better retail stores internationally. For more information, visit www.santana.com.ï¿½ The arc of Santanaï¿½s performing and recording career is complemented by a lifelong devotion to social activism and humanitarian causes.ï¿½ The Milagro Foundation, originally established by Carlos Santana and his family in 1998, has granted more than five million dollars to non-profit programs supporting underserved children and youth in the areas of arts, education and health. Milagro means ï¿½miracle,ï¿½ and the image of children as divine miracles of light and hopeï¿½gifts to our livesï¿½is the inspiration behind its name. Antonio Vivaldi ï¿½ Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (28 July 1741) was a Venetian Baroque composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric . Born in Venice , he is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread across Europe. He is known mainly for composing many instrumental concertos for the violin and a variety of other instruments, as well as sacred choral works and more than forty operas . His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons . Many of his compositions were written for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pietï¿½ , a home for abandoned children where Vivaldi (who had been ordained as a Catholic priest ) was employed from 1703 to 1715 and from 1723 to 1740. Vivaldi also had some success with expensive stagings of his operas in Venice , Mantua and Vienna . After meeting the Emperor Charles VI , Vivaldi moved to Vienna, hoping for preferment. However, the Emperor died soon after Vivaldi's arrival, and Vivaldi himself died less than a year later in poverty. Vivaldi's music was innovative. He brightened the formal and rhythmic structure of the concerto, in which he looked for harmonic contrasts and innovative melodies and themes; many of his compositions are flamboyantly, almost playfully, exuberant. Johann Sebastian Bach was deeply influenced by Vivaldi's concertos and arias (recalled in his St John Passion , St Matthew Passion , and cantatas ). Bach transcribed six of Vivaldi's concerti for solo keyboard, three for organ, and one for four harpsichords, strings, and basso continuo (BWV 1065) based upon the concerto for four violins, two violas, cello, and basso continuo ( RV 580). ï¿½ Vivaldi's works attracted cataloging efforts befitting a major composer. Scholarly work intended to increase the accuracy and variety of Vivaldi performances also supported new discoveries which made old catalogs incomplete. Works still in circulation today may be numbered under several different systems (some earlier catalogs are mentioned here ). Because the simply consecutive Complete Edition (CE) numbers did not reflect the individual works (Opus numbers) into which compositions were grouped, Fanna numbers were often used in conjunction with CE numbers. Combined Complete Edition (CE)/Fanna numbering was especially common in the work of Italian groups driving the mid-20th century revival of Vivaldi, such as Gli Accademici di Milano under Piero Santi. For example, the Bassoon Concerto in B♭ major, "La Notte" RV 501, became CE 12, F. VIII,1 Despite the awkwardness of having to overlay Fanna numbers onto the Complete Edition number for meaningful grouping of Vivaldi's oeuvre, these numbers displaced the older Pincherle numbers as the (re-)discovery of more manuscripts had rendered older catalogs obsolete. This cataloging work was led by the Istituto Italiano Antonio Vivaldi, where Gian Francesco Malipiero was both the Director and the editor of the published scores (Edizioni G. Ricordi). His work built on that of Antonio Fanna, a Venetian businessman and the Institute's founder, and thus formed a bridge to the scholarly catalog dominant today. Compositions by Vivaldi are identified today by RV number , the number assigned by Danish musicologist Peter Ryom in works published mostly in the 1970s, such as the "Ryom-Verzeichnis" or "Rï¿½pertoire des oeuvres d'Antonio". John Williams One of the most popular and successful American orchestral composers of the modern age, John Williams is the winner of five Academy Awards, 17 Grammys, three Golden Globes, two Emmys and five BAFTA Awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Best known for his film scores and ceremonial music, Williams is also a noted composer of concert works and a renowned conductor. Williamsï¿½ scores for such films as Jaws, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List, as well as the Indiana Jones series, have won him multiple awards and produced best-selling recordings, and his scores for the original Star Wars trilogy transformed the landscape of Hollywood film music and became icons of American culture. Williams has composed the music and served as music director for nearly eighty films, includingSaving Private Ryan, Amistad, Seven Years in Tibet, The Lost World, Rosewood, Sleepers,Nixon, Sabrina, Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, Home Alone, Far and Away, JFK, Hook,Presumed Innocent, Always, Born on the Fourth of July, the Indiana Jones trilogy, The Accidental Tourist, Empire of the Sun, The Witches of Eastwick, the Star Wars trilogy, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, The Empire Strikes Back, Superman, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jawsand Goodbye Mr. Chips. Williams has been awarded several gold and platinum records, and his score for Schindler's Listearned him both an Oscar and a Grammy. In 2000, at the ShoWest Convention USA, he was honored as Maestro of the Year by the National Association of Theater Owners. John Williams was born in New York and moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948. There he attended UCLA and studied composition privately with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. After service in the Air Force, Mr. Williams returned to New York to attend the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Madame Rosina Lhevinne. While in New York, he also worked as a jazz pianist, both in clubs and on recordings. He then returned to Los Angeles, where he began his career in the film industry, working with such composers as Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman, and Franz Waxman. He went on to write music for many television programs in the 1960s, winning two Emmy Awards for his work. In January 1980, Williams was named nineteenth Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885. He assumed the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor, following his retirement in December 1993, and currently holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood. Williams has written many concert pieces, including a symphony, a sinfonietta for wind ensemble, a cello concerto premiered by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in 1994, concertos for the flute and violin recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, concertos for the clarinet and tuba, and a trumpet concerto, which was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra and their principal trumpet Michael Sachs in September 1996. His bassoon concerto, The Five Sacred Trees, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic and principal bassoon player Judith LeClair in 1995, was recorded for Sony Classical by Williams with LeClair and the London Symphony. In addition, Mr. Williams has composed the well-known NBC News theme "The Mission," "Liberty Fanfare" composed for the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty, "We're Lookin' Good!," composed for the Special Olympics in celebration of the 1987 International Summer Games, and themes for the 1984, 1988, and 1996 Summer Olympic games. His most recent concert work Seven for Luck ï¿½ for soprano and orchestra ï¿½ is a seven-piece song cycle based on the texts of former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove. Seven for Luck was given its world premiere by the Boston Symphony under Mr. Williams with soprano Cynthia Haymon. John Williams has led the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on United States Tours in 1985, 1989 and 1992 and on a tour of Japan in 1987. He led the Boston Pops Orchestra on tours of Japan in 1990 and 1993. In addition to leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall and at Tanglewood, Williams has appeared as guest conductor with a number of major orchestras, including the London Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Williams holds honorary degrees from fourteen American universities, including Berklee College of Music in Boston, Boston College, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Boston University, the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. On June 23, 2000, he became the first inductee into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. RANDY NEWMAN With songs that run the gamut from heartbreaking to satirical and a host of unforgettable film scores, Randy Newman has used his many talents to create musical masterpieces widely recognized by generations of audiences. After starting his songwriting career as a teenager, Newman launched into recording as a singer and pianist in 1968 with his self-titled album Randy Newman. Throughout the 1970s he released several other acclaimed albums such as: 12 Songs, Sail Away, and Good Old Boys. In addition to his solo recordings and regular international touring, Newman began composing and scoring for films in the 1980s. The list of movies he has worked on since then includes The Natural, Awakenings, Ragtime, all three Toy Story pictures, Seabiscuit, James and the Giant Peach, A Bugï¿½s Life, and most recently, Disney/Pixarï¿½s Monsters University, the prequel to Monsters Inc. (which he also scored). The highly praised 2008 Harps and Angels was Newmanï¿½s first album of new material since 1999. The Austin Chronicle wrote ï¿½the characters are memorable, the satire sharp, the music luxurious, and the arrangements maybe the most gorgeous in all pop music.ï¿½ The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 2, which is the second in a series of new solo piano/vocal recordings of his songs spanning his five-decades, was released in 2011. Time Out New York said of the series, which will receive a third volume soon, ï¿½The Songbook records strip away the orchestrations of his regular albums, leaving Newman alone at the piano, singing three-minute masterpieces from throughout a half-century career.ï¿½ That same year, Nonesuch Records released a live CD and DVD recorded at Londonï¿½s intimate LSO St. Lukeï¿½s, an 18th-century Anglican church that has been restored by the London Symphony Orchestra, where he was accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ziegler. The 22-song set features some of his best-known songs like ï¿½Short People,ï¿½ ï¿½Louisiana 1927,ï¿½ and ï¿½I Think Itï¿½s Going to Rain Today,ï¿½ as well as newer songs such as ï¿½A Few Words in Defense of Our Countryï¿½ and ï¿½Laugh and Be Happy.ï¿½ Randy Newmanï¿½s many honors include six Grammys, three Emmys, and two Academy Awards, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year he was given an Ivor Novello PRS for Music Special International Award. Most recently, Newman was presented with a PEN New England Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award in June 2014. ï¿½ ï¿½ If Randy Newmanï¿½s self-titled 1968 debut on Reprise Records, co-produced by his childhood friend Lenny Waronker and the now equally legendary arranger Van Dyke Parks, seemed out of step with the times upon its release, thatï¿½s perhaps because he had created something timeless. Newman combined sophisticated orchestrations and indelible melodies with story-song lyrics that veered between the unabashedly romantic and the sarcastically humorous. A song like ï¿½I Think Itï¿½s Going To Rain Today,ï¿½ its simple words harboring heartbreaking emotion, is arguably an American standard, covered by an astonishingly wide range of artists, including Judy Collins, Bobby Darin, Rick Nelson, Nina Simone, and, most recently, Nonesuch label-mate Audra McDonald. The albums that followedï¿½12 Songs(1970) andï¿½Sail Awayï¿½(1972)ï¿½are also regarded as classics now. The Los Angeles-born Newman spent considerable time in New Orleans with his motherï¿½s family during his childhood; his 1974ï¿½Good Old Boysï¿½is a masterful and controversial exploration of Southern culture, its history and ingrained prejudices, as well as the views and misconceptions of outsiders. ï¿½ While Newmanï¿½s initial record sales were modest, his reputation among critics, fellow artists, and musicians was huge, and he enjoyed great success as a songwriter. Former Animals keyboardist Alan Price popularized his work in England and Harry Nilsson did the same in the US with his still much-admiredNilsson Sings Newman. Three Dog Night had a pop hit with ï¿½Mama Told Me (Not To Come)ï¿½; Joe Cocker scored with the hilariously lascivious ï¿½You Can Leave Your Hat On.ï¿½ Newmanï¿½s own Top 40 success came with the most unlikely track, ï¿½Short People,ï¿½ from the 1977ï¿½Little Criminals. Not everyone got the jokeï¿½in fact, the Maryland legislature tried to make it a crime to play ï¿½Short Peopleï¿½ on the radio. Other pop hits were in a similarly tongue-in-cheek vein: ï¿½Itï¿½s Money That I Loveï¿½ from 1979ï¿½sBorn Againï¿½and ï¿½I Love L.A.ï¿½ from 1983ï¿½sï¿½Trouble In Paradise. ï¿½ Over the course of 40 years, Newman has released 10 albums of original studio material, along withï¿½Randy Newman Live, originally designed as a promo-only item; a recording of his musical theater adaptation ofï¿½Faust; andï¿½The Randy Newmanï¿½Songbook, Vol. 1ï¿½a piano-and-voice retrospective that also served as his Nonesuch debut. Since 1981, however, with his score forï¿½Ragtime, Newman has been a prolific film music composer, a regular Academy Award nominee, and, in 2002, an Oscar winner for ï¿½If I Didnï¿½t Have Youï¿½ fromï¿½Monsters, Inc. Among his notable scores areï¿½The Natural,ï¿½Parenthood,ï¿½Awakenings,ï¿½Avalon, Pleasantvilleandï¿½Leatherheads; Newman even shared screenwriting credit for the 1986 Steve Martin hit,ï¿½Three Amigos!ï¿½In recent years, he has specialized in composing for an impressive range of critically acclaimed, commercially blockbuster family films, includingï¿½Toy Story,ï¿½James and The Giant Peach,ï¿½A Bugï¿½s Life,ï¿½Toy Story 2,Monsters, Inc, andï¿½Cars. Though Newman projects the image of misanthrope in his own work, he summons tremendous warmth, tenderness, and a gentler form of humor in the songs heï¿½s created for these movies. Newman is also a five-time Grammy Award winner, and the recipient, in 2002, of the Recording Academyï¿½s prestigious Governorsï¿½ Award. He has also garnered three Emmys: in 2004 for the title theme toï¿½Monk, in 1991 for songs composed for the short-lived but well-regarded musical seriesï¿½Cop Rockï¿½and again forï¿½Monkï¿½in 2010 for Best Original Lyrics and Music for the songï¿½When Iï¿½m Goneï¿½which appeared in the series finale. The enduring quality and emotional depth of his work are perhaps best exemplified by ï¿½Louisiana 1927,ï¿½ a song fromï¿½Good Old Boysï¿½about a flood that devastated parts of Louisiana early in the 20thï¿½Century. Post-Katrina, the song was adapted by Crescent City artists like Marcia Ball and Aaron Neville as a kind of anthem, sung with as much pride as bitterness. The song became a leitmotif of the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, where Newman himself delivered a bravura performance. ï¿½ On the title track ofï¿½Harps and Angels, which opens Randy Newmanï¿½s first album of all-new studio recordings since 1999ï¿½sï¿½Bad Love, a man lies stricken on a New Orleans sidewalk, about to gasp his last breath. Itï¿½s clearly the Crescent City, given the loose, jazzy shuffle the band is playing, Newmanï¿½s languid drawl, and thelaissez faireï¿½attitude of God himself when He appears to report that somebody up there had made a clerical error and the tearful guy on the pavement is not going to join his maker after all. That sets the tone for what follows:ï¿½Harps and Angelsboasts a deceptively easy-going quality even as it tackles matters of life and death, memory and loss, the discontents of the rich and famous, the problems of the poor, governmental malfeasance, corporate cynicism, and the veritable end of an empire ï¿½ namely, our own. The arrival ofï¿½Harps and Angelsï¿½was foreshadowed more than a year ago by a conversational number called ï¿½A Few Words In Defense of Our Country,ï¿½ which Newman developed during a summer 2006 tour of Europe, then slipped into his stateside sets. With a lilting country waltz as backdrop, Newman presents a caustic view of the state of our nation, ostensibly as a defense against foreign criticism. As incisive as it is darkly funny, ï¿½A Few Words in Defense of Our Countryï¿½ caught the attention ofï¿½The New York Times, which offered Newman space on its Op Ed page to print the lyrics. A wickedly effective digital single came next, including an eyebrow-raising verse about the Supreme Court that theï¿½Timescensored.ï¿½Rollingï¿½Stoneï¿½named it one of the singles of the year, ï¿½right behind Jay-Z and ahead of Rihanna,ï¿½ Newman helpfully points out. ï¿½I donï¿½t like writing songs that are right on the nose, Tom Lehrer-like songs, commenting on whatï¿½s happening in the moment,ï¿½ Newman admits, ï¿½because songs like that will go away. This one will go away because this administration will go away, and weï¿½ll never have one quite like it. But I wanted to say something, so I did.ï¿½ It turns out that Newman has a lot to say. ï¿½Piece of the Pieï¿½ is even more audacious social commentary than ï¿½A Few Words In Defense of Our Countryï¿½ ï¿½ a full-blown musical- theatre-style song that features orchestral backing arranged and conducted by Newman; a ï¿½patriots chorus,ï¿½ defending the honor of John Mellencamp for licensing a song to General Motors; and a tribute to the social consciousness of Jackson Browne. Says Newman, ï¿½Itï¿½s an old-time sort of Industrial Workers of the World, socialist thing. The fact that you can work real hard and do all the country says youï¿½re supposed to do, and still not make it is a little surprising, you know what I mean? Itï¿½s hard to get used to the fact that things are not getting better and better, that if you work hard and do what youï¿½re supposed to, it still might not work for you.ï¿½ The proceedings are briefly interrupted by a pair of bickering Belgians, proving that even the tiniest, prettiest places can be divisive. The arrangements throughoutï¿½Harps And Angelsï¿½have a jaunty, Dixieland feel, with Newman on piano fronting a club-size combo, and he brings a touch of the blues to his vocals: ï¿½Itï¿½s the way my voice sounds best to me at the moment, doing blues oriented stuff. Thatï¿½s the kind of singer I think I am.ï¿½ His orchestrations, featured on several tracks, are as gorgeous as anything he has produced on his film scores, and lend his misanthropic tales an improbably grand quality. With three of his uncles having been successful Hollywood composers, Newman says, ï¿½I grew up with maybe an inordinate love of the orchestral sound. When I was five years old, I was fifty feet away from the greatest musicians in the world, the studio guys. Guys I learned later were known worldwide. I had and still have enormous respect for my Uncle Alfred and the work he did. Iï¿½m not as good as he is with my film music ï¿½ but no one else is either, so thatï¿½s not something I have to worry about.ï¿½ On ï¿½Laugh and Be Happy,ï¿½ he provides a prescription for the troubles of Americaï¿½s immigrant population, set to a madcap Charleston-worthy tempo. ï¿½Korean Parentsï¿½ is more like an elegant ballroom dance, with kitschy Oriental embellishments; Newman takes on the sorry condition of American education by employing clichï¿½s about overachieving Asian students, and does it in such earnest fashion heï¿½s sure to offend just about everybody. Newman contrasts the satire with a downright moving pair of ballads. ï¿½Losing Youï¿½ is based on a story his physician brother recounted about a couple whose son was dying: ï¿½His parents had been in the camps during World War II. They said, we made it, we were able to get over the fact that we lost both of our families, but we donï¿½t have enough time left to get over losing our son.ï¿½ ï¿½Feels Like Homeï¿½ is a proudly sentimental love song, a surprisingly heartwarming denouement to the album: ï¿½People are going to like ï¿½Feels Like Home, itï¿½s going to be the most successful song on the album probably, because thatï¿½s the nature of the world, even though I mostly choose a different kind of song to write, other than straight ballads. Thatï¿½s what people like me doing the best ï¿½ songs ï¿½Feels Like Homeï¿½ or ï¿½Marieï¿½ [fromï¿½Good Old Boys], whereas my favorite songs are like ï¿½Only A Girlï¿½ or ï¿½Harps and Angels,ï¿½ ones with characters, a cast, a narrator.ï¿½ -Michael HILL PREVIOUS COMPOSERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT ï¿½ Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 - October 14, 1990) Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He took piano lessons as a boy and attended the Garrison and Boston Latin Schools. At Harvard University, he studied with Walter Piston, Edwardï¿½Burlingame-Hill, and A. Tillman Merritt, among others. Before graduating in 1939, he made an unofficial conducting debut with his own incidental music to "The Birds," and directed and performed in Marcï¿½Blitzstein'sï¿½"The Cradle Will Rock." Then at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, he studied piano with Isabellaï¿½Vengerova, conducting with Fritzï¿½Reiner, and orchestration with Randall Thompson. Bernstein was appointed to his first permanent conducting post in 1943, as Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. On November 14, 1943, Bernstein substituted on a few hours notice for the ailing Bruno Walter at a Carnegie Hall concert, which was broadcast nationally on radio, receiving critical acclaim. Soon orchestras worldwide sought him out as a guest conductor. In 1945 he was appointed Music Director of the New York City Symphony Orchestra, a post he held until 1947. After Sergeï¿½Koussevitzkyï¿½died in 1951, Bernstein headed the orchestral and conducting departments atï¿½Tanglewood, teaching there for many years. In 1951 he married the Chilean actress and pianist, Feliciaï¿½Montealegre. He was also visiting music professor, and head of the Creative Arts Festivals at Brandeis University in the earlyï¿½1950s. Bernstein became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in 1958. From then until 1969 he led more concerts with the orchestra than any previous conductor. He subsequently held the lifetime title of Laureate Conductor, making frequent guest appearances with the orchestra. More than half of Bernstein's 400-plus recordings were made with the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein traveled the world as a conductor. Immediately after World War II, in 1946, he conducted in London and at the International Music Festival in Prague. In 1947 he conducted in Tel Aviv, beginning a relationship with Israel that lasted until his death. In 1953, Bernstein was the first American to conduct opera at theï¿½Teatroï¿½allaï¿½Scalaï¿½in Milan:ï¿½Cherubini'sï¿½"Medea" with Maria Callas. Bernstein was a leading advocate of American composers, particularly Aaronï¿½Copland. The two remained close friends for life. As a young pianist, Bernstein performedï¿½Copland'sï¿½"Piano Variations" so often he considered the composition his trademark. Bernstein programmed and recorded nearly all of theï¿½Coplandï¿½orchestral works --many of them twice. He devoted several televised "Young People's Concerts" toï¿½Copland, and gave the premiere ofï¿½Copland'sï¿½"Connotations," commissioned for the opening of Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) at Lincoln Center in 1962. While Bernstein's conducting repertoire encompassed the standard literature, he may be best remembered for his performances and recordings of Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann,ï¿½Sibeliusï¿½and Mahler. Particularly notable were his performances of the Mahler symphonies with the New York Philharmonic in theï¿½1960s, sparking a renewed interest in the works of Mahler. Inspired by his Jewish heritage, Bernstein completed his first large-scale work: Symphony No. 1: "Jeremiah." (1943). The piece was first performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1944, conducted by the composer, and received the New York Music Critics' Award.ï¿½Koussevitzkyï¿½premiered Bernstein's Symphony No. 2: "The Age of Anxiety" with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bernstein as piano soloist. His Symphony No. 3: "Kaddish," composed in 1963, was premiered by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. "Kaddish" is dedicated "To the Beloved Memory of John F. Kennedy." Other major compositions by Bernstein include "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" for solo clarinet and jazz ensemble (1949); "Serenade" for violin, strings and percussion, (1954); "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story," (1960); "Chichesterï¿½Psalms" for chorus, boy soprano and orchestra (1965); "Mass: A Theater Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers," commissioned for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and first produced there in 1971; "Songfest" a song cycle for six singers and orchestra (1977); "Divertimento," for orchestra (1980); "Halil," for solo flute and small orchestra (1981); "Touches," for solo piano (1981); "Missaï¿½Brevis" for singers and percussion (1988); "Thirteen Anniversaries" for solo piano (1988); "Concerto for Orchestra: Jubilee Games," (1989); and "Arias and Barcarolles" for two singers and piano duet (1988). Bernstein also wrote a one-act opera, "Trouble in Tahiti," in 1952, and its sequel, the three-act opera, "A Quiet Place" in 1983. He collaborated with choreographer Jerome Robbins on three major ballets: "Fancy Free" (1944) and "Facsimile" (1946) for the American Ballet theater; and "Dybbuk" (1975) for the New York City Ballet. He composed the score for the award-winning movie "On the Waterfront" (1954) and incidental music for two Broadway plays: "Peter Pan" (1950) and "The Lark" (1955). Bernstein contributed substantially to the Broadway musical stage. He collaborated with Bettyï¿½Comdenï¿½and Adolph Green on "On The Town" (1944) and "Wonderful Town" (1953). In collaboration with Richard Wilbur and Lillianï¿½Hellmanï¿½and others he wrote "Candide" (1956). Other versions of "Candide" were written in association with Hugh Wheeler, Stephenï¿½Sondheimï¿½et al. In 1957 he again collaborated with Jerome Robbins, Stephenï¿½Sondheim, and Arthurï¿½Laurents, on the landmark musical "West Side Story," also made into the Academy Award-winning film. In 1976 Bernstein and Alan Jay Lerner wrote "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Festivals of Bernstein's music have been produced throughout the world. In 1978 the Israel Philharmonic sponsored a festival commemorating his years of dedication to Israel. The Israel Philharmonic also bestowed on him the lifetime title of Laureate Conductor in 1988. In 1986 the London Symphony Orchestra and the Barbican Centre produced a Bernstein Festival. The London Symphony Orchestra in 1987 named him Honorary President. In 1989 the city of Bonn presented a Beethoven/Bernstein Festival. In 1985 the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honored Mr. Bernstein with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. He won eleven Emmy Awards in his career. His televised concert and lecture series started with the "Omnibus" program in 1954, followed by the extraordinary "Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic," in 1958 that extended over fourteen seasons. Among his many appearances on the PBS series "Great Performances" was the eleven-part acclaimed "Bernstein's Beethoven." In 1989, Bernstein and others commemorated the 1939 invasion of Poland in a worldwide telecast from Warsaw. Bernstein's writings were published in "the Joy of Music" (1959), "Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts"(1961), "The Infinite Variety of Music" (1966), and "Findings" (1982). Each has been widely translated. He gave six lectures at Harvard University in 1972-1973 as the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry. These lectures were subsequently published and televised as "The Unanswered Question." Bernstein always rejoiced in opportunities to teach young musicians. His master classes atï¿½Tanglewoodï¿½were famous. He was instrumental in founding the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute in 1982. He helped create a world class training orchestra at theï¿½Schleswigï¿½Holstein Music Festival. He founded the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Modeled afterï¿½Tanglewood, this international festival was the first of its kind in Asia and continues to this day. Bernstein received many honors. He was elected in 1981 to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which gave him a Gold Medal. The National Fellowship Award in 1985 applauded his life-long support of humanitarian causes. He received theï¿½MacDowellï¿½Colony's Gold Medal; medals from the Beethoven Society and the Mahlerï¿½Gesellschaft; the Handel Medallion, New York City's highest honor for the arts; a Tony award (1969) for Distinguished Achievement in the Theater; and dozens of honorary degrees and awards from colleges and universities. He was presented ceremonial keys to the cities of Oslo, Vienna,ï¿½Bersheevaï¿½and the village of Bernstein, Austria, among others. National honors came from Italy, Israel, Mexico, Denmark, Germany (the Great Merit Cross), and France (Chevalier, Officer andï¿½Commandeurï¿½of the Legionï¿½d'Honneur). He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1980. World peace was a particular concern of Bernstein. Speaking at Johns Hopkins University in 1980 and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York in 1983, he described his vision of global harmony. His "Journey for Peace" tour to Athens and Hiroshima with the European Community Orchestra in 1985, commemorated theï¿½40thï¿½anniversary of the atom bomb. In December 1989, Bernstein conducted the historic "Berlin Celebration Concerts" on both sides of the Berlin Wall, as it was being dismantled. The concerts were unprecedented gestures of cooperation, the musicians representing the former East Germany, West Germany, and the four powers that had partitioned Berlin after World War II. Bernstein supported Amnesty International from its inception. To benefit the effort in 1987, he established the Feliciaï¿½Montealegreï¿½Fund in memory of his wife who died in 1978. In 1990, Bernstein received theï¿½Praemiumï¿½Imperiale, an international prize created in 1988 by the Japan Arts Association and awarded for lifetime achievement in the arts. Bernstein used the $100,000 prize to establish The Bernstein Education Through the Arts (BETA) Fund, Inc. before his death on October 14, 1990. Bernstein was the father of three children -- Jamie, Alexander, and Nina -- and the grandfather of four:ï¿½Francisca, Evan, Anya and Anna.ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ Bernstein became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in 1958. From then until 1969 he led more concerts with the orchestra than any previous conductor. He subsequently held the lifetime title of Laureate Conductor, making frequent guest appearances with the orchestra. More than half of Bernstein's 400-plus recordings were made with the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein traveled the world as a conductor. Immediately after World War II, in 1946, he conducted in London and at the International Music Festival in Prague. In 1947 he conducted in Tel Aviv, beginning a relationship with Israel that lasted until his death. In 1953, Bernstein was the first American to conduct opera at theï¿½Teatroï¿½allaï¿½Scalaï¿½in Milan:ï¿½Cherubini'sï¿½"Medea" with Maria Callas. Bernstein was a leading advocate of American composers, particularly Aaronï¿½Copland. The two remained close friends for life. As a young pianist, Bernstein performedï¿½Copland'sï¿½"Piano Variations" so often he considered the composition his trademark. Bernstein programmed and recorded nearly all of theï¿½Coplandï¿½orchestral works --many of them twice. He devoted several televised "Young People's Concerts" toï¿½Copland, and gave the premiere ofï¿½Copland'sï¿½"Connotations," commissioned for the opening of Philharmonic Hall (now Avery Fisher Hall) at Lincoln Center in 1962. While Bernstein's conducting repertoire encompassed the standard literature, he may be best remembered for his performances and recordings of Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann,ï¿½Sibeliusï¿½and Mahler. Particularly notable were his performances of the Mahler symphonies with the New York Philharmonic in theï¿½1960s, sparking a renewed interest in the works of Mahler. Inspired by his Jewish heritage, Bernstein completed his first large-scale work: Symphony No. 1: "Jeremiah." (1943). The piece was first performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1944, conducted by the composer, and received the New York Music Critics' Award.ï¿½Koussevitzkyï¿½premiered Bernstein's Symphony No. 2: "The Age of Anxiety" with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bernstein as piano soloist. His Symphony No. 3: "Kaddish," composed in 1963, was premiered by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. "Kaddish" is dedicated "To the Beloved Memory of John F. Kennedy." Other major compositions by Bernstein include "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" for solo clarinet and jazz ensemble (1949); "Serenade" for violin, strings and percussion, (1954); "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story," (1960); "Chichesterï¿½Psalms" for chorus, boy soprano and orchestra (1965); "Mass: A Theater Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers," commissioned for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and first produced there in 1971; "Songfest" a song cycle for six singers and orchestra (1977); "Divertimento," for orchestra (1980); "Halil," for solo flute and small orchestra (1981); "Touches," for solo piano (1981); "Missaï¿½Brevis" for singers and percussion (1988); "Thirteen Anniversaries" for solo piano (1988); "Concerto for Orchestra: Jubilee Games," (1989); and "Arias and Barcarolles" for two singers and piano duet (1988). Bernstein also wrote a one-act opera, "Trouble in Tahiti," in 1952, and its sequel, the three-act opera, "A Quiet Place" in 1983. He collaborated with choreographer Jerome Robbins on three major ballets: "Fancy Free" (1944) and "Facsimile" (1946) for the American Ballet theater; and "Dybbuk" (1975) for the New York City Ballet. He composed the score for the award-winning movie "On the Waterfront" (1954) and incidental music for two Broadway plays: "Peter Pan" (1950) and "The Lark" (1955). Bernstein contributed substantially to the Broadway musical stage. He collaborated with Bettyï¿½Comdenï¿½and Adolph Green on "On The Town" (1944) and "Wonderful Town" (1953). In collaboration with Richard Wilbur and Lillianï¿½Hellmanï¿½and others he wrote "Candide" (1956). Other versions of "Candide" were written in association with Hugh Wheeler, Stephenï¿½Sondheimï¿½et al. In 1957 he again collaborated with Jerome Robbins, Stephenï¿½Sondheim, and Arthurï¿½Laurents, on the landmark musical "West Side Story," also made into the Academy Award-winning film. In 1976 Bernstein and Alan Jay Lerner wrote "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Festivals of Bernstein's music have been produced throughout the world. In 1978 the Israel Philharmonic sponsored a festival commemorating his years of dedication to Israel. The Israel Philharmonic also bestowed on him the lifetime title of Laureate Conductor in 1988. In 1986 the London Symphony Orchestra and the Barbican Centre produced a Bernstein Festival. The London Symphony Orchestra in 1987 named him Honorary President. In 1989 the city of Bonn presented a Beethoven/Bernstein Festival. In 1985 the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honored Mr. Bernstein with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. He won eleven Emmy Awards in his career. His televised concert and lecture series started with the "Omnibus" program in 1954, followed by the extraordinary "Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic," in 1958 that extended over fourteen seasons. Among his many appearances on the PBS series "Great Performances" was the eleven-part acclaimed "Bernstein's Beethoven." In 1989, Bernstein and others commemorated the 1939 invasion of Poland in a worldwide telecast from Warsaw. Bernstein's writings were published in "the Joy of Music" (1959), "Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts"(1961), "The Infinite Variety of Music" (1966), and "Findings" (1982). Each has been widely translated. He gave six lectures at Harvard University in 1972-1973 as the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry. These lectures were subsequently published and televised as "The Unanswered Question." Bernstein always rejoiced in opportunities to teach young musicians. His master classes atï¿½Tanglewoodï¿½were famous. He was instrumental in founding the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute in 1982. He helped create a world class training orchestra at theï¿½Schleswigï¿½Holstein Music Festival. He founded the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Modeled afterï¿½Tanglewood, this international festival was the first of its kind in Asia and continues to this day. Bernstein received many honors. He was elected in 1981 to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which gave him a Gold Medal. The National Fellowship Award in 1985 applauded his life-long support of humanitarian causes. He received theï¿½MacDowellï¿½Colony's Gold Medal; medals from the Beethoven Society and the Mahlerï¿½Gesellschaft; the Handel Medallion, New York City's highest honor for the arts; a Tony award (1969) for Distinguished Achievement in the Theater; and dozens of honorary degrees and awards from colleges and universities. He was presented ceremonial keys to the cities of Oslo, Vienna,ï¿½Bersheevaï¿½and the village of Bernstein, Austria, among others. National honors came from Italy, Israel, Mexico, Denmark, Germany (the Great Merit Cross), and France (Chevalier, Officer andï¿½Commandeurï¿½of the Legionï¿½d'Honneur). He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1980. World peace was a particular concern of Bernstein. Speaking at Johns Hopkins University in 1980 and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York in 1983, he described his vision of global harmony. His "Journey for Peace" tour to Athens and Hiroshima with the European Community Orchestra in 1985, commemorated theï¿½40thï¿½anniversary of the atom bomb. In December 1989, Bernstein conducted the historic "Berlin Celebration Concerts" on both sides of the Berlin Wall, as it was being dismantled. The concerts were unprecedented gestures of cooperation, the musicians representing the former East Germany, West Germany, and the four powers that had partitioned Berlin after World War II. Bernstein supported Amnesty International from its inception. To benefit the effort in 1987, he established the Feliciaï¿½Montealegreï¿½Fund in memory of his wife who died in 1978. In 1990, Bernstein received theï¿½Praemiumï¿½Imperiale, an international prize created in 1988 by the Japan Arts Association and awarded for lifetime achievement in the arts. Bernstein used the $100,000 prize to establish The Bernstein Education Through the Arts (BETA) Fund, Inc. before his death on October 14, 1990. Bernstein was the father of three children -- Jamie, Alexander, and Nina -- and the grandfather of four:ï¿½Francisca, Evan, Anya and Anna.ï¿½ Alexander Tsubota ï¿½ Alexander Akira Tsubota was born in 1988 in Victorville, CA. He grew up in Trona, CA (near Death Valley), went to college in Riverside, and now lives in Redlands. Alex is half-Japanese. His dad is an elementary school principal, and his mom teaches 6th Grade in Trona. Alex has one younger brother whoï¿½works inï¿½public relations in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You might see Alex on our Mariposa campus as he is also a member of the R.U.S.D. Tech. Services Department and visits us often. ï¿½ He finished high school in 2005, which is before some of you were born! In school Alex's favorite subjects were English and Social Studies and as an avid debater he won several essay and debate contests. Alex attended UC Riverside and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Information Technology.ï¿½ Alex wants you to know that Information Technology pertains to the use of computers and networks; not their engineering, programming, and design (aka Computer Science).ï¿½ Outside of school, Alex is greatly interested in music technology.ï¿½ He helped design and is still on the staffï¿½at a few online communities that focus on home recording and music production.ï¿½ He became interested in music at 4 years old, wanting badly to be a drummer, but his dad- who is a drummer- would not have it.ï¿½ Although piano was his second choice, Alex says he did plenty of drumming on plasticï¿½chairs, hampers, pots andï¿½pillows in the many "concerts" he and his younger brother performed in the living room.ï¿½ He began taking music lessons at 6 and continued them for 10 years.ï¿½ Alex is an award winning musician, receiving music awards fromï¿½ the Exchange Club, Lions Club, High Desert Music Teacher's Association, and Associated Christian Schools International.ï¿½ In high school, Alex performed with Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Daniel Ho; more recently heï¿½wsa the main artist for the grand opening of the C3 Performing Arts Center in San Diego, CA. ï¿½ At age 10 Alex began writing his own music.ï¿½ Alex says that "the ability to play the music I heard in my head was an invaluable, freeing form of self-expression. I have been writing music I want to hear ï¿½ but doesnï¿½t yet exist ï¿½ ever since. I am not too interested in making a living as a musician, selling CDs, or touring in concert. Someday, I would like to see my music licensed for commercial use or in documentaries." ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½Alex'sï¿½music is freely available to download at www.alextsubota.com - Alex says that he "already feels like a celebrity when twenty of you come filing by out of a classroom and all say "Hi Alex!!!" Although I know only a few of your names, I hope to learn more of them during my visits. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of your school." GLENN MILLER Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 ï¿½ missing in action December 15, 1944) was an American big band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known big bands. Miller's notable recordings include "In the Mood", "Moonlight Serenade", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "A String of Pearls", "At Last", "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo", "American Patrol", "Tuxedo Junction", and "Little Brown Jug".While he was traveling to entertain U.S. troops in France during World War II, Glenn Miller's aircraft disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel. GEORGE GERSHWIN ï¿½ George Gershwin (September 26, 1898ï¿½ï¿½ July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), as well as the opera Porgy and Bess (1935). Gershwin studied piano under Charles Hambitzer and composition with Rubin Goldmark and Henry Cowell . He began his career as a song plugger , but soon started composing Broadway theatre works with his brother Ira Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva . He moved to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger , where he began to compose An American in Paris. After returning to New York City , he wrote Porgy and Bess with Ira and the author DuBose Heyward . Initially a commercial failure, Porgy and Bess is now considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century. Gershwin moved to Hollywood and composed numerous film scores until his death in 1937 from a brain tumor . Gershwin's compositions have been adapted for use in many films and for television, and several became jazz standards recorded in many variations. Countless celebrated singers and musicians have covered his songs. ï¿½ George Frideric Handel (German: Georg Friedrich Hï¿½ndel; (1685-02-23)23 February 1685 ï¿½ 14 April 1759(1759-04-14)) was a German-born British Baroque composer famous for his operas , oratorios , anthems and organ concertos . Born in a family indifferent to music, Handel received critical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London (1712) as a naturalized British subject in 1727.By then he was strongly influenced by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition. Within fifteen years, Handel had started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. In 1737 he had a physical breakdown, changed direction creatively and addressed the middle class. As Alexander's Feast (1736) was well received, Handel made a transition to English choral works. After his success with Messiah (1742) he never performed an Italian opera again. Handel was only partly successful with his performances of English oratorio on mythical and biblical themes, but when he arranged a performance of Messiah to benefit the Foundling Hospital (1750) the criticism ended. It has been said that the passion of Handel's oratorios is an ethical one, and that they are hallowed not by liturgical dignity but by moral ideals of humanity.Almost blind, and having lived in England for almost fifty years, he died in 1759, a respected and rich man. His funeral was given full state honours, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey . Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time, with works such as Water Music , Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah remaining popular. Handel composed more than forty operas in over thirty years, and since the late 1960s, with the revival of baroque music and original instrumentation , interest in Handel's operas has grown. WYNTON MARSALIS ï¿½ Wynton Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, bandleader, educator and a leading advocate of American culture. He is the worldï¿½s first jazz artist to perform and compose across the full jazz spectrum from its New Orleans roots to bebop to modern jazz. By creating and performing an expansive range of brilliant new music for quartets to big bands, chamber music ensembles to symphony orchestras, tap dance to ballet, Wynton has expanded the vocabulary for jazz and created a vital body of work that places him among the worldï¿½s finest musicians and composers. The Early Years Wynton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1961, to Ellis and Dolores Marsalis, the second of six sons. At an early age he exhibited a superior aptitude for music and a desire to participate in American culture. At age eight Wynton performed traditional New Orleans music in the Fairview Baptist Church band led by legendary banjoist Danny Barker, and at 14 he performed with the New Orleans Philharmonic. During high school Wynton performed with the New Orleans Symphony Brass Quintet, New Orleans Community Concert Band, New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Symphony, various jazz bands and the popular local funk band, the Creators. At age 17 Wynton became the youngest musician ever to be admitted to Tanglewoodï¿½s Berkshire Music Center. Despite his youth, he was awarded the schoolï¿½s prestigious Harvey Shapiro Award for outstanding brass student. Wynton moved to New York City to attend Juilliard in 1979. When he began to pick up gigs around town, the grapevine began to buzz. In the years to follow Wynton performed with Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and countless other jazz legends. Wynton assembled his own band in 1981 and hit the road, performing over 120 concerts every year for 15 consecutive years. With the power of his superior musicianship, the infectious sound of his swinging bands and an exhaustive series of performances and music workshops, Marsalis rekindled widespread interest in jazz throughout the world. Wynton embraced the jazz lineage to garner recognition for the older generation of overlooked jazz musicians and prompted the re-issue of jazz catalog by record companies worldwide. He also inspired a renaissance that attracted a new generation of fine young talent to jazz. A look at the more distinguished jazz musicians of today reveals numerous students of Marsalisï¿½ workshops: James Carter, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Payton, Eric Reed and Eric Lewis, to name a few. Classical Career Wyntonï¿½s love of the music of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and others drove him to pursue a career in classical music as well. He recorded the Haydn, Hummel and Leopold Mozart trumpet concertos at age 20. His debut recording received glorious reviews and won the Grammy Awardï¿½ for ï¿½Best Classical Soloist with an Orchestra.ï¿½ Marsalis went on to record 10 additional classical records, all to critical acclaim. Wynton performed with leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Boston Pops, The Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Londonï¿½s Royal Philharmonic, working with an eminent group of conductors including: Leppard, Dutoit, Maazel, Slatkin, Salonen and Tilson-Thomas. Famed classical trumpeter Maurice Andrï¿½ praised Wynton as ï¿½potentially the greatest trumpeter of all time.ï¿½ The Composer Wynton Marsalis is a prolific and inventive composer. The dance community embraced Wyntonï¿½s inventiveness by awarding him with commissions to create new music for Garth Fagan (Citi Movement-Griot New York), Peter Martins at the New York City Ballet (Jazz: Six Syncopated Movements and Them Twos), Twyla Tharp with the American Ballet Theatre (Jump Start), Judith Jamison at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (Sweet Release and Hereï¿½Now), and Savion Glover (Petite Suite and Spaces). Marsalis collaborated with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society in 1995 to compose the string quartet At The Octoroon Balls, and again in 1998 to create a response to Stravinskyï¿½s A Soldierï¿½s Tale with his composition A Fiddlerï¿½s Tale. Awards and Accolades Wynton Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awardsï¿½ in grand style. In 1983 he became the only artist ever to win Grammy Awardsï¿½ for both jazz and classical records; and he repeated the distinction by winning jazz and classical Grammy Awardsï¿½ again in 1984. Marsalis went on to win Grammy Awardsï¿½ for five consecutive years (1983-1987). Honorary degrees have been conferred upon Wynton by over 30 of Americaï¿½s leading academic institutions including Columbia, Harvard, Howard, Princeton and Yale. Elsewhere Wynton was honored with the Louis Armstrong Memorial Medal and the Algur H. Meadows Award for Excellence in the Arts. He was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement and was dubbed an Honorary Dreamer by the ï¿½I Have a Dream Foundation.ï¿½ The New York Urban League awarded Wynton with the Frederick Douglass Medallion for distinguished leadership and the American Arts Council presented him with the Arts Education Award. Time magazine selected Wynton as one of Americaï¿½s most promising leaders under age 40 in 1995, and in 1996 Time celebrated Marsalis again as one of Americaï¿½s 25 most influential people. In November 2005 Wynton Marsalis received The National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the United States Government. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan proclaimed Wynton Marsalis an international ambassador of goodwill for the Unites States by appointing him a UN Messenger of Peace (2001). In 1997 Wynton Marsalis became the first jazz musician ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his epic oratorio Blood On The Fields. During the five preceding decades the Pulitzer Prize jury refused to recognize jazz musicians and their improvisational music, reserving this distinction for classical composers. In the years following Marsalisï¿½ award, the Pulitzer Prize for Music has been awarded posthumously to Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ Other notable works by Williams include theme music for four Olympic Games, NBC Sunday Night Football , the NBC Nightly News , the Statue of Liberty's rededication , and the television series Lost in Space and Land of the Giants . Williams has also composed numerous classical concerti, and he served as the Boston Pops Orchestra 's principal conductor from 1980 to 1993; he is now the orchestra's conductor laureate . Williams has won five Academy Awards , four Golden Globe Awards , seven British Academy Film Awards and twenty-one Grammy Awards . With forty-eight Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most-nominated person, after Walt Disney .Williams was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 1999 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music.Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004. ï¿½ ï¿½ Rodgers and Hammerstein re-worked the musical theatre genre. Early 20th-century musicals, except for the Princess Theatre musicals and a few important examples like Hammerstein and Jerome Kern 's Show Boat , were usually whimsical or farcical, and usually built around a star. Because the efforts of Rodgers and Hammerstein were so successful, many musicals followed that contained thought-provoking plots with mature themes, and in which all the aspects of the play, dance, song, and drama, were combined in an integrated whole. Stephen Sondheim has cited Rodgers and Hammerstein as having had a crucial influence on his work. Rodgers and Hammerstein also use the technique of what some call the "formula musical". While some hail this phenomenon, others criticize it for its predictability. The term 'formula musical' may refer to a musical with a predictable plot, but it also refers to the casting requirements of Rodgers & Hammerstein characters. Typically, any musical from this team will have the casting of a strong baritone lead, a dainty and light soprano lead, a supporting lead tenor, and a supporting alto lead. Although there are exceptions to this generalization, it simplifies the audition process, and gives audiences an idea of what to expect vocally from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. However, this formula had been used in Viennese operetta , such as The Merry Widow . William A. Everett and Paul R. Laird wrote that Oklahoma!, "like Show Boat, became a milestone, so that later historians writing about important moments in twentieth-century theatre would begin to identify eras according to their relationship to Oklahoma!" In The Complete Book of Light Opera, Mark Lubbock adds, "After Oklahoma!, Rodgers and Hammerstein were the most important contributors to the musical-play form ï¿½ with such masterworks as Carousel, The King and I and South Pacific. The examples they set in creating vital plays, often rich with social thought, provided the necessary encouragement for other gifted writers to create musical plays of their own." In 1950, the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein received The Hundred Year Association of New York 's Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York." In addition to their enduring work, Rodgers and Hammerstein were also honored in 1999 with a United States Postal Service stamp commemorating their partnership. The Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City is named after Rodgers. Forbes named Rodgers and Hammerstein second on its list of top-earning dead celebrities in 2009 at $235 million. The original film arrangements of the team's music have been restored and performed at the Proms concerts in London's Royal Albert Hall by the John Wilson Orchestra . ï¿½ ï¿½ George Winston grew up mainly in Montana, and also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MGï¿½s, Jimmy Smith, and many more. Inspired by R&B, jazz, Blues and rock (especially the Doors), George began playing organ in 1967. In 1971 he switched to the acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas ï¿½Fatsï¿½ Waller and the late Teddy Wilson. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with this own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. In 1972, he recorded his first solo piano album, BALLADS AND BLUES 1972, for the late guitarist John Faheyï¿½s Takoma label. His latest solo piano release is LOVE WILL COME ï¿½ THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI, VOL. 2 (released 2/2/10), which features compositions by the late jazz pianist, including pieces from the Peanutsï¿½ TV specials. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756ï¿½ï¿½ 5 December 1791), was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era . Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. At 17, he was engaged as a court musician in Salzburg , but grew restless and travelled in search of a better position, always composing abundantly. While visiting Vienna in 1781, he was dismissed from his Salzburg position. He chose to stay in the capital, where he achieved fame but little financial security. During his final years in Vienna, he composed many of his best-known symphonies, concertos, and operas, and portions of the Requiem , which was largely unfinished at the time of his death. The circumstances of his early death have been much mythologized. He was survived by his wife Constanze and two sons. Mozart learned voraciously from others, and developed a brilliance and maturity of style that encompassed the light and graceful along with the dark and passionate. He composed over 600 works , many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic , concertante , chamber , operatic , and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers, and his influence on subsequent Western art music is profound; Beethoven composed his own early works in the shadow of Mozart, and Joseph Haydn wrote that "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years.ï¿½ Claude-Achille Debussy (22 August 1862ï¿½ï¿½ 25 March 1918) was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel , he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music , though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions. In France, he was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1903.A crucial figure in the transition to the modern era in Western music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His music is noted for its sensory component and for not often forming around one key or pitch. Often Debussy's work reflected the activities or turbulence in his own life. In French literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism , a movement that directly inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. Debussy's music,ï¿½ "established a new concept of tonality in European music": Glittering passages and webs of figurations which distract from occasional absence of tonality; Frequent use of parallel chords which are "in essence not harmonies at all, but rather 'chordal melodies', enriched unisons"; some writers describe these as non-functional harmonies; Bitonality, or at least bitonal chords; Use of the whole-tone and pentatonic scale ; Unprepared modulations , "without any harmonic bridge." Debussy's achievement was the synthesis of monophonic based "melodic tonality" with harmonies, albeit different from those of "harmonic tonality ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Alexander Tsubota ï¿½ Alexander Akira Tsubota was born in 1988 in Victorville, CA. He grew up in Trona, CA (near Death Valley), went to college in Riverside, and now lives in Redlands. Alex is half-Japanese. His dad is an elementary school principal, and his mom teaches 6th Grade in Trona. Alex has one younger brother whoï¿½works inï¿½public relations in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You might see Alex on our Mariposa campus as he is also our Technology Technician. ï¿½ He finished high school in 2005, which is before some of you were born! In school Alex's favorite subjects were English and Social Studies and as an avid debater he won several essay and debate contests. Alex attended UC Riverside and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Information Technology.ï¿½ Alex wants you to know that Information Technology pertains to the use of computers and networks; not their engineering, programming, and design (aka Computer Science).ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ Outside of school, Alexï¿½is greatly interested in music technology. He helped design andï¿½is still on staff at a few online communities that focus on home recording and music production.ï¿½ ï¿½He became interested in music at 4 years old,ï¿½wanting badly to be a drummer, but his dad ï¿½ who is a drummer ï¿½would not have it. Although piano wasï¿½his second choice, Alex says he did plenty of drumming on plastic chairs, hampers, pots, and pillows in the many "concerts"ï¿½he and his younger brother performed inï¿½the living room.ï¿½He began taking musicï¿½lessons at 6 and continued them for 10 years.ï¿½Alex is an awardï¿½winning musician, receiving musicï¿½awards fromï¿½the Exchange Club, Lions Club, High Desert Music Teacher's Association, and Associated Christian Schools International. In high school, Alex performed with Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Daniel Ho; more recently he was the main artist for the grand opening of the C3 Performing Arts Center in San Diego, CA. ï¿½ At age 10 Alex began writing his own music.ï¿½ Alex says that "the ability to play the music I heard in my head was an invaluable, freeing form of self-expression. I have been writing music I want to hear ï¿½ but doesnï¿½t yet exist ï¿½ ever since. I am not too interested in making a living as a musician, selling CDs, or touring in concert. Someday, I would like to see my music licensed for commercial use or in documentaries." ï¿½ï¿½ Alex'sï¿½music is freely available to download at www.alextsubota.com - Alex says that he "already feels like a celebrity when twenty of you come filing by out of a classroom and all say "Hi Alex!!!" Although I know only a few of your names, I hope to learn more of them during my visits. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of your school." Last year'sï¿½Composers in the Spotlight: ï¿½ Brian Wilson was born on June 20, 1942. He is an American musician, best known as the leader and main songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson provided many of the lead vocals for the bandsï¿½ songs. Early during his on-stage career, Wilson primarily played bass on stage, but gradually transitioned to primarily playing piano/keyboards. Besides being the primary composer in The Beach Boys, he also functioned as the band's main producer and arranger. Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits including "Surfin' Safari", "Surfin' USA", "Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Be True to Your School", "In My Room", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "I Get Around", "Dance Dance Dance", "Help Me Rhonda", "California Girls" and "Good Vibrations". These songs and their albums were internationally popular, making The Beach Boys one of the biggest acts of their time. In the mid-60s Wilson used his increasingly creative ambitions to compose and produce Pet Sounds, considered one of the greatest albums of all time. At this point his music was considered to rival that of Lennonï¿½McCartney. Brian Wilson began a solo career in 1988 with Brian Wilson, the same year that he and The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine published a list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time", and ranked Brian Wilson number 52. He is an occasional actor and voice actor, having appeared in television shows, films, and other artists' music videos. On December 16, 2011, a 50th Anniversary Reunion was announced and Brian returned to The Beach Boys. BILLY JOEL ï¿½ ï¿½ William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, performer, singer-songwriter, and composer.ï¿½ Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to RIAA. Joel had Top 40 hits in the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, achieving 33 Top 40 hits in the United States, all of which he wroteï¿½ himself.ï¿½ He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and has sold over 150 million records world wide. He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006), and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame (2009).ï¿½ In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, with Billy Joel positioned at No. 23.ï¿½ With the exception of the 2007 songs "All My Life" and "Christmas in Fallujah," Joel discontinued recording pop/rock material after 1993's River of Dreams, but he continues to tour. ï¿½ Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Italian Baroque Era Composer Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy, which is where he spent most of his life. His father, Giovanni Battista, a barber before becoming a violist, taught young Antonio play the violin, and the two would often perform together. ï¿½ At the age of 15, Antonio began training to become a priest.ï¿½Antonio continued to study and practice the violin, even after he became a priest at age 25. He was called the "Red Priest" because of his flaming red hair. However, after a while, his bad asthma kept Antonio from saying Mass.ï¿½ ï¿½ After that, Vivaldi spent all his time writing music and teaching. He taught at an orphanage for girls, and wrote a lot of music for the girls to play. People came from miles around to hear Vivaldi's talented students perform the beautiful music he had written.ï¿½ ï¿½ Many people think Vivaldi was the best Italian composer of his time. He wrote concertos, operas, church music and many other compositions. In all, Antonio wrote over 500 concertos. His most famous set of concertos is The Four Seasons.ï¿½Vivaldiï¿½s music is joyful, almost playful, revealing his own joy of composing.ï¿½In addition, Vivaldi was able to compose non-academic music which means it would be enjoyed by many people rather than just college professors.ï¿½It was these qualities that made Vivaldiï¿½s music very popular. ï¿½ Vivaldiï¿½s The Four Seasons, composed in 1723 is a set of four concertos for violin.ï¿½It is his most popular work and is among the most popular works of the Baroque Era.ï¿½For this composition he wrote sonnets to match each season. ï¿½ ï¿½ Randy Newman (1943 - Present) Popular Music Composer Randy Newman has long been one of the most musically and lyrically ambitious singer-songwriters ever to be at play in the fields of popular music. Born on November 28, 1943 to a renowned musical family, by seventeen Newman was aï¿½working songwriter. In 1968 he debuted withï¿½Randy Newman, and before long an unusually wide range of artists were recording his songs. Critics lauded the musical depth, edge and literary quality of his lyrics as the 70ï¿½s broughtï¿½12 Songs,ï¿½Live, the classicï¿½Sail Awayï¿½and brilliant and controversialï¿½Good Old Boys.ï¿½Little Criminalï¿½caught the publicï¿½s ear with the hit ï¿½Short Peopleï¿½.ï¿½Born Againï¿½followed. In the Eighties, Newmanï¿½s foray into film composing earned him his first two of sixteen Oscar nominations.ï¿½Trouble In Paradiseï¿½and the Grammy-winning score forï¿½The Naturalï¿½followed. Next,ï¿½Land of Dreamsï¿½was considered another breakthrough work. In theï¿½Nineties, Newman earned an Emmy and several more Grammys for work on films likeï¿½Toy Story,ï¿½James and the Giant Peach,ï¿½Bugï¿½s Lifeï¿½andï¿½Toy Story 2. Newman also tickled his adult audience with his darkly hilarious take onï¿½Faust. The four-CD compilation:ï¿½Guilty: 30 Years of Randy Newmanï¿½andï¿½Bad Loveï¿½followed, and in 2002, Newman won his first Oscar for Best Original Song forï¿½Monsters Inc. He has also earned 5 Grammy awards and 2 Emmy awards throughout his career. The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol.ï¿½Iï¿½(2003), his first effort for Nonesuch, introduces powerful new solo versions of early classics and recent gems alike. The eighteen songs are an intimate and powerful reminder of the enduring work that Newman has established. In 2008 he releasedï¿½Harps and Angels; forï¿½Nonesuch records. His first collection of new songs since 2009ï¿½sï¿½Bad Love. Most recently, Newman wrote the songs and score for Disneyï¿½sï¿½The Princess and the Frogï¿½as well asï¿½Toy Story 3.ï¿½He has earned two more Academy Award nominations(19 total) in the Best Original Song category forï¿½Almost Thereï¿½andDown In New Orleans. On June 2ndï¿½2010 Newman received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ï¿½ Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian Romantic Era Composer ï¿½ Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in 1840 in present-day Udmurtia, Russia. His father was a Ukrainian mining engineer. Peter began piano lessons at the age of five, and within three years he could read music as well as his teacher.ï¿½ In 1850, Peter's father was appointed as the Director of the St. Petersburg Technological Institute. It was there that Peter received his education at the School of Jurisprudence. The only music instruction he received were piano lessons from a piano manufacturer who occasionally made visits to the school. He also attended the opera and theater with his classmates. It was the works of Rossini , Bellini, Verdi and Mozart that he enjoyed the most. Peter's mother died in 1854, which brought him much sorrow. He responded by turning to music. It was at this time that he made his first serious efforts as a composer, writing a waltz in her memory.ï¿½ In 1855, Peter's father asked a well-known German piano teacher to encourage his son's interest in music. However, when Peter's father asked about his son's musical potential, his teacher wrote that nothing indicated he would be a fine composer or performer. His father asked Peter to complete his course of study and then pursue a post in the Ministry of Justice. He did as he was asked, though his interest in music never left him. In 1861, Tchaikovsky heard about classes being offered by the Russian Musical Society. He promptly began his studies. In the following year, Tchaikovsky followed his teacher to the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he accepted a post. It was at the conservatory that he met and studied with Anton Rubinstein, director and founder of the Conservatory. Rubinstein was impressed with Tchaikovsky's talent.ï¿½ In 1869 Tchaikovsky composed his first recognized masterpiece, the Overture-Fantasy Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky was deeply inspired by Shakespeare's writing, and in later years composed other works for The Tempest and Hamlet. On November 6, 1893 Tchaikovsky died in St. Petersburg from cholera. His compositions are some of the greatest works of the Romantic Era, including the 1812 Overture, March Slav, and The Nutcracker, which has become a Christmas season favorite. ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ Jim Brickman (1961-Present) American Composer Jim Brickman has revolutionized the sound of solo piano with his pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations.ï¿½ A native of Cleveland, Brickman began playing piano at the age of five and studied music at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. He founded his own advertising music company in 1980, writing commercial jingles for such advertisers as McDonaldï¿½s, Pontiac and Kelloggï¿½s.ï¿½ Brickman has received international acclaim as a concert performer, taking his popular live concerts to more than 125 cities each year.ï¿½ His signature style has brought him six Gold and Platinum albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, and two Grammy nominations.ï¿½ Other artistic endeavors include a popular weekly radio show, Your Weekend; two best-selling books, Simple Things and Love Notes; debuts at Carnegie Hall and the White House; and international touring from Spain to Thailand.ï¿½ Brickman lends a hand to many charitable foundations for children, including Autism Speaks, UNICEF and Camp Heartland. A scholarship was recently established in his name at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Ludwig Von Beethoven (1770-1827) German Classical/Romantic Era Composer ï¿½ Ludwig van Beethoven was baptised on December 17th 1770 at Bonn. His family originated from Brabant, in Belgium. His father was musician at the Court of Bonn, with a definite weakness for drink. His mother was always described as a gentle, retiring woman, with a warm heart. Beethoven referred to her as his "best friend". The Beethoven family consisted of seven children, but only the three boys survived, of whom Beethoven was the eldest At an early age, Beethoven took an interest in music, and his father taught him day and night, on returning to the house from music practice or the tavern. Without doubt, the child was gifted, and his father Johann envisaged creating a new Mozart, a child prodigy. On March 26th 1778, at the age of 7 1/2, Beethoven gave his first know public performance, at Cologne. In 1782, before the age of 12, Beethoven published his first work: 9 variations, in C Minor, for Piano, on a march by Ernst Christoph Dressler (WoO 63). And the following year, in 1783, Neefe wrote in the "Magazine of Music", about his student: "If he continues like this he will be, without doubt, the new Mozart". In June 1784, on Neefe's recommendations, Ludwig was appointed organist of the court of Maximilian Franz, Elector of Cologne. He was 14. Beethoven made numerous acquaintances at Vienna. Everybody in the musical and aristocratic world admired the young composer. These music-lovers were Beethoven's greatest supporters. In 1800, Beethoven organised a new concert at Vienna including, notably, the presentation of his first symphony. This genius, Beethoven, who was still a young, new composer, was already pushing the established boundaries of music. In the years that followed, the creative activity of the composer became intense. He composed many symphonies, amongst which were the Pastoral, the Coriolan Overture, and the famous Letter for Elise. In 1826, Beethoven caught cold coming back from his brother's place. The illness complicated other health problems from which Beethoven had suffered all his life. He passed away encircled by his closest friends on March 26th 1827 ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½ Upon graduating high school, Copland studied harmony and counterpoint through a correspondence course, a very difficult way to learn music. He was then referred to Rubin Goldmark, who was a specialist in harmony. Copland dreamt of studying music in France, and for the next several years, he saved his money and continued to practice. In 1920, Copland was granted a scholarship, and in the summer of 1921, he traveled to the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau. In France, Copland studied with Nadia Boulanger and became her first American student in composition. Copland studied in France for three years, then returned to New York with a commission from his teacher. While working as a pianist in a Pennsylvania resort, Copland composed the Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, for Boulanger's American appearances. The work premiered at Carnegie Hall with the New York Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Walter Damrosch. After his successful debut, Copland spent several months composing in New Hampshire. His early compositions were influenced by jazz rhythms. He described this style as symphonic jazz. Music for the Theater (1925) and Piano Concerto (1926) were written during this period of Copland's career. During this time, Copland was awarded the first monetary grant from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, enabling him to continue his work. Copland soon moved into a more austere and abstract style. Piano Variations (1930) and Statements for Orchestra (1933-35) reflect this change. Copland made another abrupt style change in the mid-1930s with a move towards simplicity and melody, in an effort to be more accessible to the general public. He wanted to bring more music to more people. The next 10 years were Copland's most productive. Using elements of American folk music, Copland produced lyrical compositions such as the ballets Billy the Kid (1938), Rodeo (1942), and Appalachian Spring (1944). He composed music for films, including Of Mice and Men (1937), Our Town (1940), and The Heiress (1949). Copland also produced two works for high school students called The Second Hurricane (1937) and An Outdoor Overture (1938). Additional works of this period include Lincoln Portrait (1942), Third Symphony (1946), and El salon Mexico, an orchestral piece based on Mexican folk music. Copland again returned to a more austere style in the 1950s. The Piano Fantasy (1957); Connotations (1962), which was commissioned for the opening of Lincoln Center in New York City; and Inscape (1967), reflect the 12-tone style popularized by composer Arnold Schoenberg. These works were not as well received as Copland's previous works. In the 1970s, Copland virtually stopped composing, although he continued to conduct. His final work, Proclamation (1982), was performed during a concert celebrating his 85th birthday. Aaron Copland died on December 2, 1990. In addition to composing and conducting, Copland wrote several books, including What to Listen for in Music (1939), Music and Imagination (1952), and Copland on Music (1960). He was influential in promoting contemporary composers and organized numerous musical events. Copland received more than 30 honorary degrees. He was a distinguished teacher at the Berkshire Music Center, and in 1945, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Bibliographic Citation Format: They are well known for their close vocal harmonies and were among the most popular recording artists of the 1960s; among their biggest hits, in addition to " The Sounds of Silence ", were " Bridge over Troubled Water ", " I Am a Rock ", " Homeward Bound ", " A Hazy Shade of Winter ", " Mrs. Robinson ", " The Boxer ", " Cecilia ", and " Scarborough Fair/Canticle ". They have received several Grammys and are inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2007). Their sometimes rocky relationship led to their last album, Bridge over Troubled Water , being delayed several times due to artistic disagreements and as a result the duo broke up in 1970. But Simon and Garfunkel have reunited to perform and sometimes tour together in every decade since the 1970 breakup, most famously for 1981's " Edvard Hagerup Grieg (15 June 1843ï¿½ï¿½ 4 September 1907) was a Norwegian ï¿½ composer and pianist who composed in the Romantic period . He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor , for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen 's play Peer Gynt (which includes Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King ), and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces . Grieg is renowned as a nationalist composer , drawing inspiration from Norwegian folk music . Early works include a symphony (which he later suppressed) and a piano sonata . He also wrote three sonatas for violin and piano and a cello sonata . His many short pieces for piano ï¿½ often based on Norwegian folk tunes and dances ï¿½ led some to call him the " ï¿½ Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Italian Baroque Era Composer Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy, which is where he spent most of his life. His father, Giovanni Battista, a barber before becoming a violist, taught young Antonio play the violin, and the two would often perform together. ï¿½ At the age of 15, Antonio began training to become a priest.ï¿½Antonio continued to study and practice the violin, even after he became a priest at age 25. He was called the "Red Priest" because of his flaming red hair. However, after a while, his bad asthma kept Antonio from saying Mass.ï¿½ ï¿½ After that, Vivaldi spent all his time writing music and teaching. He taught at an orphanage for girls, and wrote a lot of music for the girls to play. People came from miles around to hear Vivaldi's talented students perform the beautiful music he had written.ï¿½ ï¿½ Many people think Vivaldi was the best Italian composer of his time. He wrote concertos, operas, church music and many other compositions. In all, Antonio wrote over 500 concertos. His most famous set of concertos is The Four Seasons.ï¿½Vivaldiï¿½s music is joyful, almost playful, revealing his own joy of composing.ï¿½In addition, Vivaldi was able to compose non-academic music which means it would be enjoyed by many people rather than just college professors.ï¿½It was these qualities that made Vivaldiï¿½s music very popular. ï¿½ Vivaldiï¿½s The Four Seasons, composed in 1723 is a set of four concertos for violin.ï¿½It is his most popular work and is among the most popular works of the Baroque Era.ï¿½For this composition he wrote sonnets to match each season. ï¿½ ï¿½ Richard Rodgersï¿½(1902ï¿½1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895ï¿½1960) were an influential, innovative and successful American musical theatre writing team, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s, initiating what is considered the "golden age" of musical theatre. [1] With Rodgers composing the music and Hammerstein writing the lyrics, five of their shows, Oklahoma! , Carousel , South Pacific , The King and I and The Sound of Music , were outstanding successes. Among the many accolades their shows (and film versions) garnered were thirty-four Tony Awards , fifteen Academy Awards , the Pulitzer Prize , and two Grammy Awards	i don't know
English cartoon character John Bull was provided with a sister called Peg (by creator Dr John Arbuthnott), representing which country of Great Britain?	Calaméo - The Life and Works of John Arbuthnot The Life and Works of John Arbuthnot by Cappelli The Life and Works of John Arbuthnot. Author: John Arbuthnot (Kincardineshire, Scotland, 29 April 1667 – 27 February 1735, London) \|\| Editor: George Atherton Aitken (Barkingside, Essex, 19 March 1860 – 16 November 1917, London) \|\| Publication Data:... More The Life and Works of John Arbuthnot. Author: John Arbuthnot (Kincardineshire, Scotland, 29 April 1667 – 27 February 1735, London) \|\| Editor: George Atherton Aitken (Barkingside, Essex, 19 March 1860 – 16 November 1917, London) \|\| Publication Data: Oxford, 1892 \|\| For best viewing, download PDF. Less	Scotland
Two former Argentinian military leaders went on trial in February 2011, accused of stealing what from political prisoners?	The Life of George Cruikshank, by Blanchard Jerrold The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life Of George Cruikshank, Vol. II. (of II), by Blanchard Jerrold This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Life Of George Cruikshank, Vol. II. (of II) The Life Of George Cruikshank In Two Epochs, With Numerous Illustrations Author: Blanchard Jerrold Illustrator: George Cruikshank Release Date: January 23, 2014 [EBook #44742] Last Updated: December 11, 2016 Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 * START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF GEORGE CRUIKSHANK, II * Produced by David Widger THE LIFE THE LIFE OF GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. THE LIFE OF GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. EPOCH I. (continued). CHAPTER XI. THE COMIC ALMANAC. In 1835 the late Mr. Tilt, publisher, of Fleet Street, started the Comic Almanac, and engaged George Cruikshank to illustrate it. It was a happy idea, exactly suited to the more popular side of the mood and genius of the artist; and Cruikshank entered upon his task with zest For nineteen years this annual comic and satirical commentary on passing and probable events, not only furnished him with a regular income, giving him work on which he might reckon with certainty in estimating his very fluctuating resources; but it afforded him the opportunity, in which he always delighted, of recording in his own quaint, original manner, his opinions on the questions of the day. Original Size -- Medium-Size In the nineteen volumes to which the Almanac ran, there are nearly two hundred and fifty etchings by him; and among these there are some of his happiest bits of observation, of his shrewdest exposures of folly and vice and cant, and of his original fancy. After looking over these nineteen volumes, and noticing that the wit and earnestness of purpose are as fresh and strong in that of 1853 as in the first volume, the reader cannot refuse to endorse what Thackeray said of Cruikshank’s humour—viz., that it is so good and benevolent, any man must love it. While in his illustrations of books the many-sided artist continued to express his serious or tragic power, which Mr. Ruskin has asserted to be as great as his grotesque power, though warped by “habits of caricature”; in these pleasant annual volumes, in the letterpress of which he had the assistance of his friends, Thackeray, Gilbert à Beckett, Albert Smith, Robert Brough, Horace and Henry Mayhew, he maintained his original popularity with the laughter-loving sections of the British public. Original Size -- Medium-Size In 1835, when the first almanac appeared, the water cure was amusing the public. Cruikshank’s first plate shows one enthusiast under the water-butt, another under a burst water-pipe, and a third in an elegant attitude, being pumped upon by his servant, and remarking, “Well, I could not have supposed that being ‘pumped upon’ was such a luxury! and so invigorating! And to think that so good a thing should hitherto have been thrown away upon qui tam attorneys, sprained ankles, and pickpockets!” Then Mr. Rigdum Funnidos (originated by the late Mr. Vizetelly, I am informed by his son Henry), enters upon the scene, and continues year after year to be the nom de plume of a succession of wits and humourists; and Cruikshank unfolds his series of plates of the months, each season being indicated by some humorous incident or some happy notes of observation of our London streets. The ice-carts and slides of January; the muddy streets and bustling postmen of St. Valentine’s day,—how unlike (with their great leather bags) the postmen of our day! the winds of March outside Mr. Tilt’s shop, blowing even a dog’s tail over his back; showery April, with a wonderful group of Cockneys standing up; the sweeps of Mayday; June, at the Royal Academy—a bit of Cruikshank at his brightest; July, in Vauxhall Gardens, with the band in cocked hats, and the famous master of the ceremonies in pumps; Cruikshank’s old friend, the dustman, eating his first oyster in August; Greenwich Fair in September; going into the country by the stage coaches in October; Guy Fawkes in November; and the Christmas pudding, with a laughing company welcoming it, in December. As pictures of the humorous side of London life upwards of forty years ago, these spirited etchings, which teem with life, are invaluable. The fun of Mr. Rigdum Funnidos was of a kind that has found many imitators. In the “proceedings of learned societies” we find that the fossil remains of an antediluvian pawnbroker had been dug up within a mile of Hog’s Norton; that a successful method of converting stones into bread has been transmitted to the New Poor Law Commissioners, and a three-and-sixpenny medal presented to the ingenious discoverer thereof; then that a laborious investigator has reckoned that there are exactly nine millions, one hundred and sixty-four thousand, five hundred and thirty-three hairs on a tom-cat’s tail, which he defies all the zoologists of Europe to disprove. Later on (1839) Thackeray contributed “Stubbs’ Diary” and “Barber Cox, or the Cutting of his Comb,” to the pages of Funnidos. From the first, Cruikshank hit hard at quacks and shams. The first almanac has an “advertisement extraordinary” of the “British Humbug College of Health,” and some amusing testimonials from Gudgeon and Gosling, who have been cured by “Morising Pills.” The moral at the close of the almanac is, “While we venerate what is deserving of veneration, let us not forget that quackery, knavery, bigotry, and superstition always merit exposure and castigation.” The versatility and the perennial vigour and vivacity of Cruikshank’s genius is nowhere more strikingly displayed than in the variety with which he has treated of the seasons in the Comic Almanac. One year March is illustrated by a meeting of workmen going to work, and roysterers returning home, day and night being nearly equal. Next March the cook is tossing pancakes. April is now shown upon the famous hill in Greenwich Park, and now in a wet return from the races. One November we have Lord Mayor’s Day, with one of Cruikshank’s dense crowds, and the next year we are treated to a delicious bit of humour. Guys in council over the gunpowder plot May now famishes the artist with one of his happiest bits of suburban scenery, “all a-growing,”—a housewife exchanging old garments for spring flowers; and now such a crowd of lean-shanked charity boys, with such a beadle as only the “inimitable George” could draw before Leech’s time, are beating the bounds. July furnishes a whimsical scene of the dog-days—with London dogs fighting, drawing carts, playing Toby in a Punch and Judy show, running under a truck, and an aristocratic dog looking haughtily down from a first-floor window. (Landseer took more than one hint from Cruikshank’s animals.) June “down at Beulah,” a December dance; May “settling for the Derby”—a wonderful assemblage of broad and long faces; July at the seaside, with cockneys donkey-riding—“long days and long ears;” a November fog; December—“a swallow at Christmas,” a procession of the many substantial items of Christmas cheer, making a procession into the prodigious maw of John Bull. The fountain of humour is inexhaustible. The satirical contrasts also, are capital. Premium, a smart gentleman, with the ladies smiling upon him; Discount, in the dumps, and shabby, with the ladies’ backs resolutely turned towards him. The Parlour and the Cellar, each getting drunk after its fashion. The “Shop and the Shay,” two delightful bits of London life. Then there is the British Museum in 2043, with a gibbet, the pillory, a stage coachman, a Whig, a Tory, and a tax-gatherer’s book among the curiosities. In 1844, Cruikshank began a series of large folded drawings, with a most humorous etching of the probable effects of over-female emigration. An importation of the fair sex from the savage islands has been effected, “in consequence of exporting all our own to Australia;” and the dark ladies are making eyes at a crowd of anxious men, who are advancing towards them, while in the distance would-be husbands are running to the scene. The faces of the imported squaws on shore, as well as those in the boats, being landed from the big ship, are the creations of a most searching humorous observer. Cruikshank’s cartoon of Guy Fawkes treated classically is wonderfully funny. The artist explained it himself in his own rough fantastic way. “Having been advised,” he said, “by my friends to publish a sketch of my cartoon” (the great cartoon competition for the Houses of Parliament was going on in 1844) “intended for exhibition at Westminster Hall, I think the public, upon seeing it, will require some explanation of it. The subject has often been treated, and sometimes rather ill-treated, by preceding artists. Being forcibly struck by the grand classical style, I have aimed at it, and I trust I have succeeded in hitting it. At all events, if I have not quite come up to the mark, I have had a good bold fling at it. The first thing I thought it necessary to think of (though, by-the-bye, it is generally the last thing thought of in historical painting) was to get a faithful portrait of the principal character. For that purpose I determined to study nature, and strolled about London and the suburbs on the 5th of November, in search of a likeness of Fawkes, caring little under what Guys it might be presented to me. Unfortunately, some had long noses and some had short; so, putting this and that together, the long and the short of it is, that I determined on adopting a living prototype, who has been blowing up both Houses of Parliament for several years, and if not a Guy Fawkes in other respects, is at least famous for encouraging forking out on the part of others. Having got over the preliminary difficulty, “I set to work upon my cartoon; and being resolved to make it a greater work than had ever before been known, I forgot the prescribed size, for my head was far above the consideration of mere fact, and I did not reflect, that where Parliament had given an inch, I was taking an ell as the very lowest estimate. Original Size -- Medium-Size “Having strolled towards Westminster Hall to survey the scene of my future triumphs, it struck me that I had carried the grand classical to such a height as to preclude all chance of my cartoon being got in through the doorway; and I therefore, with the promptitude of a Richard the Third, determined to ‘off with his head’ by taking a slice off the top of the canvas. This necessary piece of execution rather spoiled the design, but it enabled me to throw a heaviness into the brows of my principal figure, which, if it marred the resemblance to Fawkes, gave him an additional look of the Guy at all events. It then occurred to me that I might diminish the dimensions by taking a couple of feet off the legs; and this happy idea enabled me to carry out the historical notion that Fawkes was the mere tool of others, in which case, to cramp him in the understanding must be considered a nice blending of the false in art with the true in nature. The Guy’s feet were accordingly foreshortened, till I left him as he appeared when trying to defend himself at his trial, with hardly a leg to stand upon. Besides, I knew I could fresco out his calves in fine style, when once I got permission to turn the fruit of my labours into wall fruit on the inside of the Houses of Parliament. “It will now be naturally asked why my cartoon was not exhibited with others, some of which were equally monstrous, in the Hall of Westminster. The fact is, if the truth must out, the cartoon would not go in. Though I had cramped my genius already to suit the views of the Commissioners and the size of the door, I found I must have stooped much lower if I had resolved on finding admittance for my work. I wrote at once to the Woods and Forests, calling upon them to widen the door for genius, by taking down a portion of the wall: but it will hardly be believed, that though there were, at the time, plenty of workmen about the building, no answer was returned to my request. Alas! it is all very well to sing, as they do in Der Freischutz, ‘Through the Woods and through the Forests,’ but towards me the Woods and Forests proved themselves utterly impenetrable. “It will be seen that the arch-conspirator—for so I must continue to call him, though he could not be got into the archway—has placed his hat upon the ground, a little point in which I have blended imagination with history, and both with convenience. The imagination suggests that such a villain ought not to wear his hat; history does not say that he did, which is as much as to hint that he didn’t; while convenience, coming to the aid of both, renders it necessary for his hat to lie upon the ground; for if I had tried to place it on his head, there would have been no room for it There was one gratifying circumstance connected with this cartoon, which, in spite of my being charged with vanity, I must repeat. As it was carried through the streets, it seemed to be generally understood and appreciated; every one, even children, exclaiming as it passed, ‘Oh! there’s a Guy!’ “George Cruikshank.” There was some bitterness in this jesting; for Cruikshank felt conscious of the latent power to execute a cartoon about which there should have been no buffoonery. Alas! his lines had been cast in humble places. He had lived to earn his bread from day to day in the grotesque market; and the solemn and poetic side of his genius had been left unworked, or had been only partially and fitfully developed as he became an illustrator of books. In the Almanac which included the Guy Fawkes cartoon appeared Cruikshank’s Father Mathew, a nice man for a small party. Father Mathew appears in the shape of a pump or filter to a convivial domestic circle, and holds parley with them. The animated pump, with the extended handle for a warning arm, and the spout for a nose, is an old Cruikshankian figure. “Touch not—taste not,” says the preacher-pump: “if you must take anything, take the Pledge.” Paterfamilias, with a severe frown and aggressive attitude, has turned upon the intruder. “Dost thou think,” he says, “because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?” Pater’s friend is more insinuating, and has an excuse. “Why, you see, old gent,” he remarks, “the case is this—the ladies insist upon my singing a comic song, and I should like to know how I am to manage that over a glass of pump-water.” The grandfather pleads: “Won’t you allow an old gentleman a little warm elder wine this cold night?” And the buxom lady of the house is coaxing: “Pray take a chair, sir, and taste my home-made wine, or a glass of our home-brewed ale.” These suggested compromises expressed very faithfully the mood of the artist’s mind at the time. His sympathies inclined him towards the Apostle of Temperance; but he was not yet prepared to go over, body and soul, to the cause. The picture is accompanied by an “Ode to Father Mathew,” conceived in a spirit of hearty opposition, that only goes towards proving that Cruikshank was at the half-way house of elder and home-made wines and home-brewed beer, between the punch bowl and the pump. The ode is in the fine old style:— “Oh, Father Mathew I why dost thou incline Against all spirits thus to whine? To preach against good liquor is a scandal. Why to such rash conclusions jump— To airy, dull, unsocial pump, Why give a handle? Water is very well—but then ‘tis known That well is always better let alone. Washing is water’s only function, Save when a little drop poured in— To brandy, whisky, rum, or gin, Makes glorious grand junction.” The kindly humourist’s etching-needle was inspired by every good cause. These almanacs have all morals underlying the fun. Cruikshank liked to have an object in view. No class, no creature was too humble for his sympathy. Landseer never drew anything better than the plate of the Dog-Days—suggested by “the Dogs Bill” of 1843. Two hard-working, very radical dogs who are drawing a truckful of hardware, scowl at a pair of genteel dogs, extravagantly arrayed, and smoking cigars, who cross their path. First radical dog says he believes they don’t know the side “their tails hang on,” they are so proud—adding, “Why, a cousin of mine, as lives at Barking, tells me as how the celebrated dog Billy has grown so proud that he has declined to kill any more rats. And as to cigars! why bless you, there ain’t a Puppy about Town but wot has got a cigar stuck in his mouth.” In a corner a watch-dog and a dancing dog are talking over their grievances; while in the distance a lady tells her footman to take care her spaniel, Duchess, does not get her feet wet. The dogs are inimitable. Bloomers, crinoline, over-population (a Cruikshankian plate showing the housetops covered with the superabundant humanity), the “steamed-out” stage-coachman, the “fast man,” female parliaments, baby-jumpers, cheap excursion trains, taking the census, the effect of the Peace Society (a regiment hay-making), Jullien as the President of the French Republic, “with entire new politics and polkas,” a pack of knaves, being a meeting of the betting interest,—these are but a few notable pictures of the crowded gallery. Cruikshank revelled in the fun, and sought to extract wisdom from it He had an old-fashioned idea of woman and her rights, and was sharp with his needle over female suffrage, ladies in pantalettes, and women of mind. Original Size -- Medium-Size Henry Mayhew wrote some verses on a woman of mind, during one of the years of his editorship (1847), beginning,— “My wife is a woman of mind, And Deville, who examined her bumps, Vow’d that never were found in a woman Such large intellectual lumps. ‘Ideality’ big as an egg, With ‘Causality’—great—was combined; He charg’d me ten shillings, and said, ‘Sir, your wife is a woman of mind.’” Cruikshank’s picture of her is one of his stereotyped, ill-favoured, stuck-up, figureless ladies, of whom a friend said one day, when looking over some sketches, in Amwell Street, “Why, George, your females are all shaped like hour-glasses.” For pure fun nothing could be better than the “Banquet of the Black Dolls,” in commemoration of the reduction of the Duty on Bags. The doll who occupies the chair has before her a Grand Potage de Dripping, and the menu includes Pâté de Horseshoes, Omelette de Old Iron, Bones Boil-é, Rag-out de Superior White Linen Rag, Fricassée de Broken Glass, and Poudin Kitchen Stuff. The arrival of Tom Thumb, and his reception by the élite of society, as the bills said, and the brilliant court he held under a shower of John Bull’s gold in Piccadilly, suggested two scenes to hard-working and most moderately-paid Cruikshank. The first is called “Born a Genius.” In a garret a poor artist sits in despair and poverty—his empty plate upon the table, his tattered boots upon the floor. The second is called “Born a Dwarf.” Original Size -- Medium-Size The little man reclines upon a sofa, with a jewel-case and full money-bags beside him. He toys with a trinket, having finished his foie-gras and champagne. He had seen inexcusable personalities in the paper, he remarked; and when Lemon said to him, “We shall have you yet,” George shouted in reply, striking one of his theatrical attitudes, “Never!” Original Size -- Medium-Size He had repented of his early days of unscrupulous caricature. It must be remembered, always to Cruikshank’s lasting honour, that, his wild youth past, he refused scores of tempting offers of work that did not quite commend itself to his conscience. He used to say he would illustrate nothing which he did not feel. Later, when Punch goodnaturedly rallied him on his temperance eccentricities, he declared that he had a great mind to go down to Fleet Street “and knock the old rascal’s wooden head about.” Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER XII. LORD BATEMAN AND THE TABLE BOOK. Between 1837 and 1847, in addition to his work with Dickens and Ainsworth, and in his Omnibus and “Comic Almanac,” Cruikshank threw off some of his most popular minor drawings and etchings. Within this decade he etched many of his plates for the “Waverley Novels,” he illustrated “Peter Parley’s Tales about Christmas,” “Rambles in the Footsteps of Don Quixote” (1837), “More Hints on Etiquette” (1838), “Lympsfield and its Environs” (1838), “The Life of Mansie Waunch (1838) for Blackwood, “Land-Sharks and Sea-Gulls” (1838), “Rejected Addresses” (1838), “Out and About,” a boy’s adventures, by Hain Friswell (1840), John O’Neill’s poem of “The Drunkard” (1842), Dibdin’s Songs (1841-2), “Picnic Papers” (1841), edited by Dickens; Douglas Jerrold’s “Cakes and Ale” (1842), “Modern Chivalry, or a new Orlando Furioso” (1843); Martin’s “Vagaries,” a sequel to “A Tale of a Tub” (1843); “The Bachelor’s own Book, or the Life of Mr. Lambkin, gent” (1844); Harry Lorrequer’s “Arthur O’Leary” (1844); Maxwell’s “Irish Rebellion” (1845), “The Old Sailor’s Jolly Boat” (1845), “The Comic Blackstone” (1846), Mrs. Gore’s “Snow-Storm” and “New Year’s Day” (1845), “Our Own Times” (1845), the Brothers Mayhew’s “Greatest Plague of Life” (1847), “The Emigrant,’ by Sir Francis Head, Captain Chamier’s “Ben Brace” (1847), “Nights at Mess,” and Laman Blanchard’s “Sketches from Life.” He also began his capital illustrations to “The Ingoldsby Legends,” in Bentley’s Miscellany. To this period, also, his wellknown “John Gilpin” and “Lord Bateman” (1839) belong. According to Mr. Walter Hamilton, the history of the “Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman” is, that George Cruikshank “sang the old English ballad, in the manner of a street-ballad singer, at a dinner of the Antiquarian Society, at which Dickens and Thackeray were present. Original Size -- Medium-Size The latter is reported to have remarked, “I should like to print that ballad, with illustrations.” But Cruikshank warned him off, saying that this was exactly what he himself had resolved to do. The original ballad was much longer than that which Cruikshank illustrated, and to which Charles Dickens furnished humorous notes; and was not comic in any respect. Mr. Sala’s version is the more vraisetnblant:— “The authorship of the ballad itself, which has furnished the basis for no less than three theatrical burlesques—one by a forgotten dramatist at the Strand, another by Robert Brough at the Adelphi, and a third by Henry J. Byron at the Globe—is involved in mystery. George Cruikshank’s assertion, and one to which he doggedly adhered, was that he heard the song sung one night by an itinerant minstrel outside a public-house near Battle Bridge; and that he subsequently chanted and ‘performed’ (George was as good as any play, or as a story-teller in a Moorish coffee-house, at ‘performing’) the ditty to Charles Dickens, who was so delighted with it that he persuaded George to publish it, adorned with copper-plates. But internal evidence would seem to be against the entire authenticity of the artist’s version. That he had heard some doggerel sung outside a tavern, and relating to Lord Bateman, is likely enough. ‘Vilikins and his was immortalised by Robson in Jem Baggs. George Cruikshank’s error, it strikes us, was more one of omission than of commission. He may have lyrically narrated the adventures of the ‘Noble Lord of High Degree’ to Dickens; but he assuredly warbled and ‘performed’ them too in the presence of Thackeray, who in all probability ‘revised and settled’ the words, and made them fit for publication. Nobody but Thackeray could have written those lines about ‘The young bride’s mother, who never before was heard to speak so free,’ and in the ‘Proud Young Porter’ all Titmarshian students must recognise the embryo type of James de la Pluche.” “Lord Bateman” was Cruikshank’s delight. The exquisite foolery expressed in his plates of this eccentric nobleman he would act, at any moment, in any place, to the end of his life. Mr. Percival Leigh remembers a characteristic scene at the Cheshire Cheese tavern, in Fleet Street, about 1842 or 1843. “This,” * he says, “was in G. C.‘s pre-teetotal period. After dinner came drink and smoke, of course; and G. C. was induced to sing ‘Billy Taylor,’ which he did with grotesque expression and action, varied to suit the words. He likewise sang ‘Lord Bateman,’ in his shirt-sleeves, with his coat flung cloak-wise over his left arm, whilst he paced up and down, disporting himself with a walking-stick, after the manner of the noble lord, as represented in his illustration to the ballad.” Six-and-twenty years afterwards we find the bright-hearted old man still with spirits enough for his favourite part. * Letter to B. J., Feb. 18,1878. “One day,” says Mr. Frederick Locker, “he asked us to tea, and to hear him sing ‘Lord Bateman’ in character, which he did to our infinite delight. He posed in the costume of that, deeply interesting but somewhat mysterious nobleman. I am often reminded of the circumstance; for I have a copy of ‘Lord Bateman’ (1851), and on the false title is written— ‘This Evening, July 13, 1868, I sang LORD BATEMAN to My dear little friend Eleanor Locker. George Cruikshank.’” This in his seventy-sixth year! Within the busy decade, 1837—1847, Cruikshank executed many separate etchings for Bentley’s Miscellany and Ainsworth’s Magazine. His work is to be found scattered far and wide. One month he appears as the illustrator of a humorous song or scena by J. Blewitt—“The Matrimonial Ladder” (the ladder was a favourite form with him for conveying the various aspects of a subject)—or Keeley in the new comic song of “Wery Ridiculous”; the next he is the whimsical illustrator of Beaufoy’s Advertisement of his Cure for the Toothache—wood drawings engraved by Orrin Smith. Nor had he quite put aside his habit of expressing himself pictorially on political events. In 1843 he published, from Mr. David Bogue’s shop in Fleet Street, a separate design entitled “The Queen and the Union. No Repeal! No O’Connell!” It was a woodcut enclosing text in type, the text being Cruikshank’s own declamation against the Irish Agitator. Britannia and Erin are represented in the drawing seated, with joined hands, on the shores of the Channel; while the “blustering, foul-mouthed bully, with one foot on Britannia’s shoulder, and the other on Erin’s harp, has raised an axe to sunder the friends.” Frontispieces and covers he designed by the score,—now to “A Tale of a Comical Stick,” and now to The Yorkshireman, a religious and literary journal; and now again a headpiece to one of Mrs. S. C. Hall’s “Sketches of Irish Character,” or a frontispiece to a book on “Prisons and Prisoners.” To every item of this extraordinary quantity and variety of pictorial labour Cruikshank gave his utmost energy. He was a most faithful worker, who never stinted himself, even when the humblest or least important subject was in hand. Let me note, however, some exceptions. * Letter to B. J. In 1843 he had quarrelled with Mr. Bentley, and purposely put bad work in them. This was his revenge—and to the end of his life he never perceived the fault he committed in this act. “One day,” says Mr. Locker,* u at my house, he explained how these (the bad etchings) had been etched. It appears that he had quarrelled with Mr. Richard Bentley (he was a singularly kind-hearted man, but, I fancy, had a somewhat remarkable faculty for quarrelling with almost every one with whom he was connected in business), and was obliged to fulfil his contract to supply an etching for each monthly number of Bentley’s Miscellany, and he did them as badly as he possibly could, and etched his name under them so illegibly as to be quite indecipherable: ‘And,’ said he, ‘I used to take out my watch, and put it beside me on the table, and give myself just—’ (mentioning the number of minutes) ‘for each plate.’” It was after another and a final parting from Mr. Ainsworth, on the sale of his magazine, that Cruikshank, “left in the lurch,” to use his own phrase, started his “Table-Book,” with Gilbert à Beckett as editor, and Bradbury and Evans as printers and publishers. The artist has put on record the manner in which he and the eminent Whitefriars firm came together:— Original Size -- Medium-Size “I will not go into the details of how I assisted this author (Ainsworth) with head and hand work in these novels, but I did my best to design and suggest; and my time was so much occupied in performing this duty, and also with some other matters, that I was not able to bring out my Omnibus as an annual, as I had intended to have done; but I now determined to bring it out again in monthly numbers; and as Bradbury and Evans (the fathers of the present firm) had printed that work for me, I went to their office to see what stock there was of the Omnibus on hand, and to make arrangements for the republishing of it; and when I mentioned this to my friend Bradbury, he said, ‘Ah, it is a pity that work was ever stopped; we should have been glad to have bought it of you, and will buy it now, if you would like to sell it.’ I replied that I did not wish to dispose of it, but if they would like to join me, I should be glad to have them as partners. ‘Agreed,’ said both Mr. Bradbury and Mr. Evans; and as these friends of mine were men of business, as well as gentlemen and men of honour, in this case there was a written agreement clearly and legally drawn out, and duly signed by both parties. But their engagements at that time were so many, that a considerable time elapsed before arrangements could be made for the republishing of the Omnibus; so they then suggested, as it was such a long time since my Omnibus had been on the road, that it would, perhaps, be better to start another vehicle of the same build, but under another name. To this I agreed; and thus originated ‘The Table Book,’ which was edited by my friends the late Gilbert à Becket and Mark Lemon.” The “Table Book” includes two of Cruikshank’s most powerful and perfect etchings—viz., “The Triumph of Cupid” and “The Folly of Crime.” The fertility of imagination manifest in “The Triumph of Cupid” is amazing. The execution is that of an original master. No man who ever held an etching-needle has surpassed the truth and beauty and boldness of the touches by which hundreds of figures live, a happy tumultuous throng, in this octavo plate. The central figure is the artist, in slippers and embroidered dress-ing-gown, before his fire, smoking a handsome meerschaum pipe, gazing abstractedly into the fire; and upon the cloud of smoke from his lips, his dreams of the triumphs of Cupid rise till they fill the room. Original Size -- Medium-Size Cupid perches himself upon his foot, and toasts a heart at the fire; jumps upon the back of Old Time who bears the clock upon the mantelpiece; is enthroned in a triumphal car, with kings and princes, bishops and generals, lawyers and stock-jobbers, drummer-boys and jack-tars and sweeps, clown and harlequin, and even slippered pantaloon, and Chelsea pensioners upon wooden stumps, for his court. The car is drawn by subdued lions and leopards. The blind beggar is waylaid by the little god, and brought to the ground. He has floored a dustman on his rounds. He makes the Great Mogul sue for mercy. He drags a little black page from under the armchair, and puts gyves upon his wrists. All is clearly and beautifully grouped, and frankly and boldly, and at the same time delicately, drawn. It is as precise and luminous as Durer. It is perfect etching, by one who knew the limits as well as all the capabilities of his exquisite art. “The Folly of Crime” has been not extravagantly described by a writer in the London Quarterly Review (1873) as a very great work indeed. He says it is perhaps the artist’s highest effort: I should rather say it “is clearly and beautifully, and at the same time precise and luminous by one who knew the value of his exquisite art. He says it suggests an undeveloped power of the highest order—albeit the management of the direct and reflected lights is most admirable, and the skill throughout is consummate. “Without lingering over the framework of lesser groups, though these are sufficiently impressive,” says the reviewer, “let us go straight to the central picture. A murdered man lies stark in the shadow. The murderer springs forward to catch at, a bowl of pearls, snake-like and seemingly incandescent, that are borne swayingly before him on the head of a grinning fiend. The ground smiles at his feet. He falls, and, as he falls, the light from the pit leaps up, catching his bloody hand, and the fatal knife, and the long ears of his fool’s-cap, and gleaming in his despairing eyes; while all the air is filled with chattering and mowing demons, whose eyes and teeth also glitter white and cruel. And the horror of the man’s face is terrible.” The little morals framed around the central picture complete the awful story. The murderer lies—always wearing the fool’s-cap—in his bed, with a heavy weight upon his chest, snakes hissing in his ears, and the scales of justice held steady before his eyes. He is upon the treadmill. He crouches in a corner of the condemned cell. A convict, he carries a weighty burden upon his shoulders, marked “for life.” The many light, playful, and fanciful sketches that are included in the one thin volume to which in “The Table Book” ran, are trifles light as air, when compared with those two great efforts of Cruikshank’s genius, at its ripest and brightest. They mark the highest point of his ascent. In the sequel we shall find him executing much noteworthy, honourable Work,with the zeal of a great moral preacher; but he will not surpass these two noble etchings. Original Size -- Medium-Size George Cruikshank worked, as he reader knows, with great care and deliberation. He thought out his subject well before beginning to realize his conception. He made, to begin with, a careful design upon paper, trying doubtful points on the margin of the paper. The design was heightened by vigorous touches of colour. Then a careful tracing was made, and laid, pencil side down, upon the steel plate. This was carried to the printer, who having placed it between damp paper, and passed it through the press, returned it, the blacklead outline distinctly appearing upon the etching ground. And then the work was straightforward to the artist’s firm hand. The firmness and fineness of his touch are as conspicuous in his wood drawings as in his etchings. “It was the custom of the artist,” according to his nephew, Percy Cruikshank, “before parting with his plates, to have India-paper proofs of the etchings, and this being ‘before letters’—that is, before the title was engraved on the plate—made them the more valuable. He also insisted on the engraver’s supplying him with a proof of his drawings on wood when completed. This, in time, formed a scarce and choice collection, of which he knew the value full well. The centralizing all that was Cruikshankian within himself was the end which crowned the work. The late Prince Consort being desirous of possessing a collection of George’s proofs, offered a considerable sum for them; but the artist, although pressed for money, not considering it sufficient, respectfully declined the proposal.” To return to the “Table Book.” The miscellaneous etchings and drawings in this book are mostly arrows aimed at folly as it was flying at that time. The railway mania, clairvoyance, emigration, the fashions, furnished Cruikshank with inexhaustible humorous or grave material. His etching of Mr. John Ball in a Quandary, or the Anticipated Effects of the Railway Calls, is one of those wondrously filled drawings, in the composition of which he stands alone. John Bull is in his armchair, with a great railway bell clanging over his head. Hosts of pestilent demons cover him, and are stripping him. Some are hoisting his hat, some are bearing away his wig, others have perched ladders against his capacious paunch, and are dragging his money and his watch from his waistcoat pockets. The greedy imps are tugging his gloves from his hands, unfastening his neckcloth, and pulling his boots off. Liliputian lawyers, at hand, are demolishing a barrel of oysters, and leaving a plentiful supply of shells for their clients. Imps, driving a little locomotive, have attached it to Bull’s cash-box, and are making off with it; and in the distance the pictures are marked for sale. Then we have a few bits of Cruikshankian humour called “‘Heads of the Table,”—the final head being a capital study of an old gentleman who is entre deux vins, saying, “Well, we’ll just take another glass—and then—we’ll join the—the ladies.” Opposite this page is a drawing of a family, and also of their shoes. I will now endeavour to afford the reader an idea of the man who created the extraordinary variety of artistic work of high excellence briefly described in the foregoing chapters. George Cruikshank was eminently a convivial man. He was born in a boisterous and coarse convivial time; when Lords and Commons boxed at Jackson’s; went to see monkeys set to fight terriers at Cribb’s; fought “Charleys” and turnpike-men; and drank hard and played high at Crockford’s. Their humble imitators were the associates of Robert and George Cruikshank. George’s associates were tavern frequenters for the most part: in those days taverns were used by many of the men who now frequent clubs. The portrait of him drawn by Maclise was Cruikshank in his earlier and humbler time, when he was in the hands of the caricature vendors. The writer in Fraser says: “Here we have the sketcher sketched; and, as is fit, he is sketched sketching. Here is George Cruikshank (see Frontispiece)—the George Cruikshank—seated upon the head of a barrel, catching inspiration from the scenes presented to him in a pot-house, and consigning the ideas of the moment to immortality on the crown of his hat.... Original Size -- Medium-Size Of George Cruikshank the history is short. He stands too often and too well before the eyes of the public to render it necessary that we should say much about him; and we confess that of his earlier annals we know little or nothing.... The first of Cruikshank’s works known to us are his caricatures of George IV. and his friends. Tories as we were and are, and as we trust we still shall be, these comic picturings haunt our imagination. The poor old king in every attitude of ludicrous distress (the ‘Fat in the Fire’ was perfection); Copley (sketched, as we have been assured, merely from description, and yet a great likeness); Castlereagh (but even the professed caricaturist could not destroy the gentlemanly grace of that noble face and figure); the ‘Waterloo man,’ with his sword dropping into the scale against the pen; the various persons, jailors, jockeys, lawyers, and the rest, were first-rate. As Cruikshank himself says of Gillray, ‘He that did those things was a great man, sir,—a very great man, sir.’ To Cruikshank, however, they were productive of nothing but the fame of their cleverness and the odium of their politics; as Hone, for whom and his blockhead authors George’s talents floated the dire rubbish of the ‘House that Jack Built,’ and other witless productions, never paid him for what he had done. In all these stupid productions there were loud puffs at the power of the press. George never knew anything of it when in their hands but as a screw.* However, what he did, gave him fame and name.... Of course, George is, like all other men of undoubted genius, a most ill-used gentleman. As Mathews laments that the general obtuseness of the public will not recognise his talents for tragedy,—as Liston mourns over the delusion which applauds him in Sam Swipes and Paul Pry, and does not permit him to appear as the Damon or Strephon of a sighing opera,—so Cruikshank is shocked at the evil fate which consigns him to drawing sketches and caricatures, instead of letting him loose in his natural domain of epic or historical picture. * According to a Reviewer of “Three Courses and a Dessert,” in Fraser (June 1830), the whole sum received by Cruikshank from Hone was £18; but this was not so. Let him content himself; he can draw what will be held in honoured remembrance when ninety-nine out of every hundred of the great ‘masters’ of our ‘schools’ and a still larger proportion of all the R.A’s and A. RA.‘s that ever existed, or ever are doomed to exist, will be forgotten. The historical which we should cultivate is such as that which appears in his recently published ‘Sketch-Book,’ where, for example, the life of Bonaparte, whether as eagle soaring over the Alps, or eagle chained to a perch, is depicted in all its stages, from artillery lad on watch, through triumph, splendour, and flight to the little cock-hatted and round-paunched exile of St. Helena.” Many years later Cruikshank had not quite given up his dream of the epic or historical picture; for the dream had been encouraged by the criticisms of some of the most thoughtful of his contemporaries, who set him on a level with Hogarth and Durer, and said that posterity would delight in him as one of our most venerated old masters. But our present concern is with George Cruikshank as he lived, and moved, and impressed his friends. They all speak cordially of him. Poor Samuel Phillips, who was hearty in spirit, albeit he lived for many years at death’s door, says of him: “George is popular among his associates. His face is an index of his mind. There is nothing anomalous about him and his doings. His appearance, his illustrations, his speeches, are all alike—all picturesque, artistic, full of fun, feeling, geniality, and quaintness. His seriousness is grotesque, and his drollery is profound. He is the prince of caricaturists, and one of the best of men.” In a whimsical account of an amateur strolling excursion, in which Cruikshank was one of the company (1847), supposed to be written by Mrs. Gamp, Dickens has vividly described the illustrator of ‘Oliver Twist’:— “I do assure you, Mrs. Harris, when I stood in the railways office that morning, with my bundle on my arm, and one patten in my hand, you might have knocked me down with a feather, far less porkmangers which was a lumping against me, continual and sewere all round. I was drove about like a brute animal and almost worritted into fits, when a gentleman with a large shirt-collar, and a hook nose, and a eye like one of Mr. Sweedlepipes’s hawks, and long locks of hair, and wiskers that I wouldn’t have no lady as I was engaged to meet suddenly a turning round a corner, for any sum of money you could offer me, says, laughing, ‘Halloa, Mrs. Gamp, what are you up to?’ “I didn’t know him from a man (except by his clothes); but I says faintly, ‘If you’re a Christian man, show me where to get a second-cladge ticket for Manjester, and have me put in a carriage, or I shall drop.’ Which he kindly did, in a cheerful kind of way, skipping about in the strangest manner as ever I see, making all kinds of actions, and looking and vinking at me from under the brim of his hat (which was a good deal turned up), to that extent, that I should have thought he meant something but for being so flurried as not to have no thoughts at all until I was put in a carriage along with an individgle—the politest as ever I see—in a shepherd’s plaid suit with a long gold watch-guard hanging round his neck, and his hand a trembling through nervousness worse than an aspian leaf. Presently they fell into conversation. “‘P’raps,’ he says,'if you’re not of the party, you don’t know who it was that assisted you into this carriage!’ “‘No, sir,’ I says, ‘I don’t indeed.’ “‘Why, ma’am,’ he says, a-wisperin, ‘that was George, ma’am.’ “‘What George, sir? I don’t know no George,’ says I. ‘"The great George, ma’am,’ says he. ‘The Crookshanks.’ “‘If you’ll believe me, Mrs. Harris, I turned my head, and see the werry man a-making pictures of me on his thumb nail, at the winder! While another of em—a tall slim, melancholly gent, with dark hair, and a bage vice—looks over his shoulder, with his head o’ one side as if he understood the subject, and cooly says, ‘I’ve draw’d her several times—in Punch,’ he says too I The owdacious wretch.’” The melancholy gent with the “bage vice” was Leech. In those days, and down to those days, Cruikshank was convivial—sometimes to excess. It was not for nothing that Maclise had drawn him seated upon a beer barrel.* * His brother Robert drew his portrait as a young man, his hair and whiskers uncombed, cross-legged, in a contemplative mood, his dress in disorder, and called it “George in a Brown study.” It was a picture of him in his days of dissipation, when his sister-in-law would occasionally seize and wash and comb him, while he laughed at the absurdity of his position. He was very sensitive in later life about any allusion to his appearance. When Mrs. Stowe, in her book of London impressions, roughly described him as “an old man, with a keen eye and grey hair,” he was deeply mortified, and he addressed an expostulation to the papers. His portraits, by himself, in oil, abounded in his studio. They were marked with touches of chalk, giving a fresh curl to the whisker, a fiercer flash to the eye, a more effective arrangement of the hair; but not one was finished. His fortunes threw him early among humble boon companions, at Grimaldi’s club and elsewhere, as we have seen; and his wild exuberant spirits and lively sense of humour made him king among them. Later, when Dickens knew him, he would fall away occasionally from his new and more dignified friends (who were not ascetics), and run a wild career for a night in his old haunts. Dickens used to describe one wonderful day—among others—he had passed with “the inimitable George.” Dickens was living in Devonshire Place, and was just setting to work one morning in his library, when Cruikshank, unwashed and “smelling of tobacco, beer, and sawdust,” as Dickens described him, burst into the room. He said he had been up all night; was afraid to go home, and begged for some breakfast. While he was breakfasting, Dickens did his utmost to persuade him to go to bed. But George resolutely set his face against it. He said he dared not even think of Islington. Seeing the state of affairs, Dickens closed his desk, and proposed to accompany his friend to face the domestic storm with him. But Cruikshank would only consent to a walk—the farther from Islington the better. Dickens, under such circumstances, was an admirable friend. His cheery talk and wise counsel had great weight with Cruikshank; but each time he artfully turned the truant’s face east, he drew back with a—“No, no, Charley—not that way.” And so they walked about the streets for hours, strolling in the course of the day into the famous aviary of the Pantheon in Oxford Street.* Here Cruikshank came suddenly face to face with one of Mrs. Cruikshank’s intimate friends. The scene which ensued, Dickens used to say, was one exquisitely farcical. And the manner in which he set forth the episodes of the long day in the streets, with Cruikshank’s droppings into various hostelries, and his final dejected departure homewards, utterly worn out, and having exhausted his faithful friend, was in his happiest vein. * Dickens used to tell, with humorous details, how “George,” On another occasion, was refused admittance because he was plashed to the shoulders with mud. “I remember him about 1846,” said Mr. W. H. Wills, another old friend. “He was then flirting with Temperance. I wanted him to dine at my house; but he excused himself, saying he should be led into temptation, and he had resolved to be a water-drinker thenceforth.” He did not go to dinner, but dropped in later—much excited; and when his host pushed the water-bottle towards him, he gently added brandy. The guests departed, leaving the hilarious George, with two others, to finish the evening; and when the trio got into the street, they found the old difficulty in restraining Cruikshank’s boisterous spirits. After trying in vain for something more than an hour to lead him home, they left him—climbing up a lamp-post! The same friend hastens to tell me how generous this wild bon-vivant was, even in his more convivial moods:— “The force of George Cruikshank’s character lay in the single-minded earnestness with which he carried out his objects. These throughout his life were numerous and always good. Zeal and energy glowed out of him upon whatever he undertook, whether saving a family from starvation (and there are instances in which he could only have done this at the risk of stinting himself), or rehearsing the character assigned to him in a private play, or commanding a regiment of volunteers, or advocating and advancing the temperance cause at every conceivable sacrifice of time and money. It was not until after his second marriage that he took to temperance. In his first wife’s lifetime he sacrificed to the jolly god rather oftener than occasionally; and surely no man drank with more fervour and enjoyment, nor carried his liquor so kindly, so merrily. Then was the time to hear him sing ‘Lord Bateman’ in character, and costume improvised from table-covers, table-napkins, and antimacassars—anything he could lay hands on—with the laughing help of his host. He was what Albert Smith called ‘great fun’ in this song at any time. “Even when dependent upon his pencil and etching-needle for means of existence, if any good was to be done for a decayed brother artist or literary friend, George was only too ready (for his own prosperity) to throw down his tools, and stroll about the country with a theatrical company, or go anywhere to solicit subscriptions and make speeches, or to settle to his worktable again to make gratuitous sketches for bazaars and charities. When acting in Edinburgh, for Leigh Hunt’s benefit, with Charles Dickens and his brilliant dramatis personae, news came to him that a country editor, with a large family, whom he had often previously helped, was on the edge of ruin for the want of fifty pounds. ‘I must send it to the poor fellow,’ he said to Dickens, ‘immediately.’ ‘That would be very kind to him,’ answered Dickens, ‘but very unkind to yourself. By-the-bye, have you got fifty pounds in your pocket?’ ‘Oh dear, no,’ was Cruikshank’s reply, ‘but I want you to lend me the money to send to him—now—at once.’ Dickens’s rejoinder was not resort to his cheque book, but the remark that he knew George’s incapable friend would be as badly off as ever after the execution had been paid out of his house, even if the money was sent. ‘Then,’ he added, ‘you would deny yourself all sorts of things and be miserable till you paid me back. That I can’t stand, so I must decline.’” On the day of his death, his old friend and fervent admirer repaid his kindness by sketching this loving portrait of him:— “Only a few days ago there was extant—nay, it may be said, flourishing, in the midst of the life and bustle of the Great City, and to all seeming as lively and bustling as any citizen there—a hale, bright, active, elderly gentleman, whose age might, by the majority of cursory age-judges, have been set down as ‘a good sixty-five,’ but who was in reality closely verging upon ninety. A quarter of a century before his death he had looked—so those who knew him well loved to declare—much older than when he was past fourscore. Like the American lady mentioned by Dickens, he seemed to have grown old, ‘got over it,’ and become young again. He was slightly below the middle height, spare but solid of frame, somewhat long-armed and short-legged, as powerful and long-lived men are apt to be, and very broad in the chest. His head, scarcely bowed or blanched to the very last, was massive and well-shapen. He had a high forehead, blue-grey eyes full of a cheerful, sparkling light, penthouse brows, somewhat high cheek-bones, a prominent aquiline nose that Caesar would have liked to look upon, and a mouth cut in firm, sharp lines, and from whose corners grew an ambiguous pair of hirsute ornaments which were neither moustaches, nor whiskers, nor beard, but partook vaguely of the characteristics of all three. But, beyond these, there was curious and original individuality in his hair, which, after its fashion, marked him as typically as the well-known mèche marks the portraits of Napoleon L and M. Emile de Girardin. The elderly gentleman’s chevelure had dwindled down to a few thin locks, indigenous, it is to be feared, to his occiput, but which, by careful combing, and an artful contrivance—so rumour ran—of wire and ‘elastic,’ had been seduced over his temples and his parietal bone. Thus to the greater justice could point triumphantly to the fact that his sparse wisps of hair were still mellow brown in hue, and soft as silk in texture. His face was full of wrinkles; but the furrows seemed to have been ploughed more by hard work, sedulously and unwearyingly performed, than by the mere plodding footsteps of the dragging years. In his port and mien, indeed, until almost the very moment when the hand of the Grim Sergeant was laid upon his shoulder, there was but little of the feebleness and less of the caducity of age. Its garrulity he had; but his friends rejoiced in the good old man’s loquacity, recognizing, as they did, the undimmed clearness of his understanding and tenacity of his memory. Nor, with one singular exception, to which we shall subsequently allude, did that memory play him the woful tricks to which the very aged are so often subject. He could remember perfectly well trifling occurrences which happened in 1800, but he did not forget events of moment which had end he repudiated the imputation of baldness, and with happened in 1877. He was, to sum up, a light-hearted, merry, and, albeit a teetotaler, an essentially ‘jolly’ old gentleman, full physically of humorous action and impulsive gesticulation, imitatively illustrating the anecdotes he related; somewhat dogged in assertion and combative in argument; strong-rooted as the oldest of old oaks in old true British prejudices; decidedly eccentric, obstinate, and whimsical; but in every word and deed a God-fearing, queen-honouring, truth-loving, honest man. “This was the famous George Cruikshank, caricaturist, social satirist and moralist, illustrator of books, engraver on steel and copper, draughtsman on wood, painter in oils and water-colours, the doughtiest champion, in his degree, of the temperance cause; and, albeit his ‘foaming bowl’ was for many years replenished only from the pump, the Prince of Good Fellows.” The Prince of Good Fellows looked very much as his later friends remembered him, some five-and-thirty years ago, as I can well remember. The ingeniously arranged chevelure was within artful elastic bands drawn over the skull, when I was a boy. I was one of many youngsters who would creep round his chair clay pipe in his mouth (he always smoked a long clay pipe while he smoked at all) and his brandy-and-water before him, talking loudly and eagerly, gesticulating like a Frenchman, and turning now one ear and now the other, to catch the conversation of the company. A man incapable of rest, with a swift, glancing, steely eye, a mobile mouth, and a grotesquely fierce general aspect, aggravated by the hook-nose, which was awry; prodigal in the matters of whisker, shirt-collar, and wristband; old-fashioned enough, even in the year 1845, to strike boys. * * George Cruikshank was very careful about any portrait of him that was drawn or painted. One in coloured chalks by his friend Mill, that hung in his Amwell Street studio, satisfied him entirely. The eyes were at their fiercest, and the whiskers were superb. One day, when Cruikshank was illustrating Scott, Mr. Lockhart called, and, remarking the portrait, said drily, “I saw a man, very like that, in Italy, executed for murder.” Some people would have been offended, but Cruikshank was delighted. He affected the brigand look. In his social habits and relations, Cruikshank was a most modest, self-respecting man. He never courted great folk, he submitted to no form of patronage, and he never pretended to ape the manners and habits of the fashionable world. He lived the first half of his life in Pentonville,* and the second in Camden Town. He confined his acquaintance to congenial friends; and when these happened to be persons of rank and wealth, in its unfashionable neighbourhood. In this he set an example which many of his brother artists—his inferiors in genius—might have followed with advantage to their fame. He stood, at the end of his life, in strong contrast with the petits maîtres in the arts, who give themselves fashionable airs, decorate their houses extravagantly, and spend their too easily acquired gains in slavish imitations of Mayfair life. Cruikshank, in his Omnibus, reproved, in his own quaint way, a writer who had said that he was a collector of curiosities. * Among the visitors to Amwell Street was the Baron de Berenger, a remarkable adventurer and spectator. George Cruikshank, when a young volunteer, had been intimate with Charles Ransom of his corps, who as a print colourer at Ackermann’s, and who, as a volunteer, was remarked as a good shot. Being a well-mannered young fellow, he was patronized by Mr. Hammerley the banker; and at this gentleman’s house he met the Baroness de Berenger, a German widow. He married her, and assumed the title of Baron de Berenger. Being a man fond of athletics, he conceived the idea of turning Cremorae Farm, Lord Cremome’s place at Chelsea, into a suburban gymnasium and place for field sports. Cremorne Farm became the Stadium, and flourished under the Baron’s management. He rode out always attended by his four sons on horseback, dressed in grey military tunics, and with swords at their sides. This cavalcade occasionally clattered along Amwell Street, Pentonville, to pay a business visit to Cruikshank, who, with his brother, was illustrating with sporting etchings the guide-book to the Stadium. “No single symp—I was about to say that no single symptom of a curiosity, however insignificant, is visible in my dwelling, when by audible tokens I was (or rather am) rendered sensible of the existence of a pair of bellows. Well, in these it must be admitted that we do possess a curiosity. We call them ‘bellows,’ because, on a close inspection, they appear to bear a much stronger resemblance to ‘bellows’ than to any other species of domestic implement; but what in reality they are, the next annual meeting of the great Scientific Association must determine; or the public may decide for themselves, when admitted hereafter to view the precious deposit in the British Museum.” Then follows an amusing account of the old bellows, with a sketch of them. “The origin of the bellows I know not,” says their owner; “but a suspicion has seized me that they might have been employed in the Ark, had there been a kitchen fire there; and they may have assisted in raising a flame under the first tea-kettle put on to celebrate the laying of the first stone of the great wall of China.” Cruikshank, moreover, took exception to the description of his person by the same writer. If careless about his house, he was vain of his person. The writer said: “In person, G. C. is about the middle height, and proportionbly made. His complexion is something between pale and clear; and his hair, which is tolerably ample, partakes of a lightish hue. His face is of the angular form, and his forehead has a ‘prominently receding shape.” Cruikshank closed with his antagonist:— “As Hamlet said to the ghost, I’ll go no further! The indefinite complexion, and the hair ‘partaking’ of an opposite hue to the real one, may be borne; but I stand, not upon my head, but on my forehead! To a man who has once passed the Rubicon in having dared to publish his portrait, the exhibition of his mere profile can do no more injury than a petty larceny would after the perpetration of a highway robbery. But why be tempted to show, by an outline, that my forehead is innocent of a shape (the ‘prominently receding’ one) that never yet was visible in nature or in art? Let it pass, till it can be explained. “‘He delights in a handsome pair of whiskers.’ Nero had one flower flung upon his tomb. ‘He has somewhat of a dandified appearance.’ Flowers soon fade, and are cut down; and this is the ‘unkindest cut of all.’ I, who, humbly co-operating with the press, have helped to give permanence to the name of dandy—I, who have all my life been breaking butterflies upon wheels in warring against dandyism and dandies—am at last discovered to be ‘somewhat’ of a dandy myself. ‘Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves’ as you may; but, dandies all, I have not done with you yet.” The “inimitable George,” however, was a dandy—in his way. Old-fashioned, tumbled, eccentric, his dress had a studied look. The strong individuality of the vivacious and active little man (for he was under the middle height) appeared to be preserved by attention to the elaboration of a costume unlike that of any of his neighbours. It was foppishness like that of the late Marquis of Lansdowne, whose buff and blue had become a fancy dress at the end of his life. I cannot do better than conclude this description of the George Cruikshank of the first epoch, by an account of him, in 1840-42, written by his old friend W. L. Sammons, who is now a Temperance light at the Cape, but who has a vivid recollection of his friend in days when they met over a mug of ale. It comes to me from Cape Town. The scene opens in Amwell Street, Pentonville:—“The same evening a friend or two dropped in—Douglas Jerrold and, I think, Laman Blanchard, the editor of Cruikshank’s Omnibus,—and the former Mrs. Cruikshank was present and presided, and threw a charm over the tea and supper tables; and I saw and revelled, as it were, through all the gems, both ancient and modern, signed “G. Ck.,” in the Royal workshop, and lingered over that famous notorious Screen in it, covered by him with texts of thought for present and future use, in the shape of “Odd People and Things”—queer “head and tail pieces”—strange “monstrosities of Fashions” for the day—noses, dresses, and phizes of all dimensions and shades, ready for adaptation according to the age and epoch required. George Cruikshank was particularly busy on this day, because of “The Miser’s Daughter,” by Ainsworth, that he was illustrating for Bentley’s Miscellany, and he assured me if not finished by such an hour and such a day he should forfeit fifty pounds; and yet he risked the uncertainty to show hospitality to his friends. “During this visit to London, dear George took me the round of several of the theatres and gardens—Old Vauxhall, that we had seen as boys, when unknown to each other, being closed, and the great “M. C.” Simpson dead; and I could not fail to perceive how he was petted and respected by all, lessees, managers, and actors, and readily ushered into any quarter that caprice, pleasure, or professional duties required, whether pit-boxes, or gallery; but the “dress circle” was less to his taste than others, because there life was fossilised, artificial, and restrained, and dress mere tinsel; and no dialogue suitable for his reports, or action worthy of his crayons. This may account, perhaps, for that ‘absence of beauty’ that is said to pervade his works; because beauty per se is apt to give itself airs and become unseemly and ungraceful; and George Cruikshank’s high and stern mission was in ‘the highways and hedges,’ and to reclaim by a moral and pictorial force the repelling, the vicious, and the vile. “But I confess to feeling a little disturbed, when at his side, at seeing so many long necks and bright eyes and glasses turned upon him from all directions, and to perceive the whispering and commotion in consequence. Here G. C.‘s thumb-nails often served as ample Space for a photo. “As a thing of beauty is said to be a joy for ever, so at the period above stated we had our glorious days together, and may be figuratively described as ‘being in clover and sleeping in lavender’; for kind George devoted many hours in taking me to some of his favourite, and it may be added, requisite haunts, where he gathered his Fame for his simple wants, without i hoarding. One morning he led me to the burial-ground of St. James’s Chapel, Pentonville, near his house, and pointed out the graves of Thomas Dibdin, son of the great sea-songster, and of his old and ‘mutual friend,’ Joey Grimaldi, whose mortal coils are laid near each other; and I wish I could remember so as to record the tender and sympathetic little oration he then delivered. “At night Sadler’s Wells was the scene of action, but poor Joey being absent, ‘Greece was living Greece no more,’ and all things were changed since our boyhood Friend Cruikshank reminded me of that passage (in Dickens’s ‘Life of the King of Clowns’) that he illustrated in two vols., where Joey and his much better-half, one evening, disputing about precedency, resolved upon taking poison to end all contention, and to settle their differences of opinion for ever. But not taking enough, and forgetting the oft-quoted maxim, now travestied, ‘Drink deep, or taste not any poisonous thing,’ the feeble dose merely kept them awake and talkative, and lying in the same room, with a slight partition between them, sensations became unpleasant, and so they held a colloquy in their fears as follows: ‘Joey, are you dead?’ ‘No, Mary,—are you?’ ‘No.’ And then they altered their minds, and felt disposed to live a little longer, arose, had a good supper and something warm and comfortable as a sedative and antidote, and then jogged on a little more in unison. “On passing through the Queen’s Bench with him, I called his attention to the prison window, behind the bars of which stood a miserable inmate with a black box before him, on which was written, ‘Remember the poor debtors.’ George smiled, and said, ‘Yes, but think of the poor creditors.’ And this scene I find recorded by him, and his own remarks, on a small placard at the top of the picture ‘Remember the poor creditors.’ But what numbers of similar Hogarthian hints he has left behind him! Shortly afterwards Cruikshank paid his friend a visit at Bath:— “‘The Bottle Conjurer’ and smasher of it, and part destroyer of his contents—I mean George Cruikshank—arrived safely at the city of King Bladud and the throne of Beau Nash; and he commanded me with a willing assent to become a second ‘Anstey,’ or little ‘Bath Guide,’ to ferret all quarters with him—West to East and High to Low—having a monthly serial still on hand that required certain characters for illustration (perhaps ‘Jack Sheppard’ or the ‘Tower of London,’ after the Omnibus had ceased running). Friend George began with the upper crust, as nearest ‘home’ and Lansdown; and leaving his card the day before at William Beckford’s mansion in the Crescent, went with me where I had been several times before. Possibly at the foot of Table Mountain it may not be known that this William Beckford was an esquire and a somebody in England, the owner and builder of Fonthill Abbey, inheritor but not enjoyer of immense wealth, and the celebrated author of ‘Vathek’ and the ‘Halls of Eblis,’ before which, in point of imagination, Byron, or somebody else, said ‘Rasselas’ must bow.” Mr. Beckford, notwithstanding original gifts, and the accident of riches, was a shy and eccentric bird that flew from every one, and nobody must approach; and so, when we got there, and were passing along a corridor, door suddenly in our faces, the apology being, ‘he saw Mr. Beckford coming, and it was more than he dare hazard for any one to notice him.’ And yet he left a gracious message in the hands of his house-steward, Mr. F-, who himself kept a stylish establishment and carriage, ‘to show Mr. Cruikshank all he desired;’ and even added, ‘that if Mr. Cruikshank knew how much he (Mr. B.) valued his earlier sketches, he would not have refused some of them when once solicited.’ I asked ‘G. C.’ the cause of this, and he remarked, ‘at that time he parted with few of his originals;’ and when we left Lansdown Crescent, he commented warmly on the treat and pleasure he had derived, and as a red-letter day in his biography. ‘From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step,’ and so we soon threaded the externals of Royal a black dwarf—or rather a nutmeg shade—banged a Anstey’s “New Bath Guide.” Crescents and Circuses, Pulteney and Milsom Streets, and Queen Squares, and odd holes, lanes,’ and corners, until reaching Avon Street, where ‘the power of sinking could no further go,’ nor the Pig and Whistle meet with a more picturesque if degraded aspect In this latter neighbourhood it was requisite for professional purposes and home orders that George Cruikshank should have a nightly sojourn, if not revel; and so a suitable tavern was chosen that had a skittle-alley attached, that except in name or position might form a capital match for that Lion in the Wood in Wilderness Lane, that he mentions in ‘My Portrait,’ at the commencement of bis Omnibus. Whilst we were there as lookers-on only, and sipping ‘half-and-half’ out of the same pewter ‘between the acts,’ if they may be so called, or during the ‘intervals,’ at this Beggars’ Opera, friend Cruikshank amused himself by chalking one scene on the wall, and all eyes were soon upon it, for it was lifelike and spirited. Oh that I could have removed that wonderful cartoon from its surface, or preserved a copy! it would now realize the value of many ordinary frescoes and presumed originals—and more than drunken Morland’s ‘Goat-in-Boots’ signboard. But leaving Bath for Cape Town three months afterwards, the mind was absorbed in other matters, and both places and scenes forgotten at the time, but now stand out in bold relief and vividly.” EPOCH II. 1848—1878. CHAPTER I. AT GILLRAY’s GRAVE. No great stretch of the imagination is needed to conjure up an interesting picture in the corner of the graveyard of St. James’s, Piccadilly, in that momentous June when the forces of France and the Allies were gathering hastily for the field of Waterloo. It was on the first of the month. From the famous print-shop of Mistress Humphrey in St. James’s Street, before which hosts of laughing men and women had been wont to linger, a coffin was home, containing the mortal part of the “Juvenal of caricature” as he had been called—of the hapless man of genius, who had lain, with short flashes of sanity, full six years with mind unstrung—a dreadful shadow over the mirthful shop. Behind followed the good Mistress Humphrey and her faithful Betty, her maid; probably stout Mortimer the picture dealer, possibly Mr. Gifford. Let us think of Landseer and James Stanley and others to whom poor Gillray had been known in his bright days, standing by the open grave near the Rectory House, within full sound of the hum of Piccadilly. And at hand we shall note a slim young man, with eager, piercing eyes, a hook nose, with fall whiskers trimmed to the corners of his mouth; a young man with incessant spasmodic action. His eyes start and his mouth works, as, the service ended, he gazes into the yawning grave. To his neighbour he says, under his breath, “A great man, sir—a very great man.” With a bow to weeping Mistress Humphrey he retires. The good soul, who has now done her last duty to the poor madman with whom she has borne patiently and gratefully so long, is pleased to note that Mr. Cruikshank had not forgotten to pay his last tribute of respect and gratitude to his master. Mrs. Humphrey, no doubt, regarded the young man whom she had employed to finish Gillray’s work when he first fell ill, and who had since managed to keep the crowds laughing before her windows, as a very poor substitute for the dead genius. And in those days Cruikshank himself was still very modest, and was proud to be accounted strong enough to hold the pencil and the needle of the stricken Gillray. Upon a sensitive, imaginative, observant man like George Cruikshank, the life of him whom he owned in his early days as his master, with its awful close, must have made a deep impression. Men said that Gillray had wrecked his career through frequenting low company, and by intemperate habits. Cruikshank knew something of this, had seen much of such company, and was in close companionship with tipplers. Gillray was not the first man of mark whom he had watched from tavern to tavern, and so on to poverty and death. Almost his earliest recollections were of drinking bouts, and their debasing consequences. His boyish sight had been offended at his father’s house with the spectacle of drunken men rolled up in carpets, upon whose blank and soddened faces the morning sun was shining.* He had been saddened as a son by his father’s example, and inexpressibly shocked by the manner of his death. It appears that Isaac Cruikshank, who was a heavy whisky drinker, laid a bet with a boon companion that he would drink more tumblers than his friend without falling under the table. He won his wager, but his excess brought upon him the illness of which he died, about his fifty-fifth year. ** * “At a meeting held at Manchester, this great artist gave an address on Temperance; in the course of which, referring to the early days of his life, and to the drinking habits which existed at that period, he said he recollected gentlemen coming to dine occasionally at his father’s house, and he was often surprised on coming downstairs of a morning to find some of them rolled up in the carpet in an extraordinary manner. His own father took too much drink, and shortened his life by it. He shortened his life by the fashion of the day, and left him (the speaker) uneducated.... He had watched the effects of drink ever since he had begun to reflect, both among the higher and lower orders.”—Poor Richards Almanac, 1876. ** This story was told to the Rev. Dr. Rogers by George Cruikshank. Such experiences, albeit they led Cruikshank to reflect seriously on the evils of excessive drinking, did not, as we have seen, at once turn him from the bottle. Mr. Paget remarked in Blackwood that Cruikshank was a severe anatomist of the vice long before any idea of his celebrated “Bottle” could have crossed his mind. In his “Sunday in London,” published in 1833, he depicted the drunkard paying his week’s score. In one of his Temperance speeches he said: “I am ashamed to say that for many years I went on following the ordinary custom of drinking, till I fell into pecuniary difficulties. I had some money at a banker’s; he fell into difficulties, took to drinking brandy-and-water, and ended by blowing out his brains. I lost my money, and in my distress applied to friends who aided me for a time, but they themselves fell into difficulties, and I was forced to extricate myself by the most extraordinary exertions. In this strait I thought, The best thing I can do is to take to water; but still I went on for some time before I quite weaned myself from my own drinking habits. I went to take luncheon with my friend Dickens (who, I am sorry to say, is not a teetotaler); he asked me to take wine, but I told him I had taken to water, for, in my opinion, a man had better take a glass of prussic acid than fall into the other habit of taking brandy-and-water; and I am happy to say that Charles Dickens quite agreed with me, that a mam had better wipe himself out at once, than extinguish himself by degrees by the soul-degrading and body-destroying enemy.” Original Size -- Medium-Size Immediately after the death of Gillray, we find evidence of the twinges of conscience which Cruikshank felt, even while he continued to fall, at intervals, into wild excesses. These were followed by dark passages of remorse, and by resolutions which were again and again broken. The fate of the men—and that of Gillray especially—whom he had seen fall victims to what he was pleased to call the fashionable vice, would rise before him. But, in an impulsive, convivial moment, his own sad experiences of time wasted and opportunities gone, and of the friends he had lost, were often forgotten; and he found himself, as of old, wending his way home, in the small hours, covered with a sense of disgrace. Cruikshank was no better, and no worse, than his contemporaries. A letter in Procter’s * neat hand lies before me. It is dated from Gray’s Inn Square, March 13th, 1839; and he says: “I shall be very happy to be one of the number to dine with Macready. But, remember, I cannot be one of those who will doubtless be found under the table at four a.m. (as I understand was the case upon a late occasion).” * Barry Cornwall. If, however, Cruikshank was not early a convert to the practice of temperance, he was, as I have remarked, a preacher betimes. His “Introduction to the Gout” (1818) is in his best vein. A toper is seated over his pot, and holding a peach upon his fork, with which he is about to cool his mouth. An imp—one Gout—approaches from the fireplace, and with the tongs is about to drop a red coal on the great-toe of Toper. Another drawing (a lithograph) of this date is suggestive. It is called “Deadly Lively.” Death has stepped in, surprising a man and two women, who are drinking in a kitchen, before a blazing fire. Death is filling the man’s glass; the old woman is falling from her seat, and the young man is tumbling drunk under the table. Presently (in the same year) the artist is in a gayer mood as a satirist. The picture is called “Tit-Bits.” An Irishwoman, overcome by beer, has fallen into a deep sleep under a tree. Her slumbers give a yokel an opportunity of stealing one of her chickens, while a cur licks the tarts in her basket.* Then we have “The Three Bottle Divine,” no rara avis in those days. It is the head of a heavy, coarse-featured man, in sporting guise, his face garnished with carbuncles and large spectacles. So far back as 1836, Cruikshank gave the public a foretaste of “The Bottle” in a vignette to a music title. Two individuals are represented—one old and spectacled, the other young and with an eyeglass,—examining with horror the contents of a spirit bottle, which is filled with malignant imps emblematical of alcohol as “doctored by publicans,” and sold for “Old Tom,” etc. The cork has turned devil, and throws up his arms in delight at the work of his imps. * The foregoing were drawn by Cruikshank from Captain Hehl’s designs. “Gin” remarks Mr. Thackeray, years before Cruikshank had become a Temperance advocate, or in the least degree an abstainer; “gin has furnished many subjects to Mr. Cruikshank, who labours in his own sound and hearty way to teach his countrymen the dangers of that drink. In the ‘Sketch-book’ is a plate upon the subject, remarkable for fancy and beauty of design; it is called the ‘Gin Juggernaut,’ and represents a hideous moving palace, with a reeking still as the roof, and vast gin-barrels for wheels, under which unhappy millions are crushed to death. An immense black cloud of desolation covers over the country through which the gin monster had passed, dimly looming through the darkness, whereof you see an agreeable prospect of gibbets with men dangling, burnt houses, etc. The vast cloud comes sweeping on in the wake of this horrible body-crusher; and you see, by way of contrast, a distant, smiling, sunshiny tract of old English country, where gin as yet is not known. The allegory is as good, as earnest, and as fanciful as one of John Bunyan’s, and we have often fancied there was a similarity between the men.” The similarity, if you look deeply into the two imaginations, is strong and striking, as it is between the genius of Doré in its grotesque and moral moods, and that of Cruikshank. Compare Doré’s “Wandering Jew,” his “Rabelais,” his “Contes Drolatiques,” with Cruikshank’s work about 1826, and even later, and you cannot fail to discover the strong affinity between the two great artists. Doré knew nothing of Cruikshank’s work in his early time, and Cruikshank had never heard Doré’s name when, in 1854, I brought over to England the blocks of his “Wandering Jew.” I introduced George Cruikshank to Gustave Doré in the Doré Gallery in Bond Street. Doré looked wonderingly at the vivacious, wild old man as he went through a pantomime in default of French, to express his admiration of the pictures the gallery. In his illustrations to “Sketches by Boz,” Cruikshank first approached intemperance from that point of view in which he treated it afterwards in “The Bottle.” His view of the gin-shop comprehends a complete story. “We have sketched this subject, says Dickens, “very slightly, not only because our limits compel us to do so, but because, if it were pursued further, it would be painful and repulsive. Well-disposed gentlemen and charitable ladies would alike turn with coldness and disgust from a description of the drunken besotted men and wretched, broken-down, miserable women, who form no inconsiderable portion of the frequenters of these haunts; forgetting, in the pleasant consciousness of their own high rectitude, the poverty of the one and the temptation of the other. Gin-drinking is a great vice in England, but poverty is a greater; and until you can cure it, or persuade a half-famished wretch not to seek relief in the temporary oblivion of his own misery with the pittance which, divided among his family, would just furnish a morsel of bread for each, gin-shops will increase in number and splendour If-Temperance Societies could suggest an antidote against hunger and distress, or establish dispensaries for the gratuitous distribution of bottles of Lethe-water, gin palaces would be numbered among the things that were. Until then, their decrease may be despaired of.” Dickens here glanced, and only carelessly, at the surface of the great question. This poverty which he deplored was the result of the drink. The Lethe-water would be unnecessary if the gin-and-water were stopped. Poverty, dirt, hunger, promote the publican’s trade; but this trade breeds the misery on which it thrives. The quartern which the father drinks, helps to raise a customer in his son, for the trade of the publican’s son. More than ten years elapsed before this view of the Temperance question was destined to have complete sway and mastery over the genius of Dickens’s illustrator; but already he saw deeper into it, because he looked more earnestly into it than the writer, who had not yet done with the comedy element of drunkenness. In 1841, Cruikshank drew for Bentley’s Miscellany an “allegorical representation of the infatuation of the mob for ardent spirits, and the drunkenness occasioned by an election, from a design by T. L. F.” * In 1846, he illustrated Our Own Times, and in the London Penetralia we find him moralizing with his etching-needle, in the ragged school of Chick Lane, Smithfield, and satirising, under the head of “A Tremendous Sacrifice,” the slop-sellers who live in luxury on the work of poor seamstresses. * “In the centre of the composition is the pedestal of an altar, ornamented with a bas-relief of Britannia, on which is resting a barrel of liquor, inscribed, ‘Ruin Members and Co.—Poverty—Treadmill—Botany Bay,’ the tap running for the gratification of an assemblage of drunken wretches, who eagerly endeavour to get their favourite beverage, excepting those who are helplessly drunk or fighting.”—Reid’s Descriptive Catalogue. Original Size -- Medium-Size Cruikshank was now inclining strongly to the work to which he was destined to give the last thirty years of his life. And in 1847 he gave himself up heart and soul to the preaching, by example as well as by tongue and etching-needle, the moral which had haunted him so long, that had left him no rest till he grappled with and conquered it, since he had watched the eclipse of Gillray’s genius, and seen his own father hurried, by a boastful toper’s bet, to his premature grave. Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER II. THE BOTTLE. We have seen that many years before the Temperance question fastened itself upon Cruikshank’s mind, never to be blotted out again for a single day, he had marked and satirized the effects of drunkenness in the desolate home, the workhouse, and the gaol. His “Gin Shop,” where Death sets a trap for a party of topers, the “Ale-house,” and the “Pillars of the Gin Shop,” were drawn some fifteen years before he added to the preaching of his needle and his pencil, the force of his personal example. In 1836, as the reader has already learned, the germ of “The Bottle” appeared in a lithographed vignette to a music title, “The Dream of the Bottle,” and was published by poor old A. Schloss, proprietor of “lie Bijou Almanac,” a little annual that was issued with a magnifying glass.* Schloss was a well-known figure in London years afterwards, first as Staudigl’s secretary, and afterwards as an employé at the office of Dickens’s “Household Words.” Then again, in “Sunday in London,” Cruikshank drew a Temperance moral from “The Pay Table.” A publican is pointing out a workman’s score for the foreman to deduct from his week’s wages—with the lean and hungry wife and children at hand. In the same series we find “The Sunday Market”—a butcher’s shop between two public-houses, where the food money is spent. But “The Bottle” was Cruikshank’s diploma work, as L. E. L., who edited it, says in her dedication of the number for 1837 to Queen Adelaide. It was bound in vellum and gold; illustrated with tiny portraits of Pastor, Malibran, and others, enriched by fairy pages of music, and enclosed in a blue velvet or morocco case, with a magnifying glass for the reader’s use. In that for 1839, poor L. E. L. bade her farewell to England. It was a pictorial Temperance drama—so essentially dramatic indeed, that on its first appearance it immediately found its way to the stage. * * It was published by the late David Bogue, of Fleet Street. The story of The Bottle is unfolded in eight designs executed in glyphography—a process by which it was possible to execute the immense number of copies which the publisher anticipated, and with good reason, would be required by the public, but which is ungrateful and unfaithful to the touch of the artist. In the first plate we have a cosy family party. The open cupboard is well supplied. The children are playing by the hearth; a kitten is toying with the cat’s tail upon the rug; the mantelpiece is loaded with pretty ornaments; there is a picture of a village church against the wall; at the table the husband and wife are seated at dinner, and he is handing her a glass, which she coyly refuses. Under the plate we read: “The bottle is brought out for the first time: the husband induces his wife ‘just to take a drop.’” The interest deepens apace. The effect of the first drop is seen in Plate 2. The sottish husband, with a pipe hanging from his mouth, his kerchief awry, his clothes in disorder, sits drowsy with drink, his children looking fearingly at him, while the wife is giving a bundle of clothes to the servant girl, to pawn, “to supply the bottle.” The starved cat is licking an empty platter upon the table; the cupboard door ajar discloses empty shelves. In the next plate “an execution sweeps off the greater part of the furniture,” but the drunken man and wife huddle themselves before the fire, and “comfort themselves with the bottle.” There are Hogarthian touches, developing the story throughout the series. In this plate the china cottage upon the mantelpiece is broken, and the husband’s battered hat upon a peg is the only ornament to the bare walls. From the empty house the family repair to the streets to beg, “and by this means they still supply the bottle.” In the fifth plate, “cold, want, and misery” have destroyed their youngest child, and still “they console themselves with the bottle.” A little open coffin is in the room, and while the eldest girl weeps over it, the father and mother drink, and weep also. A broken toy dog is upon the mantelpiece near a candle, with a bottle for a candlestick. An old shawl is fastened before the window with a fork. There are only a few sticks in the fire. In the next scene the husband has his wife by the throat; and his children and neighbours intervene. “Fearful quarrels and brutal violence,” says the artist-preacher, “are the natural consequences of the frequent use of the bottle.” Murder is the next scene. The wife lies dead, with the doctor leaning over her, and all the horrible commères who gather round death in the dark, byways of great cities, are staring and talking. The murderer is in the clutches of the police; the boy looks on aghast, holding his chin, and trembling in his rags; the bottle, which has done the deed, is shivered upon the floor and the fragments lie near a broken pipe, a ragged slipper and a battered hat. The final scene is a mad-house. “The bottle has done its work; it has destroyed the infant and the mother, the boy and the girl left destitute and thrown on the streets, and has left the father a hopeless maniac.” The figure of the madman before the caged fire is a very powerful bit of realism. The moral of “The Bottle” was enforced by the poetic genius, Charles Mackay. His “Gin-Fiend” sang to the scratching of Cruikshank’s needle— “There watch’d another by the hearth, With sullen face and thin; She utter’d words of scorn and hate, To one that stagger’d in. Long had she watch’d; and when he came, His thoughts were bent on blood; He could not brook her taunting look, And he slew her where she stood. ‘And it’s hip I’ said the Gin-Fiend, ‘hip, hurrah! My right good friend is he; He hath slain his wife, he hath given his life, And all for the love of me!’” Regarded as a sample of Cruikshank’s art power, these plates are far below the level of his best. We do not perceive here the master-craftsman. His dramatic force is evident in every plate. He tells his story with the fulness and intensity which are in all his pictorial narratives; but the drawing is without grace, and the types, with the exception of the husband, are wanting in that strong individuality he generally realized. In a letter to Mr. Forster (September 2nd, 1847), Mr. Dickens describes the impression “The Bottle” made on him:— “At Canterbury yesterday, I bought George Cruikshank’s ‘Bottle.’ I think it very powerful indeed: the two last plates most admirable, except that the boy and girl in the very last are too young, and the girl more like a circus-phenomenon than that no-phenomenon she is intended to represent. I question, however, whether anybody else living could have done it so well. There is a woman in the last plate but one, garrulous about the murder, with a child in her arms, that is as good as Hogarth. Also the man who is stooping down, looking at the body. The philosophy of the thing, as a great lesson, I think all wrong; because, to be striking, and original too, the drinking should have begun in sorrow, or poverty, or ignorance—the three things in which, in its awful aspect, it does begin. The design would thus have been a double-handed sword—but too ‘radical’ for good old George, I suppose.” And yet such calamities as that which “old George” has drawn happen every day; beginning not in sorrow, or poverty, or ignorance, but in little yieldings to temptation, in apparently trivial and accidental excesses. What constitutes intemperance? According to Dr. Alfred Carpenter, any consumption of alcohol sufficient to furnish the blood with one part of alcohol in five hundred of blood, is dangerous to health, and therefore is an act of intemperance. A more moderate indulgence, he says, is not yet proved to be deleterious. The late Dr. Anstie put temperance in a different way. An average man or woman cannot, according to him, take more than a couple of glasses of sherry daily without injury. Dr. Carpenter has denounced the habitual use of stimulants, even in a very diluted form, to enable the drinker to do more work than he could get through without them, as unquestionably injurious—and therefore an act of intemperance. There is not a middle-aged man of education who has not come across the wrecks of lives where the ruin was a gradual giving way to-the temptation of stimulants. The police courts unfold daily stories of clerks and others, holding positions of honour and of trust, who have first staggered out of the straight path under the influence of drink. Cruikshank’s beginning of his drama is only too true to life; and I think he would have made a mistake, that he would have weakened the tremendous force of his moral, if he had put the excuse of sorrow, or poverty, or ignorance into his opening scene. As his story, stands, it teaches humble and happy households, in a rough text which all who run may read, to have a care whenever the bottle appears on the scene; and to lose no opportunity of impressing, upon the children the danger, of putting; the enemy near, their mouths, who may steal away, not their brains only, but their heart and soul. “Coarsely designed and coarsely executed, yet very suggestive, very full of that story-teller’s power which was so much Hogarth’s and his own,” as Mr. Frederick Wedmore remarks, “Cruikshank’s ‘Bottle,’ and the ‘Drunkard’s Children,’ which immediately followed it, albeit executed when the finer qualities of his genius were suffering decay, must always be welcomed as admirable contributions to the matériel of Temperance advocacy.” Cruikshank used to relate how, when his “Bottle” was finished, and he was anxious to secure for this first Temperance sermon the widest possible publicity, he carried the plates to Mr. William Cash, then chairman of the National Temperance Society, for his approval, and the support of his powerful Association. Mr. Cash, although a Quaker, was a gentleman with a very sharp, humorous manner. Having attentively examined the series, he turned upon the artist, and asked him how he himself could ever have anything to do with using “The Bottle,” which, by his own showing, was the means of such dreadful evil? Cruikshank, in his own forcible way, described how he was “completely staggered” by this point-blank question. He said, when he had left Mr. Cash, he could not rid himself of the impression that had been made upon him. After a struggle, he did not get rid of it, but acted upon it, by resolving to give his example as well as his art to the total abstainers. He was immediately rewarded by the extraordinary success which “The Bottle” achieved. It was sold by tens of thousands, and was the talk of the day. If it has not directly led to a tangible result, as Hogarth’s “Harlot’s Progress” is said to have led to the foundation of the Magdalen Hospital, it and the “Drunkard’s Children,” a poor sequel (but then sequels are always poor), have had the effect of powerful, popular, and permanent sermons against the monster evil of our time. Not the least of the artist’s rewards was the tribute to his genius it inspired in Mr. Matthew Arnold, who wrote:— TO G. CRUIKSHANK, ON SEEING, IN THE COUNTRY, HIS PICTURE OF “THE BOTTLE.” “Artist, whose hand, with horror wing’d hath torn From the rank life of towns this leaf! and flung The prodigy of full-blown crime among Valleys and men to middle fortune born, Not innocent, indeed, yet not forlorn— Say, what shall calm us when such guests intrude Like comets on the heavenly solitude? Shall breathless glades, cheer’d by shy Dian’s horn, Cold-bubbling springs, or caves?—Not so! The soul Breasts her own griefs, and, urged too fiercely, says— ‘Why tremble? True, the nobleness of man May be effaced; man can control To pain, to death, the bent of his own days. Know thou the worst! So much, not more, he can. ‘” Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER III. GEORGE CRUIKSHANK AS A TEETOTALER. George Cruikshank was an enthusiast in all things to which he gave his mind. He did nothing in a halfhearted way. Whether preparing to address a great Exeter Hall audience on the evils of drunkenness, or marching at the head of his riflemen, or arraying himself in a table-cover to enact the part of Lord Bateman; in small things as in great, he was ever at fever-heat. He would have made a good actor, had he not been incapable of a moment’s repose; he would have been an admirable Temperance advocate, had it been in him to give himself pause in order to think over the heads of his discourse; he would have been a good volunteer officer, had it been possible for him to sit quiet in his saddle. But he seemed to be troubled with an excess of life. Life at fever-heat is the dominant characteristic of all his work. The “quiet spaces” in his etchings are rare. Having been converted by his own “Bottle” to total abstinence from fermented liquors, he could be nothing less than an earnest and a vehement worker in the cause. He threw himself heart and soul into it; and during the thirty remaining years of his life his zeal never slackened, and he had never made sacrifices enough in it. His impulsive advocacy often took ludicrous forms. He sometimes offended people by his denunciations of even the most moderate drinkers, but he never made an enemy by his gaucherie or his downright phrases imported into quiet circles, because the parity of his motive and the well-known impetuosity of his nature excused him. I can remember, in the first year of his total abstinence, meeting him at a ball given in Fitzroy Square, by Mr. Joshua Mayhew, the father of Horace and the Brothers Mayhew. He danced and was light-hearted with the youngest; but when at supper the wine began to circulate, he stole round to the head of the table, and, laying his hand upon the shoulder of the venerable host (who was a very haughty and quick-tempered old gentleman), said, in a deep, warning voice, “Sir, you are a dangerous man.” Mr. Mayhew had a glass of wine in his hand, and was about to drink a toast to the health of one of his sons, when Cruikshank’s hand fell upon his shoulder. “I look upon every wine-drinker,” Cruikshank added firmly, “as a dangerous man, sir.” The company, knowing the hot temper of their host, expected an explosion of rage; but it was staunched by Horace Mayhew, who burst into a hearty laugh, and told his father to go on, for “it was only dear old George.” In the same way, when dining at the Mansion House, Cruikshank, at the passing of the loving-cup, would go through an extraordinary pantomime before all the company, expressive of his horror of strong drinks. He would shake his hand angrily at the Lord Mayor, and raise his arms with horror while his neighbour quaffed of the cup. The company humoured the eccentric old gentleman; for, in their hearts, they could not but respect his downright earnestness. He lost no opportunity. Returning home at the head of his volunteer corps, he showed his jaded officers, who had freely taken beer, how fresh he was—on two oranges. “Ah! you may laugh,” he would say, when his friends bantered him about his aggressive protests in society; “you may laugh, but I can tell you this——the presence of the old jackdaw checked the drinking, if didn’t stop it, and I am very grateful to feel sure of that.” * As Mr. Sala has observed, “the veteran sticks bravely to his text.” And well he might, for his temperance renewed his youth. “He neither smoked tobacco nor drank fermented liquors in his old age; but he was a hearty eater, an early riser, and a vigorous walker and his reward was that which, according to Gray, is only felt by boys at school—a perpetual ‘sunshine of the breast.’” He was fond of showing this vigour renewed by temperance, at every possible opportunity; for he very wisely regarded it as his most forcible argument. It enabled him, in his old age, to capture a burglar on his own premises. The story runs that when he was following the burglar to the station, with the police, he drew him under a lamp, and told him that he could see drink had brought him to this—adding that he himself drank nothing but water. “I wish I’d ha’ known that,” said the ruffian, “I’d ha’ broken your head for you.” Cruikshank delighted to show an audience how he could hold a tumbler full of water steady upon the palm of his outstretched hand. At eighty, he was seen in costume at a fancy dress ball at Willis’s Rooms, joining heartily in the dance, and letting everybody know that it was “water that did it.” * Grace Stebbing’s article on Cruikshank in the Graphic. It was very difficult to obtain from him the toleration of tobacco smoke in his company; for, after he had given up alcoholic stimulants, he threw away his pipe. He would say to a man of letters whom he favoured, laying his hand upon his arm, and turning those fierce eyes of his full upon him, “I want you to give up drinking and smoking, and you tell me that if you don’t smoke you can’t write. Now, I’ll meet you half-way. Give up the drink, and you may smoke—-just a little.” But, as a rule, he was as stern in the matter of tobacco as in that of beer or gin. One evening M. Legros, the distinguished French artist, lighted a cigarette in his hall as he was leaving Mornington Place. “To that vice,” said “the inimitable George” in his deepest tone, “I was a slave for many years, but now I am a free man.” To it also, it must be added, he owed one of his most imaginative and delightful etchings,—“The Triumph, of Cupid,”—published in his “Table Book.” His earnestness was extravagantly expressed in all things. As a furious anti-Papist, he would draw aside and shake his coat when Sisters of Charity or a Catholic priest passed him. “Do you see that fellow in front?” he suddenly asked a friend with whom he was walking. It was a workman quietly enjoying his pipe. “Do you know what I would do to him if I were a man of fortune? I’d kick him! To think that any man should be fool enough to place a tube between his lips, and go puff, puff, puff!” This was his “counter blast.” And he glared at the workman as he passed on. He had himself been an inveterate smoker for more than forty years! On another occasion he drew sharply up before the windows of his old wine merchant, and called out, “Give me back my thousand pounds!” When the Crystal Palace was opened at Sydenham, Cruikshank, in his rage that it had not been made a Temperance palace, drew some extravagant drawings of the opening ceremony for Messrs. Cassell, one of which represented the Archbishop of Canterbury bestowing his blessing upon a public-house. Dining one day at Grampian Lodge, Forest Sill, with his friend Dr. Rogers, he suddenly began to tell the company that he had had a vision the night before. Then he related it with much gesticulation, and with dramatic effect. He had seen two devils in council. One had said, “England is moral, prosperous, happy—this will never do. How can we put an end to it? Her crops are splendid; look, for instance, at her barley, her-” The second devil interrupted: “I have an idea. Her barley, which makes such splendid food, let us teach them to soak it, to sour it, to make it ferment; in short, to turn it into a tempting poison.” “Agreed!” cried the first devil. “Why,” the second devil continued, “we will actually make them drink it of their own accord; they shall lift the poison to their own lips with their own hands.” “Ha! ha!” shouted the first devil; “and then of course, there will be murder, robbery, violence, and misery all over the land.” “The devils have had their way,” the old man added his keen eyes glancing round the table to mark the effect of his vision. He was indeed, as a writer called him, a “muscular teetotaler.” “In his time,” a Temperance writer * records to his honour, “he must have attended thousands of temperance meetings, and at these few men were more welcome. * The Temperance Record, February 7th, 1878. The style of his advocacy was peculiar, he passed from grave to gay with facility, but he never lost sight of the great object he had in view. He seemed for years, to be deeply impressed at the numerous murders that were taking place, all of them, or nearly so, being in the last instance, if not in the first, attributable to drink. He used to exclaim, with deep fervour, ‘Can nothing be done to stop these dreadful murders?’ The clear remedy of total abstinence from that drink which was their inciting cause then came naturally from his lips; but though individuals responded to his appeal, the general mass of the public remained unmoved. Sometimes he would suggest a deputation to the House of Lords. But though this idea was not acted upon, yet he lived to see that august assembly collect evidence well fitted to be of service to them, and also to the public at large. Mr. Cruikshank’s powers of mimicry were also very great, and often has he convulsed his audience with his inimitable acting; but, at the same time, there was no mistaking his deep earnestness, and the sincerity with which he expressed the convictions of his heart. He did his utmost, when the teetotalers had failed at the Crystal Palace, to establish a teetotal palace in the old Surrey Zoological Gardens; and he was drawn in state from the Hampstead Road to Walworth, in a carriage and four, to open a bazaar in aid of the scheme. He even prepared a design for the building. But although many went to cheer the honest, earnest old man, few remained to invest, and the design fell to the ground. It may have been some consolation to him and to his Temperance friends to mark, afterwards, the services which the Crystal Palace was destined to render to the cause of Temperance, for a drunkard has hardly ever been seen under its shining roof. Cruikshank could never convert his mother to his views. She lived with him during the latter years of her life, and died under his roof, in the care of a most reverent and attentive son.. She had always been a careful, sober body, and would not be coerced, because her son could not take his beer or toddy without committing excesses. She had been a handsome woman in her days, a grandson records, and it was picturesque to see the lame old lady, leaning upon her crutch, and wrapped in a plaid,—with her shrivelled features and wild grey hair,—raise her withered arm, and with the old fire declare that she would not surrender her principles. A glass of beer with dinner, and a little toddy at bedtime, she had always taken, and she took them to the end, and George had to submit. Addressing, on one occasion, a Temperance oration to a Bristol audience, he appealed to his female hearers not to believe that “nourishing stout” was necessary to nursing-mothers; and he pointed to himself as a melancholy example, saying, “My mother first lifted the poisoned chalice to my lips.” His aged mother read this in the morning paper. Her wrath was violent. “What!” she cried, “am I to be told publicly, at eighty years of age, that I, who always begged and prayed him to be sober, taught him to drink?” Her son did not return home for several days; but he heard of his speech in no uncertain tones when he presented himself to the old lady, who had, in his youth, often physically chastised him for his excesses. Perhaps the best specimen of his manner of laying his subject before an audience is the speech which he delivered at the Grand Demonstration of the National Temperance League, in the Guildhall, on the 19th of November, 1864. It wants his by-play, his dramatic delivery, his grotesque movements, and then the solemn sounds of his voice, to be completely understood; but it is sufficiently original and suggestive as reported:— “My Lord Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,—-My worthy friend the doctor has given you a very excellent discourse upon his own profession. It So happens that as I was coming to this meeting I met with a gentleman who had just been to consult his medical man; and finding I was coming to this meeting, he laughed at all idea of abstaining from intoxicating drinks. He told me he had been to see a very eminent member of the medical profession. I asked him what was the result. “He said the physician told him he wanted a stimulant and prescribed one. I said, ‘What did you give him:’ “He replied, ‘Of course, I gave him the usual fee—a guinea.’ I said, ‘I can show you how to save that guinea in future. If you will give me half of it. I will give it to some good charity, and the other half you may keep in your pocket.’ He said, ‘How is that?’ I said, ‘Instead of going to the physician, go to the publican, and tell him what is the matter with you, and he will prescribe the same thing; and if the landlord is not in, say the same to the potboy, and he will do as well. Rely upon it, they will prescribe exactly the same thing as the doctor, and the effects will be the same. Now, I must say one word, if you please, to defend a very eminent prince who has been mentioned here to-night. I am sorry to say it happened to be my fate to hold up to ridicule the Prince Regent—very often indeed; but he was not such a bad man as he is represented to be. It must be recollected that if he committed excess in the way of drinking, it was then the fashion for all the eminent persons to get drunk. No man was considered a liberal man—no man was considered a gentleman, in fact, unless he made his companions drunk; and therefore, with all due respect to my friend Mr. Scott, who mentioned the circumstance, it must be recollected that about half a century back it was the fashion—it is a fearful thing, but it was the fashion—of gentry to get drunk; therefore we ought to make allowances. But now, my Lord Mayor, to come to this very serious question. This hall is the place where the great City feasts are held, and the question is, is it possible that there can be any grand entertainment given without mixing up with it the intoxicating cup? What will be said? It is very well for you, my lord, who are almost an abstainer yourself—very well for you—but what will be said of another Lord Mayor who comes here and gives a dinner without wine and beer? What will be said of him? He will be called a shabby fellow; and the question is, whether the guests will not all be melancholy. It will, perhaps, be somewhat in this style: ‘Have a little more soup?’ ‘No, thank you.’ ‘More fish?’ ‘No, thank you.’ ‘Bit of fowl?’ ‘No.’ ‘Venison?’ ‘No.’ ‘What, can’t you eat any more?’ ‘No, I don’t like it: I want something to drink.’ There is the serious thing: what is to be done? There is one way of settling that question. It is supposed that there can be no sociality, no comfort, no enjoyment, without intoxicating drinks. Now, I recommend the next Lord Mayor who may succeed our honoured chairman, if he be in favour of the moderate use of these delightful drinks, to be so good as to ask the present company to come to dinner. Wouldn’t you enjoy yourselves? And then, when we have had enough to eat, and want something to drink, here you are (holding up a glass of water)—Mr. Chairman, your very good health! Ladies and gentlemen, your good health! (drinking the toast.) We should have a jolly time of it. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) Mr. Morley says we will take the sherbet without the punch. That is the way in which these things are looked at; but supposing that it is impossible that any social enjoyment can be had without the use of these stimulants, let us take another view of the question. I have had the honour of dining here, and I have enjoyed myself very much, not only in the time when I used to take wine myself—because I recollect there was such a time as that—but when I have been a teetotaler I have been, here, and enjoyed my dinner very much indeed, without any of these drinks. But supposing we had this hall upon the occasion of the Lord Mayor’s feast with the most elegant people in the world (for I believe of all the people in the world the British people are the best looking and the best dressed): imagine the scene! The tables are set out in the most splendid manner; everything looks grand and happy; but what is going on outside? Ay! my friends, the most splendid monument in the world where this drink is used in moderation as it is in this country, may in the inside be a splendid monument of good order, taste, and sobriety, but at the outside there is filth and dirt and crime through drink. I say, suppose these social meetings cannot be enjoyed without these drinks, let us look at the outside. Now, there are a certain number of circumstances or acts committed in society, which are always injurious, not only to the individual himself, but also to society at large. Now, I do not mean to say that every teetotaler is an honest man. There may be some dishonest fellows amongst them. I have heard of two in the last thirty years. This reminds me, by-the-bye, of a teetotal turnkey at Coldbath Fields. There were two youths brought into the prison, who were teetotalers, and the other turnkeys jeered the teetotal turnkey upon it. He said, ‘It is true that there are two teetotalers here, but they are here only for begging, whereas you have about fifteen hundred brought in who drink, and they are most of them committed for stealing.’ There are a number of besetting sins connected with drinking, such as robberies, brutal assaults, garotting, house-breaking, suicide, and murder. By-the-bye, speaking of murder, there has been a very strong feeling existing for many years, and still increasing, against the punishment of death. I think it is a very horrible thing indeed to hang anybody; but, my friends, do not forget that it is a still more horrible thing for one to be murdered. Do not let us forget that. There was a young man in the country a little while ago hanged for murder—quite a young man. It was a sad thing indeed, no doubt, to see this poor fellow gibbeted; but what was he hanged for? He had been drinking on the Saturday night, and he murdered a young woman as she was going to church on the Sunday morning. Do not forget that these horrible, detestable, damnable crimes are committed under the influence of drink. We will talk about doing away with the punishment of death after we have stopped murders. I had the honour of speaking in the Mansion House when Mr. Charles Pearson, the City solicitor, brought on the question about the convicts; and I told the Lord Mayor then, that if we could do away with intoxicating liquors altogether, we might wheel out that dreadful instrument the gibbet into the Old Bailey, and make a bonfire of it. I believe you will find, if you go into the question, that there is hardly a murder committed in this country out of a hundred—I may say out of a thousand—not ten out of ten thousand—but drink has something to do with it. Remove the drink, and you will stop murder. But there is a gentleman who ought to have been speaking instead of myself, and therefore I will not detain you much longer; but I will say this, my friends, and call your attention to it especially, that the teetotal question has now been before the world for about thirty years, and during that short time I challenge any one to point out any teetotaler who has been committed for a brutal assault upon his wife, or for garotting, or picking pockets, or house robbery, or murder. I challenge the world to produce one single case wherein any real teetotaler has been convicted of one of those crimes. Then, if this be so, what have we to do but to spread this Temperance movement throughout the length and breadth of the land? and then we should stop, if not all crimes, if not all offences, still the great majority of them; and that is what we are aiming at. And recollect this, my friends, that we are not a society formed merely for the purpose of reclaiming the drunkard. It is a very good thing to do so, and I am sorry to say that my time is so occupied that I am almost in despair. I have six most dreadful cases in hand at the present moment There is nobody to assist them. I could not go to the brewer or distiller, and ask them to give me funds for the support of these people whom they have rained; and why not? Because there is blood upon the money. I would not have it. But I had to-day a letter imploring me for help from the nephew of an old friend of my father. What am I to do? I have a lady in the country at this moment, the wife of a barrister, who is starving for want of help, and whose husband has been ruined by drinking. My time is occupied, and my friends are gone, and I am called upon for all I can afford. But, my friends, if you do away with these drinks, you do away with these cases. But it is utterly impossible to go into the evils arising out of these drinks in the time I have to speak—they are so extensive; all I have to say is, ‘Go on and prosper!’ and prosper we shall. I cannot sit down without saying that I look upon this meeting to-night to be one of the grandest movements that this cause has ever had. I say it from my heart, and think that those gentlemen who have assisted in getting up this meeting deserve our best thanks.” The idea of a temperance Lord Mayor’s Banquet suggests, no doubt, many vastly amusing incidents and episodes to the mind of the comic writer, but honest-hearted George Cruikshank could not, and would not, in his latter dav, see any element of fun in drunkenness, and he was quite in earnest in recommending the next Lord Mayor to fill his loving-cup with pump water. * * Since Cruikshank delivered the above speech, a Temperance banquet has been held at the Mansion House. The account he gave, moreover, of his trouble about the many people who were seeking his assistance, was true of his experience year after year. His doors were besieged. He was waylaid by petitioners for his known bounty (the recklessness of which, as we have seen, Dickens reproved) whenever he went abroad. A poor man himself, for ever in money troubles, even to the end of his laborious life, his heart lay always open to a tale of distress. He was never without “cases” on hand. It has been remarked of his Temperance days, by one of his friendliest critics, that his style suffered from the contraction of his ideas and sympathies, “and it cannot be questioned that with the general public his reputation declined in proportion to the increase of his popularity among the teetotalers.” He lost heavily, in a pecuniary sense, by his Temperance advocacy. Publishers ceased to employ him. He remarked that, for the last ten years of his life, he was without commissions. He had refused none, he would say. He was willing to work, and he held that his powers were unimpaired. Temperance preacher; to them the inimitable George, the illustrator of Boz, the kindly satirist, the creator of “Points of Humour,” the illustrator of Grimm, was dead. And, firmly believing this, the brave old man held on in the rigid course of duty he had laid down for himself. He had seen all the horrors which lie behind drunkenness; in his early time he had himself been a tavern hero; and he had dedicated the remainder of his life to the work of warning the rising generation out of the path in which he himself had stumbled. “I come forth,” he said, in one of his earliest temperance harangues, “to set by my humble example the opinion of this unthinking world at defiance.” But the public had come to regard him simply as a keen a sense of the ridiculous as most men. I can see clearly what is ridiculous in others. I am so sensitive myself, that I am quite alive to every situation, and would not willingly place myself in a ridiculous one; and, I must confess, that if to be a teetotaler was to be a milksop, if it was to be a namby-pamby fellow, or a man making a fool of himself or of others, then indeed I would not be one—certainly not; but if, on the contrary, to be a teetotaler is to be a man that values himself, and tries by every means in his power to benefit others; if to be a teetotaler is to be a man who tries to save the thoughtless from destruction; if to be a teetotaler is to be a man who does battle with false theories and bad customs, then I am one. I have been a convert but a short time, not much over twelve months. I only wish that I could say, with Dr. Gourley, that I had never taken a glass of spirits in my life; I wish that I had acted upon the principles of total abstinence only thirty years ago; for if I had, I am convinced that at this time I should have been much better, both in body and mind. I have experienced much benefit already, both physically and mentally. I never did sneer at or scorn the question of Temperance, yet I never thought that I should stand up as a teetotal advocate; but I am proud that I have been put into the position in which I am now placed. Later on, still conscious of the disadvantage at which he was placing himself as an artist, he said to another audience—. “When I left off drinking wine altogether, and became a total abstainer, I became a healthier and stronger man, more capable of meeting the heavy responsibilities that were upon me, and for the following two years I had my life renewed, and all the elasticity of my schoolboy days came back to me. Domestic afflictions then came upon me, ending in death, and my spirits and health were crushed down. In this extremity I applied to my medical adviser. He said, ‘Medicine is of no use to you; you must drink wine again.’ I refused, and my medical friend called in some others of his profession; he told me they had had a consultation, the result being that all of them agreed it was necessary I should drink wine to restore my sinking constitution. I replied, “‘Doctor, I’ll take your physic, but not your wine. Let me try everything else first, and only when there is no other chance give me wine, because I feel there is a great principle at stake in this matter.’ I have said, and I believe, wine is unnecessary, even as a medicine, and I do not wish to do a single act which would tend to weaken or destroy the weight and force of that conviction. And here I stand. I have not tasted the vile and destroying enemy, and I am almost restored to health, without having risked the violation of my principles. I call this a triumph; and I stand here as an evidence that wine is totally unnecessary, even as a medicine.” Much later, we find the preacher an octogenarian—albeit rudely buffeted by the world, and well-nigh forgotten as a living artist—still true to his noble text. “Alcoholic liquors,” he exclaimed to an audience, little more than two years before his death, “were recommended to keep up strength! But what kept up his strength? He had not taken a drop of wine, beer, or any alcoholic drink, for twenty-seven years, and he would be eighty-three next September, if he lived till then. What was it, then, that kept up his strength? Since he had given up drinking beer and smoking, he had had a higher enjoyment of life, because all his nervous system was in proper tone.” Cuthbert Bede, who knew Cruikshank intimately in his teetotal days, has drawn this graphic picture of the Temperance advocate at home:— “Though I had interchanged letters with Mr. George Cruikshank for several years, it was not until early in the autumn of 1853 that I made his personal acquaintance. He had asked me to write a serial story for a projected publication to be illustrated by himself ; and, as it would simplify matters if we could talk over the subject together, I went up from the country to London to call upon him. He was then living in Mornington Crescent, near to Regent’s Park. Numerous portraits had made me familiar with his personal appearance, so that I needed not to be told who was the gentleman who so courteously received me downstairs, and then took me upstairs to his comfortable studio, where he introduced me to his wife. Some of our first conversation, indeed, was on the subject of his portrait; for, among the pictures on his walls, I had noticed the original of the portrait by Frank Stone, which was engraved on steel for the Omnibus, and was certainly a far more flattering representation of George Cruikshank than the caricaturist’s sketches of himself. I told him that I considered the best portrait of himself was to be found in his own etching, ‘The Reverie,’ published in his Table- Book, and in every respect a wonderfully fine specimen of his art and genius. I also referred to his own account of ‘My Portrait,’ in the Omnibus, in which, with his own pen and pencil, he portrayed himself, and made comments on a curious description of himself that had been given in a publication called ‘Portraits of Public Characters’; how he was said to be of the medium height, with a forehead of a prominently receding shape, with a handsome pair of whiskers, and hair partaking of a lightish hue; and, moreover, how the ludicrous and extraordinary fancies with which his mind was constantly teeming often imparted a sort of wildness to his look frighten from his presence those unacquainted with him. “He read these and similar passages to me, and was immensely tickled at their egregious absurdity. In truth, his manner at once impressed me as being peculiarly gentle, and kind, and genial. Instead of assuming any airs of superiority, I found him possessed of all the humble modesty and chivalrous courtesy of the truly great artist and thorough gentleman; and although I was quite young, and he was in his sixty-first year, he treated me as though I had been his equal, if not superior, in ability. We had so much to talk about, and he had so much to show me, that my first interview with George Cruikshank had been prolonged to nearly four hours before I became aware how quickly the time had flown. The time had then arrived for their luncheon, or early dinner; and as both Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank pressed me to stay, and I had by this time overlapped the hour at which I had made another engagement, I readily and peculiarity to his manner, which would suffice to consented to remain, and we went downstairs to dinner. ‘There will be nothing else than a leg of mutton,’ said Cruikshank. ‘I happen to know that, for I came in with it,’ I replied; ‘for as I knocked at the hall door the butcher’s boy was down in the area, delivering the leg of mutton to the cook.’ Cruikshank seemed to be greatly amused at this, for he laughed heartily, and said to his wife, ‘My dear, Mr. ———— came in with the mutton.’ Something in the occurrence seemed to mightily tickle his fancy, for more than once he repeated the words to his wife, ‘My dear, Mr. ———— came in with the mutton!’ It was while I was eating it that I terribly forgot myself. The day was very sultry; it was five hours since I had breakfasted; we had been busy talking, and I felt thirsty. So, while the parlourmaid was handing something to me. I asked her to give me a glass of beer. She replied, ‘We have no beer, sir.’ ‘Then,’ I said, ‘please to bring me the sherry.’ ‘There is no sherry, sir.’ Whereupon my host interposed, and laughingly explained that he could not allow the introduction of any alcoholic liquor into his house; and that, while I was his guest, I must content myself with drinking water. Then I suddenly remembered that which I ought not to have forgotten, even for a moment, that my host had devoted himself to teetotal, who, six years before, had drawn the eight scenes of ‘The Bottle,’ and had thereby struck a powerful blow at one of the greatest vices of the age. “I duly apologized for my forgetfulness; and the incident naturally led Cruikshank to dilate on that important theme, in furtherance of which he so steadily devoted his great powers to the very end of his career, with a persistent courage and devoted zeal that won for him the genuine respect and admiration of those even who could not wholly agree with him in details. I was one of those. I could travel with him, very willingly, up to a certain point, after which our paths parted, and we ‘agreed to differ.’ I could accompany him to temperance, but not to total abstinence. During the remainder of the time that we occupied over dinner, we scarce spoke on any other subject than that which gave ism, and that I was sitting at the table of the artist rise to the scenes of ‘The Bottle,’ ‘The Drunkard’s Children,’ ‘The Gin Trap,’ ‘The Gin Juggernaut’—and, at a later period, his large oil-painting, ‘The Worship of Bacchus.’ “Our discussion on the subject was preserved with perfect good humour; so much so, that I ventured to remind him that only a year or so before he had been converted to teetotalism he had caricatured Father Mathew, in an etching for the Comic Almanac for 1844, representing him as an old pump. I reminded my host that these were his sentiments for more than fifty years of his life, and that he had never during that period objected to the moderate use of alcoholic liquors, although he had always vigorously lashed their gross abuse; and I pleaded that I had not lived for half those years that I had named, and that I might be pardoned for my forgetfulness in asking his servant for beer and wine. “Then he told me how the crying sin of the age had sunk deep down into his heart, especially when he had seen it flourishing, like an upas tree, in all its foul deformity, in those courts and alleys into which he was so often led in search of subjects for his pencil; and how the design for ‘The Bottle’ had gradually grown upon him, and the necessity for practising what he preached, which he found he could do only by cutting himself adrift from all alcoholic drinks. He also explained how his plans to disseminate the scenes of his ‘Drunkard’s Progress,’ in such a form and at such a low price that they should reach those masses for whom he specially designed them, were hampered and well-nigh frustrated, chiefly by the cost of engraving such large drawings on wood; and how the new art of glyphography had come to his assistance, and enabled him to draw the eight designs, and to sell them (with Dr. Charles Mackay’s explanatory poem) for a shilling—which in the year 1847 was an extraordinarily low price for such a production. ‘You will remember,’ he said, ‘how Maclise represented me seated on a beer-barrel, getting my inspiration from pothouse scenes, and pencilling them on the crown of my hat?’ ‘Yes, I remember: it was in the Fraser gallery of portraits. And you have amply proved to the world since then that you can turn to the best account, and for the public good, the people and incidents that you saw in those places.’ I told him that of ‘The Bottle’ and ‘Drunkard’s Children’ series I preferred the one where the poor girl commits suicide from Waterloo Bridge—the idea of the body falling from a height being so vividly conveyed to the eye, as to impress one with the conviction that we can really see the swift descent of that ‘one more unfortunate.’” An instance of Cruikshank’s earnestness in the Temperance cause happened in May 1854. He had been invited to preside over a meeting of total abstainers, to be held in Sadler’s Wells Theatre, a place associated in his mind with the glories of his friend Joe Grimaldi, the clown, and the days when he was a frequenter of the clown’s club, “The Crib,” hard by. The great Temperance advocate, J. B. Gough, was to address the audience. Cruikshank introduced him in his own original way, delivering, as the papers remarked, a speech full of piquant and incontrovertible truth. But it was at the close of the orator’s speech that the chairman proved himself equal to the occasion. Seeing that the audience were under the spell of Mr. Gough’s eloquence, he rose and exhorted them at once to come forward and sign the pledge. With this he advanced to the footlights, bridged the orchestra with a few planks, and stood by to receive the ladies who came forward in crowds, many of them leading their children. So delighted was the artist with the number of converts he led to the table to sign the pledge, that he drew the scene for the Illustrated London News, with himself for central figure. I remember attending another meeting in George Cruikshank’s company. It was a gathering of London pickpockets, called by Mr. Henry Mayhew, when he was engaged upon his London Labour and London Poor inquiry. The solemn, but still somewhat grotesque impressiveness of the Temperance preacher, as he rose, while that dreadful company of keen-eyed vicious lads were eating the plain Temperance supper which had been provided for them, to bid them renounce the evils of their way, and as a beginning, to shun the bottle and the beer-pot, dwelt long in my memory. “Man,” said Lord Lytton, “has no majesty like earnestness.” That night, honest, whole-hearted Cruikshank, as with wild gesticulation he talked to “the dear lads”—for the forlornest and wickedest waif was dear to him—was clothed in majesty; and it cowed a man at hand, who acknowledged, within his hearing, that he had smuggled something stronger than water into the room. Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER IV. THE TRIUMPH OF BACCHUS. Mr. Wedmore, in his critical sketch of Cruikshank, has described in a few pregnant sentences, how in his later days the public fell away from the great humourist and subtle observer:— “As time went on apace, neither the passage of time itself, nor the hard work which crowded the days of his maturity in art, nor the comparative neglect of the later years, when Cruikshank, no longer quite in the movement of the day, was solaced by visits in the Hampstead Road, chiefly of a very few who were collectors of his work, or of some stray humourist still faithful and confident in the achievement of so many years ago. As time went on, Cruikshank wore well and slowly, so that it was truly said of him that he looked as if he had once been very old and then had forgotten it. Employed no longer in sketching and satirising the society of which he was hardly any more a part, he betook himself, a good deal by choice, to work more distinctly ambitious than any he had attempted when his hand was really the strongest and his brain the most fertile. He furnished the design for a monument to King Robert the Bruce. He painted in oils, not only this or that moral lesson, but a tale of heroism in humble life. No doubt the absence of the knowledge of academical draughtsmanship told against him not less in 1871 than it would have done half a century before, and no doubt the absence of any capacity for the subtle modulations of colour—nay, the absence even of sensitiveness to these—made his painting in oil a failure when judged by the side even of quite every-day work by every-day artists. Thus it was that no fresh honours came to him when he was still eager for them. The popularity of the great days was a little forgotten by the public in the presence of the failure of the most recent. And then again, advertised poverty is never a helpful thing. We worship merit a little, but success more, and success must have its stamp. The public of Cruikshank narrowed. Of course critics and journalists—the men whose business it is to keep in memory some work that the chance public praises one day and forgets the next—knew that Cruikshank was great, and how he had been great, and having in more than one notable instance said so faithfully during his old age, said so again last month, when he died. And of course, again, so much of his work having become rare, collectors of it had arisen—curious and anxious seekers, to whose interest we shall owe the preservation of many of his early and many even of his riper things. For them, when Cruikshank’s work was pretty well accomplished, and ‘finis’ seemed about to be written to that immense volume of production, Mr. G. W. Reid engaged on a task of care—the great catalogue raisonné in which, with here and there errors not easily avoided, he has chronicled well-nigh five thousand designs: ‘the smiling offspring,’ as Thackeray so admirably said of them, ‘the smiling offspring of painful labour.’ But in the main Cruikshank was forgotten, and the weekly smiles—feint though now and again they needs must be, and of indulgence rather than commendation—which are given by the English public to the efforts of our youngest English humour, a little trivial and slight, had ceased to be bestowed on that larger and more massive humourist who lingered from the past he was part of.” This is very true, and is a very sad story skilfully told. Think what would have become of the neglected or forgotten humourist, if, when the mere laughing public had turned away from him to Leech and Doyle, and Tenniel and Du Maurier, he had not been fired with the ardour of an apostle in the cause he had taken up. His Almanac had failed for lack of readers; and David Bogue had thrown up Cruikshank’s Magazine, after the second number—convinced that the artist had outlived his public. His ambition to become a painter was mercifully renewed, with the renewal of his health and mind, through temperance. Full of vigour he used to say, “A painter should paint from his shoulder, sir.” He became almost wholly a serious man in his work, and appealed to a public in a new capacity. He resolved, stimulated by the success of “The Bottle,” to execute a great picture that should remain behind him, a monument of his genius, and an immortal Temperance lesson. In the early ardour of his second youth he had braced himself to supply, so far as he might, albeit he had reached his sixtieth year, the deficiency in his art education, by working as a student at the Royal Academy. He had, he believed, all his powers unimpaired; why then should he not yet obtain the academical knowledge, of which he had been deprived, as he had said bitterly, through the improvident habits of his whisky-drinking father. Mr. Charles Landseer says: “He entered as student at the Royal Academy, during my keepership, April 22nd, 1853; but made very few drawings in the Antique, and never got into the Life. He was placed upon the Turner Fund in 1866—£50 per annum. I have heard that he made an application to Fuseli for admission to the R.A., and was informed that the school was too full, but that he might go and draw there if he could find a place.” * * Letter from Charles Landseer to B. J., Feb. 18, 1878. This is the brief record of George Cruikshank’s relations with the Academy. He was past the years when men learn. Time pressed too heavily upon the elderly man to leave him patience for the slow progress from the “Antique” to the “Life.” He had been at the “Life” in his own keen way since he was a boy; and he must be content to paint with the imperfect but original knowledge which had sufficed for his etchings. And so he turned to his easel, and painted in oils, with something of his own inimitable power of concentration and dramatic story-telling, such subjects as he had treated in earlier days with his etching-needle. His “Tam o’ Shanter,” “Grimaldi the Clown Shaved by a Girl,” “The Runaway Knock,” “The Fairy Ring,” “Titania and Bottom the Weaver,” “Dressing for the Day,” “A New Situation,” and “Disturbing the Congregation,” were exhibited at the Royal Academy or at the British Institution; and were welcomed, for the fancy, the life, the humour that were in them—although they were one and all crude or violent in tone, and betrayed in every part a hand unpractised with the brush, and an eye dead to the delicacies of colour. They were, in truth, such bits of humour or fancy as the master humourist was wont in the old time to throw off at the rate of two or three in a week—only laboriously rendered in oils. The Runaway Knock, for instance, might be a plate in the “Sketch-Book,” or in “Points of Humour”—and the remark applies to Grimaldi being Shaved by a Girl, and the Disturbing the Congregation—which latter, to the artist’s great delight, the Prince Consort, who was one of Cruikshank’s cordial admirers, bought. Some of these fetched high prices. The Fairy Ring, the most imaginative, and as a composition the best of Cruikshank’s oil-paintings, painted in 1855, was a commission given to the artist by Mr. Henry Miller, of Preston—the price being £800. * The fairy revel is full of exquisitely suggestive bits. The canvas swarms with fairy life, and abounds with fanciful episodes. * It is now in the possession of Captain Douglass Kennedy, of Summerfield, Kirkby-Lonsdale, Mr. Miller’s son-in-law. The grace and spirit with which the artist could treat fairy or elfin life may be seen in scores of his earlier works. Look at this “Fairy Revenge,” from “Scott’s Demonology,” drawn in 1833. Original Size -- Medium-Size “The Runaway Knock” is, as the reader will perceive, simply such a bit of Cruikshankian humour as he had been wont to treat with his etching-needle. It is full of life and excitement. The entire household, to the pug puppy-dog, has been aroused; nor could the painter refrain from throwing life into the carved stone head over the street-door. Again, “Disturbing the Congregation” is an etching subject, elaborated. A little boy, in church, has dropped his pegtop, and the awful eye of the beadle (Cruikshank created the British beadle as a humorous figure) is upon him. The Prince Consort, whom a genuine bit of humour delighted, was glad to add this most characteristic Cruikshank to his collection. Cruikshank’s old friend, Clarkson Stanfield, first persuaded him to trust himself to oils. In his tinted designs, he showed that sense of colour which was everywhere manifest in the etchings of his best time—in his designs to Ainsworth, for instance. The watercolour drawings for his Walter Scott plates, again, are admirable. * But in oil, it must be repeated, he failed utterly. * They were for a long time the property of Mr. Lumley, of Her Majesty’s Theatre, and on the sale of his effects passed, fortunately, into the hands of Mr. Ellison, who bequeathed his collection to the South Kensington Museum. The touch of the etcher remained. He was hard and crude. The first painting he exhibited was “Bruce attacked by Assassins”—the Bruce upon a burlesque horse smothered in drapery! It was exhibited at the Royal Academy. His next picture was “Moses dressing for the Fair”—a subject more within his power; but it was coarse, inharmonious, and sketchy. The wonder was that Cruikshank could not perceive that he was on the wrong road. So far, however, was he from suspecting this, that he was constantly meditating great historical subjects; and actually “got in” upon a spacious canvas the Battle of Agincourt. He even began a scriptural subject, “Christ riding into Jerusalem.” But the genius that could realize a street or fairy mob * upon a surface no broader than the palm of the hand, could not paint a battle-piece. Without his outline he was all abroad. The sacred subject remained in the studio, with many other canvases, to the end. It was his “Battle of a Gin Court,” in his “Sunday in London” that showed the master. He admitted, when it was suggested to him, that the “etching-point feeling” was always in his fingers, giving a “living” sensation to the brush, and that he never could get rid of it. His Falstaff tormented by the Fairies, was, on the whole, the painting he completed with most thorough satisfaction to himself. * “Cruikshank’s crowds give one exactly the impression of reality. They show a certain monotony, from the common impulse of the mob, yet they are full of characteristic figures, no two exactly alike. There is also all the due sense of air, and motion, and fluctuation about them. They are penetrable crowds, especially the Irish, which he delights to draw,—true mobiles,—ready to break out into new mischief, or disperse before the onslaught of the Saxon.”—Francis Turner Palgrave. Mr. Wedmore, dwelling on the shortcomings of biographers, complains that where an artist is the subject they tell “not much of the work he had planned but never executed; work, nevertheless, on which perhaps he had set great store, and looked forward to completing, and ‘purposes unsure.’ ‘That weighed not as his work, yet swelled the man’s amount.’ “You should see the comedies I have not written,” said a pensive playwright. Cruikshank was, throughout his life, disturbed by unfulfilled dreams of great subjects, with which he felt his genius could cope. He would have grappled with Milton, as we have seen, but hard fate kept him tied to bread-and-cheese work, and to minor themes. His “Pilgrim’s Progress” remains unfinished, and, even so far as he executed it, unpublished. * * The plates are in the possession of Mr. Truman. “Ah! who shall lift that wand of magic power, And the lost clue regain? The unfinished window in Aladdin’s tower, Unfinished must remain.” It would have gone sadly then, when the publishers could no longer find profit in his work, when the public had turned from his old-fashioned humour and fancy, to the fresher and more peaceful, albeit more circumscribed and less earnest, genius of Leech, had he not been buoyed up and comforted with the self-imposed mission, for which he had buckled on new armour, resolved to die fighting in the good cause. And so while his rival rode prosperously on the fashion of the hour, catching, in the words of Herrick, “A winning wave, deserving note, In the tempestuous petticoat”— he ordered a broad canvas to be carried to his modest studio in the Hampstead Road, and sat himself patiently down—his morrow’s bread secured by the sympathetic admiration of a few real friends—to build up that monument of his many-sided genius, his cartoon, composed in the manner of his master Gillray’s “Democracy, or a Sketch of the Life of Bonaparte”—in a series of compartments. The story of the Triumph of Bacchus is honourable to all parties concerned. On the one hand we find the veteran artist eager to perform an enduring work in support of the Temperance cause; and on the other a knot of friends, also good servants of the cause, anxious to put him in a position to labour in comfort. It has been said the National Temperance League was the means of giving the great painting and engraving to the world; but the truth is, that no temperance association—as an association—took action in the matter. The many earnest men who have this good cause at heart co-operated in several ways in furtherance of the artist’s plans; but these plans were actually directed by a small independent committee, who held on to their task through many troubles and some disagreements, until the plate was completed, and the picture was finally made over to the nation. When Cruikshank had drawn a rough sketch in oils of his design, he invited a few friends to his house to consult with him as to ways and means. The gentlemen who met as a committee were Sir Francis Crossley, John Stewart—the art critic, Mr. Hugh Owen of the Poor Law Board, Mr. John Taylor, and Mr. W. Tweedie, the publisher. The result of their consultation was the adoption of a proposal submitted by Mr. Stewart, who was a fervent admirer and devoted friend of the artist. George Cruikshank undertook to produce his complete design in water-colours, from which a steel etching was to be executed. The artist assumed the entire pecuniary responsibility of the undertaking, on the condition that his friends would supply him with what he called “spending money,” or money for his daily wants, while the engraving was in progress. The advances of his supporters were to be refunded out of the proceeds of the sale of the plate. On this arrangement Cruikshank went to work with his usual vigour. The water-colour design was soon completed, and placed in the hands of Mr. Mottram, the engraver—the understanding being that the outline of every figure was to be etched by Cruikshank himself. This laborious work he finally performed, but not before serious and harmful delays had occurred. It had been distinctly understood that the great oil painting—the ultimate form which the design was to take—was not to be begun until the engraving had been completed; but Cruikshank’s impatience to be at his magnum opus led him to break through his agreement. A member of the committee, on calling at his house one morning, found him before the broad canvas, with the upper row of figures already sketched in. In reply to remonstrances, he gave the reasonable explanation that no man could etch all day long. The committee then agreed that he should work as fast as was prudent at the engraving, and “for rest” take a turn at the big picture. In order further to encourage him, an honorary committee of about seventy gentlemen was formed, to promote the subscription to the engraving. But so engrossed did Cruikshank become in his oil-painting, that, although he knew that the delay in the print was destroying the chances of a great subscription list, he never touched an etching tool until the painting was finally lifted from the easel. This work was to bring him, not only glory, but fortune. He was confident that crowds would flock to see it He had visions of policemen at the door of his gallery to keep off the tumultuous throng. The advances of his friendly committee exceeded a thousand pounds; but in a few weeks, he believed, the public, for whom he had been labouring since the beginning of the century, would fill his coffers, and he would be able to release himself from his obligations. Flushed with hope, he wreathed some choice specimens of his early work about the magnum opus, in a little gallery next to the Lyceum Theatre, in Wellington Street, Strand; and threw open the doors, and summoned the world to enter. But the world passed his door. * * It was a bitter pecuniary disappointment also. Cruikshank believed that he would have excelled as an actor, but his power amounted to nothing more than the realization of a burlesque brigand. He was violent, fierce in ridiculous excess, and extravagant in all his movements. He had always a yearning for the stage, and thought, as we have seen, of adopting it as a profession in his youth. He played with the Charles Dickens troupe in 1848 (Oliver Cob in “Every Man in his Humour,” Doctor Camphor in “Love and Physic,” and Pistol in “The Merry Wives of Windsor”), but he could not compare with such accomplished amateurs as Dickens and Mark Lemon. He never lost faith, however, in his power; and even late in life when he contemplated—to compensate for his pecuniary disappointment with his Triumph of Bacchus—a benefit at Drury Lane Theatre, he proposed to play Macbeth himself, saying to a friend, “I will show them how the dagger-scene should be done.’” On the 28th of April, 1863, he carried his painting, by command, to Windsor Castle, for the inspection of the Queen; and he never tired of talking gratefully and excitedly about the interview, acting with great solemnity the sweeping bow he made to Her Majesty. But the Queen’s kindness failed to draw her subjects in the crowds the artist had expected. Then his trusty friends organised a little soirée in the exhibition room on the 28th of August, and invited him to deliver a lecture on his picture, which he did in his own original manner, giving a reason for every group, almost every figure, upon his crowded canvas. * Still the laggard public disappointed the expectant veteran, who had cherished visions of a peaceful close for his life, won by this extraordinary labour. Kind Thackeray came, with his grave face, and looked through the little gallery, and went off to write one of his charming essays, which appeared in the Times (May 15,1863). He said:— * See Appendix I. “In a quiet little room in Exeter Hall a veteran lecturer is holding forth all day upon a subject which moves his heart very strongly. His text, on which he has preached before in many places, is still ‘The Bottle.’ He divides his sermon into many hundreds of heads, and preaches with the most prodigious emphasis and grotesque variety. He is for no half measures. He will have no compromise with the odious god Bacchus; the wicked idol is smashed like Bel and Dagon. He will empty into the gutter all Master Bacchus’s pipes, his barrels, quarter-casks, demijohns, gallons, quarts, pints, gills, down to your very smallest liqueur glasses of spirits or wine. He will show you how the church, the bar, the army, the universities, the genteel world, the country gentleman in his polite circle, the humble artisan in his, the rustic ploughman in the fields, the misguided washerwoman over her suds and tubs—how all ranks and conditions of men are deteriorated and corrupted by the use of that abominable strong liquor: he will have patience with it no longer. For upwards of half a century, he says, he has employed pencil and pen against the vice of drunkenness, and in the vain attempt to shut up drinking shops and to establish moderate drinking as a universal rule; but for seventeen years he has discovered that teetotalism, or the total abstaining from all intoxicating liquors, was the only real remedy for the entire abolition of intemperance. His thoughts working in this direction, one day this subject of ‘the Worship of Bacchus’ flashed across his mind, and hence the origin of a work of art measuring 13 ft. 4 in. by 7 ft. 8 in., which has occupied the author no less than a year and a half. “This sermon has the advantage over others, that you can take a chapter at a time, as it were, and return and resume the good homilist’s discourse at your leisure. What is your calling in life? In some part of this vast tableau you will find it is de te fabula. In this compartment the soldiers are drinking and fighting; in the next the parsons are drinking ‘Healths to the young Christian.’ Here are the publicans, filthily intoxicated with their own horrible liquors; yonder is a masquerade supper, ‘where drunken masquerade fiends drag down columbines to drunkenness and ruin.’ Near them are ‘the public singers chanting forth the praises of the “God of Wine.”’ ‘Is it not marvellous to think,’ says Mr. Cruikshank in a little pamphlet, containing a speech by him which is quite as original as the picture on which it comments,—‘Is it not marvellous what highly talented poetry and what harmonious musical compositions have been produced, from time to time, in praise of this imaginative, slippery, deceitful, dangerous myth?’ “‘This myth,’ the spectator may follow all through this most wonderful and labyrinthine picture. In the nursery the doctor is handing a pot of beer to mamma; the nurse is drinking beer; the little boy is crying for beer; and the papa is drawing a cork, so that ‘he and the doctor may have a drop.’ Here you have a group of women, victims of intemperance, ‘tearing, biting, and mutilating one another.’ Yonder are two of the police carrying away a drunken policeman. Does not the mind reel and stagger at the idea of this cumulated horror? And what is the wine which yonder clergyman holds in his hand but the same kind of stuff which has made the mother in the christening scene above ‘so tipsy that she has let her child fall out of her lap, while her idiotic husband points to his helpless wife, and exclaims, “Ha, ha; she’s dr-unk’”?” And then Thackeray appealed to the public to come and be grateful to the painter:— “With what vigour, courage, good-humour, honesty, cheerfulness, have this busy hand and needle plied for more than fifty years! From 1799, * when about eight or nine years of age,’ until yesterday, the artist has; never taken rest. When you would think he might desire quiet, behold he starts up lively as ever, and arms himself to do battle with the demon drunkenness. With voice and paint-brush, with steel-plate and wood-block, he assails ‘that deceitful, slippery, dangerous myth!’ To wage war against some wrong has been his chief calling; and in lighter moments to waken laughter, wonder, or sympathy. To elderly lovers of fun, who can remember this century in its teens and its twenties, the benefactions of this great humourist are as pleasant and well remembered as papa’s or uncle’s ‘tips’ when they came to see the boys at school. The sovereign then administered bought delights not to be purchased by sovereigns of later coinage, tarts of incomparable sweetness which are never to be equalled in these times, sausages whose savour is still fragrant in the memory, books containing beautiful prints (sometimes ravishingly coloured) signed with the magic initials of the incomparable ‘G. Ck.’ No doubt the young people of the present day have younger artists to charm them; and many hundred thousand boys and girls are admiring Mr. Leech, and will be grateful to him forty years hence, when their heads are grey. These will not care for the Cruikshank drawings and etchings as men do whose boyhood was delighted by them; but the moderns can study the manners of the early century in the Cruikshank etchings, as of the French Revolution period in Gillray, Woodward, Bunbury.” Still the public, the paying public, held back. Mr. Francis Turner Palgrave took up the Exhibition in the Saturday Review, and thought it necessary to reintroduce Cruikshank to the British public: “Old George Cruikshank has been old George Cruikshank,” he said, “any time during the last thirty years to those whose nursery days date so far back. Indeed, we have heard his illustrations to Grimm’s Fairy Stories spoken of as the delight of their youth by some whose childhood dates forty years ago, whilst the similar labour of love which he has devoted to Jack and the Beanstalk is the thumbed and tattered darling of many who do not yet aspire to rank in the rising generation. He must, in fact, be old George Cruikshank, we are afraid, in the number of his years; yet our century has seen no better example of that ever-youthfulness which is one of the most frequent and least doubtful signs of genuine genius. That the name of Cruikshank deserves to be coupled with this epithet has never been dubious to those who, looking beyond certain mannerisms and limitations in his power as an artist, can appreciate high gifts to move both tears and laughter, exhibited on however small and unpretending a scale; or who can value downright originality, expressing itself in its own manner, irrespective of popular fashion; or who are aware what peculiar skill he has reached as an etcher.” But the opus Georgii had been scattered through modest ways, in children’s books, title-pages to forgotten music, ephemeral pamphlets, mediocre works, or romances of passing popularity, as well as in the pages of Fielding, Smollett, Grimm, Scott, and Dickens. Nearly thirty years had passed over his head since he illustrated “Oliver Twist”; and so the crowd passed by his sterling excellence, and, in the old fashion, turned “to some loud trumpet-blowing hero of the hour.” Original Size -- Medium-Size I remember seeing him standing in his exhibition room. It was empty. There was a wild, anxious look in his face, when he greeted me. While we talked, he glanced once or twice at the door, when he heard any sound in that direction. Were they coming at last, the tardy, laggard public for whom he had been bravely toiling so many years? Here was his last mighty labour against the wall, and all the world had been told that it was there. His trusty friend Thackeray had hailed it in the Times. A great committee of creditable men had combined to usher it with pomp into the world. All who loved and honoured and admired him had spoken words of encouragement. Yet it was near noon, and only a solitary visitor had wandered into the room. Thackeray might well say, “How little do we think of the extraordinary powers of this man, and how ungrateful we are to him!” I was reminded of a visit I had paid years before to a room in the Egyptian Hall, where Haydon, wild and lowering, lingered by his pictures, a solitary, almost heart-broken man. In a letter he said that Douglas Jerrold was one of the two or three who answered his summons to Piccadilly. But it was I, then a young art-student, who had begged my father’s ticket, and stood for him, in the empty Haydon gallery. It was thus, with a sinking at the heart, that I went away from Wellington Street. In order to make the exhibition more attractive, Mr. John Taylor suggested to Cruikshank that he should group around him a complete collection of his art work of sixty years; his original water-colour sketches of the Miser’s Daughter, the Tower of London, the Irish Rebellion, and indeed a selection from the rich store he had garnered in his home, in the hope that he should be able to leave a complete record of his long art-life as a legacy to his country. This was the origin of the collection which was ultimately bought by the Aquarium Company, and is now, unfortunately, huddled in a corner of a gallery of their building. From Wellington Street the Cruikshank exhibition was transported late in 1863 to Exeter Hall. All who knew the worth of Cruikshank’s genius went, and were delighted; but Cruikshank was made to see that the new generation had turned irrevocably to other and less gifted favourites, and that he had outlived his popularly with the multitude. * As one of the committee remarks, “The public neither spake nor moved.” * “The Triumph of Bacchus” was taken afterwards through the provinces; and although the provincials in many places gave it a heartier welcome than it had obtained in London, the upshot of the speculation was that the expenses of exhibition were barely covered. And yet Cruikshank, although burdened with the pecuniary liability which he had incurred, and which had continuously increased while the exhibition was in progress, set himself down with heroic fortitude to complete the etching. “Following the big picture painfully, wearily,” one of the committee writes, “the etching was at last completed; but the long delay had damped the ardour of subscribers. The engraving is a noble work, unique as a steel etching in its great size and multiplicity of figures. Each one is complete; nothing is scamped. Its power as a teacher has yet to be fully felt.” Yet etching and picture brought only heart-aches to the artist. Both were got through under the pressure of grave money complications. Now the water-colour drawing had to be made over to Mr. Samuel Gurney, as an equivalent for the £400 which he had contributed towards the “spending money” fund; now the collection was pledged to another friend; now the artist found himself deeper in the books of Mr. W. Tweedie, his publisher; and now the plate and engravings were made over to the “spending money” committee, to recoup them for their advances. There were bickerings—nay, there were absolute quarrels, in the course of these entanglements; for Cruikshank was an unmanageable business man, and prone, as we have seen, to fall out even with his most devoted friends. Still there was so much that was good and lovable in him, that they bore with his foibles and his outbursts, and remained willing to help the brave old man again. His admirer, Mr. Raskin, and his secretary or representative, Mr. Howell, with others, got up a testimonial which cast something approaching a thousand pounds into Cruikshank’s lap, and at the same time they offered him five guineas apiece for such little thumb-nail water-colour drawings of fairies as he could throw off at least by the half-dozen in the week. But Cruikshank was fevered with mighty ideas, harassed by complicated monetary transactions, and at the same time elated by dreams of a great national transaction which was to put him clear of the world, and at ease in a serene light of steady popularity. An art union of his works was talked about; but it fell through. But no good end could be served by a minute account of the projects and counterprojects which arose around the “Triumph of Bacchus.” The painting and the etching consumed nearly three busy years of the artist’s life; and his pecuniary reward was exactly £2,053 7s. 6d. as Mr. Tweedie’s ledger shows. Of the art merits of this great cartoon the critics have pronounced many clashing opinions. “I think, on the whole,” Mr. Sala says, “looking at the amount of sheer labour in the picture, the well-nigh incredible multiplicity of figures, and the extreme care with which the minutest details have been delineated by a hand following the eye of a man past threescore years and ten, the ‘Triumph of Bacchus’ must be regarded as a phenomenon. Its pictorial merit is slight; but it possesses and commands interest of a very different nature from that excited by a mere picture, when we remember the painter’s purpose, and the tremendous moral lesson he sought to teach. It is an eloquent protest against the drinking customs of society, and a no less eloquent—and terribly ghastly—exposition of the evils wrought on that same society by the vice of drunkenness.” If for no other reason than to do honour to George Cruikshank, it is well that this monument of work by an earnest old man has found its way to South Kensington, having been presented to the nation by a committee of subscribers, one of whom contributed a cheque for £800. Here, according to many Temperance authorities, it has ir made converts. A member of the Cruikshank committee writes: “An actor one day stood before the painting at South Kensington, gazing at it, and taking in its sad history, till, bursting into tears, he left the museum, took a cab direct for Mr. Cruikshank’s house, and signed the pledge for three years. Dr. Richardson told the other day of a clergyman who was pulled up by the vestry scene. Though the public did not patronise the exhibition, yet the warmest commendations of the picture have come from non-abstainers, and for this cause I suspect that the argument of the picture was to them a new idea never before fully considered.” Mr. John Stewart’s estimate of his friend’s work is technically the most satisfactory verdict which has been written. “As a whole the ‘Bacchus’ is easily described, although ‘none but itself can be its parallel.’ It is the province of genius to make rules where there are none, but as truth is a consistent whole, true genius bends the rule it makes into harmony with those already in existence; and in nothing has the artist been more successful than in combining his novel creation with the recognised canons of art. This was a daring effort; and, however hyper-criticism might carp or ignorance may sneer at details, nothing but the feeling of a poet, which enables him to compose with a poet’s facility, could have sustained the effort so successfully. The general composition contains all the elemental types of pictorial grouping, generalised on the two axioms of balance and variety. So fully has the artist carried out this subtle truth of art—because an essential truth of nature—that it would not be difficult to point out every principle Haydon could extract from the combined works of Raphael successfully modified by Cruikshank to build up and support this picture. The horizontal is represented by the groups in the immediate foreground; the pyramidal by the Bacchus, Silenus, and Bacchante; the circular by the publicans, and repeated by the widows and orphan children; the perpendicular by the saloons of high life introduced on either side: and these are repeated out and still out, till the art which produced them is lost in the higher art necessary to hide the method of production. “What is true of the picture as a whole is still more visible in the individual groups. These, however, must be seen to be appreciated, for they cannot be described in words, not even by George Cruikshank. But this may be affirmed without hesitation, that no other artist in Britain or in Europe could have produced the same variety of incident, action, and expression—that is, the same amount and quality of thought, in the same period of time—as Cruikshank has displayed in this ‘Triumph of Bacchus.’ The number that could have done it at all is easily counted, and they—artists like Frith—knowing most fully the difficulties, are most enthusiastic in their admiration of the genius and devotion by which Cruikshank has worked and conquered. True, the work wants finish, but this want is most felt by those ignorant enough to confound smoothness and prettiness with finish; but a lifetime would be too short to finish such pictures up to their standard, and they should understand that the artist never intended to finish after their fashion. His objects were entirely different: first, to produce his thoughts in a style that could be seen by an audience at a distance; and second, using the work in oil as a basis and a guide for the etching and engraving the more permanent work which is now in preparation. In the first the success is greater than the greatest smoothness could have given, and it would be as reasonable to blame Rembrandt for not finishing those studies in oil he painted to etch from, as to blame Cruikshank for following Rembrandt’s example. With this ‘Triumph of Bacchus,’ as with Yan Ryan’s ‘Hundred Guilders,’ the etching—the print—is the true completion of the work; while the picture is only a portion of the preparatory means to the nobler and more enduring end and aim. It is different with artists whose works, if engraved, must be translated from paintings into prints by others—often by those with little sympathy for the subject or the style in which it has been treated by the painter. Such pictures, however highly finished, lose much that is valuable in process of translation. With etchers like Rembrandt or Cruikshank, however diverse their styles, they have this in common, that their prints are more perfect than the pictures from which they are produced, because the artist is perfecting his idea while elaborating his plate. The shrewd old Dutch burgomasters, alive to this fact, secured Rembrandt’s most matured works by subscribing for impressions of his plates, and the wisest admirers of Cruikshank’s genius are following the same course, not doubting that his finished etching of this great work will be the most finished embodiment of his grand idea.” Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER V. “FRAUDS ON THE FAIRIES” AND “WHOLE HOGS.” The works which George Cruikshank illustrated, and the enterprises on which he entered during the thirty-years of his teetotal career, would be enough to fill the life of an ordinary worker. After he had contributed “The Bottle” and “The Drunkard’s Children” to the Temperance cause, he engaged with renewed ardour, if with failing fortunes, in his old work of book illustration. For the Brothers Mayhew he illustrated “The Greatest Plague in Life,” “Whom to Marry and How to get Married,” “The Magic of Kindness,” and “The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys during ‘the World’s Show’ of 1851.” In the first two are some etchings full of the old spirit and the old quickness of observation. In the “Magic of Kindness” are some charming fairy scenes, notably the “Genius of Industry And “Whole Hogs.” “Turning the Forest into a Fleet,” and in the “Adventures of the Sandboys” is Cruikshank’s famous plate of all the world going to Hyde Park—a new rendering of his pictorial preface to the Omnibus. In this we find that the hand had lost none of its cunning, and that the fancy and the power of observation were undimmed. Original Size -- Medium-Size About this time—that is, between 1849 and 1853—Cruikshank illustrated two Christmas stories by Mrs. G-ore, “The Snowstorm” and “The Inundation,” in Angus B. Beach’s “Clement Lorimer,” * the “Songs of the late Charles Dibdin,” Frank Smedley’s “Frank Fairleigh,” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”—representing some seventy etchings, and as many wood blocks. The “Frank Fairleigh” etchings introduced Cruikshank to Frank Smedley, and led to a final venture in the magazine form, with which David Bogue, the publisher, had resolved to test finally the hold the artist still had on the public. * Mr. Wedmore, in his article on Cruikshank, says of one of the etchings in this book, “Miss Eske carried away during her Trance,” that it is among the things that show him to have had “the imagination of tragedy.” Bogue had long been Cruikshank’s fast friend and admirer, and was loth to believe that his name had ceased to be an attraction to the British public upon a title-page. Moreover, he had had some recent successes with the “inimitable” George. In two years the “Sandboys,” in which was his amazingly minute “All the World going to see the Exhibition” and his drawing of the transept, packed with myriads of people at the opening ceremony (I remember standing by him while he sketched it from the south-western gallery), had gone through four editions. But his recent Fairy Library had been a failure. Dickens (in Household Words), among others, had protested against teetotalism being introduced into fairyland; and had, two years previously, even ridiculed what was called Cruikshank’s temperance fanaticism, in a paper called “Whole Hogs.” These attacks, no doubt, helped to put an end to the George Cruikshank’s Fairy Library, after he had illustrated with some exquisitely dainty scenes, “Pass in Boots,” “Hop o’ my Thumb,” u Jack and the Beanstalk,” and “Cinderella.” * Cuthbert Bede, in a “Reminiscence of Cruikshank” in Notes and Queries, remarks: “It was very evident from that article, ‘Frauds on the Fairies,’ and also from a previous one from the same pen, called ‘Whole Hogs,’ that Dickens considered Cruikshank to be occasionally given over to the culture of crotchets, and to the furious riding of favourite hobbies. But in all these things it is indisputable that the great moral artist was firmly persuaded that he was acting in the cause of suffering humanity, and engaged upon some work for the amelioration of his fellow-creatures. And whatever was the act, and however small and trivial it might appear in the sight of the majority, Cruikshank threw himself into it heart and soul, and, like everything else he put his hand to, he did it with all his might.” * These have been since published in a volume by Bell and Daldy, and by Routledge and Co. To be driven from fairyland, which was the realm of his happiest dreams, was a bitter disappointment, and he felt deeply the blow of the friend who drove him forth from it. Original Size -- Medium-Size Dickens had said of him and his fairies,— “He is the only designer fairyland has had. Callot’s imps, for all their strangeness, are only of the earth, earthy. Fuseli’s fairies belong to the infernal regions; they are monstrous, lurid, and hideously melancholy. Mr. Cruikshank alone has a true insight into the ‘little people.’ They are something like men and women, and yet not flesh and blood; they are laughing and mischievous, but why we know not. Mr. Cruikshank, however, has had some dream or the other, or else a natural mysterious instinct, or else some preternatural fairy revelation, which has made him acquainted with the looks and ways of the fantastical subjects of Oberon and Titania.” When this wizard of the etching-needle, some fifteen years after he had drawn “the awful Jew,” pretended to put forth a whole Fairy Library of his own, the author of the Jew sat himself down and wrote:— “We have lately observed, with pain, the intrusion of a ‘Whole Hog’ of unwieldy dimensions into the fairy flower-garden. The rooting of the animal among the roses would in itself have awakened in us nothing but indignation; our pain arises from his being violently driven in by a man of genius, our own beloved friend, Mr. George Cruikshank. That incomparable artist is, of all men, the last who should lay his exquisite hand on fairy text. In his own art he understands it so perfectly, and illustrates it so beautifully, so humorously, so wisely, that he should never lay down his etching-needle to ‘edit’ the Ogre, to whom with that little instrument he can render such extraordinary justice. But, to ‘editing’ Ogres, and Hop-o’-my-Thumbs, and their families, our dear moralist has in a rash moment taken, as a means of propagating the doctrines of Total Abstinence, Prohibition of the Sale of Spirituous Liquors, Free Trade, and Popular Education. For the introduction of these topics, he has altered the text of a fairy story; and against his right to do any such thing we protest with all our might and main. Of his likewise altering it to advertise that excellent series of plates, ‘The Bottle,’ we say nothing more than that we foresee a new and improved edition of ‘Goody Two Shoes,’ edited by E. Moses and Son; of the ‘Dervish’ with the box of ointment, edited by Professor Holloway; and of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk,’ edited by Mary Wedlake, the popular authoress of ‘Do you Bruise your Oats yet?’” Dickens goes on to point out what would become of our great books if this kind of liberty were to be tolerated. “Imagine a total abstinence edition of ‘Robinson Crusoe,’ with the rum left out. Imagine a peace edition, with the gunpowder left out, and the rum left in. Imagine a vegetarian edition, with the goat’s flesh left out. Imagine a Kentucky edition, to introduce a flogging of that ‘tarnal old nigger Friday, twice a week. Imagine an Aborigines Protection Society edition, to deny the cannibalism and make Robinson embrace the amiable savages whenever they landed. Robinson Crusoe would be edited out of his island in a hundred years, and the island would be swallowed up in the editorial ocean.” Then follows a most humorous story of “Cinderella,” edited by a stump orator on Temperance, Ocean Penny Postage: “Frauds on the Fairies once permitted, we see little reason why they may not come to this, and great reason why they may. The Vicar of Wakefield was wisest when he was tired of being always wise. The world is too much with us, early and late. Leave this precious old world, escape from it alone.” Poor George Cruikshank dropped his pencil, and Cuthbert Bede has told us how he found the artist, on an October day in 1853, still smarting from the effects of Dickens’s article. Cruikshank, however, was not the man to feel a blow and sit down under it. Bogue had resolved, as I have already stated, to test finally the extent of Cruikshank’s remaining popularity with a magazine that was to bear his name, and that was to be edited by Mr. Frank Smedley, then a popular writer of fiction. Cruikshank had no sooner an organ of his own, than he buckled on his armour, and prepared for a lively assault upon the author of the two House-hold Words articles, In the second (and last) number of George Cruikshank’s magazine * (to which I have already referred) is a letter from Hop-o’-my-Thumb to Charles Dickens, Esq., upon “Frauds on the Fairies,” “Whole Hogs,” etc. It is in Cruikshank’s homely style, but the reader will see that it is not without several good home-thrusts. He begins:— “Right trusty, well-beloved, much-read, and admired Sir,—My attention has lately been called to an article in Household Words, entitled ‘Frauds on the Fairies,’ in which I fancy I recognise your master hand as the author—and in which article, as it appears to me, you have gone a leetle out of your way to find fault with our mutual friend George Cruikshank, for the way in which he has edited ‘Hop-o’-my-Thumb and the Seven League Boots.’ You may, perhaps, be surprised at receiving a letter from so small an individual as myself; but, independently of the deep debt of gratitude which I feel that I owe to that gentleman, for the way in which he has edited my history, my anxiety to maintain the honour and credit of the noble family to which I belong impels me to take up my pen (made from the quill of a humming-bird), to endeavour to justify the course adopted by my editor, and also to take the liberty of setting you right upon one or two points in which you are entirely mistaken. “These may seem bold words, from such a mite as I am, to such a literary giant as you are; but I have had to deal with giants in my time, and I am not afraid of them, and I shall therefore take leave to tell you, that although you may have held in your memory some of the remarkable facts in my interesting history, yet that you were ignorant of the general character of the whole; and the only way in which I can account for a man of your remarkable acuteness having made such a great mistake is, that you have suffered that extraordinary seven-league boot imagination of yours to run away with you into your own Fairy Land,—and thus have given your own colours to this history; and, consequently, a credit and a character to the old editions which do not belong to them.” Cruikshank then quotes passages from Dickens’s article, and continues: “Now this, which you call ‘Frauds on the Fairies,’ in my humble opinion, might as well have been called ‘Much Ado about Nothing’; for, had my editor been altering the title of any standard literary work, the writing of any man of mark—one of your own glorious books, for example—then, indeed, you might have raised a hue and cry; but to insist upon preserving the entire integrity of a fairy tale, which had been and is constantly altering in the recitals, and in the printing of various editions of various countries, and even counties, appears to my little mind like shearing one of your own ‘whole hogs,’ where there is ‘great cry and little wool.’” Then Cruikshank asks where is tenderness and mercy in Tom Thumb’s father, when he induced his wife to take their seven children into the forest to perish miserably of hunger, or to be devoured by wild beasts? “My editor,” Hop-o’-my-Thumb proceeds, “seeing that such a statement was not only disgusting, but against nature, and consequently unfit for the pure and parentloving minds of children, felt certain that any father acting in such a manner must either be mad or under the influence of intoxicating liquor, which is much the same thing, and therefore, wishing to avoid any allusion to such an awful affliction as insanity, has accounted for my father’s unnatural conduct by attributing to it that cause which marks its progress, daily and hourly, by acts of unnatural brutality.” Farther on, Hop-o’-my-Thumb, referring to the little peculiarity of the young ogres “biting little children on purpose to suck their blood,” wants to know whether they are good things to be nourished in a child’s heart. “And I should also like to know,” he adds, “what there is so enchanting and captivating to ‘young fancies’ in this description of a father (ogre though he be) cutting the throats of his own seven children? Is this the sort of stuff that helps to ‘keep us ever young,’ or give us that innocent delight which we may share with children?” Having thanked Mr. Cruikshank for rescuing his family character from the moral taints which former biographers had put upon it, representing him to be, in the transaction of the seven-league boots and the mother of the slaughtered children, “an unfeeling, artful liar, and a thief,” and his parents “receivers of stolen goods,” he turns upon Mr. Dickens for his attempt to throw ridicule upon the Temperance question, and also his “evident contempt, and even hatred, against that cause,” as shown in his “Whole Hogs.” Hop-o’my-Thumb hereupon valiantly and defiantly remarks: “This is not the place, nor is it my purpose, now to discuss the Temperance question, but I take the liberty of telling you that it is a question which you evidently do not understand, for if you did, your good heart and sanguine disposition would make you, if possible, a more enthusiastic advocate than my editor.” About the good intentions of both artist and critic there cannot be any doubt in any honest mind, Cruikshank had his parting thrust at his assailant; he could not help that:— “You are generally,” he says to his friend Dickens, “most happy in your titles; but, in this instance, the application seems singularly inappropriate. The ‘whole hog’ should, by rights, belong to those parties who patronise pork butchers; and the term as applied to the peace people would be better used in regard to the Great Bear, or any other war party; and surely, as to any allusion to the ‘unclean animal,’ in connection with total abstinence, the term would more properly attach to those who wallow in the mire, and destroy their intellects by the use of intoxicating liquors, until they debase themselves to the level of the porcine quadruped! And, as far as my editor is concerned, I consider it a great act of injustice to mix him up with other questions, and with which, you know, he has nothing whatever to do. I have therefore to beg that in future you will not drive your ‘whole hogs’ against us, but take them to some other market, or keep them to yourself, if you like; but we’ll none of ‘em, and therefore I take this opportunity of driving them back.” The controversy is closed with a capital cut of Hop-o’-my-Thumb driving some prodigious porkers back to Household Words. The first number of the magazine had warned the public that hobbies were to be ridden regularly. One of the folded etchings was the first of a series of “Tobacco Leaves,” in which the habit of smoking was to be attacked. The plate was a series of grotesque absurdities, in which a moral was torn to tatters. Boys with hoops are smoking pipes; an adult son is offering a “long day” and a spittoon in a drawing-room to his venerable mother; a young gentleman is passing ladies in the street with a cigar in his mouth, and under the picture is written, “No one but a very unthinking gentleman or a most contemptible snob or puppy would smoke in the streets or public places, regardless who he may annoy with his offensive tobacco smoke.” In one corner of the plate a gentleman is offering a cigar to his sister, saying, “Come, sister dear, soothe your distressed feelings with a mild Havannah!” in the opposite corner a lover on his knees is making a declaration in these words: “Dearest (puff) Virginia (puff), I (puff) love you (puff) dearer (puff) than my pipe (puff).” Virginia is listening, with a cigar in her hand. Other hobbies were in preparation. Cothbert Bede, who was then in constant communication with Cruikshank, was invited to co-operate in them with his pen. “At one of our interviews at his house,” he says, “relative to his projected magazine, he showed me some wood-blocks, on which were his own designs, and which he had already gone to the expense of having carefully engraved by (if I remember rightly) Mr. T. Williams. He then explained to me the nature of the designs and the special object for which he had prepared them. I must continually have noticed (he said) an evil that was patent to every one, both indoors and out of doors, in the streets, and railway carriages, and omnibuses, and all public vehicles. It was an evil not confined to the young or the old; it was most injurious in its effects, and it only required the public attention to be pointedly directed to it to have it stopped and put down. This was what he desired to do with his pencil, and it was for this that he sought the co-operation of my pen. “Now, what does the reader imagine was this evil that had obtained such a hold upon the nation?—It was nothing more or less than the habit of ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls, placing the handles of their sticks, canes, parasols, or umbrellas to their mouths, and either sucking them or tapping their teeth with them! Suiting the action to the word, and acting the characters, Cruikshank showed me how the gent of the period tried to make himself look excessively knowing by sucking the ivory or bone handle of his cane; how the young lady, and even the very little girl, made their morning calls, and sucked their parasol handles—a sure sign of great gaucherie; how other ladies, even elderly ones, who ought to know better, did the same in carriages and omnibuses, thereby running the risk of having their teeth broken if the vehicle gave a sudden lurch; and how even grave physicians carried their gold or ivoryheaded canes up to their lips. (I here reminded Mr. Cruikshank that if they did so it was in traditionary keeping with an old custom dating from the days of the Great Plague of London, when every doctor who carried ‘fate and physic in his eye’ had a cunningly devised box for aromatic scents fixed on the top of his cane, so that he might hold it under his nose whenever he visited an infectious case.) “Cruikshank spoke most gravely on this ‘hideous, abominable, and most dangerous custom,’ an evil that he was determined to try to put down, and for this end he had prepared the designs that he showed to me, and which had been already engraved. These illustrations he wished me to work into letterpress, which should first appear in the projected magazine, and should then be reprinted in the form of a small pamphlet. He did not desire to make money by the publication of this pamphlet; on the contrary, he intended to have many thousand copies printed at his own expense, and to employ men to distribute them gratuitously to the public. There were to be men posted outside every railway station in London, and as each cab or carriage rolled from under the gateway, one of the pamphlets was to be tossed into the vehicle. The omnibus travellers were to be liberally dealt with in the same way, and by these means Cruikshank was quite sanguine that the reform which he so much desired would be effected in generation. “I could not see in this a very promising subject my pen; but, as the article was to make its first appearance in the new magazine, I agreed, to write something in furtherance of the object that he had in mind, and to incorporate the illustrations that he had prepared. After a while I took Mr. Cruikshank the article that I had written. He was more than disappointed with it—he was horrified. I had treated that grave and earnest question in a light and jocular spirit! It would only amuse instead of warn the reader! it would never do! and so on, with a great deal of action of hands and head. I argued that it was more likely to make the desired impression upon their minds, if they read what I had written, than if they were presented with a grave sermon-like treatise on the theme. But my arguments failed to move him, and he asked me to write another, and far more serious, paper on the subject. This I declined to do, and requested him to get some other author to carry out his ideas. “Whether he ever did so or not, I do not know. The collapse of the new magazine in its early infancy prevented the appearance in that quarter of George Cruikshank’s tilt against stick and parasol sucking, and I am not aware if the engraved blocks of which I have spoken were ever made public. If any one is sufficiently curious to know the nature of the manuscript that I submitted to Cruikshank, he may do so by referring to Motley, by Cuthbert Bede, published by James Blackwood in 1855. There he will find eight pages taken up by an article, illustrated by myself, called ‘Dental Dangers,’ which is, verbatim, printed from the manuscript that I had written for Mr. Cruikshank—which, however, I called ‘Take Care of your Teeth!’ “In that paper I spoke of a lady in an omnibus, whose set of false teeth were projected into her opposite neighbour’s lap through a sudden jolt of the vehicle while she was sucking her parasol handle. This led me to tell Cruikshank an anecdote that I had then recently heard, and which, as it has not been in print, I may here narrate; for Cruikshank laughed very heartily at it, and said that he should like to make an illustration to it, and asked me if I could not write a paper on country rectors and their adventures, in which it might be introduced, and which he would further illustrate. Very likely this suggestion might have been carried into effect if Mr. D. Bogue had carried on the magazine. As it was, it was lost to the world.” Cuthbert Bede has also given us an account of Cruikshank’s first introduction to the editor of his unfortunate final magazine:— “He told me that, as in my own case, he had not known Cruikshank personally until this projected magazine brought them together, although Cruikshank had illustrated ‘Frank Fairleigh.’ The great artist’s first call upon Smedley was made only a few days previous to my own; and Smedley gave me the following account of it: ‘He was shown into this room, while I was sitting at that writing-desk by the window, I wheeled my chair round (poor Smedley had to use a self-acting wheeled chair), and advanced to meet him. Thus I had my back to the light, and he was facing the window. He appeared so amazed at seeing me such a cripple as I am, that he could not overcome his wonder, but kept exclaiming, “Good God! I thought you could gallop about on horses!” and the like expressions. I explained how it was; and we then proceeded to discuss business details. It was a hot, sultry day, and Cruikshank had walked fast; he was heated, and his face and forehead were very red. His hair was blown about, and, instead of sitting quietly on a chair, he was standing up and gesticulating wildly. I have a sense of the ludicrous, and had the greatest difficulty to keep from laughing, or to look him in the face. For all this time, in the very centre of his capacious and very red forehead, there was a round something of ivory, not plain, but carved in circles, and as big as a large button. I wondered what it could be. Was it some Temperance badge? Was it some emblem of office in some secret society, in which he held rank as a Great Panjandrum with the little button atop? For the life of me I could not divine what it was. And all the time he was holding me with his glittering eye, and going through a whole pantomime of gesticulations. Suddenly, and to my from his forehead, and dropped on the hearthrug at his feet. Cruikshank looked at it with bewilderment, and said, “Wherever did that come from?” “From off your forehead,” I replied. “From off my forehead!” he echoed, as he rubbed it fiercely. “Yes,” I said, “it has been there ever since you entered the room.” Cruikshank seized his hat, and looked into its crown, when it appeared that the ivory circlet had dropped from, the ventilating hole in the crown of the hat as Cruikshank had walked to my house, and that it had found its way down to his forehead, where, what with the heat of his head and the fragments of glue on the ivory, it had become firmly fixed, and would perhaps have remained there for some hours longer if he had not accompanied his conversation with so much action When he found out the truth, and fully realized the absurdity of the intense relief—for I was beginning to feel that I could not bear the mystery much longer—the ivory badge fell situation, he burst into such a hearty roar of laughter as I have not heard for many a day. This was my first personal introduction to George Cruikshank.’” Cuthbert Bede had also the advantage of seeing Cruikshank at work on that plate of his magazine which will make its two numbers live longer than many a serial which has lasted twenty years. “When I first went into his studio,’’ says Cuthbert Bede, “there were many specimens of his work around him, oil paintings, etchings, and wood-block drawings in various stages of execution. He seemed to take a particular pleasure in showing me these, and in explaining their designs. The chief work on which he was thus engaged was his wondrous etching of ‘The Comet of 1853,’ which was to form the frontispiece for the projected magazine. On account of its dimensions—the actual plate, without the title, ‘Passing Events, or the Tail of the Comet of 1853,’ being 15 1/4 by 7 inches—it had to appear as a folding plate. It was crammed with hundreds of figures, giving, at one view, an epitome of the leading events of the year—the Peace Conference, the war between Russia and Turkey, the war in China, the Queen’s review of the troops at Chobham, the naval review at Portsmouth, Spirit Rapping, Table Turning, the Derby Day, Betting, the City Corporation Commission, John Gough and the Temperance Demonstration, the Nineveh Bulls, the Zulu Kaffirs and Earthmen, the Anteater, Albert Smith’s ‘Mont Blanc,’ Charles Kean’s ‘Sardanapalus,’ Bribery and Corruption, the Australian Gold Discovery, Mrs. Stowe and ‘Uncle Tom,’ the New York and Dublin Exhibitions, the Vivarium, Guy Fawkes, Lord Mayor’s Day, Wyld’s Great Globe, Captain McClure and the North-west Passage, Miss Cunningham’s Seizure by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Ceiling-walker, Smithfield Cattle Show, Chiswick Flower Show, Christmas Merry-making, and the Pantomimes—these are among the subjects that appear in the Comet’s Tail, and the gradual progress of which to its ultimate perfection I was so fortunate as to see.... “The hundreds of tiny figures in this etching are shown with a distinctness and power of characterisation unrivalled by any other artist. I think that he surpassed Callot in this respect; and that no one could approach George Cruikshank in his vigorous, life-like, and picturesque delineation of surging crowds and packed masses of human beings.” It was his wont to open a serial with a tour-de-force of this description. Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER VI. A SLICE OF BREAD AND BUTTER. George Cruikshank’s habit of putting himself forward as the originator of any work with which he was connected was never more amusingly displayed than when, in March 1870, he made one of a deputation of the National Education League to Mr. Gladstone. “I must say,” he remarked on this event, in his introduction to the second edition of his ‘Slice of Bread and Butter,’ “that it afforded me much gratification to hear all the suggestions which I had placed before the public so many years ago, so eloquently and forcibly advocated upon this occasion.” It was a harmless assumption in this instance, to be freely forgiven in the earnest old man who was still exerting himself to the utmost of his ability for what he conceived to be the right way, in the cause of popular education. He had thrown his ideas into one of those whimsical forms, peculiar to him. He was fond of illustrated pamphleteering, and the reclamation of ragged children left out in the cruel streets hungry and half naked had always been a subject near to his heart. His last effort in their behalf he called “A Slice of Bread and Butter.” On the title page we find one of his bright little pictorial stories in wood. An outcast child lies upon the pavement surrounded by a crowd of men, who are in eager consultation as to the restorative which shall be administered. In the distance is the parish church, but overhead swings the sign of the Britannia, and the landlord, with a pipe in his mouth, is contemplating the scene from the bar parlour. The story is told with all the old completeness. The crowd consists of “some worthy gentlemen, magistrates, and others,” who, on their way “to the Town Hall on county business,” have found this forlorn boy upon the pavement leaning against the wall. As he was neither begging nor stealing, and did not obstruct the pathway, he could not be taken into custody. When asked what was the matter, he replied, “I wants summut to eat.” Then follows the learned consultation around the starving boy:— “Now the worthy magistrates and the other gentlemen—some of whom were clergymen, and ministers, and lawyers—were all kind-hearted and benevolent men as well as the doctor; and they all exclaimed, as with one voice, upon hearing what the doctor said, ‘Oh, dear me, how very shocking!—let him have some food instantly!’ ‘Yes, yes!’ cried one: ‘here, officer! go into the Britannia, and get him something to eat instantly.’ ‘I suppose,’ said he, turning to the doctor, “a bit of plain bread and butter wall be best for him in his present condition?’ ‘The very thing,’ he replied; and as the officer was about to run into the house to get a bit of bread and butter, another gentleman of the party cried out, ‘Stop! see that you bring brown bread.’ ‘Pooh! pooh!’ said another; ‘it does not matter what sort of bread it is, but it must be toasted.’ ‘White or brown, or plain or toasted, it matters not much,’ exclaimed a fourth, ‘provided there is plenty of butter on it.’ ‘I object most decidedly to the butter,’ observed a very sedate gentleman. ‘As to that,’ shouted out another, ‘I consider the butter as most essential: it is full of nourishment; and, besides, the poor boy might be choked by cramming dry bread down his throat without butter; but then we must be careful that it be salt butter.’ ‘No! no!’ cried another; ‘fresh butter, if you please, and as much as you please; but no salt.’ ‘You are all wrong, my friends!—quite wrong!’ vociferated another of the party; ‘depend upon it, that dry toast is the best thing he can have.’ ‘Oh! oh! oh!’ exclaimed all the other gentlemen; ‘who ever heard of such a thing as giving dry toast to a starving child?’ ‘Who ever, indeed!’ chimed in another; ‘it is quite ridiculous to toast the bread at all; the poor child might die before it was ready! No! no! plain bread and butter is best for him; but mind, if I have to pay my part towards it, the bread must be new—yes, new bread.’ ‘New bread!’ exclaimed some of the party why, that’s worse than all; for if it does not stick in his throat, it will in his stomach, and perhaps kill him. New bread is indigestible and most unwholesome stuff.’ ‘Well, well; let it be plain stale bread and butter, but only the crumb of the loaf, and I will pay my part willingly,’ observed another. ‘Crumb without crust!’ said one of the former speakers; ‘why, the crust of the loaf contains ten times more nourishment than the crumb, and I, for one, will have nothing to do with it, nor pay a farthing towards it, unless he has a good lump of crust.’ “Now during this contention, or ‘all this splutter About the toast and bread and butter,’ the poor boy seemed to be getting worse and worse, and at the same time all these worthy gentlemen becoming more and more excited; some calling out for ‘Fancy bread,’ some for ‘French rolls,’ others for ‘German black bread,’ and all refusing to pay any part towards the bread and butter, unless cut after their own fashion, when they were reminded by one of the party that there was not the least necessity to trouble themselves about paying for what the boy might have, as it could be charged to the county. To which they all replied, rather sharply, that, as to that, if they did not think it right to pay out of their own individual pockets, neither did they think it right that the public money should be used for purposes which they could not individually approve of. ‘Gentlemen, gentlemen,’ cried the doctor, ‘pray let the child have something. Is it not dreadful to let this poor boy perish before our eyes, when there are the means of relief within reach? For mercy’s sake, let him have something to keep him alive!’ ‘Well,’ replied one of the magistrates (who was chairman of the Sessions),'as you see he cannot have the bread and butter, you must prescribe something else for him. ‘Dear, dear me!’ said the doctor, ‘I am really shocked at such inconsistency. Will you let him have a little brandy, then!’ ‘Oh yes I’ they all cried out together, ‘let him have some brandy—by all means give him some brandy!’” The brandy made Ragged Jack drank; and presently, being still hungry, he is tempted to steal a roll from a baker’s shop, and dragged to the Town Hall, where the magistrates, who had left him upon the pavement taking brandy, give him a month’s imprisonment, and detention in a reformatory school.’ The chaplain was kind to him, and said, “Yes, now that Jack was a convicted thief, he had plenty of good wholesome bread and butter.” In the reformatory he was educated, and taught a trade, and sent to a distant town where his antecedents would not be against him. On his way he met his cousin, Tom Rag—“a boy as ragged and wretched as he used to be himself.” Tom wants to know how Jack has managed to get such nice clothes and a basket of tools, that he may go and do likewise. “Cousin Jack, who had been taught, and indeed now knew, that thieving was a wicked thing to do, was sorely puzzled how to advise his friend in this matter; for, having a great regard for Tommy, he wished to save him from the miserable state in which he himself had once been—skulking and wandering about the streets all day, picking up hits and scraps of food, even out of the gutters like the dogs, and at night sleeping in the corner, perhaps, of an open sheep-pen in the cattle-market, or crouching from the drenching rain by the side of a doorway; and when he contrasted that state of his existence with the comfort he had felt, and the attention he had received whilst in the jail and the reformatory, he knew not how to advise his poor cousin, knowing that poor Tom was, as he himself had been, almost perishing for want of a little good wholesome bread and butter, clean clothes, and a comfortable bed to lie in, which he well knew poor Tom would have if he could be sent to jail, as he had been. When he thought of all this he was sorely puzzled what to recommend; but at last he said: ‘Tom, you must not steal; so you had better go a-begging, and perhaps you may be lucky enough to be sent to jail for that, and then you will have everything done for you, as I have had, and come out better than me; for nobody will be able to say that you have been a thief. Yes; go and beg, Tom! But if this don’t answer, why, then, I suppose you must go a-THIEVING, as I did.’” “It may be asked, Where were the parents of these poor boys all this time? Well, they could tell you at the Britannia public-house, only they don’t like to talk about such disagreeable matters there. But the fact is, Jack’s father used to use that house, and was once a decent sort of man, and was at one time a ‘moderate drinker’; but upon one occasion he got mad drunk, and in that state of drunken insanity went home and killed his wife, was sent to jail, and died there. Tom’s father was transported for committing some crime after he had ‘been drinking’ at the Britannia; and Tom’s mother took a little drop at first to comfort her, and then drank herself to death.” The foregoing will remind many readers of the scheme of Mr. Jenkins’s “Ginx’s Baby.” But Cruikshank gives his views on popular education in his homely simple way:— “One of the great social questions of the day is the necessity and importance of a general or national system of education for the humble classes, upon such a comprehensive plan as shall give every child born in the United Kingdom a certain amount of book knowledge, and also of moral and religious training, as they are, or ought to be, entitled to as juvenile members of a civilized community—such training as may prepare them to fill useful and honest positions in life, or, perhaps, be the first step to those high stations so often filled by honest, hardworking, mercantile men, or ingenious mechanics. Now, every thinking and right-minded person will agree that this object is a most desirable one, and that no innocent child should be so neglected as to be allowed to grow up in a state of savage ignorance; and at the first blush nothing seems more easily to be accomplished, in a wealthy and intelligent country like ours, than to arrange such a general system as is here alluded to, and to provide the ways and means. Well! all this would be simple and easily accomplished, but for one obstacle—namely, the differences in the religious opinions of a portion of the adult population. Yes, strange as it may appear,—nay, monstrous as it is,—nevertheless these religious differences have been, and are now, the only bar to the adoption of any wide and general system of secular education.” “It is of course impossible to please all parties; but few persons, I imagine, could surely object to a national system of education upon the following plan:—In the first place, an Act of Parliament should be passed, making it imperative that every child should receive some education, and where the parents are destitute or depraved, then that the State shall take the position of the parents, and educate and train up all the neglected and helpless children. In the second place:—In the schools, let reading, writing, and arithmetic be taught (with other branches of education, if possible, or required), and such moral training as will teach a child the difference between Right and Wrong—and here let the schoolmaster’s duty cease, and that of the ministers of religion begin. And in the third place:—Let it be the duty of the clergyman, and ministers of all denominations, to instruct all those children who belong to their particular church, chapel, or sect, in the religious belief of their parents; but when the parents do not attend any place of worship, or profess any particular creed—then, that the clergy of the Established Church be allowed to instruct all such children in the religion of the State. By such an arrangement as this, it appears to me that if all the poor helpless children of the land were schooled in the common elements of reading, writing, etc., for five days in the week, and the clergy and ministers of all denominations were to instruct these children one day in the six in the religion of the class to which they belong (independent of the Sunday), that then all parties might be satisfied, and a great objection done away with as to the great general system which I here propose for secular instruction and moral and religious training.” He goes on to remark that a reformatory may be wanted in any country, under any circumstances, “but why should we have Ragged Schools in rich England?” He proceeds to argue that there would be no need for either Ragged Schools or Reformatories if the use of “strong drink” were abolished; and he calls upon “the grown-up people not to allow innocent children to starve and fall into evil ways, because they cannot agree upon the mode of cutting a Slice op Bread and Butter.” He adds: “But as prevention is better than cure, I call upon all those who delight in good works to aid the Temperance cause, which is, in truth, the only radical cure for the evils complained of.” The tail-piece to this characteristic pamphlet—as charming as it is characteristic—is a brightly-executed drawing on wood of Britannia seated upon the British lion, couchant, with her arms about “her ragged and reformatory pets.” Cruikshank’s zeal for the cause to which he had devoted himself led him to take delight in the illustration even of little Temperance pamphlets and fly-sheets. Ruskin had said, in his “Time and Tide, by Weare and Tyne” (1867), “It is no more his business to etch diagrams of drunkenness than it is mine at this moment to be writing these letters against anarchy.” Yet just as Mr. Ruskin has gone on with his letters, so Cruikshank went on with his diagrams of drunkenness to the end. In 1867, when Cruikshank brought out his “British Bee-Hive,” with a worker at a trade or profession in every cell, the estates of the realm at the top, and the army and navy at the bottom, and called it “a penny political picture for the people, with a few words upon Parliamentary Reform, by their old friend George Cruikshank,” he was opposed to the Reform Bill, and advised the working-men to be content with the glorious constitution as it stood, and keep away from Reform meetings, as “revolutionary proceedings.” Perhaps the best of Cruikshank’s pamphlets, taking the text and the drawings together, is “The Glass and the New Crystal Palace,” published by John Cassell. It is thoroughly Cruikshankian, and in his most vivacious mood: some of the illustrations—as the Spirit Level—a drunkard at full length upon the pavement; the Social Villagers, with Death for the host, and the villagers represented by their tombstones; and the whisky after the goose, and the goose after the whisky, for instance. Think what would have become of the neglected or forgotten humourist, if, when the mere laughing public had turned away from him to Leech and Doyle, and Tenniel and Du Maurier, he had not been fired with the ardour of an apostle in the cause he had taken up. His Almanac had failed for lack of readers; and David Bogue had thrown up Cruikshank’s magazine, after the second number—convinced that the artist had outlived his public. His ambition to become a painter was mercifully renewed, with the renewal of his health and mind, through temperance. Full of vigour he used to say, “A man should paint from his shoulder, sir.” He became almost wholly a serious man in his work, and appealed to the public in a new capacity. He resolved, stimulated by the success of “The Bottle,” to paint a great picture that should remain behind him, a monument of his genius, and an immortal temperance lesson. He was ready, and eager, to give a helping hand in all directions to the last. In 1870, I asked him to join my Committee, when I was a candidate for the Maryle-bone division of the London School Board. I give his prompt answer as an example of his clear head and hearty readiness in his old age to serve a friend:— “October 27th, 1870. “Dear Blanchard Jerrold,—Your request would have been complied with on the instant, but it so happens that a gentleman called upon me a few days back with a message from friend Hepworth Dixon, asking me to allow my name to be placed on his Committee for this ‘Educational Council,’ to which, of course, I assented. “Now if one man can have his name placed on two Committees, then by all means place my name on your Committee, but if not, then let me know if there is any other way in which I can assist in this matter the man who is a relative of, and who bears the name of two dear friends who were always held in the highest esteem by, “Yours truly, Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER VII. CRUIKSHANK’S LAST TWENTY YEARS. The most notable of George Cruikshank’s book-work, after the failure of bis magazine, was his “Life of Sir John Falstaff,” * illustrating a biography of the knight, written in Robert Brough’s happiest manner. Cruikshank’s twenty Falstaff etchings are admirable examples of his peculiar excellences as an etcher, and of his matured artistic faculty of composition and observation. * Published by Messrs. Longman and Co., 1857. In these plates are some of the brightest bits of his picturesqueness of outline, his happy, sprightly treatment of light and shade, and of his higher faculties as an artist, of which fate permitted him to give the world only scattered fragmentary evidences. Thackeray said of him, that he could draw an ancient gloomy market-place as well as Mr. Front or Mr. Nash. What could be more picturesque, or daintier in the play of light, or happier in the variety of the architecture, than the backgrounds of the scenes where Sir John is arrested at the suit of Mrs. Quickly, or when the knight not only persuades Mrs. Quickly to withdraw her action, but also to lend him more money? Mr. F. Wedmore has called attention, and with ample reason, to the exquisite pathos of the death of Falstaff, “in which the face of one who has died ‘a babbling of green fields,’ lies very calm, with the sign of gentle fancies but lately flown.” These plates were reissued in a “Library Shakspeare” published in parts between 1871 and 1874, together with illustrations by Sir John Gilbert (who, by the way, in his youth delighted in copying Cruikshank’s etchings and drawings on wood); but it is to be hoped that they may some day be rewedded to Brough’s biography, and reappear as the artist’s last important creation. The twenty years which elapsed between the first issue of “Falstaff” and the artist’s death, albeit no idle years, have left not much completely worthy of the best that had gone before. Cruikshank furnished etchings to the “Life and Enterprises of Robert William Elliston, Comedian” (1857), “Midnight Scenes and Social Photographs—revelations of the Wynds and Dens of Glasgow” (1858), Mr. Alfred Cole’s “Lorimer Littlegood” (1858), “Stenelaus and Amylda, a Christmas Temperance Tale” (1858), a frontispiece to Lowell’s “Biglow Papers” (1859), Dudley Costello’s “Holiday with Hobgoblins” (1861), “The Bee and the Wasp; a Fable in Verse” (1861), “A Discovery concerning Ghosts” (1863), Robert Hunt’s “Popular Romances of the West of England” (1865), the “Savage Club Papers” (1867), “The Oak,” a magazine, edited by his friend the Rev. Charles Rogers (1868), “Coila’s Whispers,” by the Knight of Morar (1869), “The Brownies,” and other tales, by Juliana Horatia Ewing (1870), “The True Legend of St. Dunstan and the Devil,” by Edward G. Flight (1871), “Lob-lie-by-the-Fire,” and other tales, by Juliana Horatia Ewing (1874). Then there are two works, the illustrations to which proclaim the coming end. “Peeps at Life,” and “Studies in my Cell,” by the London Hermit, published in 1875, are signed “George Cruikshank, aged 83, 1875;” and in Mrs. Octavian Blewitt’s “The Rose and the Lily,” is a frontispiece—George Cruikshank’s last design—signed, “Designed and etched by George Cruikshank, age 88, 1875.” This plate is here reproduced. Not before 1869 did George Cruikshank publish his last political plate. In 1867 he put forth “The British Bee-Hive,” which was a rearrangement of a design made in 1840. The artist drew a section of the hive, displaying fifty-four cells, in which the various grades of society—from the Queen to the costermonger—are shown, all supported by the army, the navy, and the volunteers, and surmounted by the crown, the royal standard, and the union jack. This was a protest against further Parliamentary Reform; for, as it has been observed, Cruikshank was something of a Radical and something of a Tory—but more of a Tory. He afterwards issued this plate on a double sheet, inscribed “A Penny Political Picture for the People, with a few words upon Parliamentary Reform, by their old friend, George Cruikshank.” In the following year the old satirist drew a “Design for a Ritualist High Church Tower and Steeple,” which he dedicated to Dr. Pusey and the Vicar of Bray. It was etched on glass by Hancock’s process. The tower of the church was a fool’s cap and bells, with the Pope for weathercock. The porch was a bull’s head, with a procession of Ritualist fools entering by the nostrils. The last, dated July 1869, is a satire upon Miss Rye’s proposition to export “gutter children” to America. “The little dears,” as the artist always called children, are being scooped by a clergyman into a mud-cart, from the volunteers, and sur-royal standard. The satire was against those who had christened the little waifs and strays of our streets “gutter children.” The name jarred upon Cruikshank’s sensitive heart. Mr. Wedmore, referring to the closing years of the great pictorial moralist, remarks, “He continued to labour; some of his work being even now but little known. * Early unpublished plates for the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ remain, amongst others, in the hands of Mr. Truman. Quite in recent years” (it was in 1868) “he must have executed a private plate for Mr. Frederick Locker, which shows that there were moments at least in which the store of his fancy was not impoverished. No more ingenious design could have been furnished to a collector than this of ‘Fairy Connoisseurs examining Mrs. Locker’s treasures of Durer, Rembrandt, etc.’ For Mr. Ruskin, too, in 1866, there had been designed the ‘Piper of Hamelin,’ leading the children mountain wards with the spell of his wonderful music. And in 1870 a a frontispiece representing the fertile Mr. Barham, surrounded by the creatures of his brain. And yet more recent plates, the property of Mr. Bell, the publisher—one of the ‘Family Window,’ and one in ‘Lob-lie-by-the-Fire’—show that Cruikshank did not wholly outlive his talent. What he outlived was the social conditions he had best comprehended. Dying as it were only yesterday, he belongs so much to the past, because, though his period of production did not seem long over, his time of receptiveness was gone by. As a satirist, he belonged in spirit to another generation; we could not ask him to grapple, at fourscore years, with the foibles of ours.” * His “Bachelor’s own Book; or, The Adventures of Mr. Lambkin, Gent,” the story as well as the etchings being by Cruikshank, for instance. This is a true account of him, to all who knew Cruikshank well in his latter days. Earnest, healthy, vigorous, and ambitious to the last; he could not resign himself to live on the glory of the past He must be ever up and doing—especially in the work that lay nearest his valiant heart. He scattered his temperance work far and wide. “The Fruits of Intemperance,” published by John Cassell, about 1855, is a minor design akin to that of the Triumph of Bacchus. The tree is covered with medallion-shaped fruit, and on each medallion is a picture showing the effects of intoxicating liquors. The roots of the tree are a bundle of serpents, and the surrounding ground is covered with tombstones, inscribed “early fruit.” But Cruikshank never lost an opportunity of preaching his moral. He made a drawing of “a drunken man knocking down a drunken woman, in Oxford Street” on a Sunday afternoon; and another of “a drunken ruffian knocking down a woman who carries a child,” in Farringdon Street. He illustrated the “Autobiography of a Thirsty Soul” in the Weekly Record; and for the same paper he drew a publican’s quart measure, with a death’s head in lieu of ale froth, two drunkards babbling of the strengthening properties of beer by a “Noted Stout House.” In the Band of Hope Review he illustrated a series, a parody on “The House that Jack Built,” called “the Gin Shop.” He threw off fly-leaves for Mr. Tweedie, as “A Man a Thing,” “The House in Shadow,” “The Loaf Lecture,” “There is Poison in the Pot,” “The Red Dragon,” and “The Smokeless Chimney,”—the last of which he designed as a contribution to the Cotton Famine Fund, during the American Civil War. But it didn’t pay. He was consoled, when publishers fell away from him and his means of living became precarious by the steady friendship of many admirers. He received a pension of £95 from the Crown, and one of £50 from the Royal Academy. In 1875, an endeavour was made by Mr. Charles Rogers to raise a second testimonial; but this effort finally took the shape of a committee (of which his good friend Dr. B. W. Richardson was chairman) to purchase the Cruikshank collection of etchings and drawings for the nation and drawings for the nation—the price put on it being £3,000—£500 more than the artist himself had fixed. After much trouble and many disappointments, the collections passed into the possession of the Westminster Aquarium Company; Cruikshank receiving in December, £2500—the price put upon it being what artist himself had fixed; then receiving in 1876, £2,500, and a survivorship life-annuity for himself and wife of about £35. The closing years of George Cruikshank’s life were harassed by a controversy about a design he made and a statue he modelled of King Robert the Bruce, to be erected by subscription at Bannockburn. The consequence was a very lamentable quarrel, during which Cruikshank claimed that he had been engaged by the committee to make the design, * and that the statue modelled by Mr. Currie was originated by him—the contrary being, according to the committee, the fact. Cruikshank, in co-operation with Mr. Adams-Acton, produced a model; that is, Cruikshank made a design, and then himself stood in the attitude of it as Mr. Adams-Acton’s model—the result being a statue, and one which found favour with members of the committee. But money disputes put an end to negotiations with Cruikshank. He had drawn £85 for expenses; his plan involved in any case an outlay which the funds would not cover; and finally, after many difficulties, the statue was committed to the care of Mr. Currie. * In a letter to the Times (December 5th, 1877), he remarked: “As I am the artist who was first engaged by the Bruce Committee to make a design for a monumental statue of King Robert the Bruce, I was very much surprised, upon reading in the Times of the 26th ult. the account of the unveiling of the Bruce statue at Stirling, to find that no statement was made as to my being the original designer,” etc. But Cruikshank’s share in the transaction, as set forth by himself, and as addressed to the Scottish people in his eighty-fourth year, is too remarkable an example of his vigour in old age to be omitted. “An Address and Explanation to the Scottish People, by George Cruikshank, with respect to the proposed Statue in Honour of King Robert the Bruce. “In the month of May 1870, several Scottish noblemen and gentlemen formed themselves into a committee with the object of raising a fund by subscription, for the purpose of having a statue of King Robert the Bruce placed on “the field of Bannockburn,” in honour of that hero, and in memory of the great victory achieved by him and his army in that field on the 24th of June, 1314. “Some friends of mine, who were on this committee, invited me to be a member thereof—which honour I was obliged to decline, as I could not spare the time to attend the meetings; but, as ‘The Bruce’ was one of my great heroes, I promised to give them all the assistance I could, and suggested the attitude for the figure, which they all approved of, and at their first meeting they decided that I should be requested to make the design for the statue. “I must here explain that, although I am an artist and designer, I am not what is termed a sculptor; but it so happened that a friend of mine, a brother artist, who is a sculptor, chanced to see my design, and was so pleased with it, that he volunteered to make a model of it, which he did, acting upon my suggestions, and from me as I stood in the attitude and equipped in the armour. “I also designed a pedestal; and when the model was completed, a cast in plaster of Paris was taken, and exhibited in my studio to the committee, and the noblemen, gentlemen, and friends who attended. All highly approved of the design and the model, and the gentlemen gave most flattering reports, for which I most sincerely thank them. After this I had the very great honour of submitting the model for the inspection of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. “Several casts in plaster were taken from the model for exhibition in London and Scotland, for the inspection of any one who might feel disposed to subscribe; and the committee gave a commission to the sculptor, Mr. John Adams-Acton, to execute a bronze statue of ‘The Bruce,’ ten or twelve feet in height, to be placed on a rocky grey granite pedestal twenty-two feet high; and all seemed to be going on well, and the work was about to be commenced, when suddenly the subscriptions all stopped at once! and this, no doubt, was in consequence of the breaking out of the late war between France and Germany, which terrible contest so entirely absorbed the public mind, that ‘The Bruce’ was quite forgotten. “This was, of course, a great disappointment to all connected with the press, who had visited my studio, concerned in the movement, and the matter since that time has been almost at a standstill; but I am happy to say that a military officer has joined our ranks, and who now takes the lead, and seems determined, if possible, to conquer and overcome all difficulties. This is Major-General Sir James E. Alexander, C.B., of Westerton, Bridge of Allan, and who is chairman of the ‘Bruce Local Committee of Stirling.’ “I have now to mention another disappointment to myself and the committee, which was, that the Odd Fellows of Stirling had erected a large flagstaff (by permission of the owner of the land) on the very spot where we had intended to have applied for permission to place the statue; that being the site where the Scottish standard was fixed on the day of the battle. This bit of ground being occupied, it was then thought that the best place to have the statue would be on the esplanade of Stirling Castle. Sir James Alexander thereupon applied to the Secretary of State for War for a space on the esplanade for this purpose, which request has most kindly been complied with. “I must now explain to those who have not seen the original model that Bruce is there represented as if he were looking down with pity on the slain, and as if he were saying, ‘The fight is o’er, the day is won: I sheathe my sword.’ But now that the site is quite different to what was originally intended, it is necessary that the position of the figure should be altered; and, as will be seen by the accompanying rough sketch, the head is now elevated, and Bruce is supposed to be looking across the esplanade towards the field of Bannockburn, which is a mile and a half from Stirling Castle, and, as in the first model, Bruce has sheathed his sword. “With respect to the pedestal, I may just explain that on the front part are the words ‘King Robert the Bruce’ in large letters, and following this, in smaller letters, is ‘Bannockburn, June 24, 1314.’ Under this line are two branches—one of laurel and the other of willow, emblems of victory and sorrow for the slain. Then is stated, ‘Erected by public subscription in the reign of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Between the words Victoria and Queen is a circular wreath formed of the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrock, in which circle are two hands joined, a male and female, as an emblem of the union by marriage of the two royal families of England and Scotland, and on one side of these royal families were the descendants of ‘the Bruce.’ “Nearly fifty years back I painted a picture of an incident in the life of Bruce, exhibited in the British Institution, Pall Mall, London, and was then careful to have the correct costume; but when making the design for the statue, ‘to make assurance doubly sure,’ I got my friend Mr. Bond, keeper of the Ancient Manuscripts at the British Museum, to let me look over the MSS. of the time of Bruce, and then found that I had got the correct costume. I think this is important; for should the statue be erected, all those who might look at it would see just such a powerful man as Bruce was, in the exact sort of armour and coat of mail that he wore on the field of Bannockburn. “The Bruce in his early progress met with many difficulties, all of which, however, he overcame by his perseverance, and the ‘Bruce Committee’ and myself are following his noble example in this respect; and I trust that all the descendants of those ‘Scots whom Bruce had often led’ will rally round the Major-General and his committee corps, and assist them to place the statue of him who was the great commander of the Scottish army at the battle of Bannockburn in this safe and commanding position on the esplanade of Stirling. “With regard to myself, as my ancestors were all natives of Scotland—some Lowlanders and some Highlanders—I should indeed be pleased to have my name associated with any national work of art that might be placed in the land of my forefathers, and I should consider it one of the greatest honours that could be conferred upon me if it could be written on the pedestal that this monument in honour of King Robert the Bruce was designed by the artist, “George Cruikshank. “Hampstead Road, London, August 1874. “P. S.—I am authorized to state that subscriptions may be remitted to W. Christie, Esq., secretary to the Bruce Committee, Port Street, Stirling; or to the treasurer, John A. Murrie, Esq., the manager of the branch of the National Bank of Scotland at Stirling; and at London. And I am given to understand that about fourteen or fifteen hundred pounds are required, in addition to what is already in hand, in order to carry out the work in the first style of art.” Original Size -- Medium-Size At the ceremony of unveiling Mr. Currie’s statue in front of Stirling Castle (November 24, 1877), Major-General Sir James Alexander, of Westerton, in handing over the work to the Provost and Corporation of Stirling, said, that as they could not get a bronze statue “under the direction of an eminent artist, Mr. George Cruikshank, of London,” they had resolved to have one of durable stone. This closing transaction of his life poor Cruikshank felt most bitterly; and he charged his old friend Dr. Rogers, Sir James Alexander, and all concerned in it, with having behaved in “a most dishonourable and disgraceful manner.” These were hot, ill-considered words, uttered in the pain of a very trying disappointment: words to be forgotten over the artist’s grave. Mr. Frederick Wedmore gives us a peep at him as he went about of late, his heart still upon his sleeve as when he was young, in the days of the Regency: “Many of us who did not know him at home have at least met him about; for not only was he a familiar figure of the dreary quarter which he inhabited—where the dingy squalor of St. Paneras touches on the shabby respectability of Camden Town—but he travelled much in London, and may well have been beheld handing his card to a stranger with whom he had talked casually in a Metropolitan Railway carriage, or announcing his personality to a privileged few who were invited to see in him the convincing proof of the advantages of a union of genius with water-drinking. He was an entirely honest man; and who is there that would not forgive the little pleasurable vanities that he chose to allow himself at the fag end of a life not over-prosperous—a career no one had carefully made smooth, a career filled full of inventive work as rich as Hogarth’s and as genial as Dickens’s?” “Occasionally,” Mr. Frederick Locker writes,* “he used to come to us and tell us his troubles, and what was occupying him; but, like many other interesting people, he did not talk about what would have been most worth hearing. The last time I saw him he spoke of having known Tom Hood (the elder) ** very well, but he did not tell as anything about him worth remembering. * March 26th, 1878. When it was agreed that Cruikshank was to illustrate Hood’s “Epping Hunt,” author and artist, with two or three friends, spent a highly convivial day in the Forest. Hood and Cruikshank were fast friends, and sat up together very late of nights in Amwell Street—the wild humour and prodigious animal spirits being a delight to the quiet humourist, under whose form lay a serious poetic mind, and a tender heart. Poor man, it was a bitterly cold morning last December, and he arrived before breakfast, and stayed to breakfast. Mr. Austin Dobson was there; and he told us the story of how he invented Old Fagin in the condemned cell.” Mr. Dobson says of him at this breakfast: “On the morning in question (I think it must have been the 14th of December last, 1877), Mr. Cruikshank came in; and I, who had not seen him more than once or twice in my life, was only too eager to ask him all sorts of questions about himself. Except that he was a little bent, he had no appearance of age—certainly not of the advanced age he had reached. He was very-bright and alert, and appeared to have an excellent memory for the circumstances of his career.” He celebrated his silver wedding on the 8th of March, 1875, when his house was crowded with his friends and admirers, who took tea with him. Mr. S. O. Hall, his old friend, addressed a few words to the company, which so affected Mrs. Cruikshank, that she fell weeping upon her husband’s neck. Mr. Walter Hamilton, who was present, remarks: “To receive the congratulations of so many friends was a task which would have fatigued and excited many a younger man than Mr. Cruikshank; but he preserved his self-possession through it well, having a ready jest and a smile for each and all; whilst Mrs. Cruikshank, who was fairly hedged in on every side with bouquets, looked far too young to be one of the principals in such a ceremony. A guard of honour from his old corps attended to congratulate their late colonel. It was late in the afternoon before Mr. Cruikshank withdrew for a few moments from the crowded rooms, and as he went he whispered, laughingly, to the author, ‘You are down on our list of visitors for the Golden Wedding.’” “On the morning of the 1st of February,” writes his young friend, Grace Stebbing, “there was still living a bright, brave-spirited old man, who had worked on untiringly almost to the end, even to within three weeks of his death, when I, one of those privileged to claim his friendship even from my infancy upwards, met him hurrying along the streets with cheerful, eager aspect, to keep ‘a business appointment.’” The Graphic, February 9th, 1878. Original Size -- Medium-Size CHAPTER VIII. THE END. George Cruikshank fell ill in the first month of 1878, and was attended by his sympathetic and distinguished friend, Dr. B. W. Richardson. He died at his house in the Hampstead Road, on the 1st of February. He was buried temporarily—the Crypt of St. Paul’s being under repair—at Kensal Green. The only member of the Royal Academy who attended his funeral was Charles Landseer, R.A., who was almost as old as Cruikshank. But Messrs. Tenniel and Du Maurier were there, with poor W. Brunton, a clever caricaturist, who was to fall in his youth. Cruikshank’s friend, George Augustus Sala, and Lord Houghton, were among his pall-bearers; and in the group about the coffin were Edmund Yates, S. G. Ball, General M’Murdo, and John Sheehan, the “Irish Whisky-drinker.” On the 29th of the following November, a hearse, followed by a mourning-coach containing Mrs. George Cruikshank, conveyed the mortal part of the illustrious artist to St. Paul’s, and four sergeants of the volunteer corps which he had commanded brought up the procession. The coffin was silently lowered to its final resting-place immediately after the afternoon service. 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What does the Latin phrase 'Vox populi' (shortened often in media to vox pop) translate to in English?	Vox pop - Definition and synonyms of vox pop in the English dictionary. Translation of vox pop to 20 languages. vox pop Meaning of vox pop in the English dictionary DICTIONARY ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD VOX POP Shortened from vox populi. Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance. PRONUNCIATION OF VOX POP GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF VOX POP noun exclamation Vox pop is a noun. A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc. WHAT DOES VOX POP MEAN IN ENGLISH? Vox populi In broadcasting, vox populi is an interview with members of the general public. Vox populi is a Latin phrase that literally means voice of the people. Read more Definition of vox pop in the English dictionary The definition of vox pop in the dictionary is interviews with members of the public on a radio or television programme. ENGLISH WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE VOX POP Synonyms and antonyms of vox pop in the English dictionary of synonyms SYNONYMS WORDS RELATING TO «VOX POP» vox pop band clothing questions films marketing radio music broadcasting populi interview with members general public latin phrase that literally means voice people red_next_arrow mickey donald goofy grumpy batman superman hulk ironman thor dhoom dexter star trek game thrones pops mediacollege term comes from meaning tool used many forms media american prospect days conservatives often complain machinery entertainment popular culture controlled liberals which basically true noun cambridge university press audio pronunciation more opinions recorded talking informally places books coffee democracy voxpop café located historic ditmas park brooklyn york stood urban short describe Translation of «vox pop» into 20 languages TRANSLATOR TRANSLATION OF VOX POP Find out the translation of vox pop to 20 languages with our English multilingual translator . The translations of vox pop from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «vox pop» in English. List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «vox pop». FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «VOX POP» OVER TIME The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «vox pop» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «vox pop» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day. Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about vox pop EXAMPLES 10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «VOX POP» Discover the use of vox pop in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to vox pop and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature. 1 How to Succeed in Newspaper Journalism The vox pop is often used by local newspapers to give a national issue a local focus, but it is also used by national papers to take a snapshot of public opinion on a particular question. Vox pops also make for very entertaining copy as the ... David Stephenson, 1998 8 DIY Citizenship: Critical Making and Social Media Such questions complicate the interviewer's role as mediator in a vox pop encounter and point to new opportunities for distributed audiences to intervene as actors in public space. The Ritual of the Vox Pop While the vox populi term predates ... Matt Ratto, Megan Boler, Ronald Deibert, 2014 9 from ALinking Generations through Radio: a toolkitfrica for ... shOW jINglE Jingle 30 seconds INTRO Welcome to the show (hosts introduce themselves and the show) 30 seconds INTRO TOPIC hosts introduce the topic of the show and give some information about it 1 minute vOx POP INTRO hosts ... Yumna Martin, Clémence Petit Pierrot, Mike Rahfaldt, 2013 10 LIFE Weeks ago on their Vox Pop broadcast, Parks Johnson and Wallace Butter- worth who conduct this radio program asked any of their listeners who thought they looked like famous people to send their pictures to them. Almost 3,000 people ... ‎ 10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «VOX POP» Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term vox pop is used in the context of the following news items. 1 Vox Pop steps up '.sucks' promotional campaign as it walks fine line … Vox Populi Registry, the company behind '.sucks', is looking to deflect repeated criticism ahead of the planned autumn launch of its Consumer Advocate Subsidy ... «World Trademark Review, Jul 15» 2 Pulse TV VOX POP: "Can you spell ENTREPRENEUR?" Pulse TV VOX POP: "Can you spell E.N.T.R.E.P.R.E.N.E.U.R?" Pulse TV VOX POP"Can you spell E.N.T.R.E.P.R.E.N.E.U.R?" Do you consider yourself a spelling ... «Pulse Nigeria, Jun 15» 3 Pulse TV VOX POP: Would smelly underwear stop you from having … Pulse TV VOX POP: Would smelly underwear stop you from having sex with your partner? Pulse TV VOX POPWould smelly underwear stop you from having sex ... «Pulse Nigeria, Jun 15» 4 Pulse TV VOX POP: Would you open an envelope with your death … Everyone wants to live forever, no one wants to die. What happens however when you get an envelope containing the day you would die? Would you open it? «Pulse Nigeria, Jun 15» 5 VOX POP: Do you feel comfortable with the government's promise to … Traditional farmers are still uneasy and that is understandable, having had so many bad experiences with law enforcers in the past. It is going to be difficult for ... «Jamaica Gleaner, Jun 15» 6 Vox Pop: The Apple Watch and The Future of Wearables (Part 3) We have explored some reviews and some early adopters' 'sorry, but not that sorry' regret when buying the new Apple Watch, but what does the future look like ... «The Drum, May 15» 7 Pulse TV VOX POP: Rich casanova or poor faithful spouse - Pick This exciting episode of Pulse TV VOX POP takes a trip through the streets and events in Lagos, finding out if people prefer wealth to faithfulness in a spouse. «Pulse Nigeria, May 15» 8 Vox pop - Do you understand the role, function and day-to-day … Vox pop - Do you understand the role, function and day-to-day responsibilities of the Montego Bay Marine Park? Published:Tuesday \| May 26, 2015. «Jamaica Gleaner, May 15» 9 Pulse TV Vox Pop: Would you marry a retired prostitute? Pulse TV Vox Pop: Would you marry a retired prostitute? Pulse TV Vox PopWould you marry a retired prostitute? What if you fall in love with a girl and you'd love ... «Pulse Nigeria, May 15» 10 Vox pop: Should mums snoop on social media? It seems many parents use either real or fake social media accounts to spy on their children. Clarissa Waldron asks if safety grounds makes this subterfuge ... «Irish Independent, May 15» REFERENCE	Vox populi
Named after chairs found at the Bargello Palace in Florence, Italy, what type of handicraft is Bargello?	In Rebus: Use the Power of Latin! Monday, June 8, 2015, 15:42 - Popular Latin Phrases, Mottos, Slogans Posted by Administrator We don't have a definitive collection of Latin toasts from the times of Ancient Rome. The phrases chosen here come from a variety of sources: medieval sayings, classical authors and modern usage. Feel free to use them if the occasion is right! Ad finem esto fidelis - Be faithful to the end. Amor patriae - The love of our country. Bene vobis! - May it be well with you! Dilige amicos - Love your friends. Dum vivimus vivamus - Let us live while we live. Esto perpetua - Be thou perpetual. Nunc est bibendum - Now, let us drink! Palmam qid meruit ferate - Let him who has won bear the palm. Pro aris et focis - For our altars and fireside. Propino tibi! - I drink to you! Propino tibi salutem! - I drink to your health! (Along with the previous toast, this one is still used in Italy, although it may only be known since the Middle Ages) Prosit! - To your good fortune! May things go well for you (commonly used in German speaking countries, shortend to "Prost!") Salutaria! - This roughly equates to "Cheers!" in meaning. Vox populi vox Dei - The voice of the people is the voice of God (probably a good toast on an election night). Saturday, January 29, 2011, 12:11 - Latin Language , Popular Latin Phrases, Mottos, Slogans Posted by Administrator According to the makers of the Starz series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" they employ two historical consultants. Perhaps one of them should have noticed that the tattoo gracing the forehead of the gladiator named Kerza is quite anachronistic. "Fugitivus" is indeed a Latin word for "runaway". Sadly though, the distinction between V and U would have seemed very strange to Romans. The two letters that we all know and love were used in Ancient Rome interchangeably and were never distinguished.Using V for a consonant and U for a vowel is a practice that only began in earnest during Renaissance times. (Wikipedia cites 1386 as the first occurrence, in a Gothic alphabet). As a result the correct way of spelling Fugitivus on poor Kerza's bold forehead would have been FVGITIVVS or FUGITIUUS. Folks, be advised as you decide to adorn your own foreheads with this one-word movie quote! Saturday, November 13, 2010, 13:44 - Poetry, Literature, Music , Popular Latin Phrases, Mottos, Slogans Posted by Administrator Not talking about any historic King Charles here, but rather about the British musician whose stage name betrays his royal aspirations (actually, this makes me wonder whether England has any laws that discourage individuals who call themselves kings or queens). King Charles was part of the opening act during the recent Mumford & Sons tour. Did a pretty nice job, I think. On his MySpace site there is a header with a Latin motto: In mundo, sed non de mundo. - In the world, but not of the world. Note the distinct Christian connotations. Just another idea for someone researching Latin quotes for tattoos, mottos and what have you. By the way, if anyone finds King Charles' mp3s for sale other than the EP entitled "Alone on the throne", I'd like to know about that. Friday, October 8, 2010, 17:10 - Legal Phrases and Expressions , Popular Latin Phrases, Mottos, Slogans Posted by Administrator It's been demonstrated many times that when an average person aspires to have a Latin tattoo, an engraved ring or simply a clever motto they likely to have the desired Latin phrase badly mangled, often to the point of complete nonsense. I do my best to verify the spelling of all the phrases that appear on my site, but I would recommend that people check twice every tiny bit of Latin that they want to use for any purposes, no matter where it comes from. The good news is that this is not so difficult! First of all, unless you are relying on someone who is trained in Latin translation, never use a phrase that, in your personal opinion, aptly renders a phrase in your own language (English, French, German etc.). Without proper knowledge of Latin it is often impossible to translate even a single word by simply looking it up in a dictionary, never mind an actual phrase. So, if you have something unique in mind, go to a translator. You will be glad you did. However, there is a universe of Latin phrases out there. You are free to pick out of many well-known quotes and mottos. The trick here is to be aware of misspellings and OCR errors. You really want to verify your selected quote by using at least two printed sources. I do not suggest that you buy a book of Latin adages and try to find your favorite Latin phrase there (although your money could not be better spent if you, in fact, do so). Google Books has numerous scanned published resources. Many of them come from the glorious times when not only the writers and editors knew Latin, but even typesetters and book-binding workers! All you need to do is carefully copy your Latin phrase into the buffer and then paste it within quotation marks (otherwise the search will be too broad) into Google Books's search field. Then open the actual scanned pages and verify that the phrase you are intending to use is indeed spelled the way you thought it was spelled. Oftentimes, you will get a nice translation as a bonus! If the phrase you are tracking is fairly common, you can probably go to a collection of Latin quotes. Here is one such collection on Google Books: Latin quotations, proverbs and phrases Now, what if you are not finding the Latin phrases you were hoping to verify? It is quite possible that they have been misspelled. If so, identify a few words within a phrase and run a search on those words only (remember to use quotation marks). This will very likely bring up the Latin phrase in its correct form.	i don't know
The North African social uprisings of 2010-11 caused the successive departure of leaders Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Mohammed Ghannouchi from which country?	North Africa & Middle East North Africa & Middle East Rallies demand freedom for Aafia Siddiqui In Boston on March 8 and in New York City on March 11, the first two of four national rallies demanded that the U.S. government “Free Aafia Siddiqui” and allow her to return to her family in Pakistan. Framed in a U.S. court in 2010, she has been serving an 86-year sentence at Carswell Federal Prison ever since.... Mar 6, 2016 Imperialists provoke crisis for refugees Even though the Aegean Sea in winter is cold and rough, conditions for migrants in Turkey are so harsh that over 102,000 of them have crossed the narrow waters from Turkey to the Greek islands since Jan. 1, according to an estimate of the International Organization of Migrants.... Feb 25, 2016 Truce? Keep your guard up The news that the Obama administration has finally agreed to a partial truce over Syria with Russia did not bring true relief to those concerned about the Syrian people or about the danger of a wider war. The confrontation between nuclear powers was at least postponed, and it may get worse yet. The anti-war and anti-imperialist movement in the United States better stay on the alert.... Feb 25, 2016 U.S. bombs Libya — again Over 40 people were killed by Pentagon F-15E fighter jets in a bombing operation Feb. 19 in Sabratha, Libya, which was said to have targeted an Islamic State group (I.S.) training camp. The air strike, 50 miles west of Tripoli, was aimed at I.S. operative and Tunisian national Noureddine Chouchane, who had been linked to an attack on the Bardo Museum in neighboring Tunisia in March 2015. He was accused of arranging the arrival of I.S. operatives in Libya.... Feb 21, 2016 U.S. continues endless war in Afghanistan Using smoke and mirrors in Afghanistan, the Obama administration is seeking to convince the world that there will be “an eventual drawdown” of U.S. and NATO forces. A closer look at U.S. imperialism’s strategic goals of a “pivot to Asia” reveals that the 15-year war’s goals include obtaining an economic foothold in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, China, and the rich oil and gas resources of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia.... Feb 21, 2016 With attack on Libya planned, U.S.-NATO flag waves over Europe Participating (as is now required) in the meeting of European Union defense ministers on Feb. 5 in Amsterdam, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg praised U.S. “plans to substantially increase their military presence in Europe, by increasing four times the amount they spend on military presence in Europe, so they can fund more troops in the Eastern part of the Alliance, so they can finance the prepositioning of heavy equipment, tanks, armored vehicles and other kinds of heavy equipment. And also more exercises and more investments in infrastructure.” In this way, according to Stoltenberg, “EU-NATO cooperation is reinforced.” [nato.int, Feb. 5]... Feb 13, 2016 Peace talks collapse, aggression continues against Syria As the war against Syria draws closer to entering its fifth year, peace talks have once again fallen apart, as anticipated. The Western powers, right- wing regional regimes such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and the terrorist-ridden opposition refuse to recognize Syria’s sovereignty in the fight against such reactionary forces as the Islamic State group (I.S.), Al Nusra and the Islamic Front. Those seeking to overthrow the Syrian government call for a ceasefire while they themselves continue to bomb and destroy Syria.... Feb 5, 2016 Pentagon, NATO plan renewed war on Libya Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Jan. 23 that the United States is preparing a renewed military campaign in Libya with its imperialist allies. Dunford’s narrative provides a rationale and political justification for a permanent imperialist occupation of the region, thus negating the right of self-determination for the states involved.... Jan 22, 2016 Syria and ISIS: Some anti-imperialist observations and analysis With the mid-November ISIS-claimed terrorist attacks in Paris, and even more since the California shootings, there has been a constant stream of reports, official government statements and politicians’ remarks about ISIS and the war against Syria. There have also been reports of French, U.S., Russian and Syrian government air bombing raids on ISIS targets in Syria.... Jan 11, 2016 A co-founder of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) in 1954 has died in exile in Switzerland.... Dec 31, 2015 Saudi women’s struggle No country on earth is more brutal and oppressive in its treatment of women than Saudi Arabia. The Saudi state, which is officially controlled by men of the royal family, has kept women encased and immobilized in a poisonous web of binding religious and legal restrictions, like the victims of a monstrous spider.... Dec 31, 2015 A Saudi-led coalition supported by the U.S. continued to bomb Yemen on Dec. 17 despite announcements of a ceasefire.... Dec 21, 2015 Vietnamese tour U.S. in appeal for Agent Orange victims “Who will take care of them? That is my question.” Tran Thi Hoan posed this on World Human Rights Day, Dec. 10. This computer science professional from Central Vietnam is touring the U.S. with a delegation from the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. She spoke at a meeting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center 1199.... Dec 17, 2015 Dec. 20: About Trump and more The anti-Trump demonstration in New York City planned for Dec. 20 could not come at a more crucial time, not only for the movement and the workers in the U.S. but also globally. Initiated by the International Action Center, this demonstration is being embraced and endorsed by a growing number of progressive, anti-racist and anti-imperialist groups, including Muslims.... Dec 12, 2015 Europeans protest war escalation against Syria Thousands of people marched in England, Spain and Germany in the last eight days to try to stop their governments from joining the U.S. war against Syria. Despite these protests, both the German and the British parliaments voted to send troops and aircraft to the region to join the bombing campaign.... Dec 10, 2015 Behind the San Bernardino shootings The Dec. 3 mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., which claimed the lives of 14 county workers and injured 21 others, occurred less than a week after a mass shooting Nov. 27 at the Colorado Springs, Colo., Planned Parenthood facility. There, it was a “lone gunman” (white) who killed three people and wounded nine others. In San Bernardino, however, the official FBI narrative says the alleged shooters expressed sympathy with the group known as the Islamic State group (often called ISIS or I.S.). Why did this deadly attack happen and how can others be prevented?... Dec 8, 2015 USAF veterans stand strong against drone warfare The secret war using drones operates throughout Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The veterans stated that the program has “fueled the feelings of hatred that ignited terrorism and groups like ISIS, while also serving as a fundamental recruitment tool similar to [the prison at] Guantánamo Bay.”... Dec 2, 2015 U.S.-NATO get out, stay out of Syria! The Turkish regime’s decision to ambush and shoot down a Russian SU-24 bomber on the Syrian-Turkish border north of Latakia has spotlighted the risk of a larger war in Southwest Asia. Boosting this threat is French President François Hollande’s orders to step up the French bombing of Syria. Right behind French imperialism, British Prime Minister David Cameron is calling for a Europe-wide intervention in the region. Both use the Nov. 13 attack in Paris as a pretext for this new aggression, which is ostensibly aimed at the Islamic State group or I.S.... Nov 18, 2015 Historic crimes of the French military Many young people in Paris were innocent victims of the Nov. 13 attack, but that doesn’t mean that the French imperialist state is innocent. While the 1789 French Revolution raised the idealistic slogans of liberty, equality and fraternity, French imperialism, which developed from that bourgeois revolution, has a bloody history across the world. The actions of the French ruling class have created many enemies, but it is the ordinary people, not the elites, who pay the price.... Nov 18, 2015 Say no to Muslim bashing! The news from France is grim. The immediate response of the French government to the terrible attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, which killed 129 people and wounded hundreds more, was to send planes to bomb Raqqa in Syria, a city of 200,000 people.... Nov 18, 2015 U.S., France raise threat of wider war over Syria The series of attacks in Paris claimed by ISIS have riveted world attention. But the most urgent question the working class faces is: “Will the imperialist camp use the attacks as a pretext for wider war?” Using as cover the great sympathy for the hundreds of innocent people who were shot and the 129 who died, the Western imperialist governments may put tens of thousands of other lives at risk.... Nov 15, 2015 WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE PARIS ATTACKS TO BE USED AS A PRETEXT FOR RACISM & WAR -- MASS PROTEST We mourn for those who were killed and injured in Paris on Friday. But mourning is not enough. We must also remember that what happened in Paris is yet another terrible example of the bitter fruits that are the fallout from endless war, occupation, shock-and-awe bombings, and regime change. ... Nov 15, 2015 Don’t let them use Paris as a pretext! Just counting recent catastrophes, The International Action Center mourns the tragic loss of 30 people killed by U.S. airstrikes on a charity hospital in Afghanistan; the 224 passengers and crew lost on a Russian plane that exploded over Egypt; the 102 lives cut short by an attack on a Peace Rally in Ankara, Turkey; the 34 killed in Beirut; the many, many families blasted by U.S. drone attacks on wedding parties across West Asia and Africa, and the thousands who have died trying to cross the Mediterranean as they flee war and the loss of lives and homes.... Nov 14, 2015 LET SYRIA LIVE Just a month after the Pentagon admitted that its $500 million program to arm and train “Arab opposition forces” in Syria has failed, with only four or five so-called fighters trained, the Obama administration announced that some 50 U.S. Special Forces “advisers” are being sent to Syria.... Nov 10, 2015 Erdogan regime wins election by waging war The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Progress Party (AKP) has re-won a majority in the Turkish parliament. Its election campaign included renewed war on the Kurdish people and violent attacks across the country on the headquarters of the leftist People’s Democratic Party (HDP), along with arrests and intimidation of many journalists and hundreds of political activists.... Oct 24, 2015 Freedom will come to Palestine The situation in the Middle East has been a hotbed of chaos for some time now. From the unjust wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the quagmire you have now in Syria regarding the Islamic State group. Not even Yemen has been spared from the imperialist forces interfering in the self-determination of its peoples. There is one struggle, however, that has remained since 1948, and that is the struggle for the liberation of Palestine from the grip of the cruel Zionist police state.... Oct 24, 2015 U.N. Security Council authorizes EU naval attack in the Mediterranean on migrant ships A further militarization in the Mediterranean has been approved through a resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council on Oct. 9. By a 14 to 1 vote, European Union naval forces were empowered to purportedly halt and turn back vessels transporting migrants across the Mediterranean into Southern Europe. Only the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela abstained in the decision. Millions of people have been dislocated throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia in the worst refugee crisis since the conclusion of World War II.... Oct 17, 2015 Rainer Rupp about ‘Able Archer,’ his work in NATO headquarters, the Syrian War and the conflict with Russia In the early 1990s he was “most wanted.” The Attorney General at that time called it the “biggest search operation of the German Federal Republic’s police services in the postwar period.” Rainer Rupp, under the code name “Topaz,” had delivered highly sensitive information from NATO headquarters in Brussels to the Main Directorate for Reconnaissance (HVA) of the German Democratic Republic. Rupp was arrested in 1993 and sentenced by the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) in Dusseldorf to 12 years’ imprisonment. He was released in the year 2000. The superspy, who turned 70 on Sept. 21, gave the following interview to Karlen Vesper of the newspaper Neues Deutschland.... Oct 12, 2015 U.S. Syria Strategy suffers setback Washington and the European Union countries have spent more than four years in an orchestrated effort of “regime change” in Syria. Now they howl in protest because on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria against forces trying to overthrow Syria’s government.... Sep 29, 2015 Turkish regime opens fire on Kurds, leftists The Turkish government, as well as admittedly fascist elements, have opened a broad attack on democratic organizations throughout western Turkey. Meanwhile, the Turkish army has continued its assault on the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK), both guerrillas and civilians, in the majority Kurdish southeast of the country.... Sep 28, 2015 Tens of thousands of migrants are living under precarious conditions in Hungary and Croatia as well as other states in the European Union.... Sep 15, 2015 U.S.-backed ground war intensifies in Yemen An escalating ground war is taking place for control of Yemen, the most underdeveloped state in the Middle East. Reports claim that United Arab Emirates Special Forces have been on the ground in the country fighting against the Shiite-led Ansurallah Movement, also called Houthis. ... Sep 13, 2015 Iran deal: Imperialists search for new strategy he agreement was the product of negotiations between the Iranian government and what are called the P5+1 — the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. Four of the six are imperialist countries that have fought major wars among themselves to recarve the world: the U.S., Britain, France and Germany.... Sep 9, 2015 U.S. wars caused refugee crisis U.S. wars, starvation sanctions and planned destabilization are the overwhelming cause of the surge of hundreds of thousands of war refugees flooding across European borders and across the Mediterranean Sea. The major European-NATO powers collaborated with U.S. imperialism in each war.... Sep 2, 2015 Boston demonstrators demand peace for Syria The Syrian American Forum mobilized people to gather in Copley Square in Boston to call on the Obama administration to help end the ongoing war in Syria. A group of Syrians and their supporters demonstrated on Aug. 29 outside of the Boston Public Library to demand peace for Syria.... Sep 1, 2015 Migrant crisis in Europe: Who caused it? Behind the horror stories about the treatment of migrants trying to reach Europe is the imperialist system of exploitation of their countries of origin, the policies exacerbating this exploitation and the imperialist wars that made their home countries unlivable for them and their children.... Aug 26, 2015 Seven thousand refugees arrived in July on the small Greek island of Kos, some 2.5 miles off the Turkish coast, according to the International Organization for Migration. The flow of refugees increased in August.... Aug 25, 2015 Fortress Europe kills If there were an election for France’s head of state today, Marine Le Pen with her neofascists [the National Front] would have a good chance of winning the vote. Polls place her with around 30 percent, winning either first or second place, and a victory in the runoff election no longer seems impossible. In Sweden, too, the influence of the racists continues. For the first time the “Sweden Party” was the strongest force in a survey published on Aug. 20 by the daily newspaper Metro.... Aug 21, 2015 A video released last week showing the beating and torture of Saadi Gadhafi is not an anomaly in contemporary Libya where the Pentagon and NATO waged a war of regime change in 2011.... Aug 17, 2015 Emigration and war: Capitalist media suppress the obvious The reports about tens of thousands of desperate refugees scrambling out of the Middle East and North Africa, trying to reach some place in Europe, are excruciatingly painful. The number who have drowned along the way or died of thirst or hunger is unknown. Others survive these perilous journeys on overloaded boats only to be captured and either interned or turned back at the borders. Photographs show them to be thin, often to the point of emaciation, with few possessions other than the threadbare clothes on their backs.... Aug 12, 2015 Role of the Workers’ Party of Kurdistan The Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK) has been involved in a guerrilla war against the oppressive Turkish regime since 1984. Originally defined as a Marxist-Leninist organization with the goal of an independent Kurdistan — Kurds make up 18 percent of the total 83 million people in Turkey and are a majority in the southeast — over the last decade the PKK has dropped Marxist-Leninist ideology and set its goal as autonomy within Turkey.... Jul 18, 2015 The agreement reached July 14 between Iran and the “5+1,” the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China) plus Germany, is a huge achievement — for Iran.... Jul 11, 2015 Call for mass actions to stop Saudi bombing of Yemen The Pentagon-backed and -coordinated bombing campaign has killed thousands and wounded thousands more in Yemen since the air war by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council began on March 26. The Pentagon is providing intelligence, refueling technology and diplomatic cover to the Riyadh-based alliance.... Jun 14, 2015 Even though peace talks are slated to begin on June 14 in Geneva between the major parties involved in the conflict over control of Yemen, the fighting rages on inside this underdeveloped Middle Eastern state.... Jun 5, 2015 NYC - Sat., June 13: Rally & Speak-Out: Stop U.S. Proxy Wars from Yemen to Donbass Today U.S.-made and paid-for missiles and bombs are raining down on people around the world. Washington funds violent right-wing movements from Venezuela to Syria to Macedonia. It is interfering in a regional dispute in the South China Sea to threaten China. It is establishing more military bases in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Here at home, U.S. police kill and brutalize people of color.... Jun 2, 2015 This report is one of several eyewitness accounts provided by International Action Center and FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together) youth activist Caleb Maupin, who took part in a humanitarian aid mission to Yemen in May.... May 24, 2015 I Have Witnessed A Crime Against Humanity! - A Message from Caleb Maupin in the Port of Djibouti From the Port of Djibouti in North Africa, it is with great sadness and burning outrage that I announce that the voyage of the Iran Shahed Rescue Ship has concluded. We will not reach our destination at the Port of Hodiedah in Yemen to deliver humanitarian aid.... May 23, 2015 ‘Stop the Saudi bombing of Yemen’ Well over a hundred people, most from the local Yemeni community, marched and rallied on May 16 against the Saudi bombing and devastation of Yemen. They gathered at the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco, marched down Market Street to the busy shopping area at Powell Street, and then returned to the U.N. Plaza for a rally.... May 23, 2015 Egypt’s military ruling class tightened its grip over the country on May 16 as three judges imposed death sentences on the former president, Mohamed Morsi, and 105 other people.... May 20, 2015 Call White House! Let Red Crescent ship with humanitarian supplies to Yemen pass! No Blockade! The US and Saudi Arabia are threatening to attack a humanitarian aid ship on the high seas! International observers, including US citizens,are aboard. This would be piracy and an act of war! Call the White House now at 202-456-1414 and 202-456-1111 and say: Let the aid ship pass!... May 14, 2015 I have just heard what the US officials have said, and I must say that I and all the other peace activists aboard the Iran Shahed are filled with burning outrage.... May 14, 2015 Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh: ‘On lynching & the Ku Klux Klan’ This May 19 will mark the 125th birthday anniversary of the great anti-imperialist leader, Ho Chi Minh. “Uncle Ho” was a leader of the National Liberation Front, a people’s army that defeated both French and U.S. military invaders in Vietnam. In honor of this legendary figure and the current Black Lives Matter uprising, the IAC is printing the following excerpts from a report made by this Vietnamese communist at the Fifth Congress of the Communist International gathering held in July 1924 in Moscow during the “National and Colonial Question” session. He died in 1969, six years before Vietnam’s liberation from U.S. imperialism. Go to tinyurl.com .... May 12, 2015 Why I'm Aboard The Rescue Ship - A Message from Caleb Maupin in the Persian Gulf Why am I out at sea on the other side of the world? I am part of a humanitarian mission being carried out by the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are attempting to bring medical supplies, flour, and water to the people of Yemen.... May 11, 2015 US Anti-War Activists Join Iranian Humanitarian Mission to Yemen A ship containing over 2,500 tons of flour, rice, and medicine is departing from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The delegation of doctors, journalists, and activists organized by the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran intends to deliver this much needed humanitarian aid to the people of Yemen, who are facing a horrific bombing campaign from Saudi Arabia.... Apr 8, 2015 The agreed nuclear framework negotiated between the Iranian government and an unholy alliance of imperialist bandits, in addition to China, must be put in proper perspective.... Mar 31, 2015 Four years of Syrian resistance to imperialist takeover U.S. efforts to overturn the government of Syria have now extended into a fifth year. It is increasingly clear that thousands of predictions reported in the corporate media by Western politicians, think tanks, diplomats and generals of a quick overturn and easy destruction of Syrian sovereignty have been overly optimistic, imperialist dreams. But four years of sabotage, bombings, assassinations and a mercenary invasion of more than 20,000 fighters recruited from over 60 countries have spread great ruin and loss of life.... Mar 27, 2015 Two deeply related issues that are of concern to anti-imperialists have been stirring U.S. capitalist politics.... Feb 27, 2015 PFLP leadership meets with U.S. delegation Comrade Abu Ahmad Fuad, deputy general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Comrade Abu Sami Marwan, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, met with a U.S. delegation to Syria, which arrived in Damascus on Tuesday [Feb. 24]. The delegation was headed by Ramsey Clark, former U.S. attorney general, and included U.S. leftist activists and leaders, including former member of Congress Cynthia McKinney and Sara Flounders, director of the International Action Center [headquartered] in New York City.... Feb 19, 2015 Saudi oil and U.S. hypocrisy Few events expose the utter hypocrisy of U.S. politicians’ grand words about democracy so starkly as their praise for the recently deceased King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. For decades U.S. imperialism and all the imperialist powers have given political, military and diplomatic support to the corrupt feudal family that rules Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of oil.... Jan 27, 2015 On Jan. 21, the apartheid Zionist regime of Benjamin Netanyahu was authorized by the United Nations General Assembly to host the first-ever conference devoted to the rise of worldwide “anti-Semitism.”... Jan 22, 2015 Pentagon deploys more troops With an air of absolute cynicism, the Pentagon announced on Jan. 16 that it will send 400 combat troops and 600 other personnel to the Mideast to train Syrian so-called “moderates” to fight forces of the Islamic State (ISIL). Congress has allocated $5 billion to fund this program.... Jan 21, 2015 More protests took place throughout the Muslim world after the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo once again highlighted a cover cartoon that was deliberately offensive to Islam.... Jan 19, 2015 We are NOT Charlie Hebdo! Neither do we condone the bombings and murder of journalists at their headquarters, however much we are repulsed by their racist, chauvinist and hateful Islamophobic caricatures of oppressed people. Neither do we condone the subsequent murders at the Paris Kosher supermarket.... Jan 14, 2015 French imperialism’s brutal colonial rule Jan. 11, the French imperialist bourgeoisie mobilized and manipulated a massive demonstration in all the country’s major cities under hypocritical slogans extolling Western civilization and alleged “freedom of speech.” Their goal — which they share with U.S. and European Union imperialism — is a reactionary modern crusade against colonial peoples, mostly Muslims, in the guise of a “war on terror.”... Jan 13, 2015 Charlie Hebdo, the free press and racism How do we put in perspective the international media focus on the massacre of 12 journalists in Paris on Jan. 7 at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, notorious for its racist anti-Muslim caricatures and lack of response to the routine, daily, racist police murders of Black youth in the U.S.? Why were any protests banned in France of 15 journalists who were killed among the 2,000 deaths in the Israeli assault of Gaza this past summer? Don’t those lives matter?... Jan 12, 2015 Behind the attack in Paris How does someone living in a Muslim or Middle Eastern country feel about the furor raised over the attack on Charlie Hebdo, the French magazine? Can they not be keenly aware of this double standard in the media and politics of the so-called free, democratic world? Think about the Palestinians. They’re not for Al Qaeda, but they must be saying, “Where was this level of anger and condemnation when Gaza was being bombed every single day last summer by the Israelis? Don’t our lives matter?” ... Jan 7, 2015 MOSCOW CONFERENCE STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH NOVOROSSIYA, PALESTINE AND BLACK AMERICA A conference on the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination and Building a Multipolar World was held in Moscow on Dec. 13, 2015, hosted by the Antiglobalization Movement of Russia. The conference brought together activists from Novorossiya (the Donetsk and Lugansk ), TransDniester, Iran, Syria, the Serb Republic, Italy, the United States and several regions of the Russian Federation. The conference was opened by AGM President Alexander Ionov. Other speakers included Oleg Tsarev, the speaker of the Parliament of Novorossia and Alexander Kofman, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Donetsk People’s Republic. ... Dec 14, 2014 NATO powers threaten re-attack on Libya Recent reports claim that Islamic State camps have been set up in Libya, the North African country in chaos after the U.S./NATO-led bombing and ground war in 2011 ousted the Gadhafi government and destroyed Africa’s most prosperous and stable state.... Dec 9, 2014 Egypt’s military regime set to free Mubarak In 2011, a heroic mass revolution deposed U.S.-supported Egyptian dictator Gen. Hosni Mubarak. This uprising was an inspiration to poor and oppressed people all over the world. Its current assassins — which include the new military regime of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. imperialism — deserve the condemnation of all progressive and justice-seeking people everywhere.... Dec 7, 2014 Support the campaign to get Italy out of NATO. [in English/Italian/French] Italy, as part of NATO, must allocate an average of $65 million a day to military spending, according to official NATO data, although the number according to SIPRI is $90 million per day. According to the commitments made by the government in the framework of the Alliance, Italian military spending will increase to over $120 million per day (100 million euro).... Nov 1, 2014 A nation in fear Look at the United States. Really. Look at it. From north to south, east to west; from “sea to shining sea,” you’ll see the frenzy of fear. Fear of Ebola. Fear of ISIS. Fear of “crime.” Fear of — fear.... Oct 15, 2014 In ‘war on ISIS,’ the main enemy is at home The Turkish government decided Oct. 12 to permit U.S. fighter-bombers to launch attacks on Syrian targets from Incirlik Air Force Base near the Turkish-Syrian border. This decision marked the latest escalation of the U.S.-led “war on ISIS.” It is a further step toward a major U.S. invasion into Syria and Iraq.... Oct 12, 2014 It is rare that a U.S. politician reveals any important fact. It is especially rare to reveal one that exposes U.S. propaganda when it is being used to justify a new war of aggression.... Oct 2, 2014 Israeli soldiers refuse orders against Palestinians Some 43 members of an elite Israeli Defense Force intelligence unit, many still on active duty, sent an open letter of protest to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sept. 12, in which they refuse to spy on the Palestinian people. It states:... Sep 17, 2014 Why Obama’s ‘war on ISIS’ must be opposed President Barack Obama announced Sept.10 that the U.S. military would build an international coalition to make “war on the Islamic State.” He said there were already 10 countries in this coalition. Administration spokespeople on the Sept. 14 Sunday morning talk shows said they were still building the coalition. The next morning a conference of 30 countries opened in Paris on this theme.... Sep 11, 2014 Imperialist heads of state at the Sept. 4-5 NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, met under U.S. pressure to escalate their anti-Russia maneuvers regarding Ukraine, to schedule their gradual exit from Afghanistan and to open war on the Islamic State.... Sep 9, 2014 Imperialist heads of state at the Sept. 4-5 NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, met under U.S. pressure to escalate their anti-Russia maneuvers regarding Ukraine, to schedule their gradual exit from Afghanistan and to open war on the Islamic State.... Sep 5, 2014 NATO opens its curtain of war on two fronts The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the 28 states of NATO opens today in Newport, Wales, where these leaders will take key decisions “to ensure NATO is prepared to address current and future security challenges” that they attribute to “military aggression of Russia against Ukraine” and “growth of extremism and sectarian conflict in the Middle East and North Africa.” In this “crucial” summit, the United States, which retains the undisputed leadership in NATO, and its European allies will mobilize simultaneously on two war fronts. (Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s press conference)... Sep 4, 2014 Protests begin at NATO Summit Thousands of anti-war marchers descended on Newport, Wales, on Aug. 30 for the beginning of a week of protests against the NATO Summit scheduled there for Sept. 4 and 5. Organizers have said they expect 20,000 people in the Welsh city by Sept. 4.... Sep 4, 2014 Freedom fighters? Beware the fickle nature of imperialist propaganda. The political line of the corporate media is apt to flip-flop. Consider the latest revelations in late August that up to 1,000 volunteers from Western countries, including some from the United States, have been fighting in Syria against its government. Most of these volunteers are fighting within military units of the group now known as the Islamic State.... Aug 27, 2014 Stop the U.S. drive to war! Each day the Barack Obama administration draws closer to escalating U.S. military intervention in Iraq and extending it to Syria. Already having bombed Iraq for the first time since 2011, the Pentagon admits to sending surveillance drones into Syrian airspace. At the same time Washington and its imperialist allies are pouring weapons into the Iraqi regional Kurdish government in Erbil and, now that Nuri al-Maliki has resigned his post as prime minister under pressure from Washington, into the new pro-West regime in Baghdad.... Aug 20, 2014 The following message of solidarity was issued Aug. 19 by the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home coalition, which is organizing for the freedom of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. ... Aug 15, 2014 San Francisco Bay Area people and organizations in solidarity with Gaza announced “a massive and powerful ‘Boat Blockade’ for Aug. 16 to block the Israeli Zim ship from unloading in Oakland!”... Aug 13, 2014 U.S. reopens war on Iraq President Barack Obama has now become the fourth successive U.S. president to order the bombing of Iraq, this time with a “humanitarian” pretext. But it soon became clear that Obama’s “humanitarian” excuse was as much a lie as the pretexts raised by the other three U.S. presidents and that the bombing was aimed at defending U.S. imperialism’s corporate and strategic interests.... Aug 10, 2014 As tens of thousands today marched for Gaza worldwide from Dublin to Caracas to Washington, over 10,000 protesters in New York City, the world center of finance capital, marched to protest Israel’s attack on Gaza... Aug 8, 2014 Some of the fiercest attacks on Gaza have been Israeli attacks on the Egyptian-Gaza border crossing at Rafah. More than 100 Palestinians were killed in Rafah between Aug. 1 and 3, including 10 children at a well-marked school... Aug 8, 2014 Letter from an IDF vet I was a member of the Israeli military from 1972 to 1975 and took part in the illegal Zionist occupations of Palestine, Egypt and Syria as well as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. I have witnessed firsthand the steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people along with their allies from other Arab communities.... Aug 6, 2014 The world movement in solidarity with Palestine must join hands in demanding the complete lifting of the brutal Israeli siege of Gaza and full reconstruction.... Aug 1, 2014 Hezbollah leader calls for unity to aid Gaza Hezbollah General Secretary Sayed Hassan Nasrallah made a major speech on al-Quds Day, July 25, in Beirut, Lebanon. The IAC is publishing lightly edited excerpts from an unofficial transcription and translation made in Lebanon. It focuses on Nasrallah’s evaluation of the fighting in Gaza as a failure for Israel and a victory for the resistance and also on his call to all Arabs and Arab governments, whatever other disagreements they may have, to come together to support the people of Gaza.... Jul 31, 2014 Gaza, Syria, & Iraq: War MADE IN U.S.-- Making the connections; Upstate New York Speaking Tour Israel’s brutal assault on the people of Gaza, targeting mostly children and civilians while destroying hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and mosques, has been built and paid for by the US. On July 18, every US Senator voted unanimously to support Israel’s attacks and increase funding to the Israeli army, now over $3.5 billion yearly. US and Israel’s goal is clear, defeat the Palestinians and weaken Gaza’s elected leadership, Hamas. Yet the Palestinian people, strengthened by a massive worldwide solidarity movement, have continued to fight back.... Jul 24, 2014 Int'l Working Women's Coalition statement: “Let Gaza Live! Stop U.S.-backing of Zionist terror!” The International Working Women's Coalition, which for the past 10 years has commemorated International Working Women's Day in New York City, stands with the world's working and oppressed peoples in solidarity with the heroic people of Gaza who are resisting the heinous atrocities by the fascistic, Zionist regime, especially the Israeli Defense Forces.... Jul 23, 2014 Worldwide solidarity with Gaza Often the corporate media use the term “international community” to give weight to an opinion that is really the opinion of a handful of imperialist heads of state — from the U.S., its major NATO allies and Japan. Since the Israeli assault on Gaza began, the real international community is coming out into the streets, sometimes defying police violence, to show its solidarity with Gaza and Palestine and protest.... Jul 22, 2014 Hamas’ conditions for ceasefire The Alternative Information Center describes itself as “an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization, located in Beit Sahour and Jerusalem.” As of July 20, a group of more than 200 Israelis had sent a letter to the European Council, Commission and the European Parliament calling on the EU to pressure Israel to accept Hamas’ terms of truce. And it had also gathered 725 Israeli signers as of July 21 on a Hebrew/Arabic online petition supporting Hamas’ conditions as a basis for immediate and direct negotiations.... Jul 10, 2014 Israel prepares criminal invasion of Gaza The Israeli apartheid state has called up as many as 40,000 reserve troops to prepare for an all-out invasion of the Gaza territory, where 1.5 million Palestinians live. Because of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, the territory has been described as “the largest open-air prison in the world.”... Jul 9, 2014 Algerian soccer heroes shine for Gaza Algeria’s soccer team competing in the World Cup in Brazil took the prize this year. No, not for winning the cup, although it’s true the Fennec Foxes got further along in the tournament than ever before. The prize the Foxes won was that of advancing the politics of the World Cup spectacle.... Jul 7, 2014 Stop Israeli assault! July 1 — Early this morning, the Israeli authorities used the death of three Israeli teenagers as the pretext to begin a major assault on Palestinian organizations and civilians in the West Bank and Gaza. Every voice should be raised against this assault.... Jun 28, 2014 June 20 is World Refugee Day. This year, a report issued by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees revealed that the number of displaced persons has reached a post-World-War-II high.... Jun 28, 2014 Egypt, Israel: tools of imperialism When Secretary of State John Kerry met on June 22 with Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the coup leader who now claims the presidency of Egypt, he proclaimed that things are now “normal” in Egypt so that el-Sisi can receive the official blessings of the U.S. government. This means the U.S. will continue to bankroll the Egyptian military to the immediate tune of $575 million, money that had been “frozen,” with lots more to come. It didn’t matter to Kerry or his masters in the U.S. ruling class that another 183 people, most of them in the Muslim Brotherhood, just received a mass death sentence from the regime.... Jun 25, 2014 Thirty-five years of U.S. subversion, intervention and then direct occupation of Iraq are the primary cause of the violent sectarian divisions now pulling that country apart.... Jun 24, 2014 Syria election observers at UN: Elections ‘big defeat’ for U.S. An official United Nations press conference featuring five U.S. observers of the June 3 Syrian presidential elections was held on June 18. The briefing, held at the U.N. headquarters here, featured Joe Iosbaker of the Anti-war Committee — Chicago; Paul Larudee of the Syria Solidarity Movement; blogger Jane Stillwater; Judy Bello, founder of the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars; and Scott Williams of Fight Imperialism, Stand Together and the International Action Center. These activists joined a distinguished group of observers from 32 countries who visited polling places across Syria.... Jun 20, 2014 Yesterday at 11am, the Syrian Mission to the United Nations convened a press conference featuring people from the US who observed the recent elections.... Jun 19, 2014 IAC Statement on IRAQ: U.S. Caused Iraq’s present war and chaos With the outbreak of fighting from Mosul to Tikrit putting Iraq back onto the front burner of world media coverage and with the Obama administration threatening air strikes in Iraq once again, anti-war organizations and activists in the United States must take a clear position against further U.S. intervention of any type. Broad opposition must again be mobilized to demand:... Jun 12, 2014 Syria’s elections: Big setback to imperialist war plans Nearly 12 million Syrians cast their ballots on June 3 at 9,601 open polling sites across Syria and in Syrian embassies around the world. With a turnout of 72 percent, President Bashar al-Assad from the Ba’ath Party won over 88 percent of the vote.... Jun 11, 2014 Bowe Bergdahl: hero or scapegoat? U.S. imperialism’s political switches can be breathtaking. It only took two days for Bowe Bergdahl to change from a diplomatic tool to a political football. That dizzying switch has one positive result: It helps expose the reactionary character of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and gives an opportunity to review U.S. imperialism’s role in that country.... Jun 8, 2014 Syrian people elect president by wide margin amid insurgent attacks On June 3, nearly 12 million Syrians cast their ballots at one of the 9,601 polling sites across Syria. With turnout out at 72 percent, including the millions of Syrian refugees who live across the world, President Bashar al-Assad from the Ba’ath Party won the election with over 88 percent of the vote. Defeated was communist legislator Maher Hajjar, known for leading the protest movement in spring 2011 which called for better programs and assistance for the poor, who had 3.2 percent of the votes. Prominent businessman Hassan Abdullah al-Nouri also ran and received 4.3 percent.... Jun 5, 2014 Imperialism & elections in Syria, Egypt & Ukraine Why is the election in Syria so important that U.S. government officials have condemned it before it takes place? Why, at the same time, have U.S. officials embraced and applauded the results of elections organized by the military coup government of General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Egypt and the election by the fascist coup forces of billionaire oligarch Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine?... Jun 4, 2014 No to U.S intervention in Syrian election What makes this election unique is that it can help protect the sovereignty, even the existence of this country. It can help end the bloody war that has drained the lifeblood of the country. It is seen as a essential step toward national reconciliation.... May 29, 2014 The International Action Center is supporting the following panels at Left Forum this year.... May 27, 2014 Protests say: ‘Stop U.S. march to war’’ “No to fascism in Ukraine! No war with Russia!” was the theme of the International Action Center protest in New York’s Times Square on May 26, Memorial Day. The demonstrators’ determination to denounce U.S. aggression and the expansion of NATO into Ukraine contrasted with the general mood of the sunny spring holiday. Speakers at the rally demanded hands off the Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and expressed solidarity with the anti-fascist fighters there. Representatives of South American liberation struggles in Venezuela and Honduras spoke, aligning with those in Eastern Europe fighting against U.S. imperialism. Anti-war soldiers denounced the Pentagon on Memorial Day and called for people to remember those murdered by fascists in Ukraine. After more than an hour in Times Square, the demonstration set off for CNN headquarters, about a mile away. Signs opposing the U.S. war machine and militant slogans got a great reception from many tourists and passersby as the demonstration moved up Broadway.... Apr 8, 2014 Seminar in Mexico: Fighting U.S. intervention takes front burner Some 260 leftist political activists from 39 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean but including people from around the world, gathered in Mexico City from March 27 to 29. They joined hundreds from the hosting Labor Party (Partido del Trabajo or PT) at its 18th International Seminar. Some 100 speakers, from a broad range of left political positions, spoke on many subjects with a common thread: the danger posed by Washington’s aggressive posture toward all countries south of the U.S. border and especially toward the Bolivarian government of Venezuela.... Apr 4, 2014 Workers are striking in both the private and public sectors in Egypt and students are demanding jobs in Tunisia. While students in Kenya won their strike, the demands of transport workers in Nairobi have not yet been met.... Feb 13, 2014 Syria: U.S. imperialism and diplomacy The much ballyhooed Geneva II peace talks, which were supposed to bring about peace in Syria, ended on Jan. 31 with no agreement for one very good reason: The U.S had no intention of seeking any real peace agreement, but was intent on using the forum as a background for propaganda and as a way to deceive and weaken the Syrian government.... Jan 30, 2014 For nearly seven months in 2011, NATO planes — particularly from the U.S., France, Britain and Canada — carried out a massive bombing campaign in Libya intended to overthrow the government of Muammar Gaddafi.... Jan 11, 2014 Egypt sets referendum as coup regime cracks down on activists A 50-person committee to draft an amended Egyptian constitution completed its work. The military-appointed regime that came to power through an army coup on July 3 of last year is encouraging people to vote in the upcoming national referendum on Jan. 14-15.... Jan 11, 2014 International meeting to seek justice for Iraq An increase in deaths in Iraq from internal fighting and bombing doubled in 2013 from a year earlier, reaching levels unseen since 2008. In early January, the Nouri al-Maliki regime launched an attack on demonstrators in Falluja and Ramadi, using the alleged presence of al-Qaida as a pretext and asking for U.S. military aid.... Dec 18, 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour M. Hersh has written a detailed and devastating exposure of the U.S. government’s manipulation of military intelligence to create a pretext for the war it very nearly unleashed against Syria last September.... Dec 7, 2013 What’s at stake with the Iran nuclear treaty? The six-month nuclear agreement among Iran and the “5+1” countries has been described as a breakthrough, a departure, a disaster or a betrayal, depending on the speaker. Much of the language of the agreement reached in Geneva on Nov. 24 reeks of imperialist arrogance.... Dec 5, 2013 The capitalist press is busy speculating on the motives of the People’s Republic of China in setting up an Air Defense Information Zone that covers the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.... Nov 19, 2013 Was drone strike’s goal to wreck peace talks? A missile launched from a CIA drone killed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leader Hakimullah Mehsud in northwest Pakistan. This Nov. 1 strike occurred just 18 hours before a planned invitation to a conference between Taliban leaders and the Pakistan government. The conference was designed to end the long and bloody civil war in that country. (Inter Press Service, Nov. 7)... Nov 3, 2013 IAC condemns Israeli air strike against Syria The International Action Center condemns the strike by Israeli planes or missiles of Syrian territory near the coastal city of Latakia on Oct. 31. This is at least the third time this year that Israeli forces have bombed or hit targets inside Syria, according to media and U.S. government sources.... Oct 22, 2013 In a reversal of its usual role, Human Rights Watch on Oct. 11 released a report that exposed and condemned rebel groups fighting against the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria.... Oct 21, 2013 Solidarity message from NWFN to Syrian Women - Español-English-Arabic From the United States, women who belong to the National Women's Fightback Network of the International Action Center send a warm and caring embrace to the brave people of Syria and especially to the women. It is the women and the children who suffer most from the impact of wars.... Oct 18, 2013 U.S. military forces intervened in the African states of Libya and Somalia on Oct. 5 under the guise of waging the “war on terrorism.”... Sep 26, 2013 Over the next few weeks heads of state and foreign ministers from predatory imperialist countries and developing nations trying to defend their sovereignty will take the podium at the United Nations when the General Assembly convenes.... Sep 26, 2013 U.S. anti-war delegation witnesses Syria’s resistance to imperialism With the U.S. government keeping both massive bombing and regime change “on the table” for Syria in mid-September, we from the International Action Center and others among the anti-war forces in the U.S. believed it important to organize a delegation to visit this small country now facing imperialist attack.... Sep 21, 2013 Syrian Americans say ‘No!’ to U.S. war on their country A significant turnout of nearly 1,000 anti-war demonstrators, most from the Syrian-American community, marched in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9, the day that the U.S. Congress reconvened and the day before President Barack Obama withdrew the war resolution against Syria. The first topic on Congress’ agenda was to discuss the resolution giving the executive authority to bomb Syria. This was the last thing wanted by many of the Syrian-origin people living in the U.S., and so they came to protest.... Sep 21, 2013 U.S. solidarity & fact-finding delegation visits Syria A delegation of anti-war and human-rights activists from the United States entered Syria Sept. 16 on a fact-finding and people-to-people solidarity trip. The participants plan to counter the ubiquitous pro-war propaganda spread in the U.S. and NATO imperialist countries and former colonial powers that demonizes the Syrian government.... Sep 20, 2013 U.S. anti-war activists visit Syria An anti-war delegation from the United States visited Syria the week of Sept. 16 to see for themselves what is happening there. The delegation included human rights lawyer and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark; Cynthia McKinney, a former six-term congressperson from Georgia; Dedon Kamathi of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party and Pacifica Radio; and Johnny Achi of Arab Americans 4 Syria in Los Angeles. The International Action Center, which pulled together the delegation, sent key organizers John Parker from Los Angeles and Sara Flounders from New York.... Sep 18, 2013 Former U.S. Officials Ramsey Clark and Cynthia McKinney Travel to Mideast Anti-War Conference & Syria to Oppose U.S. War Plans While most media coverage makes it look like the war danger has diminished, Secretary of State John Kerry has made it clear that the threat of attack will persist -- that it is still the U.S. strategic plan to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power even if all Syrian chemical weapons are destroyed. (Business Week, Sept. 16) ... Sep 18, 2013 EYEWITNESS SYRIA: Audio Report from IAC Delegation The anti-war movement is in a race with the Pentagon to stop the U.S. from its goal -- pushed back momentarily -- of going to war with Syria. This urgency is what made the International Action Center (IAC) send a delegation from the United States to Syria. The IAC's Sara Flounders gives an audio report (below) on the team's trip so far, featuring an on-air meeting with members of "Over Our Dead Bodies" -- the youth encampment of hundreds of voluntary human shields at Syria's communications centers.... Sep 13, 2013 U.S. maneuvers to derail mass revulsion to war President Barack Obama and the White House are struggling mightily to override global and domestic opposition to a military adventure in Syria by trying to get Congress to vote for war. Washington is pulling out all the stops. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough went on all five Sunday morning television shows to push the war. Obama is appearing on six major TV networks tonight and will make a major speech tomorrow, all to try to reverse a growing momentum against the Syrian adventure.... Sep 13, 2013 A crack that lets in light In this age of horribly destructive weapons and the ability of U.S. government agencies to pore over everyone’s private communications — if they are digitized, as most are — there is a tendency to regard the capitalist state as all-powerful, a juggernaut that can roll over everyone if it wants.... Sep 11, 2013 Response to Obama's Speech: Accelerate the Antiwar Movement! The President's speech Tuesday night repeated all of the lies the United States has been telling about Syria to justify war -- and shows that war may be delayed, but is not off the table. The biggest lie being told right now is that Assad agreed to give up his country's chemical weapons because of the United States' "credible military threat." What has really happened is that the warmakers in the Pentagon, and their backers on Wall Street, ran into a gigantic brick wall of resistance. They were forced to back down for the time being. They wanted to go to war right now. But when Kerry said on Monday, "All Assad has to do is give up his chemical weapons," Syria and Russia called his bluff. ... Sep 10, 2013 Reflecting deep opposition to the U.S. plans to attack Syria, yesterday anti-war demonstrations erupted in dozens of cities around the country and worldwide.... Sep 7, 2013 Open letter to the AFL-CIO leaders — Oppose war on Syria At this critical moment, the number one priority for organized labor must be to publicly, unequivocally, and loudly oppose the president’s plans to attack Syria. Understandably, the question of another war, this one against Syria, was likely not on the agenda of the AFL-CIO convention beginning this weekend in Los Angeles. Recent events, however, have changed everything and there’s no point in pretending that the situation is the same as before. If the plans to attack Syria are denounced from the podium of the labor convention, this would mean that organized labor has risen to the challenge of becoming the militant, thoroughly progressive, independent movement of working people in the United States. Not to do it would reduce the leadership of the AFL-CIO to providing cover for the president’s war plans.... Sep 7, 2013 Women speak out against U.S. intervention in Syria We, the member organizations of the International Women’s Alliance, raise our collective voices against the impending interventionist war that the United States is planning to wage against the Syrian people. The U.S. Senate’s recent approval of a punitive missile strike on Syria constitutes a direct act of aggression masquerading as humanitarian action. Despite widespread opposition from the international community and lack of authorization from the United Nations, the U.S. remains hell-bent on attacking Syria, even as reports show that Syrian rebels funded by the Saudi government — a close U.S. ally — were the ones responsible for the March 19 simultaneous chemical assaults in Aleppo and Ataybah, which left approximately 26 people including 16 Syrian soldiers dead, with 86 more seriously injured.... Sep 6, 2013 WASHINGTON DC ANTIWAR RALLY MON 9/ 9 AGAINST WAR ESCALATION The Senate Foreign Relations Committee narrowly approved an attack on Syria. But the resolution the committee passed leaped from "limited air strikes" to 90 days of bombardment. This is an ominous escalation. Remember "the Iraq supplement"? George W. Bush was required to get Congressional funding for the war every 90 days. Once war started, Congress never asserted itself again. That war lasted seven-and-a-half years, cost $4 trillion dollars, hundreds of thousands of lives -- and isn't really over. Kerry admitted to Congress on Monday that the vow of "no boots on the ground" isn't firm. "I don't want to take off the table an option that might or might not be available to a president of the United States."... Sep 4, 2013 Obama pushes war on Syria with new tactic On Sept. 3, Republican senators John McCain and Lindsay Graham, brokers for the Pentagon hawks, met with President Obama and came away saying that they now support plans for missile strikes against Syria. Graham said the attacks were going to be “a little more robust” than he had thought. There was talk of attacks on Syrian aircraft, artillery and rockets, and assurances from Obama that the attacks would be aimed at “shifting the momentum on the battlefield.” McCain called the meeting “encouraging” and said it would be “catastrophic” not to support the strikes.... Sep 4, 2013 Coast-to-coast protests hit U.S. plans to attack Syria On Aug. 28, with Washington, London and Paris apparently on the verge of opening up another very unpopular and dangerous war by firing missiles at Syria, anti-war activists in the U.S. and around the world went to the streets before the rockets were launched.... Sep 4, 2013 No attack on Syria! Anti-war, anti-imperialist and Syrian-American organizations inside the U.S. all see the coming week as the last chance to mobilize popular resistance to a military strike on Syria. Polls show the people are very worried about the political and economic consequences of another costly war, but this sentiment must be organized to affect the outcome.... Sep 4, 2013 Hands Off Syria Actions Momentum Grows Join in to stop the attack on Syria. The coming days provide the last chance to mobilize popular resistance to the military strike. The people fear both the political and economic consequences of another costly war. Millions believe the pretext for the war is another Big Lie like the lies used before the Vietnam, Iraq and Libya wars. We need to join together to loudly oppose this new war. ... Sep 4, 2013 In the Bush tradition, Obama lies to push war on Syria Barack Obama’s speech today, delivered from the White House Rose Garden, was aimed at winning the acquiescence of the war-weary and austerity-clobbered people in the United States for an illegal, aggressive and highly dangerous assault on the sovereign nation of Syria.... Aug 31, 2013 Endorse, Volunteer for or List Local HANDS OFF SYRIA Actions President Obama is using the same tactics as President Bush did before the Iraq War. When the UN Security Council would not support the U.S. war, Bush turned to the U.S. Congress for a war vote giving him “all necessary means”. Ten years later Iraq lay in ruins. A million Iraqis died, millions became refugees. More than 1.5 million US soldiers were deployed to Iraq. Today thousands of U.S. and NATO soldiers are disabled, traumatized and 1/3 will suffer from PTSD. Just as in Iraq, Afghanistan and earlier in Vietnam this is again a U.S. war based on lies. Bombing Syria is NOT a 'humanitarian intervention’. It is another war for Wall Street Profit! This time there is a risk of global confrontation or even world war. ... Aug 28, 2013 STOP U.S. war on SYRIA Without presenting even a hint of proof of Washington’s allegations that Syria has used poison gas, Secretary of State John Kerry has announced that a rocket attack on the sovereign state of Syria from four U.S. destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean is imminent.... Aug 27, 2013 NYC: Thurs., Aug. 29 at 6 pm: Say NO to another U.S. War, BEFORE the Bombs Fall! Yesterday we sent email alerts urging activists to begin mobilizing for what has long been known as 'Day After' protests against a US military strike. But it is important that across the country everyone opposed to still another US war find ways to raise their opposition now, BEFORE another criminal US war is unleashed with cruise missiles and a barrage of war propaganda and cynical lies of 'humanitarian concern'. In NYC, Chicago, Dearborn MI, Los Angeles, Washington DC and several other cities, there are plans for immediate protests this Wed and Thurs.... Aug 26, 2013 Stop U.S. aggression on Syria! Before we discuss any of the details of the latest Big Lie, The IAC denounces any missile or air attack on Syria as an international war crime. We call upon all anti-war forces in the United States to stand up to say “No!” to this act of aggression. U.S. imperialism is poised to open another war. This one, the latest in a long series of aggressive wars, would target Syria. As we write, four U.S. destroyers, each with 90 cruise missiles, are moving into place in the eastern Mediterranean to be able to launch these death-dealers at the Syrian people. As with earlier major U.S. aggressions against Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya, Washington has presented a Big Lie to try to justify an unwarranted and illegal assault on the Syrian people.With Yugoslavia, the claim, shown later to be false, was that the Serbian government was committing “genocide” against Albanian-ethnic people in Kosovo. In Libya, Moammar Gadhafi’s government was alleged to be on the verge of committing a bloodbath in Benghazi — another Big Lie invented by U.S.-NATO forces. And we all know that no “weapons of mass destruction” were found in Iraq.... Aug 26, 2013 IACC Denounces the Heinous Maneuvres of the Imperialist Powers in Syria The International Anti-imperialist Coordinating Committee (IACC) condemns the persistent efforts of the imperialist powers to destabilize Syria and oust the present Government of President Bashar el-Assad. They hatched a conspiracy to instigate some anti-Government forces to start an armed conflict against the legitimate Government led by President Assad.... Aug 19, 2013 The current campaign of massacres and repression launched by the Egyptian military constitutes a new and bloody chapter in the decades-long war by the generals against the Muslim Brotherhood. But it is more than that... Aug 19, 2013 The Egyptian revolution and the military coup Once again, the Egyptian masses have taken history’s center stage. In what some are calling the greatest outpouring of humanity in history, the people in Egypt took to the streets in the millions for five days, beginning June 30, in a show of no confidence in the Morsi government and to demand their right to food, shelter, justice, dignity and freedom from repression.... Aug 17, 2013 Stop the massacre in Egypt! The latest massacre of Muslim Brotherhood supporters demonstrating in Cairo was ordered by the U.S.-trained Egyptian generals who had earlier carried out the military coup that ousted elected President Mohamed Morsi. This bloody slaughter, along with the appointment of 17 Army and two police generals as governors of the 27 Egyptian governorates, plus the coup regime’s declaration of a one-month “state of emergency,” should wipe out any remaining doubts about the ousting of Morsi. It was an outright military coup. His democratic right to govern based on an election has far more legitimacy than any general’s diktat.... Aug 14, 2013 U.S.’s Syria policy at crossroads as ‘rebels’ near collapse Despite CIA coordination of training operations in Jordan and safe havens in Turkey and despite countless reports in the corporate media of the imminent surrender of a panicked Syrian government, the more than two-year intense effort to overthrow the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is collapsing.... Jul 18, 2013 Syria opposition continues to fragment On July 8, the self-styled “National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces” met once again under U.S. direction in neighboring Turkey. But instead of it bringing greater unity, “Prime Minister” in exile Ghassan Hitto resigned his position. Hitto is a U.S. citizen.... Jul 6, 2013 Coup in Egypt; what does it mean? An unprecedented outpouring of millions of Egyptians from all across the country has shown that the Egyptian revolution is not only alive but is on the rise. Having accomplished the overthrow of dictator Hosni Mubarak by protracted mobilization, enormous heroism and great sacrifice, the masses have once again come into the streets to demand the fulfillment of the revolution that they fought for in 2011.... Jul 5, 2013 NYC: July 10 demo - No U.S./NATO/Israeli War on Syria The White House’s June 13th announcement that it would begin directly supplying arms to the opposition in Syria is a dramatic escalation of the U.S./NATO war against that country. Thousands of U.S. troops and intelligence personnel are training opposition forces and coordinating operations in Turkey and Jordan. Israel, the recipient of more than $3 billion annually in U.S. military aid, has carried out heavy bombing raids against Syria. The Pentagon has developed plans for a “no-fly” zone over Syria, threatening a new U.S. air war.... Jun 25, 2013 War threat to Syria and Iran the focus of NYC forum An extraordinary anti-war forum entitled “Syria & Iran: The Next War?” was held here June 10 at the Solidarity Center. It featured anti-war veterans from the Iranian, Israeli and U.S. militaries, and was organized by United for Peace and Justice, Veterans For Peace and the U.S. Peace Council. The International Action Center hosted the meeting and IAC co-founder Sara Flounders chaired. All the speakers were members of the VFP Iran Working Group.... Jun 24, 2013 When Italian President Giorgio Napolitano met His Majesty King Abdullah II last year in Jordan, he expressed “the high regard with which Italy observes how the Hashemite dynasty has always pursued its desire for peace and its moderate line.”... Jun 22, 2013 Eyewitness report from Turkey June 17 On 15 June, President Recep Erdogan told the demonstrators: “We have our meeting at Kazlicesme tomorrow. Before it, if you don’t leave the park, we will remove you with police.” After this meeting with Erdogan, Taksim Dayanisma (Taksim Solidarity) decided to remove the tents, leaving only one as a symbol. But the police didn’t wait for the resisters to remove their tents. They attacked immediately.... Jun 21, 2013 Dangerous Escalation What's at stake?... Jun 20, 2013 Obama escalates U.S. role in Syria After a series of meetings in Washington, the Obama administration escalated the war against Syria by announcing that the United States would ship weapons directly to their proxy rebels in Syria. The New York Times described this materiel as “small arms and ammunition,” but added that the transfers may include anti-tank weapons as well. (New York Times, June 14)... Jun 20, 2013 As night fell on Istanbul June 15, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan unleashed paramilitary forces, called Jandarma, on protesters camped in historic Taksim Square. His aim was to stamp out the people’s movement sweeping Turkey.... Jun 16, 2013 Eyewitness reports on 12 days of Turkey’s rebellion Something so important has been happening in Turkey since May 29 that even we here are bewildered and amazed by this unexpected uprising. It is something, very hopeful, very new and very fresh. For a park and for a few trees, Turkish youth rose up and brought new hope and new light to Turkey’s society.... Jun 16, 2013 The Syrian pretext he reactionary terrorist gangs trying to overturn the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad are near collapse after a military defeat in the town of Qusair on the Lebanese border. Leading U.S. militarists — the most prominent being Sen. John McCain — are attacking President Barack Obama for allowing this collapse. The result: The Obama administration, without evidence, claims Assad used chemical weapons. This pretext is his excuse to justify providing small arms and ammunition to those he calls the “rebels.”... Jun 11, 2013 U.S.-NATO-Israel open ‘war games’ on Syrian border The crucial victory by the Syrian Arab Army against imperialist-backed terrorist ‘rebels’ in Qusair, a town near the border with Lebanon, has further disintegrated the military and political opposition to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. At the same time, the threats against Syria’s government by imperialist and reactionary monarchist powers, led by the United States, are increasing.... Jun 11, 2013 United statement to oppose U.S./NATO and Israeli war on Syria While the White House orders the Pentagon to plan a no-fly zone over Syria and the U.S. has troops at the ready in Jordan, for the past two years the CIA has coordinated massive weapons shipments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey with the aim of guaranteeing that a pro-U.S. regime comes to power, therefore negating the Syrian people’s right to self-determination.... Jun 7, 2013 Syrian troops battle for Qusair The battle for Qusair is shaping up to be a major turning point in the Syrian war. The two sides, the imperialist-backed “rebels” and the Syrian Arab Army troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, are locked in heavy combat for this strategic city near the Lebanese border.... Jun 3, 2013 West weaves web of lies over Syria There is mythology of Western interventionism in Syria: The role of the United States and other Western nations has been to bolster moderates within a broad anti-government coalition fighting for freedom against a tyrannical regime. As late as Feb. 28 of this year, Secretary of State John Kerry claimed the U.S. was for the first time shipping “nonlethal aid” to the Syrian opposition, a public position he has maintained through recent calls to double aid to Syrian rebels and reach a goal of over a billion dollars in international aid.... May 11, 2013 U.S./Israel Hands Off Syria! United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) The May 2-3 and 4-5 nighttime bombings of Syria’s International Airport, military installations in a Damascus suburb and a military supply depot reportedly killed 300 people. The bombings were initially denied but then confirmed by Israel and soon after given the stamp of approval by the Obama Administration.... May 5, 2013 Israeli attack on Syria widens war -- U.S. anti-war movement on alert: IAC Statement The latest Israeli warplane striking the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, during the nights of May 2-3 and May 4-5 have dangerously escalated foreign intervention in the ongoing war in Syria. The anti-war movement in the United States must be alert to the growing attempt by the U.S., other NATO powers and now the main militarist threat in the region, Israel, to overturn the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria and replace it with an imperialist puppet.... Apr 17, 2013 The Boston bombing & racist media Much still remains unknown about the bomb explosions yesterday at the finish line of the Boston Marathon and what was behind this disaster that has tragically hit so many individuals and families who were on the scene, the majority of them spectators.... Apr 6, 2013 While the Obama administration continues to claim that it is providing only “nonlethal” aid to the Syrian opposition, its role in fueling the bloody war there is increasingly coming to light.... Mar 30, 2013 Obama targets Palestinian goals & Syria’s sovereignty President Barack Obama’s four-day visit to Israel, the first since his first election in 2008, began March 20. Worldwide media attention was focused on what the powerful U.S. leader would tell its client regime and settler state. Overall, reports indicated worse news for the beleaguered Palestinian people and for sovereign Syria.... Mar 23, 2013 Imperialism increases its hand in Syrian war French President François Hollande called for an end of the European Union’s embargo on arms shipments to Syria just prior to an EU summit meeting in Brussels on March 14. Britain also has taken this position. Both countries are considering directly shipping weapons to the “rebels” if the EU does not lift the embargo. (New York Times, March 15)... Mar 23, 2013 Two steps closer to a U.S. war on Syria Syria’s counterrevolutionary opposition has taken a step that moves it even closer to U.S. imperialism. At the same time, the Barack Obama administration has moved a step closer to direct and open intervention in the war against Syria, using the pretext that “chemical weapons” have been used.... Mar 2, 2013 SPY & KILLER DRONES: Why we must stop them In the almost two decades since the U.S. military first deployed them, drones have generally escaped the spotlight, except in alternative media or military-oriented trade publications. However, their use inside the U.S. has opened a debate that has reached into the U.S. Congress. Up until recently, these pilotless planes, which have brought death in the night to villages on the other side of the world, attracted little attention here in the mass media or government “oversight” bodies. Now, as police agencies and private corporations line up to buy drones, civil liberties and other organizations have demanded more information about how they will be used.... Feb 23, 2013 SIGN ON to HANDS OFF IRAN statement responding to the upcoming 5+1 talks on Iran's nuclear development / also in Spanish and Farsi Support of the legal and legitimate rights of the Iranian people for self-determination and sovereignty is growing as the new round of negotiations with Iran and the countries of 5+1, i.e. US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany is set for February 26th in Kazakhstan.... Feb 22, 2013 The new form of global warfare alleges to “protect” by preemptively preventing mass atrocities. Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a U.S.-educated academic and mother, is caught in its web and now serving 86 years in a federal prison in Texas.... Feb 22, 2013 In support of efforts to pressure the U.S. government to repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan, former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney and International Action Center Co-Director Sara Flounders traveled to Pakistan last December... Feb 16, 2013 CIA confronted for drone attacks John Brennan found himself in an uncomfortable and unusual situation on Feb. 7 when protesters loudly confronted him, intent on holding him and the U.S. government accountable for their past and present war crimes. Brennan is the chief counterterrorism adviser to the Obama administration.... Feb 9, 2013 Leftist leader’s murder arouses mass resistance in Tunisia The 500,000 members of Tunisia’s union federation shut down this North African country’s major cities on Feb 8 as tens of thousands joined the funeral march in Tunis of Chokri Belaïd, slain leader of the Unified Patriotic Democratic Movement, a Marxist and pan-Arabist organization. According to reports, masked killers gunned down Belaïd in his car on the morning of Feb. 6 outside his home in Tunis.... Feb 1, 2013 Risk of regional war grows as Israel bombs Syria Israel’s air force bombed a military facility in western Syria at dawn today, according to several media sources. Reports describe Israeli warplanes flying low, below radar, and destroying a building northwest of Damascus. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that “a scientific research center used by the military” was hit, killing two workers and wounding five.... Jan 30, 2013 According to UN investigations in 2010 there are more than 27,000 prisoners held by the U.S. in more than 100 secret prisons around the world and on 17 ships as floating prisons. These are almost entirely Muslim prisoners.... Jan 26, 2013 French imperialism has launched major military operations in West and East Africa under the guise of fighting “Islamic terrorism.” French fighter jets and commandos have gone into operation in the north and central regions of Mali.... Jan 26, 2013 Opposition grows worldwide to French invasion of Mali In response to the French imperialist intervention in January, the Coalition of Patriotic Organizations of Mali (COPAM) called demonstrations against the presence of foreign troops in their country. COPAM demands that the current transitional president, Dioncounda Traoré, resign. They target him for giving the green light to troops from the Economic Community of West African States to intervene in Mali under the auspices of the U.N. (Radio France International, Jan. 11)... Jan 26, 2013 French war on Mali spreads to Algeria The war that French imperialism has escalated in its former West African colony of Mali has now spread to neighboring Algeria. There, some 82 people have been reported killed after an attempted seizure of hostages at a natural gas field. Imperialist governments are lining up for a long intervention in Africa.... Jan 19, 2013 Who is Dr. Aafia Siddiqui & why did Algerian kidnappers demand her release? by Yvonne Ridle The only thing that surprised me when I heard that the Algerian kidnappers had called for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui was that it hadn’t happened sooner. Don’t get me wrong, as a former hostage myself, there is no way I condone the actions of what has unfolded in a remote corner of the Algerian desert. And my heart goes out to the families of those who have lost loved ones in the unfolding drama at the In Amenas gas plant siege said to have been masterminded by Mohktar Belmokhtar. The infamous one-eyed Algerian militant apparently with ties to al Qaida, has claimed responsibility for launching Wednesday’s attack. It also goes without saying there is no way the kidnappers, whether politically or criminally motivated, can be justified in their actions.... Jan 14, 2013 IRAN petition responding to the upcoming 5+1 talks on Iran's nuclear development -- supported by the IAC and Ramsey Clark As we approach the new round of negotiations between the countries of 5+1 i.e. US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany with Iran to discuss the so called “Iran’s nuclear issue”, we the undersigned declare our stand on this issue, as follows:... Jan 14, 2013 SIGN ON to IRAN statement responding to the upcoming 5+1 talks on Iran's nuclear development -- supported by the IAC and Ramsey Clark As we approach the new round of negotiations between the countries of 5+1 i.e. US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany with Iran to discuss the so called “Iran’s nuclear issue”, we the undersigned declare our stand on this issue, as follows:... Dec 25, 2012 The ominous signs of impending war with Syria escalate. NATO is massing troops and military equipment on Syria's borders, and preparing to install missiles aimed at Syria. U.S. warships are stationed off Syria’s coast.... Dec 8, 2012 Open political battle breaks out over Egypt’s Constitution Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians have been demonstrating on both sides with regard to a draft constitution for the North African state. President Mohamed Morsi, whose Nov. 22 edict increasing his political powers sparked mass protests, has now announced a Dec. 15 date for a national referendum to approve or reject the controversial document. The Muslim Brotherhood, which is behind Morsi’s political party, and the Salafist Muslim organizations form a majority in the government and have a broad political base, which means the referendum would likely approve the new constitution.... Dec 5, 2012 Cynthia McKinney and IAC Co-Director Sara Flounders travel to Pakistan in solidarity with Political Prisoner Aafia Siddiqui Arriving in Karachi, Pakistan, at 4 a.m. for a trip in support of efforts to free and repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney and International Action Center Co-Director Sara Flounders received an overwhelmingly warm welcome on Dec. 2. Hundreds of Siddiqui’s supporters met the two at the airport in the wee hours of the morning, carrying flowers, signs and banners, and chanting “Free Aafia!” and “Welcome!”... Dec 4, 2012 Cynthia McKinney, Sara Flounders travel to Pakistan in solidarity with political prisoner Arriving in Karachi, Pakistan, at 4 a.m. for a trip in support of efforts to free and repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney and International Action Center Co-Director Sara Flounders received an overwhelmingly warm welcome on Dec. 2. Hundreds of Siddiqui’s supporters met the two at the airport in the wee hours of the morning, carrying flowers, signs and banners, and chanting “Free Aafia!” and “Welcome!”... Dec 1, 2012 Tell U.S. to ‘Free Aafia Siddiqui!’ In support of continuing efforts to pressure the U.S. government to repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan, former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney and International Action Center Co-Director Sara Flounders will travel to Pakistan from Dec. 2-9. The trip will focus on due process and justice and expose U.S. practices of secret renditions, illegal confinement and torture — practices highlighted by Siddiqui’s case.... Nov 30, 2012 Egypt erupts over Morsi power grab Mass protests erupted across Egypt following President Mohamed Morsi’s Nov. 22 announcement of a series of decrees that would further consolidate his administration’s power over areas of law, the judiciary and the constitution. On Nov. 26, he met with leaders of the Supreme Judiciary Council in Cairo in an attempt to calm the atmosphere on the eve of scheduled demonstrations both for and against his ruling.... Nov 2, 2012 U.S. backs Bani Walid’s destruction Despite reports that chemical weapons were used against the civilian population of Bani Walid in Libya, the U.S. State Department is supporting its surrogates’ takeover of the western hilltop city. Militias from Misrata, known for their brutality and racism, have held Bani Walid, a stronghold of loyalists allied with Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s government, under siege for a month.... Oct 28, 2012 Puppets use chemical weapons against Bani Walid, Libya Supporters of Bani Walid’s people demonstrated outside the General National Congress parliament in Tripoli, Libya, on Oct. 21 calling for a halt to the town’s siege. Bani Walid’s 80,000 people were a bastion of support for the former Jamahiriya government led by the martyred Col. Moammar Gadhafi. Protesters attempted to enter the building but were dispersed by police.... Oct 28, 2012 Syria defends itself from imperialist onslaught During the last 19 months of chaotic civil war in Syria, with opposition rebels armed by the U.S., NATO and the Gulf monarchies through Turkey, have you ever heard Syrian government representatives defend their government’s position regarding the fighting in their country? If you live in the imperialist U.S. or Europe, your answer is probably “never.” Why? Syrian television stations are banned by sanctions, and corporate-owned television hardly ever offers the “enemy” sound bites. Even in other Arabic-speaking countries, the Syrian position has been drowned out by the anti-Syrian propaganda from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.... Oct 23, 2012 U.S.-NATO driven to wage war on Syria Turkey’s war jets forced down a civilian airliner flying from Moscow to Damascus. Thirty-five Russians and Syrians were passengers on the Oct. 10 flight, endangered by the action. U.S. spokesperson Victoria Nuland immediately supported Turkey’s act of air piracy. Also, some 150 U.S. special troops moved into Syria’s southern neighbor, Jordan.... Oct 23, 2012 Libya becomes focus of U.S. election One year since the brutal assassination of former Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi, the Republican Party is using Libya’s political crisis in an attempt to defeat President Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election. Both U.S. ruling-class parties backed the 2011 war against this oil-producing nation that had maintained the highest standard of living in Africa.... Oct 18, 2012 What’s really behind the attack on Malala Yousafzai The horrible, near-fatal shooting of a young Pakistani schoolgirl, reportedly by members of the Taliban, has focused world attention on the conflict between the armed Islamic group and Pakistani advocates of education for women. Malala Yousafzai, 14 years old, was shot in the head and neck while on a school bus, according to her classmates. She has been flown to Britain to receive medical attention for severe damage to her skull.... Oct 17, 2012 NYC: Oct 20 --Join the discussion on Syria as it is told by its representatives For over a year and a half we've been hearing about what's going on in the Middle East, and the so-called ‘Arab Spring’. Yet with all the proclamations of ‘free press’ we seldom hear the voices of those most affected by war and terrorism.... Oct 15, 2012 Protests condemn U.S./NATO wars and wars at home he 11th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was not forgotten by anti-imperialist activists inside the United States. From New York City to Los Angeles, and in dozens of cities in between, the ongoing war and occupation were denounced at actions held Oct. 5-7. Initiated by the United National Antiwar Coalition and related organizations, the series of protests demanded “U.S./NATO out of Afghanistan!” “Hands off Syria!” “Don’t attack Iran!” “No more drone attacks!” and “No sanctions!” Following are outlines of actions in several cities.... Oct 12, 2012 On Turkey's Grounding of Syrian Airliner - NATO MOVES CLOSER TO WAR Turkey’s war-jets forced down a civilian airliner, flying from Moscow to Damascus. Thirty-five Russians and Syrians were passengers. This aggressive act brings NATO another step closer to open war against Syria as part of an imperialist plan to take over the country. ... Oct 10, 2012 URGENT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MADRID PLATFORM AGAINST IMPERIALIST WAR Faced with the risk that the escalating tension between Syria and Turkey will lead to an open NATO attack on Syria, either directly or through the Turkish army, the Platform Against Imperialist War CALLS UPON THE POPULATION TO REACT WITH DETERMINATION TO OPPOSE THIS NEW AGGRESSION FROM THE IMPERIALIST POWERS OF THE U.S., THE EU AND ISRAEL.... Oct 4, 2012 WAR DANGER! NATO Member Turkey Strikes Syria NATO-member Turkey has used alleged mortar fire from Syria as a pretext to launch artillery fire across the border, killing Syrian soldiers, and to prepare military intervention. NATO -- an alliance mainly of the former colonial overlords of the world and the current biggest imperialist powers -- immediately supported Turkey's aggression. The British and German governments, the European Union and the U.S. all criticized the Syrian government and sympathized with Turkey. The Turkish Parliament has approved further attacks.... Sep 28, 2012 NYC: Oct. 7 action: End the wars Racism is a weapon of war. We stand in solidarity with victims of police, state, and racial violence and build links to people under attack – Muslims, Sikhs, immigrant workers, death row prisoners, African-American and Latino youth, social justice activists are all targets in an atmosphere of escalating racism and repression.... Sep 25, 2012 There are times in history when war and politics converge with economics to create a true turning point, a point at which things cannot and will not ever be the same. Such points in time are marked by fierce struggle.... Sep 18, 2012 List of Actions and UNAC Statement on attacks on US Embassies in Libya and other Middle Eastern, North African and SW Asian Countries The massive, angry demonstrations and attacks on U.S. embassies sweeping through the Muslim world comes in the context of a campaign against Muslims carried out by the U.S. government in an attempt to justify their wars against Muslim countries. This campaign includes preemptive prosecutions where FBI agents create phony plots and encourage behavior that can be prosecuted and attacks on civil liberties at home; the Peter King hearings; NYPD spying on Muslims; raids and detentions; and states that have passed anti-Muslim laws. It includes the physical attacks on Muslims, on mosques and on people who racist whites think are Muslims, like Sikhs, and opposition to Muslim building projects like Park 51 and much more.... Sep 12, 2012 Non-Aligned Movement meets in Iran, defies U.S. A meeting in Tehran starting Aug. 26 puts into the sharpest perspective the waning position of U.S. imperialism globally and especially in the Middle East. Both the U.S. and Israel’s demands for a boycott of the meeting were ignored. Clearly the U.S. hold is slipping.... Sep 11, 2012 he United National Anti-war Coalition has called for protest actions across the country on the anniversary of the imperialist U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.... Aug 25, 2012 Support Syria against U.S.-NATO! Each week brings U.S. imperialism closer to direct military intervention in Syria with the aim of overthrowing the government of President Bashir al-Assad and crushing Syria’s independence and sovereignty. Up to now Washington has avoided direct intervention, working instead with its NATO allies through Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to fund and arm the reactionary opposition to Assad and the Syrian people.... Aug 22, 2012 Veterans For Peace Appeals to Non-Alignment Movement Leaders: Stop War, Stop Sanctions on Iran With the Non-Aligned Movement meeting this week in Tehran, Veterans For Peace is urging the organization of 120 nations not formally allied with any major power bloc to take steps to deter the Israeli-American threats of war against Iran over its nuclear enrichment program.... Aug 21, 2012 Syria defends itself against imperialist onslaught he fighting in Syria is shaping up as a military showdown between the Syrian army on one side and “rebel” fighters openly backed by the U.S.-NATO imperialist powers, along with Israel, on the other. These “rebels” are being armed directly through NATO-member Turkey and the Qatari and Saudi Arabian monarchies.... Jul 28, 2012 Statement of Veterans For Peace: The Solution to the Nuclear “Crisis” with Iran is not Sanctions and War. It is a Middle East Free of All Nuclear Weapons We are once again on the verge of another disastrous war in the Middle East. The United States and its allies in Europe and the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are consciously pushing Syria toward a destructive civil war. The objective is to bring down the Assad regime, an ally of the Iranian government, as a stepping-stone toward further isolation of Iran and preparation of the ground for a military attack on that country.... Jul 21, 2012 Setback for U.S. war plans in Asia Washington’s strategy to cement a military alliance of the U.S., Japan and south Korea came unglued on June 29 at the last minute as popular pressure forced the Seoul regime to back out of signing a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo. ... Jul 21, 2012 U.S. prepares anti-Syria war psychology The U.S. and its allies are escalating the war fever against Syria. Not only do they claim to have “discovered” another “massacre” by the government, but they are also trotting out the much discredited charge that Syria possesses — and will use — weapons of mass destruction. The latest “massacre” supposedly occurred on July 12 in the village of Tremseh near the Syrian city of Hama. Some mainstream press headlines bellowed that Syrian government forces and alleged pro-government militia had slaughtered as many as 220 people indiscriminately.... Jul 14, 2012 Free Lynne Stewart! It is never admitted by U.S. government spokespeople — who love to shout out about “human rights violations” if the target is China or Iran — that the United States has political prisoners. Plenty of them. Many of them have been imprisoned since the Black, Native and Latino/a liberation struggles of the 1960s and 1970s.... Jul 14, 2012 ‘HANDS OFF SYRIA & IRAN’ Demonstrations against U.S./NATO military intervention in Syria were held in at least 29 cities coast-to-coast in the United States during the week ending July 1. The United National Antiwar Coalition had called the protests and demanded: Hands off Syria and Iran! End the drone wars! and Money for jobs, education and health care, not endless war! Following are brief descriptions of some of these actions.... Jul 11, 2012 Below are 3 interviews where Sara Flounders gives the International Action Center’s views and analysis of the U.S. role in the widening war in Syria today and the growing threats against Iran. The interviews are with: RT News, Press TV and Pacifica – KPFA: Project Censored.... Jun 29, 2012 HANDS OFF SYRIA The Turkish regime, in cahoots with the NATO powers, has carried out a provocation against the Syrian people that threatens a new war of imperialist conquest in Western Asia. That’s the message out of Brussels on June 26, where a cynical meeting of NATO labeled Syria the “aggressor.” Why? Because Syria’s air defenses shot down a Turkish plane flying low and fast into its airspace as it was about to reach its territory. The Turkish government even admitted that its RF4E Phantom jet had flown into Syria’s airspace on June 22 — “erroneously.” Western governments and corporate media immediately heaped the blame on Syria — making it obvious that a planned provocation is in progress. Important sections of the anti-war and progressive movement in the United States have reacted to this new war thacreat, calling actions during the week of June 23 to July 1 to protest NATO war moves. They have also called for “day after” actions following any new U.S., NATO or Turkish aggression against Syria.... Jun 27, 2012 The following timeline reviews the progression of U.S.-NATO intervention in Syria and counteracts the Big Lie in the corporate media aimed at preparing open imperialist military aggression against the Syrian people.... Jun 27, 2012 Actions and Facts to Oppose Growing U.S. War Danger vs. Syria or Iran The growing threat of war against Syria is escalating! Recently, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Russia not to get in the way of US backed efforts to force out the government of President Assad. The U.S. supplied Turkish jet shot down over Syria has heightened tensions. While Washington and its NATO allies openly funds and arms mercenary forces in Syria, the corporate media is making every effort to overwhelm us with calls for another "Humanitarian War".... Jun 26, 2012 Emergency Protests Against the Growing Threat of War! Hands Off Syria and Iran! The growing threats of war against Syria are alarming. Recently, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Russia not to get in the way of US backed efforts to force out the government of President Assad. The corporate media is making every effort to overwhelm us with calls for another “Humanitarian War”. The drum beat of aggression against Iran grows daily as well. The coup by the U.S. funded and trained Egyptian military, overturning the first popularly elected government in recent history is another ominous warning. The threat of new war is real while US drone attacks are an expanding form of anonymous war.... Jun 11, 2012 Drones’ murder of innocents highlights U.S. hypocrisy s the U.S. and its allies prepare to intervene in Syria, they have seized on the massacre that took place at Houla last week to justify a war. The State Department called the rampage “despicable” and complained about a regime that could “connive in or organize” such a thing, although who was responsible is very much in dispute. Many countries, including the U.S., have expelled Syrian diplomats, which is often a prelude to war.... Jun 9, 2012 Eyewitnesses blame anti-gov’t fighters for Houla massacre A Russian news team was told by Syrian eyewitnesses that the May 25 massacre of civilians in Houla, universally blamed on the Assad government, was in fact committed by local criminals, mercenaries and other forces connected to the imperialist-armed “Free Syrian Army.”... Jun 1, 2012 Houla Massacre, Syria - IAC Interview on RT News Activist Sara Flounders from the International Action Center says that it is likely that the UN will give an absolutely different version of what happened in Houla, “because the whole purpose of the UN – peace mission – from the beginning has been to give a diplomatic cover to continued intervention in Syria,” she told RT.... May 30, 2012 Are U.S.-NATO setting up pretext for attack on Syria? Spokespeople from the NATO countries and their loyal media outlets have seized upon a massacre at Houla, Syria, to mobilize for open imperialist military intervention against the Syrian government and — and no one should doubt this — against the people of Syria. NATO governments have already begun expelling Syrian diplomats. There seems to be no doubt at this time — May 29 — that a massacre took place. There is, however, much confusion about who exactly carried out the massacre. The corporate media is blaming the killings on the Syrian government and calling for foreign intervention. The Syrians, however, deny that their armed forces or police have taken part, blame the killings on the armed opposition and have themselves condemned the killings and are organizing an investigation.... May 16, 2012 Egypt masses resist military repression s Egyptians prepare for the first round of national presidential elections on May 23-24, the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has enacted a series of repressive measures. Clashes between armed militias of supporters of the Islamist political parties killed up to 20 people on May 2 outside the Ministry of Defense in the Abbassiya District of Cairo. Many believe SCAF backs the militias.... Apr 22, 2012 Ahmed Ben Bella, the first president of independent Algeria, and one of the great revolutionary figures of Arab nationalism, died on April 11 at age of 96.... Apr 8, 2012 BRICS summit opposes intervention in Syria, Iran New Delhi, India, was the venue for the fourth BRICS Summit, which convened on March 29. BRICS stands for Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa, which together house 43 percent of the world’s population and are playing a greater role within a world economic system still dominated by the capitalist mode of production and social relations.... Mar 18, 2012 AFRICA ROUNDUP As the United States and the European Union escalate their military and economic roles on the African continent, mounting political crises have resulted in much social unrest. From Libya and Kenya to Nigeria and Somalia, internal turmoil, labor unrest and mass resistance illustrate the interconnectedness of events throughout the international scene.... Mar 10, 2012 Libya: U.N. panel sanitizes U.S.-NATO war crimes On March 2, the so-called U.N. Panel of Experts from the Human Rights Council issued a 200-page report on Libya, saying in essence that war crimes were committed by both the government led by Col. Moammar Gadhafi and the National Transitional Council forces that were put in power by the imperialist states. The report stated that Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 were justified and legitimate and that the Gadhafi administration deserved to be overthrown by the Western states and their allies.... Mar 10, 2012 Covert operations in Syria Syrian insurgents are being trained by personnel of the NATO-backed National Transitional Council in Libya, as Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin has complained on March 7 before the UN Security Council. In addition, NATO member States are actively intervening in the Syrian civil war. There is much evidence of direct and even military support to armed opposition groups by U.S., France and British forces, even if the intervening powers have taken every effort to leave no obvious traces.... Feb 26, 2012 Army, Muslim Brotherhood, U.S. jockeying for Egypt rule Workers in some factories and students in the universities in Egypt held strikes on Feb. 11, one year after the revolution that forced President Hosni Mubarak out of office and shook the world. A week earlier massive protests held the Egyptian regime and the police responsible for the deaths of more than 70 people at a soccer match.... Feb 16, 2012 Libyans fight back against U.S.-NATO puppet regime Since the U.S.-NATO-engineered war began against Libya last March 19, a new push has begun to recolonize Africa through the machinations of various intelligence agencies, special forces and surrogate militias armed and trained by the imperialists. Regional insecurity has grown rapidly.... Feb 16, 2012 In March 2003, Dr. Siddiqui was kidnapped with her three young children in Karachi, Pakistan, and held in secret detention by U.S. forces at Bagram Prison in Afghanistan for five years.... Feb 11, 2012 strong>The struggle for Syria isn't just about Syria--it's the struggle for a free, democratic Middle East versus one that lives under the yoke of American and Israeli hegemony.... Feb 10, 2012 Libya: Attacks rise againsat imperialist-backed regime A series of attacks have been launched against the U.S.- and NATO-installed National Transitional Council in Libya. The most significant events occurred on Jan. 23 when local forces still loyal to the former government of slain leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi retook the city of Bani Walid, located 120 miles southeast of Tripoli.... Feb 2, 2012 The following are three important anti-imperialist events scheduled for the coming months. The International Action Center is supporting and participating in each of them.... Jan 23, 2012 In his speech assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the Republic of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma criticized the U.N. for its stance that led to the eight-month war against Libya.... Jan 20, 2012 Jan 21: Global Day to support the Egyptian revolution Feb 11th, 2011, the whole world witnessed millions of Egyptian protesters marching in the streets of Egypt and protesting in Tahrir Square, demanding their basic human rights: dignity, freedom, and social justice. After decades of patience and suffering, Egyptians finally spoke out loudly and peacefully demanding the fall of a police-based authoritarian regime, the end of Mubarak’s dictatorship, and the establishment of a civilian, democratic state. Under the maximal pressure exerted by Egyptians, Mubarak was toppled. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) took charge in leading the country through the transitional stage. At that time, SCAF members and military personnel were regarded as heroes... Jan 18, 2012 Global Day to support the Egyptian revolution – Sat. Jan 21th, 2012 - NYC: THURS. 6:30 - Help make signs & banners for Sat, Jan 21 In Their quest for Dignity, Freedom, Justice, and Democracy, Egyptian & Egyptian Solidarity Groups are calling upon people from all nations, races, colors, and religions as well as human rights and peace groups and organizations to join Egyptians abroad in their rallies to support the Egyptian revolution.... Jan 10, 2012 Jan21: Global Day to support the Egyptian revolution In their quest for dignity, Freedom, Justice, and Democracy, Egyptian Americans & Egyptian Solidarity Groups are calling upon people from all nations, races, colors, and religions as well as human rights and peace groups and organizations to join Egyptians abroad in their rallies to support the Egyptian revolution.... Jan 9, 2012 Some 10,000 women of all classes and walks of life took to the streets of Cairo on Dec. 20 to protest the military’s misogynistic, violent assaults on Egyptian women. Many demanded that the military step down immediately.... Dec 11, 2011 The Egyptian elections: Why an Islamic sweep? While the military government now says the turnout at the polls was 52 percent, lower than its earlier figure of 70 percent, many voters waited in line for hours to participate in the first of three elections for parliament. They saw the vote as a right won by the revolutionary movement.... Dec 8, 2011 The U.S.-NATO forces, using the United Nations and the Arab League as a cover, are positioning themselves for a military intervention in Syria. At the same time, they have upped their economic war on the government led by Bashir al-Assad.... Dec 5, 2011 Solidarity with Iran - SI Statement; also in Spanish and Farci On Tuesday 29 November 2011, the 1st anniversary of martyrdom of the Iranian scientist and university professor, Majid Shahriari, who was assassinated by terrorists backed by the governments of Israel, US and UK, hundreds of Iranian youth lead by representatives of several organizations of university students hold a demonstration in front of the UK embassy in Tehran to demand closure of that embassy and to end relations of the government of Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) with the government of UK, In view of the fact that:... Dec 2, 2011 Africa 2011: Year of mass upheaval, imperialist interventions Dec. 17 marks the anniversary of a year of uprisings, strikes, government resignations and regime change on the African continent. A resource-rich and strategically located geopolitical region, Africa has experienced numerous mass demonstrations, general strikes, rebellions and full-scale military assaults as part of a heightening global class struggle for control of the continent’s economic and political future.... Dec 1, 2011 New phase of Egypt’s revolution: Masses say: No military rule Record numbers of Egyptian voters of all ages and classes, women and men, cast ballots for a new parliament Nov. 28 and 29. Some waited in line for hours to vote in the first election of its kind in 50 years.... Nov 24, 2011 Egyptian masses defy military The masses have opened a new chapter in the Egyptian revolution. They have stood strong in Tahrir Square for nearly four days against bullets and gas demanding that the military regime, which succeeded President Hosni Mubarak last Feb. 12, step down.... Oct 24, 2011 The brutal lynching of Moammar Gadhafi, the leader of Libya, is the latest criminal act in NATO's seven-month war of regime change and conquest.... Oct 22, 2011 Big antiwar turnout rocks Boston’s business district Occupy Boston and the United National Antiwar Committee rocked the city’s business district as 5,000 protesters marched on Oct. 15 with cries of “Whose streets? Our streets!” A contingent from Steelworkers Local 8751 representing Boston school bus drivers led the march from a union sound truck festooned with placards declaring “Wall Street = War Street.” The truck was ringed by a steadfast security contingent from Vets for Peace/Smedley Butler Brigade.... Oct 22, 2011 Day of Rage spurred by anger at U.S. aggression It was called as a global Day of Rage that also focused on the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. This convergence of events on Oct. 15 put tens of thousands of people in motion here in New York and in other cities across the country, reinforcing their anger at imperialist wars.... Oct 21, 2011 The imperialists murder Gadhafi News spread around the world on Oct. 20-21 that NATO planes had struck a car caravan leaving Sirte in Libya, wounding Moammar Gadhafi, and that the Libyan leader was captured alive and subsequently killed. The details of his death are sketchy and may be purposely distorted or obscured by his killers. This main fact stands out: It took the intervention of the imperialist air forces — including a U.S. Predator drone and a French warplane — to end the life of this African leader.... Oct 18, 2011 Libyan patriots resist NATO-led forces in Sirte U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, formerly director of the CIA, said at a news conference at NATO headquarters on Oct. 6 that the nearly nine-month-old war against the North African state of Libya would continue until all vestiges of resistance on the part of the people were eliminated.... Sep 27, 2011 Persecution of Black Libyans draws international outcry Despite the Sept. 15 visit to Libya of British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the struggle for control of the oil- producing North African state of Libya is far from complete. Battles for control of Bani Walid and Sirte illustrate that supporters of Muammar Gadhafi’s government still represent a disciplined fighting force against the U.S./NATO fighter jets and military operatives backing the National Transitional Council “rebels.”... Sep 17, 2011 World Trade Center attacks and consequences, interview with Junge Welt [also in Portuguese, German, Spanish and French] Below is the text of a recent interview John Catalinotto did with Junge Welt about his experience at the World Trade Center 10 years ago and the political consequences of the attack. The jW article is an edited and shorter version of the original comments in English.... Sep 14, 2011 As Egyptian masses occupy Israeli embassy, U.S. maneuvers to blunt support for Palestine U.S. imperialism is once again maneuvering to counter growing world support for the Palestinian struggle. Its primary motive is to protect the interests of U.S. capital in the Middle East, which center around, but are not restricted to, exploitation of the fabulous oil wealth in the area.... Sep 9, 2011 As war continues against Libya, imperialists plot theft of African wealth After nearly seven months of war against the North African state of Libya, the combined forces of NATO and its National Transitional Council “rebel” units are tightening their noose around the areas of the country where armed resistance has prevented the counterrevolution from taking over. Those millions of Libyans who remain loyal to the government and are opposing the efforts to loot the national wealth of this oil-producing nation are being pressured to lay down their arms and surrender.... Sep 4, 2011 By directing their enormous joint military and economic power against a poorly armed, nonindustrialized country of 6 million people, the imperialist states of North America and Western Europe have imposed a criminal regime on the Libyan people.... Aug 27, 2011 ILPS CONDEMNS THE US, NATO AND PUPPET FORCES FOR THEIR BARBARIC ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE IN LIBYA We, the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), condemn in the strongest terms the US, NATO and their puppet forces for their barbaric military campaign against the people in the whole of Libya since several months ago and in Tripoli currently. The combination of escalated NATO air bombardments and ground movement of Libyan puppet forces and NATO special forces against Tripoli since 20 August aims to deliver the final blow on the Gaddafi regime.... Aug 26, 2011 Under the most incredibly difficult conditions – including NATO bombing, mercenary landings, Special Forces operations and the destruction of civilian infrastructure – the heroic resistance to imperialist conquest in Libya has continued.... Aug 23, 2011 Libya: NATO escalates bombing as ‘rebels’ enter capital A six-month-old war against the government of Moammar Gadhafi in Libya has reached a new stage as NATO escalated its intervention with air power, naval power, strategy and intelligence to push the Transitional National Council’s armed units into the capital, Tripoli.... Aug 23, 2011 Speak up now – U.S./NATO out of Libya! The NATO powers of Europe and the U.S. are declaring victory after having pounded the small country of Libya for five brutal months. They are claiming that the “rebel” forces they command, whose road to Tripoli was paved by NATO air strikes that knocked out much of Libya’s civil and military capability, now control the capital.... Aug 19, 2011 NYC: August 20th Harlem Teachin Against Imperialist Wars On August 20, the African community of the world will register our condemnation of and resistance to the wars being made against our people and our freedom everywhere.We will oppose the heinous bombing of Libya and the violent attempt to overthrow that government.... Aug 18, 2011 Events in Syria – Obama threatens U.S. intervention President Barack Obama on Aug. 18 demanded that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down, saying that the Syrian leader’s days are numbered. The governments of Britain, France and Germany joined in this demand. This statement is a blatant imperialist interference in Syria’s internal affairs. More than that, it is an open threat to intervene militarily in another country in that region, just as the U.S. and its European allies have done already in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Somalia, with rockets and bombs. It is a threat against the Syrian people of something like the last five months of slaughter of the Libyan people.... Aug 16, 2011 Collective punishment of civilian populations, including denial of water and food, is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions:... Aug 12, 2011 Planning Meetings for Sept 11: Against Racism & Anti-Muslim Bigotry- Small email size leaflets in PDF & JPG Wednesday's (Aug. 10) first Planning Meeting of the Emergency Mobilization Against Racism, War and Anti-Muslem Bigotry to counter the racist, right-wing forces on Sunday, September 11 was a tremendous step forward. We discussed plans for a Rally, March and Cultural Exhibition.... Aug 11, 2011 Extreme right wing racist forces, who last year whipped up an ugly climate of hate against the Islamic Prayer Center at 51 Park Place, have announced new plans for Sunday, September 11 this year at the same location.... Aug 11, 2011 Join the International Action Center at the August 13 Millions March in Harlem!... Aug 8, 2011 Eyewitness Egypt: Egyptian student organizers tell their story -- ‘Tahrir Square was owned by all the people’ For 18 days the people of Egypt gathered in the streets in the millions and brought down the 30-year reign of U.S. client Hosni Mubarak. This January 25 Revolution, named for its first day of protest, was led by youth and students.... Aug 8, 2011 Report from Cairo: Hundreds gather to found Egyptian Socialist Party June 18 — The Egyptian Socialist Party was founded here today before a packed auditorium of more than 400 Egyptians and international guests. What made such an assembly possible was the enormous mass revolution of last Jan. 25 that removed the U.S.-backed dictator Hosni Mubarak and made the name “Tahrir Square” an inspiration for popular revolt worldwide.... Aug 8, 2011 More than 85 percent of Egypt’s poor live in rural areas. Like all Egyptians, they are participating in the protests held throughout the country, and are expecting that a new Egyptian government will meet their urgent needs.... Aug 8, 2011 Eyewitness Egypt: Interview--Egyptian pensioners organize union In addition to the mass protests in Egypt, another arena for demanding rights and fighting corruption has been Egypt’s independent trade union movement. This movement expressed its solidarity with the demonstrators, and added its clout to the struggle to bring down Hosni Mubarak five months ago.... Aug 8, 2011 Eyewitness Egypt: Thousands fight police in Tahrir Square Thousands of angry Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo and Alexandria at the end of June, battling the Central Security forces for hours before successfully pushing the riot police back. These were the most intense clashes in five months, since Egypt’s 18-day revolution in January that ousted U.S.-client Hosni Mubarak.... Aug 5, 2011 The destructive bombing attacks on Libya by the Pentagon and NATO are highly unpopular in the United States, although you wouldn’t know it from corporate media coverage.... Jul 30, 2011 For almost five months, the combined military forces of the United States and NATO have pounded Libyan cities, towns, villages and ports in an effort to overthrow the government of Moammar Gadhafi.... Jul 22, 2011 NATO planes bombed Libya’s capital city of Tripoli on July 17 for more than two hours. From 60 to 75 ordinances hit targets in the Tajura and Seraj suburbs.... Jul 22, 2011 Libya: demonization and self-determination If you went to a shopping center, a street corner or a graduate school of a top university in the U.S. and conducted a pop quiz asking who are the kings or crown princes of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain; the emir of Kuwait, Qatar or Dubai; and the sultan of Oman, most people would not be able to name any of them.... Jul 21, 2011 Hear former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney, recently returned from leading a delegation to Libya during the U.S. bombing and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Akbar Muhammad & other leading opponents of the U.S. war on Libya along with VIDEO footage. ... Jul 11, 2011 Congress won’t authorize, but continues war on Libya As the U.S./NATO war against the North African state of Libya entered its fourth month, the House of Representatives voted on June 24 to withhold authorization for the bombing campaign. In a resolution to support the war, members of Congress turned down the Obama administration’s military strategy by a vote of 295 against and 123 in favor.... Jun 27, 2011 NATO continues terrorist attacks on Libya Two NATO airstrikes on June 19 and 20 exposed even further the criminal nature of the imperialist war against the North African state of Libya. On June 19 NATO forces struck a civilian residential area in Tripoli, the capital, killing nine people in a household, including two children.... Jun 25, 2011 African Union calls for end to NATO bombing of Libya South African President Jacob Zuma paid a state visit to Libya on May 30 that proved to be a fruitless effort to bring about a ceasefire in the war launched by Western-backed rebels and NATO forces, which have intensified their bombing of the capital of Tripoli and other areas of the country. Zuma was acting on behalf of the African Union, which held an extraordinary meeting on May 25 aimed at bringing an end to the war against Libya.... Jun 25, 2011 Libya defiant as NATO widens war fter nearly three months of U.S./NATO bombing operations over Libya, the North African state has remained defiant in the face of one of the most intense military operations in recent months by the imperialist countries of North America and Western Europe. Official NATO sources say that more than 10,000 sorties have been flown over the oil-rich nation resulting in large-scale destruction of the country’s infrastructure and the reported deaths of 10,000 to 15,000 people.... Jun 24, 2011 On direct orders from the Italian government, headed by Silvio Berlusconi (who himself faces many investigations), three Libyans were arrested in Perugia, including Ahusain Nouri, president of the League of Libyan students in Italy... Jun 23, 2011 The International Action Center - IACenter.org urges full support for 2 events to oppose US/NATO War on Libya on Saturday & Monday... Jun 16, 2011 TIME TO ACT TO END THE ATTACKS ON LIBYA Congressional opposition to the president regarding the authorization of U.S. military attacks against Libya has opened up a path for a more popular participation in the struggle to end U.S. aggression in North Africa. An IAC petition opened a light on this issue: violation of the War Powers Act. The mass unhappiness with the war on Libya -- 70 percent of the population opposing that war in polls -- is reflected in the act of Congress challenging the administration, whatever the motivation of the individuals. This mass displeasure is also reflected in the actions of political figures like Cynthia McKinney in traveling to Libya to bring back the truth.... Jun 16, 2011 BRIEF FILED BY 10 Members of Congress against President Obama and Secretary of Defense Gates for Violation of War Powers Act Plaintiffs Dennis Kucinich, Walter B. Jones, John Conyers, Jr., Roscoe Bartlett, Michael E. Capuano, Dan Burton, Howard Coble, John J. Duncan, Jr., Timothy V. Johnson, and Ron Paul (hereinafter “the Plaintiffs”), all members of Congress, bring this Complaint in their official capacities and as taxpayers and allege as follows:... Jun 16, 2011 10 U.S. reps sue Obama over Libya strikes he U.S. has now intervened militarily in Libya for almost 90 days. As we wrote last month (see petition), this is a violation of the War Powers Act. For the first time, the Congress has challenged the president regarding the War Powers Act. First the House voted to raise the question with President Barack Obama at the 60-day limit since the March 19 initial bombing raids. Then Republican Rep. John Boehner sent a message warning President Obama that he would have to justify the intervention.... Jun 11, 2011 A historic vote on the application of the 1973 War Powers Resolution has upheld the Obama administration’s continuation of large-scale bombings aimed at overthrowing the government of Libya.... Jun 11, 2011 YEMEN: Saleh forced to leave: What next? Before dawn broke June 5, as the news spread that Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh had left for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, fireworks filled the sky. As one Yemeni blogger put it, the party started at 6 a.m. To celebrate, people sacrificed cows and goats in “Change Square,” the site of the large encampment that had been peacefully pressuring Saleh to leave for the last four months.... Jun 10, 2011 Without presenting a shred of reliable evidence, NATO and International Criminal Court conspirators are charging the Libyan government with conspiracy to rape -- not only rape as the "collateral damage" of war, but rape as a political weapon.... Jun 9, 2011 From Cynthia McKinney in Tripoli It is now 1:10 in the afternoon and as the daily life in Tripoli unfolds that includes teachers, staff, and children at school, shopkeepers working in their businesses, streetsweepers sweeping the streets, people moving to and fro in the cars, on bicycles, and on foot, Tripoli has thus far since around 11:00 up to now, received at least 29 bombs.... Jun 8, 2011 U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ declared on March 25, 2011 – that there are 3 repressive regimes in the Middle East that must be condemned – Syria, Libya and Iran. Why is the U.S. targeting these particular countries?... Jun 6, 2011 Cynthia McKinney speaks on Libyan TV Speaking on Libyan TV May 21, former U.S. Congressperson Cynthia McKinney condemned the brutal war against the government and the people of that country. McKinney, an African American and a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy in Africa and the Middle East, traveled to Libya as part of a fact-finding mission to expose the criminal nature of the war.... Jun 6, 2011 Cynthia McKinney: NATO: A feast of blood Founded in 1945 at the end of World War II, NATO was founded by the United States in response to the Soviet Union’s survival as a communist state. NATO was the U.S. insurance policy that capitalist ownership and domination of European, Asian and African economies would continue.... Jun 6, 2011 U.S. imperialism’s role: Yemen teeters on brink of civil war Hundreds of thousands of people, predominantly youth, took to the streets throughout Yemen on May 28 to demand President Ali Abdullah Saleh leave. Earlier, there had been heavy fighting between government forces and tribally based militias, joined by dissident factions of the army. (Miami Herald, May 28)... Jun 2, 2011 Former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney Returns to Libya with DIGNITY Fact Finding Delegation of independent journalists. NATO has announced it will continue the criminal bombing of Libya for another 90 days. The U.S. Congress has postponed any vote on President Obama’s obvious violation of the War Powers Act. In the face of this, Cynthia McKinney has returned to Libya with a fact finding delegation to meet with Libyans under attack by NATO’s bombs. She plans to bring back to the U.S. documented evidence of NATO war crimes.... Jun 2, 2011 Exposing the truth and lies of Obama’s Middle East pro-war speech President Barack Obama delivered a foreign policy address related to developments in the Middle East on May 19. The speech — which avoided addressing the uprisings throughout North Africa, the Palestinian question and the U.S./NATO war against Libya — created even more hostility toward his administration domestically and internationally.... May 17, 2011 Tell Congress: Use War Powers Act to Stop Bombing Libya! End NATO Massacres of Imams and Other Civilians! On May 19 the war against Libya will reach its 60-day mark. On that date this criminal war will be in explicit violation of the War Powers Act. The War Powers Act is a U.S. law that grew out of the struggle against the war in Vietnam. It requires a president involved in a military conflict lasting longer than 60 days to come before Congress for authorization to continue the war. Knowing that this war is immoral, illegal and based on lies, the Obama administration has refused to address the reasons behind initiating yet another war after years of death and destruction in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. In the past 57 days of a war that was promoted as a "humanitarian intervention" to enforce a "no-fly zone," the U.S. and NATO have conducted more than 2,500 bombing missions. ... May 15, 2011 People in the U.S. and around the world have broad sympathy for the popular demonstrations taking place in the Middle East. All the uprisings, however, are not necessarily the same.... May 12, 2011 President Barack Obama has praised the targeted assassination of Osama bin Laden as a turning point and “one of the greatest military and intelligence operations in U.S. history.”... May 10, 2011 Calling it all a ‘humanitarian mission’: NATO intensifies airstrikes on Libya, kills leader’s son, grandchildren NATO airstrikes carried out April 30 against the home of the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi killed three of Gadhafi’s grandchildren as well as his youngest son, Saif al-Arab Gadhafi. The attacks took place amid a dramatic escalation in fighting between Libyan government forces and the Western-backed rebels in various parts of the North African state.... May 7, 2011 Behind the attack on Libya are strategies of economic warfare Despite what is being reported, the invasion of Libya has already begun. Units operating on Libyan territory for a long time have prepared the war and are carrying out the assault: they are the powerful oil companies and U.S. and European investment banks.... May 6, 2011 When U.S. imperialism engages in an attack on any government or movement, it is essential that the workers’ and progressive political movements for change gather as much information as is available and take a stand.... May 4, 2011 Terror & the Osama bin Laden assassination Very little is known about the top-secret U.S. operation that executed Osama bin Laden, except what President Barack Obama chose to announce: that U.S. secret forces found bin Laden, killed him May 1 and disposed of his body at sea on May 2.... Apr 30, 2011 Condemn NATO assassination of Gadhafi son and three grandsons! U.S., Britain and France: Hands off Libya! Get out of Africa! U.S., British and French imperialism have escalated their military intervention in Libya beyond the criminal bombardment of Libya, begun on March 19. The one dominant imperialist power and the two former colonial rulers of the world jointly stated their intentions in a open letter published on April 15 in the Washington Post and other media. U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote that their goal was to remove Moammar Gadhafi, the leader of Libya. for good. That’s what they call “regime change.” This is even in violation of the resolution rammed through the UN Security Council. It is international lawlessness on a grand scale.... Apr 24, 2011 Libya - Reflections on the threatened ‘Price of Freedom’ Libya has the highest living standard in Africa. The "United Nations Development Program (UNDP) confirms that the country has excellent prospects for achieving United Nations development goals by 2015. NATO's war will have already dashed those hopes. A collapse like the one in Iraq now threatens the country. There has been little reaching the European public in the past few years about Libya, whose relationship with the West had normalized. European leaders met with their Libyan counterpart Muammar al-Gadhafi often and business flourished. In the course of preparation for war, the country was suddenly transformed into the most evil dictatorship. Even many war opponents accepted this characterization as their own and now want to overthrow the "tyrant."... Apr 24, 2011 The gradual awakening of the Moroccan people The wave of confrontation churning though the Arab world came late to Morocco. It was only on February 20 that the first demonstrations against the regime took place. Announced in advance, they attracted some 8,000 people in Casablanca and Rabat. Police dispersed them with brutal force.... Apr 24, 2011 The heist of the century: the assault of the ‘willing’ on Libyan SWFs The objective of the war against Libya is not just its oil reserves (now estimated at 60 billion barrels), which are the greatest in Africa and whose extraction costs are among the lowest in the world, nor the natural gas reserves of which are estimated at about 1,500 billion cubic meters. In the crosshairs of "willing" of the operation “Unified Protector” there are sovereign wealth funds, capital that the Libyan state has invested abroad.... Apr 21, 2011 The U.S./NATO war against Libya’s people and government reveals every day that there is no such thing as a humanitarian war carried out by imperialist states against post-colonial countries.... Apr 19, 2011 Next Steps for UNAC and the Antiwar Movement in New York The antiwar movement is back on the streets. Thousands marched on April 9 in New York and April 10 in San Francisco. These demonstrations represented an important step forward for the United National Antiwar Committee and the antiwar movement as a whole. The new antiwar movement needs to oppose the US foreign wars but also defend the domestic victims of the "war on terror," the Muslims who are being attacked. It must connect the dots between the money spent on war and the attacks on unions and cuts to education and needed programs. This is what these demonstrations on April 9 and 10 did.... Apr 18, 2011 Manik Mukherjee, General Secretary, International Anti-imperilist and People’s Solidarity Coordinating Committee (IAPSCC) has issued the following statement on the imperialist attack on Libya :... Apr 17, 2011 Africa under imperialist siege: Attacks escalate on Libya, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe U.S., U.N. and NATO military forces have intensified the implementation of policies aimed at total economic domination and regime change for states that resist interference in their internal affairs. As Africa becomes more of a major source for exploiting oil, strategic minerals and agricultural commodities, the continent will be under increasing pressure from Western capitalist countries.... Apr 14, 2011 West Coast April 10 protest U.S. wars abroad, at home Three thousand activists demonstrated against U.S. wars abroad on April 10 in San Francisco. Protesters rallied in Dolores Park in the city’s Mission district both before and after a march through the community. The United National Antiwar Committee sponsored the actions. Those who attended were buoyed by what they described as “the renewal of the anti-war movement.... Apr 14, 2011 Thousands protest U.S. wars abroad and at home Thousands of people from virtually all sectors of U.S. workers, the oppressed and youths gathered in Union Square in New York City April 9 and marched, shouted and drummed their anti-war slogans for two miles to Foley Square in downtown Manhattan. As this largest anti-war march in New York in years stretched for 20 blocks down Broadway, it passed by thousands of New Yorkers busy shopping, who smiled, cheered and waved at what can only be described as the new face of a vibrant movement to confront the war-makers.... Apr 10, 2011 The new war in Libya has given rise to a new movement, as the largest anti-war demonstration New York has seen in years took to the streets of Manhattan.... Apr 10, 2011 WE are the vast majority of humanity who want peace, a healthy planet and a society that prioritizes human needs, democracy and civil liberties for all.... Apr 9, 2011 CIA & MI6 in Libya: U.S.-British covert operations exposed The New York Times, the Washington Post and other corporate news sources are now openly admitting that the opposition forces fighting the Libyan government are supported and coordinated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Britain’s MI6 with in-country special forces.... Apr 9, 2011 A‘Lion of the desert’: film about Libya’s resistance to colonialism Now is a good time to watch, either again or for the first time, the powerful 1981 film “Lion of the Desert.” It tells the story of Omar Mukhtar, a legendary leader of the armed resistance to Italy’s colonial conquest of Libya.... Apr 9, 2011 he Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has drawn an important conclusion from the unprovoked bombing of Libya by U.S. and NATO forces: Developing countries should never let down their guard and believe promises made by the imperialists.... Apr 9, 2011 The following news release was put out by the Central News Agency of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.... Apr 9, 2011 Stop imperialist war on Libya The right-wing, imperialist Italian government headed by Silvio Berlusconi has joined France, Qatar and Kuwait in recognizing the so-called “rebel” Libyan National Transitional Council. The recognition comes after chief executive officer Paolo Scaroni of Italy’s giant oil monopoly, Eni, met with council members to discuss reviving the company’s access to oil production now in “rebel” territory. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, referring to Scaroni, said: “He had important meetings on restarting cooperation about energy.... Apr 7, 2011 Revolts from Tunisia to Afghanistan disrupt U.S. rule The historical tsunami that continues to shake the Middle East and Southwest Asia has the apologists and strategists of imperialism scrambling to catch up with events. “We have no permanent allies, only permanent interests” seems to be their slogan, but this “pragmatic” approach is fraught with unexpected dangers and contradictions.... Apr 7, 2011 The response has been overwhelming. This will be the largest Rally against endless wars and cutbacks in NYC in years.... Apr 1, 2011 U.S. steps up drive to conquer Libya President Barack Obama’s speech of March 28 was largely devoted to justifying U.S. military intervention in Libya on humanitarian grounds, as being necessary to prevent a “massacre.” It was meant to obscure the fundamental fact that Washington is leading an effort, joined by the British and French imperialists, to destroy a sovereign government and recolonize Libya.... Mar 28, 2011 Even before the first U.S. bombs rained down on Libya, protesters across the U.S. stood up to voice their opposition to yet another U.S. war for oil. These protests continue.... Mar 26, 2011 However the rebellion in Libya began, it was both inevitable and entirely predictable that it would quickly become an opening for imperialist intervention and counterrevolution in the oil-rich North African country.... Mar 26, 2011 The bombing of Libya, which began on March 19, has aroused world opposition to this new aggression by the U.S. and European imperialist powers.... Mar 25, 2011 April 9 & 10 Antiwar Rallies Will Draw Many Thousands to NYC & San Francisco he major national Antiwar Rallies in NYC at Union Square, on Saturday, April 9 and in San Francisco on Sunday, April 10 are just 2 weeks away. Momentum is building based on the urgency of responding to the new attacks in Libya, no end to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more attacks and threats to Gaza, ugly attacks on Muslims, new attacks on unions and collective bargaining and a new rounds of cutbacks of every possible social program, particularly hitting the Black and immigrant communities and the unemployed.... Mar 23, 2011 Rebellions continue across North Africa, Middle East The ferocious storm of uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East continues to stymie the efforts of the U.S. and other Western powers to suppress or contain them. There are ongoing significant protests in Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, all places with a substantial U.S. military presence.... Mar 22, 2011 STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST LIBYA On March 17, 2011, Washington showed its true intentions by pushing through a U.N. Security Council resolution that amounts to a declaration of war on the government and people of Libya. A U.S. attack is the worst possible thing that could happen to the people of Libya. It also puts the unfolding Arab revolutions, which have inspired people across North Africa and Western Asia, in the gravest danger. The resolution goes beyond a no-fly zone. It includes language saying U.N. member states could "take all necessary measures" ... "by halting attacks by air, land and sea forces under the control of the Gadhafi regime."(CNN.com, Mar 17)... Mar 20, 2011 U.S. and French cruise missiles and bombs are raining down on the African state of Libya. This is not a "humanitarian' intervention.... Mar 18, 2011 STOP THE U.S. WAR ON LIBYA AND BAHRAIN! The International Action Center calls on all anti-war and social justice activists to call Emergency Response STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST LIBYA AND BAHRAIN actions in their areas on Friday, March 18 or Saturday, Marcy 19, or to mobilize support for any already existing anti-war demonstrations called to mark the anniversary of the Iraq War, with this statement and signs to STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST LIBYA AND BAHRAIN, as well as to intensify the mobilization for the April 9th and 10th Anti-War demonstrations in New York and San Francisco called by the United National Antiwar Committee.... Mar 18, 2011 Why imperialists hate Libya, love Bahrain March 15 — Events continue to unfold rapidly in North Africa and the Gulf states. On March 14 Saudi Arabia sent tanks and 2,000 troops into the kingdom of Bahrain to protect the Al Khalifa royal family there from mass protests demanding an end to the monopoly of political power in the hands of the king.... Mar 17, 2011 Libyan military routs Western-backed rebels March 13 — Libyan government forces have taken several towns both east and west of Tripoli, the capital, driving out rebel groups that have been calling for military intervention by the imperialist states. Morale among the opposition is reportedly declining in Benghazi, which has been the de facto headquarters of the rebels.... Mar 16, 2011 With the corporate media’s attention concentrated on Libya, its oil reserves and the real danger of U.S. and NATO’s military intervention, one could almost forget that enormous popular revolts are percolating throughout North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.... Mar 14, 2011 Libya repels attack as U.S. seeks ‘regime change’ As of March 7, Libyan military forces have stepped up their counteroffensive against rebel units backed by the U.S. and European Union countries. Government soldiers have retaken the town of Bin Jawad and are mounting assaults on rebels near the oil port of Ras Lanuf as well as Az Zawiyah, Tobruk and Misurata.... Mar 12, 2011 The uprisings in Libya, coinciding with the struggles of other countries in North Africa and Western Asia respond to conditions similar to those of other countries but have very different consequences.... Mar 9, 2011 Following is the statement of Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Geneva, March 1 [2011].... Mar 8, 2011 Tunisia: We won, right? The end of the Second Qasbah / Hemos ganado, ¿no? El fin de la Segunda Qasba On Sunday, Feb. 27, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannochi resigned; he was replaced by the elderly Beji Caïd Essebsi. On Monday the ministers of Industry and Finance, the last remnants of the old regime also resigned. In the evening so did Nejib Chebbi and Ahmed Brahmi, representatives respectively of the Tajdid movement and the PDP, the two legal parties under Ben Ali. On Tuesday they were followed by two other ministers. We have lived without a government for four days in which terror has been circling like a bird of prey around the Qasbah: youth beaten, threatened, persecuted by police and hired criminals who have taken over the streets of the Medina and the surrounding April 9th Avenue. At the same time the space has been restructured and the class divide has drawn new geographical lines: while still Qasbah snugly in its sacred area, with its illustrious barbarians and hardened militants, the silent majority, silent for 23 years, decided to speak for about two hours a day, between 5 and 7 p.m., at a daily assembly convened at the Dome in the pompous Olympic Village, to support Ghannouchi, demand an end to the demonstrations and defend the "revolution" from those who want to make one... Mar 8, 2011 ‘Great day of anger’: Thousands of Iraqis defy puppet regime, occupation Defying threats from the puppet government and several party militias, thousands of Iraqis from Basra in the south to Suleimaniya in the Kurdish north took to the streets Feb. 25 in a “Great Day of Anger” inspired by the uprisings across the Arab world.... Mar 8, 2011 Tensions grow between military, masses in Egypt A new cabinet was sworn in on Feb. 22 in the aftermath of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation and the suspension of parliament and the previous government. This was precipitated by the Feb. 11 Supreme Military Council’s coup. The new cabinet’s appointment and publication of the first set of political reforms on Feb. 26 is an attempt to address the Egyptian people’s demands for a rapid return to civilian rule.... Mar 8, 2011 Another NATO Intervention? Libya: Is This Kosovo All Over Again? Less than a dozen years after NATO bombed Yugoslavia into pieces, detaching the province of Kosovo from Serbia, there are signs that the military alliance is gearing up for another victorious little “humanitarian war”, this time against Libya. The differences are, of course, enormous. But let’s look at some of the disturbing similarities.... Mar 7, 2011 SPOTLIGHT ON LIBYA The protests that we are witnessing in Libya must be examined carefully and wisely. We have to realize that the intifada of Libya is not totally a genuine one for reform; Part of it is provoked by the United States and the Zionists to occupy this oil-producing country, under the pretence of “democracy,” to get rid of its legitimate government for saying “no” to US and Zionist domination. Those who broke ranks with Gaddafi called upon the USto intervene, militarily if necessary, to get rid of the legitimate government. This call gives an excuse for the US and its European allies to pass a criminal resolution of the Security Council and propose sanctions and a “no fly zone.” These actions remind us of the same scenario that Iraq endured that caused its destruction. The infamous resolution will give the US and its allies open interpretations and the options of using military power that might lead to the invasion of Libya.... Mar 4, 2011 Libya, the puzzle of the no-fly zone / Libia, il rebus della no-fly zone / Les porte-avions et les bases US en Italie sont en état d’alerte mais pour le Pentagone, les risques sont élevés The leaders of the rebellion, meeting yesterday in the headquarters in Benghazi, have concluded that on their own they will not be able to overthrow Gaddafi. Therefore a majority of them asked for US-NATO intervention using air power, beginning with the imposition of a no-fly zone on Libya. "The United States - they say - brought democracy when they intervened in Kosovo." A part of the rebel forces, however, thought otherwise: "We must free ourselves on our own; if we ask for foreign intervention it would be treason."... Mar 3, 2011 The Pentagon is "repositioning" its naval and air forces and preparing for Operation Libya March 2, 2011--"The United States is moving naval and air forces in the region" to "prepare the full range of options" in the confrontation with Libya: Pentagon spokesperson Col. Dave Lapan of the Marines made this announcement yesterday, March 1. He then said that "It was President Obama who asked the military to prepare for these options," because the situation in Libya is getting worse. The military then began "the planning and preparation" phase for an intervention in Libya. Pentagon planners are working on several specific plans, depending on how the “repositioning of forces” begins so as to have maximum flexibility to implement any option. ... Mar 3, 2011 Behind the demonizing of Gadhafi Libya had been an Italian colony until Italy’s defeat in World War II. After the war, the U.S. and Britain set up a monarchy in Libya under King Idris I. Moammar al-Gadhafi was a military officer when he led a coup in 1969 against the monarchy. This led to the nationalization of Libya’s oil and social gains for the Libyan people... Mar 3, 2011 No U.S. attack on Libya! / Barcos de guerra cerca de Libia: crece el peligro de intervención militar imperialista / Aumenta o perigo de intervenção imperialista na Líbia The White House is meeting with its allies among the European imperialist NATO countries to discuss imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, jamming all communications of President Moammar Gadhafi inside Libya, and carving military corridors into Libya from Egypt and Tunisia, supposedly to “assist refugees.” (New York Times, Feb. 27)... Mar 2, 2011 Egytpt: Al-Mehalla textile workers leads the struggle The Al-Mahalla strike is part of the spate of industrial unrest that has rocked the country in the midst and aftermath of the 25 January revolution. Policemen, bank employees, workers at the Helwan Coke Company, in military production, cement, iron and steel and at the Suez Canal all struck for higher wages and improved working conditions, demanding an end to corruption in the workplace.... Mar 2, 2011 REFLECTIONS OF FIDEL: NATO’s plan is to occupy Libya OIL became the principal wealth in the hands of the large yankee transnationals; with that source of energy, they had at their disposal an instrument that considerably increased their political power in the world. It was their principal weapon when they decided to simply liquidate the Cuban Revolution as soon as the first, just and sovereign laws were enacted in our homeland: by depriving it of oil.... Mar 2, 2011 Venezuelan president calls for mediation to end crisis while the US and other powers weigh military options.... Feb 26, 2011 Iraq protests target occupation, puppet regime As popular revolts spread across the Arab world, now breaking out in Morocco and Algeria, Jordan, Yemen and Bahrain, even in Kuwait, it is important to remember one of the nations in this region that faces a special situation: It is forcibly occupied by 50,000 U.S. troops. It is Iraq, which the U.S. and Britain invaded in March 2003 and which the U.S. has occupied since. No one should forget, when considering the crimes of the U.S.-backed tyrants, that U.S. imperialism is responsible for the deaths of a million Iraqis and the displacement of 4 million.... Feb 26, 2011 Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into a symbolic square on Feb. 19, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause.... Feb 26, 2011 Yemen’s people demand ouster of ruler Protests continued throughout the country of Yemen on Feb. 21 to demand the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The demonstrations, which began during the time of the uprising in Tunisia and gained traction with recent events in Egypt, have increased in scope and intensity in the past 12 days.... Feb 26, 2011 Of all the struggles going on in North Africa and the Middle East right now, the most difficult to unravel is the one in Libya.... Feb 25, 2011 The International Action Center urges solidarity with the resistance struggles shaking dictatorships throughout the Arab World.... Feb 25, 2011 Djibouti masses protest U.S./French-backed regime Anti-government demonstrations have spread to the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, where 30,000 people marched on Feb. 18 demanding the resignation of President Ismael Omar Guelleh. Two people were killed when police attacked protesters in this country’s capital, which is also called Djibouti.... Feb 17, 2011 Egypt’s workers defy U.S.-backed junta The Egyptian military would like to put the genie of the Egyptian Revolution back in the bottle. But it won’t go back. The so-called “orderly transition” — backed by the Obama administration, NATO and the Egyptian ruling class — has the immediate tactical goal of pushing the masses of people off the streets and off the stage of history.... Feb 13, 2011 From a Landscape to a territory: three days in southern Tunisia (III) / De paisaje a territorio: tres días en el sur de Túnez (y III) Ghazala, a courageous woman, founder of the Committee of Unemployed Graduates of Gafsa that so actively participated in the protests of 2008, has given us a contact in Qasserine. We meet him halfway there, in Mejel Bel Abbes. Boubaker, 33 year old, master's in engineering, also a member of the Committee of Unemployed Graduates, is surviving by doing some odd jobs as an electrician. He is tall, a bit prim, neatly dressed in the dignified severity that attempts to preserve a modest sovereignty of his appearance in the midst of difficulties. Like many educated young people in similar circumstances in a situation where he is forced to remain single, he has wound up developing, without wanting to, an air of a preacher or priest: there is something, how can we put it, excessively clean in their dress and mannerisms. He speaks little French, but has an almost scholarly knowledge of the history of the area, whose natural wealth, well known by Romans, Vandals and Berbers, has been misappropriated and wasted by postcolonial Tunisia.... Feb 12, 2011 Salute the People's Victory! The greatest analysts of human society described real revolutions as “festivals of the masses.” We see then that the 18 days that overturned the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship is one of the greatest revolutions in the history of humanity. Never before have so many in such a condensed period of time become the actors and writers of their own history. We congratulate the people of Egypt for their tremendous victory over a tyrant who for 30 years had the support of the “great powers” of the European Union and especially of the United States until the final moments of his reign.... Feb 12, 2011 These reports from Cairo are from Faiza Rady, formerly a resident of Philadelphia, who has returned to Egypt... Feb 12, 2011 Salute the people’s victory! Long live the Egyptian revolution! The International Action Center joins with the people of Egypt and the world in celebrating the stunning triumph of people's power and mass action in Egypt. The greatest analysts of human society described real revolutions as “festivals of the masses.” We see then that the 18 days that overturned the Hosni Mubarak dictatorship is one of the greatest revolutions in the history of humanity. Never before have so many in such a condensed period of time become the actors and writers of their own history. We congratulate the people of Egypt for their tremendous victory over a tyrant who for 30 years had the support of the “great powers” of the European Union and especially of the United States until the final moments of his reign.... Feb 10, 2011 From a landscape to a territory: three days in southern Tunisia (II) / De paisaje a territorio: tres días en el sur de Túnez (II) From Gafsa to Redeyef you travel towards striped mountains that mark the border with Algeria, under a pure blue sky, through a hard, dry terrain, a planetary extension, which is about to succumb once more to the temptation of being landscape: small towns with camels browsing between the houses, shepherds with colorful headdresses, massive women sitting in the sun, wrapped in white cloth, sharing tasks and conversation. Everything seems fresh, clean, motionless, eternal and clear. But in reality there are few places in Tunisia as ground down by its history as this square of adverse and ancient land.... Feb 10, 2011 Global solidarity with Egypt The Egyptian revolt against the U.S.-backed Hosni Mubarak regime has inspired many workers and oppressed people throughout the world. Mass solidarity demonstrations have taken place to show support for Egypt’s popular uprising. Here are brief reports on just a few notable actions, most of them on Feb. 5 or 6.... Feb 9, 2011 U.S. protesters tell government: ‘Stop supporting dictators!’ With the popular uprising that is rocking cities across Egypt now heading into its third week, solidarity rallies are building across the U.S. in response. Many of these protests are calling on the U.S. government to end its funding for the repressive regime of Hosni Mubarak.... Feb 9, 2011 Feb. 9 reports from Cairo say there are growing numbers of Egyptian workers who have gone out on strike all over the country, as the struggle to oust the despised, U.S.-backed Mubarak regime intensifies.... Feb 9, 2011 EGYPTIANS STAY STRONG Feb. 8 — Hosni Mubarak’s military-police regime and its creators in Washington are waging a war of attrition to wear down the newly emerging Egyptian revolution. But the people show no signs of backing down. More than a million anti-government demonstrators today once again filled Liberation Square. Despite police-agent attacks, gradual escalation of pressure from the military and slanderous campaigns against the protesters on Egyptian state television, all reports are that masses of people have flooded into central Cairo to demand the immediate ouster of Mubarak.... Feb 9, 2011 Days 21-24: From a landscape to a territory: three days in southern Tunisia (I) / De Paisaje a territorio: tres días en el sur de Túnez (I) "France is Paris, the rest is scenery," 19th century French centralism said with contempt. Many times before we had been in central and southern Tunisia, but we had never seen anything but flocks of sheep and clouds, striated mountains and clean deserts, and people who seemed to passively accept, in the villages and cafes along the highway, their condition as a watermark or wrinkle in the tapestry. Our short and intense journey, parallel to the turbulence that has shaken the country for more than a month, reflects the decisive transformation, mental and material, of a landscape into a territory.... Feb 9, 2011 March in Solidarity with millions of Egyptian People in their struggle for democracy and human rights as they demand the immediate DEPARTURE of the repressive U.S. backed Mubarak regime.... Feb 7, 2011 'The Tunisian revolution began in the provinces and remains very active there today' / "La revolución tunecina empezó en las regiones y sigue hoy muy activa" This interview was conducted in bits and parts, in the middle of a protest demonstration, stopping to talk once you recovered your breath after running through the streets near Bourghiba Avenue. These are crucial days for the revolution, but the glare of the mainstream media is now directed towards Egypt. "Tunisia is not an international issue but a local one," the Al Jazeera employees told us when we tried to inform them that Benali militia had returned to their old ways in Sfax. Boukadous disagrees. "The revolution began in the provinces and remains very active there."... Feb 6, 2011 Nationalists, liberals, Islamists and leftists: A National Assembly should choose new transitional leadership in Egypt. There must be strong representation of youth.... Feb 5, 2011 Hail the heroes of Liberation Square The masses in Tahrir (Liberation) Square - now known among the fighters as Martyrs’ Square — gave the counterrevolutionary thugs of a dying regime blow for blow, pushed them back and held the square, thus achieving both a military and political victory. They were fully aware of the crucial political importance of holding the square for the people. This was a victory for the masses of Egyptian people, the people of the Middle East as a whole, and the workers and oppressed of the world.... Feb 4, 2011 ... Feb 3, 2011 Nineteenth day (Feb. 1, 2011): Who governs Tunisia? / Día decimonoveno del pueblo tunecino: ¿Quién gobierna Túnez? “You can only talk of revolution if there is a time when the whole people go out to the streets to take part in a big festival. The victories are celebrated and if we are not celebrating it's because there is victory. We have not been able to celebrate anything in the street, not even the expulsion of Ben Ali. And that means we have not yet won.”... Feb 3, 2011 Don’t be confused by the deceptive and false statements uttered by President Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Roddam Clinton suggesting that they have sympathy for Egyptians fighting for liberation and jobs in Tahrir Square. <... Feb 2, 2011 Egypt: An entire people stands up Since the early hours of the morning loud music from large speakers in front of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on the Corniche Al Nile in downtown Cairo has been booming. Shortly past 8 a.m., at the end of the curfew, as the first cars and pedestrians crossed over from the Nile Zamalik in the direction of the city center, an additional person reports to the loudspeaker to speak. He promises that the government understands the concerns of the people and resolves to keep the country in peace and prosperity. A man holds a T-shirt in the air, on which President Hosni Mubarak is caught looking down and smiling. A good three dozen men wave the Egyptian flag and look around uncertainly, and some melancholy men behind them run swiftly past them along the promenade towards Tahrir Square, Liberation Square. While some — probably for fear of losing their jobs — cheer the Mubarak regime — the others will demand this day the resignation of the man who ruled Egypt for 30 years. Only rarely is there even a short battle of words between the two camps, that is then quickly ended by soldiers, who have been blocking for days now bank of the Nile between the State Department and Tahrir Square.... Feb 1, 2011 Eighteenth day of the Tunisian people: The strategy of tension / Decimoctavo día del pueblo tunecino: La estrategia de la tensión We returned this morning to Qasba, closed on all four sides by barbed wire. The police only let in the employees who work in the district. But from the outside we were able to see and photograph, the new lime painted on the walls looking like a facelift, revealing a hidden history, a strangled antiquity. There is no doubt they have done a good job. Not a trace of a slogan or a comma of graffiti or stroke of black ink. Not even on the prime minister's stone palace can you find the slightest trace of the noisy discussions that for five days fused politics and life in a pure present without future.... Feb 1, 2011 Uprisings across Arab world pose dilemma for U.S. imperialism The revolutionary upheaval in Egypt has brought millions of workers, youth and professionals into the streets to demand the removal of the U.S.-backed regime of Hosni Mubarak. The potential looms for a total collapse of Washington’s foreign policy in the region.... Feb 1, 2011 As of Jan. 24, the Lebanese Parliament is holding discussions to form a new government. A year-old “unity government” containing all political factions fell on Jan. 12, when Hezbollah pulled its people out of cabinet posts.... Feb 1, 2011 Protests continue in Egypt demanding end to Mubarak regime Jan. 30 — Massive protests continue throughout Egypt to demand an end to the regime of President Hosni Mubarak, a 30-year dictatorship that has served as an anchor for U.S. imperialism in the Middle East. In the streets protesters have fraternized with members of the military, while police forces have largely retreated. Meanwhile, youth direct traffic, as self-defense committees have been organized to defend neighborhoods from violence at the hands of “thugs,” who many suspect to be plainclothes police and members of the ruling National Democratic Party. After three days of demonstrations in which tens of thousands of people faced brutal repression at the hands of the Egyptian state apparatus, hundreds of thousands came out on Jan. 28 to protest the police brutality, poverty, unemployment and corruption they have endured under the Mubarak regime. Defying a curfew imposed by Mubarak the day before, protesters hit the streets not only in the capital city, Cairo, but in cities throughout the country.... Jan 31, 2011 Seventeenth day of the Tunisian people: Fire under the ashes / Decimoséptimo día del pueblo tunecino: Fuego bajo las cenizas Hamida Ben Romdhane, director of La Press on January 13, still director of La Press on January 30, writes an article today entitled "I am guilty,” in which he lashes out against "the smoothies, sycophants, calculators and manipulators" that for years have been lackeys in the service of the dictator's personality cult. "Today," he says, "Tunisia breathes freely and so does our newspaper. ... Jan 31, 2011 IAPSCC hails and supports people’s struggle in Egypt IAPSCC salutes the people of Egypt for their determined struggle to end the 30-year long tyrannical rule of Mubarak having a tacit understanding with Israel and who was backed by the imperialist powers, esp. the USA, all these years. Inspired by the example of Tunisian people’s struggle and victory over dictatorial rulers, people in Egypt have taken to the streets for over one week defying curfew and planning still more powerful movement.... Jan 31, 2011 Sixteenth day of the Tunisian people: Freedom ends / Decimosexto día del pueblo tunecino: Se acabó la libertad After two weeks of restraint, in fact, the police have returned to take charge of the situation. Yesterday they broke hands and legs in the Qasbah and throughout the day lists have circulated of unconfirmed dead and missing. At least 20 people were arrested this afternoon at the station. And on the Qasbah square where yesterday there were still blankets, tents and cooking pots, some dozens of mobile phones were scattered about. Of many of the people the police scattered yesterday nothing is known.Meanwhile this morning, 12 hours later, the walls of the building that for five days was the ministry of the people were being painted over, the Press published a front-page photograph of the crushed concentration under the headline: "in the Qasbah the freedom caravan follows the protests." The revolution is already a brand-name, the spark of life of a government that weaves in the darkness and a press that uses new names to name the same things.... Jan 30, 2011 Fifteenth day of the Tunisian people: The assault on the Qasbah / Día decimoquinto del pueblo tunecino: El asalto de la Qasba he most beautiful place on earth lasted for five days. Finally this afternoon, at 4 p.m., the police assaulted the Qasbah, killing Omar Auini, who suffocated on tear gas and injuring at least 15 people, most of them with broken hands and legs.... Jan 29, 2011 Second week of the Tunisian people--day 14: Stubbornness vs. counterrevolution/Segunda semana del pueblo tunecino: Obstinación y contrarrevolución At 9:30 a.m. a taxi driver answered our question about Mohamed Ghannouchi with impeccable reasoning:“Do you know why I want him to go? Because he doesn't want to go. If he doesn't want to go, it's because he is hiding something. If he is hiding something, it can't be something good. And if he is hiding something bad, he has to go.”... Jan 29, 2011 Thirteenth day of the Tunisian people: Tension in the Qasbah/ Día decimotercero del pueblo tunecino: Tensión en la Qasba If everything was following a plan, if 120 people were killed to rejuvenate the old country and better locate it in an Arab world submissive to Washington's plans, if it were aimed at better ensuring continuity by introducing some cosmetic changes, then now it would have to sweep away the embers that the wind -- always unpredictable -- has blown together at the Qasbah. The past returns with unsettling speed.... Jan 29, 2011 Long Live the Egyptian People's Struggle! A seemingly all-powerful military, police and media apparatus, that has had the support of the U.S. superpower for decades, is crumbling before the even greater strength of a united people who have first conquered fear and may now push the dictator’s regime into the dustbin of history.... Jan 28, 2011 Egyptian protests intensify, challenge 30 years of pro-U.S. dictatorship Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in cities across Egypt demanding the ouster of U.S. ally President Hosni Mubarak. These are the largest anti-regime protests in Mubarak’s 30-year rule of this North African country of 85 million people. Though the White House has declared the Mubarak regime “stable,” even greater protests are expected on Jan. 28 following Friday services at mosques throughout the country. Egyptian opposition forces were inspired by the uprising in nearby Tunisia, which on Jan. 14 forced that country’s dictator, Zine El Abadine Ben Ali, to flee to Saudi Arabia. The uprising in Tunisia surprised not only its own rulers but their imperialist overlords in Paris and Washington.... Jan 27, 2011 ... Jan 27, 2011 FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF THE JANUARY 14TH NATIONAL FRONT OF THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC FORCES OF TUNISIA To affirm and ensure our participation in the revolution of our people, who fought for their right to freedom and national dignity, this people who sacrificed dozens of martyrs and thousands of wounded and arrested, and in order to complete and secure the victory against both domestic and foreign enemies and against those who are attempting to hijack the sacrifices of the people, have constituted "The January 14th Front” as a political structure to promote and ensure the revolution to achieve its goals and fight and stop the forces of counterrevolution; this front is a structure that brings together national, progressive and democratic parties, forces and organizations.... Jan 27, 2011 Twelfth day of the Tunisian people/Duodécimo día del pueblo tunecino After a festive and liberating week with unanimous participation, Tunisian society is beginning to split along class lines. It is a territorial division, which is beginning to separate Bourguiba Avenue from the Qasbah, and is also a cyber division, in which the same people who used facebook to fuel the revolution are today calling for calm and the restoration of order against the insurgent proletariat. You can perceive a disturbing contraction. Hamida Ben Romdhane, director of La Press, which on Jan. 13 dutifully praised the last steps Ben Ali took to try to calm the masses, on Jan. 20 exhibited on its front cover jewels allegedly confiscated from the Trabelsi family and praised the revolution of the worthy people of Tunisia.... Jan 27, 2011 Eleventh day of the Tunisian people/Undécimo día del pueblo tunecino The unknown country, which has made the revolution, which has sacrificed 120 lives in the protests, is found not on Bourguiba Avenue, where intellectuals celebrate a revolution that they can gain from and then withdraw, but in the Qasbah in front of the prime minister's headquarters. Yesterday hundreds of people slept here, and now, at 12 a.m. (on Jan. 24), thousands of them are still shouting: "nidal nidal hata iusqut el nitham", "Al yaum al-yaum tusqut el-hukuma" ("Struggle, struggle until we end the regime","today, today we overthrow the government.") ... Jan 27, 2011 Tenth day of the Tunisian people/ Décimo día del pueblo tunecino A revolution, can it so easily become a habit? Is it compatible with the customary normal duties of government, the production and reproduction of everyday life, the natural decline of forces? The government hopes and protesters fear the same thing: fatigue will set in. But this Sunday [Jan. 23] of transition to "the first day of normality," which will once again put to the test the people's ability to break out, Bourguiba Avenue remains vibrant under a light so pure, so sharp, that its buildings and the trees look bare, even skinless.... Jan 27, 2011 Ninth day of the Tunisian people-Jan. 23, 2011/ Noveno día del pueblo tunecino In some sense these days I feel very Tunisian: because, like other Tunisians, I realize that up to now I understood nothing about Tunisia. And because what is now clear to me, like to all other Tunisians, is mostly a great confusion. The situation, eight days after the collapse of the tyrant, it stretches and stretches without breaking. As in all revolutions, everything is decided in the first few weeks and today one everything feels a little uncomfortable -- like amorphous, painful, formless freedom -- a great uncertainty.... Jan 27, 2011 The following is a day-by-day chronicle of developments in Tunisia, which are written in Spanish and which the IAC is translating to English:... Jan 27, 2011 Eighth day in Tunisia: Will it fall -- or won’t it? We started the day with frightening evidence that there are things the revolution can’t do and that irrational forces operate beyond the dominant logic governing things. Our friend Amin has caught the flu. Regardless, the revolution can cure sadness, melancholy, moodiness and suicidal tendencies. Mohammed cites the experience of a friend discharged by his psychiatrist after Jan. 14, the day of the dictator's fall. We invented a new term, "thauratherapy" -- the revolution (thaura) as psychological therapy. The demonstrations, which are repeated another day in the city center, are saving bodies and souls.... Jan 27, 2011 Jan. 24 — Tunisia’s workers and youth have continued mass demonstrations and strikes aimed at removing the neocolonial regime and replacing it with a representative government of national unity.... Jan 22, 2011 Hungry and jobless, Tunisian masses rebel Jan. 18 — A popular uprising in the North African state of Tunisia since mid-December has driven President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled the Western-allied government for 23 years, into exile. Ben Ali fled on Jan. 14 after tens of thousands of workers and youths attacked the Ministry of the Interior and other government buildings in the capital of Tunis and in the city of Carthage. When a street vendor who was attacked by police committed suicide by self-immolation on Dec. 17, it unleashed this enormous struggle. Defying tear gas and even live fire from the security forces that killed between 50 and 100 people, thousands also demonstrated in dozens of Tunisia’s provincial cities until they brought down a repressive head of state.... Jan 2, 2011	Tunisia
A suplex is an offensive move in which professional sport?	Tunisia's “Revolutionary” Lawyers: From Professional Autonomy to Political Mobilization - Gobe - 2015 - Law & Social Inquiry - Wiley Online Library Law & Social Inquiry Previous article in issue: Weak Enforcement, Strong Deterrence: Dialogues with Chinese Lawyers About Tax Evasion and Compliance Previous article in issue: Weak Enforcement, Strong Deterrence: Dialogues with Chinese Lawyers About Tax Evasion and Compliance Tunisia's “Revolutionary” Lawyers: From Professional Autonomy to Political Mobilization Authors Eric Gobe is Research Director at the Institute for Contemporary Maghreb Research in Tunisia (CNRS, USR 3077). Lena Salaymeh Search for more papers by this author Lena Salaymeh is Assistant Professor of Law at Tel Aviv University and Robbins Associate Research Fellow at the UC Berkeley School of Law. She may be contacted at Tel Aviv University – Buchmann Faculty of Law, PO Box 39040, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; [email protected] . First published: For comments and feedback, the authors thank Rhiannon Graybill, Ira Lapidus, Laurent Mayali, and the LSI reviewers. Research funding for this article was provided by the Robbins Mediterranean Law Project at the UC Berkeley School of Law. Abstract On January 14, 2011, after twenty-three years in power and one month of popular protest demanding his resignation, President Ben Ali fled Tunisia. Lawyers, wearing their official robes, had marched frequently in the uprising's demonstrations. By engaging with and supporting the uprising, lawyers—both the profession in general and the bar's leadership—gained considerable symbolic influence over the post-uprising government that replaced Ben Ali's regime. This article outlines the various forms of political lawyering undertaken by Tunisian lawyers and their professional associations from Tunisia's independence to post-uprising transitions. We demonstrate that economic concerns, professional objectives, and civic professionalism contributed to the collective action of Tunisian lawyers before and after the uprising. Tunisian lawyers moved beyond the realm of their profession to adopt a role as overseers of the post-uprising government. Standard PDF (296.9 KB) Prologue Al-Ustādh (Le Professeur), a Tunisian film released in 2012, follows an established law professor and member of the ruling party who is chosen to represent the government in a newly formed Tunisian human rights league (Tanit 2012 ). The opening scene of the film is in the law professor's classroom as he lectures on the Tunisian constitution's history, its guarantee of basic rights, and its promotion of the “rule of law.” 1 When his student-mistress is arrested, beaten, and sentenced to four years of imprisonment for assisting two Italian reporters investigating labor union strikes in the mines of Gafsa (Qafṣah, a city in central Tunisia), the law professor finds himself confronting the realities of the authoritarian state he had steadfastly supported. 2 After declining to withdraw his signature from a petition condemning the government's refusal to pardon his student, he is banished to live under house arrest in a remote part of Tunisia. The movie's events accurately portray some of the real political tensions produced by confrontations between the government and lawyers representing workers in the 1970s. Tensions between pro- and anti-regime legal professionals are strikingly depicted in the film as both sides employ legal rhetoric to advocate for divergent political positions. While the film's script was originally written in 1988, its production was delayed by censorship under the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn Bin ʿAlī) regime. This film is a fascinating depiction of an exceptional aspect of Tunisian society: many lawyers understand their professional duties as including the protection of citizens from government repression; and many citizens concur in viewing lawyers as important sociopolitical actors. The film accurately portrays Tunisian political lawyering and popular Tunisian recognition of the importance of the legal profession. This article offers some explanations for how and why this relationship between Tunisian lawyers, citizens, and the state evolved, taking the Tunisian uprising as a key moment in the legal profession's politicization and development of professional autonomy. Introduction: The Tunisian Uprising and Political Lawyering On January 14, 2011, after twenty-three years in power and one month of popular protest demanding his resignation, President Ben Ali fled Tunisia. Although some characterized it as the “Jasmine Revolution,” many Tunisian activists insist that “it wasn't a revolution, it was an uprising” (al-Sharīf 2012 ). 3 In the eyes of many Tunisians, whatever changes occurred in the aftermath of Ben Ali's departure constituted a reconfiguring of preexisting power dynamics, rather than a fundamental shift in the sociopolitical, economic, or legal infrastructure of Tunisia. Yet in contrast to this deep-rooted inertia, the legal profession may be undergoing a more profound transformation. Both during and after the uprising, photos of Tunisian lawyers participating in demonstrations while wearing their professional robes were a source of pride, prominently placed on the cover of an issue of the Tunisian Bar Association's (TBA) newsletter and its Facebook page. 4 Lawyers’ protests in black robes made them visible symbols in the media and on the Internet; after the fall of Ben Ali, lawyers who became well-known before and during the uprising (including Abderraouf Ayadi, Choukri Belaïd, Leila Ben Dabba, Fawzi Ben Mrad, and Abdenacer Laouini) were frequently interviewed in Tunisian media to express their views on the uprising and issues related to the purported democratic transition. Many Tunisians identify lawyers as important sociopolitical activists and there is a common and widespread view among Tunisians that the legal profession represents justice. Tunisian lawyers earned their reputation for political dissent prior to the uprising, having long agitated for their independence. Indeed, the TBA constituted an “alternative political field” because its advocacy on behalf of the legal profession often intersected with political protest even before the uprising (Gobe 2010 , 334). 5 Table 1. Cited Tunisian Organizations AMT Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (Tunisian General Labour Union) UTICA l'Union tunisienne de l'Industrie du Commerce et de l'Artisannat (Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Crafts) Undoubtedly, Tunisia's civil legal distinction between avocats (lawyers) and magistrats (magistrates, both judges and prosecutors)—an adoption from the French legal system—places the former in the somewhat natural position of opposing the government. However, the distinctions between these two groups of legal professionals do not adequately explain why Tunisian lawyers and the TBA have come to represent some of the core symbolic values (especially fundamental rights) of the Tunisian uprising. 6 In this article, we outline the TBA's activism in four historical moments: from Tunisia's independence to the beginning of the third millennium (1956–2000), the first decade of the third millennium (2000–2010), the Tunisian uprising (December 2010–January 2011), and some post-uprising transformations (2011–2014). These moments parallel a shift in the focus of TBA's activism: from professional objectives, to socioeconomic concerns, to political engagement that divided the membership and leadership, to relatively unified political mobilization of the legal profession. Parallel to these shifts, the TBA's discourse and activities became more symbolic and performative, shifting from courtrooms to public spaces. This symbolic capital of lawyers’ mobilization is evident in other states as well (Munir 2009 ; Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2012 ). We do not claim an evolutionary progress; instead, responding to its surroundings, the TBA gradually accumulated experience in political protest that intensified during the uprising and was strategically employed in its aftermath. As observed in similar contexts (VonDoepp 2012 ), the TBA earned what might be called revolutionary legitimacy by aligning the organization with activists, which endowed the TBA with political influence in post-uprising Tunisia. This historical process, from Tunisia's independence to uprising, is then a story of transformation in which the bar gained autonomy that resulted in political mobilization, which was intensified by the revolutionary context. We outline these historical moments of the legal profession's escalating participation in civil society in order to investigate political lawyering at the crucial moment of political transition (uprising). Tunisian political lawyering is similar to political lawyering in a variety of states in that the legal profession mobilized for political liberalism (Halliday and Karpik 1997b ; Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2007 , 2012). Political liberalism is broadly defined as the pursuit of a moderate state (with an independent judiciary), of independent civil society, and of basic legal freedoms (Halliday and Karpik 2015 ). Halliday and Karpik ( 2015 ) advanced five propositions on political lawyering and four of them resonate in the Tunisian case: (1) the TBA's relative autonomy was a crucial condition for its collective actions; (2) the TBA advocated for “core civil rights,” rather than broader economic or social rights; (3) the TBA's mobilization was often reactive, rather than proactive, and often involved collaboration with other civil society groups and the public; and (4) the TBA acted as a spokesperson for the Tunisian public during and after the uprising. The uprisings created the conditions for the TBA to adopt a role as representative of the public, reminiscent of Karpik's observation of eighteenth-century French lawyers (Karpik 1995 ). In the Tunisian case, however, the fifth proposition—that courts are the key battlegrounds in the fight for political liberalism—does not apply. Because the Tunisian judiciary was co-opted by the authoritarian regime, the Tunisian legal complex is divided (Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2007 ), which has implications for political lawyering. This article contributes to the existing literature by clarifying aspects of political lawyering that have been understudied. We elucidate subtle dynamics of political lawyering through close examination of the TBA's history of activism and its encounter with the revolutionary moment. For example, while the TBA was generally reactive, we identify some explicitly proactive political mobilization that parallels other protests of lawyers in different parts of the world (Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2012). Using the rhetoric of justice and claiming to be guardians of revolutionary ideals, the TBA effectively appointed itself as watchdog over the post-uprising Tunisian government. In addition, the Tunisian case highlights the limits of political lawyering by illustrating the tension within the political liberal notion that core civil rights do not include broad economic and social rights. Prior to the uprising, the TBA focused on its professional autonomy in order to maintain the boundaries of the legal profession and to improve socioeconomic conditions for its members. Claiming exclusive control of professional territory and marginalizing competing professions (described as parasitic or encroaching on the domain of lawyers) were two issues at the center of the bar's activities since the beginning of the Tunisian legal profession in 1883 (Gobe 2013b ). Not surprisingly, lawyers who were less dependent on the state for their livelihood were more likely to resist the authoritarian regime (Perdomo 2007 ). Still, a broad range of Tunisian lawyers combined economic and professional concerns in promoting Tunisian political lawyering. We contend that socioeconomic interests and civic professionalism became indistinguishable: because Tunisian lawyers perceived the authoritarian regime's limitation of their autonomy as a direct attack on the profession, monopolistic concerns (Abel 1985 ) merged with civic professionalism (Halliday 1987 ; Halliday and Karpik 1997a ) and political resistance. In other words, we recognize that strategies for obtaining clients and interprofessional competition are key modes of professionalization (Abbott 1988 ), but economic and political objectives can become interlinked with professional goals. Before and after the uprising, Tunisian lawyers were involved in collective actions in which economic, professional, and political objectives were closely intertwined. Importantly, legal practice does not “naturally” lend itself to liberal politics (Halliday and Karpik 1997a ). Lawyers profess a wide range of political positions and levels of political engagement, and not all are apostles of fundamental rights (Champy and Israël 2009 ). 7 But lawyers benefit from a unique combination of legal resources and professional expertise that facilitates their interventions in politics. Moreover, professional autonomy is both a condition and a consequence of political liberalism (Halliday and Karpik 2012, 2015 ). The legal profession's relative autonomy meant that the TBA operated as a kind of democratic enclave in comparison to other professions prior to the uprising. It was, for example, the only Tunisian professional organization to elect its leaders in a transparent fashion. Consequently, the TBA provided a space in which lawyers could discuss sensitive political issues. 8 In turn, the TBA's relative autonomy incubated further political activism. In addition to litigation, Tunisian lawyers engaged in a broad array of public acts to pursue justice: strikes, sit-ins, demonstrations, press conferences, social media, issuing statements, and hunger strikes. In practicing both legal and nonlegal actions, Tunisian lawyers expanded beyond their expertise in law to articulate and to advocate for justice in sociopolitical terms. Most recently, the TBA has politically mobilized to assert itself both as part of the Tunisian system of justice and as representative of the public (Karpik 1988 ). While this article focuses on the political lawyering of the TBA and the legal profession at large, it is necessary to note both the important role of cause lawyers and internal divisions within the TBA. 9 As a subgroup of activist lawyers, Tunisian cause lawyers pursued both defensive and offensive cause lawyering (Sarat and Scheingold 2001, 2005 ), which is distinct from political lawyering because it is focused on specific demands (such as ending torture, defending human rights, or protecting the rights of laborers). Many Tunisian cause lawyers employed their professional skills in service of challenging the status quo (rather than exclusively serving their clients’ interests) (Hajjar 2001 ). These high-profile cause lawyers defended fundamental rights and basic freedoms against the arbitrariness of the authoritarian state; they denounced torture, the courts’ noncompliance with basic procedures, and draconian laws on so-called terrorism (Gobe 2013a , 250–51). 10 Although the authoritarian regime marginalized and attacked Tunisian cause lawyers, the lawyers persevered and eventually shaped how other Tunisian lawyers conceptualize the legal profession. Thus, cause lawyers contributed significantly to the political lawyering of the TBA, but they were not the only activist lawyers in the organization. Internal divisions within the TBA encompass both the organizational structure (leadership vs. membership) and a variety of other partitions. As a simultaneously autonomous and constrained organization, the TBA oscillated between negotiating with and resisting the authoritarian government. The TBA's internal politics shaped its political lawyering. When activist lawyers (i.e., lawyers active in political or cause lawyering) dominated the TBA's leadership, its mobilization changed accordingly, but the general constituency of the bar was also influential. During and after the uprising, the TBA responded to the growing demands of its members by shifting its focus from professional autonomy to political mobilization of the profession. For the purposes of this article, socioeconomic differences are the most significant factor in measuring political lawyering. We identify four basic subgroups of Tunisian lawyers, in the order of their activism: the “lower rung” of struggling, young lawyers; middle- and upper-class lawyers with moderate client bases; specialized corporate lawyers; and members of the authoritarian government party (Gobe 2012 ). The latter two subgroups were largely uninvolved in political activism. The lower rung of lawyers was the most actively involved group in the Tunisian uprising; it is difficult to measure the activism of the middle-rung lawyers. It is not, however, our objective to mythologize the activism of Tunisian lawyers, to suggest that there are no client-centered lawyers, or to imply that Tunisian lawyers form an undifferentiated monolith. In recognition of the problems of mythologizing “civic republicanism” (Spaulding 2003 ), we have noted resistance to political lawyering throughout this article. In Tunisia's pre-uprising authoritarian regime, civil society was severely stifled. But, alongside the TBA, other Tunisian organizations also have a long history of participation in politics. The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) is one of the most important organizations, and it is relatively more powerful than the TBA. As in the case of the TBA, local and national leaders of the UGTT differed in their approaches to the authoritarian regime, but the circumstances of the uprising consolidated the labor union's advocacy. Most recently, the UGTT assisted in organizing and actively participated in the 2012–2013 framework for national dialogue (Chayes 2014 ). Yet, while the UGTT wields significant political influence in post-uprising Tunisia, it does not represent political liberalism in the way that the TBA does. During the uprising, a variety of Tunisian civil society actors viewed lawyers as important leaders and representatives of justice. The TBA's political lawyering is simultaneously representative of broader dynamics and specific to the legal profession; in addition, the TBA's political role is both self-constructed and widely acknowledged. Sources, Methods, and Contributions: A Brief Overview This article draws on our original research (and previous publications) pertaining to the legal profession and law in the contemporary Arab world. Our sources include Tunisian laws regulating the legal profession, quantitative and qualitative surveys and analysis of TBA documents, original interviews with Tunisian lawyers, TBA websites, and news articles. Gobe conducted the first and only comprehensive empirical study of the Tunisian legal profession during and after the Ben Ali regime; he collected quantitative and qualitative data during research trips in Tunisia between 2005 and 2010, as well as during and after the protests of 2010–2011. In 2008, Gobe completed a quantitative survey of 626 lawyers (about 10 percent of all Tunisian lawyers); between 2005 and 2009, he undertook qualitative surveys of eighty-five lawyers, representing a spectrum of political affiliations and socioeconomic situations. Salaymeh analyzed more than 200 TBA documents issued between 2000 and 2012 and classified them according to the form of political lawyering. The TBA's documents are broadly representative of its organizational structure and membership; in light of the potential limitations of the TBA's self-presentation, information from TBA sources has been verified for factuality and reliability and has been critically evaluated in conjunction with other sources. As for the bar's history, we relied on several texts that offer first-hand accounts (biographies and interviews) of the legal profession (Chérif 1990 ; ʿUthmān 1990 ; Mīlādī 2000 ). For the period during and after the uprisings, we relied on information gathered during our research stays in Tunisia. In particular, Gobe interviewed six lawyers (all TBA members). 11 Salaymeh undertook participant observation in the main Tunis courthouse and the headquarters of the TBA; she also interviewed members of the ATJA and some lawyers in the Tunisian Constituent Assembly. All in-person interviews were conducted in Tunisia; in some cases, interviewees provided e-mail responses to specific questions. Based on extensive research, this article is a unique contribution to the available scholarly literature on both the Tunisian legal profession and political lawyering. There is relatively little scholarship on the legal profession in Tunisia and most of it has been written by Tunisian lawyers. In Arabic, the key history of the Tunisian legal profession primarily reports statistics and facts (Ibn al-Aṣfar 1998 ). In French, an unpublished thesis recounts the history of the legal profession from 1883 to 1987 (Hélin 1994 ). A recently published thesis—authored by a Tunisian lawyer who was president of ATJA, a member of the TBA governing council, and interim TBA president—investigates the relationship between lawyers and the authoritarian government, primarily under Ben Ali (Tabib 2015 ). There is little scholarship on the Tunisian legal profession available in English (Gobe 2010, 2013b ). In contrast to the available scholarly literature, this article relies on diverse and original sources, as well as interdisciplinary methods (both historical and sociolegal). In addition to contributing to the literature on the Tunisian legal profession, this study furthers scholarship on the political activities of lawyers. Although focused on an authoritarian, postcolonial state, understanding political lawyering in Tunisia contributes to the diversity of case studies in the existing scholarly literature. In other parts of Africa, lawyers have been recognized as important players in democratization efforts (Oko 2000 ). In Tanzania and Kenya, lawyers “have by and large challenged the legitimacy of their country's repressive tendencies” (Kapinga 1992 , 890). In Pakistan, lawyers have mobilized alongside judges against authoritarian government tactics (Ghias 2010 ). In former British colonies, political lawyering manifests itself distinctly in liberal, authoritarian, and unstable states (Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2012). However, the politics of the legal profession in Arab states, or North Africa, or former French colonies is understudied (Reid 1981 ; Agrama 2012 ). In comparison to other Arab states that followed Tunisia's revolutionary precedent, Tunisia's lawyers stand out as exceptionally involved and influential in resisting authoritarian governance and in politicizing law. Tunisian political lawyering both substantiates the theoretical framework of political lawyering and moves beyond it by demonstrating how and when lawyers can become proactive (rather than reactive) and by stressing the tension within political lawyering's diminishment of economic rights. This Tunisian case study allows us to rethink the role of political lawyering in pivotal moments of sociolegal change. Autonomy: The Authoritarian Regime in Postcolonial Tunisia (1956–2000) When Tunisia gained independence from French colonial rule in 1956, most Tunisian politicians were lawyers trained in French law schools and they reproduced the organizational model of the French legal profession by giving its governing bodies (the president and governing council) public powers. 12 A 1958 law organized lawyers into three separate bars at the courts of appeal in the cities of Tunis, Sousse, and Sfax (JORT 1958 ). The presidents of each of these three local bar organizations represented the profession before political and administrative authorities. The 1958 law also specified the conditions for access to the legal profession (such as nationality and diploma) and outlined professional conflicts of interest. By establishing rules that enshrined the autonomy of the legal profession and the liberal legacy of the French bar, the postcolonial Tunisian government perpetuated a professional model that challenges the operating logic of authoritarian states. The legal profession's autonomy would prove to be a source of political resistance. The first authoritarian president of independent Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba (Būrqībah, r. 1957–1987) had studied law in France, practiced as an attorney in Tunisia for a short time, and understood well the potential of lawyers; he attempted to limit the profession's independence because it was dominated by his political opponents. 13 In August 1961, after detaining the TBA president in Tunis, Bourguiba dissolved the regional bar councils (in Tunis, Sfax, and Sousse), replacing them with an administrative committee charged with managing the affairs of the legal profession (JORT 1961 ). Although this administrative committee operated for four years, Bourguiba still was not able to control the profession fully. Certain lawyers from the Neo-Destour party wanted the legal profession to regain normal functions and argued against Bourguiba for the return of legitimate governing bodies, composed of elected representatives from the bar; despite being members of a party aligned with Bourguiba, these lawyers were committed to some degree of autonomy for the legal profession. Bourguiba negotiated with the bar, resulting in a 1963 law that provided for a return to elected representatives and a modification of the 1958 law organizing the legal profession (Tunisian National Assembly). The 1963 law created the national bar association of Tunisia (the TBA). The creation of a single organization representing lawyers was intended to “strengthen the influence of the president over the bar and the authorities” (Debates 1963 , 233). Each side viewed the formation of a dedicated professional organization as an advantage for divergent reasons. The Bourguiba regime, reflecting an authoritarian state's logic of corporatism (Schmitter 1974 ), viewed the consolidation of the bar as an opportunity to co-opt the TBA president, while accepting normal elections for the bar's governing council. 14 In contrast, the lawyers viewed the institutionalization of a unified bar as allowing the profession to position itself as a unique interlocutor with the government and to represent its interests better. In the long run, the TBA could not be entirely co-opted and the bar's professional autonomy gave it political leverage. The legal profession's internal democracy did not generate direct political opposition; the reinstated ability of lawyers to elect their own representatives did not result in the TBA systematically electing government opponents. For the most part, the TBA elected members of the regime's party or individuals aligned with the regime. In 1965, under the provisions of the 1963 law, the TBA elected its first president, Mohamed Chakroun (then a member of the Neo-Destour party), who had served as Minister of Social Affairs in the first government led by Bourguiba in 1956. The subsequent TBA presidents in the 1970s were also more or less connected to the authoritarian regime or the Neo-Destour party. In 1971, Taoufik Ben Cheikh, a consensus candidate between the government and the TBA, was elected to a second term as TBA president. His successor, Mohamed Bellalouna, was a member of the Neo-Destour party. Fethi Zouhir was elected TBA president twice (in 1975 and 1977) and he was also a long-time member of Bourguiba's party. It was only during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s—during a short period of liberalization in the Tunisian government (Chouikha 2004 )—that the TBA elected presidents who were not close to Bourguiba or his political allies. First, Lazhar Karoui Chebbi was the personal secretary of Salah Ben Youssef, Bourguiba's political adversary at the beginning of Tunisia's independence. Second, Mansour Cheffi, who served as TBA president four times in the 1980s and early 1990s, was a leftist with ties to Habib Achour—the General Secretary of the UGTT, which had tense relations with the regime. The election of TBA presidents who were not aligned with the authoritarian regime resulted in governmental interferences with the legal profession. Ben Ali (r. 1987–2011), Bourguiba's successor, pushed parliament to vote on a bill limiting the autonomy of the profession in 1989, under the tenure of Cheffi (an oppositionist) as TBA president (JORT 1989 ). The TBA's governing bodies challenged two provisions of the 1989 law. The first provision concerned lawyers’ immunity in the courtroom. Under Article 46, a judge who determined bad faith in an attorney's arguments or statements in court was permitted to prosecute the attorney, after notifying a regional TBA representative (JORT 1989 , 1388). The TBA condemned this article for granting a judge the power to adjourn the court in order to send an attorney before other judges without prior notice. In other words, through this 1989 law, Ben Ali's regime gave all courts the power to discipline lawyers. The second disputed provision permitted magistrates who had served on the bench for ten years to become lawyers, even if they had retired. The TBA's governing bodies wanted to add a clause requiring magistrates to pass an exam in order to become members of the bar. The secretary of the TBA council at the time, Abdelwahab el-Behi, argued that it was inconceivable that someone who spent many years “as a magistrate could be authorized by the provision to join the bar, while young lawyers, recently graduated, cannot even find the money to pay their electricity bills” (Tabib 1988 ). The TBA was clearly invested in maintaining the autonomy and economic viability of the legal profession, but this objective overlapped with distrust of magistrates, who were perceived as aligned with the authoritarian regime. Opposition to the 1989 law regulating the legal profession resulted in Cheffi (the acting TBA president) and other activist lawyers becoming targets of government harassment (Abdelkefi 1990 ). In October 1990, Cheffi and Abderrahmane Hila (a criminal defense lawyer close to Ennahdha) were denied access to a military court. This was followed by the arrest of Islamist lawyer Hedi Zamzemi at the door of the courthouse in Tunis while he was still wearing his lawyer's robe, which provoked strong reactions from the lawyers observing the scene (Abdelkefi 1990 ). The TBA's governing council convened a general meeting in late October 1990 in response to these incidents. At the meeting, the TBA called on Tunisian lawyers to strike for two hours on November 1, 1990 to protest against the repeated violations of lawyers’ rights (Ben M'barek 2003 , 409). This collective action was the first of its kind in post-independence Tunisia, but it had little effect. The TBA was unable either to amend the 1989 law or to prevent government harassment of its members. Indeed, the 1990s was a dark decade for the TBA. In 1992, thousands of Ennahadha party members, including lawyers, were arrested, tortured, and sentenced for alleged conspiracy against state security or for membership in an illegal organization. In addition, the Ben Ali regime gradually tightened its grip on all autonomous public bodies, including the TBA. During this period, the TBA membership elected two presidents who were close to the Ben Ali regime, hoping that their professional and economic demands would be considered by the regime. While the TBA officially concentrated on professional concerns, the authoritarian government's persecution of activist lawyers was readily apparent to members of the bar. The French colonial legacy of distinguishing between lawyers and magistrates created the potential for a distinct professional identity. Because the authoritarian state sought to control the independence of lawyers, the legal profession mobilized to protect its professional autonomy. When states impose coercive policies targeting members of their community, then lawyers’ activities can assume a political dimension in which defending individual rights is intertwined with limiting arbitrary power (Karpik 2008 ). In part, Tunisian lawyers opposed the government because of their own difficult social and economic situations, which gradually worsened during the 1990s—especially for newer members of the bar. From Tunisia's independence to the end of the 1990s, the regime and the TBA were locked in a cycle of government overreach and protest of lawyers over professional autonomy that had serious implications for the economic and civil rights of lawyers. Insofar as the TBA opposed or critiqued the authoritarian government, it did so primarily in defense of professional autonomy and in reaction to government abuse. Discontent: Tunisia's Oppositional Legal Profession (2000–2010) In the beginning of the 2000s, the bar's membership became increasingly young, resistant, and insistent on claiming professional autonomy; in response, the government initiated repressive measures in order to control the profession. Consequently, the TBA's governing bodies shifted toward dissent against the government from 2000–2010, chronicling government transgressions against lawyers in their official statements (Salaymeh 2014 ). Throughout the 2000s, lawyers elected members of opposition groups (see Table 2 ) as TBA presidents: Béchir Essid (an Arab nationalist), Abdessatar Ben Moussa (close to Ettajdid), and Abderrazak Kilani (an Arab nationalist close to Ennahdha). The 2010 bar elections delivered a victory to Kilani over Essid, henceforth supported by the RCD in the race for the post of TBA president. The TBA's governing council had always been politically heterogeneous—including leftists, Arab nationalists, and Islamists, as well as partisans of Ben Ali's RCD. 15 As compared to earlier periods, in the early 2000s, Tunisian lawyers elected oppositionists as their representatives because they were perceived as more inclined to defend the profession's perceived core values. Table 2. Cited Tunisian Political Parties Ruling Parties Prior to the Uprising Neo-Destour Party, 1934–1964 Congress for the Republic, 2001–present Congrès pour la République, CPR; al-Muʾtamar min ajl al-Jumhūriyyah Ettakatol, 1994–present Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties; FDTL, Forum démocratique pour le travail et les libertés; al-Takattul al-Dīmuqrāṭī min ajl al-ʿAmal wa al-Ḥurriyyāt These changes within the TBA's leadership reflected broader dynamics of political dissent among lawyers (Gobe and Ayari 2007 ). A relatively small number of cause lawyers (who were members of political opposition parties) pressed their colleagues. As victims of government authoritarianism, they pressured the legal profession during the 2000s to take collective action on problems particular to lawyers (such as the government's intrusion on attorney-client confidentiality). The political commitments of these cause lawyers, couched within arguments about the legal profession's autonomy, acted as “a catalyst for the group's principles and functional logic” (Champy and Israël 2009 , 14). Cause lawyers joined with other activist lawyers to protest strongly against violations of defendants’ rights and attacks on individual freedoms, as well as infringements on the profession's autonomy. Politically active lawyers pressured the TBA's governing bodies to organize collective actions when a member of the bar had been victimized; by tapping into a sense of professional autonomy, these activist lawyers strategically linked professional concerns to broader political dissent. For example, in 2000, in response to police brutality of attorneys supporting the hunger strike of an opposition journalist (Taoufik Ben Brik), the TBA governing council called for a strike and sit-in of all Tunisian courts on April 28, 2000. In other instances, cause lawyers inaugurated hunger strikes in order to defend the dignity of lawyers and citizens. Radhia Nasraoui (a radical leftist and wife of Hamma Hammami, long-time leader of the Tunisian Workers’ Party) was probably the first lawyer to begin a hunger strike as a means of political resistance. In a statement (October 15, 2003) to her colleagues, she explained that “pressure by diverse means” on her clients was intended to frighten them from utilizing her services; she asserted the state's political police had conducted “repeated rampages” on her office and placed her under permanent and extensive surveillance (wiretapping, interception of mail, continuous monitoring of her home, etc.) (Nasraoui 2003 ). In 2005, the arrest of oppositional lawyer Mohammed Abbou provoked his colleagues in the bar to organize a sit-in protest at the Lawyers’ House 16 that lasted fifty-two days; the TBA's governing bodies did not support the protest until just before it ended (Gobe 2013a , 290–93). Still, these acts of dissent illustrate that cause and activist lawyers tactically relied on their professional autonomy as an instrument for opposition; the TBA did not fully embrace all this oppositional activity, but did endorse some of it. It was not, however, only government repression that motivated activist lawyers and the TBA to dissent; the lack of economic opportunities for lawyers (especially younger ones) also generated opposition to the government. During Ben Ali's reign, the legal profession experienced continuous and exponential growth. From 1991 to 2011, the bar's membership increased nearly six times, from approximately 1,400 to 8,000 members. 17 During the same period, the total labor force only grew 1.6 times (from about 2.3 million people to just over 3.7 million). More specifically, between June 2008 and June 2011, the profession grew with the entry of 1,500 additional lawyers. Nearly 75 percent of lawyers were under the age of forty in 2010 (Gobe 2013a ). This bar of young lawyers was registered in the court of appeal and constituted 80 percent of what is identified as the lower rung of the Tunisian bar. These lawyers almost exclusively serve individual (rather than corporate) clients, usually from the working-class neighborhoods in which they themselves were raised. Their legal work is primarily in the areas of family law (divorce, alimony, etc.), real estate (writing sales contracts for low-cost properties), petty crimes (primarily misdemeanors), and even neighborhood disputes. In addition, co-optation and economic inequity caused further resentment within the bar against the government. Lawyers who were active members of the RCD (roughly 500 lawyers) were clients of the Ben Ali regime and enjoyed a quasi-monopoly over projects with public funding or involvement (Gobe 2013b ). In exchange for these economic benefits, these pro-regime attorneys monitored and challenged the collective actions of their colleagues in the legal profession (Gobe 2013b , 49–53). In the interest of repressing Tunisian civil society, lawyers aligned with the regime litigated against activist lawyers challenging the status quo. Thus, for lawyers, limitations on economic opportunities were both abstractly and concretely caused by the authoritarian regime. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of lawyers steadily increasing, the profession's governing bodies repeatedly appealed to the Justice Department to enact reforms allowing them to control access to the bar and to restrict the activities of competing professions accused of encroaching on lawyers’ alleged natural field of expertise. The government, however, refused to accede to their demands, probably out of fear that members of the profession would manipulate their roles as defense advocates in order to challenge the regime's authoritarian behavior. But by refusing to support the professional autonomy of Tunisian lawyers, the regime alienated lawyers loyal to it and drove many lawyers to adopt a critical stance vis-à-vis the government. In other words, the widespread impression that the executive was trampling on the profession's prerogatives galvanized the TBA's defense of individual rights and freedoms. The difficult socioeconomic conditions experienced by the lower rung of the bar led a majority of lawyers to be receptive to activist lawyering (opposed to the regime) well before the Tunisian uprising. 18 The TBA's governing bodies recognized that the rising number of lawyers and their limited professional and economic opportunities was a problem. The TBA president (Abderrazak Kilani) sought, after his election in June 2010, to establish a modus vivendi with the regime. He attempted to negotiate with the regime for a new law regulating the legal profession that would be a compromise between the TBA and the government: it would satisfy at least one of the professional demands of the bar's lower rung in exchange for relinquishing other demands perceived by the government as immediately political (such as defending fundamental rights, respecting the autonomy of the legal order, or protecting public and private liberties). To draft this compromise law, on June 30, 2010, the TBA president convened a regulation committee. Consisting of three former bar presidents and forty-three other lawyers, this regulation committee was designed to represent the entire spectrum of political and ideological currents in the bar. The committee was divided among four subcommittees that met about twenty times before setting up a higher regulation committee to elaborate the final bill (Ghribi 2013b ). Thus, in the period immediately preceding the Tunisian uprising, the TBA's membership—like many Tunisian citizens—was resentful of government policies constraining their daily livelihood, but the TBA's governing bodies—primarily oppositionists—sought a compromise focused on the profession's autonomy and immediate economic needs. There was then some discontent within the legal profession caused by sometimes conflicting, sometimes overlapping interests: cause lawyers initiated various acts of political resistance; the lower rung of the bar was disgruntled and increasingly activist; the TBA leadership responded to the political and economic concerns of these groups, but was largely accommodationist and focused on professional concerns. Dissonance: TBA's Membership Versus its Leadership in the Tunisian Uprising (December 2010–January 2011) The trigger for the Tunisian uprising (leading to the demise of the Ben Ali regime) was the attempted suicide on December 17, 2010 of Muḥammad Būʿazīzī, an unlicensed seller of fruits and vegetables in Sidi Bouzid (Sīdī Būzīd, a town of 40,000 inhabitants located in the center of Tunisia) after authorities confiscated his goods. 19 Several nights of rioting ensued, with young protestors resisting police. But, despite media portrayals, this was not a spontaneous event, but an “insurrectional moment” (Baduel 2013 ). The uprisings linked “the actions of political activists and local union members with the collective rioting of neighborhoods, where the young people itching for a fight finally confronted the police” (Hmed 2012 , 38). Local members of the UGTT, rights activists, and cause lawyers who had grassroots organizing experience played an important role in the growing politicization of the Sidi Bouzid uprising. When the protests began in December 2010, no particular group of dissidents led them, but by taking responsibility for and placing themselves at the head of demonstrations, long-time cause lawyers and activist, younger members of the bar (the lower rung) helped encourage and sustain the wave of popular protest. Yet, during much of the protest movement, the TBA's governing bodies were a hindrance to the political engagement of lawyers, rather than a facilitator of their involvement in the uprisings. The day after Būʿazīzī self-immolated, some activist lawyers organized a sit-in in front of the Sidi Bouzid county court. On December 24, 2010, as the protests were beginning to spread throughout the central part of the country, about thirty (or one-third) of Sidi Bouzid's lawyers marched in their robes from the courts of justice into the streets. This established a pattern (of marching from courthouses to public spaces while wearing the black robes of lawyers) that other Tunisian lawyers would follow in many other cities. On December 27, the police again violently dispersed protestors throughout the region, leading to sit-ins of lawyers in front of the courts in Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine (Qaṣrayn), and Médenine (Madanīyīn). 20 These sit-ins turned into demonstrations, attracting the general public to join protests organized by lawyers. With other protestors, marching lawyers denounced the regime and the predatory behavior of Ben Ali's in-laws with slogans that mixed political and professional goals: “No to dictatorship; yes to an independent legal system” and “lawyers are the first lines of defense of people's rights.” 21 As a wave of dissidence spread across Tunisia (and in particular to Sousse and Sfax), lawyers became increasingly engaged in protests. In the capital (Tunis), lawyers continued direct involvement in and even leadership of protests. On December 22, at the instigation of opposition lawyers (primarily leftists and Arab nationalists), a sit-in of about 100 lawyers was organized outside the Courts of Justice and the Lawyers’ House. 22 On the morning of December 28, a second sit-in of about 200 lawyers took place at the Tunis courthouse. Within a matter of a week, lawyers had become part of the fabric of the uprisings and legal rhetoric—as the slogans above indicate—had become integral to the protest discourse. This political engagement, however, was met with government retaliation, resulting in discord between the TBA's membership and leadership. On December 28, 2010, the regime's security forces arrested and detained for a few hours Abderraouf Ayadi (a human rights lawyer) and Choukri Belaïd (a radical leftist lawyer who was assassinated on February 6, 2013). After a night in detention, Ayadi and Belaïd were released on December 29, and they reported on their experiences at the Lawyers House. Ayadi displayed the clothes he had worn the previous day, which had been tattered by the regime's kidnappers, and denounced the physical abuse he endured during detention. Despite this testimonial of the regime's continued repressive tactics, the TBA president was timid, declaring that “the bar is not a political party” and that it must deal with the pressing, pragmatic concern of “5,000 starving lawyers” (Bouallègue 2011 ). Still, the TBA was obliged to respond to this infringement of professional autonomy. Thus, the TBA's governing council issued a statement denouncing the abduction and arrest of Ayadi and Belaïd “by agents of the security forces in flagrant violation of the law” (TBA 2010a ). Concurrently, the TBA officially expressed solidarity with the inhabitants of Sidi Bouzid as citizens who were simply demanding their rights to work and to a decent life. Further, to protest against the police state's handling of the uprising, the TBA's governing bodies called for a day of solidarity with Sidi Bouzid residents: lawyers in black robes would wear a red ribbon in all the Tunisian courts of first instance on December 31, but the TBA asked lawyers to stay within the confines of the courts and not to demonstrate in the streets (TBA 2010a ). The circumstances and wording of the TBA statement and announcement of a demonstration reveal the dissonance between the engaged base of lawyers and the hesitant TBA governing bodies. The TBA president and part of the TBA's governing council sought to slow down the political activities of its members. Within the TBA's governing council, lawyers connected to the RCD did not want the organization to react, while other members were hesitant to take overt political action (Ghribi 2013b ). Those council members with more oppositional politics hesitated to denounce the TBA president's wait-and-see approach publicly (Ghribi 2013b ). While the bar's members were actively engaged in the protests, the TBA's official line was cautious. Despite this caution, government authorities reacted to the TBA's call for demonstration by implementing punitive measures outside and inside the courts: they prevented lawyers from exiting the courts by force and they deployed law enforcement agents within the confines of the courts to prohibit lawyers from wearing red ribbons (to express their solidarity with Sidi Bouzid residents). In Tunis, the security forces closed the gates of the main courthouse to prevent lawyers from exiting into the streets. 23 Lawyers who refused to obey the directives of police officers were mistreated and physically attacked, with their official court robes being torn (Hamida 2011 ). This violence inside the sanctified spaces of courthouses provoked the TBA to escalate its dissent and to take a formal position in defense of its colleagues who had been attacked. Denouncing the police's “savage aggression” against lawyers, the TBA governing bodies called for a general strike on January 6, 2011 (TBA 2010b ). Even this official statement reflected the TBA president's careful political positioning: in order to avoid a direct attack on the regime, it did not mention the riots and their repression in the central-western part of the country; instead, the statement denounced the “violence and aggression inflicted upon lawyers by the security forces within the courts … and in front of the courthouse” (TBA 2011b ). In other words, the TBA's governing bodies rationalized the organization's political dissent as a matter of professional autonomy—instead of directly aligning the TBA with popular protests, as many of its members were doing through their direct involvement in the protests. The general strike of lawyers was, of course, part of a spreading wave of unrest. The government's brutal crackdown on protesters in Thala and especially in Kasserine on January 8–9, 2011 elicited wider social and geographic support for the protests, as the uprising spread to other Tunisian towns and cities, including the capital. While they began in largely working-class neighborhoods, often at the instigation of unemployed graduates, the middle classes (including professionals) soon joined the protests as well. At this point, the split between the TBA governing council and the TBA president became obvious. Instead of simply following as rioters and police produced a “spiral of repression-exaction-indignation-reinforcement of the movement” (Ayari, Geisser, and Krefa 2011 , 370), the TBA governing council's representatives wanted to be at the heart of the protests, but the TBA's president (Kilani) still hesitated to take direct action. This hesitation was apparent on January 11, 2011, during a meeting of the regulation committee (tasked in 2010 to finalize the draft of a new law regulating the legal profession). Many lawyers refused to proceed with the meeting's normal business; in their perspective, doing so would have been a denial of the human toll of the riots in the center of the country. Mongi Ghribi, a member of the regulation committee, proposed postponing discussions concerning the project in order to focus on the protests taking place in Thala, Kasserine, and Sidi Bouzid (Ghribi 2013b ); this proposal was endorsed by other members of the regulation committee who sought information about lawyers in the regions most affected by the popular uprisings. Kilani claimed that he had intervened in Kasserine to negotiate a deal: the government wanted lawyers in Kasserine to cease direct participation in the street protests in exchange for the release of arrested rioters and for noninterference in the funeral processions for protestors (Ghribi 2013a ). In addition, Kilani reported that lawyers were mediating between protestors and security services in Kasserine and Kairouan (Ghribi 2013a ). Because lawyers were playing pivotal roles in the protests, the regulation committee members created two committees—a monitoring committee and a committee to defend lawyers—in order to supervise the uprising as closely as possible. This was the first official TBA action devoted to the uprising and, considering the extensive involvement of lawyers in the protests, it was a prudent, albeit guarded, move. Meanwhile, on January 11, 2011, the national leadership of the UGTT decided—under pressure from its members—to allow its regional branches to organize general strikes throughout Tunisia beginning January 12. The labor union's decision encouraged the TBA to express a clearer commitment to the uprising. Consequently, after an emergency meeting on January 12, the TBA governing bodies issued a call for “a lawyers’ general strike across all courts on Friday, 14 January, to show solidarity with victims [of the repression] and in support of the protestors’ claims” (TBA 2011c ). The TBA governing council also arranged to send a delegation to Kasserine on January 13 in order to ensure the “safety of [their] fellow lawyers” in the town (TBA 2011c ). In Medenine, Kasserine, and Sidi Bouzid, lawyers in their robes marched out of the courts to lead demonstrations. The geographical spread of the protests in Tunisia's major cities and capital, along with the threat of a palace revolution, meant that the regime had its back to the wall. On the morning of January 14, Mohamed Ghannouchi (Ghannūshī, Prime Minister from 1999 to 2011 and acting president from January 14–15, 2011) invited the TBA president to present the lawyers’ complaints and petitions to him. Kilani accepted the invitation to meet with the government, despite being urged by members of the TBA's governing council to march at the head of the demonstrations instead of meeting with Ghannouchi. In Tunis, on the same day, many lawyers had gathered in front of the Court of Justice and were about to join the main march on Bourguiba Avenue (Tabib 2011 ). Hundreds of lawyers protested in front of the Justice Department, calling for the independence of the judiciary to be respected, before making their way to the State Department on Bourguiba Avenue and joining additional demonstrators (Gherib 2011 ). Lawyers, encouraged by cause lawyers with protest experience, formed a ring around the State Department, while protestors shouted, “Ben Ali dégage” [Ben Ali out]. 24 This image of lawyers protecting demonstrators would come to have great symbolic power. The protests were successful: by early evening (on January 14, 2011), Ben Ali had fled to Saudi Arabia and the regime had fallen. Unquestionably, lawyers played an important role in the Tunisian uprising. By acting as a line of defense between protestors and the authoritarian regime, lawyers expressed political dissent through the symbols of justice and the rule of law. During the uprising, the TBA's official representatives initially acted as speed bumps against more active and direct engagement of lawyers in the Tunisian uprising; still, the TBA issued numerous statements criticizing the government's repression of protestors (Salaymeh 2014 ). The hesitations of the TBA's president and governing council support the theory that professional organizations representing lawyers rarely take a stand or deploy their resources to defend human rights or the rule of law (McEvoy and Rebouché 2007 ). During most of the uprising, the TBA adopted conservative positions in favor of the status quo, appealing to ideas of the profession's neutrality or autonomy. It was the broader context of popular mobilization coupled with the energy of some activist lawyers (especially cause lawyers) that resulted in the TBA developing a “collective legal conscience” (McEvoy and Rebouché 2007 ). Despite the attempts by the TBA leadership to defuse collective action of the legal profession, lawyers were actively engaged in the uprising. Throughout December 2010 and January 2011, activist lawyers encouraged their colleagues to leave courthouses and to express their solidarity with the protesters by participating in marches, rallies, and other sit-ins (Bouallègue 2013 ). 25 These public acts of protest were particularly symbolic because courthouses are located in the centers of urban life in Tunisian cities. In public spaces, the image of lawyers marching together in black robes was a powerful emblem of justice in contrast to the injustice of the authoritarian regime. Engagement: Politicizing Professional Autonomy in Post-Uprising Tunisia (2011–2014) The collapse of the Ben ‘Ali regime swiftly impacted both the ATJA and the TBA. Exclusively members of the RCD, the ATJA's leadership collectively resigned and, in March 2011, Ennahda supporters won the new elections. Furthermore, the Ghannouchi-led transitional government enacted several measures impacting the political economy of the TBA's members; these measures deprived RCD members of their party's financial resources and of their monopoly on cases involving state institutions. The transitional government authorized managing directors of state companies and establishments to choose whichever lawyers they pleased (Gobe 2013a , 63). In this new situation, the reluctance that the TBA's governing bodies exhibited at the beginning of the uprising evolved into proactive mobilization in the post-uprising transitional political scene. During the transitional period (from the uprising until the election of the National Constituent Assembly on October 23, 2011), the TBA's public statements demanded accountability (including fair trials) for individuals who benefited under the authoritarian regime and expressed support for other Arab uprisings (Salaymeh 2014 ). The TBA president (Kilani) and governing council capitalized on the considerable symbolic capital generated by activist lawyers participating in the protests in their official dress. 26 This allowed them to play a major political role under the Ghannouchi-led transitional government, while considerably enhancing their professional autonomy. 27 But in the critical, post-uprising political situations afflicting Tunisia, the TBA's social capital proved less profitable than lawyers expected: the TBA primarily mobilized against the acts of the ruling troika and against hostility from the judiciary. 28 The TBA has asserted itself as a public overseer of post-uprising governance. The majority of post-uprising TBA-issued statements intervene in domestic politics, rather than advocating for lawyers’ rights, as had been the pre-uprising norm (Salaymeh 2014 ). For example, the TBA's governing bodies adopted a critical stance toward Ghannouchi, asserting that he was too close to the previous oligarchic regime. In an official announcement released on January 18, 2011, four days after Ben Ali's departure, the TBA governing council criticized the composition of Ghannouchi's interim cabinet because the presence of several high-ranking members of the previous regime ran counter to the “demands for which the [Tunisian] people had spilled their blood” (TBA 2011d ). The TBA governing council further called for “the formation of a national unity government representing the gamut of political affiliations, as well as associations and professional organizations—all without partiality or discrimination” (TBA 2011d ). It also demanded that “the government seize forthwith the entirety of Ben Ali's possessions and holdings, along with those of his family, associates, and all those persons who symbolize the corruption [of the previous regime]” (TBA 2011d ). The TBA governing council concluded by declaring itself “fundamentally convinced that an independent justice system is the only guarantor of rights and liberties” and demanding “the immediate undertaking of radical measures that will serve as a basis for the reform of the justice system, whose pockets of corruption have caused the country gangrene” (TBA 2011d ). This statement reflects the TBA's post-uprising positioning as a watchdog that (in contrast to magistrates) is presumably not co-opted by the government. In addition to criticizing politicians and offering unsolicited advice on legitimate governance, the TBA governing council continued to express its support for demonstrators. New waves of protestors poured in from the central part of the country in late January and set up camp in Kasbah (qaṣbah) Square in front of the Prime Minister's office demanding the resignation of the transitional government. The TBA president visited the Kasbah in person to demonstrate his sympathy for their aims; this act allowed him to assume the informal role of spokesperson for those who had overthrown the dictatorship. When the police broke up the sit-in, the TBA governing council published an official statement questioning the legitimacy of the transitional government and positioning itself as a stalwart defender of the “advances made since the revolution.” The statement declared: The unconscionable events that took place [at Kasbah Square] are the work of parallel organizations linked to the former dictatorship, which still wields power behind the scenes, thereby constituting a threat to the advances made since the revolution, as well as to security and civic peace within the country. … The commissions established to investigate political reform … and fight against embezzlement and corruption do not reflect the will of the people, since they were established by the decision of the former president and they lack certain competencies and capacities that could only be provided by an independent legal system. … The TBA governing council hereby confirms that it was neither consulted regarding, nor involved in, the establishment of these committees. It therefore rejects the legitimacy of their composition and calls on lawyers involved to withdraw [their involvement]. (TBA 2011f ) In its conclusion, the profession's governing council reaffirmed its determination “to honor the memory of our martyrs and the heroic struggle of the popular masses to achieve liberty, dignity, and equality” (TBA 2011f ). This statement not only declared that the TBA should determine the legitimacy of government acts, but also that the TBA should be involved directly in transitional governance. The TBA continued to ride the wave of its revolutionary legitimacy in ways that merged political mobilization and professional autonomy. On February 11, 2011, the TBA participated in establishing the National Council for the Preservation of the Revolution. This heterogeneous coalition of twenty-eight distinct political parties, associations, and professional organizations brought together such disparate actors as the UGTT, Ennahdha, various leftist groups, and associations dedicated to defending human rights and to eliminating torture. Despite their internal divisions, these distinct organizations collectively called for a new government and the establishment of a constitutional convention. During a second sit-in at Kasbah Square on February 20, the TBA president (Kilani) reinforced the public perception of the TBA as guardian of the revolution and representative of the people. On February 22, Kilani held a press conference, during which he delivered a speech that came across as slightly populist: All of us here today have in mind the date of January 28, when our youth were abused and mistreated by the police—here in the Kasbah. And I am here to repeat the bar's position: we are on the side of the people. We want what the people want. … We are here because we support the sit-in. … We are taking part in the sit-in because it is clear to us that the goals of the revolution have not yet been achieved. (GNet 2011 ) By February 27, the TBA appeared to have succeeded in its demands because Ghannouchi resigned and his successor, Béji Caïd Essebsi, agreed to form a constitutional convention. This series of events demonstrates that the TBA positioned itself as the equivalent of a supervisory body over government, one that independently verifies the rule of law and represents the populist demands of the uprising. In line with this mobilization, the TBA president (Kilani) portrayed the engagement of lawyers in the 2010–2011 uprising as (revolutionary) professional service. In the press, Kilani depicted lawyers fighting for fundamental rights and an independent justice system as the “moral guarantor[s] of the reinforcement of rights and freedoms at a time when the ghosts of the ancien régime are all around us and our emerging democracy must struggle against the temptation to try to assimilate and incorporate them” (Le Temps 2011a ). Still, Kilani encountered some opposition to his political mobilization of the profession; some lawyers denounced what they described as an “outrageous politicization of the profession and its representative bodies” (Gherib 2011 ). Although this forced Kilani to refocus his attention on the professional sphere, it did not constrain political lawyering to particularly legal matters. (Kilani managed to return to the political stage in time for the elections to the constitutional convention. 29 ) With his newfound political capital, Kilani pursued the professional objectives that the TBA's governing council had initiated prior to the uprising. Since lawyers aligned with the previous regime lost their monopoly on public projects after the uprising (Gobe 2013b , 59), some redistribution of economic opportunities occurred, but Tunisian lawyers sought more reforms. An internal TBA plebiscite was held on March 10, 2011 to permit the TBA governing council to draft a new bill on the legal profession without following the normal processes; TBA members overwhelmingly supported the project. 30 Various provisions in the text were intended to ameliorate the professional autonomy and political role of lawyers. Previously, the bar had been “a liberal and independent profession whose purpose is to help enact justice”; but the first article of the proposed 2011 law made the TBA a participant in “establishing justice and defending human rights and freedoms” (JORT 2011 , 1595). In the words of the TBA president (Kilani), the bar became an “equal partner, along with the bench, in the consecration of Justice” (Dermech 2011 ). This new language reflected the TBA's integration of political engagement into the ethos of the profession. This political-professional engagement was promoted as unique. The TBA president exploited the involvement of lawyers in the uprising, declaring “a mere two short months ago [March 2011], it was lawyers and lawyers alone who had the necessary courage to denounce the Ben Ali regime” (Le Temps 2011b ). The TBA accused competing professions of having received special treatment under the authoritarian former regime, as demonstrated by their failure to participate in the protests, and used this accusation to enlarge the professional jurisdiction of lawyers in Article 2 of the proposed 2011 law (Kilani 2011 ). This article allowed lawyers to claim some of the responsibilities of competing professions (including notaries, tax specialists, real estate agents, accountants, and certified public accountants). Specifically, the decree stated that “only lawyers are qualified to represent and act as counsel to clients … and to defend them in courts of law, in any other judicial, administrative or disciplinary hearings, and against an investigating officer” (JORT 2011 ). 31 Competing professions feared that the wording of this article would prevent them from providing legal, tax, or accounting advice to their clients, as well as from carrying out certain administrative procedures (Gobe and Khlif 2015 ). Professional bodies representing accountants, notaries, and tax specialists viewed the bill as an attempt “by one profession to appropriate for itself the attributes and sphere of professional activity of other professions” (Akkari 2011 ). Article 2 provocatively endowed lawyers with the exclusive right to “draw up company statutes and administer certain forms of increase and reduction in the company's capital.” The bill also gave lawyers exclusive rights “to draft contracts, real estate deeds of transfer, and certificates of capital investment in a company in the form of real estate, excepting those expressly attributed to notaries and draftsmen from the Land Registry Agency” (JORT 2011 ). 32 The ensuing controversies surrounding the bill regulating the legal profession had deleterious effects on the relationship between lawyers and other professions. In addition to elevating the legal profession's part in pursuing justice and claiming professional territoriality, the proposed 2011 law organizing the legal profession sought to provide lawyers with immunity and with an opportunity to enter the judiciary. Article 47 of the 2011 law specified that “transactions, pleas, and submissions made by a lawyer in the exercise of her duties” could not be used to try her in court, nor could lawyers “be subject to disciplinary measures undertaken by any body other than those instances, authorities, and establishments before which she exercises her practice” (JORT 2011 , 1596). This article abrogated and replaced Article 46 of the 1989 law, which allowed judges to try lawyers without due process if they offended them. 33 Article 46 of the 2011 law (abrogating Article 45 of the previous law) offers lawyers further protection against prosecution, specifying that a lawyer's office cannot be searched unless he has been caught in a criminal act. Furthermore, such a search must be done in the presence of a competent judge, the lawyer himself, and the president of his regional TBA branch. 34 Finally, Article 48 of the 2011 law renders members of the TBA governing council and its regional branches as administrative authorities, such that any action impugning a member of the profession's representative bodies is to be sanctioned as if it were directed at a prosecuting attorney. The debates surrounding the 2011 law manifested the tensions between the bar's corporatist tendencies and its liberal-democratic commitments. While for the TBA's leadership there was no contradiction in economic and political objectives, other professions perceived the political commitments of attorneys as a means of pursuing illegitimate professional objectives. These apparent gains in the proposed 2011 law regulating the legal profession and the TBA's revolutionary capital have not improved confrontational relations in the legal complex (i.e., between lawyers and magistrates). Authoritarian Tunisian regimes historically used judges as vehicles for restriction of dissident political behavior, which contributed to tensions between lawyers and magistrates. In addition, economic competition and professional mobility caused conflicts between lawyers and magistrates. 35 While successive Tunisian governments ensured that judges could easily join the bar, since the 1960s, the Department of Justice had not allowed lawyers to join the bench (with the exception of Bourguiba's niece, Saida Sassi). In other words, government practice contradicted Article 32 of Law No. 67-29 (July 14, 1967), which permitted lawyers who practiced their profession for at least ten years to be appointed to any grade of the judicial hierarchy (JORT 1967 , 934). Put simply, there is a long history of tension between lawyers and magistrates that intensified as a result of the TBA's post-uprising political mobilization. Judges and prosecuting attorneys resented that the proposed 2011 law provided lawyers with new forms of immunity while excluding retired magistrates from the bar. Consequently, the two professional organizations that represent magistrates strongly opposed the proposed bill initially adopted by the government. The SMT (Syndicat des magistrats tunisiens, Tunisian Magistrates’ Union) 36 denounced the text as opportunist, attributed its drafting to a pro-lawyer “lobby” 37 at the heart of government, and called for a three-day strike from June 28–30, 2011. They also called on the interim president and prime minister to refuse to sign the proposed law. The SMT described the immunity granted under Article 47 as a form of “impunity” 38 and, more significantly, resented the law's exclusion of former prosecuting attorneys from being admitted to the bar. As for the AMT, it called for the resignation of the Minister of Justice and opposed the promulgation of a law regulating the legal profession in the absence of a comprehensive reform of the legal system (AMT). Prosecuting attorneys demanded that they be allowed to join the bar after retirement, arguing that their pensions were insufficient and their standard of living strained (Turki 2011 ). Some of them also denounced lawyers because Article 38 of the bill (JORT 2011 ) proposed to legalize contingency fee arrangements, with lawyers authorized to receive up to 20 percent of damages awarded to clients (Ben Saleh 2011b ). 39 Ultimately, the prosecuting attorneys prevailed over the lawyers: the final version of the decree allowed them entry to the bar. 40 Still, the TBA was successful in obtaining its other professional objectives and the new law was passed in August 2011. Undoubtedly, these tensions in the legal complex were intensified by lawyers viewing themselves as largely independent and perceiving magistrates as co-opted by the pre-uprising, authoritarian government. The preliminary confrontation between the SMT, AMT, and the TBA in 2011 resulted, after the beginning of 2012, in regular clashes between lawyers and magistrates in various courts. On March 19, 2012, forty-five lawyers from Kasserine published a list of ten magistrates they considered to be corrupt and deserving punishment or removal from the judiciary—an act that sparked reactions from all the magistrates in the Kasserine courts. The magistrates denounced the lawyers for contempt of court, organized a one-day strike against the actions of the lawyers (on March 22), wore red ribbons for a week, and demanded that the authorities investigate the lawyers involved in this alleged aggression against the judiciary. In May 2013, a lawyer who had been held in contempt appeared before the judge of the Court of First Instance in Beja (Bājah); the hearing that ensued sparked a tit-for-tat of strikes held by magistrates and lawyers. On May 21, 2013, magistrates in Beja (supported by SMT) denounced the “assaults by some lawyers on the judiciary” (Hajbi 2013 ). In response, the TBA governing council called for a strike on May 23 in all Tunisian courts. Eventually, the lawyer in Beja (who had been held in contempt) was surrendered by the attorney general to the Court of Appeal of Tunis, without the involvement of the regional TBA president, which contravened Article 46 of Law 2011-79. 41 This lawyer was detained for four days at the Bouchoucha prison (in Tunis). In response, the TBA governing council called for a general strike on November 11, 2013 (TBA 2013a ). Amid these tensions between lawyers and magistrates, the TBA intervened in debates on the adoption of the final text of the post-revolution Constitution to ensure that the legal profession and its duties were clearly demarcated. The TBA was supported by the thirty-three lawyers who were representatives in the Tunisian Constituent Assembly. (Lawyers were the second most represented profession in the Tunisian Constituent Assembly—second only to teachers, with seventy-seven members. 42 ) Article 105 of the post-uprising Tunisian Constitution (January 26, 2014) reflects the renewed commitment of the TBA to position itself as a full partner with magistrates in the pursuit of justice. The relevant article states: “The legal profession is a free and independent profession that participates in establishing justice and defending rights and liberties. Lawyers enjoy legal guarantees that ensure their protection and their ability to exercise their professional duties” (Tunisian National Constituent Assembly 2014 ). Mobility between the two professional groups (magistrates and lawyers) continued to be an issue of significant disagreement. On January 18, 2014, the Minister of Justice announced the appointment of 533 judges from among lawyers and academics under Article 32 of Law 67-29 (JORT 1967 , 934). The government's stated objective was to reduce the backlogged caseload burden on magistrates. The TBA approved this decision for reestablishing reciprocal circulation between lawyers and magistrates, for reducing membership of the congested bar, and for filling in judicial vacancies. But the two magistrates’ organizations (AMT and SMT) denounced the decision as infringing on equal opportunities, as being motivated by political expediency, and as challenging the authority of the provisional judicial organization (al-hayʾah al-waqtiyyah li al-qaḍāʾ al-ʿadlī) to nominate judges. After intense lobbying, the “technocratic government” (led by Mehdi Jomaa) suspended the measure (SMT 2014 ). This dispute between lawyers and magistrates escalated when a judge from the Court of First Instance issued a warrant for fraud against a lawyer. In response, on February 21, 2014, twenty lawyers prevented this judge from reaching his office and, while being verbally assaulted, he had to be escorted out of the courthouse under police security. A series of protests and counter-protests ensued, culminating in the SMT calling for a general strike of magistrates on February 24, 2014 (Thebti 2014 ); the AMT calling for a suspension of hearings from March 2–5, 2014 (AMT 2014b ); and the TBA calling on lawyers to participate in a protest in front of the Tunis courthouse on March 5 (see Figure 1 ). Recounting their role in the uprising and its aftermath, the TBA accused magistrates of “discrediting the pioneering role played by the TBA in the national dialogue and in the conduct of the democratic process” (TBA 2014 ). While both lawyers and magistrates seek an independent judiciary, they disagree on how to redefine their professional relationships through the institutionalization of a democratic government. Lawyers believe that magistrates should defend lawyers’ rights as essential to establishing the rule of law in Tunisia (TBA 2013b ). This position is the outcome of the TBA's post-uprising mobilization and its insistence on challenging the authority of the judiciary. Figure 1. Source: Facebook ( 2014b ). The TBA's mobilization since 2012 indicates that the profession remains deeply involved in Tunisian politics. The current political situation has led representatives of the TBA to view their “professional duties, beyond their proper purposes, as oriented toward or inspired by political objectives” (Lagroye 2003 , 365). The uprising induced a process that has deeply politicized Tunisian civil society, in which lawyers participate more prominently than most other professions. Today, controlling the TBA appears to be a political issue in distinctly post-uprising terms. The TBA's oppositional political composition continues to broaden: in January 2012, Chawki Tabib became interim TBA president, against the members of the TBA governing council who are aligned with Ennahdha; several leftists won the ATJA elections in April 2013; and an Arab nationalist (anti-Ennahdha) candidate became TBA president in June 2013. The new mobilization of the TBA allows it to play an explicitly political role. Since the summer of 2013—in cooperation with the UGTT, UTICA, and the Tunisian Human Rights League (mostly dominated by secularists)—the TBA has mediated between Tunisian political factions within a so-called national dialogue. The stated objective of this national dialogue is ending the process of political transition in order to establish a stable democratic political system with transparent parliamentary and presidential elections. However, it is unclear how long the TBA leadership will continue to define professional autonomy as a form of political mobilization. Ultimately, many (though not all) Tunisian lawyers seem to perceive their profession as an overseer of government, responsible, alongside the judiciary, for safeguarding the rule of law in Tunisia's post-uprising transformations. Tunisian political lawyering has expanded beyond professional concerns or political liberalism and into fundamental political matters. Conclusion Since Tunisia's independence, the legal profession has sought to establish its own form of independence—first in the form of professional autonomy and more recently as a government watchdog. The historical trajectory presented in this article has tracked the varied ways in which economic concerns, professional objectives, and political resistance overlapped and galvanized Tunisian lawyers to undertake political engagement. In the 2000s, lawyers protested exclusively about political matters or for professional objectives, often without official TBA sponsorship. In contrast, during the 2010–2011 uprising, the political mobilization of lawyers was part of the popular revolt in “open spaces of confrontation” (Dobry 2009 ). The bar's internal composition, divisions, and leadership explain the TBA's alternating resistance and activism; these factors affected the degree or intensity of political lawyering, but did not dissipate it. The legal profession's autonomy made some degree of political lawyering endemic and that autonomy was a necessary condition for effective mobilization of the legal profession, but it was the energy of the Tunisian uprising that led representatives of the TBA to align themselves with political lawyering. We argued that economic, political, and civic motivations interacted and were not easily distinguishable. To be effective against the authoritarian state, Tunisian lawyers implemented a variety of legal and nonlegal strategies. In addition to the cause lawyering of small groups of lawyers, Tunisian lawyers generally participated in and organized demonstrations, strikes, sit-ins, press conferences, and a wide array of public activities. These lawyers strategically analyzed their situations and chose when and how to act by balancing the TBA's internal dynamics and the sociopolitical space for dissent. In particular, Tunisian lawyers performed symbolic acts that both reflected and intensified their social capital as defenders of justice. We identified an explicitly proactive political mobilization of Tunisian lawyers (such as wearing official black robes, demonstrations, sit-ins, and proclamations in front of courts) that parallels the acts of lawyers in other parts of the world (Halliday, Karpik, and Feeley 2012). Responding to the tensions within the Tunisian legal complex, lawyers defined themselves against magistrates, further articulating political lawyering as a key characteristic of the legal profession. In Tunisia, “proceduralist” lawyering merged with “grassroots” lawyering to culminate in the involvement of lawyers in the uprising against the authoritarian government (Hilbink 2006 ). In so doing, Tunisian lawyers moved beyond legal rhetoric and became spokespersons for broad social justice values as they claimed to be necessary participants in democratic processes. Since these broad social values are shared across political factions of Tunisian society, the TBA's overtly post-uprising political role has not significantly divided membership of the bar. EPILOGUE: THE LIMITS OF POLITICAL LAWYERING IN POST-UPRISING TUNISIA This article began by referencing a recent Tunisian film that accurately portrayed both the tension between lawyers and the authoritarian regime and the not uncommon Tunisian perspective that lawyers are crucial members of civil society. The Tunisian uprising, however, has changed the dynamics of the relationship between lawyers, the government, and the general public; consequently, there are new scenes being played out in Tunisia's courthouses and streets. We want to offer an example of a post-revolutionary scene of political lawyering. Addressing reporters and colleagues gathered in the Tunisian Bar Association's conference room, a young lawyer informed his audience that more than fifty attorneys had volunteered to represent nearly 100 Tunisians arrested during the prior week's demonstration in front of the US Embassy. 43 It was September 20, 2012 and the protestors had gathered the previous week to express their opposition to a film (produced in the United States) that insulted the Prophet. With a palpable energy of activism, a discussion ensued about the absence of formal accusations against the demonstrators, the possibility of excessive use of police force, and the prisoners’ rights to legal representation. Eventually, questions arose as to how the pro bono attorneys would differentiate between political protestors and looters. The spokesperson for the pro bono attorneys, a leading member of the ATJA, assured his audience that a procedure for making this determination was in place. 44 The press conference appeared to be a message to the Tunisian government that these lawyers would relentlessly pursue the defense of demonstrators. After the reporters left, a group of young Tunisian attorneys engaged in a vibrant discussion on the perils of defending opportunists lacking any commitment to political dissent; in their eyes, the possibility of looters escaping punishment would devalue the political message of the peaceful protestors. For these young lawyers, the right to political protest is crucial because it is the primary means of mobilizing against an authoritarian (or potentially authoritarian) government and that is the key to building a democratic society. But in their pursuit of demonstrators’ civil rights, these lawyers neglected a significant gray area: perhaps the looters who intermingled with the demonstrators were not opportunistic thieves, but victims of the same dire economic circumstances that provoked the uprisings? After all, Būʿazīzī self-immolated out of frustration with his financial situation. As Massad has elaborated, demonstrators in Tunisia and in other Arab countries demanded not only the kinds of rights recognized by neoliberal norms (such as the freedom of expression), but also the kind of rights recognized by Soviet ideology (such as a minimum wage) (Massad 2012 ). Many Arabs protested in the streets to demand redistribution of economic wealth because their livelihoods are seriously encumbered by the neoliberal economic policies imposed by authoritarian regimes and perpetuated by post-revolutionary governments (Kaboub 2013a ). This disconnect between democratic institutions and economic reform represents a significant gap in Tunisia's political lawyering: the boundaries of political liberalism. As previously noted, political liberalism entails a moderate state, independent civil society, and basic freedoms. But how do Tunisian lawyers reconcile these objectives with the uprising's aims? The overpowering nature of political liberalism is exemplified by the same pro bono attorney representative. In a recorded interview, he explained that Islamic law should be a source of law in Tunisia's Constitution in order to incorporate the Muslim identity of Tunisians after a long period of Tunisian social isolation from the postcolonial state (Awlād ʿAlī 2012 ). 45 To clarify the flexibility of Islamic law, he cited to a well-known narrative in Islamic history: the second Caliph, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (d. 644), suspended the Qurʾānic punishment for thieves during a famine. 46 Although the Qurʾānic verse does not include any exceptions, Caliph ʿUmar saw nothing illegitimate in stopping punishment due to difficult social circumstances (Kamali 1991 , 331). The attorney spokesperson argued that this precedent is evidence of how Islamic law's tradition of flexibility and leniency can benefit Tunisian society. Yet, ironically, in his role as a pro bono attorney, he did not apply the precedent: he did not consider that those who looted during the demonstration had much in common with the thief exonerated by exigent circumstances during the era of Caliph ʿUmar; he did not recognize the possibility that the looters of the US Embassy were also destitute, political protestors. Tunisian lawyers—even those affiliated with Islamist political groups—continue to protect the very economic inequality that contributed to the revolution because they accept neoliberal economics (Kaboub 2013b ). Just as Tunisian political lawyering is limited to legal liberalism, Islamist politics in Tunisia is limited to political liberalism. Political lawyering will likely continue to play an important role in Tunisian civil society. The same pro bono attorney spokesperson—the one who announced the pro bono efforts on behalf of demonstrators—would, only two months later, during another press conference, criticize the (post-uprising) Tunisian government for the deaths of two prisoners (Rayman 2012 ; Gaigi 2012 ). Many other prisoners arrested during the demonstration in front of the US Embassy maintained long hunger strikes. The police brutality and poor prison conditions that were commonplace under Tunisia's authoritarian regime did not magically disappear after the uprisings and the ensuing political shifts. If Tunisian political lawyering achieves the institutional objectives of political liberalism (i.e., a moderate state, robust civil society, etc.), will the TBA and its members shift to a different kind of politics? If lawyers establish their professional autonomy on the basis of being separate from party politics, then their encroachment into substantive politics (and away from broad political lawyering) will be a source of tension. Can the political mobilization of the TBA move beyond professional autonomy or fundamental rights to include the revolutionary critique of liberalism? Footnotes 1 We recognize that the “rule of law” is an ambiguous concept (Endicott 1999 ) and that it is often used as a pretext for imperial political intervention. As we use the term in this article, the “rule of law” refers to an ideological presumption that the institutions of modern legal governance are subservient to legal rules. 2 The transliterations of Arabic terms in this article are inconsistent because the French and English transliteration systems differ and because Tunisians often use French spellings that are not accurate transliterations. To assist potential readers, we interchangeably use common French spellings of Tunisian names or places (for their familiarity) and precise transliterations of Arabic into English (for pronunciation). 3 Even more problematic than the term “Jasmine revolution” is the characterization of these events as a “spring” or an “awakening.” By labeling the Arab uprisings with the problematic name “Arab Spring,” observers manifested their positions and their objectives. As Joseph Massad has explained, “the term ‘Spring’ as a reference to liberalising regimes deemed dictatorial has an American Cold War anti-Soviet genealogy” (Massad 2012 ). In other words, the ideological label “Arab Spring” is an implicit promotion of a Western, neoliberal vision for the region. 4 Raoudha Laâbidi, president of the SMT, used this term (Ben Saleh 2011b ). 38 Lawyers responded that this immunity covered lawyers only in the exercise of their duties—in other words, when defending their clients’ rights (Turki 2011 ). 39 Article 41 of the 1989 law regulating the legal profession explicitly forbade contingency-fee arrangements: “It is forbidden for the lawyer to be awarded, either directly or indirectly, and for whatever reason, a share of any damages awarded to his client” (JORT 1989 ). 40 More specifically, the final paragraph of Article 3 stipulates that applicants to the bar who have previously been either a judge or a prosecutor for a period of ten years are not affected by the age restrictions (JORT 2011 , 1596). 41 Article 46 requires the president of the regional TBA to be present during a judge's interrogation of a lawyer (JORT 2011 ). 42 The involvement of lawyers in both revolutionary movements and post-revolutionary legal activities is evident in numerous other places and times (Surrency 1964 ). 43 The Tunisian attorney is Anwār Awlād ʿAlī (aka Anoir Ouled Ali); the demonstration took place on Friday, September 14, 2012; the press conference occurred on Thursday, September 20, 2012. 44 Anwār Awlād ʿAlī is the former Secretary General of the ATJA, as identified in the caption to a video on the Facebook page of Ennahdha's bloc in the Constituent Assembly (Awlād ʿAlī 2012 ). 45 For overviews of Islamic law and law in the Middle East and North Africa, see Salaymeh ( 2015a, 2015b ). 46 The punishment is described in Qurʾān 5:38 (“As for the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands”). Ancillary	i don't know
In which city was scientist Marie Curie born, whose residents are known as Varsovians?	Warsaw Photo Gallery & Warsaw Travel Guide \| LukeTravels.com Welcome to Warsaw! Witamy w Warszawie! Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa) is the capital of Poland. With 1.7 million inhabitants, it is Poland's largest city. Warsaw is located on the River Vistula (Polish: Wisła), roughly equidistant (350 km, 217 mi) from both the Baltic Sea, which is in the north (Bałtyk) and the Carpathian Mountains, which are in the southern part of Poland (Karpaty). Although not particularly well known among mainstream tourists, Warsaw has a picturesque Old Town that tells a story, some remarkable landmarks from the communist era and a skyline full of skyscrapers, which were developed during the last few years. One of the most beleaguered of European cities, Warsaw has lived through many destructive invasions and occupations. The occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II nearly destroyed the city and left some 800,000 residents dead. Warsaw survived, however, and is Poland's capital and largest city. Its motto is, appropriately, contemnit procellas, "It defies the storms." Warsaw is located in central Poland on the Vistula (in Polish, Wisla) River in a region known as the Middle Polish Lowlands. Warsaw's maximum elevation is 380 feet (116 meters) above sea level, and it has a moderate, if not cool, climate. The average July temperature is only 66 F (19 C), while the average January temperature is 26 F (-3 C). Rainfall averages 21 inches (53 centimeters) a year. Although many of Warsaw's historic buildings have been reconstructed since 1945, the city only partly resembles what it was historically. The commercial heart of Warsaw was and remains Marszalkowska Street. This north-south thoroughfare was laid out in 1757 and by the 20th century was lined with shops, cafes, theaters, and restaurants. Since 1955 its major attraction has been the Palace of Culture and Science, a monumental building located on Defilad Square. This square is the largest in Warsaw and is used for military parades and other processions. The building was a gift from the Soviet Union and houses scientific and cultural institutions as well as theaters and sports facilities. The oldest part of Warsaw is Stare Miasto, or Old City, located on the west bank of the Vistula River north of the Marszalkowska district. Warsaw's Old City was surrounded by a wall, much of which still stands on the right side of Podwale Street. The center of the Old City is the market, a square dating from the late 13th and early 14th centuries surrounded by houses painstakingly restored after World War II to their original 15th-century appearance. South of the market is the Castle Square, in the middle of which stands the Sigismund III Vasa column, erected in 1644 and now the oldest monument in Warsaw. Castle Square was originally the courtyard of the royal castle, first built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries but destroyed in 1944. Only its library survived, but the castle has been rebuilt. Between the market and Castle Square is St. John's Cathedral, the oldest church in Warsaw. To the north of the Old City is Nowe Miasto, or New City. This part of Warsaw dates from the late 14th century and was a center for artisans and agricultural workers. It too has a market, whose most notable landmark is the Church of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament. This baroque structure was rebuilt after the war. The scientist Marie Curie was born in this part of Warsaw. Leading south from Castle Square is Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, historically one of Warsaw's most beautiful streets. The University of Warsaw is on this street, as is the Radziwill Palace, now the seat of the Presidium of the Polish Council of Ministers. The Square of the Three Crosses is farther south with the classical St. Alexander's Church. This church was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. Poland's parliament building is nearby. Warsaw Photo Gallery Preview Warsaw is one of Poland's major industrial centers. Industry accounts for almost a third of the city's employment. Until 1989 and the fall of Communism in the country most businesses were either state- or cooperatively owned. In 1989 the government began reforms to move Poland toward privatization and a market economy. Some of the major products produced here are automobiles, electronic equipment, stainless steel products, tractors, clothing, precision instruments, and processed food items. Construction and various trade activities also employ many Warsaw residents. Consumer goods are frequently in short supply, and long lines in stores are not uncommon. Warsaw is Poland's premier educational and cultural center. There are several institutions of higher learning, including the University of Warsaw and the Technical University of Warsaw. The National Library, founded in 1919, has more than 4 million volumes. The Polish Academy of the Sciences, with its many related research institutes, is located in Warsaw, as are the National Museum and the Zacheta Art Gallery. Warsaw has an active musical life. The National Philharmonic plays here, and the city hosts an international Chopin piano competition and the International Festival of Contemporary Music. The composer-pianist Frederic Chopin and the pianist- statesman Ignacy Paderewski both lived for a time in Warsaw. Although Warsaw may have existed as far back as the 10th century, its recorded history begins in the 13th century with a castle built for the duke of Mazovia. The town around the castle grew and in 1526, when the last of the Mazovian dukes died, was incorporated into the Polish kingdom. The royal court was moved to Warsaw in 1611, and the city became the capital of Poland. A Swedish invasion devastated Warsaw in 1655-56, and the War of the Polish Succession (1733-38) brought further decay and pestilence. A revolt after the second partition of Poland in 1794 was suppressed by Prussian and Russian troops. The third partition of Poland in 1795 left Warsaw a provincial town of South Prussia. Napoleon entered the city in 1806 and restored it as the capital of the newly created Duchy of Warsaw, but most of the duchy was incorporated as a separate kingdom under Russian sovereignty by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Warsaw was invaded during the Polish-Russian War of 1830-31, and an 1863 insurrection was brutally suppressed by Russian troops. A period of Russification followed. Map Copyright ï¿½ Graphic Maps.com Despite its many setbacks, Warsaw continued to grow and had more than 750,000 residents by the turn of the century. A multinational city, nearly half of its citizens were Jewish during the first decades of the 20th century. After World War I Warsaw again became the capital of an independent Poland. Warsaw Photo Gallery Preview Warsaw entered its darkest period in 1939. The Nazi invasion at the beginning of World War II left 10,000 dead and more than 50,000 wounded. The city's cultural treasures were plundered, and its inhabitants were carried off to labor camps or extermination camps. In 1940 the Jewish ghetto was walled off, and by 1942 more than 300,000 Jews had perished or were sent to death camps. Another 60,000 died in the ghetto uprising of 1943. Polish resistance to the Nazis centered in Warsaw and resulted in the insurrection of 1944, a 63-day siege that left at least another 150,000 dead. After this the Nazis began to systematically destroy the entire city. When Soviet troops liberated Warsaw in 1945, they found a city in ruins. Warsaw remained Poland's capital after the war. The city is divided into seven precincts. The mayor is appointed by the prime minister, and there is a popularly elected national council that serves as the city's legislature. The city of Warsaw and its surroundings form the Warsaw Capital Province. Warsaw Site Menu Special thanks to Wikipedia, Wikitravel and its authors. Poland map Copyright Graphic Maps.com. Warsaw photos Copyright LukeTravels.com and Luke Handzlik. All Rights Reserved.	Warsaw
Aviator and explorer, Richard Byrd, is said to have been the first person to reach where by air, in 1929?	Warsaw Photo Gallery & Warsaw Travel Guide \| LukeTravels.com Welcome to Warsaw! Witamy w Warszawie! Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa) is the capital of Poland. With 1.7 million inhabitants, it is Poland's largest city. Warsaw is located on the River Vistula (Polish: Wisła), roughly equidistant (350 km, 217 mi) from both the Baltic Sea, which is in the north (Bałtyk) and the Carpathian Mountains, which are in the southern part of Poland (Karpaty). Although not particularly well known among mainstream tourists, Warsaw has a picturesque Old Town that tells a story, some remarkable landmarks from the communist era and a skyline full of skyscrapers, which were developed during the last few years. One of the most beleaguered of European cities, Warsaw has lived through many destructive invasions and occupations. The occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II nearly destroyed the city and left some 800,000 residents dead. Warsaw survived, however, and is Poland's capital and largest city. Its motto is, appropriately, contemnit procellas, "It defies the storms." Warsaw is located in central Poland on the Vistula (in Polish, Wisla) River in a region known as the Middle Polish Lowlands. Warsaw's maximum elevation is 380 feet (116 meters) above sea level, and it has a moderate, if not cool, climate. The average July temperature is only 66 F (19 C), while the average January temperature is 26 F (-3 C). Rainfall averages 21 inches (53 centimeters) a year. Although many of Warsaw's historic buildings have been reconstructed since 1945, the city only partly resembles what it was historically. The commercial heart of Warsaw was and remains Marszalkowska Street. This north-south thoroughfare was laid out in 1757 and by the 20th century was lined with shops, cafes, theaters, and restaurants. Since 1955 its major attraction has been the Palace of Culture and Science, a monumental building located on Defilad Square. This square is the largest in Warsaw and is used for military parades and other processions. The building was a gift from the Soviet Union and houses scientific and cultural institutions as well as theaters and sports facilities. The oldest part of Warsaw is Stare Miasto, or Old City, located on the west bank of the Vistula River north of the Marszalkowska district. Warsaw's Old City was surrounded by a wall, much of which still stands on the right side of Podwale Street. The center of the Old City is the market, a square dating from the late 13th and early 14th centuries surrounded by houses painstakingly restored after World War II to their original 15th-century appearance. South of the market is the Castle Square, in the middle of which stands the Sigismund III Vasa column, erected in 1644 and now the oldest monument in Warsaw. Castle Square was originally the courtyard of the royal castle, first built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries but destroyed in 1944. Only its library survived, but the castle has been rebuilt. Between the market and Castle Square is St. John's Cathedral, the oldest church in Warsaw. To the north of the Old City is Nowe Miasto, or New City. This part of Warsaw dates from the late 14th century and was a center for artisans and agricultural workers. It too has a market, whose most notable landmark is the Church of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament. This baroque structure was rebuilt after the war. The scientist Marie Curie was born in this part of Warsaw. Leading south from Castle Square is Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, historically one of Warsaw's most beautiful streets. The University of Warsaw is on this street, as is the Radziwill Palace, now the seat of the Presidium of the Polish Council of Ministers. The Square of the Three Crosses is farther south with the classical St. Alexander's Church. This church was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. Poland's parliament building is nearby. Warsaw Photo Gallery Preview Warsaw is one of Poland's major industrial centers. Industry accounts for almost a third of the city's employment. Until 1989 and the fall of Communism in the country most businesses were either state- or cooperatively owned. In 1989 the government began reforms to move Poland toward privatization and a market economy. Some of the major products produced here are automobiles, electronic equipment, stainless steel products, tractors, clothing, precision instruments, and processed food items. Construction and various trade activities also employ many Warsaw residents. Consumer goods are frequently in short supply, and long lines in stores are not uncommon. Warsaw is Poland's premier educational and cultural center. There are several institutions of higher learning, including the University of Warsaw and the Technical University of Warsaw. The National Library, founded in 1919, has more than 4 million volumes. The Polish Academy of the Sciences, with its many related research institutes, is located in Warsaw, as are the National Museum and the Zacheta Art Gallery. Warsaw has an active musical life. The National Philharmonic plays here, and the city hosts an international Chopin piano competition and the International Festival of Contemporary Music. The composer-pianist Frederic Chopin and the pianist- statesman Ignacy Paderewski both lived for a time in Warsaw. Although Warsaw may have existed as far back as the 10th century, its recorded history begins in the 13th century with a castle built for the duke of Mazovia. The town around the castle grew and in 1526, when the last of the Mazovian dukes died, was incorporated into the Polish kingdom. The royal court was moved to Warsaw in 1611, and the city became the capital of Poland. A Swedish invasion devastated Warsaw in 1655-56, and the War of the Polish Succession (1733-38) brought further decay and pestilence. A revolt after the second partition of Poland in 1794 was suppressed by Prussian and Russian troops. The third partition of Poland in 1795 left Warsaw a provincial town of South Prussia. Napoleon entered the city in 1806 and restored it as the capital of the newly created Duchy of Warsaw, but most of the duchy was incorporated as a separate kingdom under Russian sovereignty by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Warsaw was invaded during the Polish-Russian War of 1830-31, and an 1863 insurrection was brutally suppressed by Russian troops. A period of Russification followed. Map Copyright ï¿½ Graphic Maps.com Despite its many setbacks, Warsaw continued to grow and had more than 750,000 residents by the turn of the century. A multinational city, nearly half of its citizens were Jewish during the first decades of the 20th century. After World War I Warsaw again became the capital of an independent Poland. Warsaw Photo Gallery Preview Warsaw entered its darkest period in 1939. The Nazi invasion at the beginning of World War II left 10,000 dead and more than 50,000 wounded. The city's cultural treasures were plundered, and its inhabitants were carried off to labor camps or extermination camps. In 1940 the Jewish ghetto was walled off, and by 1942 more than 300,000 Jews had perished or were sent to death camps. Another 60,000 died in the ghetto uprising of 1943. Polish resistance to the Nazis centered in Warsaw and resulted in the insurrection of 1944, a 63-day siege that left at least another 150,000 dead. After this the Nazis began to systematically destroy the entire city. When Soviet troops liberated Warsaw in 1945, they found a city in ruins. Warsaw remained Poland's capital after the war. The city is divided into seven precincts. The mayor is appointed by the prime minister, and there is a popularly elected national council that serves as the city's legislature. The city of Warsaw and its surroundings form the Warsaw Capital Province. Warsaw Site Menu Special thanks to Wikipedia, Wikitravel and its authors. Poland map Copyright Graphic Maps.com. Warsaw photos Copyright LukeTravels.com and Luke Handzlik. All Rights Reserved.	i don't know
Which planet in our solar system is almost twice as far away from the Sun as Jupiter?	Planet Jupiter: Facts About Its Size, Moons and Red Spot Planet Jupiter: Facts About Its Size, Moons and Red Spot By Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor \| November 14, 2014 12:59am ET MORE This photo of Jupiter was taken on Sept. 20, 2010 when Jupiter made its closest approach to Earth since 1963. (Uranus [insert] was visible through telescopes near Jupiter.) Credit: Jimmy Eubanks Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Fittingly, it was named after the king of the gods in Roman mythology. In a similar manner, the ancient Greeks named the planet after Zeus, the king of the Greek pantheon. Jupiter helped revolutionize the way we saw the universe and ourselves in 1610, when Galileo discovered Jupiter's four large moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, now known as the Galilean moons. This was the first time celestial bodies were seen circling an object other than Earth, major support of the Copernican view that Earth was not the center of the universe. Physical characteristics Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system , more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined, and had it been about 80 times more massive, it would have actually become a star instead of a planet. Its atmosphere resembles that of the sun, made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, and with four large moons and many smaller moons in orbit around it, Jupiter by itself forms a kind of miniature solar system. All told, the immense volume of Jupiter could hold more than 1,300 Earths. The colorful bands of Jupiter are arranged in dark belts and light zones created by strong east-west winds in the planet's upper atmosphere traveling more than 400 mph (640 kph). The white clouds in the zones are made of crystals of frozen ammonia, while darker clouds of other chemicals are found in the belts. At the deepest visible levels are blue clouds. Far from being static, the stripes of clouds change over time . Inside the atmosphere, diamond rain may fill the skies. The most extraordinary feature on Jupiter is undoubtedly the Great Red Spot , a giant hurricane-like storm seen for more than 300 years. At its widest, the Great Red Spot is three times the diameter of the Earth, and its edge spins counterclockwise around its center at a speed of about 225 mph (360 kph). The color of the storm, which usually varies from brick red to slightly brown, may come from small amounts of sulfur and phosphorus in the ammonia crystals in Jupiter's clouds. The spot grows and shrinks over time, and every now and again, seems to fade entirely. Jupiter's gargantuan magnetic field is the strongest of all the planets in the solar system at nearly 20,000 times the strength of Earth's. It traps electrically charged particles in an intense belt of electrons and other electrically charged particles that regularly blasts the planet's moons and rings with a level of radiation more than 1,000 times the lethal level for a human, damaging even heavily shielded spacecraft such as NASA's Galileo probe. The magnetosphere of Jupiter, which is composed of these fields and particles, swells out some 600,000 to 2 million miles (1 million to 3 million km) toward the sun and tapers to a tail extending more than 600 million miles (1 billion km) behind Jupiter. Jupiter spins faster than any other planet, taking a little under 10 hours to complete a turn on its axis, compared with 24 hours for Earth. This rapid spin makes Jupiter bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles, making the planet about 7 percent wider at the equator than at the poles. Jupiter broadcasts radio waves strong enough to detect on Earth. These come in two forms — strong bursts that occur when Io, the closest of Jupiter's large moons, passes through certain regions of Jupiter's magnetic field, and continuous radiation from Jupiter's surface and high-energy particles in its radiation belts. These radio waves could help scientists to probe the oceans on its moons. Composition & structure Atmospheric composition (by volume): 89.8 percent molecular hydrogen, 10.2 percent helium, minor amounts of methane, ammonia, hydrogen deuteride, ethane, water, ammonia ice aerosols, water ice aerosols, ammonia hydrosulfide aerosols Magnetic field: Nearly 20,000 times stronger than Earth's Chemical composition: Jupiter has a dense core of uncertain composition , surrounded by a helium-rich layer of fluid metallic hydrogen, wrapped up in an atmosphere primarily made of molecular hydrogen. Internal structure: A core less than 10 times Earth's mass surrounded by a layer of fluid metallic hydrogen extending out to 80 to 90 percent of the diameter of the planet, enclosed in an atmosphere mostly made of gaseous and liquid hydrogen. Orbit & rotation Average distance from the sun : 483,682,810 miles (778,412,020 km). By comparison: 5.203 times that of Earth Perihelion (closest approach to the sun): 460,276,100 miles (740,742,600 km). By comparison: 5.036 times that of Earth Aphelion (farthest distance from the sun): 507,089,500 miles (816,081,400 km). By comparison: 5.366 times that of Earth (Source: NASA .) Jupiter's moons Jupiter has at least 63 moons , which are often named after the Roman god's many lovers. The four largest moons of Jupiter, now called Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, were discovered by Galileo Galilei himself, and are appropriately known today as the Galilean satellites. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system, larger even than Mercury and Pluto. It is also the only moon known to have its own magnetic field. The moon has at least one thick ocean between layers of ice, although it may contain several layers of both materials. Io is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. The sulfur its volcanoes spew out gives Io a blotted yellow-orange appearance that is often compared to a pepperoni pizza. As Io orbits Jupiter, the planet's immense gravity causes 'tides' in Io's solid surface that rise 300 feet (100 meters) high, generating enough heat for volcanic activity. The frozen crust of Europa is made up mostly of water ice, and it may hide a liquid ocean holding twice as much water as Earth does. Icy oceans may also exist beneath the crusts of Callisto and Ganymede. Some of this liquid spouts from the surface in newly spotted sporadic plumes at the southern pole. Its potential to host life caused NASA to request funding for a mission to explore Europa . Callisto has the lowest reflectivity, or albedo, of the four Galilean moons. This suggests that its surface may be composed of dark, colorless rock. Jupiter's rings Jupiter's three rings came as a surprise when NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft discovered them around the planet's equator in 1979. Each are much fainter than Saturn's rings. The main ring is flattened. It is about 20 miles (30 km) thick and more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) wide. The inner cloud-like ring, called the halo, is roughly 12,000 miles (20,000 km) thick. The halo extends halfway from the main ring down to the planet's cloud tops and expands by interaction with Jupiter's magnetic field. Both the main ring and halo are composed of small, dark particles. The third ring, known as the gossamer ring because of its transparency, is actually three rings of microscopic debris from three of Jupiter's moons, Amalthea, Thebe and Adrastea. It is probably made up of dust particles less than 10 microns in diameter, about the same size of the particles found in cigarette smoke, and extends to an outer edge of about 80,000 miles (129,000 km) from the center of the planet and inward to about 18,600 miles (30,000 km). Ripples in the rings of both Jupiter and Saturn may be signs of impacts from comets and asteroids. Research & exploration Seven missions have flown by Jupiter — Pioneer 10 , Pioneer 11 , Voyager 1 , Voyager 2 , Ulysses, Cassini and New Horizons — while another, NASA's Galileo, actually orbited the planet. Pioneer 10 revealed how dangerous Jupiter's radiation belt is, while Pioneer 11 provided data on the Great Red Spot and close-up pictures of its polar region. Voyager 1 and 2 helped astronomers create the first detailed maps of the Galilean satellites, discovered Jupiter's rings, revealed sulfur volcanoes on Io, and saw lightning in Jupiter's clouds. Ulysses discovered the solar wind has a much greater impact on Jupiter's magnetosphere than before suggested. New Horizons took close-up pictures of Jupiter and its largest moons. In 1995, Galileo sent a probe plunging towards Jupiter, making the first direct measurements of its atmosphere and measuring the amount of water and other chemicals there. When Galileo ran low on fuel, the craft was intentionally crashed into Jupiter's atmosphere to avoid any risk of it slamming into and contaminating Europa, which might have an ocean below its surface capable of supporting life. Another spacecraft, named Juno , is heading toward Jupiter and will reach the planet in 2016. It will study Jupiter from a polar orbit to figure out how it and the rest of the solar system formed, which could shed light on how alien planetary systems might have developed. Jupiter's gravitational impact on the solar system As the most massive body in the solar system after the sun, the pull of Jupiter's gravity has helped shape the fate of our system. It may have violently hurled Neptune and Uranus outward , according to calculations published in the journal Nature. Jupiter, along with Saturn, may have slung a barrage of debris toward the inner planets early in the system's history, according to an article in Science magazine. It may even nowadays help keep asteroids from bombarding Earth, and recent events certainly have shown that it can absorb potentially deadly impacts . Currently, Jupiter's gravitational field influences numerous asteroids that have clustered into the regions preceding and following Jupiter in its orbit around the sun. These are known as the Trojan asteroids, after three large asteroids there, Agamemnon, Achilles and Hector, names drawn from the Iliad, Homer's epic about the Trojan War. Possibility of life on Jupiter If one were to dive into Jupiter's atmosphere , one would discover it to grow warmer with depth, reaching room temperature, or 70 degrees F (21 degrees C), at an altitude where the atmospheric pressure is about 10 times as great as it is on Earth. Scientists have conjectured that if Jupiter has any form of life, it might dwell at this level, and would have to be airborne. However, researchers have found no evidence for life on Jupiter. Additional reporting by Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor Explore the solar system	Saturn
In 2011 a London ice cream parlour was in the news for selling an ice cream at £14.99 a scoop made from what?	The Solar System Home \| Site Map \| What's New \| Image Index \| Copyright \| Posters \| ScienceViews \| Science Fiction Timelines \| The Solar System For I dipped into the Future, far as human eye could see; saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be. -Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1842 Table of Contents Multiwavelength Milky Way Our solar system consists of an average star we call the Sun , the planets Mercury , Venus , Earth , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , Neptune , and Pluto . It includes: the satellites of the planets; numerous comets , asteroids , and meteoroids; and the interplanetary medium. The Sun is the richest source of electromagnetic energy (mostly in the form of heat and light) in the solar system. The Sun's nearest known stellar neighbor is a red dwarf star called Proxima Centauri, at a distance of 4.3 light years away. The whole solar system, together with the local stars visible on a clear night, orbits the center of our home galaxy, a spiral disk of 200 billion stars we call the Milky Way . The Milky Way has two small galaxies orbiting it nearby, which are visible from the southern hemisphere. They are called the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud. The nearest large galaxy is the Andromeda Galaxy . It is a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way but is 4 times as massive and is 2 million light years away. Our galaxy, one of billions of galaxies known, is traveling through intergalactic space. The planets, most of the satellites of the planets and the asteroids revolve around the Sun in the same direction, in nearly circular orbits. When looking down from above the Sun's north pole, the planets orbit in a counter-clockwise direction. The planets orbit the Sun in or near the same plane, called the ecliptic . Pluto is a special case in that its orbit is the most highly inclined (18 degrees) and the most highly elliptical of all the planets. Because of this, for part of its orbit, Pluto is closer to the Sun than is Neptune . The axis of rotation for most of the planets is nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic. The exceptions are Uranus and Pluto , which are tipped on their sides. Composition Of The Solar System The Sun contains 99.85% of all the matter in the Solar System. The planets, which condensed out of the same disk of material that formed the Sun, contain only 0.135% of the mass of the solar system. Jupiter contains more than twice the matter of all the other planets combined. Satellites of the planets, comets, asteroids, meteoroids, and the interplanetary medium constitute the remaining 0.015%. The following table is a list of the mass distribution within our Solar System. Sun: 99.85% Interplanetary Space Nearly all the solar system by volume appears to be an empty void. Far from being nothingness, this vacuum of "space" comprises the interplanetary medium. It includes various forms of energy and at least two material components: interplanetary dust and interplanetary gas. Interplanetary dust consists of microscopic solid particles. Interplanetary gas is a tenuous flow of gas and charged particles, mostly protons and electrons -- plasma -- which stream from the Sun , called the solar wind . The solar wind can be measured by spacecraft, and it has a large effect on comet tails. It also has a measurable effect on the motion of spacecraft. The speed of the solar wind is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) per second in the vicinity of Earth's orbit. The point at which the solar wind meets the interstellar medium, which is the "solar" wind from other stars, is called the heliopause. It is a boundary theorized to be roughly circular or teardrop-shaped, marking the edge of the Sun's influence perhaps 100 AU from the Sun. The space within the boundary of the heliopause, containing the Sun and solar system, is referred to as the heliosphere. The solar magnetic field extends outward into interplanetary space; it can be measured on Earth and by spacecraft. The solar magnetic field is the dominating magnetic field throughout the interplanetary regions of the solar system, except in the immediate environment of planets which have their own magnetic fields. The Terrestrial Planets The terrestrial planets are the four innermost planets in the solar system, Mercury , Venus , Earth and Mars . They are called terrestrial because they have a compact, rocky surface like the Earth's. The planets, Venus, Earth, and Mars have significant atmospheres while Mercury has almost none. The following diagram shows the approximate distance of the terrestrial planets to the Sun. The Jovian Planets Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , and Neptune are known as the Jovian (Jupiter-like) planets, because they are all gigantic compared with Earth, and they have a gaseous nature like Jupiter's. The Jovian planets are also referred to as the gas giants, although some or all of them might have small solid cores. The following diagram shows the approximate distance of the Jovian planets to the Sun. Our Milkyway Galaxy This image of our galaxy, the Milky Way, was taken with NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer's (COBE) Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE). This never-before-seen view shows the Milky Way from an edge-on perspective with the galactic north pole at the top, the south pole at the bottom and the galactic center at the center. The picture combines images obtained at several near-infrared wavelengths. Stars within our galaxy are the dominant source of light at these wavelengths. Even though our solar system is part of the Milky Way, the view looks distant because most of the light comes from the population of stars that are closer to the galactic center than our own Sun. (Courtesy NASA) Our Milky Way Gets a Makeover Like early explorers mapping the continents of our globe, astronomers are busy charting the spiral structure of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Using infrared images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have discovered that the Milky Way's elegant spiral structure is dominated by just two arms wrapping off the ends of a central bar of stars. Previously, our galaxy was thought to possess four major arms. This artist's concept illustrates the new view of the Milky Way, along with other findings presented at the 212th American Astronomical Society meeting in St. Louis, Mo. The galaxy's two major arms (Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus) can be seen attached to the ends of a thick central bar, while the two now-demoted minor arms (Norma and Sagittarius) are less distinct and located between the major arms. The major arms consist of the highest densities of both young and old stars; the minor arms are primarily filled with gas and pockets of star-forming activity. The artist's concept also includes a new spiral arm, called the "Far-3 kiloparsec arm," discovered via a radio-telescope survey of gas in the Milky Way. This arm is shorter than the two major arms and lies along the bar of the galaxy. Our sun lies near a small, partial arm called the Orion Arm, or Orion Spur, located between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms. (Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech) Spiral Galaxy, NGC 4414 The majestic galaxy, NGC 4414, is located 60 million light-years away. Like the Milky Way, NGC 4414 is a giant spiral-shaped disk of stars, with a bulbous central hub of older yellow and red stars. The outer spiral arms are considerably bluer due to ongoing formation of young, blue stars, the brightest of which can be seen individually at the high resolution provided by the Hubble camera. The arms are also very rich in clouds of interstellar dust, seen as dark patches and streaks silhouetted against the starlight. (Courtesy NASA/STSCI) Obliquity of the Eight Planets This illustration shows the obliquity of the eight planets. Obliquity is the angle between a planet's equatorial plane and its orbital plane. By International Astronomical Union (IAU) convention, a planet's north pole lies above the ecliptic plane. By this convention, Venus, Uranus, and Pluto have a retrograde rotation, or a rotation that is in the opposite direction from the other planets. (Copyright 2008 by Calvin J. Hamilton) The Solar System During the past three decades a myriad of space explorers have escaped the confines of planet Earth and have set out to discover our planetary neighbors. This picture shows the Sun and all nine planets of the solar system as seen by the space explorers. Starting at the top-left corner is the Sun followed by the planets Mercury , Venus , Earth , Mars , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , Neptune , and Pluto . (Copyright 1998 by Calvin J. Hamilton) The Largest Moons and Smallest Planets This image shows the relative sizes of the largest moons and the smallest planets in the solarsystem. The largest satellites pictured in this image are: Ganymede (5262 km), Titan (5150 km), Callisto (4806 km), Io (3642 km), the Moon (3476 km), Europa (3138 km), Triton (2706 km), and Titania (1580 km). Both Ganymede and Titan are larger than planet Mercury followed by Io, the Moon, Europa, and Triton which are larger than the planet Pluto . (Copyright Calvin J. Hamilton) Diagram of Portrait Frames On February 14, 1990, the cameras of Voyager 1 pointed back toward the Sun and took a series of pictures of the Sun and the planets, making the first ever "portrait" of our solar system as seen from the outside. This image is a diagram of how the frames for the solar system portrait were taken. (Courtesy NASA/JPL) All Frames from the Family Portrait This image shows the series of pictures of the Sun and the planets taken on February 14, 1990, for the solar system family portrait as seen from the outside. In the course of taking this mosaic consisting of a total of 60 frames, Voyager 1 made several images of the inner solar system from a distance of approximately 6.4 billion kilometers (4 billion miles) and about 32° above the ecliptic plane. Thirty-nine wide angle frames link together six of the planets of our solar system in this mosaic. Outermost Neptune is 30 times further from the Sun than Earth . Our Sun is seen as the bright object in the center of the circle of frames. The insets show the planets magnified many times. (Courtesy NASA/JPL) Portrait of the Solar System These six narrow-angle color images were made from the first ever "portrait" of the solar system taken by Voyager 1 , which was more than 6.4 billion kilometers (4 billion miles) from Earth and about 32° above the ecliptic . Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen. Mars was not detectable by the Voyager cameras due to scattered sunlight in the optics, and Pluto was not included in the mosaic because of its small size and distance from the Sun. These blown-up images, left to right and top to bottom are Venus , Earth , Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , and Neptune . (Courtesy NASA/JPL) The following table lists statistical information for the Sun and planets: Distance	i don't know
What is Uganda's staple crop, of which each adult consumes over three-times bodyweight annually?	Uganda facts, information, pictures \| Encyclopedia.com articles about Uganda CAPITAL: Kampala FLAG: The national flag consists of six equal horizontal stripes of black, yellow, red, black, yellow, and red (from top to bottom); at the center, within a white circle, is a crested crane, the national bird of Uganda. ANTHEM: Begins "O Uganda! May God uphold thee." MONETARY UNIT: The new Uganda shilling (NUSh) was introduced in May 1987 with a value equal to 100 old Uganda shillings. NUSh1 = $0.00056 (or $1 = NUSh1,776.68) as of 2005. There are coins of 1, 2, and 5 shillings, and notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 shillings. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is now in use. HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Labor Day, 1 May; Martyrs' Day, 3 June; Independence Day, 9 October; Christmas Day, 25 December; Boxing Day, 26 December. Movable holidays include Good Friday, Easter Monday, 'Id al-Fitr, and 'Id al-'Adha'. TIME: 3 pm = noon GMT. LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT A landlocked country in east-central Africa, situated north and northwest of Lake Victoria, Uganda has a total area of 236,040 sq km (91,136 sq mi), of which 36,330 sq km (14,027 mi) is inland water. Comparatively, the area occupied by Uganda is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. It extends 787 km (489 mi) nne–ssw and 486 km (302 mi) ese–wnw. Bounded on the n by Sudan , on the e by Kenya , on the s by Tanzania and Rwanda , and on the w by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). Uganda has a total boundary length of 2,698 km (1,676 mi). TOPOGRAPHY The greater part of Uganda consists of a plateau 800 to 2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft) in height. Along the western border, in the Ruwenzori Mountains, Margherita Peak reaches a height of 5,109 m (16,762 ft), while on the eastern frontier Mount Elgon rises to 4,321 m (14,178 ft). By contrast, the Western Rift Valley, which runs from north to south through the western half of the country, is below 910 m (3,000 ft) on the surface of Lake Edward and Lake George and 621 m (2,036 ft) on the surface of Lake Albert (L. Mobutu Sese Seko). The White Nile has its source in Lake Victoria; as the Victoria Nile, it runs northward through Lake Kyoga and then westward to Lake Albert, from which it emerges as the Albert Nile to resume its northward course to the Sudan. With 69 lakes, Uganda has the highest number of lakes in Africa. CLIMATE Although Uganda is on the equator, its climate is warm rather than hot, and temperatures vary little throughout the year. Most of the territory receives an annual rainfall of at least 100 cm (40 in). At Entebbe , mean annual rainfall is 162 cm (64 in); in the northeast, it is only 69 cm (27 in). Temperature generally varies by altitude; on Lake Albert, the mean annual maximum is 29°c (84°f) and the mean annual minimum 22°c (72°f). At Kabale in the southwest, 1,250 m (4,100 ft) higher, the mean annual maximum is 23°c (73°f), and the mean annual minimum 10°c (50°f). At Kampala, these extremes are 27°c (81°f) and 17°c (63°f). FLORA AND FAUNA In the southern half of Uganda, the natural vegetation has been largely replaced by cultivated plots, in which plantain is the most prominent. There are, however, scattered patches of thick forest or of elephant grass and mvuli trees, providing excellent timber. The cooler western highlands contain a higher proportion of long grass and forest. In the extreme southwest, however, cultivation is intensive even on the high mountain slopes. In the drier northern region, short grasses appear, and there are areas of open woodland; thorn trees and borassus palms also grow. Elephant, hippopotamus, buffalo, cob, topi, and a variety of monkeys are all plentiful, while lion, giraffe, and rhinoceros also are seen. At least six mammal species are found only in Uganda. The birds of Uganda include the crowned crane (the national emblem), bulbul, weaver, crow, shrike, heron, egret, ibis, guinea fowl, mouse bird, lourie, hornbill, pigeon, dove, bee-eater, hoopoe, darter, lily-trotter, marabou stork, kingfisher, fish eagle, and kite. As of 2002, there were at least 345 species of mammals, 243 species of birds, and over 4,900 species of plants throughout the country. There are relatively few varieties of fish, but the lakes and rivers contain plentiful stocks of tilapia, Nile perch, catfish, lungfish, elephant snout fish, and other species. Crocodiles, too, are found in many areas and are particularly evident along the Nile between the Kabalega (Murchison) Falls and Lake Albert. There is a wide variety of snakes, but the more dangerous varieties are rarely observed. ENVIRONMENT Major environmental problems in Uganda include overgrazing, deforestation, and primitive agricultural methods, all of which lead to soil erosion. Attempts at controlling the propagation of tsetse flies have involved the use of hazardous chemicals. The nation's water supply is threatened by toxic industrial pollutants; mercury from mining activity is also found in the water supply. Forests and woodlands were reduced by two-thirds between 1962 and 1977. By 1985, 193 square miles of forests were eliminated. Between 1990 and 2000, the annual rate of deforestation was about 2%. Wetlands have been drained for agricultural use. As of 2003, 24% of Uganda's total land area was protected, including two natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two Ramsar wetland sites. In 1996, water hyacinth growth created a serious environmental and economic problem on Lake Victoria. By some estimates, the hyacinths covered 6,000 ha (14,820 acres) of water, still less than 0.1% of the lake. When the masses of hyacinths drifted into Uganda's ports and coves, they impaired the local fishing, trapped small boats in ports, and kept fish under the plants. The weed invasion had also been known to affect cargo boat and ferry transportation by fouling engines and propellers and making docking difficult. Environmentalists introduced different types of pests to control the weed growth, so that by 2001, much of the growth had diminished. Of more recent concern for Lake Victoria is the drop in water level that has occurred in from about 1995–2005. Some reports estimate that the water level had dropped by one meter in that decade. According to a 2006 report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the number of threatened species included 29 types of mammals, 15 species of birds, 6 species of amphibians, 27 species of fish, 10 types of mollusks, 9 species of other invertebrates, and 38 species of plants. Threatened species include the mountain gorilla, northern white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, and Nile crocodile. Poaching of protected animals is widespread. POPULATION The population of Uganda in 2005 was estimated by the United Nations (UN) at 26,907,000, which placed it at number 41 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In 2005, approximately 2% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 51% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 100 males for every 100 females in the country. According to the UN, the annual population rate of change for 2005–2010 was expected to be 3.2%. In response to this rate, which the government viewed as too high, the government revised its Population Policy in an attempt to slow population growth. As of 2006 Uganda had one of the fastest-growing populations in the world. The projected population for the year 2025 was 55,810,000. The overall population density was 112 per sq km (289 per sq mi). However, density varied from 673 per sq km (260 per sq mi) in Kabale to 36 per sq km (14 per sq mi) in the dry Karamoja plains. The northern, eastern, and western regions are less densely populated than the region along the north shore of Lake Victoria. The UN estimated that 12% of the population lived in urban areas in 2005, and that urban areas were growing at an annual rate of 4.67%. The capital city, Kampala, had a population of 1,246,000 in that year. Other major cities and their estimated populations were Jinja, 106,000; Mbale, 70,437; and Masaka, 61,300. MIGRATION Expulsion of Asian noncitizens was decreed by the Amin government in 1972; almost all the nation's 74,000 Asians, both citizens and noncitizens, emigrated during the Amin regime. In 1982, the government enacted the Expropriated Properties Bill, which provided for the restoration of property to Asians expelled under Amin. About 6,000 Asians had returned by 1983. After the fall of the Amin regime, as many as 240,000 people from Amin's West Nile district may have fled Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and the Sudan. Many of them returned to Uganda in 1983; government campaigns against guerrillas, however, displaced thousands more, and at the end of 1986 there were an estimated 170,000 Ugandan refugees in Sudan and 23,000 in Zaire. The refugee population in Zaire remained steady, but the number in the Sudan had dropped to 3,800 by the end of 1992. As of 2004, Uganda had 250,482 refugees, 1,809 asylum seekers, and 91 returned refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), these refugees were primarily from Sudan (214,623), Rwanda (18,902), and the DROC (14,982), and other neighboring African nations. Asylum seekers were from Somalia , the DROC, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia . In that same year some 16,000 Ugandans were refugees in the DROC and Sudan, and some 1,200 sought asylum in South Africa , the United Kingdom and Kenya. The net migration rate in 2005 was estimated as -1.49 migrants per 1,000 population. The government views the migration levels as satisfactory. Worker remittances in 2002 were $365 million. ETHNIC GROUPS Uganda's ethnic groups are most broadly distinguished by language. In southern Uganda, most of the population speak Bantu languages. Sudanic speakers inhabit the northwest; Nilotic speakers, principally the Acholi and Langi, live in the north; and the Iteso and Karamajong in the northeast. The Baganda, who populate the northern shore of Lake Victoria, constitute the largest single ethnic group in Uganda, making up about 17% of the total population. The Ankole account for about 8%, Basogo 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, and the Langi 6%. Perhaps 6% of the population (not counting refugees) is of Rwandan descent, either Tutsi or Hutu. Most of them live in the south. Bagisu constitute 5%; Acholi account for 4%; Lugbara another 4%; Bunyoro 3%; and Batoro 3%. The Karamajong account for 2%. The Bakonjo, Jopodhola, and Rundi groups each account for 2% of the population as well. About 1% is comprised of non-Africans, including Europeans, Asians, and Arabs. Other groups make up the remaining 8%. LANGUAGES English is the official national language. It is taught in grade schools, used in courts of law, and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts. Bantu languages, particularly Luganda (the language of the Baganda), are widespread in the southern, western, and central areas. Luganda is the preferred language for native-language publications and may be taught in school. Nilotic languages are common in the north and northeast, and Central Sudani clusters exist in the northwest. Kiswahili (Swahili) and Arabic are also widely spoken. RELIGIONS Christianity is the majority religion, practiced by about 75% of the population, with about 90% of all Christians fairly evenly split in membership as Roman Catholics or Anglicans. Other denominations include Seventh-Day Adventist, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah 's Witnesses, Baptists, the Orthodox Church, the Unification Church, and Pentecostal churches. Muslims account for about 15% of the population; most are of the Sunni sect. Others practice traditional African religions, which are more common in the north and west of Uganda. There are also small numbers of Hindus, Baha'is, and Jews . Traditional beliefs and customs are often practiced in conjunction with other established faiths. Though freedom of religion is provided for in the constitution, local governments have placed restrictions on some religious groups that are considered to be cults. This has been particularly true since 2000, when it was discovered that members of a cult group had killed over 1,000 citizens. Some organizations are banned from evening meetings for what local authorities claim to be a matter of public safety. All religious organizations must register with the government; failure do so brings the threat of criminal prosecution for those who practice any religious activities. Several religious alliances have formed in cooperation for peace within the country. These include the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, the Inter-Religious Council, Religious Efforts for Teso and Karamoja, and the Inter-Religious Program. Certain Muslim and Christian holidays are officially observed. TRANSPORTATION A landlocked country, Uganda depends on links with Tanzania and Kenya for access to the sea. The main rail line runs from Tororo in the east through Jinja and Kampala to the Kilembe copper mines near Kasese. The northwest line runs from Tororo to Pakwach. Eastward from Tororo, the line crosses into Kenya and runs to the port of Mombasa . As of 2004, the Ugandan railway system totaled 1,241 km (771 mi), all of it narrow gauge. In 2002, there were 27,000 km (16,778 mi) of roads, 1,809 km (1,125 mi) of which were surfaced. In 2003, there were 51,010 passenger cars and 43,150 commercial vehicles registered in Uganda. However, many were not in service due to damage, shortages of fuel and spare parts, and closing of repair and maintenance facilities. Steamships formerly carried cargo and passengers along the country's major lakes and navigable rivers, but there is no regular service on the Nile. Three Ugandan train ferries ply Lake Victoria, connecting at Kisumu, Kenya, and Mwanza, Tanzania. Important ports and harbors include Entebbe, Jinja, and Port Bell. As of 2004, Uganda had an estimated 300 km (187 mi) of navigable inland waterways. As of 2002, Uganda had a merchant fleet of three cargo ships totaling 5,091 GRT. In 2004, airports numbered an estimated 29, only 4 of which had paved runways as of 2005. Uganda's international airport is at Entebbe. In 2003, about 40,000 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international flights. HISTORY San-like peoples were among the Uganda region's earliest inhabitants. Over the centuries, however, they were overcome by waves of migrants, beginning with the Cushitic speakers, who probably penetrated the area around 1000 bc. In the first millennium ad, Bantu-speaking peoples moved into the highland areas of East Africa, where they cultivated the banana as a food crop. After ad 1000, two other migrations filtered through the area: Nilotic-speaking Sudanic people and Luo speakers. In the region south and west of the Nile, a number of polities formed, most of them strongly centralized. North and east of the Nile, political organization tended to be decentralized. In the south, the kingdom of Bunyoro was the most powerful and extensive, but in the 18th century the neighboring kingdom of Buganda began to challenge its supremacy. The two states were engaged in a critical power struggle when the British explorers John Hanning Speke and J. A. Grant reached Buganda in 1862. They had been preceded some years earlier by Arab ivory and slave traders. Other foreigners soon followed. Sir Samuel Baker entered Uganda from the north shortly after Speke's departure. Baker described a body of water, which he named Lake Albert. Baker returned to Uganda in 1872–73 as a representative of the Egyptian government, which was pursuing a policy of expansion up the Nile. The first Christian missionaries, members of the Church Missionary Society of Great Britain , came to Buganda in 1877. They were followed in 1879 by the Roman Catholic White Fathers. The missionaries were welcomed by the kabaka (ruler) of Buganda, Mutesa I, who hoped to gain their support or the support of their countrymen against the Egyptian threat from the north. When the missionaries displayed no interest in military matters and the Egyptian danger was removed by the Mahdist rising in the Sudan in the early 1880s, Mutesa became less amenable. His son, Mwanga, who succeeded Mutesa on the latter's death in 1884, was even more hostile, fearing the influence exerted over his subjects by both the missionaries and the Arab traders. The kabaka, therefore, began to persecute the Bagandan adherents of Christianity and Islam . Both sets of converts joined forces to drive the kabaka from his country in 1888. A few weeks later, the Christians were expelled by the Muslims. Mwanga then appealed to the Christians for help, and they finally succeeded in restoring him to power early in 1890. In 1888, the Imperial British East African Co. was granted a charter and authorized to administer the British sphere of East Africa. The Anglo-German agreement of 1890 officially outlined imperial spheres of influence in East Africa. By that agreement, what is now Uganda and Kenya were to be considered British spheres and Tanganyika a German sphere. In 1890, Capt. F. D. Lugard was sent to Buganda to establish the company's influence there. Lugard obtained Mwanga's agreement to a treaty that placed Buganda under the company's protection. Shortly afterward, however, lack of funds compelled the company to withdraw its representatives from Buganda. In 1894, the kingdom of Buganda became a British protectorate, which was extended in 1896 to cover Bunyoro and most of what is now Uganda. In 1897, Mwanga led a revolt against British encroachments; he was quickly defeated and deposed. His infant son, Daudi Chwa, succeeded him, and a regency was established to govern Buganda under British supervision. Under the Uganda Agreement of 1900, Buganda was ruled indirectly by the British, who in turn used the Baganda leadership as agents to extend British control indirectly throughout Uganda. The agreement confirmed the privileged position of Buganda in Uganda and of the traditional chiefs in Buganda. Subsequent treaties for indirect rule were concluded with the remaining kingdoms over a period of years. Buganda's rebuff of British policies following World War II marked the beginning of a conflict over the place of Buganda within the future evolution of the territory. Kabaka Mutesa II was deposed in 1953 when he refused to force his chiefs to cooperate with the British. He was restored to power in 1955 under a compromise agreement. It was only at the constitutional conference convened in London in October 1961 that a place was agreed for Buganda in a federal relationship to central government. It was also decided at this conference that Uganda should obtain independence on 9 October 1962. At a second constitutional conference in June 1962, Buganda agreed to scale down its demands over financial matters and ended its threats of secession from the central government. In August, a federal relationship with the kingdom of Ankole was agreed upon, and the agreement used as a model for dealing with the remaining two kingdoms, Bunyoro and Toro. On 9 October 1963, an amendment to the constitution abolished the post of governor-general and replaced it with that of president. Sir Edward Mutesa (Kabaka Mutesa II of Buganda) became Uganda's first president. In February 1966, the 1962 constitution was suspended and the prime minister, Milton Obote, assumed all powers of government. parliament formally abrogated the 1962 constitution on 15 April 1966 and adopted a new constitution, which created the post of president and commander-in-chief; Obote was elected to fill this position on the same day. Obote declared a state of emergency in Buganda following a clash between the police and dissident Baganda protesting the new constitution. On 24 May, Ugandan troops took control of the kabaka's palace, and the kabaka fled the country. Further revisions to the constitution enacted in June 1967 abolished the federal relationship of Buganda and the other kingdoms, making Uganda a unitary state. Uganda became a republic with an executive president, who would be concurrently head of state and government. Following a failed assassination attempt on Obote in December 1969, parliament declared a state of emergency on 22 December. Ten opposition leaders were arrested and all opposition parties were banned. Amin Seizes Power On 25 January 1971, while Obote was out of the country, Maj. Gen. Idi Amin led a successful military coup. Obote was received by Tanzania as a political exile. The Second Republic of Uganda was proclaimed on 17 March 1971, with Amin as president. In September 1972, Ugandans who had followed Obote into exile in Tanzania staged an abortive invasion. They were immediately overpowered, but tensions between Uganda and Tanzania remained high. The expulsion of Asian noncitizens from Uganda in August 1972 also caused international tension, especially with the United Kingdom. Expulsion of numerous British nationals in 1973 and the nationalization of UK-owned enterprises beginning in December 1972, further aggravated relations with the United Kingdom. An Israeli commando raid on Entebbe Airport on 3–4 July 1976, which freed 91 Israeli passengers and 12 crew members held captive by pro-Palestinian radicals in a hijacked aircraft, was a severe blow to the prestige of Amin, who was suspected of collusion with the hijackers (20 Ugandan troops were killed during the raid). Under Amin, Uganda suffered a reign of terror that had claimed 50,000 to 300,000 lives by 1977, according to Amnesty International. The expulsion of the Asians took a heavy toll on trade and the economy. Agricultural and industrial production also fell, and educational and health facilities suffered from the loss of skilled personnel. The collapse in 1977, essentially because of political differences, of the 10-year-old East African Community (members—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) also dealt a blow to Uganda's economy. In late October 1978, Ugandan forces invaded Tanzanian territory, but Tanzanian forces, supported by anti-Amin rebels, struck back and by January 1979 had entered Ugandan territory. Kampala was taken on 11 April 1979, and all of Uganda was cleared of Amin's forces by the end of May; Amin fled first to Libya and later to Saudi Arabia . Yusuf K. Lule, an educator, formed a provisional government but was ousted on 20 June in favor of Godfrey Binaisa. On 13 May 1980, a military takeover ousted Binaisa and installed Paulo Muwanga. parliamentary elections administered by Muwanga and other supporters of Obote, who returned from exile in Tanzania, were held on 10 December 1980. The election results, which opponents claimed were fraudulent, gave Obote's Uganda People's Congress (UPC) a clear majority, and he was sworn in as president on 15 December 1980. A period of reconstruction followed, and Tanzanian troops left in mid-1981. Security remained precarious, however. An undisciplined soldiery committed many outrages, and antigovernment guerrilla groups, especially the National Resistance Army (NRA), which was supported from abroad by Lule and Binaisa, remained active. Obote's second term in office was marked by continued fighting between the army and guerrilla factions. As many as 100,000 people may have died as a result of massacres, starvation, and hindrance of relief operations. International groups denounced the regime for human rights abuses. On 27 July 1985, Obote was overthrown in a military coup and Lt. Gen. Tito Okello, commander of the armed forces, was installed as president. The NRA continued fighting, however, and on 26 January 1986 it occupied Kampala. Three days later, NRA leader Yoweri Museveni assumed the presidency. By April the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government was in control of most of the country, but armed supporters of the Obote, Amin, and Okello regimes remained active in northern and northeastern Uganda, as well as opposition from Karamojong separatists and prophetic religious movements, most notably the Holy Spirit rebels of Alice Lakwena in 1987. After 1990, except for tiny groups of bandits, rebel military action was almost eliminated. However, Museveni resisted introducing a multiparty constitution advocating "no-party government" instead. In late August 1992, parliament formalized the ban on party politics which officials of the UPC and Democratic Party , DP (both abolished by Museveni in 1986) rejected at a press conference. Nonetheless, parties became more active, despite the ban and police action. Although lauded by western countries as a new breed of African leader, and Uganda as a role model for African development, there was growing criticism of Museveni for his lack of democratic credentials. In July1993, parliament enacted Constituent Assembly Statute No. 6, the basis for nonparty elections to choose a constituent assembly, which would consider the draft constitution released in December 1992 by an appointed commission. In a secret ballot election on 28 March 1994, Ugandans elected 214 delegates to the 288-member assembly. Also included were 10 delegates appointed by the president, 56 representing interest groups, and 8 representing 4 parties that had contested the 1980 election. In addition, the government introduced constitutional changes allowing the Baganda to restore their monarchy purely for ceremonial purposes. Ronald Mutebi, son of the former king, was installed as Kabaka on 31 July 1993. The monarchies had been abolished in the 1967 constitution. A second king was restored and a third was rejected by government. In October of 1995, the new constitution was finally enacted. It replaced the interim National Resistance Council with a permanent parliament, and made minor changes in executive power, but its most noticed element was the prohibition of political party activity for five years. The first popular elections for president since independence were held on 9 May 1996. Museveni won with 74% of the vote, Paul Ssemogerere got 24%, and Muhammad Mayanja 2%. Nonparty parliamentary elections for the 276-member (214 elected, 62 nominated by special groups) house followed on 27 June 1999. The elections were peaceful and orderly, but election conditions, including restrictions on political party activities, resulted in flaws. Elections were held again in March 2001 with Museveni claiming victory with 69% of the vote to 28% for Kizza Besigye. The results were upheld despite objections by the opposition. By June 2003, there was growing concern over the government's inability to build political consensus in the country and to maintain peace and security. In the north, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a cult-like Christian rebel group operated from bases in southern Sudan, and in western Uganda, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) stepped up rebel attacks from the DROC. Other rebel groups included Rwanda Hutu rebels, Uganda National Rescue Front-II, and the Uganda National Front/Army. Members of these rebel groups murdered, raped, kidnapped, tortured, and abducted children using them as combatants, sex and labor slaves. UNICEF estimated that the LRA and ADF abducted over 4,900 men, women and children since 1987, most of whom remained missing. Museveni has tried both diplomatic and military means to end the fighting. He reluctantly accepted an Amnesty Bill in January 2000, which provided for pardon to any rebels who surrendered their arms within six months. Three months later, no rebels had complied. A highly publicized all-out offensive in 2002 also failed to achieve its goals, and independent observers accused government troops of killing innocent civilians including women and children. In 2004, three oppositions groups—Reform Agenda, the Parliamentary Advocacy Reform (PAFO), and the National Democratic Forum (NDF)—merged to form the FDC, which became the main challenger to Museveni's NRM party. In 2005, the parliament approved two constitutional amendments that restored a multiparty system and removed the two-term limit for the president. The elimination of the two-term limit, which opposition groups and donors stridently opposed, was significant in that it allowed Museveni to run for another term. Uganda had operated under a no-party system since 1980. Subsequently, some 50 parties formed and began to campaign in the run-up to the 2006 elections. In August, the parliament also approved additional changes to the constitution that increased the power of the executive vis-à-vis the legislature. The February 2006 polls marked the first multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 26 years. In the run-up, three people were killed as a result of violent clashes between security personnel and opposition supporters. Voting day itself was mostly peaceful though many irregularities such as unsealed ballot boxes, under-age voting, and military patrols in the vicinity of polling stations were reported. Thousands of domestic and international observers from the EU, AU, United States and Commonwealth nations observed the polling. Some 80–90% of polling stations were monitored. As the results were announced the following day, the FDC alleged voter-list tampering. International observer missions, though not uniform in their assessments, generally rated the exercise as short of free and fair. The main complaint by observers was that the playing field had been made extremely unlevel mostly because of the rape and treason charges leveled at Dr. Kizza Besigye, Museveni's opponent, by government agencies. In March 2006 the rape charges were dropped. However, the treason trial was due to begin on 15 March 2006. Ironically, Mr. Besigye, who had fled Uganda after losing the 2001 poll, had formerly been Museveni's personal doctor, and the two were allies in the guerrilla war. The official results gave Museveni the victory by a margin of 59.28% of the vote to Dr. Besigye's 37.36%. The FDC immediately challenged the results, but police surrounded FDC headquarters to prevent a mass protest. Voter turn-out was 68.6%. In the 2006 parliamentary contest, the NRM ruling party took the majority of the seats with 202 to 40 for the FDC and 49 seats to other smaller opposition groups. This result assured the president's party of a two-thirds majority. In a hotly contested race in a district in southwest Uganda, the first lady, Janet Museveni, became a member of parliament by beating an FDC incumbent of ten years. Evidence that she used state resources during her campaign did not reverse the outcome. Although the FDC accused the NRM of having stolen the election, it vowed to pursue change through legal and constitutional means. A separate FDC tally showed Museveni winning 51% of the vote with enough votes to exceed a run-off by only 600,000—which the FDC claimed it could prove was rigged. Internationally, a cease-fire with President Joseph Kabila of DROC signed in 2003 was threatened by alleged evidence of rebel ADF bases in neighboring Ituri province. Additionally, though most Ugandan troops were withdrawn from Congolese territory in early 2003, the Ugandan government was likely to send troops back in if Rwanda were to do the same. Relations with Sudan continued to be unsettled because of unanswered questions following the crash of John Garang's helicopter in July 2005. Garang, former leader of the SPLA, had been a long-time friend of Museveni, but speculation that Uganda was connected to the crash chilled relations with the South Sudan government. For Uganda, this meant that insecurity in the north would likely continue, especially with the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) able to operate from Sudanese territory. GOVERNMENT Following Gen. Amin's coup of 25 January 1971, provisions of the 1967 constitution dealing with the executive and legislature were suspended, and Amin ruled by decree. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces and president of the military government, he exercised virtually all power. Following Amin's defeat, the Uganda High Court in 1980 declared a modified version of the 1967 constitution to be the law of the land. The constitution was amended in May 1985, but it was suspended with the fall of the Obote government in July, when the National Assembly was dissolved. A 270-person National Resistance Council was established in 1986 to act as the nation's legislative body pending the holding of elections. Nonpartisan elections for the NRC were held in February 1989. There were 382 members, 216 elected and 166 appointed by the president. An appointed cabinet (including members of the banned opposition parties) advised the president. He also sought advice from and consensus with key interest groups and institutions on important policy issues, especially from the National Resistance Army. The new constitution was enacted in October 1995, replacing the NRC with an elected parliament while leaving the power and structure of the executive largely unchanged. It provided for a 276-member body, with ensured representation for special interest groups (including 39 seats for women, 10 for the Army, 5 for the disabled, 5 for youth, and 3 for trade unions). By 2003, the number and proportion of appointed seats had been altered. In 2005, parliament voted two significant changes to the constitution that restored multipartyism and revoked the two-term limit for presidents. Parliamentary elections were first held on 27 June 1996 and again on 26 June 2001. The parliamentary term is five years. The current eighth legislative body numbers 309 members up from 304 seats in the seventh parliament. Presidential elections were held on 9 May 1996, on 12 March 2001, and most recently (along with parliamentary elections) on 23 February 2006—the first multiparty elections in 26 years. Fresh elections were due in 2011. Suffrage is universal at age 18. POLITICAL PARTIES The Uganda People's Congress (UPC), founded in 1959, was the leading political party of the pre-Amin era. At the time of independence it formed a ruling coalition with the Kabaka Yekka (The King Only), which drew its support from the Baganda. The opposition party was the Democratic Party (DP), founded in 1953. The marriage of convenience between the UPC and the Kabaka Yekka deteriorated, and in February 1966, Prime Minister Milton Obote, who had been the head of the UPC, suspended the constitution, deposed the president and vice president, and began a move to power, which culminated in the proclamation of the Republic of Uganda under a new constitution adopted in September 1967. The political situation under Obote continued to deteriorate, and after an attempt on his life, Obote's government banned the opposition parties and arrested 10 of their leaders. Uganda was subsequently declared a one-party state in 1969, the UPC remaining as the only legal party. After the military overthrow of the Obote government on 25 January 1971, Maj. Gen. Amin outlawed all political parties. After the overthrow of Amin, four political parties took part in the parliamentary elections held in December 1980. The UPC was declared to have won 74 seats in the National Assembly; the DP, 51; the Uganda Patriotic Movement, 1; and the Conservative Party, 0. These parties, as well as Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement and the Uganda Freedom Movement, were represented in the cabinet appointed in 1986. The government ordered all parties to suspend active operations, however, and mandated that elections would not be held before 1989. By 1991, however, party activity, although banned, began to increase. Top officials of the DP and UPC were arrested in January 1992. Museveni insisted that no party activity could precede the new constitution. In August, the DP and UPC held a joint press conference to denounce parliament's formalization of the ban. President Museveni declared that parties were not allowed to participate in either the presidential election or the parliamentary elections held in May and June of 1996, respectively. Nonetheless, 156 of the 276 members of the parliament elected in 1996 were considered to be supporters of General Museveni. The UPC, DP, and CP remained the most important opposition parties. In June 2000, the no-party system was subjected to a national referendum. Despite accusations of vote rigging and manipulation by the opposition, Ugandans approved it. They also reelected Museveni to a second five-year term in March 2001. In the 303member National Assembly, 214 seats were directly elected by popular vote, and 81 were nominated by legally established special interest groups including women (56), army (10), disabled (5), youth (5), labor (5), and ex officio members (8). Campaigning by party was not allowed. In May 2003, the National Executive Committee recommended that subject to another national referendum in 2004, parties be free to operate. Nonetheless, the United States was particularly concerned about the lack of political space and freedom of speech that Museveni's Movement has allowed other political forces. The United States also expressed its disapproval of any attempt by Museveni or his Movement to tamper with the constitution to legalize a run for a third term. Nevertheless, the February 2006 elections showed the grassroots strength of the reconstituted National Resistance Movement Organization (NRMO), which despite opposition (FDC) complaints, was confirmed in its victory by parallel vote tabulation. One deciding factor in the outcome, however, was a highly unlevel playing field characterized by the use of state resources, intimidation, and a smear campaign on FDC candidate, Dr. Besigye, launched by the ruling NRMO party. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Until the adoption of the 1967 constitution, local government in Buganda was conducted on behalf of the kabaka by six ministers, advised by the lukiko (Buganda council) and by a hierarchy of chiefs. With the abolition of the federal system of government in 1967, Buganda was divided into four districts, and the kabaka's government was dissolved. The federal status of the kingdoms of Ankole, Bunyoro, and Toro was also abolished. Under that constitution, Uganda was divided into 18 districts. In 1973, President Amin instituted a new system of provincial government establishing 10 provinces subdivided into 26 districts. Later Kampala became Central Province. In 1980 the number of districts increased to 33, and in March 2000, to 39. By 2002, there were 45 districts and by 2006, the number rose to 56. Since 1986, National Resistance Movement committees have played leading roles in local and district affairs. In early March 1992, local council elections were held nationwide. Political parties were not allowed to campaign, although many candidates could be identified as members of particular parties. There was disappointment on the part of donors with logistical delays, irregularities in distribution of electoral material and voting, confusion over electoral laws, and electoral violence during the 2002 local elections. JUDICIAL SYSTEM In 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law. At the lowest level are three classes of courts presided over by magistrates. Above these is the chief magistrate's court, which hears appeals from magistrates. The High Court hears appeals and has full criminal and civil jurisdiction. It consists of a chief justice and a number of puisne justices. The three-member Court of Appeal hears appeals from the High Court. A military court system handles offenses involving military personnel. Village resistance councils (RCs) mediate disputes involving land ownership and creditor claims. These councils have at times overstepped their authority in order to hear criminal cases including murder and rape. RC decisions are appealable to magistrate's courts, but ignorance of the right to appeal and the time and cost involved make such appeals rare. In practice, a large backlog of cases delays access to a speedy trial. Although the president retains some control of appointments to the judiciary, the courts appear to engage in independent decision-making and the government normally complies with court decisions. Uganda accepts the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice with reservations. ARMED FORCES After Amin's regime was overthrown, a Commonwealth training force was sent to reorganize the army, which proved difficult. In 1987, the National Resistance Army (NRA) was established as the national army in the wake of another civil war. Thousands of defeated guerillas were given amnesty and integrated into the NRA, swelling its ranks to as many as 70,000–100,000 men, armed with outdated US, UK, and Russian weapons. The Ugandan People's Defense Force was estimated at 40,000–45,000 in 2005, and consisted of five divisions, one armored and one artillery brigade. Equipment included 152 main battle tanks and 20 light tanks. There was an air wing with 15 combat capable aircraft that included 11 fighters, in addition to six attack helicopters. Paramilitary forces consisted of a border defense unit of around 600, some 400 marines, a police air wing of around 800, and local defense units numbering up to 10,000. In 2005, the defense budget totaled $196 million. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION On 25 October 1962, Uganda became the 110th member of the United Nations; it is a member of ECA and several nonregional specialized agencies, such as the World Bank, IAEA, the FAO, ILO, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, and the WHO. Uganda participated in the establishment of the African Development Bank. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the ACP Group, the WTO, the East African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), COMESA, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and G-77. Kampala was the headquarters of the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity) for the 1975 summit meeting, and then president Idi Amin was the OAU president for 1975–76. Uganda generally supports peace efforts in neighboring countries. Relations with Rwanda, Congo and Sudan are sometimes tense, primarily due to unrest in those nations. Uganda fully supports the international war on terrorism. The country is part of the Nonaligned Movement. In environmental cooperation, Uganda is part of the Basel Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar, CITES, the Kyoto Protocol, the Montréal Protocol, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea, Climate Change, and Desertification. ECONOMY Uganda's economy is agriculture based, with agriculture employing over 80% of the population and generating 90% of export earnings. Coffee is the main export crop, with tea and cotton other agricultural products. Uganda also has mineral deposits of copper and cobalt, which contributed 30% of export earnings during the 1960s, although the mining sector is now only a minor contributor to the economy. The upheavals of the 1970s and the troubles of the 1980s left the economy in disarray. However, economic reforms begun in 1986 have resulted in important progress. The government made significant strides in liberalizing markets and releasing government influence during the 1990s, although some administrative controls remained in 2003. Monopolies were abolished in the coffee, cotton, power generation, and telecommunications sectors and restrictions on foreign exchange were removed. Reforms improved the economy and gained the confidence of international lending agencies. The economy has posted growth rates in the GDP averaging 6.9% from 1988–98, and 5.8% from 2000–2005. Consequently, the economy has almost doubled. Still, Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world heavily dependent on foreign aid (approximately 55% of government spending in 1998). High growth rates are necessary to balance the population growth rate of over 3%. The government in 2003 was known for its sound fiscal management. World coffee prices recovered in 2003, which brought in revenue. New property developments have been fueled by an influx of foreign investment, which has provided testimony of confidence in Uganda's economy. Ugandan Asians, who had been expelled by Idi Amin in 1972, have had their property restored and have brought business back into the country. One of the first African nations hit by HIV/AIDS, Uganda had by 2005 witnessed a drop in infection rates over the previous decade. However, Uganda's continued involvement in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo compromised the progress Uganda has made on many other fronts. INCOME The US Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) reports that in 2005 Uganda's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $46.0 billion. The CIA defines GDP as the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year and computed on the basis of purchasing power parity (PPP) rather than value as measured on the basis of the rate of exchange based on current dollars. The per capita GDP was estimated at $1,700. The annual growth rate of GDP was estimated at 9%. The average inflation rate in 2005 was 9.7%. It was estimated that agriculture accounted for 31.1% of GDP, industry 22.2%, and services 46.9%. According to the World Bank, in 2003 remittances from citizens working abroad totaled $295 million or about $12 per capita and accounted for approximately 4.7% of GDP. Foreign aid receipts amounted to $959 million or about $38 per capita and accounted for approximately 15.6% of the gross national income (GNI). The World Bank reports that in 2003 household consumption in Uganda totaled $4.92 billion or about $195 per capita based on a GDP of $6.3 billion, measured in current dollars rather than PPP. Household consumption includes expenditures of individuals, households, and nongovernmental organizations on goods and services, excluding purchases of dwellings. It was estimated that for the period 1990 to 2003 household consumption grew at an average annual rate of 6.0%. It was estimated that in 2001 about 35% of the population had incomes below the poverty line. LABOR Uganda's workforce in 2005 was estimated at 13.17 million. As of 2003, agriculture accounted for the majority of the country's workforce at 69.1%, followed by the services sector at 23.1%, industry at 7.6% and undefined occupations for the remainder. A 2003 survey of the Ugandan workforce gave an unemployment rate for that year of 3.2%. The Uganda Trade Union Congress was dissolved in 1973 and replaced by the National Organization of Trade Unions, which remains the largest labor federation. NOTU is independent of the government but has little influence in the economy since it claims only about 5% of the workforce. Strikes are permitted by law but are greatly restricted by lengthy and complicated procedures. The minimum working age is 18 but many children work out of economic necessity and because school fees are so high. A large percentage of under-18 children do not attend school. Most children work in the informal sector. In 2002, the legal minimum wage remained at a level set in the early 1960s, at $3.50 per month. Wage earners are an extremely small percentage of the workforce. In this sector, the workweek is set at 40 hours. Most workers supplement their income with second jobs and family farming. Occupational safety regulations have existed since 1954 but the government lacks the resources to implement them. AGRICULTURE Uganda's economy is predominantly agrarian; 32% of the GDP, 70% of the employed labor force, and 40% of export earnings are derived from the agricultural sector. A total of 7,350,000 hectares (18,162,000 acres), or 37% of the land area, is under cultivation. Subsistence production remains the pattern; 70% of the area under cultivation is used to produce locally consumed food crops. Women provide over half of agricultural labor, traditionally focusing on food rather than cash crop production. The monetary value of market crops is exceeded by the estimated value of subsistence agriculture. Plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas are the major food crops. In 2004, food production estimates included plantains, 9.9 million tons; cassava, 5.5 million tons; sweet potatoes, 2.6 million tons; bananas, 615,000 tons; millet, 700,000 tons; corn, 1,350,000 tons; sorghum, 420,000 tons; beans, 545,000 tons; and potatoes, 573,000 tons. Coffee is still an important export earner for Uganda, with receipts in 2004 at $124.2 million, 35% of agricultural exports. Production of robusta, which was cultivated by the Baganda before the arrival of the Arabs and British, and some arabica varieties of coffee provides the most important single source of income for more than one million Ugandan farmers and is the principal earner of foreign exchange. Export crop production reached a peak in 1969. Estimated production of major cash crops in 2004 included coffee, 186,000 tons; cotton (lint), 22,200 tons; tea, 36,000 tons; sugarcane, 1,600,000 tons; and tobacco, 33,000 tons. Roses and carnations are grown for export to Europe . ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Uganda had an estimated 6.1 million head of cattle; 7.7 million goats; 1.15 million sheep; and 1.3 million hogs in 2005, as well as about 33 million chickens. Meat production in 2005 was an estimated 256,000 tons, 23% pork. The tsetse fly, which infests about 30% of Uganda, limits livestock production, and cattle rustling remains a problem. The livestock sector had been disrupted by armed rebels, but the United Nations, the EU, Denmark , and several international development banks are contributing to its revitalization. FISHING Many persons find employment in fishing and the marketing of fish, and many fishermen sell their catch to the main distribution centers. Most fish are caught from dugouts or hand-propelled canoes. Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga are the major commercial fishing areas; Nile perch and Nile tilapia are the most abundant species. In 2003, the total catch was estimated at 245,431 tons. The fishing industry has benefited from a large ice-making plant at Soroti. FORESTRY Forests cover 4,190,000 hectares (10,353,000 acres), or 21% of the land area. About half of the forested area is savanna woodland. In 2000, production of roundwood was estimated at 39.4 million cu m (139 billion cu ft). About 92% was used for fuel. MINING Mining and quarrying in fiscal year 2002/2003 accounted for 1% of Uganda's gross domestic product (GDP), which grew by 4.7% in 2002/2003 and 6.8% in 2002/2001. Gold accounted for 13% of Uganda's exports by value in 2002. In recent years, Uganda has been known to produce cobalt (95% of which was exported), limonite and other iron ore, niobium, steel, tantalum, tin, tungsten, apatite, gypsum, kaolin, brick clays and other clays, hydrated lime, quicklime, limestone, pozzolanic materials (used for pozzolanic cement), and salt (by evaporation of lakes and brine wells). Mine gold output (metal content) in 2003 was estimated at 5 kg, up from 3 kg in 2002. Gold production began in 1992. Limestone output, in 2003 was estimated at 226,408 metric tons, up from 140,022 metric tons in 2002. Limestone resources at the largest deposits—Hima, Tororo Hill, and Bukiribo—totaled 46.1 million tons. Output of hydraulic cement in 2003 was estimated at 505,000 tons, down slightly from 505,959 metric tons in 2002; and columbite-tantalite ore and concentrate (gross weight) was estimated at 7,200 kg. In addition, Uganda presumably produced copper content of slag, corundum, garnet, gemstones, gravel, marble, ruby, sand, and vermiculite. No wolfram was produced in 2003. Extraction of copper was halted in 1980. The Namekhela high-quality vermiculite deposit had resources of 5 million tons. Pyrochlore resources amounted to 6 million tons. Iron ore resources in Sukulu were 45.7 million tons at an average grade of 62% iron; the Muko deposit, worked by artisanal miners, contained 30 million tons at a grade 61–67% iron; and there were additional resources at Kyanyamuzinda, Metuli, Mugabuzi, and Wambogwe. Inferred resources of wolframite were 20 million tons; gypsum deposits totaled 5.5 million tons; marble resources, 10 million tons; the Sukulu phosphate deposit had resources of 230 million tons; and there were occurrences of silica sand deposits. The abandoned Kilembe copper mine had proven reserves of 5 million tons, and its tailings contained 5.5 million tons. A pilot study in 1991 attempted to process the tailings for cobalt and copper, using a natural strain of bacteria to separate the cobalt metal. The United Nations Security Council accused Ugandan government officials, military officers, and businessmen of illegally exploiting columbium, diamonds, gold, and tantalum from Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Ugandan government denied the accusations. ENERGY AND POWER Uganda has no known reserves of crude oil, natural gas or coal, nor any refining capacity. Uganda must import all the petroleum products, natural gas or coal that it consumes. In 2002, demand and imports of refined petroleum products each averaged 9,920 barrels per day. There were no recorded imports of natural gas or coal, nor any demand for either in that year. Uganda's electric power generating capacity is almost entirely hydroelectric. In 2002, electric generating capacity totaled 0.303 million kW, with conventional thermal capacity accounting for 0.003 million kW. Electric power output that year totaled 1.675 billion kWh, with 1.668 billion kWh from hydroelectric sources and 0.007 billion kWh from fossil fueled plants. Demand for electric power in 2002 totaled 1.413 billion kWh. Only an estimated 3–5% of the population has access to electricity. Fuel wood and charcoal supply 95% of required energy. INDUSTRY Production of most industrial products declined in 1973, largely because of the expulsion of skilled Asian personnel. A precipitous decline followed, with output in 1985 little more than a third of the postindependence peak levels of 1970–72. As of 2002, however, growth over the past decade had occurred in manufacturing and construction, among other sectors, and the size of the Ugandan economy had doubled. Industrial contribution to GDP was 21% in 2004. The agricultural industry produces cotton, coffee, tea, sugar, tobacco, edible oils, and dairy products. Ugandan industrial production also includes grain milling, brewing, vehicle assembly, textiles, steel, metal products, cement, soap, shoes, animal feed, fertilizers, paint, and matches. The textile industry suffers from a lack of skilled labor but is being encouraged by funds from the EU and the Arab Development Bank. General Motors is assembling vehicles in Uganda, and Lonrho has returned to manage its previously owned brewery, to build an oil pipeline, and to join in agricultural marketing efforts. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Schweppes are producing soft drinks. A tannery will make Uganda self-sufficient in leather products. Batteries, canned foods, pharmaceuticals, and salt are among the other products being produced in Uganda's industrial sector. In 2002, the country planned to build from one to three hydroelectric projects along the Nile River, and this and other infrastructure projects fueled the construction industry. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Uganda has a medical association, a child malnutrition unit, an agriculture research institute, a forestry research center, and a cotton research station in Kampala. An animal health research center and the Geological Survey and Mines Department are in Entebbe. Makerere University (founded originally in 1922 as a technical school at Kampala) has faculties of science, agriculture and forestry, technology, medicine, and veterinary science. Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo (founded in 1954 at Kampala) has 1,000 students. Mbarara University of Science and Technology (founded in 1989) has faculties of medicine and science education. In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 17% of college and university enrollments. In 2001 expenditures on research and development (R&D) totaled $259.438 million, or 0.82% of GDP. In 2000 (the latest year for which data was available), foreign sources accounted for the overwhelming majority of R&D spending at 90.3%, followed by government sources at 6.6%, the domestic business sector at 2.2%, higher education at 0.6%, and private nonprofit organizations at 0.3%. As of 2001, there were 25 researchers and 15 technicians engaged in R&D per million people. High technology exports in 2002 totaled $4 million, accounting for 12% of the country's manufactured exports. DOMESTIC TRADE Most retail trade is accomplished through small shops supplied by small distributors. Consumer products are priced based on what the market will bear. Kampala is Uganda's main commercial center, but many concerns have their headquarters or regional offices in Nairobi , Kenya. Bootlegging of cassettes and videos is common. The market for smuggled goods, including fuel, clothing, electronics and other consumer goods, is rather large. English is the business language, although Swahili is often spoken as well. Products are marketed through radio and television advertising. Business hours are from 8 or 8:15 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm. Shops close on Sundays. Banking hours are 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday–Friday. FOREIGN TRADE Principal imports in 2005 included machinery equipment, iron, steel, vehicles and accessories, chemical and related products, medical supplies, petroleum and related products, vegetable products, animal fats and oil. Traditionally, coffee accounted for nearly a third (31%) of Uganda's export commodities. For example in 2005 the big four exports were coffee (41%), fish (34%), cotton (13%), and tea (12%). Other exports include gold and tobacco. Uganda exports most of its goods to Belgium , Netherlands , the United States, Germany and Spain while most of its imports come Country 5.2 (…) data not available or not significant. from Kenya, the United Kingdom, China and Japan . Principal trading partners for exports in 2004 as a percent of total exports were as follows: Netherlands (15.8%), Belgium (10.2%), the United States, (9.0%), Germany (7.8%), and Spain (6.6%). Principal trading partners for imports in 2004 as a percent of total imports were as follows: Kenya (44.6%), South Africa (6.6%), India (5.6%), the United Kingdom (5.3%), and China (4.5%). BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Uganda had a favorable balance of payments in the 1930s and throughout the postwar years—an unusual feature in an underdeveloped country. The favorable balance with the rest of the world, however, was diminished by deficits in trade with Kenya and Tanzania following independence. Uganda's payments position declined during the 1960s, and during the 1970s, years of deficit out-numbered Current Account -33.6 (…) data not available or not significant. those of surplus; moreover, the deficits were larger than the surpluses. Poor trade performances and mounting debt service led to a loss of reserves in the 1980s. From 1986 to 1990, merchandise exports fell by 56% (due largely to plummeting coffee prices), while merchandise imports increased by 30%, so that the trade deficit widened rapidly from $69 million to $440 million in just a few years. Trade deficits continued through the 1990s. Low levels of foreign investment, coupled with weak coffee exports, led to a decline in foreign exchange reserves and a deteriorating balance of payments position in the early 2000s. The Economist Intelligence Unit reported that in 2005 the purchasing power parity of Uganda's exports was $791.1 million while imports totaled $1.608 billion resulting in a trade deficit of $816.9 million. BANKING AND SECURITIES The Bank of Uganda was established on 16 May 1966 as the bank of issue, undertaking the function previously served by the East African Currency Board in Nairobi. The government-owned Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) provided a full commercial banking service, complementary to and in competition with other commercial banks in the country. Uganda was rocked by a banking scandal in 1989. Lack of public confidence in the system was compounded by a prolonged period of high inflation, which caused rapid erosion in the value of money, and by the liquidity and insolvency problems of some banks. These problems remained unresolved through the 1990s. In 1998, the financial sector included the Bank of Uganda together with 18 commercial banks and 2 development banks. In addition to the UCB, major commercial banks included Crane Bank Limited, Stanbic, Bank of Baroda, Standard Chartered Bank, Nile Bank, and Barclays Bank. The Uganda Development Bank is a government bank that channels long-term loans from foreign sources to Ugandan businesses. The East African Development Bank, the last remnant of the defunct East African Community, obtains funds from abroad for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The International Monetary Fund reports that in 2001, currency and demand deposits—an aggregate commonly known as M1—were equal to $517.6 million. In that same year, M2—an aggregate equal to M1 plus savings deposits, small time deposits, and money market mutual funds—was $938.8 million. The discount rate, the interest rate at which the central bank lends to financial institutions in the short term, was 9%. The government supported the establishment of a stock exchange in Kampala, and it inaugurated the Capital Markets Authority in 1995/96. The initial stage of capital market development concentrated on the interbank market and the sale of treasury bills, which the Bank of Uganda started selling in 1992 at weekly auctions. The exchange was officially opened in 1997, but in 1999, had not been active since inception. As of 1997, the government-owned National Insurance Corp. of Uganda, the Uganda American Insurance Co., and the East Africa General Insurance Co. were doing business in Uganda. Some 27 insurance companies were operating in Uganda in 1998. Revenue and Grants PUBLIC FINANCE The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. The main sources of government revenue are the export duties on coffee and cotton, import duties, income and profit taxes, excise taxes, and sales taxes. Deficits are chronic. Over half of public monies comes from foreign aid. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimated that in 2005 Uganda's central government took in revenues of approximately $1.8 billion and had expenditures of $1.9 billion. Revenues minus expenditures totaled approximately -$59 million. Public debt in 2005 amounted to 62.8% of GDP. Total external debt was $4.949 billion. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that in 2002, the most recent year for which it had data, budgetary central government revenues were NUSh2,014.8 billion and expenditures were NUSh2,483.2 billion. The value of revenues in US dollars was us$1.12 million and expenditures us$1.38 million, based on a principal exchange rate for 2002 of us$1 = NUSh1,797.6 as reported by the IMF. TAXATION Individual income is taxed progressively at rates ranging from 4–15% for residents, and 15–20% for nonresidents. For the year ending 30 June 2005, corporate income was taxed at 30%, while mining companies were subject to a tax rate ranging from 25–45%, based on the level of profits. Capital gains are taxed at the corporate rate and are applied only to business assets. Generally, dividends, interest income, royalties and management fees are subject to a 15% withholding tax. Social security taxes are paid by both employers and employees. A value-added tax (VAT) is set at 17%. The tax holiday for foreign investments was eliminated in 1997, replaced with accelerated appreciation schedules. CUSTOMS AND DUTIES All imports and exports require licenses. As a party to the Lomé Convention, Uganda benefits from EU tariff preferences for its goods. Import duties are levied at 15%. Excise surcharges are set at 10%. Reductions were planned for 1999 to 2000. Items that cannot be exported without permission from Uganda include scrap iron, wood charcoal, timber, coffee husks, fresh fish, and game trophies. Other restrictions exist when importing medications, firearms, live animals, endangered species, secondhand clothing, explosives, and plants; and when exporting minerals, fruit, and hides and skins. Prohibited imports include pornographic materials and used tires. FOREIGN INVESTMENT A large number of Asian Ugandan companies were expropriated in 1972. A 1982 law provided for restoration of expropriated property to Asians who returned and for compensation to those who did not; a number of large Asian-owned enterprises resumed operations in 1986 as joint ventures, in which the government held 51% ownership. The United Kingdom group Mitchell Cotts also regained its nationalized property by participating in a similar joint venture. Further measures were taken in 1991 to recompense Asian Ugandans, and a new investment code designed to protect foreigners was issued in 1990. Ugandan law still allows for expropriation for public purposes, but investors are guaranteed compensation within 12 months. The Ugandan government has made attracting foreign investment a central part of its policy, and the Uganda Investment Authority has reported that the country has moved from 161 to 82 on a world ranking of average FDI per capita in the period 1990 to 2000. Most FDI inflows have come from expatriate Asians investing in repatriated property. Other investors are deterred by pervasive corruption. On Transparency International's 2002 listing of countries according to its Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Uganda was ninth from the bottom of 102 countries, scoring 2.1 on the 10-point index. Corruption infected the privatization process, which had greatly slowed in 2002 due to a lack of transparency, rampant asset stripping, and the failures of a number of negotiations. From 1998 to 2001, the average annual inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) held rather steady at approximately $229 million a year, peaking in 2000 at $275 million. From 2000–2004 FDI averaged $231 million with the year 2004 registering $237 million. Foreign investors include those from the United Kingdom, India, Kenya and South Africa. Foreign companies operating in Uganda in 2005 included Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Caltex, Sheraton, Starcom, Citibank, Xerox, Cargill, AES, Colgate Palmolive, Swift Global, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, GM, Ford, Ernst and Young, Price-Waterhouse-Coopers, Deloitte and Touche, and Caterpillar. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Uganda's economic development policy for the early 1990s was outlined in the Economic Recovery Program for 1988–92. State investment was lowered by 42% from the previous plan and the export sector was to be revived, particularly the nontraditional export sector. The investment budget was divided equally among the transport and communications sector, social infrastructure, agriculture, and the industry and tourism sector. Inflation, which ran at 240% in 1987 and 42% in mid-1992, was under 5% for 1998. This was further reduced to -0.3% in 2002 but was estimated to have risen to 9.7% in 2005. Nevertheless, a slowdown in privatization, low interest in foreign investment, and sustained but limited growth dimmed the prospects for economic development. In 2000, Uganda became eligible for $1.3 billion in debt service relief under the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. In 2002, the IMF approved a three-year $17.8 million Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Arrangement for Uganda, which was due to expire in September 2005. Political instability and poor economic management have stinted economic development, although gross domestic product (GDP) growth stood at 5.5% in 2005. The government was implementing a Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) in 2003, with the goal of reducing the incidence of poverty to less than 10% of the population by 2017. The Economist Intelligence Unit reported that the latest IMF review in 2005 of Uganda's poverty reduction and growth facility (PRGF) was broadly positive. The government has published a new poverty eradication and action plan (PEAP). There were, however, a number of weaknesses in the PEAP, such as how high levels of donor inflows could be better managed. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT A social security system was introduced in 1967 and amended in 1985. This program provides old-age and disability pensions for employees of firms with five or more workers. Voluntary coverage is available. Retirement benefits amount to total employee and employer contributions plus interest, payable in a lump sum. Work injury benefits are provided for all workers and is funded by the employer. Women are accorded equal rights by law, but tradition limits their exercise of them. Under customary law, women may not own or inherit property and are not entitled to custody of their children after divorce. The children of Ugandan women married to foreigners are not entitled to Ugandan citizenship. This stipulation does not apply to Ugandan men married to foreigners. Domestic abuse and violence against women is common. According to a 2003 study, one in three women were victims of domestic abuse. There are still reports of abduction and rape to obtain wives, and in 2004, thousands of women were raped by rebel forces. Female genital mutilation is practiced by several ethnic groups. Child labor is common. The human rights situation in Uganda has improved in a few areas, but serious violations persisted, including excessive force by security forces, incommunicado detention, and prolonged pretrial detention. Prison conditions are very poor. HEALTH Although medical treatment in government hospitals and dispensaries is free, facilities deteriorated greatly under Amin's rule. Following the 1978–79 war of liberation, many hospitals were left without medicine or beds. A new government health care policy in 1993 outlined goals for restoration of a cohesive network of health care services. As of 2000, however, Uganda's health indicators were still poor, even in comparison with those of other African countries. Containment of serious diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, malaria, schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, typhus, and leprosy, has been made difficult by poor sanitation and unclean water. Other barriers to health care access for the rural poor were distance from providers, cost of services, and inadequate quality of health care. Less than half the population lives within 5 km (3 mi) of a health care facility. An estimated 71% of the population had access to health care services. The most serious obstacle to health has arisen from nutritional deficiencies, particularly among children. The goiter rate was 75 per 100 school-age children. Approximately 50% of the population had access to safe drinking water and 75% had adequate sanitation. As of 2004, it was estimated that there were fewer than 5 physicians per 100,000 people. There were fewer than 6 nurses per 100,000 population, and even fewer midwives. Total health care expenditure was estimated at 5.9% of GDP. Planned health care projects in the 1990s included: rehabilitation of buildings, equipment, fittings, and services; institutional support and training; designs for five district hospitals and 10 rural centers; and a mental health rehabilitation study. Malaria remains the country's most serious health threat, even more so than AIDS . Venereal disease continues to be a problem in the adult population and AIDS became a severe problem in the 1980s, with an estimated 800,000 Ugandans HIV -positive in 1989. The country plans to focus on health care awareness and education—in particular, family planning and AIDS. Prevention strategies that change high-risk sexual behavior have had a direct impact on HIV infection rates in Uganda. The HIV/AIDS prevalence was 4.10 per 100 adults in 2003. As of 2004, there were approximately 530,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. There were an estimated 78,000 deaths from AIDS in 2003. The life expectancy was only 51.59 years in 2005. The infant mortality rate that year was 67.83 per 1,000 live births. Only 15% of married women ages 15–44 used any form of contraception. As of 2002, the crude birth rate and overall mortality rate were estimated at, respectively, 47.2 and 17.5 per 1,000 people. Immunization rates for children up to one year old were high: tuberculosis, 84%; diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 58%; polio, 59%; and measles, 60%. Commonly reported diseases were guinea worm, measles, and tuberculosis. HOUSING Most of the inhabitants live in thatched huts with mud and wattle walls, but styles of building vary from group to group. Even in rural areas, however, corrugated iron is used extensively as a roofing material. In urban centers, sun-baked mud bricks, concrete blocks, and even fired bricks were encouraged by the government, which was responsible for a number of housing schemes prior to the Amin era. In that period, housing was neglected and there was considerable damage to the nation's housing stock during the 1978–79 war. The National Housing and Construction Corp., a government agency founded in 1964, builds residential housing and has sponsored a number of developments in recent years. One of its newest projects is called the Growing House. The Growing House is a basic, one-bedroom detached house that is ready for immediate occupation but is designed for easy expansion by the owner, as their own financial situation allows. For 1980–88, the total number of housing units was 3.1 million with 5.1 people per dwelling. At the 2002 census, there were 5,126,558 housing units nationwide. At least 71% of all units were considered to be temporary structures. Another 11% were semi-permanent structures. About 78% of all housing was owner occupied. Only 11% of all houses had access to piped drinking water. Only 5.7% had a water source on the premises; 21.9% of the population relied on water sources that are 1 km (0.62 miles) or further from their home. Only 1.7% of all dwellings had flush toilets; 63.6% of all households used pit latrines. The average household had 4.7 members. EDUCATION The school system generally comprises a seven-year primary course, a four-year junior secondary course, and a two-year senior secondary course for those who qualify. Those who do not choose to attend general secondary schools may attend technical schools for three years. Agricultural studies are compulsory in all secondary programs. Many of the senior schools are boarding establishments, and bursaries are available from local authorities and various groups for qualified candidates unable to pay the fees. Primary schools are financed from central government grants, local government funds, and fees from pupils. In 1997, the government eliminated fees for education and introduced universal primary education made possible by IMF debt relief. All senior secondary schools, technical schools, and training colleges receive direct grants-in-aid. The academic year runs from October to July. In 2001, about 4% of children between the ages of four and five were enrolled in some type of preschool program. Primary school enrollment in 1995 was estimated at about 87% of age-eligible students. In 2003, secondary school enrollment was about 16% of age-eligible students. It is estimated that about 63.4% of all students complete their primary education. The student-to-teacher ratio for primary school was at about 59:1 in 2000; the ratio for secondary school was about 18:1. The University College of East Africa (founded 1921), became Makerere University in 1970. Situated on the outskirts of Kampala, it prepares students for degrees in the arts, sciences, and agriculture and for advanced diplomas in medicine, education, engineering, law, and veterinary science. Other universities include Mbale Islamic University and the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. There are also a number of religious colleges, 5 commercial colleges, 52 technical schools, and 71 colleges for teachers. In 2003, it was estimated that about 3% of the tertiary age population were enrolled in tertiary education programs. The adult literacy rate for 2004 was estimated at about 68.9%, with 78.8% for men and 59.2% for women. As of 2003, public expenditure on education was estimated at 2.5% of GDP. LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS Makerere University has the largest and most comprehensive library in East Africa. It consists of a central library with over 566,000 volumes, which functions as the National Reference Library, and the Albert Cook Library of Medicine with over 55,000 volumes, which functions as the National Library of Medicine. The university also has specialized libraries in the fields of technology, education, social sciences, and farm management. The Public Libraries Board, founded in 1964, administers the Uganda Library Service, with 20 branches and 160,000 volumes. The Uganda Museum, founded in 1908 on the outskirts of Kampala, contains an excellent anthropological collection. The museum conducts a regular education service in collaboration with the Uganda Society. It has a fine collection of East African musical instruments and a growing collection of archaeological specimens. The Zoological Museum at Makerere University has a collection of rock fossils, birds, and mammals indigenous to Uganda, and the university's geology department has natural history collections. Entebbe has botanical gardens, a zoo, an aquarium, and a game and fisheries museum. There are also two fine arts museums in Kampala, regional folk museums at Kabale, Mbarara, and Soroti, a variety of agricultural and forestry collections, and three national park museums. MEDIA In 2003, there were an estimated two mainline telephones for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were approximately 30 mobile phones in use for every 1,000 people. Radio Uganda, founded in 1954, controls the only national radio broadcasting station in the country, broadcasting daily in 22 languages, including English, French, Swahili, and local languages. In 2004, there were about 60 local and regional radio stations that were privately owned. Uganda television sponsors a public broadcasting station with programming in English, Swahili, and Luganda. In 2001, there were about eight television stations. In 2003, there were an estimated 122 radios and 18 television sets for every 1,000 people. The same year, there were four personal computers for every 1,000 people and five of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet . There were two secure Internet servers in the country in 2004. The government-operated New Vision, with a 2002 circulation of 40,000 is published in English in Kampala. Two other major dailies published in Kampala are The Monitor (in English, 34,000) and Munno (in Luganda, 15,000). The constitution provides for free speech and a free press; however, the government is said at times to restrict these rights in practice. The occasional use of sedition laws and imprisonment of some members of the media lead to the general practice of self-censorship. ORGANIZATIONS There is a National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and an employers' federation. The cooperative movement is extensive. The Uganda Manufacturers Association sponsors an annual international trade fair in Kampala held in early October. The Uganda Society is the oldest and most prominent cultural organization. The Uganda National Council for Science and Technology was established in 1990 to promote interest, education, and research in various branches of science. There are several professional organizations that also promote education and research in specialized fields of science and technology, such as the Uganda Medical Association. There are a number of women's rights groups, including the Committee for the Advancement of Women of the Bahai's of Uganda, the National Association of Women Organizations of Uganda, the Uganda Association of University Women, and the multinational African Women's Leadership Institute. National youth organizations include Boy's Brigade of Uganda, the Uganda Scouts Association, Uganda Girl Guides, Junior Chamber, and YMCA/YWCA. The Mukono Multi-Purpose Youth Organization promotes programs for the health and well-being of youth, particularly those in rural areas. The National Council of Sports is active in promoting amateur athletics programs. The African Medical and Research Foundation is dedicated to public health issues. The Minsaki Katende Foundation, founded in 2003, serves as a national HIV/AIDS support organization and provides programs for orphans and the disabled. There are national chapters of the Red Cross Society, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, and Caritas. TOURISM, TRAVEL, AND RECREATION Wildlife, the major tourist attraction, includes the endangered mountain gorilla as well as many other animal species. There are 10 national parks that spread across Uganda and both sides of the equator, all rich in biodiversity. Tourism facilities are adequate in Kampala but limited in other areas. Hiking in the Virunga Mountains is popular along with white-water rafting, and mountain biking. Tourists require a passport and visa. A vaccination against yellow fever is required to enter Uganda. In 2003, about 305,000 tourists visited Uganda, the vast majority from African countries. That same year, tourism expenditure receipts totaled $221 million. There were 19,385 hotel rooms in 2002, with 29,295 beds. According to 2004 US Department of State estimates, the daily cost of staying in Kampala was $293; in Entebbe, $164; and in other areas, considerably lower. FAMOUS UGANDANS Kabaka Mutesa I (r.1856–84) contributed to Uganda's modern development. Sir Apollo Kagwa, chief minister (1890–1926) to Kabaka Mwanga and his successor, Kabaka Daudi Chwa, was one of the dominant figures in Uganda's history. Mukama Kabarega of Bunyoro (r.1896–99) led his people against British and Buganda forces until captured and exiled in 1899; he died in exile in 1923. Apollo Milton Obote (1924–2005), founder of the UPC and prime minister from 1962 to 1966, overthrew the first president, Sir Edward Frederick Mutesa (Kabaka Mutesa II of Buganda, 1924–69), and was himself president of Uganda from 1966 to 1971 and from 1980 to 1985. Maj. Gen. Idi Amin Dada (1925–2003) overthrew Obote in 1971 and led a military government until he was ousted in 1979 by Tanzanian forces and Ugandan rebels. Yoweri Museveni (b.1944), leader of the National Resistance Movement, became president in 1986 with the help of about 2,000 guerrillas recruited among Tutsi refugee families who had fled Rwanda. BIBLIOGRAPHY Apter, David Ernest. The Political Kingdom in Uganda: A Study of Bureaucratic Nationalism. Portland, Ore.: Frank Cass, 1997. Bigsten, Arne and Steve Kayizzi-Mugerwa. Crisis, Adjustment and Growth in Uganda: A Study of Adaptation in an African Economy. New York: St. Martin's, 1999. Byrnes, Rita M. (ed.). Uganda: A Country Study. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1992. Chrétien, Jean-Pierre. The Great Lakes of Africa: Two Thousand Years of History. New York: Zone Books, 2003. Guest, Emma. Children of AIDS: Africa's Orphan Crisis. Sterling, Va.: Pluto Press, 2001. Hansen, Holger Bernt, and Michael Twaddle (eds.). Developing Uganda. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1998. Kaberuka, Will. The Political Economy of Uganda, 1890–1979: A Case Study of Colonialism and Underdevelopment. New York: Vantage Press, 1990. McElrath, Karen (ed.). HIV and AIDS: A Global View. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002. Ofcansky, Thomas P. Uganda: Tarnished Pearl of Africa. Boulder, Colo.: Westview, 1996. Pirouet, Louise. Historical Dictionary of Uganda. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1995. Twaddle, Michael. Kakungulu and the Creation of Uganda, 1868–1928. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1993. Cite this article Higher: 1% History & Background Located in the heart of Africa, Uganda is a land-locked nation that straddles the equator. It shares a northern border with the Sudan , to its east it borders Kenya , to its south it borders both Tanzania and Rwanda , and to its west it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Slightly smaller than Oregon, Uganda covers 91,076 square miles in area. Its capital, Kampala , has 954,000 residents. Other major cities include Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, Gulu, Soroti, and Mbarara. Uganda's population is 21,000,000 people and it is growing at a rate of 2.14 percent (Ramsey 1999), which represents a dramatic decline from the 4.6 percent growth rate that was normal during the 1960s. Tutsi refugees fleeing genocide in Rwanda partly accounted for the high growth rates of the 1960s. Uganda provides homes for hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Almost 87 percent of Ugandans are rural residents, while 13 percent are urban dwellers. During the 1990s, reverse migration of Tutsis from Uganda to their tragic homeland, Rwanda, caused growth rates to slow, as did the return home of many members of other ethnic groups to the Sudan and elsewhere. Diseases, such as AIDS , also dramatically cut population growth rates. The infant mortality rate is 98.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average Ugandan woman gives birth to seven children, but many die before reaching their fifth birthday. By 1988 Uganda had 980 health clinics, 81 hospitals and 20,136 hospital beds. There is one doctor per 20,700 Ugandans and only 38 percent of Ugandans have access to safe drinking water. Ugandans consume 83 percent of the recommended daily average caloric intake. Life expectancy is 38 years for males and 40 for females due to AIDS and war. Debate is open and, when President Museveni recognized that over 30 percent of Ugandans were infected with the HIV virus, he made every department of government take the epidemic seriously and the incidence of HIV was reduced to 15 percent between 1986 and 1996 (Museveni 1993a). Christians comprise 66 percent of Uganda's population, 16 percent are Muslims and the remaining 18 percent of Ugandans follow indigenous religions. Uganda has 40 ethnic groups, most of whom speak Bantu, Nilotic, or Sudanic languages. The principal languages spoken include English (the official language) and Swahili, but several Bantu and Nilotic languages are widely spoken as well, such as Luganda. The adult literacy rate is 48 percent. Uganda sits atop a huge plateau almost 4,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by a rim of mountains to the east, north, and west, with Lake Victoria defining most its southern border. Swamplands are common along the lakeshore. Arable soil is common and suitable for farming. Perennial crops are grown throughout Uganda. Coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava, potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, and livestock grow in abundance throughout Uganda. Sugar, copper alcohol, cobalt, limestone, and salt are among Uganda's main exports. Uganda's economy is growing at an impressive 7.1 percent per year. Vast expanses of savanna grasslands mixed with trees cover much of the center of the country. Thick natural forests are found in the west. The climate is tropical and rainy in the south and semiarid and dry in the northeast (Karamoja) near the Sudan. Uganda has two rainy seasons, March through May and September through November. Average annual rainfall varies between 46 and 64 inches per year. Nilotic-speaking Luo groups migrated from the Sudan into Uganda in the 1400s and 1500s, while the Portuguese were discovering how to circumnavigate the continent of Africa and Columbus was discovering the Americas (Tidy 1980). Luo groups founded several major kingdoms in Uganda, the most notable being the Buganda kingdom, organized by Luos who referred to themselves as the Baganda. When British colonial officers visited Uganda they were surprised to discover well organized kingdoms like the Buganda. The Baganda people had a king, whom they called the Kabaka, and a prime minister or Katikiro, and a parliament or Lukiko, composed of heads of each Baganda clan (Gibbs 1988). This well-organized, wealthy African kingdom had a large standing army and a navy that routinely patrolled and raided other kingdoms along the vast expanse of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest inland, freshwater lake. Officially Uganda, from 1894 to 1961, was a British Protectorate much like Zanzibar. Britain never colonized the Baganda, rather they agreed to collaborate with them to dominate the traditional rivals of the Baganda, such as the Bunyoro (Beattie 1960). Bunyoro was a kingdom as powerful, well organized, and rich as the Baganda. For this reason they usually fought to a draw or tie. The Baganda used their alliance with Britain to tip the scales against their old enemies. Then they demanded tribute, which they divided with their British allies. Lord Lugard perfected his system of "indirect rule" through his collaboration with the Baganda (Tidy 1980). Using foot soldiers imported from the Sudan who neither knew nor had sympathy for Ugandans, Lord Lugard and the Kabaka (king) defeated many African groups that opposed them. Swahili was the language of their joint army and consequently became despised by many Ugandan tribes as the language of the oppressor. Swahili was also spoken in a previous era by slave raiders, thus it already carried a very negative association for most Ugandans (Mazrui 1984). This explains why many Ugandans prefer to speak English even though they know Swahili well, and why it is not the medium of instruction in schools. Swahili is associated with uneducated, rough individuals in Ugandan culture. Conversely, English became associated with missionary schools and, later, government schools, learning, sophistication, and power. The Baganda collaborated with the English because they also had monarchs and the English saw in the Baganda a people similar to themselves in many ways, as both had monarchs, parliaments, armies, and navies. Together they created what is today known as Uganda; the territorial boundaries that they established form the borders of modern Uganda. Throughout the British Protectorate era Uganda was considered the "pearl of East Africa" by Britain (Tidy 1980). The soil was so fertile that British officials said that if you placed your fingernail clippings in the soil they would grow. Ugandan farmers often harvested three crops per year because of the combination of ideal climate, sunshine, rain, and fertile soil, combined with an industrious and enterprising African peasantry. The first British colonial university in East Africa during the colonial period was Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda's capital. Many future African elites from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda were educated at Makerere. A few would go for further studies in Britain at Oxford or Cambridge University . Informal education, or what anthropologist call enculturation, was offered by each ethnic group to train young men and women how to become acceptable and responsible adults in the eyes of their own group (Gibbs 1988). In 1886, formal Western education was introduced in Uganda by the Church Mission Society of London. Between 1886 and 1918 formal education was developed by religious organizations. They set the syllabi, wrote the curriculums, wrote and graded examinations, set standards of accomplishment for each grade, built and administered the schools, and trained the teachers who staffed them. Missionaries sought to win souls as much as to cultivate minds. Their method was to educate an elite cadre who would demonstrate the advantages of Christianity and thereby attract additional converts. The British Colonial Office initially feared that training Africans might create unfulfillable aspirations (i.e., make Africans believe that they were equal to Europeans in a system based on the assumption of inequality). Educated Africans were often said to be "tragic Africans," because they thought themselves entitled to the same things that Europeans possessed. The colonial system was determined to deny them access to equality. As a result, the British Colonial Office did not begin building and controlling schools in Uganda until 1927. Ownership of most schools remained in the hands of missionaries until independence, despite creation of a Ministry of Education in 1957 (De Bunsen 1953). Following independence, Africans felt that every place was potentially their place so they educated their children to fill every available position in the country in mass numbers. Lack of education would no longer be an excuse to hold them back or hold them down. Acquisition of education would open doors of power, influence, and scientific discovery previously locked. Education became the key to self-reliance and self-actualization throughout Uganda. Apolo Milton Obote led Uganda to internal self-government within the British Commonwealth in 1961. Obote headed the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and he became prime minister of an independent Uganda on 9 October 1962 (Mazrui 1984). Obote was an antimonarchist who sought to destroy the Kabakaship and the kings of the Bunyoro, Ankole, and other Ugandan monarchies. Obote was from northern Uganda, where few tribes had kings and most considered everyone equal. Equality was a foreign concept to the hierarchically organized tribes of the south, many of whom had powerful kings (Jorgensen 1981). At independence Uganda was divided into four provinces, one of which was Buganda, with King Mutesa II serving as Kabaka. Mutesa II was also the first president. His reputation as a playboy and high stakes gambler while in England alienated him from Obote. Obote saw Mutesa II as a symbol of all that was backward, wasteful, and antimodern and Obote tried to undermine him. In February 1966 Colonel Idi Amin, under orders from Obote, led the army to overrun Mutesa II's palace, and the Kabaka fled to London. Obote then suspended the Uganda Constitution of 1962. From 1966 until 1992 Uganda functioned without a constitution. During this period anarchy and chaos prevailed. Personal power prevailed above the "rule of law." This began more than 16 years of chaos and struggle between northern Ugandans and southern Ugandans over power. Inability to work out viable power sharing would prove tragic. Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans would die, several ethnic groups—including East Asians—would be forced to flee, and the country would descend into economic ruin. Its educational system, once the pride of East Africa, would suffer a precipitous decline in quality. To appeal to non-Baganda, Obote returned land conquered by the Kabaka and the British to its Bunyoro original owners. Buganda's federal status and autonomy were abolished and the Baganda rebelled only to be crushed by the Ugandan army under Idi Amin. Amin was a soldier with a third grade formal education who rose through the ranks of the British army by personally killing hundreds of Kikuyu freedom fighters when he helped quell the Mau Mau rebellion during the 1950s. Using psychological warfare, he purportedly cut off the right hand of each Kikuyu whom he killed and wore them in battle. In 1970 Obote tried to implement a socialist agenda known as the "Common Man's Charter" (Mazrui 1984). Before attending a Commonwealth conference in Singapore in September of 1971, Obote stripped Amin of most of his powers. However in July of 1971, General Idi Amin overthrew Obote before he could implement his socialist plan. Amin developed a reputation as a brutal dictator. He suspended political activity and declared himself "head of state." He declared an "economic war," which amounted to little more than ousting the wealthy East Indians in 1972 who dominated Uganda's economy. Once they left, he distributed their property to his supporters, who promptly dissipated this wealth without generating new wealth. The result was economic implosion and collapse. The international community condemned Amin for the mass expulsion of East Asians, since many were Ugandan citizens. Amin often ruthlessly eliminated opponents, and he feared educated Ugandans who he thought despised him for being uneducated so he had many professors, lawyers, doctors, and engineers killed. Those people who could escape the carnage became refugees in neighboring Kenya and Tanzania. Some fled to England, Canada , and the United States . Under Amin, massacres and atrocities were common and human rights violations were daily headlines. To distract Ugandans Amin claimed large regions of Kenya and Tanzania. In 1978 Amin annexed the Kagera Salient of Tanzania, igniting a war, which Uganda lost. In 1979 a Tanzanian invasion force (Tanzanian Peoples Defense Force, TPDF), together with the Ugandan National Liberation Army (UNLA), formed of Ugandan exiles, defeated Amin's forces. Amin fled to Libya , and in 1980 took up permanent residence in Saudi Arabia . A series of seven, short-lived, unstable regimes were headed by Yusuf Lule, Godfrey Binaisa, Milton Obote, and Basilio Okello. General elections held in 1980 returned Obote to power, but because they were suspected to be rigged, Museveni and 26 supporters started a war of resistance against Obote. Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power in 1985 and introduced stability. Political parties were banned, as was political activity. He established a "no party" system of government with resistance committees at the local and district level who were responsible for maintaining security and eliminating corruption. Museveni fired 80 percent of the police because they were suspected of massive human rights violations and corruption (Museveni 1993a.) Members of resistance movements who did not accept offers to integrate into the new system were arrested and tried for treason. The strain of integrating returning refugees and addressing the threat of internal resistance slowed Uganda's economic recovery and the rebuilding of its educational system. Late 1992 saw Uganda introduce a new Constitution for the first time since Obote suspended the 1962 Constitution. Rule of law was restored. In 2001 Museveni allowed political parties to form and to compete for all offices in national elections, including the race for president. Amid fears that Museveni would lose in a free and fair election, he defeated his opponent by winning 69 percent of the popular vote. These elections were certified free and fair by international monitors. Museveni officially invited all expelled Asians to return and promised to restore expropriated property confiscated by Idi Amin. Prince Ronald Muwenda Mutebi was enthroned as Kabaka (king) in a ceremony attended by Museveni. He also attended the coronation of the king of Toro, Patrick Olimi Kaboyo, who became Uganda's ambassador to Cuba . Kings of Ankole, Busoga, and Bunyoro have also been installed since Museveni came to power. These coronations did a lot to restore the confidence of Southern Ugandan cultures in Museveni, since these groups have great affection for their monarchs. Museveni and Paul Kagame, the Rwandan head of state, are old comrades-in-arms. They appear to get along well and support one another. Museveni also has excellent relations with Tanzania's head of state, Benjamin Mkapa. Decades of torturous turmoil, death, and destruction have badly battered Uganda's educational system. Since 1985, Museveni has made significant strides toward rebuilding what was once an educational system that was the "pride of East Africa." Constitutional & Legal Foundations Laws Affecting Education: Seven legal statues create the framework for education in Uganda. These statues begin with the Education Ordinance of 1927 mandating government control of schools, and extend to the Education Ordinances of 1942 and 1969. As important were the Makerere Ordinance of 1938, the Makerere College Act of 1949, the Kampala Act of 1970—which chartered Makerere University—and the Education Act of 1970 (Seers 1979). Under the Kampala Act of 1970, the president of Uganda serves as chancellor of the university. The chancellor appoints the vice chancellor and a deputy vice chancellor, who serves as provost and chief academic officer. To foster self-governance by the faculty, a University Council is mandated to control and administer the institution and a university faculty senate regulates admissions, academic standards, and all appointments. Educational Philosophy: Colonial education policy was geared toward training low and middle level workers for government and missionary service. Africans learned more about London and New York than about Kampala and Jinja and became alienated from their own culture, traditions, and practices. Some Africans even became hostile toward their own culture, seeing it as "backward." From independence until the present two goals have taken priority in education: making primary education universally available and equipping every Ugandan with the basic minimum skills needed to survive in a modern economy, while also appreciating and valuing their own and others cultures providing for the manpower needs of Uganda and its expanding economy. (Obote 1969) Education is designed to foster self-actualization, undersanding of the local community, as well as the nation of Uganda, of Africa and of the world, and textbooks reflect these new goals. Educational System—Overview Compulsory Education: In January 1997 Uganda launched its Universal Primary Education Program, which provides free primary school education for up to four children from each Ugandan family. While not compulsory, the goal is to enroll and ultimately provide a primary education for every Ugandan child. As a result of this program, primary school enrollment doubled in a period of two years to 5.4 million enrolled children in primary schools (Xinhua News Agency 2001). Age Limits: Few urban children attend preprimary schools, but most Ugandan children begin their education at age six and most finish elementary school by age 13. As of the early 2000s, over 80 percent of primary school age children were enrolled in school. Normally, primary school extends from Grade I to Grade VII in Uganda. Better primary schools, whether public or private, tend to be attended by elite children from privileged backgrounds. Educated or influential parents use their knowledge and connections to enroll their children in the best schools, enhancing their children's advantages for future success. Museveni's government builds an additional 15,000 primary school classrooms each year to accommodate additional students. Surging enrollment have increased student to teacher ratios and diluted the quality of primary education. Enrollment: Of primary school graduates, less than 25 percent go on to enroll in secondary school. They spend their first four years completing "O" level (ordinary school) courses or technical school courses. In 1979 there were 66,730 students enrolled in secondary schools; 320 students in vocational schools; and approximately 14,000 students enrolled in technical schools, technical institutes, teacher training institutes, and commercial colleges. Immediately after Museveni came to power in 1985, he restored peace and began national reconstruction. Between 1985 and 1989 the number of secondary schools increased fourfold and enrollment increased 227 percent. By 1995, continued impressive secondary school enrollment growth increased this number to 292,321 students (UNESCO 2000). Remarkably, the teaching force grew by 260 percent during this period and the official teacher-student ratio decreased modestly from 23:1 to 21:1, but in rural areas the teacher-student ratio was higher, at 28:1. Museveni's government is making great strides toward reducing teacher-student ratios and improving the quality of education. Roughly 20 percent of "O" level grades advance to "A" levels, or two years of advanced level studies, more or less like junior college. No enrollment figures were available for this level. Public and private primary schools compete for good students with few behavioral problems and excellent reading and math scores. In 1979 Uganda had 4,294 primary schools, and they enrolled 1.2 million students. By 1990 there were 2.5 million primary school students enrolled and this number climbed to 2.8 million students by 1994. Moreover, by 1995, enrollment figures reached 2.9 million (UNESCO 2000). As stated previously, this number doubled in a mere two years when President Museveni stressed the need for universal primary education, reaching 5.4 million students by 1999. Such growth is phenomenal. UNESCO figures for university level education suggest that Makerere University, the Islamic University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology together enrolled 17,578 students in 1990. By 1995 this number had risen to 34,773 (UNESCO 2000). Female Enrollment: Ugandan females are classified as a "disadvantaged" group, along with orphans, migrants, poor students, and the disabled (Fleuret 1992). Drop out rates for girls are high and increase as they reach higher levels. Girls' persistence in primary school is less than boys. Girls are 46 percent of first grade classes but only 39 percent of secondary school classes (Fleuret 1992). This percentage reflects higher representation than in the past. Makerere University has a deliberate policy of giving 1.5 points to each female applicant who qualifies for entrance to increase their competitiveness in the entry process. This policy has raised the number of women on campus. Ugandan communities often think that boys will make more significant economic contributions in the future, thus need more training. Some ethnic groups believe that a "girl's place is in the home" and her primary goal in life must be marrying and raising a family not seeking a career. Girls often marry and start families early in life, which limits access to education, especially in rural Uganda. Cultural attitudes about girl's roles are strong and resist rapid change. Many ethnic groups do not favor educating girls because they feel that they will just marry outside of the group and the value of their education will not benefit their family. There are signs of change however, including the fact that as average levels of bride-wealth paid for educated wives rises, parents put higher values on educating girls. Also, some Ugandans are beginning to believe that if a daughter has a steady income, she will care for aged parents, while boys might spend their money on their wives. These new cultural beliefs work to the advantage of girls. President Yoweri Museveni also plays a role in the increase in female enrollment since he favors sex equity in education. Many female soldiers fought with him when liberating Uganda from Idi Amin's dictatorial control. Museveni, therefore, probably feels obligated to be fair to women. Minority Education: East Indians, known as "Asians" in Uganda, built their own schools for Indian and Pakistani children. The Agha Khan, for example, built excellent schools for the Islamic sect known as Ismaliis. Sunni and Shite Muslims also built schools, and there were Hindu temple schools. Europeans also built special high-quality, expensive international schools for their children. In 1971 Idi Amin expelled "Asians" from Uganda, but the closure of their schools had little impact on Uganda's educational system since very few Africans attended these schools. The European and Asian populations were less than 1 percent of Uganda's population, even though they were the wealthiest element and exercised influence over Uganda's economy. A few Europeans and Asians stayed on throughout Amin's xenophobic years. Museveni has invited Asians and Europeans to return, claim their property, rebuild their schools, and help the economy prosper. Asians and Europeans continue to be privileged populations with higher than average standards of living and excellent schools for their children. British teachers are a common sight in the European schools. Academic Year: Throughout all three East African countries (Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania), the school year begins in January and ends in December. Climate and tradition have established this pattern (Seers 1979). Language of Instruction: It has long been customary to use English as the language of instruction throughout Uganda, beginning in the first grade and continuing throughout the entire educational system. Shortages of qualified English teachers, however, means that sometimes English language instruction cannot begin until fourth grade or later. Swahili is the language of the military and police, thus, it is used in some training academies, but, due to its association with slavery, it has a negative association with oppression and mistreatment in the minds of many Ugandans (Mazrui 1975). This is a cultural and linguistic bias which reinforces Ugandans preference for English. In the south central region of Uganda, Luganda is often the medium of instruction. The Baganda still take great pride in their language and culture, but other tribes view it as a language of a hegemonic, imperialistic people and avoid learning it for political reasons. In various regions of Uganda, the selective use of the following languages is common in the first four years of primary school: Karimojong, Teso, Lugbara, Luo, Runyankole, and Runyoro. In all cases, English remains the official language of Uganda's schools. Examinations: As in England, national examinations determine advancement from one educational level to the next. The Uganda National Examinations Council (UNEB) assumes the role of an examining board. The first examination, the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), is administered at the end of primary education. Only students who have relatively high passing scores are admitted into "O" level secondary schools. In 1981, over 150,000 students took the PLE and 30,000 passed, yet a mere 25,000 matriculated in secondary schools the following academic year. At the end of their four year "O" or ordinary level education, students take a certification examination. This is known as the Uganda Certificate of Education. Results of this examination are used by schools to admit students to "A" level institutions, government training institutes, technical colleges, and grade three teacher-training colleges. Those with "high pass" are assured places in "A" or advanced level schools. Upon successful completion of two years of "A" level education, students attempt the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. Those with "high pass" are the lucky few who are admitted to universities and other postsecondary institutions for additional education or training for professions and careers (Evans 1991). Thus, selection of students for universities, national teachers colleges, technical colleges, and government employment agencies is determined by the Uganda Advanced Certificate examination. Uganda's educational system is a pyramid with a broad base but very narrow funnel that admits only a few to its top levels. Within each level of this pyramid students take class tests and the results of these internal tests decide who gets promoted to the next class. Pressure and competition cause many students to drop out. Grading System: In general, students study subjects all year in preparation for one major end of the year examination. Such examinations are usually in essay format. Religious Schools: Christian Missionaries traditionally used the lure of free education and hospital care to attract converts. The Anglican Church of Uganda operates over 969 primary schools, the Roman Catholic Church runs more than 1,146 primary schools, and there are approximately 200 Muslim schools. The Ismali community operates several Aga Khan schools, and there are also Hindu schools. The Islamic University, three Roman Catholic seminaries, the Bishop Tucker Theological College (Anglican), Bugema Seventh Day Adventist College, and the Anglican College of Tertiary Studies illustrate the range of institutions of higher education that are faith-based. These schools promote moral and ethical values, as well as patriotism, self-reliance, and reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instructional Technology (Computers): The internet and computer technology are making their way into Uganda. There are more than 6,000 privately owed computers and the numbers are growing rapidly. Makerere University and other institutions of higher education have computer programming and engineering divisions. This technology will eventually find its way into primary and secondary schools alongside slide projectors, overhead projectors, 16-millimeter film projectors, and other technology now becoming common in schools. Curriculum Development: Textbook and course syllabi development have been the responsibility of the National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) since it was founded in 1973. Mainly charged with primary school curriculum development, the center also serves secondary schools and universities. The textbook mandate calls for development of books that acquaint students with Uganda, Africa, the world, and themselves. In the past they learned a lot about England and little or nothing about their own country. Foreign Influences on the Educational System: England has had a profound influence upon education in Uganda and all major examinations were at one time written at Cambridge University and graded by external examiners in England. This was true for Kenya and Tanzania also until independence when they, along with Uganda, began developing mechanisms for internally certifying students. The structure of the system and philosophy of education are still essentially English. As a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Uganda still receives many teachers annually to man its classrooms from within the Commonwealth and still follows the English model. Uganda receives external aid from the United States, Great Britain , Denmark , and Norway . The U.S. aid includes donations from the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for Education. Educational assistance is used to help build additional schools, maintain existing schools, and fund educational research. Role of Education in Development: Government provides the bulk of educational resources and funding. Poor performance of the economy due to internal conflict for decades adversely affected financing of education. Despite quantitative expansion of the system, severe constraints limit quality. Recurrent expenditure on teacher salaries is a major issue and early development budgets in the 1960s devoted 25 percent of the national budget to education. By the 1970s, Idi Amin was in power. Amin never went further than grade three of primary school. He did not place importance on education and consequently education dropped to 10 percent of Uganda's budget. During the turmoil of the 1980s, education's share of the national budget dropped by a ratio of 2:1. This was a gloomy time for educators in Uganda until Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1985. Museveni holds a degree in economics from Dar es Salaam University in Tanzania and he appears to value education for national development. By 1992 recurrent expenses for education jumped up to 18 percent of Uganda's national budget and continue to climb. The effect of years of war on Uganda's economy are devastating. Despite this, Museveni grew the economy by 7 percent per year. An expanding economic base has permitted Uganda to devote 23 percent of its budget to education or more than double the amount Amin devoted. Uganda plans to increase funding further to improve teacher salaries and classroom expansion to accommodate the push for expanded enrollment of students at all levels. For Museveni, an educated population is the master key which will unlock Uganda's potential for modernizing its economy and achieving rapid economic and social development. Parents pitch in by raising money to supplement low teacher salaries and to fund many school operating expenses that government can not afford. Economically disadvantaged regions lag behind wealthy urban districts and this widens the inequality gap. Through cost-sharing and the expansion of private education through fees, Uganda's elite try to insure that their children will be prepared for leadership roles regardless of war, famine, earthquakes, or economic downturn. Preprimary & Primary Education General Survey: Preprimary children can begin school at age three. Most urban areas have fine preschool facilities. Preschool is very commercial, and the private sector dominates such schools. The government is concerned about the lack of regulation at this level. Fees are often seen as excessive and exclusionary. The quality of education is very uneven, as are teaching methods, facilities, and alleged violations of sound pedagogical principles of child psychology and development. The problem with the better schools is competition, which is so high for the few positions available that parents must literally enroll the child at birth to assure that the child will find a place in these preschools. The main problem facing primary educators in Uganda is budgetary. Beyond this there is a great disparity between the education available in cities and in remote rural areas. This attracts Ugandans to cities like a magnet and is the source of many urban problems when unsuccessful students drop out and take to crime or other self-help activities to support themselves. More vocational training is being introduced into primary school curriculums in an attempt to address this problem. Urban & Rural Schools: The distribution of education at the primary level is reasonably well balanced throughout Uganda, with the exception of Karamoja in the north, where the people and climate are more Sudanese in character than Ugandan. The Karamojong and other ethnic groups little respect national boundaries and migrate freely between Uganda and the Sudan in search of grazing pastures for their livestock and water. The highly mobile lifestyle of this population makes it difficult to meet their educational needs. Special educational grants are supplied to schools in Karamoja to address this problem. Enrollment ratios in each province are within 15 percent of the national average, except for Karamoja (Helleiner 1979), where only 17.5 percent of eligible children are enrolled. Given the chronic fighting, drought, migrations, and other problems that torture this population, even this number is remarkable. The introduction by the government of Sudan in Khartoum of slavery as a weapon of war against Africans in the south of the Sudan encourages large flows of migrants into Uganda, which further complicates educational planning in northern Uganda. Despite its problems, Uganda has never, in recent years, subjected its populations to the horrors of slavery. The same cannot be said for the Sudan and Mauritania . Curriculum: Primary students study arithmetic, natural science, farming, health, reading, writing, music, English, religion, and physical education in grades one and two. Grades two through seven add art, crafts, language, history, geography (often of England and the United States), and cooking and domestic science for young girls. Curriculums are established by the National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC). Panels of teachers and members of examination boards, university professors, and educational inspectors review all curricula. The NCDC examines syllabi and textbooks, as well as teachers guides. They even write textbooks or recommend revisions. The Ministry of Education implements the recommendations of the NCDC. Many primary schools have libraries to encourage the habit of reading as a lifelong activity. Radio lessons are provided for in-service teacher training and personnel development, as well as for English language instruction. Radios are common even in the remotest parts of Karamoja, so this is an effective means of reaching many isolated populations that might otherwise not be served. Teachers: Primary school teachers are very mobile, and there is a persistent shortage of such teachers. In 1979, some 16.2 percent of approved teaching positions were unfilled. In 1980 there were 38,422 primary school teachers in almost 4,500 schools. The teacher-pupil ratio was about 1:34. Most were trained in grade three teacher training colleges. This means that these teachers have at least finished secondary school before being admitted to grade two teacher training. In the past they could teach primary school if they had finished grade seven. A few unqualified teachers from the old system are still teaching but they are being phased out. Repeaters & Dropouts: High drop out rates are a major problem in Uganda. In 1981, approximately 23 percent of primary school aged children were enrolled in school. By grade seven only 10 percent of the children who entered grade one were still in school. Approximately 10 percent of students in government schools are repeating a grade. The highest incidence of grade repeating is in grades one through six. Secondary Education General Survey: Since many students come from great distances to attend secondary schools, most are boarding schools. It is also true that to prevent unwanted pregnancies, most secondary schools cater to a single sex. English is the principal language of instruction. Less than 20 percent of students who complete "O" levels continue to "A" level instruction. Close to 40 percent of these students were females in 1995, up from 33 percent in 1988 (UNESCO 2000). These students were enrolled in over 600 schools whose total enrollment in 1995 reached 292,321 students. Beyond this, there were 73 government-aided secondary schools and more than 170 private secondary schools. Ugandans consider secondary education a "rich man's harvest." Parents have to pay large fees and buy school uniforms. These fees are prohibitive for many rural families and competition is fierce. The government pays for the buildings, equipment, teacher and administrator salaries, and maintenance. Most secondary teachers graduated from National Teachers Colleges or universities. Primary school graduates who do not go on to academic secondary schools may enter grade two teacher training programs or vocational alternatives. Over half of students who finish "O" levels and enter the job market do not find employment that is a good fit for their education, which fuels some of Uganda's political discontent and turmoil. Curriculum: The curriculum includes mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, English, French, history, geography, religious studies, political education, literature, and commerce. Additional languages offered may include German, Swahili, Urdu, Gujarati , and/or Luganda. All schools have extracurricular activities such as soccer and other sports, games, and cultural activities such as school plays and concerts. Home economics, art, agriculture, wood and metal fabrication, and other practical subjects have been introduced in many schools to meet the demands of a labor market that must absorb over half of all Form IV graduates who do not advance to "A" levels. Secondary school curriculums do not have to be identical. General education courses are taken during the first two years and in the third year students begin to specialize. Second languages phase in during the third year in most schools. Examinations & Diplomas: Admission to secondary schools depends upon passage of the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) with high scores. Students who do so may choose to enter a grade two teacher training college or a technical college rather than pursue an academic secondary school education. Upon successful completion of four years of "O" level secondary education, students take the Uganda Certificate of Education examination. Only 20 percent of "O" level graduates earn scores high enough for admission to "A" level secondary schools for advanced training in their area of specialization. Advanced secondary education last for two additional years. Upon completion of "A" level education students face another hurdle known as the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examination. This examination determines selection for university education, national teachers colleges, and government employment. Teachers: In 1991, about 48 percent of all secondary school teaching positions were not filled. Rapid expansion of the secondary school system in part explains the shortages. The majority of teaching faculty in secondary schools are graduates and more than 60 percent are professionally trained. Graduates of "O" level institutions are eligible to enter grade three teacher training colleges; however, Makerere University's Department of Education bears primary responsibility for training qualified secondary school teachers, in cooperation with national teachers colleges. Students who attend national teachers colleges receive their diplomas through Makerere University's School of Education. In-service teacher education is encouraged, but no established required programs are in place. The Uganda Technical Colleges and the Uganda College of Commerce train cadres of technicians, secretaries, stenographers, accountants, and craftsmen respectively. Technical colleges and universities face chronic shortages of teachers and have difficulty recruiting and maintaining faculty. One problem brought on by very rapid expansion of secondary schools is the recruitment of unqualified teachers to staff classrooms. Teaching staffs have more than doubled, but in 1980 untrained teachers were 38 percent of the teaching force and this number rose to 48 percent by 1989. Upgrading such faculty will present a major challenge for Uganda. Officially the secondary school teacher-student ratio is 1: 21 but this masks wide regional disparities. It is often 1:8 in remote districts like Karamoja and closer to 1:70 in crowded urban schools. The 1:21 ratio is merely a national average which is not accurate enough to tell World Bank officials where more teachers are needed most or what it takes to retain them after recruiting them. Repeaters & Dropouts: Roughly 75 percent of primary school graduates drop out and never go on to secondary school. Add to this the fact that about one fourth of first year students drop out, and, by the fourth year of secondary school, only a small percentage of the entering class graduate. High dropout rates are typical at every level of Uganda's educational system, which may force the government to commission studies to determine the reasons so that they can combat this problem. Vocational Education: High dropout rates at every level necessitate greater emphasis on vocational education to train school-leavers' for available jobs within Uganda's economy. Moreover, Uganda's industrial sector is small, compounding problems of absorption of dropouts. The Ministry of Education recognizes this problem and has revamped secondary school curriculums to reflect the need for more training in arts and crafts and vocational subjects such as woodworking and agriculture. The Nakawa Vocational Institute in Kampala offers full-time courses in auto mechanics, electrical installation and fitting, and industrial engineering. A 16 year old secondary school dropout who has completed at least two years of secondary school can take six month training courses in metal working, sheet metalwork, welding, and flame cutting. Both theory and practice are taught. There are YMCAs and YWCAs throughout Uganda which offer vocational training programs in handicrafts, cooking, health education, dressmaking, typing, business correspondence, bookkeeping, carpentry and joining, masonry, plumbing, and driving. Makerere University's Continuing Education Center also offers vocational training courses by "taking the university to the people." These are one-year full-time residence courses leading to university certificates in adult studies. It also offers courses for clerks, teachers, chiefs, artisans, and agricultural extension workers. There are 10 rural technical schools offering three year courses and five two-year technical training institutes. The Uganda Technical College and the Uganda College of Commerce also offer vocational training. In 1962 technical and commercial training accounted for 3.9 percent of the national education budget and by 1981 it had climbed to 7 percent, but it fell back to 4 percent by 1985. Higher Education Types of —Public & Private: In Uganda postsecondary or higher education refers to education that is post-"A" level. Only students who have successfully completed "A" levels and passed their Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education are eligible to enter postsecondary institutions of higher education. Publicly supported institutions are of three types; autonomous universities, institutions run by the Ministry of Education, and institutes administered by the Public Service Commission. Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology are autonomous universities. The Institute of Teacher Education, the Uganda Polytechnic, the National College of Business, four technical colleges, five colleges of commerce, and 10 national teachers colleges are administered by the Ministry of Education. The Institute of Public Administration, the Uganda Law Development Center, the School of Radiography, the School of Medical Laboratory Technology, the School of Psyciotheraphy, four agricultural colleges, the Fisheries Training Institute, two veterinary training institutes, Kigumba Cooperative College, the Soroti Flying School and 10 paramedical schools are all administered by the Public Service Commission. These are all considered postsecondary institutions of higher education in Uganda. Makere University is the oldest university in East Africa. It was founded by the British Colonial Office in 1922 to train "talented natives" for subordinate jobs in the colonial civil service. Until 1950 Makerere was the only publicly funded university in all of East Africa. It achieved full university status in 1970. Uganda's private institutions of higher education include the Islamic University at Mbale, the Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Bishop Tucker Theological College (Anglican), Bugema Adventist College, the College of Tertiary Studies (Anglican), Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nkumba College of Commerce, and the Catholic National Seminaries (three). These institutions have separate charters and often receive substantial external funding. Admission Procedures: Admission to Uganda's universities and institutions of higher education is based upon passing the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. "High pass" is the ideal. A student who is over 25 years of age may apply for admission based upon "mature entry admissions." Such students must have completed "A" levels. Students who have completed diploma and certificate courses are also eligible for admission. If a student has completed four years of teacher training then they can apply for admission to Makerere's School of Education or its Institute of Education. The same general admissions qualifications apply for other institutions of higher education but admissions standards are less rigorous. Administration: In 1970 an act of Parliament established Makeree as Uganda's first university. The head of Makerere University and Mbarara University is known as the chancellor, who is also the de facto head of state, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The executive head of universities is known as the vice chancellor, who administers the institution on a daily basis. The chancellor is the ceremonial head and usually is only seen on campus at graduation when he awards degrees. Many private institutions are headed by rectors, including the Islamic University and the Catholic National Seminaries. Each faculty within a university is headed by a dean, while departments have either heads who are appointed by deans or directors who are elected by their faculty. Faculty boards or councils are the highest governing bodies in the administration of schools, institutes, or faculty. The boards set standards for teaching, research, curriculum development, and student admissions. Nonuniversity institutions are headed by principals or directors who manage their institutions in accordance with policy guidelines formulated by their board of governors. In most universities and institutes committees are popular methods of self-governance. They are democratic and insure that work is completed efficiently. Along with staff associations, workers committees, student unions, and faculty senates, they help run such institutions. Enrollment: In 1965 Uganda had 888 students enrolled in Makerere University and about 1,000 students enrolled in other institutions of higher education. This number climbed to 2,581 students at Makerere by 1970 and well over 1,000 at other institutions. By 1980 Makerere had 4,045 students enrolled and other institutions of higher learning had enrollments in excess of 3,000. Impressive gains occurred in 1991 when Uganda enrolled 17,578 students in postsecondary institutions of higher education. An estimated 28 percent of these students were females. As late as 1998, Uganda's enrollment in universities and institutions of higher education had doubled to 34,773 (UNESCO 2000). Female enrollment had moved up to 33 percent of total student enrollment. Finance: Students who are nationals pay nothing, government covers all of their costs and meets their pocket money requirements and transportation costs as well as boarding expenses. Since the Ministry of Education covers administrator salaries, staff salaries, and faculty salaries as well as building and maintenance costs, each university must submit an annual budget estimate to the Ministry of Finance. In 1991, estimated unit costs per student were 80,000 Uganda shillings ($US 500) per year at Makerere University. Makerere's recurrent expenditures for 1991 were $US 12 million. The library's budget accounted for 3 percent of this and 5 percent was devoted to research. Foreign students account for 1 percent of total student enrollment and are charged $US 6,000 per year. Most are refugees whose expenses are paid by the United Nations. For foreign Ph.D. candidates it cost between $US 5,000 and $US 7,000 per year. This total does not cover the costs of research or equipment, travel, accommodation, or related expenses, which could easily double these figures. Courses, Semesters, & Diplomas: It normally takes three years to earn a bachelors degree at any East African university, Makerere University and Mbarara University are no exceptions. Degrees in medicine and veterinary science take five years to complete, and engineering requires four years. Academic years begin October 1 and end on June 30, or August 30 for four term courses. During the first year of study each student must take and pass three subjects before being allowed to advance to their second year of coursework. Lectures, discussions, and laboratories are supplemented with tutorials and library studies, research, and practical training. Undergraduate students have facilities for relaxation, sports facilities, chaplaincies, health care, and opportunities to participate in student government and social clubs. First degrees are offered in fields such as medicine, law, dentistry, veterinary science, agriculture, engineering, commerce, statistics, social work, forestry, philosophy, political science, anthropology, sociology, geography, literature, public administration, economics, music, dance, drama, fine art, physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, environmental studies, mathematics, and computer science, as well as languages (English, French, German, Russian, Swahili, Luganda, and Lingala). Students can earn either a degree, such as a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or Ph.D., or a diploma or certificate. Certificate courses include adult education and library science, which take one year to complete. Two-year diploma courses are available in library science, music, dance, and drama. The Islamic University offers bachelor's degrees in Islamic studies, education, and medicine. Mbarara University of Science and Technology awards degrees in development studies, education, medicine, and applied science. The Institute of Teacher Education at Kyambogo awards diplomas in education to teachers who complete a two-year course. Uganda's many institutes award either certificates or diplomas depending upon the duration of coursework. Postgraduate & Professional Training: Most master's degree candidates must meet residency requirements, take required courses, and write a master's thesis based upon original research. Doctoral degree programs also have residency and minimum coursework requirements, as well as a dissertation based upon original research. Students must satisfy their internal review committees and external examiners that they have mastered their subject. The M.D. and/or Ch.M. degree is awarded after completing one year of study beyond the bachelor's of science degree, and the doctorate of literature (D. Lit.) and D.Sc. are awarded after publication of work. For Ugandans, fees for tuition, research, and accommodations are free. Foreign students are required to pay annual tuition and fees, plus pay for research and dissertation, as well as accommodation costs separately. Foreign Students: The Islamic University's charter mandates that 50 percent of its students must be foreign, principally from English-speaking African states. Foreign students accounted for 1 percent of all students enrolled in institutions of higher education in 1999. Most foreign students attended Makerere University and many were sponsored by their home governments, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, or the Inter-University Student Exchange Program. Students Abroad: Many Ugandan students attend universities in the United States and England. Most years approximately 1,000 students study abroad. India , Australia , Saudi Arabia, Germany , and Canada offer Ugandan students opportunities to complete university degrees in growing numbers. In the past, Russia , China , and Japan have also helped educate Ugandans for higher level occupations. Neighboring nations such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia , as well as Libya and Egypt , also train Ugandans. Libraries: Uganda has plans for library expansion. In 1993 there were five libraries in Uganda with 10 service points (UNESCO 1999). They contained 734 microfilmed documents and had a base of 35,000 users annually. While the number of users per year has declined since 1980, when 156,891 people used these libraries, the number of books available to read significantly increased, to 1.1 million of books, up from 73,000 books in 1980. Libraries buy 9,200 new books annually and loan out 904,000 books each year. Uganda has 178 librarians, 26 of whom hold university degrees in library science, and an additional 35 librarians who were trained on the job (UNESCO 1999). The School of Librarianship offers a two-year diploma course. Administration, Finance, & Educational Research Government Educational Agencies: The minister of education and his permanent secretary control the administration, financing, and research agenda for education in Uganda. Teacher salaries, building construction, and maintenance are subsidized by the government. A number of semi-autonomous institutions exist, including the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which advises the president on educational issues such as appointments, confirmations, promotions, and discipline. The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) conducts major examinations, and the Uganda Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) plans national curriculums for schools. Historically, the Ministry of Education has played a strong central role but "de facto" decentralization is occurring. Primary schools are administered by local district councils and education committees at each school. The minister of education has representatives on each committee, but their influence is minimal. The headmaster of each school is the real power. At the secondary school level, the board of governors formulates policy and implements it. The inspector of education sets standards for schools. Lack of funding for transportation and training mean that standards are not rigidly enforced. The ministry's planning unit is responsible for gathering statistical data on education, preparing budgets, and, based upon enrollment, planning for expansion. In 1990 Uganda's total expenditure on education was 1.5 percent of its GNP, which increased to 2.6 percent of its GNP by 1995. This represents an increase from 11.5 percent of total government expenditure to 21.4 percent respectively in the same time frame. Government spending on education accounts for 95.5 percent of all educational expenditure. Clearly, the private sector plays only a minor role in funding education in Uganda (UNESCO 2000). In general, Uganda is moving quickly toward decentralization of schools down to the grassroots level to give power back to local communities. Nonformal Education Adult Education: Uganda promotes adult education with a goal of improving quality of life. Basic education in reading, writing, and arthmetic is provided by churches, local literacy asociations, and the Ministry of Local Government. In 1964 an adult literacy campaign proved a disaster, so little formal effort has been put into campaigns since. The YMCA and YWCA, trade unions, and the NRM government all offer programs. The Nakawa Vocational Institute, in Kampala, offers three month courses in auto mechanics, electrical fitting and installation, and industrial engineering. School-leavers 16 years old and older can enroll in two-year courses. Despite all these efforts, Uganda had 3.6 million illiterate individuals in 2000. Of these illiterates, 1.2 million were male and 2.4 million were female (UNESCO 2000). As of the early 2000s, 32.7 percent of Ugandans were illiterate, down from 54.4 percent in 1980. Uganda is gradually winning its war against illiteracy. Radio programs support this by broadcasting more than 13 adult education courses. The Center for Continuing Education at Makerere University offers correspondence and residential courses. The university's mature entrance program allows individuals 25 years of age and older who meet entrance requirements to be admitted to Makerere. The ministries of health, labor, and agriculture all have adult training programs. Private organizations, such as the African Adult Education Association, disseminate information and support public policy that promotes adult education. They also sponsor conferences and publish newsletters. Teaching Profession Training & Qualifications: Rapid expansion of education insures a chronic teacher shortage. Teachers are Uganda's largest professional and educated group. Teacher education is a top priority. In 1970 Uganda had 2,755 schools staffed by 21,471 teachers. By 1995 Uganda had 10,000 schools staffed by 82,745 teachers (UNESCO 1999). Of these, 50 percent were female at the primary school level and 21 percent at the secondary school level (IMF 2000). Secondary schools had 14,447 teachers in 1995, with 1,022 teachers in training institutions preparing to enter the secondary system and 766 teachers in training for vocational institutions. Universities employ professors with appropriate terminal degrees, such as Ph.D.'s, in their academic disciplines. Employment is normally permanent, though visiting and temporary appointments are available as assistant lecturer, lecturer, senior lecturer, reader, and professor. Summary General Assessment: Political struggles between southern hierarchical societies and northern egalitarian societies have created constant instability in Uganda since its independence. Infrequent lulls in fighting provide some relief. Museveni's NRM has provided much needed stability since 1985, which has permitted education to make significant strides forward. The educational system has more than doubled since 1985 and is striving to once again become the envy of all East Africa. Much work remains, but this is a welcome change from the horrors and backwardness of the Amin era. Need for Change: Uganda is committed to closing the educational gap between regions, ethnic groups, and social classes; it is committed to expanding "equal opportunities for education" for all Ugandans. Evidence of this can be seen in the frantic pace of school construction, teacher training, and the general expansion of education. It continues to make progress in its war against ignorance as seen in declining rates of illiteracy, but high dropout rates at every level are an ongoing problem. Restructuring the curriculum to include more agricultural and technical training is seen as a step in the right direction in combating dropout rates. Providing jobs for the growing population of school graduates is important to help prevent resentment and unrest. The shortage of qualified teachers needs urgent attention, as does upgrading of unqualified teachers who are trying to fill the void. Expansion of teacher education to increase the supply of qualified teachers is a primary goal. Priority has also been given to technical and vocational training. Cooperation among the educational institutions of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania is promoted by Museveni. Efforts to revive the East African community may help to rationalize educational opportunities throughout the region. Bibliography Aligaweesa, Millicent A. K. "The Role of a University in National Development: A Case Study of Makerere University." The Journal of Educational Administration XXV, no. 2 (Summer 1987): 294-307. Beattie, John. Bunyoro: An African Kingdom. New York: Holt Reinhart, 1960. Burke, Fred G. Local Government and Politics in Uganda. Binghampton: Syracuse University Press, 1964. De Bunsen, B. African Education in Uganda. Entebbe: Government Printer, 1953. Evans, D., and C. F. Odaet. Teacher Education in Uganda 1990-2000: A Pre-investment Survey. Kampala: Ministry of Education, 1991. Fallers, Lloyd. Bantu Bureaucracy: A Century of Political Evolution. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1965. Fleuret, A. Girls Persistence and Teacher Incentives in Primary Education. Kampala: USAID Study, 1992. Gibbs, James. Peoples of Africa: Cultures of Africa South of the Sahara. Prospect Heights: Waveland Press, 1988. Goldthrope, J. An African Elite: Makerere College Students, 1922-1960. London: Oxford University Press, 1965. Helleiner, G., and D. Belshaw. "General Economic Conditions." In The Rehabilitation of the Uganda Economy: A Report. D. Seers, et. al., 22-36. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, 1979. Heyneman, S. "Education during a period of austerity: Uganda, 1971-1981." Comparative Education Review 27 403-413. IMF. African Development Indicators, 2000. Washington D.C.: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2000 Jorgensen, J. J. Uganda: A Modern History. London, 1981. Mazrui, Ali. Soldiers and Kinsmen in Uganda: The Making of the Military Ethnocracy. London: Heinemann, 1975. ——. Nationalism and New States in Africa. London: Heinemann, 1984. Museveni, Yowerri. What Is Africa's Problem? Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993. ——. Sowing the Mustard Seed: the Struggle for Freedon and Democracy in Uganda. London: Macmillan, 1997. Mutibwa, P. Uganda since Independence: A Story of Unfulfilled Hopes. London, 1992. Nyeko, B. Uganda: A Bibliography. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1996. Obote, Milton. Policy Proposals for Uganda Educational Needs. Kampala: Uganda Education Association, 1969. Ramsay, E. Jeffress, ed. Global Studies: Africa. 8th ed. Sluice Dock: McGraw-Hill, 1999. Rohlen, Thomas P. Japan's High Schools. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1983. Seers, D., et. al. The Rehabilitation of the Economy of Uganda: A Report. Vol. II. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, 1979. Snyder, Margaret. Women in African Economics: From Burning Sun to Boardroom. Oxford: Fountain Books, 2000. Tidy, Michael. Africa 1840-1914. Vol. II. New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1980. UNESCO. 1999 Statistical Yearbook. Lanham: UNESCO Publishing and Berman Press, 1999. ——. Statistical Yearbook: Forty-Fourth Edition. Paris: UNESCO, 2000. Wandirs, A. The African University in Development. Johannesburg: Raven Press, 1977. Xinhua News Agency. "Ugandan President Vows to Transform Uganda by Education." 13 January 2001. Available from http://www.comtexnews.com/ . —Dallas L. Browne Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. A landlocked state in Eastern Africa, west of Kenya and east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire), Uganda has an area of 236,040 square kilometers (146,675 square miles) and a total land boundary of 2,698 kilometers (1,676 miles). Comparatively, the area occupied by Uganda is slightly smaller than the size of Oregon. Uganda's capital city, Kampala , is located in the country's southeast on the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake and the source of the river Nile . Lake Victoria is also bordered by Kenya and Tanzania . POPULATION. The population of Uganda was estimated at 22,459,000 in 2000 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, an annual average increase of 2.5 percent from the 1995 population of 19,689,000. In 2000 the birth rate stood at 48.04 per 1,000 while the death rate was at 18.44 per 1,000. With similar annual growth rate, the population is likely to stand at 34,762,000 in 2015 and 66,305,000 by 2050. Although population per square kilometer was only 241 in 1999 (93 per square mile), the above projected population growth could create a future crisis of land and resources. The Ugandan population is primarily of African descent, consisting of thirteen principal ethnic groups, although there are actually 49 such groups in total. The rest of the population is made up of Asians and Europeans (around 1 percent) and a fluctuation of refugees escaping from crises in neighboring countries—most recently from Sudan , Rwanda , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is important to note that Uganda had a large number of Asian citizens at independence in 1962; however, the majority of them were forcibly expelled under the regime of General Idi Amin (1971-78) in a racist attempt to "Africanize" the country. Uganda's population is very young, with 51 percent below age 14 and just 2 percent of the population at 65 or older. A majority of Ugandans—86 percent—lived in rural areas in 2000. The urban population was 7 percent of the total population in 1965, rising to 14 percent in 2000 (5 percent of the population is centered in and around Kampala). It should be noted that it is difficult to be precise about population distributions because of frequent fluctuation between urban and rural areas as workers move to find seasonally-based employment. Uganda is commonly conceived to be the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; in fact HIV/AIDS in Uganda is commonly accepted to be a pandemic (the occurrence of a disease over a whole country). It is estimated that 110,000 Ugandans died from AIDS in 1999, and it has been the most common form of death of young adults since the late 1980s. It is important to understand that these deaths resonate beyond their own profound significance due to the socio-economic effects of HIV/AIDS. For example, the drawn-out nature of death from AIDS requires a large amount of care and attention. Therefore, large numbers of, predominantly, women who could be productively employed are spending their time caring for the dying. In addition, by 1999 the cumulative number of orphans created due to AIDS since the pandemic began reached 1,700,000. This raises the problem of the development and guidance of Uganda's children. However, the Ugandan government was one of the first in Africa to promote public education programs and openness about HIV/AIDS. As a result of this proactive policy, Uganda is one of Africa's success stories for reducing HIV/AIDS; for example, 10,235 AIDS cases were reported in 1990 but only 1,406 in 1998. OVERVIEW OF ECONOMY Uganda's economy is dominated by the production of agricultural goods, which employs some 82 percent of the workforce. These goods range from crops grown mainly for subsistence purposes such as plantains, maize, beans, and potatoes, and exported cash crops such as coffee, tea, and tobacco. The reliance of the national economy on cash crops for foreign exchange is a legacy of Uganda's colonial period when it was made a British protectorate (1894-1962) during the "scramble for Africa" by the imperialist European powers. In other words, the country's productive structure remains dominated by what the British colonial administration had forcefully demanded Ugandans produce. At independence in 1962 Uganda was one of Africa's most economically promising states and was widely cited as the "Pearl of Africa." It was self-sufficient in food, its manufacturing sector produced basic inputs and consumer goods , and its transportation infrastructure was one of the best in the continent. Its key exports—coffee and cotton—were in global demand as the world economy was registering substantial growth built on the import demands of the United States , Western Europe, and parts of Northeast Asia . Health services were among the best in Africa, and schools, although in limited supply, were of a generally high quality. However, from the beginning of President Idi Amin's regime in 1971 to the National Resistance Movement's (NRM) adoption of free market reforms in 1987, the official economy fell deeper and deeper into crisis under the strain of spasmodic civil wars and shortsighted economic programs such as the nationalization of certain industries and the expulsion of the Asian population. In 1960 cotton provided 40 percent of Uganda's export revenue (because cotton is a less volatile crop than coffee, its production had acted as a good counterbalance to foreign exchange reserves earned through exports). However, the harvesting of goods such as cotton and sugar declined considerably during the period 1971-1987 so that even in 2000 they were a minimal part of Uganda's agricultural production. The instability of the economy and the Uganda shilling between 1971-1987 led to the rise of the informal sector . The NRM had inherited an economy that had had the worst growth rate of all African countries between 1962-1987. The country's reliance on coffee production has left the economy highly vulnerable to the continual flux of international coffee prices. Under the influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the NRM embraced free market reforms in 1987; these included the privatization of industry and services, the devaluation of the Uganda shilling (USh), and the liberalization of the exchange rate system. Since then Uganda has become one of the most economically liberal countries in the world. Due to a combination of free market reform, the large amount of post-conflict national reconstruction required, and the relative degree of security maintained by the NRM, the economy has enjoyed consistently high rates of GDP growth since the late 1980s. By the late 1990s external donors such as the IMF and European Union (EU) promoted Uganda as one of the key success stories of free market reform in Africa. For instance, evidence suggests that the stabilization of the Uganda shilling has created an economic environment suitable for the growth of the country's manufacturing sector and, more broadly, the diversification of export production into "non-traditional goods" such as fish products and cut flowers. The reduction of the drain on state revenue since the banking sector was partially denationalized has contributed to the successful balancing of the national current account. The privatization of parastatals and the reduction of state spending by means of downsizing social services and the public sector have, similarly, lessened government spending. Because of the social stability throughout most of Uganda in the 1990s the incidence of tourism is increasing very quickly after having been heavily reduced by the violence permeating the country from 1971 to 1986. Yet Uganda still suffers from considerable economic difficulties. The economy is dependent on the continued flow of aid from external donors. Total external debt has risen from US$0.689 billion in 1980 to US$3.708 billion in 1997, and the country remains entirely dominated by the unpredictability of the production and international prices of coffee. During the Amin period and the economy's decline, corruption within the government and society as a whole became very common in order to satisfy greed amongst the rich and survival for the poor. In 2000 corruption still saturated the government and the private sector despite efforts to curtail its influence. Similarly, by 2000 the informal sector remained of considerable size. However, the liberalization of the exchange rate system and the subsequent evening out of informal and official prices have sent the informal sector into decline. POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, AND TAXATION Like most African countries, the territory known as Uganda was an arbitrary creation of the European colonial powers. The borders cut across and brought together a whole range of ethnic and linguistic groups. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1962, the history of Uganda's politics and government falls into 4 broad periods. The first period was opened at the country's independence with multi-party elections which brought the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) to power, led by Prime Minister Milton Obote. However, the Obote regime soon opted for a more authoritarian leadership. By using its base of support in the north of the country and the military to discard Uganda's traditional kingdoms and check its historical rivals in the south (who had been the country's elite during the colonial administration), Obote became the self-appointed executive president. The second period began in 1971 when Obote was ousted from government by one of his key pillars of support, the military, led by Idi Amin. This was a major turning point for Uganda as Amin's 8 years of rule (1971-1979) saw the economy and political process collapse. Amin's regime used fear and racism as central instruments of policy and social control; over 300,000 people were murdered by the regime, and the vast majority of the country's 88,000 Asians were forcibly expelled and their land and other assets divided amongst Amin's followers. Economically, this was a disaster. After this policy had been enacted, the redistributed assets were placed in the hands of people who were inexperienced and lacked established business networks; this led to the decline of the productivity and efficiency of Uganda's business sector. Moreover, as Uganda's citizens became less confident in the stability of the formal economy due to Amin's unpredictable rule, they increasingly began to turn to the informal sector, thereby bypassing the state and its revenue-collecting authorities. In sum, the economy became less productive and more reliant upon the informal sector, both drastically reducing state taxation revenue. As state revenue was so depleted, the government began borrowing from international lenders at such a rate that Uganda became heavily indebted. These factors, in combination with the deteriorating terms of trade for Uganda's products on international markets after the decline of world economy in the 1970s, explain why the Ugandan economy was in dire crisis by the end of Amin's regime. The third broad period of Uganda's political history began when Amin was finally overthrown in 1979 by a coalition of domestic forces under the banner of the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the neighboring Tanzanian army. This led to an 8-year period of crisis and uncertain rule that plagued the country. After Amin's defeat, a string of 3 limited and short-term governments followed, led by the UNLF, President Binaisa, and President Lule, respectively. This period was one in which the economy was devastated further by continued widespread disruption, huge military expenditures, and the effects of the international rise of oil prices in 1979. This quick succession of regimes culminated in the corrupt and widely disputed multiparty elections of 1980 that reinstated Obote as president. Commonly known as Obote II, this period was characterized by 2 central dynamics. First, Obote attempted to address the country's considerable economic woes by approaching the IMF and the World Bank for financial aid. This aid was dependent upon Uganda liberalizing the economy with the hope that free market forces would make it more competitive in the world economy. Second, the social effects of this reform were negative, which in combination with the corrupt and heavy-handed rule of Obote II, culminated in growing popular support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) led by Yoweri Museveni that was waging a guerrilla war from its support-base in Uganda's south. The fourth key period of Uganda's political history began when the NRM took state power in 1986; the NRM remained in power in early 2001. With Museveni as president the NRM had seized power on the back of a set of left-progressive, anti-imperialist policies. However, because of the legacy left by Amin and his successors, the country was in a state of severe social, economic, and institutional crisis. Consequently, by 1987 the NRM was forced to go back on its initial left-progressive developmental policies simply because there was insufficient revenue to pursue such an approach. In fact, like Obote II, the NRM applied to the IMF and World Bank for aid that was conditional upon adopting free market reform. Although Uganda's economy is claimed by many to have been in a relatively good state of health since the opening to free market forces from 1987 onwards, the political situation is somewhat more ambiguous. The country remains a "no party democracy." Museveni stresses that the NRM is not a political party but a national "movement" of a broad coalition of societal and political forces. As a result, while Uganda maintains a high level of press freedom (especially in comparison with most other African countries), political parties are illegal. A referendum in July 2000 saw 90 percent of voters favoring the continuation of the "no party system" which seems to have justified the NRM's political stance. However, a level of contention remains about this system's legitimacy as the 2 most prominent opposition parties, Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and Democratic Party (DP), boycotted the referendum. Furthermore, the U.S.-based human rights group Human Rights Watch claimed in a 1999 report that, due to the illegal nature of organized opposition, the country has "a restricted political climate." Contemporary indications of discontent in Uganda are clearly illustrated by a series of violent insurgencies by dissident groups such as Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army in the north and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the southwest. In order to counter these rebellions, the army now has permanent barracks in these volatile areas. Presidential elections were held at the beginning of March 2001. Museveni won an easy victory with 69.3 percent of the votes compared to the 27.8 percent of his closest competitor, the politically progressive former army colonel, Dr. Kizza Besigye. Although Museveni's victory was tainted by accusations of intimidation, fraud, and violence (an estimated 5-15 percent of votes cast could have been compromised), this margin of potential electoral corruption still gave Museveni a sufficient mandate to hold onto the presidency. Since 1998 Uganda has been at war in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to depose the Kabila regime first led by Laurent Kabila (who was assassinated in January 2001) and then by his son Joseph. This is a very complex war involving Rwanda, which supports a separate but similar anti-Kabila faction, and Angola , Zimbabwe, and Namibia , which all support the DRC government. The war is a considerable drain on the government's already sparse revenue; the Ministry of Defence received 33 percent of all ministerial allocations in the 1999-2000 budget. Yet by March 2001, Uganda was beginning to withdraw some troops from the DRC; however, this conflict has subsided and re-ignited before. A key reform promoted by the IMF and World Bank was the restructuring of Uganda's taxation regime. One of the intentions was to lower the dependence on trade taxes, which reduced incentives for production, and to rely instead on indirect taxes on goods and services. Indirect taxes provided an average of 79.8 percent of total revenue between 1990-1998. Taxes on income and profits have steadily increased from 9.8 percent of total revenue in 1989 to 15.2 percent in 1998. Yet, of total taxes, about 50 percent still emanates from indirect taxes on only 4 products—petroleum, cigarettes, beer, and soft drinks. In fact, Uganda's tax revenue to GDP ratio is fifty percent below the African average. The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) was established to address the priority of improving government tax-collecting abilities. However, it is claimed that almost immediately after the creation of the URA its officials were involved in the major embezzlement of the funds it was set up to collect. In addition, throughout the government departments in 1997-98, US$120 million in tax revenue and government spending was unaccounted for. Due to these high levels of ingrained corruption, low levels of household income, and a small proportion of waged (thus taxable) labor, the majority source of government revenue still emanates from external donors. Of the government's estimated total financial requirement for 2000, US$1.467 billion was expected to come from domestic resources, whereas US$2.255 billion was required in external aid. It is due to regular deficits such as this that Uganda's external debt as a percentage of GNP has risen from 35.5 percent in 1985 to 58.2 percent by 1998. INFRASTRUCTURE, POWER, AND COMMUNICATIONS Uganda is a landlocked country served by a network of 27,000 kilometers (16,800 miles) of roads, although only 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) are paved and 4,800 kilometers (2,900 miles) of the remainder are suitable for all-weather purposes. This road network supplied Uganda's total 25,900 passenger cars and 42,300 commercial Communications aData are from International Telecommunication Union, World Telecommunication Development Report 1999 and are per 1,000 people. bData are from the Internet Software Consortium ( http://www.isc.org ) and are per 10,000 people. SOURCE: World Bank. World Development Indicators 2000. vehicles in 1995. With funding from a range of external donors, Uganda launched an ongoing road rehabilitation project in 1987 with the principal aims of providing improved access of agricultural products to markets within the country and a regional network to link Rwanda, the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda with the port of Mombasa in Kenya. A 22-kilometer (13-mile) road linking Uganda to Rwanda was opened in 2000. The nation's rail system had lacked sufficient investment since decolonization, but the state-owned Uganda Railways Corporation's (URC) 1,241 kilometers (770 miles) of railroad has benefitted from a rejuvenation project since 1995. This includes plans by the government to partially privatize the operation of the network. The URC has US$350 million in assets and a US$20 million annual turnover , and, due to the trebling of freight traffic between 1989 and 1995, the URC network has the potential of becoming highly profitable. The Entebbe International Airport is Uganda's major airport, which is situated 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Kampala. Although there are another 28 airports throughout the country, the vast majority are unpaved. Uganda's landlocked status makes it dependent upon the port services of neighboring countries, such as Mombasa in Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Rail links to the port of Durban in South Africa are growing in importance. The country's situation in the "Great Lakes" region means that it boasts 5 large lakes and 2 major rivers that are frequently used for transportation purposes. The use of waterways has benefitted from an extensive program of government investment and external aid. The vast and varied waterways in Uganda are also highly beneficial for the production of hydroelectricity. A parastatal, Uganda Electricity Board (UEB), utilizes this natural resource to produce enough power to satisfy the country's needs and also to export 115 million kWh of electricity in 1998. UEB commands assets worth over US$600 million and has an annual turnover in the region of US$70 million. The government intends to grant concessions to the private sector for the operation of parts of UEB upon its disintegration into separate operators maintaining the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. In 2000 there were 2 national telecommunications operations in the country, Uganda Telecomm Limited (UTL) and Mobile Telephone Network Uganda (MTN). A third operator, Celtel Uganda, supplies additional mobile telephone services. Although as many as 12 Internet service providers had been licensed to provide both Internet e-mail and Internet services by early 2001, only 4 are actually in operation. ECONOMIC SECTORS Uganda's economic sectors reflect the legacy of colonial structures, the country's position as a land-locked territory, its politically tumultuous past, and the widespread lack of foreign investment in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. Uganda is highly dependent on agricultural exports in order to provide much-needed foreign currency, and its underdeveloped industry and services necessitate an increasing level of imports. Consequently, in 1997 the government was in 5.7 percent deficit as a percentage of GDP (excluding external aid). In addition, Uganda lacks a significant internal market for domestically produced goods because of low household incomes. In light of these factors it is unlikely that the economy will reduce its primary dependence on the export-based growth strategy of producing goods such as coffee in the medium-term future; nonetheless, it does remain a leader in international coffee markets. In order to address these geographical, historical, and material problems, the Ugandan government is attempting to diversify its economic sectors to produce more manufactured goods for domestic, regional, and international consumption to reduce the dependence of the economy on foreign aid and imports. With the continued financial support of the IMF, World Bank, EU, and United States for Uganda's free market reforms there is a genuine possibility that the economy's present diversification will contribute to its current growth rate—one of the fastest in the world. Uganda had an average GDP annual growth rate of 7.2 percent over 1990-99, which constitutes a growth rate of agriculture of 3.7 percent, of services at 8.1 percent and industry at 12.7 percent. This consistent growth of various sectors suggests a dynamic economy. AGRICULTURE The agricultural sector is dominant in Uganda's economy. Whilst this sector grew at an annual average of only 3.7 percent over 1990-99 compared to the far more impressive growth of the industrial and service sectors, the importance of agriculture in Uganda's economy outweighs all other sectors put together. The agricultural sector employs 82 percent of the workforce, accounts for 90 percent of export earnings, and provided 44 percent of GDP in 1999. Moreover, the farmers in Uganda's 2.5 million smallholdings and scattered large commercial farms provide the majority of their own and the rest of the country's staple food requirements. Uganda is able to rely on agriculture due to the country's excellent access to waterways, fertile soils, and, (relative to many other African nations) its regular rainfall, although it does still suffer from intermittent droughts such as in 1993-94. Uganda's key agricultural products can be divided into cash crops, food crops, and horticultural produce. The most important cash crops are coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, and cocoa. Uganda is second only to Kenya as Africa's largest producer of tea, exporting US$17.06 million of tea in 1996 and $39 million by 1998. Unmanufactured tobacco exports provided US$9.5 million in 1998, over 25 percent more than in 1996. The export of cocoa beans hit a recent high in 1996 with US$1.07 million in export receipts, but this had declined to $0.87 million in 1998. The primary food crops, mainly for domestic consumption, include plantains, cassava, maize, millet, and sorghum. Total cereal production was 1.76 million metric tons in 1998, which provided US$17.82 million of exports in 1998. This gain was in part negated as imports of cereals were $30.9 million in the same year. The more recent development of cultivating horticultural produce includes fresh flowers, chilies, vanilla, asparagus, and medicinal plants. At the beginning of 2001 it is unclear how well horticultural production will prosper but it does indicate the economy's potential diversity. The fact that vanilla production is the third largest in Africa, providing US$930,000 in export receipts in 1998, is a success in itself. The economy of northeast Uganda is dominated by pastoralism (cattle farming). Although agricultural production is apparent in some areas, this is normally a mixture known as "agro-pastoralism" (integrated cattle and crop farming). It should be noted that pastoralism is in decline due to the constant cattle raids by guerrilla groups such as the Lord's Resistance Army based in southern Sudan, as well as government and aid agency intervention which encourages the fencing off of land to discourage the traditional free-roaming of cattle. COFFEE. Coffee is by far the most important factor in the nation's entire economy. Uganda is one of the largest producers of coffee in sub-Saharan Africa and exported 197,200 metric tons in 1998, second only to Côte d'Ivoire. This provided US$314 million in export earnings. Although this was a drop in earnings from the 1996 level of $396.2 million, the 1996 harvest had provided 81,511 metric tons more than in 1998. The country's high altitude, relatively high rainfall, and mild climate are suited to the growing of coffee. Robusta coffee is grown in areas near Lake Victoria and in some Western districts. Arabica coffee is grown in the volcanic regions in Mbale and Kapchorwa where the cooler, higher altitude provides the increased rainfall necessary for the growth of this more profitable crop. The dual process of the devaluation of the Ugandan Shilling and its flotation was intended to provide an incentive to producers to take advantage of more competitive exports and thus expand their production of exportable goods. On face value this process was a success as producer prices dramatically increased. For example, coffee farmers received a 182 percent rise in the price paid for their product, and there was an annual average growth of coffee exports of 6.5 percent between 1990-1997. However, the apparent growth of Uganda's coffee exports does not take account of smuggling into the country from neighboring countries such as the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo whose farmers often do not receive as good a price for their crops as those in Uganda. Furthermore, increased productivity was based upon an increase in the area cultivated rather than on higher yields. When there is a rise in available cultivated land it acts as an increased drain on the country's environmental resources. The 50 percent projected rise of the population by 2015 more than likely will increase competition, and perhaps conflict, over ever-decreasing land plots. Regarding improvements to the agricultural sector, farmers simply lack the access to capital ( see Services rubric below) in order to mechanize production and increase agricultural productivity. Productivity per agricultural worker was an average of US$345 per annum over 1996-1998. In consequence, farmers are unable to take full advantage of increased returns for the export of coffee when they do arise, for instance, during the coffee boom of 1994-95 where the price in U.S. cents to a pound of coffee was 126.83. This failure to improve production is based upon a lack of investment and an assumption of the continuation of the usually relatively low levels paid by the volatile world market for primary commodities . For example, in 1999 the price in U.S. cents to a pound of coffee was only 67.65. Considering the long-term maturity of coffee plants, the instability of international markets does not provide much of an incentive for improved efficiency of production. It should also be noted that export crops such as coffee are very susceptible to natural disasters, which further reduces their economic viability. For instance, a hurricane in 2000 pushed Uganda's national harvest back a year. INDUSTRY Industry is very limited in Uganda. The most important sectors are the processing of agricultural products (such as coffee curing), the manufacture of light consumer goods and textiles, and the production of beverages, electricity, and cement. The production of beer in Uganda has increased dramatically in recent years, rising from 215,000 hectoliters in 1988 to 896,000 in 1997. Similarly, cement production has expanded from a low of 15,000 metric tons in 1988 to 290,000 in 1997. Of lesser importance is the production of sawn wood, remaining stable at 83,000 cubic meters from 1994 onwards. However, there is little evidence of the sufficient replanting of trees, which may not only affect this level of production but could have adverse environmental effects such as soil erosion and increased landslides. A key block to the development of Uganda's industrial and commercial sector is corruption. Bribes are commonly demanded to acquire even the most basic services such as an electricity supply and telephones. Due to increased domestic security, market reform, and tax breaks, Uganda's manufacturing sector is growing. Merchandise exports have expanded from US$147 million in 1990 to US$501 million in 1998. However, merchandise imports have also expanded but at an even greater rate, from US$213 million in 1990 to US$1,414 million in 1998. This imbalance indicates a serious problem with Uganda's economy because, in order to continue the present rate of import of manufactured goods, the government is obliged to borrow ever greater amounts of money from foreign donors which makes the country increasingly indebted. The privatization of industry is a central dynamic in Uganda's contemporary national economy. This is of central importance considering that government subsidies to parastatals were equal to that spent on much needed education between 1994-1998. The Privatization Unit of the Ministry of Finance has plans to open a number of industries to the private sector. For example, the largest dairy processor in the country, the government-owned Dairy Corporation, which has an annual turnover of US$12 million, is undergoing full privatization. Copper mining used to be a mainstay of the economy in the 1960s to mid-1970s with an output of up to 18,000 metric tons per annum. Due to the country's civil unrest and the decline of copper prices on international markets, the 90 percent government-owned Kilembe Mines Ltd. mining activity has been inactive since 1982. The planned privatization of this enterprise should end government subsidies to this company and is hoped to lead to the rein-vigoration of Uganda's copper production. SERVICES The export of Uganda's commercial services has grown dramatically from US$21 million in 1990 to US$165 million in 1998. Yet at the same time the import of commercial services has grown from US$195 million in 1990 to US$693 million in 1998. This imbalance, similar to that of manufactured goods, contributes to the deficit of Uganda's balance of payments . Therefore, in order to maintain this level of imports, Uganda is forced to borrow more money from external donors, thus leading to the deepening of the country's public debt and the consequent drain of debt interest payments upon an already limited government revenue. TOURISM. Due to the severe insecurity permeating Uganda through the 1970s and most of the 1980s, tourism was a very limited sector. Today, the majority of Uganda is entirely safe for tourists and the country has a lot to offer, such as a number of beautiful reserves and national parks, vast lakes, rare and endangered wildlife, relatively untouched rural communities, and safe cities. By 1995, 159,899 tourists provided receipts of US$188 million; by 1997 receipts from tourism rose to US$227 million. However, it should be noted that internal tourism expenditures drew out almost as much money as was brought in to the country, with US$137 million being spent by Ugandans abroad in 1997. FINANCIAL SERVICES. Uganda's banking system had been in disarray throughout the 1970s and 1980s, in part due to an almost full government monopoly of this sector. The 2 most important national banks, the state-owned Bank of Uganda (BOU) and the Cooperative Bank, had received automatic liquidity support from the Uganda Central bank (UCB) up until the early 1990s—that is, the UCB would supply banks with money to prevent their financial collapse even if they had been making irresponsible and irretrievable loans, often to allies of the various political regimes. As a result, the UCB's non-performing loans accounted for 75 percent of its total loan portfolio. Uganda's most important financial mechanism was bankrupted. In order to make the UCB less of a drain on state revenue, the IMF and World Bank encouraged its privatization, a 48 percent cut in personnel, and a reduction of branches from 190 to 85. The improved stability of the banking sector has encouraged people to save, and a 1995 IMF report claimed that bank deposits grew from 4 percent of GDP in 1989-90 to 5.8 percent in 1993-94. However, due to the economy's severe underdevelopment, low incomes, and low opportunities for lending, there is limited incentive for private-sector banks to operate. Even though the economy has been substantially liberalized, foreign banks have failed to reinvest or to re-establish themselves, or to innovate their practices in Uganda, in part due to the fact that more than half of commercial banks made losses in 1994. The privatization of the banking system has reduced the availability of basic banking services, in particular for rural farmers. In 1972 there was one branch per 34,000 people; by the mid-1990s this figure was 164,000. This means that the most important sector of the economy, namely agriculture, receives insufficient investment to improve productivity. Primarily due to fraudulent practice by employees, 3 of Uganda's national banks collapsed in 1999, namely the Cooperative Bank, International Credit Bank, and Greenland Bank. This has given foreign-owned banks such as Stanbic, Barclays, Standard Chartered, and Trans Africa Bank increased footing in those areas they deem commercially viable, thus providing greater competition against the remaining national banks. INTERNATIONAL TRADE Uganda is becoming increasingly dependent on the import of capital through loans and grants, the import of services, and of manufactured goods. The value of imports was consistently double the value of exports throughout the 1990s, and in 1999 the ratio of imports to exports came close to being 3 times in size. Apart from cash-crops such as tea and coffee ( see Agriculture rubric above), Uganda's principal exports in 1998 were US$39.9 million of fish and fish products, US$47.4 million of iron and steel, and US$47.2 million worth of electrical machinery and supplies. It should be noted that the EU banned the import of fish from Uganda between 1999 and mid-2000 as some supplies were poisonous; although this ban has now been lifted this event seems likely to effect future sales. The main recipient of these exports in 1998 was the EU, which received 50.9 percent of the total; broken down individually, the key countries were the Netherlands , which imported 6.3 percent, Switzerland (6.2 percent), Germany (5 percent), and Belgium (3.7 percent). Other key export-partners are the United States which regularly receives around 25 percent, and Kenya which received 4.6 percent in 1998. Uganda's imports in 1998 consisted of US$130.3 million of road vehicles, US$111.6 million of petroleum, Trade (expressed in billions of US$): Uganda Exports 1.409 SOURCE: International Monetary Fund. International Financial Statistics Yearbook 1999. US$72.4 million in cereals, and US$53.65 million of medical goods and pharmaceuticals. These imports were predominantly sourced from the EU, which supplied 17.3 percent (the United Kingdom being the main partner, providing 5.6 percent), neighboring Kenya supplied 12.3 percent, Japan 4.5 percent, and India 4.1 percent. The countries of East Africa have been trying to create a meaningful intra-regional trade organization since the 1960s. The signing of the East African Cooperation (EAC) treaty between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya in 1999 was a continuation of this historic aim; however, in practice little has been done to reduce tariffs . Uganda is also a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which in 1996 introduced an 80 percent tariff reduction on trade within COMESA countries; by 2001 Uganda was one of the only members to implement this reduction in full. MONEY Uganda's monetary and financial sector has gone through dramatic change since the government adapted free market reform from 1987 onwards. Two of the most important reforms were the devaluation of the Uganda shilling (USh) and the liberalization of the exchange rate system. In order to make national exports cheaper and more competitive on world markets the USh was devalued by 77 percent in 1987; after subsequent minor de-valuations, it was again substantially reduced by 41.2 percent in 1989. The liberalization of the exchange rate system was undertaken in a number of stages, culminating in the establishment of a unified inter-bank market for foreign exchange and the commercialization of all foreign exchange transactions, which were to be undertaken by commercial banks and foreign exchange bureaus. By 1994 the government accepted the obligations of Article VIII, Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, which maintained a commitment to a free and open exchange system. The Uganda shilling had become a competitive monetary unit, open to the speculation of international currency markets. This resulted in its depreciation from USh100 per U.S. dollar in 1987, to Exchange rates: Uganda 1,046.1 SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [ONLINE]. USh965 in 1994. Although these policies had initial inflationary consequences (as late as 1991-92 annual average inflation was 42 percent), by 1994-95 the USh had stabilized at only 5 percent; considering that inflation had hit 1,000 percent during the Amin era, this is a considerable government success. Uganda's capital markets are based on 2 main organizations: the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), and its regulator, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA). In June 1997 the USE was licensed to operate as an approved stock exchange and began formal trading operations in January 1998. In 2001 there were only 4 listed securities trading on the exchange: 2 corporate bonds and 2 companies, Uganda Clays Limited and British American Tobacco, Uganda. POVERTY AND WEALTH With an average GDP per capita of US$332 in 1998, Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. The vast majority of Ugandans are farmers on small plots of land which are used for subsistence agriculture or for the cultivation of cash crops such as coffee and tea. However, most of this land is owned by landlords such as chiefs or government functionaries who seldom reinvest in the productive capacity of the village as they can simply rely on rents. This disparity of the ownership of the means of production is reflected by vast inequalities in the distribution of income. The poorest 20 percent of the country controls only 6.6 percent of the wealth, whereas the richest 20 percent benefit from 46.1 percent. In fact, 69 percent of the population lives on less than US$1 a day and the majority of this limited income (63 percent) is spent on food. As a result, in a country whose government spends only 1.9 percent of its GDP on health, the majority of Ugandan citizens struggle to acquire even the most basic health care. There are only 4 doctors and 28 nurses per 100,000 people. Nonetheless, the government has helped to reduce the infant mortality rate from 110 deaths per 1,000 births in 1970 to 84 by 1998. Most Ugandans have to work 2 or 3 jobs simply to survive, often even to secure a standard of living below the poverty threshold. Moreover, one or more of these jobs are often within the informal sector which draws taxation GDP per Capita (US$) 31.2 Survey year: 1992-93 Note: This information refers to expenditure shares by percentiles of the population and is ranked by per capita expenditure. SOURCE: 2000 World Development Indicators [CD-ROM]. revenue away from the government. With the increased unemployment levels associated with the privatization and reduction of employment opportunities in the public service, the army, and former parastatals, workers have become an increasingly flexible and less expensive factor of production. Consequently, trends after 1991 have been in the direction of increased inequality, both between rural and urban areas but also in intra-urban terms, as wages did not increase anywhere near as fast as the rise of profits. The labor surplus and the desperate need for employment has meant that employers can offer almost whatever they want for wages as they know that they will fill their vacancies. As Susan Dicklitch observes in her book, The Elusive Promise of NGOs in Africa, even the middle class, the traditional bastion of democracy and agitator for change, like the working class are "often too busy trying to eke out a living" to fulfil their historic political role. However, if Uganda's GDP continues its 7 percent annual growth of recent years, if President Museveni's anti-poverty strategy promoted in March 2000 is effective, and if the country continues to benefit from the proposed US$2.3 to US$2.5 billion in external aid, then there is hope that the standard of living for the majority may improve. WORKING CONDITIONS Uganda's labor force is the sixth largest in sub-Saharan Africa, totaling 8.4 million workers in 1993. Yet, as 51 percent of the population is below the age of 14, it is difficult for a government with such limited revenue to provide sufficient education and vocational training for the mass of Uganda's youth. The majority of the nation's workforce is thus unskilled. However, in part by increasing public expenditure on education from 1.5 percent of GDP in 1990 to 2.6 percent in 1997, the government has been successful in attacking illiteracy. The 49 percent of the population over 15 years of age who were illiterate in 1985 had been reduced to 36 percent by 1997—9 percent better than the African average. The problem of an unskilled workforce has been accentuated by the AIDS pandemic. Because it is likely that a trained teacher or doctor will contract HIV , it is necessary to train 2 or even 3 people to ensure the supply of even one skilled employee. Labor migration is very common in Uganda. Areas of high unemployment (in districts such as Kabale) were forcibly created by the British colonial administration in order to facilitate the movement of cheap labor from these districts to "industrial" districts such as Buganda and Ankole to work in mines, towns, factories, and plantations. While migratory labor had been relatively well paid before 1986 (people could save part of their wages to buy products such as bicycles and other "luxuries"), due to high inflation and the liberalization of the Uganda shilling imports are far more expensive and workers struggle to even feed their families. Workers are unable to return to their respective districts with basic tools to improve or buy their own land. Hence, there is a growing landless peasantry that is subject to a cycle of laboring simply in order to buy food and basic essentials. Uganda's trade unions were given legal recognition by the British colonial administration in 1952. In 1993 the unionization of public services was legally permitted, which brought the number of trade unions in Uganda to 17. All unions are legally obliged to affiliate with the highly centralized National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) which is part of a tripartite negotiating structure involving the Federation of Ugandan Employers (FUE) and the Minister of Labor. Although the government supports workers' rights conventions promoted by the International Labor Organization (ILO), trade unions are ineffective in Uganda. This is in part due to a lack of unity amongst workers as they work 2 or 3 jobs, and are subject to ethnic, regional, and gender divides. Also, trade unions and other workers' movements have had their powers reduced by the government, and individual workers are often tied to large commercial farms by the provision of normally very poor accommodation, a small plot of land for subsistence, and low wages. Though meager, without these limited resources the worker is lost, hence the space for challenging employers is limited. In light of this situation, although the power of trade unions has been historically low in Uganda, it is no surprise that they are now a virtually non-existent lobby group. COUNTRY HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT c. 1850. Arab traders make first non-African contact within the territory of Uganda and promote Islam . 1862. Explorer John Hanning Speke is the first European to enter Uganda. 1885. Uganda is designated as a British sphere of influence at the Treaty of Berlin . 1890. A small British military force arrives in Uganda. 1894. Britain declares Uganda a protectorate. 1962. Uganda achieves independence from Britain, and Milton Obote becomes prime minister in multi-party elections. 1971. General Idi Amin forcibly seizes power. 1972. The country's Asian population is expelled, and British companies are taken under government control. 1979. Tanzanian army with Ugandan dissidents under the banner of the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) oust Idi Amin. 1980. Corrupt multi-party elections reinstate Milton Obote as president. 1986. National Resistance Army enters Kampala and forms a government as the National Resistance Movement (NRM), led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 1987. The NRM government adapts free market reform and starts to receive aid from the IMF and World Bank. 1998. Uganda starts its involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2000. A flawed national referendum maintains the "no-party" political system. 2001. Presidential elections held in March. FUTURE TRENDS At the outset of 2001, Uganda has the potential to diversify its economy, and there are signs that alternatives to the present substantial reliance on the export of coffee are arising. But in the face of continually falling coffee prices on international markets, in order to prosper in the 21st century diversification of the economy is essential. Unless there is a serious unforeseeable crisis Yoweri Museveni will remain as president at least until 2006, and Uganda will continue on its path of free market reform. This reform will continue to be backed-up by substantial aid from the World Bank, the IMF, the EU and other donors. There will be an intensification of the privatization of parastatals. The revenue freed-up from previously subsidizing parastatals may allow the government to spend a greater proportion of GDP on essential public services such as education and health. Without investment in these areas an unhealthy and poorly educated workforce will constrain improved social and economic development. GDP growth for 1999-2000 was 5.4 percent, a considerable decline from the highs of 7 percent in 1995 and 1996. This is some indication of the economy's growth beginning to stabilize after the essential reconstruction work undertaken from 1987 onwards. In light of this evidence, it is likely that annual GDP growth will remain at around 5 percent or less for the next 5 years. A continued drain on government resources is Uganda's involvement in the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At the beginning of 2001 Museveni was faced with a dilemma between withdrawing and allowing the potential for increased destabilizing attacks upon Uganda by forces based in the DRC or to remain involved in an unpopular and expensive war. DEPENDENCIES Uganda has no territories or colonies. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ahikire, J. "Worker Struggles, the Labor Process, and Control inUnited Garments Industry Limited." In Uganda: Studies in Living Conditions, Popular Movements, and Constitutionalism, edited by M. Mamdani and J. Oloka-Onyango. Vienna : JEP, 1994. Bank of Uganda. <http://www.bou.or.ug> . Accessed February 2001. Belshaw, D., and P. Lawrence. "Agricultural Tradables and Economic Recovery in Uganda: The Limitations of Structural Adjustment in Practice." World Development. Vol. 27, No. 4, 1999. Brownbridge, M. Financial Repression and Financial Reform in Uganda. Sussex: Institute of Development Studies, 1996. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. <http://www.comesa.int> . Accessed March 2001. Dicklitch, S. The Elusive Promise of NGOs in Africa: Lessons from Uganda. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998. Economist Intelligence Unit. Country Report: Uganda, 1999. London: EIU, 1999. Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO Yearbook: Trade 1998. Rome : FAO, 1999. Human Rights Watch. "Uganda Silences Political Parties withHarassment and Oppression." Press Release. Kampala: HRW, 12 October 1999. Reprinted online at <http://www.hrw.org> . Accessed February 2001. International Monetary Fund. International Financial Statistics Yearbook 2000. Washington DC: IMF, 2000. Isegawa, M. Abyssinian Chronicles. New York : Alfred A. Knopf,2000. Jamal, V. "Changing Poverty Patterns in Uganda." In Developing Uganda, edited by M. Twaddle and H. B. Hansen. Oxford: James Currey, 1998. Lamont, T. "Economic Planning and Policy Formulation inUganda." In Uganda: Landmarks in Rebuilding a Nation, edited by P. Langseth, J. Katorobo, E. Brett, and J. Munene. Kampala: Fountain, 1995. Mamdani, M. "Analysing the Agrarian Question: The Case of aBuganda Village." In Uganda: Studies in Labor, edited by M. Mamdani. Dakar , Senegal : CODESRIA, 1996. Mehran, H., P. Ugolini, J. Briffaux, G. Iden, T. Lybek, S.Swaray, and P. Hayward. "Financial Sector Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries." IMF Occasional Article 169. Washington DC: IMF, 1998. Mitchell, B.R. International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia and Oceania 1750-1993, third edition. London: Macmillan, 1998. The Monitor. <http://www.monitor.co.ug> . Accessed March 2001. Munene, J. C. "Organisational Pathology and Accountability inHealth and Education in Rural Uganda." In Uganda: Landmarks in Rebuilding a Nation, edited by P. Langseth, J. Katorobo, E. Brett, and J. Munene. Kampala: Fountain, 1995. Museveni, Y. K. Sowing the Mustard Seed: The Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in Uganda. London: Macmillan, 1997. Nadzam, B., ed. Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2001. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group 2001. Ocan, C. "Pastoral Crisis and Social Change in Karamoja." In Uganda: Studies in Living Conditions, Popular Movements, and Constitutionalism, edited by M. Mamdani and J. Oloka-Onyango. Vienna: JEP, 1994. Rutanga, M. "A Historical Analysis of the Labor Question inKigezi District." In Uganda: Studies in Labor, edited by M. Mamdani. Dakar, Senegal: CODESRIA, 1996. Sharer, R. L., H. R. De Zoysa, and C. A. McDonald. Uganda: Adjustment with Growth, 1987-94. Washington DC: IMF, March 1995. Tukahebwa, G. B. "Privatization as a Development Policy." In Developing Uganda, edited by M. Twaddle and H. B. Hansen. Oxford: James Currey, 1998. Uganda Home Pages Ltd. <http://www.uganda.co.ug>. AccessedFebruary-March 2001. United Nations. Statistical Yearbook, Forty-Fourth Issue, 1997. New York: United Nations, 1999. United Nations. UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS). <http://www.unaids.org/hivaidsinfo/statistics/june00/fact_sheets/pdfs/uganda.pdf>. Accessed March 2001. United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Human Development Report 2000. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.<http://www.uneca.org>. Accessed February 2001. Upham, M., editor. Trade Unions of the World, fourth edition.London: Cartermill, 1996. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook 2000. <http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html>. Accessed February 2001. World Bank. African Development Indicators 2000. Washington DC: World Bank, 2000. —. Sub-Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Growth. Washington DC: World Bank, 1989. —. Uganda: The Challenge of Growth and Poverty. Washington DC: World Bank, 1996. —. World Development Indicators 2000. Washington DC:World Bank, 2000. —. World Development Report: From Plan to Market. NewYork: Oxford University Press, 1996. —. World Development Report: Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. —. World Development Report 1997: The State in a Changing World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. —. World Development Report 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press 2000. —Liam Campling Kampala MONETARY UNIT: Uganda Shilling (USh). The largest Ugandan note in circulation is USh10,000 and the smallest is USh50. Recently introduced coins come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, and 500. There are plans to discontinue all notes in these denominations. CHIEF EXPORTS: Jinja, Kabale, Kisoro, Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Tororo EDITOR'S NOTE This chapter was adapted from the Department of State Post Report dated July 1996. Supplemental material has been added to increase coverage of minor cities, facts have been updated, and some material has been condensed. Readers are encouraged to visit the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov/ for the most recent information available on travel to this country. INTRODUCTION UGANDA , once called the "Pearl of Africa," is a nation that has, in little more than two decades, been battered into near ruin by rampant military violence and blatant abuses of the most basic human rights. It has suffered a succession of brutal, dictatorial regimes, widespread atrocities, and crushing starvation and disease. Raging terrorism affected every segment of society until finally, in January 1986, rebel forces overthrew those in power and a new leader, Yoweri Museveni, promised the formation of a non-aligned government committed to the restoration of peace and stability. Museveni's National Resistance Movement largely put an end to the human rights abuses of earlier governments and initiated substantial political and economic reforms. A new constitution was ratified in 1995 by a popularly elected constituent assembly. The United Kingdom , which had established hegemony over Uganda in the 1890s, granted full internal self government to the country in March 1962. Political struggles soon began, and were intensified during the turbulent rule of the infamous Idi Amin (1971-1979). Both Great Britain and the United States severed diplomatic relations with Uganda, following open threats and brazen incidents of human rights violations. The U.S. Embassy was reopened in the capital city of Kampala in 1981, but tough American criticism of continuing abuses in Uganda created mounting tension. With a new government in place, a calmer atmosphere prevails. Insurgent groups, with support from Sudan , harass government forces and murder and kidnap civilians in the north and west. Due to Sudanese support of various guerilla movements, Uganda cut off diplomatic relations with Sudan in 1995. MAJOR CITIES Kampala Kampala began as a settlement near the palace of the kabaka (the former absolute monarch of the Baganda) at Mengo, and in the 20th century developed into the largest town in Uganda, dominating the country's political and economic life. It was granted city status during the nation's independence celebrations in October 1962. An estimated 774,000 people live in the metropolitan area. Kampala lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 20 miles north of the equator, at an altitude of close to 4,500 feet. It is built on a number of low-lying hills, surrounded by green, rolling countryside dotted with small farms. These farms grow mostly plantains, the main subsistence crop and staple food. Along Kampala's central streets, modern stores and office buildings—many of them multi-storied—mix with old-style shops. On Janan Luwum Street and Nkurumah Road, near the main market, are many small shops that trade in a variety of goods. On the other side of the main street, called variously along its length Bombo, Kampala, or Jinja Road, are large government structures, the most important of which is the Parliament building with its Independence Arch. Residential areas, located on a series of hills surrounding downtown, had made Kampala one of Africa's most attractive capitals, but more than two decades of neglect is sadly apparent. Some effort has been made to restore the city to its once verdant beauty. Within the city are Kololo Hill (easily recognized by the tall television mast), and other hills such as Nakasero, Makindye, Makerere (the home of Makerere University), Mulago, Mbuya, and Muyenga. Outside of Kampala, still more hills are dominated by Namirembe Cathedral (Anglican), Rubaga Cathedral (Roman Catholic), the Baha'i Temple, the former kabaka's palace, and Kibuli Mosque. Education The Lincoln International School, assisted by the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Schools Program, serves the international community. It follows the American curriculum for kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The school is coeducational. Extracurricular activities include drama, yearbook, choir, field trips, swimming, soccer, softball, basketball, and volleyball. The school also offers numerous clubs. Most children of expatriates (in upper grades) attend schools in the U.S., Europe , or Kenya . Recreation Club membership is necessary in Kampala to use facilities for tennis or golf, but such membership is inexpensive and available. There is an 18-hole course at the Kampala Golf Club. The Kampala Club has good facilities for tennis and squash, and also has a swimming pool which is generally in usable condition. Swimming in Lake Victoria is dangerous because of the likelihood of contracting bilharzia, a debilitating parasitic disease. The Nyanza Sailing Club sails from two locations in the Kampala area on Sunday afternoons and holidays. Soccer is a national sport and attracts large crowds for weekend matches. The Kenya Highlands to the east and the mountains of southwestern Uganda provide a change from the weather of Kampala. Cold-weather gear for an extended trek to the higher altitudes may be useful. These are both six-to-eight-hour drives. The accommodations in Uganda are not good at present, but rehabilitation is going on. In Kenya, pleasant country hotels offer modest facilities for rest and relaxation. The capital city of Nairobi provides an opportunity to enjoy excellent shopping for foodstuffs, household items, African handicrafts, as well as offering night life and other diversions. Nairobi is nine to 10 hours by road and 90 minutes by plane. Uganda is the home of three of the best game parks in Africa. All are open and operating, and extensive repairs are in progress. Some animals are beginning to return to Kabalega National Park from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the former Zaire) and other nearby areas where they took refuge during the 1979 Liberation War. Poaching is still a problem and the animals are quite shy. The game park also offers the opportunity of seeing a spectacular cataract in which the Nile forces its way through a 19-foot cleft in the rocks. Chobe is the nearest operating game lodge and it offers comfortable lodgings. No scheduled launches go to the falls, but arrangements can generally be made at Paraa Lodge. Kidepo Park in northeastern Uganda contains land of great beauty, and also some animals which are not observable anywhere else in Uganda. It is, however, remote and difficult to reach. Rwenzori National Park in the west still has some surviving large animals. Mombasa (Kenya), on the Indian Ocean , is two-to-three days' travel by road. It has pleasant beach accommodations and many tourist attractions. The islands of Madagascar , Mauritius, and the Seychelles are also nice places to visit. Frequent air service from Nairobi reaches the coastal resort areas as well as the islands. Entertainment Entertainment is limited in Kampala. The Alliance Française offers French films with English subtitles on Saturdays, and the French Cultural Center has educational programs. Amateur theatricals in English and in local languages are shown at the National Theater. The British High Commission Social Club sponsors an active Darts League that meets on Fridays during the equivalent of "happy hour." A rugby club meets twice a week on a pitch near the stadium. Golf, tennis, fishing, and sailing are common entertainments for Americans and Europeans as well as for many Ugandans. A small, but good, museum is a must for newcomers. It portrays the history, culture, and economy of Uganda. Kampala's active professional soccer league plays daily games from January through May at Nakivubo Stadium. Entebbe Entebbe, situated on the equator 22 miles south of Kampala, is Uganda's other principal city, but its population (43,000) is lower than that of other centers. It was administrative capital of the country from 1894 to 1962 and, although most government offices have moved to the capital, the State House (residence and office of the president) remains at Entebbe. It is the center of a region that produces bananas, coffee, and cotton. Several attractions are located in Entebbe, among them botanical gardens, a veterinary research laboratory, and a virus research institute. The city is a transportation hub for eastern Africa, with an international airport and shipping connections to Kenya, Tanzania , and other parts of Uganda via Lake Victoria. Entebbe figured prominently in international news in July 1976, when the passengers and crew of a hijacked airliner were rescued in a dramatic Israeli commando raid on Entebbe Airport. An elderly British citizen died, and it was at this time that the United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations with Uganda. Gen. Idi Amin Dada, now in exile in the Middle East , was president and dictator at that time. OTHER CITIES JINJA , 50 miles east of Kampala, is Uganda's second largest city, with about 65,000 residents. Built around the Owens Falls dam and power station, it is the country's chief industrial region. Jinja is home to several industries, including the first steel-rolling mill in eastern Africa, a copper smeltery, a brewery, tannery, textile factory, and large sugar plantations. The city is a major transportation center for railroads and lake steamers. KABALE , the highest town in the nation at 6,600 feet above sea level, is 200 miles southwest of Kampala. Trips to nearby lakes, especially to Lake Bunyonyi, are considered worthwhile for tourists. The current population is 29,000. KISORO , in the Mitumba Mountain range of the extreme southwest, is a popular tourist spot. The city of 10,000 is the starting point for expeditions to Mounts Muhavura and Mgahinga. Numerous lakes and Ruwenzori Park are in the area. Historic Fort Mosaka is in MASAKA , 80 miles southwest of Kampala. A market town and commercial center, the city produces processed meat and fish, beverages, footwear, bakery products, furniture, clay products, and glass. It is a critical commercial area for the surrounding coffee growing region. The population is approximately 50,000. Mount Elgon dominates MBALE , the country's third largest city and the hub of the eastern region. Round trips to the mountain, an extinct volcano, take about three days; climbs in the rainy season may be difficult. Mbale is an agricultural trading center and the site of one of Uganda's principal dairies. The current population is about 54,000. MBARARA is a center of cattle ranching in the southwestern region of Uganda. The famous Ankole cattle are raised in the area. The city is the headquarters of a large army camp and base for the Lake Mburo Game Reserve. Located 167 miles southwest of Kampala, Mbarara is noted for its woodcarving, weaving, and pottery-making. Industries produce soap, oils and fats, textiles, beverages, processed food, rope and twine, and plywood. It has approximately 41,000 residents. MOROTO , in the extreme northeast near the Kenyan border, is the home of the Karamojong people. Cattle are vital here, and disputes with Kenyan border tribes over cattle raiding are common. The proud, traditional Karamojong should be approached with care, ideally with a knowledgeable guide. The Karamojong produce various crafts including pottery, woodworking, weaving, and clay products. The current population is 14,000. TORORO is a major road and rail junction in the far eastern region, near the border with Kenya. This town of 44,000 lies at the base of a hill that dominates the area. COUNTRY PROFILE Geography and Climate Uganda occupies a fertile plateau in the center of Africa at an average altitude of 4,000 feet. The plateau's edges are turned up on the east by Mt. Elgon (14,178 feet) and the Kenya highlands, and on the west by the Rwenzori Mountains (16,791 feet). The country is crossed diagonally from southeast to northwest by the Nile River, which begins its journey to the Mediterranean near the city of Jinja on Lake Victoria, about 50 miles from Kampala. With an area of 91,000 square miles, Uganda is roughly the size of Oregon. The temperature ranges from a high of 80°F to 85°F at noon to 60°F to 65°F at night. A greater range of temperature change occurs during the course of the day than between seasons. The hottest interval is generally from October through March, and the temperature is usually hot in the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. anytime of the year. Annual rainfall averages 63.9 inches. During the rainy seasons—March/April and September/October—the weather is cool and over-cast. Frequently heavy thunderstorms last 30 minutes to an hour. It seldom rains for an entire day, even during the so-called rainy seasons. Wind gusts accompanying downpours are sometimes strong, yet seldom damaging. Red murram dust can be a problem during dry periods, but this affects city dwellers primarily when they venture beyond the town and leave the asphalt roads. Virtually every residence has insects of various sizes, but the ever-present lizards provide "exterminator" service. Population The population of Uganda is 24 million. Africans of four racial groups—Bantu, Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, and Sudanic—constitute most of the populace. Of the four, the Bantu are the most numerous and include the Baganda, the largest single ethnic group, with more than 3.5 million members. The Iteso constitute the second largest group, followed by the Basoga, Banyankore, and Banyaruanda, all with populations of more than 500,000. At one time, the Indo-Pakistani comprised a large part of the population. Most were deported during Amin's rule, but some returned as skilled laborers and office workers. Many Europeans also fled the country during Amin's rule and, after the Liberation War, they too began to return, although political turmoil kept their numbers at a minimum. English is the official language. It is spoken by almost the entire European community, most of the Asian community, and all of the educated Africans in Kampala. Elementary Swahili is useful in the Kampala area for talking to servants and to African tradesmen and craftsmen. Outside of Kampala and the Buganda region, Swahili is used as the lingua franca among many people who do not speak English, in addition to their maternal tongues. Most members of the Baganda tribe, however, prefer not to speak Swahili. They use their own language, Luganda, which is spoken or understood by at least four million people. The religious work begun in 1877 by missionaries was successful, and today some 66 percent of the Ugandan population is Christian, divided equally between Protestants and Catholics. The rest is made up of Muslims (16 percent) and animists (18 percent). History When British explorers, searching for the headwaters of the Nile, first arrived in Uganda in 1862, they found the northern shores of Lake Victoria controlled by the Baganda, a people who had developed a complex agricultural society ruled over by an absolute monarch called the kabaka. Christian missionaries entered the area in 1877 and, by 1892, British authority was established through a series of treaties of protection with Buganda and the other kingdoms of Uganda. These kingdoms had already well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. As a result of the decision by the early British administrators to govern indirectly through the chiefs and rulers, and because of their beliefs that the area was unsuited to European settlement, the country was developed from the beginning primarily as an African territory. Land ownership was reserved for Africans at an early date, so that there is now almost no Asian or European rural settlement group. Government When the bloody dictatorship of Idi Amin Dada came to an end in 1979, Dr. A. Milton Obote, who had been overthrown by Amin's army coup eight years earlier, was restored to power. Continued abuses of human rights, however, led to the ousting by rebel troops of Obote and his government. The rebel troops, calling themselves the National Resistance Movement, selected Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as chairman of the National Resistance Council. The National Resistance Council (NRC) is the legislative branch of the National Resistance Movement. Under the NRM system, local resistance councils at the village, parish, subcounty, county, and district level elect representatives to the next level in the pyramidal structure. The main thrust of the present government is to rebuild the seriously damaged economy. Food production is the area of greatest concentration. A number of philanthropic and social organizations thrive here. The YMCA, YWCA, Lions, and Rotary are active and play an important role in charitable affairs. In addition, the Uganda Red Cross, which has ties to International Red Cross groups, and the Uganda Foundation for the Blind are active. Youth programs are organized by the National Council of Sports. The National Union of Youth Organizations sponsors a sports club program. In addition to the above, youth programs are organized through the school system. The Ugandan flag consists of repeated bands of black, gold, and red. In the center is a white disc with an emblem of a crested crane. Arts, Science, Education In the arts, the National Theatre once again is flourishing with performances in drama, dance, and song every weekend throughout the year by groups coming to Kampala from all over Uganda. Several popular rock groups entertain regularly. The Uganda Museum, presents a comprehensive insight into the area's history. There are regional museums at Saroti and Kabale. The Nommo Gallery, a parastatal institution, features mostly batiks, but is striving to reestablish its collection in diverse art forms. Many individual batik artists ply their trade within the country. Although radio and television have some technical problems, they do a commendable job in theatrical and musical presentations. Interest in the sciences is beginning to form again. Individual Ugandans are still invited to international science conferences, but are often unable to attend for lack of foreign currency. A strong public and private secondary school system exists. Only the most promising primary school students are enrolled. For more than a decade, almost nothing was done to develop and nourish higher education. Makerere University, once the premier institution of higher learning in East Africa, is on the rise again but faces many difficulties because of lack of sufficient funds. Shortages range from lack of housing for faculty and students to insufficient textbooks, scientific journals, and laboratory equipment. Despite its problems, Makerere continues to educate a student body in various disciplines. Other higher educational institutions are the National Teachers College, Institute of Teacher's Education, Uganda Polytechnic, the National College of Commerce, and the Institute for Public Administration. Commerce and Industry Uganda has substantial economic resources, among them fertile soil, regular rainfall, and abundant reserves of cobalt and copper. However, commerce and industry were seriously disrupted under both Amin's and Obote's rule, and by the looting that followed the countless civil disturbances. Government and private businesses, with foreign assistance, are making progress rebuilding the industrial sector. Manufacturing began recovering in the 1980s, and by the mid-1990s Uganda's industrial production was three times larger than it was in the late 1980s. Most facilities are still trying to rebuild, however, and the industrial sector still operates at only 40 percent or less of capacity. Agriculture is Uganda's principal economic sector, employing 82 percent of the labor force. Coffee, cotton, tea, beans, corn, and tobacco are the main export crops; sugar and cocoa also are important. The main food crops are cassava, millet, corn, sweet potatoes, beans, and cereals. The chief industries are those for the processing of the food crops and for textiles, soap, cement, brewing, metal products, vehicle assembly, and steel. Rehabilitation of the sugar, textiles, paper, and steel industries is underway, mainly funded by international aid agencies. The tourist industry, very important as a foreign exchange earner, is slowly beginning to recover. Several lodges are being rehabilitated for the public, and animals are becoming more evident in game parks, although many have been killed by poachers. Uganda's principal attractions for tourists are the forests, lakes, and wildlife. In the late 1980s, Uganda launched a program to create new national parks and build new hotels. The National Chamber of Commerce and Industry is at 17-19 Jinja Road, P.O. Box 3809, Kampala. Transportation Air traffic into Uganda is being used increasingly. Entebbe Airport is only 20 miles from the capital over an asphalt road, but there is a scarcity of public or private transportation available between the cities. Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines operate flights between Entebbe Airport and Nairobi several times a week. Air Tanzania also has one flight per week between Uganda and Tanzania. Buses travel to the Kenya border where bus connections to Kisumu and Nairobi can be made. The Uganda Railways Corporation operates train service between some rural towns and Kampala. In Kampala, public transportation is poor. The few available buses are overcrowded and do not follow any schedule. Local taxis are, in reality, private cars that crowd in as many passengers as possible, and charge as much as those passengers will pay. The taxis are unsafe and unreliable. Most Americans do not use public transportation. In general, private automobiles are a necessity. Those planning a stay in Uganda should either bring a car to the country or purchase one in neighboring Kenya. Autos can be bought locally, but selection is limited, and the cost is many times the actual value. While large cars are more comfortable for long trips, small vehicles are easier to handle on Uganda's narrow roads. A Ugandan driver's license is required and, unless the applicant has a valid Kenyan or Tanzanian license, both oral and road examinations are necessary. Americans who have, or who can show that they have held, a driver's license from an East African or British Commonwealth country, can obtain a permit without testing. All automobile owners are required by law to carry minimum third-party insurance, but rates are low. However, comprehensive coverage is quite costly because of the high incidence of auto thefts. The prospect of easy money from the sale of stolen vehicles makes owning a car a risky prospect in Uganda. Gasoline, at about five dollars a gallon, is usually available. Traffic moves on the left. Communications Telephone service is only fair. International calls to the U.S. and Europe are sometimes difficult to place, but reception is generally good, since there is a satellite station in Kenya. Overseas telegraph facilities are available, but not always reliable. Service for local calls within Uganda is often reliable. International airmail to and from the U.S. is slow, taking roughly 10-15 days. Delivery is fairly reliable for letters. However, packages should be sent through international mail. Special note: The typewritten stamps of Uganda, issued before the country owned a printing press, are among the most unusual in the world. They were prepared by Rev. E. Miller of the Church Missionary Society in 1895, and are very valuable today. The government-operated radio system, Radio Uganda, broadcasts in many different languages, divided into the following linguistic groups: the Bantu spoken in the south by three-fifths of the population; Nilotic or Nilo-Hamitic found in the north and northeast; the Sudanic found in the northwest; and English, French, and Arabic. English-language news is broadcast six times daily. Ordinary radios in Kampala are limited to local-station reception. In order to receive a variety of shortwave broadcasts, a good set is required. Reliable shortwave sets can pick up Voice of America (VOA), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service. Commercial FM radio stations began broadcasting in the mid-1990s; these carry VOA and BBC news and play a wide variety of contemporary music. Local and foreign-produced television programs consisting of news, entertainment, movies, and sports are shown in the evenings. Most shows are in English, but there is some Swahili and Luganda programming. Television is transmitted by the British and European PAL system. American television sets are not compatible with this system. A multi-system receiver should be purchased. Television sets purchased in Nairobi are compatible with the system in Uganda. Uganda's freedom of press has given rise to several daily and weekly newspapers in both English and Luganda. New Visions, The Star, Monitor, and The East African are some of the major newspapers. There are several weeklies and periodicals. A number of newspapers have editions in the Luganda language, and are widely read in the Kampala area. Some American or international newspapers or magazines are available. Bookstores typically carry a fair selection of academic books but stock very little fiction. The Makerere University Library has a rather large collection, especially of East African and Ugandan history, but lack of tight control and inadequate air conditioning have resulted in theft and the deterioration of the collection. Uganda maintains no public lending libraries. However, United States Information Services (USIS) has a small public library, with a selection of current magazines and back issues of U.S. newspapers and the International Herald Tribune. Health Mulago Hospital is a government-owned hospital, but there have been problems with lack of personnel and supplies. Several missionary hospitals, which are well staffed, provide adequate services. Nsambya Hospital is run by the Franciscan Sisters and staffed by Irish nuns who are physicians and nurses. It has its own training school for general nursing and midwifery. The hospital has an adequate laboratory, X-ray unit, and blood bank. The operating room is clean and well equipped. A British general practitioner who runs a competent private practice is under contract to the U.S. Embassy, and is recommended highly. He has a small laboratory and uses hospital X-ray facilities when needed. He isavailable at night and on weekends, and he makes house calls. Westerners with serious medical problems go to Nairobi for treatment. In Kampala, public sanitation is quite good, and a waterborne sewage disposal system serves 90 percent of the municipal area. However, immediately outside the city limits, public sanitation is completely lacking. A large portion of the population are afflicted with intestinal parasites; health inspections of food are not stringent. The city sporadically collects garbage around some of the market areas. For those who wash fresh fruits and vegetables well, boil and filter all drinking water, and take an antimalarial drug regularly, health hazards are not great within Kampala's residential areas. Allergy diseases (hay fever, asthma, sinus), colds, diarrhea, influenza, and several unidentifiable viruses constitute most maladies. All water must be filtered because of the silt content, regardless of the purification process. Drinking water must also be boiled; as an alternative, treatment with iodine or chlorine is acceptable. Bottled water is not available. A household bleach or iodine solution should be used to disinfect fresh fruits and vegetables. Malaria is widespread in Uganda. Four different parasites of Plasmodia cause four types of malaria. The type most common in Uganda is falciparum, which the old textbooks called "malignant malaria," since its frequent complications involve the brains and kidneys, and often cause death. No mosquito-control inspection or spraying is currently taking place. A regular regime of antimalarial drugs is advised, starting two weeks before arrival in Uganda and continuing for four weeks after leaving. Chloroquine (Aralen or Nivaquin) and Fansidar are the drugs commonly used by Americans. There is a significant AIDS risk in Uganda. Visitors and expatriates are urged to use extreme caution in order to avoid infection. Contracting tuberculosis is a risk if one is exposed over a lengthy period. Most houses in residential areas are equipped with modern plumbing facilities. Nevertheless, ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks are a constant, if minor, problem. Sanitation standards are not high in the market area, and food bought there should be carefully inspected and washed. Clothing and Services Summer-weight clothing is needed all year in Uganda. Very little is available to suit Westerners' tastes, except for the cotton prints in African designs which are always in the marketplace in Nairobi (Kenya), and sometimes in Kampala. Clothing and shoes for the entire family sometimes can be bought in local stores, but they are expensive. Men find that tropical safari suits are the most comfortable and satisfactory. Often they wear either suits or sports shirts and slacks to work. Women need sweaters and stoles for cool evenings and during the daytime in the rainy season. Women usually wear slacks, jeans, cotton blouses, and skirts during the day. Several dry cleaners do business in Kampala, but most laundry is done at home. A few reputable hair salons in Kampala serve both men and women, but their prices are extremely high. Of the handful of shoe repair shops, one is good; the two or three others are mediocre. Some automobiles and radios can be repaired locally. Fresh fruits and vegetables abound in the markets around Kampala. Fresh vegetables, such as green peppers, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, and cucumbers, are always in stock. Most tropical fruits also are available and in good condition. Pears, peaches, and apples are not found in Kampala. Beef, poultry, and eggs are plentiful, but prices are high compared to those in the U.S. Good quality, fresh, lake fish is available. Pork, sausages, bacon, and frozen fish sometimes can be found in butcher shops. Packaged pasteurized milk made by Uganda Dairy Corporation is sometimes available. Fresh milk can be bought from farmers by prior arrangement, and instant powdered milk and evaporated milk are available. Canned margarine, butter, imported coffee, and salt, though usually available, are expensive. High quality Ugandan coffee and tea are in plentiful supply. Cooking oil, which can be adulterated, is not always available and is extremely expensive. Baby foods, dried fruits, soy sauces, spices, and salad dressings are not usually sold in local markets. Several bakeries make bread and a variety of pastries. There is a great shortage of goods. Most medicines and toiletries are both expensive and difficult to find. Toys and books must be brought from home. Domestic Help As good servants are scarce, constant supervision is necessary to see that work is done properly and theft is kept to a minimum. Breakage of china and glassware and some disappearance of food must be expected. These problems can be controlled with proper supervision. Both male and female servants are available for cooking and house-cleaning. Ayahs, or nursemaids, can be hired to care for small children. There are no European or Asian servants. The minimum wage prescribed by the Ugandan government is very low. If servants provide their own food, they get an allowance. The average American household has a combination cook/houseboy, a gardener (if house and plot are occupied), and an ayah if there are small children. Single people living in apartments usually need only one servant. Most servants live in semi-detached or detached servants quarters. Day and night guards are necessary. LOCAL HOLIDAYS * Variable NOTES FOR TRAVELERS The required entry visa can be obtained at either the Ugandan Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the diplomatic offices in New York . Incoming travelers must also possess cholera and yellow fever immunization certificates on the World Health Organization's standard form. It is wise, once in Uganda, to renew visas for multiple entry. Because of rebel and bandit activity and fighting in the area along the Sudanese border, travel in the northern part of Uganda is dangerous. The area affected encompasses Apac, Gulu, Kitgum, Kotido, Lira, Moroto, Moyo, Nebbi, and Soroti Districts. The inability of the Ugandan government to ensure the safety of visitors makes any travel in the area unwise. Vehicles have been stopped and destroyed; passengers have been robbed and/or killed. There have been at least two land mine explosions on the roads north of Gulu. Additionally, random acts of violence involving American and other tourists have occurred in northern Uganda, such as a grenade attack at a tourist hotel in Arua. Bomb attacks have occurred in Kampala at various public places, all travelers should exercise extreme caution. Travel to Murchison Falls National Park is unsafe. Three Americans were robbed in a violent attack by armed men in March 1997 near the southern entrance to the park. In addition, rebels have operated inside the park on the northern side of the Nile River. Visitors should consult U.S. Embassy officials about travel plans to Murchison Falls National Park. Travel to western Uganda is unsafe. The Ugandan military is pursuing rebel groups in the Rwenzori Mountains, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and in portions of Kasese, Bushenyi and Rukunguri Districts. In March 1999, tourists were kidnapped and murdered in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Travel to the southwestern corner of Uganda near the Zaire and Rwanda borders can also be risky. There have been attacks by bands of armed men in and near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, as well as the abduction of American tourists. Visitors should consult U.S. Embassy officials about travel plans to western Uganda. The Government of Uganda is expected to maintain laws forbidding the importation of firearms and ammunition. Updated information should be sought. Pets bought into Uganda must have valid health and rabies vaccination certificates. Pets will not be quarantined if they are accompanied by these certificates. Many religions (Baha'i, Muslim , Hindu, Christian, and animist) are represented in Kampala and its environs. Christian churches include Baptist , Anglican, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Seventh-Day Adventist, and Church of God . Services are usually conducted in English. The time in Uganda is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus three hours. Uganda uses a decimal currency of shillings and cents. The metric system of weights and measures is used. U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Kampala and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Uganda. The U.S. Embassy address is: P.O. Box 7007, 10-12 Parliament Avenue, Kampala; telephone: 256-41-259-792/3/5. RECOMMENDED READING The following titles are provided as a general indication of the material published on this country: Berg-Schlosser, D. Political Stability and Development: A Comparative Analysis of Kenya, Tanzania, & Uganda. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1990. Bunker, Stephen G. Peasants Against the State: The Politics of Market Control in Bugisu, Uganda. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1991. Creed, Alexander. Uganda. New York: Chelsea House, 1988. Decalo, Samuel. Psychoses of Power: African Personal Dictatorships. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988. Dodge, Cole P., and Magne Raundalen, eds. War, Violence & Children in Uganda. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987. Hammer, Trudy J. Uganda. New York: Franklin Watts, 1989. Hansen, Holger Bernt, and MichaelTwaddle. Changing Uganda: The Dilemmas of Structural Adjustment & Revolutionary Change. Athens , OH: Ohio University Press, 1991. Hansen, Holger Bernt, and MichaelTwaddle. Uganda Now: Between Decay & Development. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 1988. Kisubi, Alfred. Time Winds: Poems. Kansas City , MO: BkMk Press—UMKC College of Arts & Sciences, 1988. Lisicky, Paul. Uganda. New York:Chelsea House, 1988. Rupesinghe, Kumar, ed. Conflict Resolution in Uganda. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 1989. Wiebe, Paul D., and Cole P. Dode, eds. Beyond Crisis: Development Issues in Uganda. Atlanta , GA: African Studies Assn., 1987. Cite this article 1.7 Background & General Characteristics Uganda is a landlocked East African country in the Great Lakes region in central Africa. With a population of almost 24 million, Uganda is a country with 52 languages spoken by four major people groups: the Bantu, Nilotics, Nilo-Hamitics, and those of Sudanese origin. The country covers 241,000 square Kilometers with 83 percent of the people living in rural areas. Uganda's people have a relatively short life span— some 48 percent of the people will not live to see their 40th birthday. Half the population does not have access to clean water sources, which leads to a high occurrence of water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever and cholera. Uganda also faces a long battle with AIDS ; some 8 percent of the people live with HIV . Hardly a family has gone untouched by the severity of the AIDS plague in Uganda. Uganda is in a state of post-conflict recovery. The dictator Idi Amin is a household name in most parts of the world, although his term as national leader lasted only eight years. He was overthrown by the same person whom Amin himself toppled, Milton Obote, with the help on troops from neighboring Tanzania ' People's Defence Force. Obote's second regime endured from 1979 until 1985, when the guerrilla fighter and next president, Yoweri Museveni, successfully concluded his rebellion and took power. The country has enjoyed relative stability under Museveni, and has been welcomed for the most part back into the family of nations. However, northern parts of Uganda still experience military and political insecurity from rebellion promulgated by the Lord's Resistance Army, a Sudan-based insurgency group active in the Gulu, Kitgum, and Pader districts. Nevertheless, Uganda has made gains in rebuilding important institutions such as a parliament, the police, the army, as well as the judiciary and the executive branches of government. The newspapers and magazines of Uganda have not increased as fast as the radio sector. Moreover, many of the oldest newspapers have ceased publication, such as the Uganda Argus, Weekly TopicTaifa EmpyaSekanyolya, MusiziMunansiStarNgabo, and Citizen. New Vision is the country's leading daily. Published by the New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation, the paper has a print run of about 40,000 copies and a readership of 300,000. The New Vision is 15 by 11 inches in size and averages 36 pages per issue, but can also reach as many as 60 pages in an issue. Approximately 70 percent of the paper is news copy, with 30 percent of the space dedicated to advertising. Created in 1986, the corporation is a government-owned company headed by European editor-in-chief, William Pike. The corporation also has several local publications. Bukedde, the Luganda-language daily, distributes 20,000 copies per day; the Luo-language paper, Orumuri, is published weekly in Runyankole; and the Ateso-language paper is called Etop. The government-owned New Vision Publishing Corporation is likely to be privatized in the first decade of the 2000s because the government had placed increasing emphasis on divesting itself of its business activities. In 2002 the New Vision Corporation employed 250 full-time staff and an additional 250 are contract workers. There are over 400 vendors, who usually offer distribution services to multiple publications, can be considered indirectly employed by New Vision. Another giant in the newspaper industry of Uganda is the Monitor, an independent daily. It was started in 1992 by a group of editors and writers who defected from the Weekly Topic after coming into conflict with management policies. The Monitor grew from humble beginnings to become New Vision 's main rival. The Monitor 's daily print run is 25,000 with a readership of 200,000. With the same 15-by 11-inch format as New Vision, the Monitor averages 31 pages per issue, but can reach up to 50 pages. In an average issue 80 percent of space is committed to news copy, and the remaining 20 percent is sold to advertisers. In 1999 the Nation Media Group of Kenya , owner of Nairobi 's leading paper Nation, bought theMonitor. This brought an influx of capital and expertise to the Monitor as the Nation has been in the news industry for a much longer time. In 2001, the Monitor opened an FM radio station. Some of the print media journalists also work at the FM station. The synergy at work in this new venture is interesting and innovative. Monitor Publications also runs a Business Directory published once a year, has a Luganda newspaper called Ngoma, with a print run of 10,000. The Monitor Publications also publishes several books by local authors, some of which are used as text books in Uganda's schools. The Monitor publications and its FM station have 300 full-time workers and 150 part-time workers. Other papers and magazines include the Uganda Confidential that does anticorruption investigative. It has weathered several lawsuits in pursuit of its mission. Sunrise, Entatsi, and Message are among other news print choices from the vendors in Uganda. The regional weekly paper, East African, published by the Nation Media Group, circulates widely in Uganda's elite circles. At the other end of the spectrum, The Red Pepper is a tabloid weekly that focuses on sleaze stories and tends toward the pornographic. Its editors have been charged for publishing obscene pictures. The paper's editor, Richard Tusiime, has argued that the paper's stories are factual and should be published to awaken society. All newspapers are published in Kampala and circulate throughout Uganda; no print media is based in the countryside. The Monitor and New Vision have readership in Kenya and Tanzania where copies are taken daily. Challenges for the country and the media remain. The democratic future is still fragile. The current administration in power is a movement, not a political party in the Western sense. Indeed, Uganda does not permit political parties as such, thus there is no room or call for multi-party elections and the kind of political and policy debate that peaceful opposition engenders. This has generated some uncertainty about the country's future in building democratic institutions. In 2002, parliament enacted into law the Political Organisations Act. The passage of this legislation may help remove uncertainty about which political direction Uganda will take. Parties are not yet allowed to field candidates and hold rallies, but under the new law they can now hold their delegates conferences to elect their leaders, and they can hold seminars at the national level but not the districts. The parties are clearly not happy with the law as it does not open up the political space to the level they want, but there now exists some limited room in which to work for political organization and change. Media of all kinds have been deeply involved in this discussion. In another step toward mapping out its tenuous future, the country has planned a referendum for the mid-decade of 2000 to determine political system, movement, or multiparties will help determine the country's future. Another variable is the ongoing Constitution Review Commission that is collecting views from the population around the country. Its eventual report will also influence the future. The quality of journalism is impressive since broadcasting was liberalized in 1994. Entertainment radio and television, vastly different from the previous state-controlled media, is still something of a novelty in the country. Critics, who come from a strong tradition of state-run media, are strongly critical of FM radio's overwhelming emphasis on music and advertising at the sacrifice of news reporting and pubic information. Although the government controlled broadcast media until 1994, print media enjoyed relative openness as early as 1986, when several papers were launched. The quality of journalism has improved with the increased competition from the privately owned newspapers, radio, and television stations. Improved training at Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute's School of Journalism have also served to provide higher quality journalists for the growing and changing industry. Economic Framework Uganda is a developing country with a fragile, largely rural economic base. The total gross domestic product is about US$7 billion with a gross domestic product per capita annually of approximately US$1,167. During the 1990s and early 2000s the economy grew at an annual rate of about 6 percent, one of the highest rates of growth in the world. Yet the World Bank has noted: "Most people, and almost all the poorest, depend on small holder agriculture for their livelihoods. The scope for sustainable poverty reduction is therefore intimately linked to increases in market participation, agricultural productivity and non-farm employment." The government has put the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture in place with the anticipation that rural farming will be provided with the improvements it needs to compete in world—or at least regional—markets. Related to this effort is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan also aimed at alleviating subsistence poverty. According the United Nations Develop Programme's 2001 Human Development Report, 44.4 percent of Uganda's population live below the national poverty line. The full economic potential of the country in sectors such as tourism, coffee, tea, cocoa, fish and cotton is yet to be realized. The country's small industrial sector has grown since the Museveni government welcomed back the skilled Indian community that had been expelled by General Amin in the 1970s. The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act also opened a new door has been opened by allowing countries like Uganda to access the U.S. market with their exports. The challenge is how to add value to Uganda's cotton, coffee, and other exports so that finished products brings an influx of capital into the Ugandan economy. Furthermore, the economic growth rates would improve if all parts of the country were safe from ambush, terrorist acts, and meaningless violence. Press Laws Several statutes affect the media industry: the Constitution of 1995, the Press and Journalists Statute (1995), the Electronic Media Statute (1996), the Uganda Communications Act (1997), the Referendum and Other Provisions Act (1999), and the Penal Code Act. The constitution requires that "all organs and agencies of the State, all citizens, organisations and other bodies and persons in applying or interpreting the Constitution or any law and in taking and implementing any policy decisions for the establishment and promotion of a just, free and democratic society." The media industry is required under this law to follow the principles and objectives of the 1995 constitution. Article 29 (1) of the constitution states: "Every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media." But this freedom is restricted in Article 41 (1) which states: "Every citizen has a right of access to information in the possession of the State or any other organ or agency of the State except where the release of the information is likely to prejudice the security or sovereignty of the State or interfere with the right to privacy of any other person." This provision of the law makes investigative journalism very difficult as numerous questions are left unanswered. Whose privacy is protected, and who decides when privacy invasion has occurred? Such lack of clarity directly impedes the fact-finding and reporting capabilities of journalists. Finally, the ominous possibility that media investigations might jeopardize the security of the state raises the bar and poses the ever-present possibility that charges of treason, not merely privacy violations, could result. Government officials, who are usually the target of investigative reporting, find this part of the law to be a convenient and flexible tool. The situation is further complicated by the lack of a freedom of information act, which Parliament has yet to put in place. Such legislation would clarify which types of information can be accessed and which cannot under the present constitution. Indeed, the present ambiguity works in favor of political, but not democratic, interests. The Press and Journalist Statute of 1995 created the National Institute of Journalists of Uganda to which all practicing journalists are required to belong. Its aims to establish and maintain professional standards; to foster the spirit of professional fellowship among journalists; to encourage, train, equip and enable journalists to play their part in society; and to establish and maintain mutual relationships with international journalists' organizations. The statute even prescribes the type of education full members of the institute should have. A full member is required under this statute to be a holder of a university degree in journalism or mass communication. Alternatively a person may be a full member if he or she has a university degree in any other field plus a qualification in journalism or mass communication and has practiced journalism for at least one year. The law stipulates that a practicing certificate valid for one year is required by all who work in journalism, unless the worker possesses the longer-term certificate. The penalty for noncompliance is a fine of US$170 or three months of imprisonment. Nonetheless, many journalists practice without these certifications, and the law in not normally enforced. It remains a tool of the bureaucracy, though not at this time an active one. The Press and Journalists Statute 1995 provides for a disciplinary committee that hears complaints, allegations of professional misconduct, and other inquiries. As a reference point for responsible practice, the Statute presents in clear language a nine-point code of conduct which addresses such issues as disclosure of sources of information, accepting bribes, denying a person a legitimate claim of right to reply to a statement, separating opinion from factual news, correcting any damage done through factual error, and discouraging the dissemination of information designed to promote or having the effect of promoting tribalism, racism or any other form of discrimination. The Press and Journalist Statute (1995) created a Media Council that is appointed by the Minister of Information. The functions of the council are to regulate the conduct and promote good ethical standards among journalists; to arbitrate disputes between the public and the state and the media; to exercise disciplinary control over journalists, editors, and publishers; to promote the flow of information; to censor films, video tapes, plays and other related media for public consumption; and to do for the press anything that may be authorized or required by any other law. However, the government has often resorted to the courts before engaging the services of the Media Council, which has gone unused. Since the law's passage, members of the public have sought due process in the courts, without turning to the Council. To be effective, the Media Council must begin asserting itself and define its role in ensuring that journalists are not harassed in freely pursuing their work. Passed in March of 2002, the Anti-Terrorism Act is likely to complicate the life of practicing journalists. Several controversial sections of the law have drawn response from international agencies. Soon after the law was passed, Reporters Without Borders (the French media advocacy group) urged the Uganda government not to implement the new antiterrorism law until clauses which could be used against journalists for "encouraging terrorism"—a 10-year prison sentence offense—are removed. The Uganda Journalists Safety Committee helps journalists who are harassed by the state. The committee provides financial support to hire lawyers and sometimes offers support for the family while a journalist is in jail. Censorship Officially the Media Council has the role of censoring offensive materials, mainly pornography or racist, sectarian, or tribalistic material. The National Institute of Journalists also carries some responsibility for discipline of this material. In actual practice, however, agents of the state (usually the police) more often investigate and indict journalists before calling on either professional agency. As a result, the Media Council remains weak and ineffective. The arrival of the Internet has complicated every effort to control media content. In most national legal systems, legislation cannot keep up with technology. This is certainly the case in Uganda. The split-court decision in 2002 in the U.S. case Ashcroft vs. Free Speech Coalition concerning virtual child pornography would be seen in Uganda to be hair-splitting to the extreme, yet the Ugandan legal system—no more than the one in such an advanced democracy—cannot maintain pace with the creative technologies of those who would ply the public's most vulnerable sensitivities. State-Press Relations Despite the ambiguities of the law and process, the relation between state and press in Uganda continues to improve. Perhaps that improvement is more a comment on the abhorrent conditions under which the press operated during Amin's rule rather than a statement of current liberal practice and press freedom. During the Amin regime, the working life of a dissident journalist was often cut violently short, and from the state's point of view, due process was properly hierarchical, fast, and emphatic. Many journalists were killed, a practice not uncommon in the East African region. That executions no longer occur is improvement indeed. That journalists may now appeal their case and cause based on legislation which at least defines the state's interests (albeit overly broad and with characteristic vagueness) illustrates significant advances over the arbitrary censorship and intimidation of the recent past. The liberalized atmosphere in which licenses to operate are relatively easy to get makes relations between the state and the press easy to manage. In power since the mid-1980s, the National Resistance Movement government has carried out far-reaching reforms in the country. The media has played a vital role in exposing corruption, in the HIV/AIDS campaign, and in the campaign against poverty. Media have been allies with government in this regard. Yet certain tensions remain. The government has criticized the media for concentrating on sensational stories. President Yoweri Museveni is particularly angered at times by the press' natural tendency to focus on problems and difficulties in Uganda, which Museveni claims drives away international investors. At times he has called such reporting "enemy action." Nevertheless his government has an open door to the media industry. He is the only president in the region who regularly interacts with the media in lengthy press conferences. His presidential press unit, headed by press secretary Mary Karoro Okurut, holds monthly press briefings. Karoro Okurut contributes articles to both the New Vision and Monitor. Her deputy Onapito Ekomoloit also writes a column for New Vision. This is evidence of the good working relationship that the government has with the media. The same holds true for the electronic media. It is not uncommon for a minister of government to be a guest at a talk show to explain a particular policy to the public. Attitude toward Foreign Media Article 30 (1) and (2) of the Press and Journalist Statute states: "No person being an employee of a foreign mass media organization or working as a freelance for the mass media shall practice journalism in Uganda unless he is in possession of an accreditation card issued by the Council. The accreditation card referred to in this section shall be issued upon payment of fees and upon such terms as may be prescribed by the council." Foreign media are active in Uganda without harassment. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Radio France International, The Financial Times of London, and others have operated in Uganda. Free to report within the country, even foreign journalists in print and electronic media coming for assignments from neighboring Kenya are required to secure accreditation from the Ugandan government. The foreign press's presence is especially apparent when regional events are taking place in Kampala. The BBC and Radio France International run local FM stations and relay their programs through the country. News Agencies Uganda is host to Reuters, Agence France Press, Associated Press, the Chinese News Agency, and one local agency, the Uganda News Agency, which is part of the Department of Information in the President's Office. All have a good working relation with the State. Most foreign news agencies employ local journalists to cover the country for them. Broadcast Media The Electronic Media Statute of 1996 guides the Broadcast Media. According to the most reliable source for broadcast news, this statute repeals the earlier Cinematography Act and Television Licensing Act. It amends and consolidates previous statutes relating to broadcasting in particular, the Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation Act. The right to broadcast is guaranteed by the statute. The Act states: "No person shall, on the ground of content of program, take any action not authorized under the statute or any law to prevent the broadcasting of the program." Moral constraints limit what may be broadcast, and according the statute, producers must be at least 18 years old. The Statute created a regulatory authority for electronic media, the Broadcasting Council. This body is responsible for the licensing and operations of radio and television; publishing a code of ethics for broadcasters in consultation with the Media Council; and standardizing, planning and managing the frequency spectrum in the public interest so as to ensure its optimal utilization and the widest possible variety of programming, including incentive payments where appropriate to ensure provision of broadcasting to rural remote areas. The Council is also charged with licensing and operations of cinematography theatres and videotape libraries. The Uganda Communication Commission was established by parliament and is responsible for allocation of frequencies to operators who have been approved licensed by the Broadcasting Council. The leading broadcasters are Uganda Television and Radio Uganda, both government stations. Radio Uganda has other subsidiaries, such as Star FM, Radio Freedom, and the Green Channel. The competition for listeners is stiff in Kampala. But Radio Uganda's broadcasts reach outside Kampala, where private FM stations cannot reach, offering the government-run station a significant advantage. Within Uganda there are approximately 108 radio receivers for every 1,000 people and 26 television sets for every 1,000 people. The airwaves were liberalized in 1994 when private stations like Capital FM and Sanyu FM started their broadcasts. Capital FM has spread its wings to other parts of the country and four other towns. It plays a lot of popular Western music, which appeals to a youthful audience. News and some talk shows are also aired. Capital FM dominates morning programs with its popular show "Alex and Christine in the Morning," which runs from 7:00 am to 10:00 am every Monday to Friday. Another popular program with wide listenership is the "Capital Gang" that runs every Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. It usually has government officials, donors, and members of civil society who discuss public policy issues in the news. President Museveni has been to the Capital gang twice. It usually includes a live phone-in opportunities for the public audience. Sanyu FM, another Kampala station, is as old as the Capital FM. It has a strong signal and plays the latest music from around the world. Jazz and classical music lovers are among the station's listeners as well as the country's urban-bred youth. These private FM stations operate 24 hours a day. Since privatization in 1994, approximately 70 licenses have been issued, although not all have become operational. Nonetheless, five television stations have begun broadcasting as a result of liberalization. State-owned Uganda Television (UTV) dominates the country's television broadcasting primarily because its signal covers about 60 percent of the country and provides the best picture and sound quality of all active Ugandan stations. UTV broadcasts 12 hours a day and approximately 40 percent of the programming content is foreign-based. In the early 2000s a new private station, the Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS), entered the market. Focused on creative news and entertainment programs, some of its content is locally produced, including two of popular shows, Showtime Magazine and Jam Agenda. WBS broadcasts for 18 hours each day and airs Cable News Network every morning. Airing some local religious programming, Lighthouse Television depends mainly on relaying programs from the U.S.-based Trinity Broadcasting Network. Its 24-hour broadcasting format consists of religious programming and 90 minutes of CNN. In general, television reaches its highest level of viewership from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The peak time of viewing is 9:00 p.m. TV Africa, which now airs 24-hours a day in Uganda, has also taken a share of Uganda's television audience. Broadcasting from South Africa , the station's signal is not as good as UTV and WBS, but still offers Ugandan's another choice of stations with quality programming. Pay television also exists in Uganda. Still limited to the country's small privileged class, Digital Satellite Television is beamed from South Africa into at least 400 Ugandan homes. Private broadcasters complain about the high fees charged by government for the license to operate. Electronic News Media The Uganda Communication Commission issues the licenses for electronic media operations. Despite being a very new forum for the media, Uganda has 2,000 Internet service providers and 40,000 Internet users. Several newspapers, including New Vision and the Monitor, maintain Web sites. Education & Training The level of education for Uganda's journalists is increasing. Requirements for membership in the National Institute of Journalists of Uganda have pushed several practicing journalists back to school to improve their academic qualifications. Continuous training is also being increasingly emphasized. Specialization is encouraged in fields such as business journalism and environmental reporting. The Mass Communication Program at Makerere University offered the first journalism degree in the country in 1988. The Uganda Management Institute's School of Journalism also offers a degree program; however, in the 2000s, the school was under threatening to close due to financial difficulties. Other schools, including the Uganda Christian University, also offer journalism programs. Every year at least 150 new journalists enter the job market. The National Institute of Journalists of Uganda, the Uganda Journalists Association, the Uganda Sports Press Association, the Uganda Press Photographers Association, and the Uganda Media Women's Association all serve to monitor and improve professional journalistic standards. The East Africa Media Institute and the Commonwealth Journalists Association are the newest additions to Uganda's professional organizations. Yet another global grouping with membership in Uganda is the U.K-based World Association of Christian Communication. Reporters Without Borders and the Uganda Journalists Safety Committee address concerns regarding journalists' welfare, including assistance for imprisoned journalists. Summary Since the process of liberalizing the media industry started in 1994, Uganda has experienced an increase in the number of press and media outlets, especially in the broadcast media. Although print media still experience difficulties in increasing readership, the broadcast media maintains a strong and stable viewer base. Competition is stiff but most media are active and prospering. Because Uganda is a developing country, issues of poverty, HIV/ AIDS, and governance are critical. The media play a crucial role in improving the welfare of the people by highlighting the issues and increasing the level of public debate. The country continues to lack a Freedom of Information Act, needed to balance the playing field between the government and the press and to assist the press in fulfilling the role as a watchdog for government corruption. Since the end of Amin's regime in the mid-1980s, press freedom has improved. Journalists commonly work without harassment; however, occasionally reporters are pressured and even imprisoned. The Media and Broadcast Council, which exists to service and regulate the media industry, has proven weak and ineffective. In general, the 1995 constitution is well written, but advances in press freedoms must continue to provide the country with the full services and potential of the services its media outlets can provide. Significant Dates 1997: Uganda Communications Commission Act is passed. 1999: Nation Group buys Monitor Publications. 2002: Uganda Television and Radio Uganda are brought under one leadership; Channel Television and TV Africa merge. Bibliography The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995. Kampala, Uganda: Reproduced by the Law Development Center, 1995. Muthoni, Lynne, ed. Up in the Air: The State of the Broadcasting in Eastern Africa: Analysis and Trends in Five Countries. Panos Institute Eastern Africa, 2000. The Press and Journalist Statute, 1995. Kampala, Uganda: Reproduced by the Law Development Center, 1995. Reinkka, Ritva, and Paul Collier. (eds.). Uganda's Recovery: The Role of Firms, Farms and Government.World Bank, 2000. Uganda Human Development Report, 2000. New York: Oxford University Press for the United Nations Development Programme, 2000. The UNDP Human Development Report 2001. New York: Oxford University Press for the United Nations Development Programme, 2001. Aggrey D. Mugisha RELIGION: Christianity ; Islam ; indigenous beliefs 1 • INTRODUCTION Uganda's ethnic history is largely the result of two population movements that occurred between ad 1000 and 1500. Cattle herders, known as Hima, moved into exclusively agricultural areas. They contributed to the development of centralized kingdoms in the west-central portion of the country. Nilotic speakers then moved into the northern and eastern areas. They stimulated the further development of centralized kingdoms to the south by introducing ruling clans (groups of people with common descent). These migrations contributed to political and ethnic divisions that can still be seen today. The British established Uganda as a protectorate (a territory under British rule) in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Uganda had a promising future at the time of independence (1962). However, ethnic divisions proved insurmountable. In 1967, Prime Minister Milton Obote from the north declared kingdoms illegal. He tried to impose a socialist doctrine on the nation. Sir Edward Mutesa, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda, and the first president of the Republic of Uganda, was overthrown by Obote, who then declared himself the president. In 1971, Obote was overthrown by his army commander, Idi Amin. This led to a repressive reign of terror against all Ugandans. The economy was soon in ruins. Milton Obote returned to power after Amin was driven from the country in 1979. An ensuing guerrilla war ended in 1986, with Yoweri Museveni becoming president. An elected parliament replaced the interim government in 1996. Uganda currently is experiencing a rejuvenated economy and political system. Its present government has maintained an open style of leadership receptive to the participation of all ethnic groups. 2 • LOCATION Uganda is located in east Africa astride the equator, and between Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its area is about the size of the state of Oregon. Uganda is landlocked but has several large inland waterways, including Lake Victoria. Its climate is tropical with two rainy seasons; however, the northeast is semi-arid. The capital city is Kampala . Uganda's population is about 20 million people. About forty ethnic groups are represented, of which the Baganda, the Karamojong, the Iteso, and the Lango are the largest groups. There also are a small number of Europeans, Asians, and Arabs. 3 • LANGUAGE The official, national language of Uganda is English. Bantu languages are spoken by the greatest number of speakers in the nation. These are concentrated in the southern and western areas of the country. Nilotic languages predominate in the northern regions. Ugandans are typically comfortable speaking more than one language. Luganda, English, and Kiswahili, for example, are commonly used in Kampala. In other regions of the country, children learn English in addition to their own ethnic language. Even among the most highly-educated Ugandans, there is a strong preference for the mother tongue at home and in social situations. 4 • FOLKLORE All the ethnic groups of Uganda have a rich oral tradition of tales, legends, stories, proverbs, and riddles. Folk heroes include those thought responsible for introducing kingship into society. Morality tales were common throughout Uganda. The Ankole peoples' tales include one about a wise woman and her selfish husband, which teaches faithfulness to one's wives during hard times; one about a pig and a hyena, which preaches against self-indulgence; and the wisdom of the hare, which demonstrates the advantages of being quick-witted and friendly. Proverbs and riddles are perhaps the most significant mechanisms for teaching values to the young. They also provide entertainment. The importance of parenting, for instance, can be seen in the following proverbs from the Baganda: I will never move from this village, but for the sake of children he does. He who does a good service to one's child, does better than one who merely says he loves you. An only child is like a drop of rain in the dry season. My luck is in that child of mine if the child is rich. A skillful hunting dog may nevertheless produce weaklings. A chicken's feet do not kill its young. That which becomes bad at the outset of its growth is almost impossible to straighten at a later stage. Collective games of riddle-making are a popular evening entertainment in rural villages. Among the Baganda, these games involve men and women of all ages. A person who solves a riddle is given a village to rule as its "chief." Some examples of riddles are: Pass one side, and I also pass the other side, so that we meet in the middle? (a belt) He built a house with only one pole standing? (a mushroom) He goes on dancing as he walks? (a caterpillar) He built a house with two entrances? (a nose) He has three legs? (an old man walking with his stick) 5 • RELIGION About two-thirds of Ugandans are Christian, evenly divided between Protestants and Roman Catholics. The remaining third are about evenly divided between Muslims and those practicing indigenous (native) African religions. Indigenous supernatural ideas such as belief in witchcraft, the evil eye, and night dancers are still widespread. A widely-feared person throughout Uganda is the night dancer. He is a community member by day; by night he is thought to roam about eating dead bodies while floating along the ground with fire between his hands. People generally avoid traveling alone at night for fear of these night dancers (Basezi). Ancestors are highly respected and feared. They communicate with the living through dreams to warn them of impending dangers and to advise them on family matters. 6 • MAJOR HOLIDAYS There is a single national holiday, celebrated on October 9. It commemorates the day in 1962 when Uganda achieved its independence from the United Kingdom . 7 • RITES OF PASSAGE Infancy is considered an important period in a child's development. Ceremonies during the first year of life celebrate milestones such as sitting up alone and obtaining one's clan name. Childhood varies depending on whether the child comes from a wealthy or a poor family, or lives in the city of Kampala or in a rural village. Due to the cost of schooling, family members often need to pool their resources in order to send children (or, in some cases, only the most promising child). This child, if successful, is expected to help other family members in turn. Boys and girls generally have household tasks. Girls seven to nine years old care for younger siblings. In rural areas, young boys typically are expected to tend the livestock. Children from wealthy parents have fewer work responsibilities and more leisure time. The teenage years are devoted to education, work, and courtship. Pubescent girls were traditionally secluded and formally instructed by elder women (such as one's Ssenga, or father's sister). Boys were initiated into an age-set, a generational hierarchy. Women from western Uganda traditionally went into seclusion prior to marriage. They spent an extended period of time drinking milk in order to gain weight. Plumpness is still considered desirable today. 8 • RELATIONSHIPS Ugandans on the whole are extremely involved in the social life of their communities. Social activities may center around villages, schools, neighborhoods, clubs, churches, mosques, age-sets, clans, homesteads, or extended families. Sociability is best symbolized through a pattern of ritualized greetings. These vary according to time of day, a person's age, social status, and length of time since an encounter. Not to greet someone is considered to be a serious impropriety. The following is an example of a Kiganda greeting: Mawulire ki? (What is the news?) Tetugalaba. (We have none.) Mpoza mmwe? (Perhaps you have?) Naffe tetugalaba or Nedda. (We have none either.) Mmm or Eee. (OK.) Dating occurs prior to marriage in a variety of social contexts. Young people meet at funerals, weddings, churches, and school socials. Nightclubs are popular for dancing with friends or with "dates." Love songs are popular with people of all ages. 9 • LIVING CONDITIONS Homes in rural areas are frequently made of wattle and daub (woven rods and twigs plastered with clay and mud) and have thatched or corrugated-iron roofs. Affluent residents of rural areas may have elaborate homes. Urban homes are typically of concrete with corrugated-iron or tile roofs, and have glass windows. In the suburbs of Kampala, multilevel and ranch homes are very plush, with servant quarters, swimming pools, and elaborate gardens. Urban gardens where vegetables and flowers are grown are also common. 10 • FAMILY LIFE Marriage and family life are primary pursuits of most Ugandans, whatever their ethnic group or religion. The extended family continues to be important to Ugandans. However, individualism and the nuclear family are increasing due to European and Christian influences. Monogamy (having only one spouse) is now the national ideal, even though polygyny (a husband with several wives) is sometimes encountered. Ugandans typically pay some form of marriage fee, maintain allegiances to their extended families and clans, and generally marry outside of these clans (a custom known as exogamy). Traditional marriage ceremonies, rituals, and practices prevail. Most women, regardless of their educational level, desire children. 11 • CLOTHING Most Ugandans wear Western-style clothing. Young people are especially attracted to American clothing styles such as jeans and slacks. The most prominent indigenous (native) clothing is found in southern Uganda among the Baganda. The woman typically wears a busuuti (a floor-length, brightly colored cloth dress with short puffed sleeves, a square neckline fastened by two buttons, and a sash placed just below the waist). Baganda men frequently wear a kanzu (long white robe). For special occasions, a western-style suit jacket is worn over the kanzu. In western Uganda, Bahima women wear full, broad cotton dresses and a floor-length shawl. Northern societies such as the Karamojong wear cowskins. They signify social status (such as warrior, married person, or elder) by items of adornment such as feather plumes and large coiled, copper necklaces and armlets. 12 • FOOD Each region of Uganda has its own foods and traditions. Among pastoral groups such as the Karamojong, there is a strong emphasis on cattle. They provide meat, milk, clothing, blankets, horns and hoofs for containers, and other resources. Millet and sorghum are common grains available throughout northern regions. Root crops (cassava, manioc, and sweet potatoes) and plantains are staples in southern and eastern Uganda where rain is plentiful year-round. Matooke (plantains, a fruit of the banana family) is the staple of the Baganda, the largest ethnic group in Uganda. Matooke is served with various sauces made of peanuts, green leaves, mushrooms, tomatoes, meat, fish, white ants, and/or grasshoppers. 13 • EDUCATION During the administrations of Milton Obote and Idi Amin, the educational standard of the country deteriorated. The present government is in the process of rebuilding the nation's school system. About half the total population age fifteen and over are illiterate (unable to read or write). Literacy is higher among males than females. This imbalance is due in part to a policy of favoritism shown by the British for the education of boys. In addition, there is a high rate of pregnancy among schoolgirls, usually requiring that they leave school. Poverty is another factor contributing to illiteracy, given that schooling can be expensive. Parents have high expectations for the education of their children. Success in school is seen as the means to a better livelihood for the individual who is, in turn, expected to help his or her extended family. For this reason, Ugandan students are typically very hardworking and achievement-oriented. 14 • CULTURAL HERITAGE Music and dance are a significant part of Uganda's cultural heritage. Dance forms vary somewhat by ethnic group. People of all ages participate in dance and song in the course of routine rituals, family celebrations, and community events. Among the Karamojong and their neighbors, dance is especially significant during times of courtship. Many Baganda households contain at least a small cowhide drum for regular use in singing and dancing. Baganda dancers are skilled in their ability to swiftly move their hips to the alternating beats of drums playing simultaneously. Among the Banyankole, pots filled with various levels of water are used as percussion instruments. Men and women accompany the rhythms by singing, dancing, and beating their hands on their bodies. Modern nightclub and disco dancing are also part of the teenage scene, particularly in urban areas. Before the devastation of Uganda's economic and intellectual life, Uganda was in the process of developing an extremely rich literary tradition in English. The Baganda people also had developed a robust vernacular literature in the Luganda language, including novels, short stories, essays, historical writings, songs, plays, and poems. Perhaps the most famous Ugandan writer from the pre-Amin years was Okot p'Bitek. He was an essayist, poet, and social critic. Although he died in 1982, his work is still read throughout east Africa, as well as internationally. 15 • EMPLOYMENT During the Amin years, the economy in Uganda lost virtually all its foreign population. Most had been involved in banking, commercial activities, and industry. Nevertheless, Uganda has maintained a strong subsistence agricultural base (growing crops for food as opposed to profit). Important subsistence crops include millet, corn, cassava, and plantains. Beef, poultry, and milk are also significant, especially among pastoral populations. Small-scale businesses employ numerous Ugandans in Kampala and throughout the country's smaller towns and villages. Such work includes tailoring, shopkeeping, hair care, various kinds of repair work, carpentry, and the marketing of food and other household necessities. The professions, including teaching, law, and medicine, are growing and employ support staffs that include secretaries, receptionists, and computer personnel. Comparatively poor people operate small all-purpose stands, selling items such as cigarettes, matches, candy, soft drinks, biscuits, cookies, and bread. The leisure-time industry is quite lively, encompassing restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Tourism, involving safaris to game parks, is once again on the upswing as well. 16 • SPORTS Soccer is the most popular sport, with a national league and hotly contested playoffs. Cricket, rugby, and boxing are also enjoyed by many spectators. Uganda sends competitors abroad to international events such as the Olympics. In the past it has won medals for excellence in track and field. 17 • RECREATION Most Ugandans own radios and enjoy listening to a variety of educational programs, plays, stories, news, and music. Stations broadcast in English and the major ethnic languages. There is a national television station that includes local programs as well as those from the United States and England . Television is available in most affluent homes and in hotels. Individuals and families enjoy visiting restaurants and clubs where they can watch traditional dancing. Popular theater is also a significant source of entertainment in Uganda. Plays center on themes of broad public appeal such as politics, social change, and health and family matters. Recently, plays have been used throughout the country to promote health education, especially about HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. The significance of public plays for educational purposes cannot be underestimated in a country where about half the population is illiterate. 18 • CRAFTS AND HOBBIES Much of Ugandans' artistic endeavors involve everyday objects. These include colorful straw mats, tightly woven coiled baskets, wooden milk pots and bowls, and smoking pipes. Basketry is a highly developed art form in Uganda. Common fibers are banana palm, raffia, papyrus, and sisal. Weaving is used for house walls, fences, roofs, baskets, mats, traps, table mats, cushions, and receptacles for drink and food. Bark-cloth was once a widespread craft used for many purposes, including clothing. Today, bark-cloth is used as decoration on place mats and greeting cards, as well as in the making of blankets and shrouds. Another art form is batik, a type of cloth painting that can be hung on walls for decoration. The current revival of the tourist industry is likely to stimulate the production of arts and crafts for foreign consumption. 19 • SOCIAL PROBLEMS Uganda suffers from one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world. However, it has one of the best public awareness programs associated with HIV/AIDS anywhere. Many families have experienced the loss of loved ones to this disease, resulting in a large number of orphans. Another problem is the flow of refugees coming to Uganda from neighboring nations suffering from political turmoil. Hundreds of thousands of southern Sudanese have fled to Uganda in recent years, due to religious conflict in the Sudan . Rwandan refugees fleeing from ethnic conflict enter Uganda from the west. Idi Amin's brutal rule was one of the most highly publicized terrorist regimes in modern times. However, Uganda is now well on the way to democracy, although it is still under one-party rule. Ugandans, on the whole, are optimistic about their future. 20 • BIBLIOGRAPHY Curley, Richard T. Elders, Shades, and Women. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973. Hansen, Holger Bernt, and Michael Twaddle, ed. Uganda Now: Between Decay and Development. London, England: James Currey, Ltd., 1988. Kilbride, Philip L., and Janet C. Kilbride. Changing Family Life in East Africa: Women and Children at Risk. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1990. Mair, Lucy. African Societies. London, England: Cambridge University Press, 1974. Roscoe, John. The Banyankole. London, England: Cambridge University Press, 1923. WEBSITES Embassy of Uganda, Washington, D.C. [Online] Available http://www.ugandaweb.com/ugaembassy/, 1998. Government of Uganda. Uganda Home Page. [Online] Available http://www.uganda.co.ug/, 1998. World Travel Guide. Uganda. [Online] Available http://www.wtgonline.com/country/ug/gen.html, 1998. Cite this article Official name: Republic of Uganda Area: 236,040 square kilometers (91,136 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Margherita Peak (5,110 meters/16,765 feet) Lowest point on land: Lake Albert (621 meters/2,037 feet) Hemispheres: Northern, Southern, and Eastern Time zone: 3 p.m. = noon GMT Longest distances: 787 kilometers (489 miles) from north-northeast to south-southwest; 486 kilometers (302 miles) from east-southeast to west-northwest Land boundaries: 2,698 kilometers (1,676 miles) total boundary length; Sudan 435 kilometers (270 miles); Kenya 933 kilometers (580 miles); Tanzania 396 kilometers (246 miles); Rwanda 169 kilometers (105 miles); Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 kilometers (475 miles) Coastline: None Territorial sea limits: None 1 LOCATION AND SIZE Uganda is located in eastern Africa, west of Kenya, south of Sudan, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and north of Rwanda and Tanzania. With an area of about 236,040 square kilometers (91,136 square miles), the country is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. Uganda is divided into forty-five districts. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Uganda has no outside territories or dependencies. 3 CLIMATE Situated right on the equator, temperatures do not vary much on the plateau. At Lake Albert, annual temperatures range only from 22° to 29°C (72° to 84°F). Temperatures drop significantly at the higher altitudes, however. At Kampala , for instance, the average extremes are 17°C to 27°C (63°F to 81°F). While most of Uganda receives an annual rainfall of at least 140 centimeters (40 inches), the northeast receives only 69 centimeters (27 inches). The areas around the lakes receive more rainfall on average. The city of Entebbe , on Lake Victoria, receives 162 centimeters (64 inches). 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS Uganda lies on the great plateau of east-central Africa straddling the equator. Surrounding the plateau are rows of volcanoes along the eastern and western branches of the Great Rift Valley. Its location on the middle of the African Tectonic Plate is a relatively stable geological position. Recently, however, the warping that created the western rift valley has led to an accumulation of waters in the lower zone to the east that now forms the basin of Lake Victoria along the southern border. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS Uganda is a landlocked country. 6 INLAND LAKES Lakes Albert, Edward, and George are troughs in the western Great Rift Valley system, while Lakes Victoria and Kyoga are shallow basins on the plateau. Uganda shares Lake Albert and Lake Edward with the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lake George, which is connected to Lake Edward by the Kazinga Channel, is wholly within Uganda. All of the lakes are relatively shallow. The maximum depth recorded in Lake Victoria is 82 meters (270 feet); in Lake Albert, 51 meters (168 feet); in Lake Edward, 117 meters (384 feet); in Lakes Kyoga and Kwania, 7.3 meters (24 feet); and in Lake George, 3 meters (10 feet). A large swamp surrounds Lakes Kyoga and Kwania in the center of the country. Lake Salisbury, to the northeast of Lake Kyoga, provides an outlet for the waters north of Mount Elgon to the Nile River system. West of Lake Victoria, in the south, six lakes are connected by swampland. In the upland areas of the southwest, a number of swampy areas have been reclaimed. Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, with its water volume estimated to be about 2,760 trillion liters (729 trillion gallons). Only Lake Superior in North America is larger. Lake Victoria has an indented coast with many deep gulfs and tributary outlets. Of Lake Victoria's 69,484 square kilometers (26,828 square miles), 20,430 square kilometers (11,749 square miles) are in Uganda; the remainder is divided between Kenya and Tanzania. Within the lake are many archipelagos, reefs, and more than two hundred species of fish. The Sese Archipelago, a chain of sixty-two islands in the lake off the coast southwest of Kampala, contains inhabitants known as the Basese, most of whom are fishermen. The Basese are a distinct tribal group with their own language, culture, and folklore. The densely populated Ukerewe is the largest of the islands. It rises over 200 meters (650 feet) above the lake's surface. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS With a total length of 6,693 kilometers (4,160 miles), the Nile River is the longest river in the world, although others carry more water. The Nile begins in Uganda, where Lake Victoria overflows at a low point near Jinja to form the Victoria Nile. The Victoria Nile flows through Lake Kyoga to Lake Albert. Lake Albert drains through what is called the Albert Nile, which flows north into Sudan, where it becomes known as the White Nile. From the Owen Falls at Jinja to the point at which the Albert Nile crosses the northern border with Sudan, the river descends over more than 518 meters (1,700 feet), accomplished for the most part through a series of falls and rapids. The Nile continues through Sudan and Egypt , where it drains into the Mediterranean Sea . In Uganda, nearly 5,180 square kilometers (2,000 square miles) of swamp lie in the lowland area that borders the Nile. The Nile River Basin, which includes all the generally fertile lands surrounding the river as it cuts through the Sahara Desert, is the world's largest oasis. Most other rivers in Uganda are sluggish; in fact, some are not much more than vegetation-covered swamps. The Katonga runs into a swamp at the northeast corner of Lake Victoria. The Kafu flows into the western end of Lake Kwania, but its headwaters connect with those of the Muzizi, flowing westward into the southern end of Lake Albert. Other major rivers are the Aswa, Pager, and Dopeth-Okok of the northeast and the Mpongo, a tributary of the Kafu. Clear, swiftly flowing streams run only through the hills and along the slopes of the Western Rift Valley. 8 DESERTS There are no significant desert regions in Uganda. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN Scattered patches of elephant grass dominate the southern reaches of the country, while long grasses colonize the western highlands. The drier northern savannah consists mostly of grassland, but the grass here is significantly shorter. Open woodlands of thorn trees, borassus palms, and scrub can also be found in the north. West of the mountains on the eastern border are a number of other smaller mountain ranges including the Labwor Hills, which range from 1,798 to 2,530 meters (5,900 to 8,300 feet). These hills are more or less isolated from one another, rising abruptly out of the plains. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES In the extreme southwest are the Mufumbiro Volcanoes, of which only the northern side is in Uganda. From these volcanic highlands, an elevated area that is more than 1,524 meters (5,000 feet) above sea level extends northeastward through Kigezi District into western Ankole District. The Mufumbiro range includes the 3,645-meter- (11,960-feet-) high Mount Sabinio, the intersection of borders between three neighboring countries: Uganda, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda's highest mountain is Muhavura, at 4,127 meters (13,540 feet). These highlands are separated from the Ruwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon, by a low valley containing Lake George and the Kazinga Channel, an outlet into Lake Edward. The Ruwenzori range, skirting the western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) long and rises into a number of peaks which exceed 4,267 meters (14,000 feet), the highest of which is Margherita Peak, at 5,110 meters (16,765 feet). Above 4,267 meters (14,000 feet), the mountains are capped with snow and large glaciers. To the east, volcanic centers and hills mark the approach to the Kenya borderlands. Mount Elgon, between Sebei District and Kenya, is 4,321 meters (14,178 feet) at its highest point. Mount Debasien, in Karamoja District, is 3,068 meters (10,067 feet); while Mount Moroto, still further north, is 3,083 meters (10,116 feet). Mount Morungole near the northeast border is 2,750 meters (9,022 feet); and Mount Zulia in the extreme northeast is 2,148 meters (7,048 feet) high. Along the northern border are the southern outlines of the Imatong Mountains of the Sudan, all of which reach 1,828 meters (6,000 feet). DID YOU KNOW? Uganda has two national parks which have been designated as UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, contains more than 160 species of trees and more than 100 species of ferns. It also serves as a habitat for the mountain gorilla, which is an endangered species. Ruwenzori Mountains National Park covers the main part of the Ruwenzori mountain chain in the west and includes its highest peak. The park contains glaciers, waterfalls, and lakes and also serves as a habitat for many endangered species and unique plant life, such as the giant heather. 11 CANYONS AND CAVES The western branch of the Great Rift Valley forms the border between Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Great Rift Valley is a massive fault system that stretches over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Jordan Valley in Israel to Mozambique . In general, the Great Rift Valley ranges in elevation from 395 meters (1,300 feet) below sea level at the Dead Sea to 1,830 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level in south Kenya. The western branch contains the troughs and rivers that have become part of the African Great Lakes system. One of these lakes, Lake Albert, marks the lowest point in Uganda at 621 meters (2,037 feet). 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS Between the east and west mountain masses, Uganda's prominent relief feature is a plateau dissected by numerous rivers, swamps, and lakes. The plateau is fairly regular, with an altitude between 800 and 2,000 meters (2,600 and 6,600 feet) above sea level. In the southwest this region is known as the Ankole, named after the native kingdom that used to occupy the land. 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES The Owen Falls Dam, near Jinja on the Nile, is a hydroelectric power station that supplies most of the electricity in Uganda. 14 FURTHER READING Books Africa South of the Sahara 2002: Uganda. London: Europa Publishers, 2001. Nzita, R., and Mbaga-Niwampa. Peoples and Cultures of Uganda. 2 nd ed. Kampala, Uganda: Fountain Publishers, 1995. Pirouet, M.L. Historical Dictionary of Uganda. Meutchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1995. Periodicals Caputo, Robert. "Uganda—Land Beyond Sorrow." National Geographic, April 1988, 468-492. Web Sites ThinkQuest: The Living Africa. http://www.library.thinkquest.org/16645/contents.html (accessed May 5, 2003). Uganda Tourist Board. http://www.visituganda.com/inside.htm (accessed May 5, 2003). Cite this article Ugandan Orientation Identification. Lake Kyoga serves as a rough boundary between Bantu speakers in the south and Nilotic and Central Sudanic language speakers in the north. Despite the division between north and south in political affairs, this linguistic boundary actually runs roughly from northwest to southeast, near the course of the Nile . However, many Ugandans live among people who speak different languages, especially in rural areas. Some sources describe regional variation in terms of physical characteristics, clothing, bodily adornment, and mannerisms, but others claim that those differences are disappearing. Location and Geography. Bantu speakers probably entered southern Uganda by the end of the first millennium. They had developed centralized kingdoms by the fifteenth or sixteenth century, and after independence from British rule in 1962, Bantu speakers constituted roughly two-thirds of the population. They are classified as either Eastern Lacustrine or Western Lacustrine Bantu. The Eastern Lacustrine Bantu speakers include the Baganda people whose language is Luganda, the Basoga, and many smaller societies in Uganda, Tanzania , and Kenya . The Western Lacustrine Bantu speakers include the Banyoro, the Bastoro, the Banyankole, and several smaller populations in Uganda. Nilotic language speakers probably entered the area from the north beginning about c.e. 1000. Thought to be the first cattle-herding people in the area, they also relied on crop cultivation. The largest Nilotic populations in Uganda are the Iteso and Karamojong ethnic groups, who speak Eastern Nilotic languages, and the Acholi, Langi, and Alur, who speak Western Nilotic languages. Central Sudanic languages, which arrived in Uganda from the north over a period of centuries, are spoken by the Lugbara, the Madi, and a few small groups in the northwestern part of the country. Demography. The population was about twenty-three million in mid-1999. The Eastern Lacustrine Bantu include the Baganda, the Basoga, and the Bagisu. The Baganda, the largest ethnic group, account for about 17 percent of the population, or approximately 3.9 million people. The second largest ethnic group, the Basoga, make up about 8 percent of the population, or 1.8 million people, while the Bagisu constitute roughly 5 percent of the population, or just over a million people. The Western Lacustrine Bantu—the Banyoro, Batoro, and Banyankole people—probably constitute around 3 percent of the population, or 700,000 people each. The Eastern Nilotic language groups include the Karamojong cluster, the Iteso and the Kakwa. The Karamojong account for around 12 percent of the population (2.8 million), the Iteso amount to about 8 percent (1.8 million), and the Kakwa constitute 1 percent (about 230,000). The Western Nilotic language groups include the Langi and Acholi as well as the Alur. Together they account for roughly 15 percent of the population, or about 3.4 million people, with the Langi contributing 6 percent (1.4 million), the Acholi 4 percent (900,000), and the Alur probably about 2 percent (460,000). Central Sudanic languages are spoken by about 6 percent of the population, mostly in the northwest. The Lugbara (roughly 3.8 percent of the total, or 870,000) and the Madi (roughly 1.2 per cent, or 275,000) are the largest of these groups, representing the southeastern corner of a belt of Central Sudanic language speakers stretching from Chad to Sudan . About 10,000 Ugandans of Sudanese descent are classified as Nubians. They are descendants of Sudanese military recruits who came in the late nineteenth century as part of the colonial army. Rwandans, who constituted almost 6 percent of the population (more than one million) in the late 1950s, included Hutu and Tutsi groups. The government attempted to limit Rwandan influence by restricting those who lacked Ugandan citizenship to refugee camps and expelling some to Tanzania. In the late 1980s, more than 120,000 Rwandans were recognized as refugees. Asians, who in the 1969 census amounted to some seventy thousand people, mainly of Indian and Pakistani descent, were officially considered foreigners despite the fact that more than half were born in Uganda. After independence and especially when the Obote government threatened to nationalize many industries in 1969, Asians exported much of their wealth and were accused of graft and tax evasion. President Idi Amin deported about seventy thousand Asians in 1972, and only a few returned in the 1980s to claim their expropriated land, buildings, factories, and estates. In the 1990s, there were about ten thousand Asians in the country. Linguistic Affiliation. Introduced by the British in the late nineteenth century, English was the language of colonial administration. After independence, it became the official language, used in government, commerce, and education. Official publications and most major newspapers appear in English, which often is spoken on radio and television. Most residents speak at least one African language. Swahili and Arabic also are widely spoken. History and Ethnic Relations Emergence of the Nation. After independence in 1962, ending a period of colonization that began in 1885, there was little indication that the country was headed for social and political upheaval. Instead, Uganda appeared to be a model of stability and progress. It had no white settler class attempting to monopolize the cash crop economy, and there was no legacy of conflict. It was the African producers who grew the cotton and coffee that brought a higher standard of living, financed education, and led to high expectations for the future. Independence arrived without a national struggle against the British, who devised a timetable for withdrawal before local groups had organized a nationalist movement. This near absence of nationalism among the country's ethnic groups led to a series of political compromises. National Identity. Ethnic and religious divisions as well as historical emnities and rivalries contributed to the country's disintegration in the 1970s. There was a wide gulf between Nilotic speakers in the north and Bantu speakers in the south and an economic division between pastoralists in the drier rangelands of the west and north, and agriculturists, in the better-watered highland and lakeside regions. There was also a historical division between the centralized and sometimes despotic rule of the ancient African kingdoms and the kinship-based politics elsewhere. The kingdoms were often at odds in regard to the control of land. During the colonial period, the south had railways, cash crops, a system of Christian mission education, and the seat of government, seemingly at the expense of other regions. There also were religious groups that had lost ground to rivals in the past, for example, the domination of Muslims at the end of the nineteenth century by Christians allied to British colonialism. All these divisions precluded the formation of a national culture. Ethnic Relations. After independence, there were conflicting local nationalisms. The Buganda's large population, extensive territory in the favored south, and self-proclaimed superiority created a backlash among other Ugandan peoples. Nubians shared little sense of identification with other groups. The closely related peoples of nearby Zaire and the Sudan soon became embroiled in civil wars in the 1960s and 1970s, drawing in ethnically related Ugandans. Today relations are relatively harmonious. However, suspicion remains with the president believing to favor certain groups from the west of the country over others. Food and Economy Food in Daily Life. Most people, except a few who live in urban centers, produce their own food. Most people eat two meals a day: lunch and supper. Breakfast is often a cup of tea or porridge. Meals are prepared by women and girls; men and boys age twelve and above do not sit in the kitchen, which is separate from the main house. Cooking usually is done on an open wood fire. Popular dishes include matoke (a staple made from bananas), millet bread, cassava (tapioca or manioc), sweet potatoes, chicken and beef stews, and freshwater fish. Other foods include white potatoes, yams, corn, cabbage, pumpkin, tomatoes, millet, peas, sorghum, beans, groundnuts (peanuts), goat meat, and milk. Oranges, papayas, lemons, and pineapples also are grown and consumed. The national drink is waragi, a banana gin. Restaurants in large population centers, such as Kampala (the capital), serve local foods. Basic Economy. Most food is produced domestically. Uganda exports various foodstuffs, including fish and fish products, corn, coffee, and tea. The environment provides good grazing land for cattle, sheep, and goats. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80 percent of the workforce. Much production is organized by farmers' cooperatives. Smallholder farmers predominated in the 1960s and 1970s but declined as a result of civil conflict. In the 1980s, the government provided aid to farmers, and by the middle of the decade nearly a hundred ranches had been restocked with cattle. Lakes, rivers and swamps cover about 20 percent of the land surface, and fishing is an important rural industry. The basic currency is the shilling. Land Tenure and Property. At independence, the country was a patchwork of district administrations subdivided into counties and consolidated into provinces. As a result of a treaty with the British in 1900, Uganda retained its monarchy together with a modified version of its government and a distinctive form of quasi-freehold land tenure. Land was divided between the protectorate government and the kabaka (king), chiefs, and other tribal notables. This mailo land quickly became an important element in the colonial farming economy. Uganda has a long history of diverse laws and social systems governing land tenure. Since the promulgation of the Land Reform decree of 1975, only two systems of land tenure exist (leasehold and customary tenure), but in practice a complex mixture of systems (including customary, leasehold, and freehold) continue to exist. The government attempted to simplify and unify the land tenure system. A major development in that process has been the inclusion of land tenure in the constitution of 1995. However, issues such as women's right to own land require further consideration. Commercial Activities. The major goods and services produced for sale are foodstuffs and cash crops for exportation, with coffee as the major export crop. Uganda escaped widespread famine in the late 1970s and 1980s because many people, including urban residents, resorted to subsistence cultivation. Both commercial and subsistence farming operated in the monetary and nonmonetary sectors, presenting the government with problems of organization and taxation. By the late 1980s, government reports estimated that about 44 percent of gross domestic product ( GDP ) originated outside the monetary economy. Most nonmonetary activity was agricultural. Major Industries. When the present government seized power in 1986, industrial production was negligible, consisting mostly of the processing of crops and the production of textiles, wood and paper products, cement, and chemicals. Industry was a small part of GDP in the late 1980s, operating at approximately one-third of the level of the early 1970s. Under Museveni, there has been some industrial rejuvenation, although this has amounted to not much more than the repair of damage done during the civil war to the industrial infrastructure. The sugar industry was rehabilitated through joint ventures involving the private sector and the government. By the 1990s there was a refining capacity of at least 140,000 tons of sugar annually. Other rehabilitated industries include beer brewing, tobacco, cotton, and cement. About 4 percent of adults worked in industry by the 1990s. During the 1990s, industrial growth was 13.2 percent. Trade. In 1998, the country exported products worth $575 million. The main export commodities were coffee (54 percent of the total value), gold, fish and fish products, cotton, tea, and corn. The countries receiving most of these products were Spain , Germany , the Netherlands , France , and Italy. The main imports include chemicals, basic manufactured goods, machinery, and transport equipment. Division of Labor. In the mid-1990s the labor force was estimated to be about 8.5 million, with more than 85 percent working in agriculture, 4 percent in industry, and 10 percent in the services sector. Jobs are allocated according to ability and preference. Social Stratification Classes and Castes. Although there are no castes, there is a relatively high degree of social inequality. In the mid-1990s, 55 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. The top 10 percent owned about one-third of the available wealth, while the bottom 10 percent owned 3 percent. Wealth distribution is governed by class position. The richest people live mostly in the capital, Kampala. Symbols of Social Stratification. Social stratification is governed primarily by level of education and status derived primarily from employment. Among the elites, English is the language of communication, and these people dress in a modern Western fashion. Others tend to wear traditional dress. Political Life Government. Under the constitution of 1995, legislative power is in the hands of a unicameral parliament (the National Resistance Council) with 276 members (214 elected directly and 62 appointed). Executive powers are held by the president, who is directly elected for a five-year term. On coming to power in 1986, the government introduced "no-party" democracy known as the "movement system" with a national network extending from the capital to the rural areas. Only one political organization, formerly the National Resistance Movement (or NRM) and now known as the "Movement," is recognized; it is the party of President Museveni. Among the parties that exist but are not allowed to sponsor candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress (UPC), the Democratic Party (DP), and the Conservative Party (CP). Leadership and Political Officials. It is alleged that one of the main criteria for advancement in the current government is whether an individual fought in President Museveni's guerrilla army, which was instrumental in bringing the regime to power in 1986. Those people are said to have achieved their positions through a combination of hard work, influence peddling, and corruption. Social Problems and Control. After the victory of the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1986, the NRA assumed responsibility for internal security. The police force was reorganized and, together with other internal security organs, began to enforce law and order in all districts except those experiencing rebel activity. There are two continuing civil wars against the "Lord's Resistance Army" and against guerrillas based in the Sudan. In 1995, the government established a legal system based on English common law and customary law. There is a court of appeal and a high court, both with judges appointed by the president. The most common crimes are theft and, in some parts of the country, banditry. Military Activity. Uganda has an army, a navy, and an air force. The NRA has about seventy thousand troops. Recruitment is voluntary; there is no fixed term of service, and both men and women serve. In 1999, Ugandan military forces supported the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Social Welfare and Change Programs In 1987, the government launched a four-year Rehabilitation and Development Plan to restore the nation's productive capacity, especially in industry and agriculture, and rehabilitate the social and economic infrastructure. The plan targeted industrial and agricultural production, transportation, and electricity and water services, envisioning an annual 5 percent growth rate. Transportation would receive the major share of funding, followed by agriculture, industry and tourism, social infrastructure, and mining and energy. Although the international financial community provided debt rescheduling and new loans, the level of economic recovery was modest. Improved security and private sector development contributed to economic growth and the rehabilitation of the social infrastructure in the 1990s, but external shocks, an overvalued currency, and high government spending limited economic progress. Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations Political conflict and the near disintegration of the state under Milton Obote and Idi Amin in the 1970s and early 1980s, led to the incorporation of autonomous self-help organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Foreign and indigenous NGOs concerned with developmental, social, and political goals have flooded Uganda since the mid-1980s. In general, NGOs have been effective in addressing the needs of service provision and alleviating poverty. For groups of traditionally disadvantaged people such as physically disabled persons and women, NGOs have provided guaranteed political representation at every level of the society. Gender Roles and Statuses Division of Labor by Gender. Traditionally, women's roles were subordinate to those of men despite the substantial economic and social responsibilities of women in traditional Ugandan societies. Women were taught to accede to the wishes of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and other men and to demonstrate their subordination to men in public life. Into the 1990s, women in rural areas of Buganda were expected to kneel when speaking to a man. However, women had the primary responsibility for child care and subsistence agriculture while contributing to cash crop agriculture. Many Ugandans recognized women as important religious leaders who sometimes had led revolts that overthrew the political order dominated by men. In some areas, women could own land, influence crucial political decisions made by men, and cultivate cash crops. The Relative Status of Women and Men. In the 1970s and 1980s, political violence had a heavy toll on women. Economic hardship was felt in the home, where women and children lacked the economic opportunities available to most men. Women's work became more time-consuming, and the erosion of public services and infrastructure reduced access to schools, hospitals, and markets. However, some Ugandan women believed that the war years strengthened their position in society, and the Museveni government has pledged to eliminate discrimination against women. During the civil war, women were active in the NRA. The government decreed that one women would represent each district on the National Resistance Council, and the government owned Uganda Commercial Bank established a rural credit plan to make farm loans available to women. Marriage, Family, and Kinship Marriage. Family prosperity in rural areas involves the acquisition of wives, which is accomplished through the exchange of bridewealth. Since the 1950s a ceiling on bridewealth has been set at five cows and a similar number of goats. The payment of bridewealth is connected to the fact that men "rule" women. Polygynous marriages have reinforced some aspects of male dominance but also have given women an arena for cooperating to oppose male dominance. A man may grant his senior wife "male" status, allowing her to behave as an equal toward men and as a superior toward his other wives. However, polygynous marriages have left some wives without legal rights to inheritance after divorce or widowhood. Domestic Unit. The extended family is augmented by a kin group. Men have authority in the family; household tasks are divided among women and older girls. Women are economically dependent on the male next of kin (husband, father, or brother). Dependence on men deprives women of influence in family and community matters, and ties them to male relationships for sustenance and the survival of their children. Inheritance. Land reform is a continuing aspect of constitutional debate. Suggestions for a new land policy were part of the draft constitution submitted to the president of the Constitutional Commission in late 1992, though little consideration had been given to the issue of women's right to own and inherit land. Although women make a significant contribution in agriculture, their tenure rights are fragile. The determination and protection of property rights have become important issues as a result of civil war and the impact of AIDS . However, the state's legal stand on inheritance recognizes the devolution of property through statutory as well as customary law. According to the law, a wife equally with a husband is entitled to 15 percent of the spouse's estate after death. The practice, though, is that in the majority of cases a man inherits all of his wife's property, while culture dictates that a woman does not inherit from her husband at all. In other words, regarding inheritance, where there is conflict between cultural unwritten law and the written modern law, the cultural laws tend to take precedence. Kin Groups. For many people, clan, lineage, and marriage provide the framework of daily life and access to the most significant resources. Farming is largely a family enterprise, and land and labor are available primarily through kin. Socialization Infant Care. Virtually all infant care is undertaken by women and older girls at home. Child Rearing and Education. Mothers bore an average of over seven children in the late 1990s, and the use of family planning is low. The death of children is commonplace, with an estimated ninety deaths per one thousand live births. Boys are more likely to be educated to the primary and secondary levels than are girls. Among the 62 percent of the population that is literate, nearly three-quarters are men. Higher Education. Established in 1922, Makerere University in Kampala was the first college in East Africa. Its primary aim was to train people for government employment. In the 1980s, it expanded to include colleges of liberal arts and medicine serving more than five thousand students. In the early 1990s, there were about nine thousand students. The Islamic University at Mbale, financed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, opened in 1988. This college provides Islamic educational services primarily to English-speaking students from African countries. In 1989, a second national university campus opened in Mbarara, with a curriculum designed to serve rural development needs. Development plans for higher education rely largely on international and private donors. Most residents value higher education, perceiving it as an essential aspect of national development. Etiquette Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Casual dress is considered appropriate in the daytime and evening. It is customary to give waiters and taxi drivers a 10 percent tip. Etiquette is important at family meals. When a meal is ready, all the members of the household wash their hands and sit on floor mats. Visitors and neighbors who drop in are expected to join the family at a meal. Normally a short prayer is said before the family starts eating. During the meal, children talk only when asked a question. It is considered impolite to leave the room while others are eating. Leaning on the left hand or stretching one's legs at a meal is a sign of disrespect. When the meal is finished, everyone in turn gives a compliment to the mother. Religion Religious Beliefs. One-third of the population is Roman Catholic, one-third is Protestant, and 16 percent is Muslim ; 18 percent believe in local religions, including various millenarian religions. World religions and local religions have coexisted for more than a century, and many people have established a set of beliefs about the nature of the universe by combining elements of both types. There is a proliferation of religious discourses centering on spirits, spirit possession, and witchcraft. Religious Practitioners. Religious identity has economic and political implications: church membership has influenced opportunities for education, employment, and social advancement. Religious practitioners thus are expected to provide a range of benefits for their followers. Leaders of indigenous religions reinforce group solidarity by providing elements necessary for societal survival: remembrance of ancestors, means of settling disputes, and recognition of individual achievement. Another social function of religious practitioners is helping people cope with pain, suffering, and defeat by providing an explanation of their causes. Religious beliefs and practices serve political aims by bolstering the authority of temporal rulers and allowing new leaders to mobilize political power and implement political change. Rituals and Holy Places. In Bantu-speaking societies, many local religions include a belief in a creator God . Most local religions involve beliefs in ancestral and other spirits, and people offer prayers and sacrifices to symbolize respect for the dead and maintain proper relationships among the living. Mbandwa mediators act on behalf of other believers, using trance or hypnosis and offering sacrifice and prayer to beseech the spirit world on behalf of the living. Uganda has followers of Christianity , Islam , and African traditional religions. Ugandan Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca when they can. Followers of African religions tend to establish shrines to various local gods and spirits in a variety of locations. Death and the Afterlife. Death is sometimes interpreted in the idiom of witchcraft. A disease or other cause of death may not be considered the true cause. At a burial, if the relatives suspect someone of having caused the deceased person's death, a spirit medium may call up the spirit of the deceased and ask who really killed him or her. Medicine and Health Care Health services deteriorated in the 1970s and 1980s, as a result of government neglect, violence, and civil war. In the 1990s, measles, respiratory tract infections, and gastro enteritis caused one-half of all deaths attributed to illness, and malaria, AIDS, anemia, tetanus, whooping cough, and respiratory tract infections also claimed many lives. Infant mortality was often caused by low birth weight, premature birth, or neonatal tetanus. The entire health care system was served by less than a thousand doctors in the 1990s. Care facilities included community health centers, maternity clinics, dispensaries, leprosy centers, and aid posts. Today there is at least one hospital in each district except the southern district of Rakai. In the sparsely populated northern districts, people sometimes travel long distances to receive medical care, and facilities are inferior to those in the south. Those who live far from or cannot afford modern health care depend on traditional care. Women are prominent among traditional healers. Secular Celebrations The major holidays are New Year's Day, 1 January; Liberation Day, 26 January; International Women's Day, 8 March; Labor Day, 1 May; National Heroes Day, 9 June; and Independence Day, 9 October. The Arts and Humanities Support for the Arts. Most artists are self-supporting as there is virtually no state support. Small-scale, local initiatives take place, but it has been difficult to establish viable sectors because of the disruptions caused by long-term political conflict and economic decline. Literature. The development of literature is at an early stage. It has been held back by the years of civil war. Graphic and Performance Arts. Performing arts often are associated with different ethnic groups throughout the country. The State of the Physical and Social Sciences The physical and social sciences are generally under-developed as a result of civil instability and conflict and the development of other priorities centered on national reconstruction. Makerere University is still in operation but virtually all expatriate staff, once the backbone of the teaching staff, have been long gone. Little research is currently undertaken because of a lack of up-to-date books, journals, or computers. Bibliography Abid, Syed, ed. Uganda Women in Development, 1990. Allen, Tim. "Understanding Alice: Uganda's Holy Spirit Movement in Context." Africa 61 (3): 37–39, 1991. Antrobus, P. "The Empowerment of Women." Women and International Development 1 (2): 189–207, 1989. Bernt Hansen, Holger, and Michael Twaddle eds. Uganda Now: Between Decay and Development, 1988. ——. Developing Uganda, 1998. Bwegye, F. A. W. The Agony of Uganda, 1985. Dicklich, Susan. "Indigenous NGOs and Political Participation." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. Developing Uganda 145–158, 1998. Furley, Oliver. "Uganda's Retreat from Turmoil?," Conflict Studies 196, 1986. Gertzel, Cherry. "Uganda's Continuing Search for Peace." Current History 89 (547): 205–228, 231–232, 1990. Harlow, Vincent, and E. M. Chilver, eds. History of East Africa, 1965. Ingham, Kenneth. The Making of Modern Uganda, 1983. Jorgensen, Jan Jelmert. Uganda: A Modern History, 1981. Kabwegyere, T. B. The Politics of State Formation and Destruction in Uganda, 3rd ed. 1995. Kasfir, Nelson. The Shrinking Political Arena: Participation and Ethnicity in African Politics, 1976. ——. "Land and Peasants in Western Uganda: Bushenyi and Mbarara Districts." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. Uganda Now: Between Decay and Development, 1988. Khadiagala, G. M. "State Collapse and Reconstruction in Uganda." In William I. Zartman, ed. Collapsed States, 1995. Livingstone, Ian. "Developing Industry in Uganda in the 1990s." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. Developing Uganda, 1998. Marquardt, Mark A., and Abby Sabina-Zziwa. "Land Reform in the Making." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. Developing Uganda, 1998. Mbowa, Rose. "Theatre for Development: Empowering Ugandans to Transform Their Condition." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. Developing Uganda, 1998. Nsibambi, Apolo R. "The Restoration of Traditional Rulers." In Holger Bernt Hansen and Michael Twaddle, eds. From Chaos to Order: The Politics of Constitution-Making in Uganda, 1996. Omara-Otunu, Amii. Politics and the Military in Uganda, 1987. ——. "The Dynamics of Conflict in Uganda." In Oliver Furley, ed. Conflict in Africa, 1995. Roberts, A. "The Sub-Imperialism of the Baganda." Journal of African History 8 (3): 435–450, 1962. Sathymurthy, T. V. The Political Development of Uganda, 1900–1986, 1986. Southall, Aidan W. "Social Disorganization in Uganda: Before, During, and After Amin." Journal of Modern Africa Studies 18 (4): 627–656, 1980. Tindigarukayo, Jimmy, K. "Uganda, 1979–85: Leadership in Transition." Journal of Modern African Studies 26 (4): 607–22, 1988. Twaddle, Michael, ed. Expulsion of a Minority, 1975. Van Zwanenburg, R. M. A, and Anne King. An Economic History of Kenya and Uganda, 1800–1970, 1975. Watson, Catherine. "Uganda's Women: A Ray of Hope." Africa Report 33 (6): 32–35, 1988. Welbourn, F. B. Religion and Politics in Uganda, 1952–1962, 1965. Werbner, Richard. Ritual Passage, Sacred Journey, 1989. World Bank. Uganda: Towards Stabilization and Economic Recovery, 1988. ——. Uganda: The Economic Impact of AIDS, 1991. ——. Uganda: Agriculture Sector Memorandum, 1991. —Jeff Haynes	Banana
The mummified ancient man, thought killed by an arrow 5,300 years ago, is known as '(who?).. the Iceman' ?	The Food Police Philadelphia Democrats Enact Sugary Drink Tax: $6 Case Of Cola Now Costs $9 . The world the Democrats want us living in is getting more and more expensive, with Philadelphia Democrats recently implementing their Sugary Drink Tax. USDA Demands Holiday Snacks (and Parents) Be Removed from Schools . Starting next year, bringing a dozen homemade cupcakes to your child's classroom to celebrate his or her birthday will be tantamount to lighting up a cigarette on the blacktop. Candy canes and gingerbread men people will be verboten during the school's Christmas party winter celebration. And this spring, don't expect any candy in the classroom; the Easter fuzzy bunny is strictly prohibited from entering school grounds. As for next year's Halloween fall festivities: Kids should brace for water and carrots (hey, they're orange!). What fun! This is all good news to writer Bettina Elias Siegel, who recently covered this important school-based cookie crisis for a story in the New York Times. The Culinary Cult . Modern American society features many, many Americans choosing to embrace all kinds of dietary restrictions. Millions more have dietary restrictions imposed upon them by their health. Just contemplating holiday meals in the coming days, I'm realizing that at our house we'll have at least two pescataraians (no meat, but eat fish), several lactose-intolerant folks, at least one gluten-free attendee and several kids who are picky eaters. Oh, and every once in a while I try to avoid carbs. (God bless my wife preparing Christmas dinner with this set of Byzantine culinary expectations. Also, I notice everybody drinks.) Everybody's chosen the diet that makes the most sense for them. If everyone around the extended family dinner table tried to persuade everyone else to change what they choose to eat, we would have... well, an even more chaotic Christmas day than usual. Study Tied to Food Industry Tries to Discredit Sugar Guidelines . A prominent medical journal on Monday [12/19/2016] published a scathing attack on global health advice to eat less sugar. Warnings to cut sugar, the study argued, are based on weak evidence and cannot be trusted. But the review, published in The Annals of Internal Medicine, quickly elicited sharp criticism from public health experts because the authors have ties to the food and sugar industries. The Editor says... It doesn't matter who funded the study, if their conclusions are true and correct. If the sugary-drinks industry funded a study that claimed sugar makes you smart, that would be a problem. Under threat in Washington, first lady's food legacy may live on elsewhere . When President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress take over on Jan. 20, lawmakers are expected to take aim at what one of them has called "burdensome new rules" on food. School lunches and menu labeling standards are likely to be among the changes that may come under fire. Trump, a self-professed fan of junk food, has not been explicit on what he plans to do with food policy, although he campaigned for the Nov. 8 election on a broad promise to undo regulations on business. Pepsi Company Wants More Healthy Snacks, But Do Consumers? Actions speak louder than words — or at least that's what Pepsi's latest endeavor to expand into the health food department seems to suggest. People say they want healthier foods, but Pepsi has found that people prefer taste over nutritional information. Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi wants to make the company a "health juggernaut," but to keep up with the consumer wants, the company has increased the sugar content of its products. Red Meat, Egg Yolks, and Fat . [Scroll down to page 6] In 1970 and for years after later, the government urged us to avoid red meat, egg yolks, and whole milk (too much fat). We complied with the food pyramid. From 1970 to 2005, the Department of Agriculture reported, proudly, that consumption of eggs and red meat fell by 17% and whole milk by 73%. [...] The people believed in the food pyramid and followed the government's advice. Bad idea. During that same period (1970–2005), when the public followed the food pyramid, the incidence of diabetes doubled! Studies now show that people eating dairy products such as whole milk have less of a problem with heart disease than those who do not. The government's certainty in its food pyramid was wrong. Dairy producers and cattle ranchers were right. Ag Secretary to America: Stop Wasting Food, Cut Back Portions . Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said America needs to stop wasting food, even if that means teaching people to cut back on the amount of food on their plates. Speaking at the National Press Club on Monday [10/3/2016], the former Iowa governor said long-term food insecurity "is a challenge, because we're going to have to increase food production — I've seen anywhere from 50 to 70 percent in the next 35 years — to meet a growing world population." The Editor says... Is it the sole responsibility of the United States to provide food for the whole world? Heinz Ketchup Is Why We Can Kill FDA Food Regulations . On Thursday [9/15/2016] the Trump campaign released a document that discussed, recommended even, killing off certain regulations that hamper the US economy. One of these referred to the FDA Food Police — the idea that we're not all going to be poisoned by unscrupulous capitalists if we have just a little bit less of bureaucratic oversight of their actions. New nutrition labels will do little to bring quality to American diet . [Scroll down] Research has shown that the point of purchase is the most important risk factor for diet-related chronic diseases. At the checkout counter, people are challenged to either follow through on their long-term goals to stay healthy or tempted by impulse-marketing strategies to buy and consume junk foods that can lead to weight gain and increased risk of hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Even those dedicated to a healthy diet can often be undermined by point-of-purchase marketing intended to disrupt cognitive, thoughtful decision-making and promote instant gratification. Maine Gov. LePage threatens to halt food stamp program amid sugar crackdown . Maine Gov. Paul LePage is ramping up a battle over Mars bars and Mountain Dew, warning the Obama administration he'll move to ban food stamp recipients in his state from buying such sugary sweets with taxpayer money — or halt the program entirely. The warning comes after the Obama administration shot down his request for a waiver to institute the ban on candy and sugary drinks. The firebrand Republican wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack objecting vociferously to the agency's decision. In the June 17 letter, LePage called the ban "a commonsense proposition." The FDA's Foolish War on Salt . Earlier this month, as I touched on briefly in a recent column, the FDA issued a "voluntary" sodium "guidance" for the food industry. The agency is seeking to pressure companies to reduce the salt content of their foods. It establishes and applies to 150 categories of food. It also creates two- and 10-year salt-reduction goals, with an eye to allowing time for "American palates to adapt to new tastes and manufacturers to reformulate products." The FDA claims the guidance is "intended to address the excessive intake of sodium in the current population and promote improvements in public health." But the plan, I wrote, has "faced sharp criticism." So what's wrong with this voluntary guidance? Many things. Here are three. First, it's not based on scientific consensus. [...] Soda tax passes, Philadelphia becomes first big city in nation to enact one . Looking to raise millions for a bold expansion of early childhood education, Philadelphia City Council on Thursday [6/16/2016] approved a 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened and diet beverages, the first such tax imposed in a major U.S. city. The 13-4 vote put to bed months of speculation and at-times-bitter negotiations, but also ensured that the national spotlight will stay turned on Philadelphia for months, if not years. Critics quickly vowed a court challenge. High cholesterol 'does not cause heart disease' new research finds . Cholesterol does not cause heart disease in the elderly and trying to reduce it with drugs like statins is a waste of time, an international group of experts has claimed. A review of research involving nearly 70,000 people found there was no link between what has traditionally been considered "bad" cholesterol and the premature deaths of over 60-year-olds from cardiovascular disease. Published in the BMJ Open journal, the new study found that 92 percent of people with a high cholesterol level lived longer. Philadelphia set to pass 1.5 cent-per-ounce soda tax . Philadelphia could soon become the first major U.S. city with a sugary drinks tax after a city council committee voted Wednesday [6/8/2016] to approve an amended version of a soda tax proposal that would set a 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax on sugary and diet drinks. The 'War On Salt' Is Bad Policy Based on Bad Science . The Center for Science in the Public Interest, one of the few openly authoritarian organizations functioning in the United States, once sued the Food and Drug Administration for refusing to regulate Americans' salt intake. No worries. This week, the Obama administration finally embraced CSPI's junk science and allowed the FDA to set new "guidelines" to "nudge" companies into treating a perfectly harmless ingredient as if it were a dangerous chemical. FDA calls for sharp reduction in salt added to foods . More than 70 percent of the salt in the average diet comes in the form of processed and prepared food. The FDA's goal is to lower sodium in those foods and give consumers the choice to add salt later if they want to. The Editor says... Here's my prediction: After the government takes salt out of prepared foods, the FDA will outlaw saltshakers in restaurants. Move Over Big Gulps, Here Come the 'High Sodium' Fines in NYC . New York City's Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio is beaming with big government pride after getting his way in forcing chain restaurants to post "high sodium" icons next to salty items on menus and fining those that don't. A court battle has ensued between the city and the National Restaurant Association who are currently in appeals court awaiting the final verdict. But a judge lifted a temporary ban on hitting restaurant owners with fines up to $600 for non-compliance. NYC gets OK to issue salt fines during appeal . New York City plans to start enforcing a first-of-its-kind requirement for chain restaurants to use icons to warn patrons of salty foods after getting an appeals court's go-ahead Thursday [5/26/2016] to start issuing fines. But it's not the final word on whether the regulation will stand. High salt warning labels to pop up on some New York City restaurant menus . The city's plan to make New York City restaurants post warnings on menu items with high salt content can go ahead, an appellate court decided Thursday [5/26/2016]. The Appellate Division in Manhattan lifted an interim stay that one of its judges had imposed just as the city was going to start enforcing the controversial new rule in February. The decision was quickly hailed by Mayor deBlasio. "New Yorkers deserve to know a whole day's worth of sodium could be in one menu item," the mayor said in a statement. He said he was pleased that the appellate judges appear to agree with a lower court judge who said the city's Board of Health had the power to adopt the rule. New U.S. food label rules to require added sugars to be detailed . The United States plans a major overhaul of the way packaged foods are labeled, the Food and Drug Administration announced on Friday [5/20/2016]. Serving sizes will be adjusted to reflect how much people actually eat, and for the first time labels will list added sugars. These are the first significant changes since the Nutrition Facts label was introduced more than 20 years ago. USDA Awards $746,827 to Improve 'Shopping Practices of Adolescents' . Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Thursday [5/19/2016] six universities have been awarded nearly $3.8 million in funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for programs designed to help fight obesity. The USDA's program descriptions for the six grants include: • $746,827 to the University of Kentucky for the testing of the program "Smart Shopping." According to the program description, Smart Shopping is "aimed at improving the shopping practices of adolescents with the ultimate goal of increasing fruit and vegetable intake." • $797,995 was awarded to the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine for the "Supermarket Science: Multipronged Approaches to Increasing Fresh, Frozen and Canned Fruit and Vegetable Purchases" program. • The University of Maryland received $943,287 for a program designed to enhance implementation of school wellness policies. The efforts['] goal "is to create health promoting school environments that support healthy growth/development of children to prevent obesity." Michelle Obama wins food fight . Michelle Obama scored a major victory in her nutrition label crusade on Friday [5/20/2016]. In a major overhaul that has been years in the making, labels on packaged foods will now feature calories listed in bigger and bolder type, a new line for 'Added Sugars', and serving sizes that are more accurate and uniform among similar products. The changes were proposed by the Food and Drug Administration two years ago and are the first major update of the labels since their creation in 1994. The labels are now found on over 800,000 foods. Eat This Now, Before They Tell You Not To . One day eggs are bad, next day they're good. Or good in moderation. Who knows? One reason what to eat is so hotly debated is all the money tied up in it. The dietary guidelines the U.S. government issues every five years are the culmination of a process that involves not only nutritionists, doctors, and other health professionals but also the food industry and its many lobbyists. In the latest guidelines, issued early this year, the expert panel's preliminary report included advice to lower consumption of red and processed meats, for the environment as well as for your health. The meat industry weighed in, and in the final version only men and teenage boys were urged to eat less protein. The environment was cut out of the equation altogether. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have said that the guidelines are based on a rigorous review of scientific evidence and consideration of comments from the public and federal agencies. Scientists: Michelle Obama's Nutrition Facts Label Not Based on Science . A controversial regulation to update the nutrition facts label that is part of the first lady's Let's Move push was finalized by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, and scientists are warning the new label is not based on sound science. The changes to the nutrition facts label, which first lady Michelle Obama will announce Friday when she speaks at the Let's Move-aligned Partnership for a Healthier America, requires food manufacturers to list added sugars, which scientists say lacks "scientific rigor." The label will also cost companies at least $640 million to update, and a net social cost of $1.4 billion. 5 Huge Stories the Media Ignored While Arguing Over Which Bathroom to Use . [#4] Rat DNA, Human DNA, and Pathogenic Germs — in your hamburgers: [...] Rat DNA was found in three vegetarian burger samples while human DNA was found in one — but those were not the most concerning findings, the researchers noted, because though their presence is revolting, they are not necessarily considered dangerous to humans. More worthy of alarm, they explained, was the mislabeling of vegetarian products, the presence of meat in some of those purportedly meatless burgers, and the total absence of black beans in a black bean burger. Feds spend $3,071 for kids to raise red paddles to protest donuts . A group of children was gathered around the exhibit, paddles in hand eager to denounce another food deemed unhealthy by the National Institutes of Health. The game is called "Go, Slow, and Whoa! Think Red Light, Green Light, but for educating kids on the danger of white bread. McDonald's restaurant testing out all-you-can-eat french fries . cDonald's fry lovers rejoice — the chain is trying out bottomless french fries. McDonald's announced Tuesday [4/19/2016] it is opening a new restaurant in Missouri that will include new menu items such as all-you-can-eat french fries. This study 40 years ago could have reshaped the American diet. But it was never fully published . The story begins in the late 1960s and early '70s, when researchers in Minnesota engaged thousands of institutionalized mental patients to compare the effects of two diets. One group of patients was fed a diet intended to lower blood cholesterol and reduce heart disease. It contained less saturated fat, less cholesterol and more vegetable oil. The other group was fed a more typical American diet. Just as researchers expected, the special diet reduced blood cholesterol in patients. [... But] Patients who lowered their cholesterol, presumably because of the special diet, actually suffered more heart-related deaths than those who did not. How 'Settled Science' Helped Create A Massive Public Health Crisis . Anyone who thinks it's enough to rest an argument on "settled science" or a "scientific consensus" ought to read about John Yudkin. Yudkin was a British professor of nutrition who, in 1972, sounded the alarm about sugar in diets, saying that if sugar were treated like any other food additive "that material would be promptly banned. He said sugar, not fat, was the more likely cause of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. For his efforts, Yudkin was branded a shill for the meat and dairy industries. His work was dismissed as "emotional assertions," "science fiction" and "a mountain of nonsense. Journals refused to publish his papers. He was uninvited from nutrition conferences and was ridiculed by the scientific community. Benefits of switch from saturated fat to corn oil for longer life challenged . Despite years of claims that unsaturated fats like corn oil are healthier, at the time the findings of a gold-standard randomized controlled trial weren't fully published. Now Christopher Ramsden at the U.S. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., and his team have analyzed data from the Minnesota coronary experiment. [...] "We were able to find that actually those that lowered their cholesterol more actually had increased rather than reduced risk of death," Ramsden said in an interview. "It was surprising." Government Nannies Say New Salt Guidelines [are] Imminent . The Obama administration plans to continue its war on food and food manufacturers with proposed guidelines for sodium consumption. According to Politico, new sodium guidelines are set to be released as early as this summer...although the science behind the regulation is confused. The government effort to get Americans to lower their sodium consumption has stalled on several fronts due to recent studies that contradict the conventional wisdom that sodium is a "pressing health threat." A new lawsuit filed by the left-wing Center for Science in the Public Interest should fast-track the voluntary guidelines that were written two years ago but never released, the FDA says. The suit alleges that the government violated the law by not forcing companies to label certain products with high-sodium warnings. Obama's latest food crackdown: Salt . Reducing salt consumption has long been part of the administration's push to get Americans to eat healthier. But a plan to nudge food companies to take steps to voluntarily reduce sodium in their products, launched seven years ago, has been stalled amid concerns about political blowback and new studies questioning whether salt is actually a pressing health threat. Also posted under environmental false alarms . Tiny Vermont brings food industry to its knees on GMO labels . General Mills' announcement on Friday [3/18/2016] that it will start labeling products that contain genetically modified ingredients to comply with a Vermont law shows food companies might be throwing in the towel, even as they hold out hope Congress will find a national solution. "So it turns out that fat is not the enemy, and sugar is." The Truth About Fat and Sugar: A Cardiologist Explains That FAT is the Best Medicine . There are a lot of Americans desperate to find out why it is they can't lose weight. One cardiologist says it's because they don't know the truth about fat and sugar. USDA: Retailers That Accept SNAP Must Expand 'Healthy Food' Choices; 168 Items Per Store . The U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday [2/16/2016] announced a proposed rule intended to give food stamp (SNAP) recipients increased access to healthy foods, by requiring stores that accept SNAP to stock a wider variety of healthy food choices. "USDA is committed to expanding access for SNAP participants to the types of foods that are important to a healthy diet," USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon said in a news release. "This proposed rule ensures that retailers who accept SNAP benefits offer a variety of products to support healthy choices for those participating in the program." The Editor says... Instead of putting the burden on small businesses and dictating to the stores what they must put on the shelves, why not restrict the use of the food stamp card to the most basic staples, like bread, cheese, milk, and peanut butter? And why not put sensible limits on the use of such a card, or food stamps in general, like a six month expiration date, and a maximum throughput of $150 a week? House votes to ease calorie disclosure rules for pizzerias, delis, grocers . The House voted Friday [2/12/2016] to make it easier for you to avoid the harsh truth of how many calories you're devouring as you scarf down that pizza. House members voted 266-144 to gut a proposed Food and Drug Administration rule requiring chain pizzerias, delis, and convenience stores to list the calorie content of their meals on menus or menu boards prominently displayed on the premises. Instead, takeout restaurants and grocers could choose to disclose calories only on their websites. The White House opposes the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act, saying it will leave Americans — who consume a third of their calories away from home — with less information to make healthy choices. The Editor says... Common sense, indeed. Common sense will tell you that if your goal is consistently healthy eating, you don't buy dinner at a pizza parlor or a convenience store, except on rare occasions. And if you make an occasional excursion to a donut shop or an ice cream store, common sense will tell you that it shouldn't be a routine part of your diet. You don't need the government to quantify the fat and calorie contents for you, especially since that information is available on demand in most restaurants. Chef Drops Foie Gras From Menu After Vegan Death Threats . A chef in the United Kingdom is backing away from including foie gras on a Valentine's Day menu after receiving death threats from vegan activists. The chef at Kings Arms at Fleggburgh opted out of serving the decadent dish during Valentine's Day dinner this weekend after being subjected to "harassment" by activists who threatened to protest the menu, the Guardian reports. Why a top food poisoning expert won't ever eat these foods . The way in which the American food system works is often perplexing, if not entirely nonsensical, according to [Bill] Marler. For this reason, he takes precautions people less familiar with food safety oversight might find absurd. In a recent piece, published in Bottom Line Health, he lists six foods he no longer eats, because he believes the risk of eating them is simply too large. No food is healthy — Not even kale . Not long ago, I watched a woman set a carton of Land O' Lakes Fat-Free Half-and-Half on the conveyor belt at a supermarket. "Can I ask you why you're buying fat-free half-and-half?" I said. Half-and-half is defined by its fat content: about 10 percent, more than milk, less than cream. "Because it's fat-free?" she responded. "Do you know what they replace the fat with?" I asked. "Hmm," she said, then lifted the carton and read the second ingredient on the label after skim milk: "Corn syrup." She frowned at me. Then she set the carton back on the conveyor belt to be scanned along with the rest of her groceries. The Editor says... There are many, many things worse than unhealthy foods — for example, supermarket busybodies. If the customer ahead of you in line is buying nothing but candy and ice cream, that's none of your concern; however, if the customer ahead of you has obviously never missed a meal, and is paying for her groceries with a food stamp card, you should probably say something to make her feel guilty about it. Guilty of theft, for indeed, the money she's spending came out of your paycheck. Welfare handouts without any stigma attached are called entitlements, because the recipients begin to believe they are entitled to them. Government revises Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Go ahead and have some eggs . The federal government on Thursday [1/7/2016] told Americans not to worry so much about cholesterol in their diets, that lots of coffee is fine and that skipping breakfast is no longer considered a health hazard. The recommendations were part of a new "Dietary Guidelines for Americans," the influential nutrition advice book that, updated every five years, expresses official thinking about what constitutes a nutritious meal. In what may be the most striking change, the new version drops the strict limit on dietary cholesterol, stepping back from one of most prominent public health messages since the '60s. In Rat-Infested New York, Only Chick-fil-A Gets Shut Down For Health Code Violations . Last year, 77 out of 154, or about half, of New York's restaurants were rat-infested — and that's on the ritzy Upper East Side, where a meal can run into hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Residents take great pride in filming YouTubes of New York's restaurants through their windows at night, cameras on as the vermin scurry around. There are even interactive rat maps showing where Manhattan's vermin roam. So it's more than a little passing strange that the city targeted the city's only Chick-fil-A for health code violations just months after it opened its doors. Another 'Scientific Consensus' Bites the Dust . [Scroll down] We have heard for a long time now that the so-called "caveman diet" rich in lean meat and low in carbohydrate is a good heart disease preventive. Well throw out the ground buffalo and kale and make up a plate of spaghetti carbonara — it's not likely to make a big difference in your susceptibility to heart disease. The same thing is true with the fish oil theory, which is bad news for the diet supplement industry. Neolithic people with diets rich in aquatic fats still suffered from heart disease. EPA Warning: Holiday Leftovers Contribute to Climate Change . The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a video on its website to tell Americans that they should think about how much food they waste during the holiday season if they want to help save the planet. The video is part of the EPA's "Fight Food Waste" campaign. In the video posted on YouTube and in the text accompanying it, EPA claims that food waste contributes to climate change. Food Fads: Make Mine Gluten-Full . When the federal government's 1980 "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" warned about the baleful effects of saturated fats, public-interest activists joined the fight and managed to persuade major food companies to switch to the shiny new alternative: trans fats. Thirty-five years later, the Food and Drug Administration finally determined that trans fats are not just useless but unsafe, and ordered them removed from all foods. Oops. So much for settled science. To tell the truth, I never paid much attention to the fat fights in the first place. The Growing Food Fight over the Government's Nutrition Guidelines . For decades, the government has advised Americans on what they should eat. The advice isn't just advisory; it drives everything from school lunches and agricultural subsidies to marketing for those bowls of candy we call breakfast cereal. But the science behind this enterprise has always been shaky. In Good Calories, Bad Calories, Gary Taubes chronicled how the federal government went all-in for a low-fat, high-carbohydrate food pyramid. The man most responsible, nutritionist and epidemiologist Ancel Keys, was convinced that America's fat-rich diet explained the rise in heart disease in the U.S. It was a plausible theory, but there was scarce evidence it was true. In 1957, the American Heart Association concluded that the correlation between fat and heart disease "does not stand up to critical examination." Three years later, the AHA reversed course, without any new evidence. Why you can't call nuts, avocados, olives, or salmon "healthy" . Earlier this year, the FDA sent the maker of Kind Bars a stern message. The company, which sells granola bars, among other things, was using the the word "healthy" on its packaging. And that wasn't going to fly. "The labels of the aforementioned products bear the claim 'Healthy and tasty, convenient and wholesome,'" the warning, which is available online, said. "However, none of your products listed above meet the requirements for use of the nutrient content claim 'healthy.'" New York City brings in salt warnings on menus to tackle heart disease . A symbol of a tiny salt shaker warning that certain meals are high in sodium will appear on menus in chain restaurants in New York City from this week. The move makes New York the first US city to use salt labelling in an effort to combat heart disease and stroke. Any menu item containing more than one teaspoon of salt must display the emblem of a salt shaker in a black triangle. Scientists Discover What Is Really Inside Chicken Nuggets . Richard deShazo, professor of medicine, pediatrics and immunology at UMMC said: "I was floored. I had read what other reports have said is in them and I didn't believe it. I was astonished actually seeing it under the microscope. What has happened is that some companies have chosen to use an artificial mixture of chicken parts rather than low-fat chicken white meat, batter it up and fry it, and still call it chicken. It is really a chicken by-product high in calories, salt, sugar and fat that is a very unhealthy choice. Even worse, it tastes great and kids love it and it is marketed to them." The Editor says... People have been eating cooked and fried animals for centuries, and selling freshly prepared food to one another at unreasonably high prices for millennia. (For example, Jacob and Esau.) Yes, if you examine your food at a microscopic level, you'll see blood vessels and nerves and gristle that you ordinarily would overlook. That means nothing. You have a digestive system that tears your food apart into something even more revolting in a matter of minutes. Yes, it may be true that chicken nuggets are the left over parts and scraps that can't be marketed any other way (like fish tacos), but fast food is a matter of supply and demand. The customers want their hunger abated, usually without regard to the ugly details of how that food was raised, slaughtered and fried. 450 illegal tamales from Mexico seized at LAX . Apparently there are illegal tamales. A passenger at Los Angeles International Airport learned that the hard way earlier this month when he tried to bring pork tamales into the U.S. from Mexico. The passenger arrived from Mexico on Nov. 2 and was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists, who found 450 pork tamales wrapped in plastic bags in the passenger's luggage. Junk Food Isn't To Blame for America's Obesity Epidemic . Soda and sweets aren't making Americans fat. In fact, underweight Americans consume more junk food than those who are morbidly obese. In a new study in the journal Obesity Science & Practice, Cornell professors analyzed the food intake of about 6,000 people, according to MarketWatch. The study found that consuming more fast food, candy and soda was not correlated with higher body mass indexes — "While a diet of chocolate bars and cheeseburgers washed down with a Coke is inadvisable from a nutritional standpoint, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity." Gov't Attacks A Vegan Mayo, Ends Up With Egg On Its Face . Why would the government-run American Egg Council, or the USDA for that matter, care about a little company in San Francisco? Because Hampton Creek's egg-free spread was starting to catch on. And to the extent that its sales increased, egg sales might decline. In one email, [Joanne] Ivy described Just Mayo as "a crisis and a major threat" to the egg industry. Now, as a result of this scandal, Ivy is gone from the American Egg Board, and the USDA is investigating whether that organization violated federal law in its campaign to thwart competition. Instead of investigating the American Egg Board, why not dismantle it, along with the USDA positions that meddle in this industry? If bacon is so bad, I don't want to live . The International Agency for Research on Cancer, in analyzing the risks of these comestibles, placed processed meats in the fearsome "Group 1" of noxious substances guaranteed to negatively affect human heath, such as asbestos, alcohol and cigarettes. Non-processed red meats narrowly dodged this onus; the scientists conceded that "eating red meat has not yet been established as a cause of cancer." Extra Bacon on My Hot Dog, Please! If you were around the news yesterday [10/26/2015], you heard the breathless news that processed meats significantly increase cancer risk, especially colon cancer. PBS initially reported that processed meats were as dangerous as smoking, but backed off under reader criticism. As they should have. Still, expect the usual censors to ratchet up their hectoring against the fondness for red meat that all red-blooded Americans share. First They Came for My Bacon . I feel like I'm being trolled. This announcement has all the ingredients to make me furious: it's a "health" message in the New York Times, from a UN-ish Non-Governmental Busybody, aimed at governments around the world who interest themselves with their citizens' eating habits. The World Health Organization Says Bacon And Processed Meat Is As Bad For You As Cigarettes . You are officially excused from [caring] what the World Health Organization says ever again. So why did federal prisons remove all pork from the menu? Did inmates stop liking bacon, or something? Did pork products spike in price so much that the pork-laden government had to cut back? Why in the world would the federal prison system eliminate all pork products? Finally, the government has decided to eliminate pork — from the menu in federal prisons . The nation's pork producers are in an uproar after the federal government abruptly removed bacon, pork chops, pork links, ham and all other pig products from the national menu for 206,000 federal inmates. The ban started with the new fiscal year last week. The Bureau of Prisons, which is responsible for running 122 federal penitentiaries and feeding their inmates three meals a day, said the decision was based on a survey of prisoners' food preferences: They just don't like the taste of pork. The Editor says... Since when has it mattered if prisoners enjoy their meals? Prison time is punishment, it's not a picnic. And since when have grown men developed a distaste for bacon? Exactly the reverse trend is underway, if popular television advertising is any indication. No, the official cover story is transparently false. This change has nothing to do with the prisoners' preferences. What we see here is the Obama administration appeasing the Muslims, applying halal rules to the prisoners' diet, and then lying about it. Update: After firestorm, pork roast is back on the menu at federal prisons . After a week of controversy surrounding its abrupt removal of pork dishes from the national menu for federal inmates, the government did an about-face Thursday [10/15/2015] and put pork roast back on the prison bill of fare. The Bureau of Prisons disclosed the decision to The Post hours after a Republican Senate leader expressed dismay at what he implied was a wasteful survey of inmates' food preferences and a lack of transparency in the decision. Federal prisons reverse pork menu ban after outcry . The Federal Bureau of Prisons may have bitten off more than it could chew by banning pork from prison menus earlier this month — and apparently has reversed course on the decision. After the bureau drew complaints from the American pork industry and most recently from Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley for the ban, the senator's office tells FoxNews.com that the bureau informed them they're backing off the decision and returning pork to the menu. Prison pork prohibition pulled promptly . Last week we told you about the menu change at federal prisons where pork products disappeared from the table back on October 1st. What was up with that? At the time I wondered whether it had to do with pressure from religious groups who don't eat pork or perhaps some sort of political shenanigans between the administration and the pork industry. We don't have all of those answers yet, but the resulting uproar spurred somebody to action and the ban on pork in prison has apparently been ended... at least in part. The Federal Gov't Has Misled Public About Milk For Decades . If you look up "whole milk" in the government's official Dietary Guidelines, it states pretty definitively that people should only drink skim or 1% milk. "If you currently drink whole milk," it says, "gradually switch to lower fat versions." This is the same advice the government has been issuing for many years. And it's wrong. Research published in recent years shows that people "might have been better off had they stuck with whole milk," according to a front-page story in the Washington Post on Wednesday [10/7/2015]. "People who consumed more milk fat had lower incidence of heart disease." Inmates, industry decry feds pulling pork from menus . The Federal Bureau of Prisons is going whole hog in cutting pork from its menu. With this month's start of fiscal year 2016, there will be no bacon, no pork chops, no pork roast, no pork sausage — no pork-related food at all — served to the nation's 205,723 federal inmates, including those at FCI Fort Worth or FMC Carswell. While there have been grumblings from some inmates' family members that the prohibition had to do with Muslim or Jewish dietary restrictions, Bureau of Prisons spokesman Ed Ross said that isn't the case. A woman whose son is in federal prison in Fort Worth says he has complained about the lack of pork, saying he had heard it was because of complaints from Muslim inmates. For decades, the government steered millions away from whole milk. Was that wrong? U.S. dietary guidelines have long recommended that people steer clear of whole milk, and for decades, Americans have obeyed. Whole milk sales shrunk. It was banned from school lunch programs. Purchases of low-fat dairy climbed. "Replace whole milk and full-fat milk products with fat-free or low-fat choices," says the the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the federal government's influential advice book, citing the role of dairy fat in heart disease. Whether this massive shift in eating habits has made anyone healthier is an open question among scientists, however. In fact, research published in recent years indicates that the opposite might be true: millions might have been better off had they stuck with whole milk. Is The Government's War On Trans-Fat Misguided, Too? Later this year, the federal government is expected to remove dietary cholesterol from its list of bad foods. The expert panel that advises the government on these guidelines concluded there's no reason to be concerned about "overconsumption." In other words, all those federal warnings stretching over the past four decades about how eating eggs and other cholesterol-rich food would clog your arteries were wrong. Now the federal government could be making the same mistake with trans-fat. Big Pizza fights ObamaCare menu mandate . The pizza lobby is mounting a double-extra-large battle against looming government regulations that would force their franchises to post a dizzying array of calorie counts on their menus. Under ObamaCare, a Food and Drug Administration rule would require restaurants and food retail shops with over 20 locations, like pizza delivery chains, to post in-store menus displaying nutritional information. Pizza chains argue this would be particularly tough for them, and take extraordinarily large menu boards Why salad is so overrated . As the world population grows, we have a pressing need to eat better and farm better, and those of us trying to figure out how to do those things have pointed at lots of different foods as problematic. Almonds, for their water use. Corn, for the monoculture. Beef, for its greenhouse gases. In each of those cases, there's some truth in the finger-pointing, but none of them is a clear-cut villain. There's one food, though, that has almost nothing going for it. It occupies precious crop acreage, requires fossil fuels to be shipped, refrigerated, around the world, and adds nothing but crunch to the plate. No, You Do Not Have to Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day . If there is one health myth that will not die, it is this: You should drink eight glasses of water a day. It's just not true. There is no science behind it. And yet every summer we are inundated with news media reports warning that dehydration is dangerous and also ubiquitous. These reports work up a fear that otherwise healthy adults and children are walking around dehydrated, even that dehydration has reached epidemic proportions. Let's put these claims under scrutiny. Health Tip: The Next Time Government Gives You Dietary Advice, Do the Opposite . We already know that government recommendations regarding health are often driven by a bunch of Chicken Littles. The leading organ of American scaremongering, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has gotten so much wrong over the years. There was the outrageous contention that 400,000 Americans were dropping dead from obesity every year. (They weren't.) And then there were all the over-the-top warnings about the alleged risks of secondhand smoke. (They don't really exist.) The science of skipping breakfast: How government nutritionists may have gotten it wrong . Researchers at a New York City hospital several years ago conducted a test of the widely accepted notion that skipping breakfast can make you fat. For some nutritionists, this idea is an article of faith. Indeed, it is enshrined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the federal government's advice book, which recommends having breakfast every day because "not eating breakfast has been associated with excess body weight." As with many nutrition tips, though, including some offered by the Dietary Guidelines, the tidbit about skipping breakfast is based on scientific speculation, not certainty, and indeed, it may be completely unfounded, as the experiment in New York indicated. How to get food carts and trucks under control . Vendors are supposed to steer clear of crosswalks, fire hydrants, bus stops, building entrances, and the like, and they can't store their food on the sidewalk. Cart workers must complete an eight-hour class to get a personal vending license, and if you want to sell "frozen desserts," you need a "frozen-dessert permit," too. And vendors are supposed to bring their carts to a commissary every night for scrubbing. Food trucks must adhere to all the same rules, and metered parking spaces are off limits. The biggest aggravation for street vendors is the city's restrictive licensing system, which, much like its licensing of taxi medallions, favors people who got there first over those trying to make a living today. Like medallion licensing, too, the city's system favors capital over labor. Kellogg's to dump artificial ingredients from cereal by 2018 . Amid declining sales and growing customer concern over processed foods, Kellogg's has announced it will eliminate artificial ingredients from its products within the next three years. Paul Norman, the president of Kellogg North America, announced the company's decision on Tuesday [8/4/2015] during a call with investors. "We have been working to remove artificial colors and flavors across Kellogg's branded cereals and a variety of Kellogg's branded snack bars as well as Eggo frozen foods," Norman said in a transcript released from the call. "Our goal is to complete this transition by the end of 2018." The Trans-Fat Ban Deals A Blow To Kosher Keepers . An unintended victim of the new crusade to banish trans fats from our diet may be kosher-keepers. The laws governing what Orthodox Jews can and cannot eat are varied, but there are some old standards that virtually everyone knows: Don't eat pork, for example, or shellfish. We also don't mix meat and dairy. Most Orthodox Jews wait several hours after they eat meat to eat anything with dairy in it (the number of hours depends on individuals' customs). If I had chicken for dinner, I can't have a cake made with real butter for dessert. Freedom fries no more: Sailors angry after Navy bans fried food . The Navy is going on a health kick and removing all fried food from dining hall menus. In an effort to kick up its healthy eating "Go for Green" campaign, it will stop frying foods like chicken and french fries and bake them instead. It is also axing whole milk and replacing it with skim and soy, reports Navy Times. Navy to Ban Fried Food . Sailors are blaming First Lady Michelle Obama after a report revealed that the Navy is preparing a full ban on fried food. Sailors Blame Michelle Obama For Navy's Fried Food Ban . Sailors outraged over the Navy's plan to phase out fried foods from its menus have found the perfect vessel for their anger in First Lady Michelle Obama. The First Lady doesn't set nutrition policy for the nation's fleets. But that hasn't stopped more than two dozen critics — many of them current and former Navy personnel — from flooding a Navy Times Facebook thread to blame FLOTUS, who has made combating obesity and promoting healthy eating her signature issues. The government wants you to grill fruit for the Fourth of July . Forget hamburgers and hotdogs — the U.S. Department of Agriculture is pushing people to grill up pineapple slices, peaches, nectarines and other fruit for their big July 4th feast. "Throw some grilled pineapple on the grill & get ready to enjoy nature's candy," USDA's "MyPlate" website tweeted out this week. Sugar and Salt Under Assault . The one-time hippies — now graying city councilmen and women of San Francisco — are not so sweet on the sugary drink. In fact, they would like to teach the world a thing or two about regulation. The council just passed a new ordinance forcing Coke and purveyors of other soft drinks to display health advice — yes, very similar to the language on cigarette boxes — warning would-be consumers of the deadly dangers of sugar. The pope, the globe and the facts . The government now wants to ban trans fats from our food, but 50 years ago people were told to switch from butter to margarine because it was thought the trans fats in margarine lowered cholesterol levels. Foods such as coffee and chocolate have either been good or bad for us, depending on the "scientific" study of the moment. 5 Reasons Why The FDA Should Not Ban Trans Fats . [W]e see no compelling reason for the ban. In fact, we can think of five reasons it shouldn't be imposed: [#1] If government can ban trans fats, is there anything that it can't ban? Will it stop there? Absolutely not. Government regulators have long dreamed of restricting, and in some cases outright banning, sugar, salt, red meat, alcohol, caffeine and raw milk. [#2] Consumption of trans fats fell 80% from 2003 to 2012. There's no reason for the federal government to step in when Americans have already decided for themselves they don't want trans fats in their diets. [#3] The FDA already requires food product labels to list trans fat content. [#4] Government doesn't exist to manage people's lives. [...] 'Uncle Sucker' falls for another food scare . Reason Magazine recently interviewed the author of a paper showing that none of the federal nutrition guidelines are based on reliable or useful data. The problem is that the data come from self-reporting of people's diets over long periods they could not have possibly remembered. Frequently, study subjects reported living on diets that no human could survive on. To draw conclusions from such flawed memories is a fool's errand. The Food and Drug Administration's strongest exhortations about what to eat and avoid are not terribly reliable, either. Remember cholesterol? After five decades of fear-mongering, the Food and Drug Administration has only recently reversed itself on dietary cholesterol, acknowledging in its draft of new dietary guidelines that it "is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption." The FDA may have to make a similar U-turn on its recommendations for avoiding salt, which have been laid bare in recent medical studies as completely unfounded. Trans fat facts can beat Nanny State bans . Mention trans fat, and while many people might not know exactly what it is, odds are they know it's bad for them. That knowledge, along with labeling requirements and market forces, cut trans fat consumption by nearly 80% since 2003. Quite a public health coup. On Tuesday [6/16/2015], seeking to build on that success and get rid of even more artificial trans fat, the Food and Drug Administration outlawed its most common source — partially hydrogenated oil — and gave companies three years to eliminate it from their products. Restaurants will have to do the same. F.D.A. Gives Food Industry 3 Years to Eliminate Trans Fats . The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave the food industry three years to eliminate artery-clogging artificial trans fats from the food supply, a long-awaited step that capped years of effort by consumer groups and is expected to save thousands of lives a year. Trans fats — a major contributor to heart disease in the United States — have already been substantially reduced in foods, but they still lurk in many popular products, including frostings, microwave popcorn, packaged pies, frozen pizzas, margarines and coffee creamers. A brief history of the federal government's love-hate relationship with trans-fats . In the late 19th century, the Margarine Act of 1886 taxed the entire burgeoning margarine industry nearly out of business. Margarine, invented by French chemist Hippolyte Mege-Mouries in the 1860s, was considered a cheaper and tasty alternative to butter. [...] And, the dairy lobby quickly took to the levers of power to sink their new competition. Butter producers suggested margarine was made of tainted fat and masquerading as butter. Obama Administration Bans Artificial Trans Fats . In an effort to curtail heart disease, the Obama administration said Tuesday [6/16/2015] it's cracking down on artificial trans fats. The Food and Drug Administration will require companies to phase out the partially hydrogenated oils almost entirely over the course of three years, calling them not "generally recognized as safe." The action comes a year and a half after the FDA first made that determination, in 2013. House votes to repeal country-of-origin labeling on meat . Under threat of trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico, the House has voted to to repeal a law requiring country-of-origin labels on packages of beef, pork and poultry. NYC Health Department proposes high-sodium warning on menus . New York City's Health Department wants all chain restaurants to warn customers about products that are high in salt. With Little Regard for Science, Obama Targets Livestock and Meat . The Obama administration on June 2 convened the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship, "to bring together key human and animal health constituencies involved in antibiotic stewardship." [...] The veterinary feed directive was an edict from the Food and Drug Administration, which oversees animal and livestock feed. It was issued in December 2013 and finalized in conjunction with the White House Summit. Its goal is to phase out the use of medically important antibiotics in livestock production by 2016. Indeed, curbing the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock feed has been a cause celebre for the administration and the food nanny crowd for decades. Five years in, pizza chains find ObamaCare menu mandate still half-baked . Five years ago, we discovered one of those hidden items in ObamaCare that Nancy Pelosi promised we'd only see after the bill got passed — and she was correct. The bill included a federal mandate for restaurants with 20 or more locations to post calorie counts on menu items, even though research since passage of ObamaCare suggest that calorie counts on menus don't change consumer behavior at all. It does change the overhead for restaurants and their ability to expand and change their menu offerings, and nowhere is that problem greater than in the pizza industry. S'mores no more? Feds wage war of culinary aggression . The USDA wants Americans to remove chocolate and marshmallows and fire from our summertime s'mores. Instead[,] the USDA is suggesting we load up the graham crackers with strawberries and low-fat yogurt. That's not a s'more. That's a fruit salad with an oversized graham cracker crouton. Now Michelle Obama goes after s'mores . Michelle Obama and her crusade against unhealthy food appears have a new target in its sights — s'mores. Her officially endorsed MyPlate Twitter account is proposing a makeover for the classic American summer campfire treat by replacing the indulgent chocolate and marshmallow with Strawberry and yogurt — low fat of course. Appalled, social media was up in arms at the very suggestion that s'mores could ever be tampered with and angry commenters let fly at the health conscious First Lady. Government s'mores: Strawberries instead of chocolate, yogurt instead of marshmallows . Anyone headed toward the final round of their Memorial Day cookout still has a chance to eat a healthy dessert, by making USDA-recommended strawberry s'mores. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's "MyPlate" service handed out that advice on Sunday [5/24/2015], and said strawberry s'mores are a treat that "kids will love." But expectations for the kids might need to be set in advance, since these s'mores don't have any chocolate or marshmallows in them. The Editor says... They may be tasty and somewhat healthy, but this recipe sounds a lot more expensive to make than traditional s'mores. Target is making a big shift away from sugary cereals, canned foods and mac and cheese . Target recently gathered some of the country's largest food companies in the country to tell them that many of their products would no longer be featured or promoted in the same way they have in recent years. The news, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes on the heels of what has been a trying stretch for American food manufacturers. And it could have a sizable impact on the health of the packaged food industry. Food industry braces for Obama trans fat ban . The Obama administration is expected to all but ban trans fat in a final ruling that could drop as soon as next week, killing most uses of an ingredient that has been put in everything from frozen pizza to Reese's Pieces but since deemed harmful to human health. The agency may create some very limited exemptions, but the ruling could force food companies to cut trans fat use beyond the 85 percent reduction already achieved over the past decade — a key piece of the Obama administration's broader agenda to nudge Americans toward a healthier diet. Dairy Queen is the latest food chain to drop soda on kids' menus . Dairy Queen is the latest restaurant chain to remove soft drinks from its kids' menus, a move that follows other fast-food giants, including McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's. Subway, Panera Bread and Chipotle already don't offer soft drinks to kids. The ice-cream chain will remove soft drinks, including the neon colored Arctic Rush frozen beverage, and replace them with healthier options such as bottled water and milk. There is also the choice of one of DQ's signature treats, a kids cone or Dilly Bar. How the gluten-free movement is ruining our relationship with food . Gluten, which gives bread, pizza dough and other starchy foods their chewiness, is one of the most beloved proteins in the world. But it's also quickly becoming one of the most feared — at least here in the United States. An estimated 20 million Americans believe that eating it causes them distress. And 100 million people, meanwhile, say that they are actively working to eliminate gluten from their diet. Roughly 1 percent of humans suffer from celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that damages the body's small intestine when gluten is digested. But the gluten-free movement has gone far beyond those who suffer from celiac, becoming a pervasive part of how Americans eat. Kraft Mac & Cheese just got duller. You can thank (or blame) 'The Food Babe.' . For many Americans, the color of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is the color of childhood. Nothing triggers nostalgia like the sight of a steaming plate of sticky pasta, as unnaturally orange as a nuclear dawn. Almost 80 years after its invention, however, Kraft Mac & Cheese is about to change. Under pressure from "healthier" competitors and a controversial food blogger, the company says it is stripping all artificial preservatives and synthetic colors from its most iconic item. USDA app aims to stop Americans from wasting 36 lbs. food a month . The Agriculture Department has determined that 36 pounds of food per person is wasted every month, about 21 percent of the available food in the United States. And one big reason: those expiration dates are wrong or overly cautious. The solution. Hold your nose and just eat it. Even if it is 18 months past the expiration date. Feds urge eating expired food, even if 18 months past throwaway date . The Agriculture Department has determined that 36 pounds of food per person is wasted every month, about 21 percent of the available food in the United States. And one big reason: those expiration dates are wrong or overly cautious. The solution. Hold your nose and just eat it. Even if it is 18 months past the expiration date. The Editor says... [#1] After I buy food (with my own money that I earned by actually working), it becomes my property and I can do with it as I see fit. [#2] Does anyone believe for even a second that the Secretary of Agriculture — whose department issued this nanny-state scold — eats anything other than the freshest food? [#3] Does anyone believe for a millisecond that Americans waste 36 pounds of edible food per capita every month? That's impossible. The total weight of all household trash (at least at my house) is a lot less than that. [#4] Anyone who has ever experienced food poisoning knows better than to ingest anything of dubious edibility. The disposal of expired food is not waste. USDA Removes Beef From Healthy Diet, Now Promotes Organically Fed Fish . The USDA is proposing regulations for seafood, following its controversial regulation proposal on beef. The Agriculture Department is set to propose new standards for farmed organic fish within a year. "That means the seafood could be available in as few as two years — but only if USDA moves quickly to complete the rules and seafood companies decide to embrace them," Associated Press reports. The "Food Babe" Blogger Is [In Error] . How many companies or products do you think it would make sense to crusade against in the course of a career? One? Three? A dozen? Hari has declared, to date, more than 610 products and companies to be unsafe over the course of four years. According to Hari, the problem with most of them, including Girl Scout Cookies: GMOs and pesticides. She's even alleged that an apple can be worse for you than a hot fudge sundae, if it's not organic. And is there even a shred of truth to this? Not in the least. Hari claims going organic will save you from pesticides, but organic farming uses pesticides too. Some of them are far more toxic than conventional pesticides. It's Time To Flush Federal Dietary Guidelines Down the Drain . As the federal government wrestles with how much meat and cholesterol it will recommend in its updated dietary guidelines, the public should be asking why the government is involved in this issue at all. Here's 8 Of The Unhealthiest Items Being Sold At Baseball Games This Summer . On Wednesday [3/25/2015], the Milwaukee Brewers announced they would be selling "Doritos-crusted" nachos on a stick, and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be horrified or in awe of this monstrosity. Parents Must Sign Permission Slip Before Kids Can Eat Oreos . There are 18-wheelers with brake problems, hungry bears just stumbling out of hibernation, and lawnmowers that suddenly shift into reverse. And then there's the unparalleled danger of Double Stuf Oreos. Thank goodness this teacher requires parents to sign off on cookie consumption — if they dare. Feds Spend $149,890 on 'Mindful Eating Intervention' for Third Graders . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is spending nearly $150,000 to test a "mindful eating intervention" on third graders in California. A grant awarded earlier this month outlined the project that will use the methods of a Zen teacher to try to fight childhood obesity and turn kids into "change agents" to teach others how to eat healthily. [...] Mindfulness is a New Age meditation technique that traces its origins from Buddhism. People engaging in mindfulness are encouraged to focus on the present moment "non-judgmentally." Mrs. Obama: Americans Should Drink Unsweetened Tea . The First Lady of these United States is now urging Americans to stop drinking sweet tea. Yes, friends, you heard correctly. Mrs. Obama has declared war on the House Wine of the South. It's all part of her anti-obesity campaign, called Let's Move. The website Free Beacon was the first to report on her latest culinary atrocities, urging us to wash down our lettuce and bean sprouts with unsweetened tea. Nanny state failure: Ban on fast-food eateries in South L.A. hasn't cut obesity, study says . Seven years ago, Los Angeles made national headlines with a novel attempt to reduce obesity in South L.A. by banning new fast-food restaurants. But a new study found the effort has not achieved its intended goal. A Rand Corp. report released Thursday [3/19/2015] says that from 2007 to 2012, the percentage of people who were overweight or obese increased everywhere in L.A., but the increase was significantly greater in areas covered by the fast-food ordinance, including Baldwin Hills and Leimert Park. The study also found fast-food consumption went up in South L.A. as well as across the county during that time. LA's fast food ban didn't lower obesity in poor areas because people just went elsewhere for unhealthy food, study finds . In 2008, a dietary ordinance targeted a 32-square-mile area south of Interstate 10 that struggles with high obesity rates and other health problems. The ban went into effect in South Los Angeles and restricted the opening or expansion of standalone fast-food restaurants. However, the law, believed to be the first effort of its kind by a major city to improve public health, did not ban new fast food restaurants in strip malls. Another Government Diet Disaster In The Making . From the same people who brought you four decades of increasing obesity based on their nutritional "science," comes new guidelines that include taxes on dessert, plant-based diets, demonization of meat and electronic monitoring of your habits. Never fear, the food police are here. This list of intrusive, big-government insanity is brought to you courtesy of The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a group formed to advise the federal government on new dietary guidelines. In its massive 571-page report, it calls on America to "transform the food system." Gee, last time someone used that word — "transform" — it didn't turn out so well. (Hint: He now lives in the White House.) Beef producers say Obama is trying to kill their industry . Lawmakers from cattle producing states are seeing red following a 571-page federal report that that encourages Americans to go green. A panel of nutrition experts recruited by the Obama administration to craft the newest dietary guidelines suggested last week that the government should consider the environment when deciding what people should eat. The report, which was presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bills itself as a way to "transform the food system" and that's got a lot of people in the heartland and those elected to represent them in Washington fuming. Attack on meat has industry seeing red . The meat industry is sharpening its knives over a small federal committee that issued sweeping nutrition advice that essentially told Americans to drop the burger and grab a handful of kale. The beef and pork associations spent months sweating as the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee worked on developing a large book of nutrition advice that would not only encourage Americans to eat less red meat but single out the livestock industry for contributing to environmental problems. Feds: America Should Adopt 'Plant-Based' Diet . The federal committee responsible for nutrition guidelines is calling for the adoption of "plant-based" diets, taxes on dessert, trained obesity "interventionists" at worksites, and electronic monitoring of how long Americans sit in front of the television. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released its far-reaching 571-page report of recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Thursday, which detailed its plans to "transform the food system." Think of Earth, not just your stomach, panel advises . The nation's top nutritional panel is recommending for the first time that Americans consider the impact on the environment when they are choosing what to eat, a move that defied a warning from Congress and, if enacted, could discourage people from eating red meat. Members of Congress had sought in December to keep the group from even discussing the issue, asserting that while advising the government on federal dietary guidelines, the committee should steer clear of extraneous issues and stick to nutritional advice. NY assemblyman wants cigarette-like labels on soft drinks . A New York State assemblyman wants to label soda and other sugary drinks with cigarette-like health warnings. Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz (D-Bronx) has introduced a "Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act", according to the New York Post. The act would require vendors to put labels on all sugary drinks [...] Eggs Are In After Nutrition Panel Lifts Cholesterol Warning . Something many of us have been trying to avoid is now okay to eat. The nation's top nutrition panel is dropping its guidelines about avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol. The new finding by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee means that cholesterol is no longer listed as a "nutrient of concern." So butter is good for you. Just like global warming, then. . The big story in all the papers this week is that butter is good for you, after all. I say "after all" because for most of my life butter has been widely touted by the Health Establishment as the dietary equivalent of Polonium-210. That's why, when you go to the supermarket, every other product on the shelves screams at you about how healthily "low fat" it is; why, at some high-street coffee chains, you can't get your latte made with full-fat milk even if you ask because they only do "skimmed" or "semi-skimmed"; and why, perhaps most damningly, we're currently experiencing an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It all goes back to some now discredited 'research' conducted in the 1950s by an American dietician called Ancel Keys. The U.S. government is poised to withdraw longstanding warnings about cholesterol . The nation's top nutrition advisory panel has decided to drop its caution about eating cholesterol-laden food, a move that could undo almost 40 years of government warnings about its consumption. The group's finding that cholesterol in the diet need no longer be considered a "nutrient of concern" stands in contrast to the committee's findings five years ago, the last time it convened. During those proceedings, as in previous years, the panel deemed the issue of excess cholesterol in the American diet a public health concern. The finding follows an evolution of thinking among many nutritionists who now believe that, for healthy adults, eating foods high in cholesterol may not significantly affect the level of cholesterol in the blood or increase the risk of heart disease. What else are the "experts" wrong about? Butter ISN'T bad for you after all: Major study says 80s advice on dairy fats was flawed . Guidelines that told millions of people to avoid butter and full-fat milk should never have been introduced, say experts. The startling assertion challenges advice that has been followed by the medical profession for 30 years. The experts say the advice from 1983, aimed at reducing deaths from heart disease, lacked any solid trial evidence to back it up. Also posted under Environmental false alarms . A Handful of Cheese Dust . Shunning convenience foods is easy when you've got a taxpayer-subsidized cooking staff whipping up four-course feasts every night. Those boxed meals you spit upon are affordable and easy to store, and last a long time. For someone who pretends to be sympathetic to working-class and middle-class families, Her Royal Highness sure has a funny way of showing it. Michelle Obama's Personal Fight Against Boxed Macaroni And Cheese . Celebrating the fifth anniversary of "Let's Move!" First Lady Michelle Obama explains to Cooking Light magazine that she had to get empowered in her own household to eliminate processed food. Part of that experience was her personal fight against boxed macaroni and cheese, which, she admits, her kids loved. Michelle Obama Says Ditch Your Boxed Mac & Cheese . According to the company's website, Kraft Mac & Cheese is not only "The Cheesiest" mac and cheese type product out there, it's also "part of a balanced meal," if you add in some veggies and force your child to drink milk. [...] But because the box meal is enjoyable, practical, low-cost, filling and nutritionally viable, it has clearly come under fire from the White House, whose matriarch has banned it from the kitchen outright. Jonathan Gruber: The Gift That Keeps On Giving . Thought you'd heard the last of Jonathan Gruber, did you? Check this out, from the end of a paper he delivered in 2010 to the National Institute for Health Care Management entitled "Taxing Sin to Modify Behavior and Raise Revenue": ["]Ultimately, what may be needed to address the obesity problem are direct taxes on body weight. [...]["] Domino's to Obama Admin: Calorie Rule is 'Unworkable' . The final Obamacare regulation forcing restaurant chains to display calorie information is causing headaches for companies who say it is "impossible to comply" with the new rule. Domino's Pizza, one of the regulation's most outspoken critics, said the rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is vaguely written and carries the possibility of jail time. Experts zero in on pizza as prime target in war on childhood obesity . On days when children eat pizza, they consume an average of 408 additional calories, three additional grams of fat and 134 additional milligrams of salt compared with their regular diet. For teens, putting pizza on the day's menu adds 624 calories, five grams of fat and 484 milligrams of salt. The analysis, published online Monday [1/19/2015] by the journal Pediatrics, examines pizza's contribution to the childhood obesity crisis because it is so widely consumed. The Editor says... The article above appears in the liberal LA Times, which is one of the principal supporters of the nanny state and big government in general. The writer seems to be horrified that kids are being served pizza — something they prefer to eat — instead of broccoli and carrots. Let the kids eat pizza, I say, if they pay for it with their own money. Let those who eat from Big Brother's hand be content with whatever Big Brother puts on the menu. This would serve as an important lesson about free markets: about the haves and have-nots. Especially when the kids who are fed by the government are the have-nots, and everyone else is eating pizza. Feds target fried food, juice at day cares . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing strict new dietary guidelines for day cares that would prohibit them from frying food that is served to children. Child care providers would also be formally required to provide children with water upon request, though they would face restrictions on how much apple juice and orange juice they serve. The proposed nutrition standards are intended to promote the "health and wellness of children" at day cares that participate in government-funded meal programs, the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service said Wednesday [1/14/2015]. Here we go: Feds move to ban all fried foods at day care centers . Fear not, citizens! The government is here to save you from yourselves. And in keeping with the Remember the Children theme, the Department of Agriculture is submitting new guidelines for food served at any day care facility (including some private homes) which qualify for federal funding. New Let's Move Executive Director is a 'Food Justice' Activist . First Lady Michelle Obama named the new Executive Director of Let's Move on Thursday, Debra Eschmeyer, a self-described "food justice" activist who believes that all aspects of food production and consumption should be "shared fairly." Eschmeyer, who grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio and is now an organic vegetable farmer, previously campaigned for "school lunch reform" and has been involved in anti-obesity and school gardening initiatives. WH picks new director for healthy eating campaign . The White House on Thursday [1/8/2015] announced first lady Michelle Obama's pick to lead her campaign for kids to eat healthier, saying Debra Eschmeyer would take over a post that has increasingly come under fire in Republican circles. "For more than a decade, Deb has been leading the way in teaching kids about the importance of healthy eating," the first lady said. "From classrooms and gardens to kitchens and farms, Deb has made learning about nutrition fun and accessible for kids across the country." Guide For Heatlthy Eating May Consider Environment . The beef and agriculture industries are crying foul, saying an environmental agenda has no place in what has always been a practical blueprint for a healthy lifestyle. Obamacare Calorie Posting Regulations to Cost Industry $1.7 Billion . The federal government formally completed regulations that will force vending machines and restaurants to display calorie information, which can lead to businesses being fined thousands of dollars for not including the number of calories in a mayonnaise packet. The regulations, which originated in Obamacare, total 319 pages and will cost industry $1.7 billion to comply. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the final rules last week just before the Thanksgiving holiday, arguing the rules are "an important step for public health." You can keep your popcorn. Period . Conservatives warned America that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was a merely a power grab by the federal bureaucracy? We said you would not keep your doctor, you would not keep your plan, and you certainly would not save $2,500. In fact, a record number of Americans can no longer afford health care because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It was all so predictable. We were right. Don't ever forget that. Label every one of their power grabs "Obamacare." Immigration reform is the Obamacare of border control. Et cetera. Having screwed up health care, now we learn Obamacare is screwing up movie theater popcorn. White House Thanksgiving; turkey, ham, 6 pies and more . President Obama is spending a quiet Thanksgiving at the White House where the belly-stuffing menu featured all the holiday's basics. FDA Unveils National Calorie Labeling Rules So You Can Now Feel Super Guilty About That Second Margarita . The sort of nutritional information that has long been mandatory in New York City — and long-resisted by convenience stores, pizza chains, and grocery stores — will now be required at everything from fast food restaurants to movie theaters. 'Let them eat cake' updated for modern elitists . Body type has become a class marker. The fashionable upper classes starve themselves and work out at gyms. Ectomorphs are the new natural aristocracy. For most of history, fat was fashionable, indicating wealth. Now that humble folk can afford obesity, why the enlightened classes pursue the opposite. And if others don't share their dietary preferences in the current fashion, why they are just stupid: [...] Calorie counts: Coming to a restaurant, movie theater, vending machine near you . Chain restaurants, vending machines, grocery stores, coffee shops and pizza joints will soon have to display detailed calorie information on their menus under long-awaited rules to be issued Tuesday [11/25/2014] by the Food and Drug Administration. The calorie-posting requirements extend to an array of foods that Americans consume in their daily lives: popcorn at the movie theater, muffins at a bakery, a deli sandwich, a milkshake at an ice cream shop, a drive-through cheeseburger, a hot dog at Costco or Target. 'Fizzy drinks are the new smoking' . Experts have called for sugar-laden fizzy drinks to carry warning labels similar to those found on cigarette packets, in a bid to combat the adverse health effects. New York assemblyman Karim Camara has introduced a bill that will require health warning labels on certain drinks with added sugar. Feds Spent $10 Million on a Video Game About Escaping a Fat Town . The federal government has invested over $10 million developing and promoting a video game about a young teen that must escape a town full of fat people, as a method to fight obesity. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) paid for the development of two video games that promote healthier eating, including "Escape from Diab," a "nightmare" fictional city where people are only allowed to eat junk food. "The story centers around five children who must get healthy enough to escape the evil King Etes," explains Archimage, Inc., a computer game company that received $9,091,409 to develop the games. King Etes is a fat ruler who forces his people to eat out of vending machines. Berkeley to impose first soda 'sin' tax . Voters in Berkeley, Calif., made history Tuesday [11/4/2014], approving the nation's first soda tax. Berkeley's Measure D imposes a 1 cent per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)and flavored drinks for residents in this city of 117,000. That will increase the price of a can of soda in Berkeley by 12 cents, and 68 cents for a 2-liter bottle. A referendum in San Francisco on a 2 cent per ounce tax fizzled. Big Brother versus Big Soda in Berkeley . The elitists who think it is their job to tell the great unwashed what to eat and to drink are at work in my hometown of Berkeley, California, with an initiative measure on the ballot that would tax sugary soda one cent per ounce. Measure D is being fought with a full court press by the soft drink industry, which has pouted millions of dollars into pervasive advertising on local cable TV and billboards, and hiring canvassers to visit every home (ours has been visited twice). Minneapolis Is Micromanaging the Food Supply . Minneapolis has become a focal point for testing out policies designed to force people to eat healthier. Or else. A law on the books, which voters may very well repeal next month, requires restaurants to prove that food sales make up at least 70 percent of their total food and beverage sales. The law also bans restaurants from serving alcohol to customers who are waiting for a table in the restaurant. Earlier this year, the city council adopted a City Healthy Food Policy that mandates "healthful food in vending machines, in city cafeterias and at meetings with city-funded food." The vote was by no means unanimous. De Blasio Pushes Forward on Soda Ban . Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration is exploring new ways to regulate the size of large sugary drinks in New York City, holding high-level meetings behind closed doors with health advocates and beverage industry executives. "Mayor de Blasio has made clear he supports a ban on large sugary drinks," his spokesman, Phil Walzak, said on Thursday [10/16/2014]. "The administration is currently considering plans on the best way to reach that goal." The life of the party: Michelle Obama: Just Eat One or Two Pieces of Candy on Halloween . First Lady Michelle Obama shared some advice for trick-or-treaters this Halloween advising them to only eat one or two pieces of candy per night. "Trick-or-treating can be a lot of fun, but just remember, don't try to eat all your candy at once, just have one or two pieces every night for a little while," she explained to a little girl during an online Q-and-A. Obama's USDA to Spend $31.5 Million on 'Healthy' Food Stamp Program . The Department of Agriculture, the agency that administers the food stamp program, has announced that it will spend $31.5 million on a new program that will promote a healthy diet for recipients of the assistance. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a division of the Department of Agriculture, is developing the program to urge recipients of the SNAP food stamp program to choose more fruits and fresh foods. Seattle Passes Laws to Keep Residents From Wasting Food . The City of Seattle just passed a new trash ordinance that would fine residents and businesses for throwing away too much food. The new rules would allow garbage collectors to inspect trash cans and ticket offending parties if food and compostable material makes up 10 percent or more of the trash. This One Little Secret Could Sink the Hillary Campaign . It is unclear whether or not Hillary herself is putting her health at risk with a meat-free diet. What is clear is that she's putting her political future at risk with such anti-carnivore flirtations. Who wants to have a beer with someone that might scoff at them for eating a burger with their suds? Now Feds assail salt: No pizza, chips, Mexican food, chicken tenders, sandwiches . First fatty foods, then sugary drinks, now President Obama's food police are gunning for salt in their effort to upend the typical kiddy diet. The latest evidence came Tuesday [9/9/2014] when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that school-aged children are eating a mountain of salt. The intake is so high, that the CDC is recommending a 50 percent cut within eight years. Feds Developing Technology to Detect Obesity from Your Picture . The federal government is developing a body mass index (BMI) detector intended to be available to every American "anywhere and anytime," according to a grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The detector is expected to rely on the analysis of facial and body imagery. The project has been awarded $200,113 thus far to create the system under the notion that too many obese individuals are unaware of their BMI. Vermont bans brownies, turns kids on to kale, gluten-free paleo lemon bars . It's a best-seller at bake sales, a king of American confections, even a mandatory munchie of marijuana users. But the iconic chocolate brownie, that perfect blend of cake and cookie, is banned in Vermont schools. In its place are new hoped-for kid favorites like fruit shish kebab, kale and even gluten-free paleo lemon bars. The switch stems from nutrition mandates required under the new Smart-Snacks-in-Schools program in effect for public schools. Your weekly reminder the nanny scold coalition can't be trusted on nutrition . Surprise! Fat probably isn't what's making you fat, despite a decades-old attempt by the government, media, and anyone with a nanny-state inclination to tell you to put down the bacon and butter, or worse, ban it. Recently, Time ran a cover story entitled "Ending the War on Fat." Which is nice, considering they've not been shy about going after nutritional bogeymen in the past. Now EU bureaucrats tell us we can't eat toast . An EU watchdog says toast should be eaten only when it is a light brown colour or it could increase the risk of cancer. The European Food Safety Authority warned of a chemical, acrylamide, found in some foods cooked at high temperatures. It is mainly found in crisps, savoury snacks, chips, soft and crispy breads, biscuits, crackers, cakes, cereals and coffee. But dark roasted potatoes, jacket potatoes and slightly burned toast could also contain it. Forest Service says drop chocolate, add fruit to your s'mores . The U.S. Forest Service wants Americans to make healthier S'mores by replacing the chocolate with fruit, according to a blog post meant to commemorate National Roasted Marshmallow Day (apparently there is such a thing, it was observed on August 30 this year). Whole Foods sued for 'understating' amount of sugar in yogurt . Customers are suing Whole Foods Market for "vastly understating" the amount of sugar in its store-brand yogurt. A class-action lawsuit filed Friday [8/29/2014] in Manhattan federal court cites six tests by Consumer Reports in a July report on the supermarket chain's Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Plain Greek Yogurt, revealing it actually contains 11.4 grams of sugar per 170-gram serving instead of the 2 grams listed on the label. Now Michelle Obama Has Caused America's 'Best Cafeteria Cookie' To Be Outlawed . An eruption of aggravation about what American schoolchildren can no longer eat in school cafeterias is never far away in the Obama era. Now, thanks to federal intervention that first lady Michelle has made her signature issue, students in all 11 taxpayer-funded public schools in Elyria, Ohio cannot enjoy the famous Elyria pink cookie anymore. This cookie is no ordinary cookie, according to The Chronicle-Telegram, the Cleveland suburb's local newspaper. It's a velvety, cake-like, scrumptious delicacy glazed with a huge dollop of sugary pink icing. Cleveland magazine dubbed the Elyria pink cookie the "Best Cafeteria Cookie" in 2009. Locals will even call up asking for special bulk orders of the tasty treat. Feds Ban School's Beloved "Pink Cookie" . School children in Elyria, Ohio are mourning the demise of a 40-year tradition — the loss of their beloved pink cookie. The fabled cookie, long served in local school cafeterias, was done in by a pound of butter, six cups of powdered sugar and the Obama administration's food police. "It no longer meets the national school lunch program guidelines for snacks," said Amy Higgins, the spokesperson for Elyria City Schools. "It has too many calories." The USDA "Smart Snacks in School" standards mandate that all snacks must contain less than 200 calories. Cincinnati Enquirer Keeps Michelle Obama's Name Out of Story on District Ending Federal School Lunches . Fort Thomas Independent Schools in Northern Kentucky have decided to get out of the federal school lunch program, specifically because of the requirements imposed in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act championed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Simply put, the district is tired of being forced to give kids food they won't eat. Until it ran into problems, HHFA was seen as Mrs. Obama's signature achievement, and the press fawned over its alleged awesomeness. Now that the program has encountered fierce real-world resistance, her association with it seems to have vanished from many press reports. School District Bans Birthday Cupcakes Because They Aren't Fair . An elementary school in the outer suburbs of Atlanta has outlawed birthday cupcakes, cookies and, in fact, all food from birthday parties over fears that some kids with food allergies could feel sad and left out. Officials at Brooks Elementary School in Newnan, Ga. announced the draconian new policy for the upcoming school year via a letter to parents, reports The Newnan Times-Herald. Back to school: No snacks for you, Michelle Obama says . Michelle Obama's push to stop kids from eating snacks and buying sugary drinks will be realized when kids go back to school. [...] Stories have already started to pop up. Public schools can't have bake sales anymore to raise money to pay for their music programs. The Girl Scouts can't sell their cookies on school grounds. You won't be able to get a decent snack that happens to be over 200 calories. The school lunches will be basically inedible. As for soda pop? Forget about it. This stems from a law passed in 2010, called the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Schools Act. Put Down the Cupcake: New Ban Hits School Bake Sales . A federal law that aims to curb childhood obesity means that, in dozens of states, bake sales must adhere to nutrition requirements that could replace cupcakes and brownies with fruit cups and granola bars. Jeff Ellsworth, principal of the kindergarten through eighth-grade school in Chapman, Neb., isn't quite sure how to break the news to the kids. "The chocolate bars are a big seller," said Mr. Ellsworth. Rep. DeLauro Wants SWEET New Soda Tax . Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced this week the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax (SWEET Act), which aims to institute a tax of one cent per teaspoon — 4.2 grams — of sugar, high fructose corn syrup or caloric sweetener. The measure (HB 5279), introduced Wednesday [7/30/2014] says, "A 20-ounce bottle of soda contains about 16 teaspoons of sugars. Yet, the American Heart Association recommends that Americans consume no more than six to nine teaspoons of sugar per day." Even though the manufacturers' of the sweet drinks are targeted to pay the tax, the text of the bill itself notes that the goal is to reduce public consumption through a price increase. Michelle Obama expands push to get Americans to drink more water . First lady Michelle Obama took to the White House lawn on Tuesday [7/22/2014] along with children from a local YMCA and summer camp to expand the country's "Drink Up" campaign aimed at getting Americans to drink more water. Welcome to a government we'll-tell-you-what-to-eat world . The supermarket 'talking' shopping cart Michelle Obama will use to push her over-the-top approved food list is a power push over unsuspecting masses, but would serve as the perfect replacement for her husband's omnipresent rising sun logo. [...] Michelle Obama's specialized supermarket carts that will notify shoppers when they've selected the right amount of healthy foods, described in a new 80-page report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now that they've lured almost 50 percent of Americans onto food stamps, they feel they have the right to tell them what they can eat. The food police trying to arrest soda, again . Mr. Bloomberg's attempt to ban the Big Gulp fizzled in the courts, so the pious left has turned to the thing they like best, a tax. San Francisco will ask voters this fall to approve an increase in the price of a 12-ounce can of the likes of Pepsi-Cola or Dr Pepper by nearly a quarter. Berkeley will ask to add 67 cents to the cost of a 2-liter bottle of belly wash. All drinks sweetened with sugar, including energy drinks and sports drinks of whatever size, would be subjected to the levies. Obama tries to connect with ordinary Americans — through junk food . Has food — especially junk food — played as large a role in the messaging of any other presidential administration as it has in that of President Obama? Obama has long complained about feeling hemmed in by the presidency, and has made a habit lately of escaping the White House by walking down the street, skipping town and meeting with regular Americans who have written him letters or have some connection to an issue he plans to discuss. The common thread in almost all of these excursions? Food or drink. And nothing fancy. Now Michelle Obama Wants to Control How You Shop for Groceries . Michelle Obama has been on a quest to change the way Americans eat, like it or not. Her nutritional guidelines for schools has resulted in kids throwing away massive amounts of food, a reduction in school lunch program participation, students, especially athletes, complaining that the food isn't enough to sustain them during the day, and Special Education programs losing their main fundraising program. USDA Suggests Changes to Grocery Stores to 'Nudge' Consumers to Eat Healthy . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is suggesting major changes to grocery stores to "nudge" Americans to purchase healthier foods when they shop. The agency commissioned an "expert panel" to make recommendations on how to guide the more than 47 million Americans on food stamps into spending their benefits on fruits and vegetables. The group released an 80-page report this month presenting their ideas, which include talking shopping carts and a marketing strategy for grocery chains that would feature better store lighting for healthier items. Scrapbook Photos: Obama's Summer Road Trips . A restless President Barack Obama has ventured out on an array of field trips, stopping at local hotspots when he travels and ambling around Washington, D.C. He's dined on burgers, pizza, barbecue, ice cream and a Chipotle burrito bowl on recent outings. And last week, he shot pool and drank beer during a stop in Denver. White House officials say the forays into Americans' everyday lives help re-energize the president and connect him with average folks. Mrs. Obama Declares War on Chick-fil-A . It seems the home of plump juicy breasts and hot buttered buns has run afoul of the new Smart Snacks in School program. The program is a component of Mrs. Obama's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The new government regulations require snack items served in public schools to have less than two hundred calories. That includes vending machines, lunch rooms and other campus food venues. And that's really bad news for kids at South Carolina's Socastee High School. They've just learned they will no longer be allowed to buy Chick-fil-A sandwiches at school. The Editor says... What does Michelle Obama have against Chick-Fil-A ? Michelle Obama and School Nutrition Association Battle over Meal Program . An internecine battle has broken out between the Obama administration and the School Nutrition Association (SNA) over the federal government's requirements for school meal programs. The fight has gotten so nasty that Michelle Obama's food policy czar, celebrity chef Sam Kass, who handed out awards at the SNA's annual convention in 2012, was refused permission to speak at this year's convention, held in Boston this week and attended by approximately 6,500 school nutrition workers. According to Politico, the brouhaha arose from the different goals each group has for the $11 billion school lunch program; some food companies "want to build brand loyalty early and even the legacy of the first lady," while Michelle Obama and her supporters, intent on controlling children's food intake, try to impose their views on the program. USDA Hires Environmentalist Food Activist to Oversee Dietary Guidelines . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has hired an environmental nutrition consultant to oversee its Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which has already faced criticism for introducing climate change into nutrition policy. Angela Tagtow was named executive director of the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which oversees the committee in charge of creating new federal nutrition standards. A "good food" activist, Tagtow founded Environmental Nutrition Solutions, whose mission is to change the food system by making it more "sustainable, ecologically sound, [and] socially acceptable." She formerly was the endowed chair for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. School Lunches Weren't Enough: Michelle Targets School Bake Sales . In order to comply with federal regulations, the State Board of Education in Tennessee has announced that schools are only allowed to host club bake sales, cook-offs, or any other food-based fundraiser on each campus 30 days per school-year. The board chose this specific number because if a maximum number of days are not set, schools are not allowed to host any food-related fundraisers at all, according to The Tennessean. Administrators across the state are lamenting the effect this will have on school club funds. On Air Force One, No Lightening Up on Burgers and Cake . A blue-cheese burger with lettuce, tomato and garlic aioli, accompanied by Parmesan-sprinkled fries. Chocolate fudge cake. Pasta shells stuffed with four cheeses, topped with meat sauce and shredded mozzarella, and served with a garlic breadstick. Cake infused with limoncello. Buffalo wings with celery, carrots and homemade ranch dip. Such was the fare served to passengers aboard Air Force One during a particularly grueling three-state day on the campaign trail just before the 2012 election. Not much has changed since. Court Won't Reinstate New York City's Big-Soda Ban . Guzzlers prevailed Thursday [6/26/2014] as New York's highest court refused to reinstate New York City's ban on the sale of big sodas, ruling that the city's health department overstepped its bounds when approved the 16-ounce cap on sugary beverages. When Barry Met Shelly: Authoritarian and Totalitarian Psychology of the Obamas . [Scroll down] Mrs. Obama's "cause" is to tell everybody what to eat for lunch. Sameness and oneness. The American people are too stupid to feed their own kids. Obama Administration To Tackle Pressing International Crisis — Mislabeled Seafood . Secretary of State John Kerry is directing federal agencies to work together to develop a program to combat seafood fraud. Since there isn't even a program yet, just a directive to create a program, it will be 10 years before various agencies 'work together' to hilarious effect, like when the federal Endangered Species Act tried to restore the Paiute cutthroat trout but was blocked by by the Wilderness Act because the location is so remote it requires a gas-powered generator for the auger — which can't be used in wilderness areas. Seafood fraud is an issue — last year the advocacy group Oceana found that 39 percent of seafood in stores was mislabeled. That's bad because if people are paying for grouper and getting Asian catfish, they are being bilked, the same way homeopathy and organic food people are being duped by hucksters. As Al Qaeda Approaches Baghdad, Obama Orders Department of, Defense to Fight "Seafood Fraud" . Al Qaeda in Iraq has nothing to worry about. Not unless it starts mislabeling fish caught in protected maritime zones. Or fails to state the supply chain for its seafood. [...] More regulations for controlling the supply chain will make it more expensive to catch and sell fish... and that will make it harder for working families to eat. Not that Obama cares about working families except when he's reading from a teleprompter. John Kerry Discusses Whether Iraq is Aware of Global Warming . While Al Qaeda has been taking over Iraq, Obama and Kerry have kept a laser focus on oceans. Obama ordered the Department of Defense to fight mislabeled seafood and Kerry kept tweeting about Leonardo DeCaprio and the oceans. Then he opened up for questions on Twitter and the ones he got, he didn't like much. Al Qaeda Hits Baghdad — — Obama Hits the Beach . With Al Qaeda pressing in on Baghdad, Obama ruled out air strikes. He did however order the Department of Defense to assign a senior official to the vital task of fighting mislabeled seafood. While the Iraqi government was begging for air support, Obama instead issued an order in the name of the authority vested in him "by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America" to "ensure that seafood sold in the United States is legally and sustainably caught." The United States Constitution does not have much to say about sustainable seafood. The Founders liked their flounder and they disliked kings and emperors telling them where to fish. The FDA's Science-Free Anti-Salt Crusade . It seems that Michael Jacobson, watch commander of the food police and executive director of the anti-corporate Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), hates food. On any given day, he is battling with berries, clams, fat free and fat laden foods. A strict vegetarian, Jacobson has made a lucrative career of attacking America's nutritional products and scaring hungry consumers. In its last IRS filing, CSPI claimed a budget of nearly $20 million, not including Jacobson's speaking, writing, and appearance fees. Their latest target is salt, and his agenda-driven scare tactics have influenced government bureaucrats who share his vendetta against U.S. corporate food producers. This is especially true of the FDA. The "guidelines" will be "voluntary" unless you don't comply. The Obama Administration Wants Americans To Stop Eating So Much Salt . The FDA, perhaps still smarting from the recent artisanal cheese kerfuffle, is setting its sights on a bigger target: salt. "The current level of [sodium] consumption is really higher than it should be," said FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg. That's why they're preparing "voluntary guidelines" for the food industry encouraging them to stay below certain salt levels. While the guidelines will initially be voluntary, health groups are lobbying for mandatory standards — lobbying that will only grow more intense if businesses refuse to comply once the standards are released. Michelle Obama: I Couldn't Feed My Kids Right — Even with a Harvard Degree . "I thought to myself, if a Princeton and Harvard-educated professional woman doesn't know how to adequately feed her kids, then what are other parents going through who don't have access to the information I have?" she recalled. Her personal struggle helped her launch her mission to address childhood obesity, she explains, especially passing a law requiring schools to provide healthier meals for kids. The First Lady recommended that schools make decisions for children because their parents struggle to feed their children well. Rebuttal: Michelle Obama Neatly Summarizes the Entire Progressive Agenda During a Nutrition Interview . Is it really that hard? As a parent of five, it didn't take a pediatrician consult for me to figure out what to put in my kiddo's pie holes. In fact, many parents have successfully fed their offspring without Princeton and Harvard degrees, in addition to not needing "access to information." Lastly, as most "working" moms don't earn $316,912 a year, in addition to a husband who was earning $162,100 as a Senator, perhaps the First Lady protesteth a tad too much. FDA decision puts cheese making in peril . In what the agency called a clarification, the FDA declared that wooden racks similar to the one Vella [Cheese Co.] uses "cannot be adequately cleaned and sanitized." That, in effect, would make [Gabe] Luddy's cheese impossible to sell. While the FDA late Tuesday issued a statement indicating there is room for compromise, if the original clarification holds, it may affect more than Sonoma Jack. The Parmesan you grate over your pasta might also be declared illegal. Study: Michelle Obama anti-fat group treats obese as 'idiots' . Two major national anti-obesity campaigns supported by first lady Michelle Obama and former President Clinton treat overweight Americans as "idiots" too dumb to figure out what's good for them, according to a new academic study. Worse, said the study from a George Washington University professor, the Obama-backed Partnership for a Healthier America and Clinton supported Alliance for a Healthier Generation blame consumers and not the makers of unhealthy food for the obesity epidemic. Are butter, cheese and meat that bad? For the past four decades, we've been told to stay away from red meat, dairy and cheese — foods high in saturated fats — because saturated fat is bad for the heart. But investigative reporter Nina Teicholz says that isn't the case. "When the dietary recommendations came out in 1961 saying that saturated fat causes heart disease, that was based on total cholesterol," Teicholz said. "But our understanding of heart disease has evolved enormously." USDA Creating $1.9 Million Research Center Devoted to Changing American's Food Choices . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is creating a $2 million research center to study how the government can "nudge" Americans toward making healthier eating habits. The agency is currently accepting grant applications to establish a "Center for Behavioral Economics and Healthy Food Choice Research," which will facilitate studies such as how breaking up combo meals at fast food restaurants would influence customers. Also posted under Money Down the Drain . Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move!' goes too far . [A]s is often the case with mammoth federal programs, one size does not fit all. Many school districts have inadequate funding to meet the new nutrition standards and have had to borrow from educational programs, in some cases shutting them down. Moreover, the kids detest the food and are tossing their lunches, so to speak, into the dumpster. Some school districts report having to purchase or lease more trash cans to accommodate the extra garbage, increasing their waste-collection costs as well. Federal Dietary Guidelines Committee Criticized as Politically Motivated . Experts criticized the federal government committee currently crafting the nation's dietary guidelines as politically motivated and said it was putting environmentalism over food science. The Hudson Institute hosted a panel discussion on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) on Capitol Hill Thursday, analyzing the incorporation of climate change and "sustainability" into the recommendations that are used to set standards for government food programs. More than a million children abandon school meals after Michelle's healthy eating initiative . First Lady Michelle Obama's healthy eating initiatives have been so unpopular among young people that more than a million students have stopped buying school lunches. The Agriculture Department set new standards for what types of foods schools can serve students that have been phased in over the last three school years in response to Obama's push for healthier school lunches, and even more changes are coming in 2014. Already, data from the department shows that a total of 1.1 million children abandoned the National School Lunch program between the 2011 and 2013 school years after Obama went to war over what's on their trays. The First Lady's food-fight debacle . Progressives blame kid-hating Republicans and greedy businesses for the revolt against Mrs. Obama's failed policies. But the truth is right around the corner in your students' cafeterias. Districts are losing money. Discarded food is piling high. Kids are going off-campus to fill their tummies or just going hungry. According to the School Nutrition Association, almost half of school-meal programs reported declines in revenue in the 2012-13 school year, and 90 percent said food costs were up. Official WH Press Pool: Obama, Biden Ordered Burgers, Fries, Milk Shake . President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden ordered burgers and French fries for lunch on Friday at the Shake Shack on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., according to the White House Press Office pool press report. Biden also ordered a black-and-white milk shake at the restaurant, read the report. What Fed Up Gets Wrong About the Food Industry . There's enough to dislike about Fed Up — a New York Daily News critic gives the film two stars — that I suspect viewers like you will find it is the film you don't want you to see. Fed Up features a who's who of well-known supporters of increased food regulations, including Marion Nestle, Kelly Brownell, and Michael Pollan. That's to be expected. But it gives little screen time to opponents of increased regulation. And when it does, the treatment they receive is unfair by any objective measure. The film's brief gotcha moment, for example, centers on Professor David Allison of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, whose public-health research the filmmakers targeted because, the filmmakers say, it's been funded by food companies. Connecticut proposes chocolate milk ban in schools . School children in Connecticut may soon be forced to go without their midday chocolate kick. Connecticut lawmakers are awaiting Gov. Dannel Malloy's signature on a bill that would ban chocolate milk and some juices from school cafeterias in the state. If he signs it, Connecticut would be the first state in the country — not just a single school district — to ban chocolate milk in school cafeterias. The law would go into effect next September. Connecticut Considers Day Care Ban on Whole, 2% Milk . Operating under the presumption that milk is bad for you, potentially contributing to obesity, the Connecticut state legislature is considering banning day care centers from serving whole milk or 2% milk to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics did produce "a 2008 recommendation that children switch to low-fat milk after the age of 2 because they don't need the fat content." However, others assert that whole Milk isn't the problem some would like to make it out to be when it comes to childhood obesity. Despite the lack of a clear consensus on the science, the bill being considered is seen as a strict one. The European Journal of Nutrition claimed that high-fat dairy was actually linked to a lower risk of obesity, not a higher one. Proposed ban on whole milk: When lawmakers get nutrition and diet all wrong . A new bill making its way through the Connecticut legislature would ban daycare centers and home childcare providers from serving whole milk or 2% milk to the kids in their care. Setting aside for a moment the sheer lunacy of the proposed law's premise, I'd like to point out that it's also based on an incredibly faulty understanding of nutrition. I rarely drink dairy, but when I do I reach for whole or 2% milk before skim or nonfat varieties. Whole milk is the least processed. Where will calorie labels appear? Not just menus Diners could soon see calorie counts on the menus of chain restaurants. But will they be able to get that same clear information at grocery stores, convenience stores, movie theaters or airplanes? Michelle Obama's Favorite Food: Pizza and Fries . First lady Michelle Obama told children at the White House's Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on Thursday [4/24/2014] that her favorite healthy food was pizza and her favorite junk food was French fries. "So I'm gonna give you my favorite healthy thing to eat, which actually is my favorite thing to eat — pizza. Yes, but usually when I have pizza — alright don't get mad at me — I do veggie pizzas," she said in response to a question about her favorite food. Washington Elite Nutritionist Goes After Bubba Watson For Celebrating Masters Win at Waffle House . After his Masters victory, pro golfer Bubba Watson celebrated with his family at a Waffle House. Pictures tweeted from there went viral. Waffle House appreciated the appreciation. What's not to like about this great story? Apparently some self-appointed nanny state-loving guardians of nutrition like Katherine Tallmadge believe that Watson set a bad example for Americans by eating there. Oh, and with her powers of telepathy, she just knows that Watson's a complete phony about what he really eats. Meal Sickens People at Food Safety Summit . Maryland health officials are investigating possible cases of food poisoning at what may be the worst-ever venue — a gathering of government and industry leaders attending a national Food Safety Summit. At least four people called the Baltimore City Health Department this week to report that they developed diarrhea, nausea and other symptoms about 12 hours after eating a meal April 9 during the conference at the Baltimore Convention Center. ObamaCare coming to vending machines, next to the chips and nuts . It's already disrupted the health-care marketplace. Now, the Affordable Care Act is infiltrating vending machines. Yep, a provision in the Affordable Care Act requires vending machines to display the calorie content of all food items. The FDA finalized the regulations April 3. If you know the calorie content of an item, you might make a more healthy choice. Or so the thinking goes. Texas Students Launch Movement to Stand Up to FLOTUS Over School Lunch . Students are fed up with the meager portion sizes and bland taste of Michelle Obama-mandated school lunches. [...] The Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act has been in effect for a few years now. Yet, it seems to have done just the opposite of its stated intent. Kids aren't getting enough to eat thanks to the law's stringent requirements; others are skipping lunch altogether because it tastes so bad. What's more, obesity among school-aged children is still on the rise. Feds to Ban Junk Food in Schools . The government is putting its (big) foot down. No more junk food in schools. Michelle Obama's Food Program Is Non-Nutritious Waste Of Money . The $12 billion federal student lunch program, which serves 30.7 million kids, is losing participants fast — more than a million just last year, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. The reason: the first lady's Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act, an act that has accomplished exactly the opposite of what it claimed it would — leaving hungry, angry, disgusted kids and dumpsters full of wasted food. Kids have taken to Twitter to post photographs of the wretched results of the new federal guidelines that any school participating in the National School Lunch Program must follow to comply with the government-knows-best program for nutrition. If you're fat, stand-by for federal text messages to change your eating habits . The federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee — these are the folks who brought us the carb-heavy food pyramid now deemed erroneous — is meeting these days to update nutritional guidelines to conform with new scientific evidence and with the determination of First Lady Michelle Obama to change America's eating habits. Among new ideas under consideration are federal phone texts to obese citizens warning of their unhealthy eating behavior. Seriously. USDA to Grandparents: Read Government Bedtime Stories to Encourage Healthy Eating . The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving advice to grandparents on how they can get their grandkids to eat healthier, including instructions to give them "hugs" instead of treats, and read government bedtime stories. "Take time to share and listen to your grandchild — the time you spend together offers wonderful opportunities to understand one another," a USDA blog post entitled, "Grandparents Help Kids Develop Good Eating Habits," said on Monday [3/31/2014]. Why are Ivory Tower types in charge of food choices for millions of Americans? Frank Hu, professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a noted critic of meat, proclaimed in 2012 that "we should switch from a red-meat based diet to a plant-based diet," which delighted vegan-advocacy groups but didn't make much of an impression on the rest of the population. But now Hu is one of 15 lifelong academics who have set the federal government's official dietary guidelines which will determine how much meat (and other foods) children, soldiers and thousands of others will have access to. Unfortunately, many of these professors seem to have an agenda that reaches far beyond sound food science. Study Questions Fat and Heart Disease Link . For decades, health officials have urged the public to avoid saturated fat as much as possible, saying it should be replaced with the unsaturated fats in foods like nuts, fish, seeds and vegetable oils. But the new research, published on Monday [3/17/2014] in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, did not find that people who ate higher levels of saturated fat had more heart disease than those who ate less. Nor did it find less disease in those eating higher amounts of unsaturated fat, including monounsaturated fat like olive oil or polyunsaturated fat like corn oil. A plunge in US preschool obesity? Not so fast, experts say . If the news last month that the prevalence of obesity among American preschoolers had plunged 43 percent in a decade sounded too good to be true, that's because it probably was, researchers say. Michelle Obama Throwing Food onto Global Warming List . With most public focus on her husband's stridently anti-American policies, unelected Michelle Obama, has found her way into peoples' homes by surreptitiously adding the everyday food the masses eat to the Global Warming list. It should go without saying that who ever controls the food and water supply controls the entire population. Making the food supply subject to Global Warming through new dietary guidelines to be mandated by Congress is the latest move for control by the Obama regime. Meet the Radicals Creating the New Federal Dietary Guidelines . The federal committee crafting the 2015 "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" features radical nutritionists who favor Americans moving to "plant-based" diets and a vice chair that laughs about sending Ronald McDonald to the guillotine. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) is responsible for creating new nutrition standards that are used to create policy at the federal level. The committee will meet for the third time on Friday, and though the group has not yet released an agenda, past meetings have heavily focused on climate change. Obama administration pollutes guidelines for healthy eating with unhealthy ideologies . When "Big Food" and "Big Food Police" congratulate each other for coming together with the White House, as they did when new food nutrition labels were unveiled last week, consumers and small businesses should be very nervous. But the controversial new labels are small potatoes compared to what the Obama administration is now cooking up. At a closed-door meeting Friday [3/14/2014], administration officials and their advisers will plot to insert the global warming agenda into dietary guidelines mandated by Congress. Supermarket alert: Michelle Obama on the nutrition label . Michelle Obama's feigned concern that nutrition labels on food packages make grocery shopping a difficult and trying experience for the moms of America, is no different than her televised dancing gig with giant anthropomorphic vegetables that kicked off the fourth anniversary of her 'Let's Move' campaign on Jimmy Fallon's all too accommodating The Tonight Show. First lady Michelle Obama thinks you're too dumb to read a nutrition label . First lady Michelle Obama unveiled a proposed new nutrition label Thursday, claiming the labels would make it easier for families to tell whether food is healthy. Because math is hard, or something. If your "nanny-state" radar is going off, it should. Michelle Obama: America's Moms Are 'Confused and Bewildered,' 'Defeated' by Grocery Shopping . Apparently it's not the price of the groceries, but the nutrition labels on food packages that make grocery shopping such a difficult and trying experience for the moms of America. In pitching new, improved nutrition labels at the White House on Thursday, first lady Michelle Obama tried to identify with women who do the grocery shopping for their families. Michelle Obama's Childhood-Obesity Myth . A decade-long drumbeat of bad news about childhood obesity is now officially wrong. Michelle Obama is wrong, too. America is not in the grip of a childhood-obesity epidemic and, consequently, the first lady's much-ballyhooed anti-obesity strategy is redundant, at best. Food Labels Set for New Look . Nutritional labels have remained essentially unchanged since 1994, except for an addition in 2006 of heart-risky trans fats, which appear in some prepared baked goods and microwave popcorn but have been phased out by many companies in recent years. Federal rules will reportedly limit marketing unhealthy food in schools . [Scroll down] That means a scoreboard at a high school football or basketball game eventually wouldn't be allowed to advertise Coca-Cola, for example, but it could advertise Diet Coke or Dasani water, which is also owned by Coca-Cola Co. Marketing is an even mixture of free speech and capitalism, and she apparently opposes both. Michelle Obama pushes ban on marketing junk food in schools . First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday [2/25/2014] called for the federal government to end the marketing of junk foods in schools, a proposal that would eliminate vending machines advertising soda and other promotional material for items not deemed healthy. "The idea here is simple — our classrooms should be healthy places where kids aren't bombarded with ads for junk food," the first lady said in an announcement. "Because when parents are working hard to teach their kids healthy habits at home, their work shouldn't be undone by unhealthy messages at school." The Editor says... If the children are taught by their parents unwed mothers to make sensible choices, it won't matter what products are offered at school. If there had been cigarette vending machines in the schools I attended, I still wouldn't have started smoking, and I suspect only the kids whose parents were smokers would have given it any consideration. Come to think of it, there might have been a cigarette machine in the teachers' lounge when I was in Junior High. The teachers smoked like locomotives, but only when they thought they were out of sight. The issue here is junk food, which is something to be avoided, but even so, it's almost completely harmless. Uproar over ObamaCare's menu rules . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is close to finalizing a rule requiring calorie labels on vending machines and at restaurants and "similar retail food establishments." Proposed in 2011, the regulations stem from the Affordable Care Act and are designed to combat obesity by helping consumers make healthier choices. But [a] group of 24 lawmakers said the draft regulations, which apply to restaurants with 20 or more locations, go beyond Congress' intent and would create painful new expenses for certain businesses, including delivery joints and eateries that specialize in made-to-order dishes Trial Lawyers Line Up Their Next Target: Big Food . When lawyers were shaking down the tobacco industry in the 1990's, it was clear that it was just a matter of when they'd loot again. The only question was who would be the next mark. That picture is clearing up. California bill would require warning labels on sugary drinks . A California state senator wants to make his state the first in the nation to require warning labels on soda and other sugary drinks, a proposal called "misleading" by beverage industry officials. Democratic Sen. William Monning's bill proposed Thursday would require the warning on the front of all beverage containers with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories in every 12 ounces. All Mrs. Obama's calories . That was some spread Barack and Michelle Obama put out the other night for François Hollande — a feast fit for the leader of a nation that gave the world haute cuisine. Even so, it has one Republican congressman steaming. Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis wants to know what example the White House is setting with a 2,500-calorie dinner (with 153 grams of fat to boot). Because that's a day's worth of calories the USDA recommends for an average man. And it's three times the calories the USDA allows American students in the school lunch program. Obama's state dinner for France: Let them eat beef, caviar, fudge and cotton candy . Tuesday's state dinner was the usual self-indulgent Washington lavishness oblivious to the unemployed, food-stamped lives of millions of back-country Americans. The 350 strutting attendees playing dress-up were a combination of Obama cronies, B-level Hollywood types, media, campaign bundlers and assorted beltway politicos who can consider themselves D.C. royalty until Jan. 20, 2017. They were over-fed and entertained in what passes for the Palace of Versailles in Washington, a heated tent on the White House lawn decorated like a Monet spring painting. When Socialists gorge at the White House . Obesity isn't a factor when it's dinner for poo-bahs and not for school cafeteria menus. Sacrebleu! Obamas to serve gut-busting 2,500-calorie state dinner for Hollande . Rep. Rodney Davis, Illinois Republican and a critic of the administration's school-lunch requirements, called the high-calorie State Dinner menu "the height of hypocrisy." "Even if you're estimating a small cut of steak, this is a menu where you're talking 2,500 calories, which is almost three times as much as what the first lady and the USDA allow our school kids to eat in the school lunch program," Mr. Davis said. 'Food desert' fallacy shocks liberals . It turns out that you can bring produce sections to poor neighborhoods, but you can't get poor people to eat healthier food. This comes as a shock to liberals who believe in the comprehensive theory of victimology — that all problems afflicting people who fall into ethnic, sexual, or other identities regarded as victims are due to external factors, not to their own choices. Bad News for Obama's Antiobesity Effort . With the obesity epidemic in full swing and millions of American living in neighborhoods where fruits and vegetables are hard to come by, the Obama administration thought it saw a solution: fund stores that will stock fresh, affordable produce in these deprived areas. But now, three years and $500 million into the federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative, there's a problem: A study suggests it's not working. President Obama has nine different types of pie for White House Thanksgiving dinner . President Barack Obama is celebrating Thanksgiving with a quiet family dinner at the White House — where he will be feasting on a choice of nine pies. The Top 10 Unfounded Health Scares of 2012 . [#6] Caramel coloring in Coke: A caramel coloring ingredient found in sodas, 4-methylimidazole (4-MI or 4-MEI), was labeled as a carcinogen under California's ridiculous Proposition 65. This chemical has been under attack previously by the same Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which is bringing it to the forefront again. [...] The doses of 4-MI necessary to kill rodents are so high, that this chemical should not have been attacked in the first place. Although the soda industry is reformulating products, the previous recipe with 4-MI does not pose a risk to humans and this scare was simply blown out of proportion by the "food police" at CSPI. New survey: Despite Michelle Obama, Americans are eating less healthy . According to the Obama White House, the first family consumed a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, honey-baked ham, cornbread stuffing, oyster stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, greens, green bean casserole, dinner rolls and macaroni and cheese. Then, the family washed all that down with nine kinds of pies: huckleberry, pecan, sweet potato, peach, apple, pumpkin, banana cream, coconut cream and chocolate cream. America after Obama . Obama has substantially enlarged the American "nanny state." Government regulates more and more of our daily lives, and the central authority's control of even minuscule facets of our existence has been greatly expanded. Consider, for example, the Food and Drug Administration's recent decision to ban polyunsaturated fats, claiming they constitute health risks. First, where in the Constitution is the central government given such authority? Second, the scientific evidence for the claim that transfats are harmful is dubious, at best. Remember when we were told that polyunsaturated fats were safe to consume? America once banned slavery and segregation; now it bans trans fats and light bulbs . The fallacy of the nanny state lies not only in its lack of limiting principles, but in its false choice between liberty and security. For the past few years, after the atrocious nature of trans fats had been made a national obsession, both consumers and businesses in the United States began taking steps to avoid them, without state intervention. (New York City, being New York City, banned them in restaurants.) Many packages now proudly bear the label of "no trans fats", and informed citizens boast of their hatred of partially hydrogenated molecules. Freedom responded and provided its own form of security: knowledge. And yet for the past week I have read reports that the US Food and Drug Administration will ban trans fats. Can the state not see that freedom has rendered it unnecessary on this one? First Crony Michelle Obama's Big Business Bonanza . On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama announced an agreement by the Sesame Workshop and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) to join her nonprofit Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in a two-year agreement to help promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption to kids. [...] Joining her for the rollout of that initiative: Hollywood actress Eva Longoria, who gets paid to promote sugary soda pop Pepsi when she's not standing by Michelle Obama telling the rest of us to drink more healthy water. Mrs. Obama's nonprofit reportedly has assets of $4.5 million. It doesn't have to disclose its donors. So much for the "most transparent administration ever." PBS helps to peddle White House propaganda: First lady enlists Sesame Street to promote healthy eating . Sesame Street's Elmo and Rosita joined Michelle Obama at the White House on Wednesday [10/30/2013] to announce that the [M]uppets would start promoting fruit and vegetable consumption for kids. And companies will be able to use the beloved characters for free. "Just imagine what will happen when we take our kids to the grocery store, and they see Elmo and Rosita and the other Sesame Street Muppets they love up and down the produce aisle," [Mrs.] Obama said. "Imagine what it will be like to have our kids begging us to buy them fruits and vegetables instead of cookies, candy and chips." The Editor says... Popeye used to squeeze open a can of spinach and practically inhale the contents, just before the violent conclusion of each of his cartoons. So when I was six years old, I really wanted to eat raw spinach and hope for the same results. But after tasting it only once, I went back to ice cream and candy. The so-called first lady apparently wants us to believe that young people choose snacks based on the packaging rather than the taste. She fails to understand that we are not idiots. Obama spends shutdown day making sandwiches with processed meat, white bread and peanut butter and jelly . Somebody might be in a little trouble on the home-front. President Barack Obama took a break from sorting out the shutdown of the federal government on Monday to make sandwiches for low-income and homeless families. Nobody would argue that feeding the homeless is a noble cause. However, the president's wife might not be too thrilled with what was on the menu. The irony of Michelle Obama's water campaign . If you're not dehydrated, drinking more water won't give you more energy or cure your headaches, as her office vaguely claims. But it might take up belly space that otherwise would have gone to grape soda, Red Bull or some other sugary concoction. Team Michelle won't admit this is the real agenda, insisting this is just a healthy, helpful reminder from the first lady. Germany, 'Veggie Day,' and Michelle Obama . Germans don't want the government telling them what to eat. In what could be a cautionary tale for First Lady Michelle Obama's efforts to tweak Americans' diets, Germans look set to punish the Green Party for urging that public cafeterias go meat-free on a designated "Veggie Day" each week in order to help the environment and reduce cruelty to animals. Borrowing colorfully from English, German newspaper Bild described public reaction to the idea as a "s***storm." USDA Claims Highly Criticized Lunch Standards are 'Proving Popular' . The USDA video claims that the "vast majority of schools across the country report having successfully implemented the new school standards. However, numerous news reports from across the country in recent months show many schools are having trouble implementing the rules. Additionally, districts are dropping out of the program due to financial burdens and kids' distaste for new menus finds the healthier food in the trash. "They say it tastes like vomit," one Harlan County, Ky. school board member said at a meeting last month, according to the Daily Mail. A group serving 12 districts in New York said implementing the standards was a "disaster." Food Security Junk Science . With the release of the USDA's latest report on household food security in the United States, we get another example of junk science, government largesse, and a social engineering Trojan horse. [...] Apparently, "children were food insecure at times during the year in 10.0 percent of households with children. These 3.9 million households were unable at times during the year to provide adequate, nutritious food for their children." Where does this data come from? Unaudited voluntary population surveys. This means the underlying data cannot be verified and may be subject to significant bias. Punishment for Gluttons . Gluttony makes you fat, and the New York Times is ON IT. The other day columnist Frank Bruni made an anthropological excursion to Costco, "where they sell cashews by the quarter-ton [and] thousand-piece packs of chicken thighs." These sound to us like overestimates, leading us to suspect Bruni is a very small man. [...] Come to think of it, the Costco complaint is a non sequitur. After all, those massive packages of nuts or chicken aren't portions but ingredients, sold in bulk for storage and subsequent gradual use. Michelle Obama to urge companies to stop marketing unhealthy foods to kids . Michelle Obama on Wednesday will urge companies to stop marketing unhealthy food choices to children. The first lady will ask food and media executives to promote healthy choices while decreasing the marketing of unhealthy products to kids, according to a White House notice about the event. The move could prove politically controversial, as Obama has come under fire from conservatives who charge the first lady is trying to dictate what people eat and drink. The Editor says... Michelle Obama couldn't care less about nutrition. Her goal is to decrease "the marketing of unhealthy products to kids." Marketing and advertising. Her apparent goal, and certainly her husband's goal, is the destruction of capitalism . Michelle Obama targets cartoon characters in junk food ads . Michelle Obama on Wednesday urged businesses not to allow their cartoon characters to be used to market unhealthy food to kids, saying firms can make money encouraging kids to eat well. "The fact is that marketing nutritious foods to our kids isn't just good for our kids' health, it can be good for a company's bottom line," she said Wednesday [9/18/2013] at a White House conference on marketing. The Editor says... See? It was "a White House conference on marketing." Not a conference on nutrition. Marketing. Capitalism appears to be Michelle Obama's enemy. Michelle Obama to splash media with new issue: Drink more water . After 4½ years of reminding Americans to eat their vegetables, Michelle Obama is turning her attention to what's in their glasses. On Thursday [9/12/2013], she and her staff will begin to ask Americans to drink more water. Michelle Obama turns her 'Let's Move!' health drive to 'Let's Drink!' (water) . Numerous companies like Brita, Dasani, Arrowhead, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, Zephyrhills, Ozarka and Poland Spring are joining in with logos and promotions to help out the water-drinking campaign for some reason. Trying to figure out what they have in common. Michelle Obama's water torture . Just when you thought the Nanny State couldn't get anymore drunk with patronizing power over people, along comes Michelle Obama with a most urgent plea: Make sure you drink water! Who knew?! Apparently we now need the government to tell us to do the most basic of things. [...] It would not surprise me to see the First Lady begin to offer advice on how to dress ourselves. Is Michelle Obama over-hyping hydration? While water is inarguably essential to our long-term health (people do tend to die after a few days without it), the first lady may be going too far in touting the energy-giving properties of H20. "The idea [that] drinking water increases energy, the word I've used to describe it is: quixotic," kidney specialist Dr Stanley Goldfarb of the University of Pennsylvania told Politico. Beyond hydration, he said, there's little evidence that water does anything for us at all. Michelle Obama Launches Courageous New Program Urging People To Drink Water . If there's one thing a country facing trillions of dollars in debt needs, it's a taxpayer funded campaign reminding people to drink water. Michelle Obama and Other Hydration-Related Issues . It used to be when a person felt hungry, they ate, and when their God-given internal water gauge indicated they were running low, they drank. That's the old way. Now we have Michelle Obama spending her time "nudging" us away from the soda aisle toward the water fountain. U.S. Failed to Reduce 'Food Insecurity' Despite Spending Billions More . Despite a $6 billion increase in food assistance spending, there was no reduction in the number of American households that are "food insecure," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA says its food programs "increase food security." However, the agency's spending through the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) increased by $6.4 billion from 2011 to 2012 with no statistically significant change in the level of food insecurity. Kentucky students to first lady Michelle Obama: Your food 'tastes like vomit' . Students in a rural Kentucky county — and their parents — are the latest to join a growing national chorus of scorn for the healthy school lunches touted by first lady Michelle Obama. "They say it tastes like vomit," said Harlan County Public Schools board member Myra Mosley at a contentious board meeting last week, reports The Harlan Daily Enterprise. ObamaCare and the Food Police . The restaurant industry is extremely competitive. If consumers demand menu labeling, restaurants will meet that demand. In fact, many restaurants already do provide nutritional labeling. But private solutions aren't enough for menu labeling proponents. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is implementing the menu labeling requirement, tries to justify its rule by claiming that the public (poor fools) are misinformed and simply don't request "sufficient" information. Why Did a Tennessee Grade School Ban Pork? A Tennessee elementary school banned students from eating ham sandwiches, BLT's and anything else made with pork, but eventually lifted the ban after parents complained. [...] "No meats containing pork," read the memorandum. "Starting Monday, August 12, 2013 your child must provide their own snack from the above approved snack list." Kids could nosh on raw vegetables without dips or sauces, fresh fruit, crackers, pretzels, and popcorn — but no ribs or pork rinds. The Editor says... The ban was quickly lifted, but don't ever forget that they tried to impose Islamic (halal) restrictions on food that the kids were bringing from their homes! Even the Food Police have never been so brazen, but the Muslims are, and I suspect that's who is at the root of this ill-conceived order. Obama lunches on fried shrimp, fried oysters, onion rings, french fries . It's only been three days, but President Obama has quickly settled into the vacation diet on Martha's Vineyard. But don't tell the first lady. During a rainy day on Tuesday, he traveled to Nancy's in scenic Oak Bluffs for a fried lunch. According to the pool report: "POTUS's food order at Nancy's was fried shrimp, fried oysters, onion rings and french fries." Obviously not on the lunch trip was first lady Michelle Obama, the first family's fitness buff. Pizza Chains Suffer Under Obamacare's Third Most Onerous Regulation . The Obama administration's massive federal power grab has the National Restaurant Association (NRA) — and the American Pizza Community (APC) — feeling something of buyer's remorse for their part in lobbying for Section 4205, which is an onerous regulation that calls for restaurant chains with more than twenty locations to label their menus with nutritional information. For example, it's going to cost each Domino's location around $5,000 a year. There are 5,000 locations. You do the math. It's also sucked in convenience and grocery stores into this maelstrom of government idiocy. A "Nudge" To Tyranny . In a bid to make Americans do "what's good for them," Obama administration social engineers have come up with a "Nudge" program to manipulate public choices. This won't end well. [...] First, the government hasn't a clue as to what's good for the public. To take one example, take a look at the food pyramid still promoted by the Agriculture Department — a high-carbohydrate recipe that claims to offer a healthy diet. Studies show that carbs cause obesity, but the government still pushes its old message — which is a guaranteed way to gain weight. Second, it's doubtful this plan will remain just about heathy diet choices. Bloomberg's ban on big sodas is unconstitutional: appeals court . New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's controversial plan to keep large sugary drinks out of restaurants and other eateries was rejected by a state appeals court on Tuesday, which said he had overstepped his authority in trying to impose the ban. Appeals court strikes down NYC's big-soda ban . An appeals court ruled Tuesday [7/30/2013] that New York City's Board of Health exceeded its legal authority and acted unconstitutionally when it tried to put a size limit on soft drinks served in city restaurants. Killer salt and other 'scientific' disasters . Some of you probably missed it, but the Centers for Disease Control announced earlier this month that consuming reasonable amounts of salt is not dangerous at all, despite decades of "science" claiming that salting up your steak and potatoes was tantamount to a death sentence. [...] In fact, the CDC has concluded that everyone ought to be eating between 1½ and 3 teaspoons of salt per day. If you have been eating less than a teaspoon of salt a day, you may in fact be harming yourself. Food Nannies Won't Be Stopped By Shoddy Science . The Food and Drug Administration has begun to look at regulating the amount of salt in "processed" foods, and they're being cheered on by progressives. ThinkProgress' health reporter Sy Mukherjee asked "why can't the FDA do more to crack down on these additives?", and lamented that foods generally recognized as safe cannot be so easily controlled by regulatory fiat. Media Matters noted the "positive effects" from diets with reduced salt and said that those who disagreed with FDA regulations are waging a "war on health." Calorie labels on menus don't persuade diners to make healthier food choices: study . Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found that calorie information and recommendations didn't impact the behavior of McDonald's customers, and many still ordered meals that exceeded the recommended number of calories. President Obama tells kids his favorite food is broccoli . President Barack Obama made an unscheduled visit on Tuesday to the second annual Kids' State Dinner, a healthy lunch children's event hosted by first lady Michelle Obama in the East Room of the White House. The president greeted the 54 kid guests and made a few brief remarks. Obama draws scorn — over broccoli . President Obama told a student reporter this week that his favorite food is broccoli — news that has drawn its fair share of skepticism, at least on Twitter. "Obama tells kid journalist his favorite food is broccoli. And his favorite activity is lying to children," scoffed Comedy Central's Indecision blog in a tweet. New federal rules require healthier school snacks . Candy bars, doughnuts and regular potato chips will become scarce in schools under new federal rules released Thursday, replaced by healthier options such as granola bars, trail mix and baked chips. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's new "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards represent the first nutritional overhaul of school snacks in more than 30 years. New rules make school a junk food-free zone . High-calorie sports drinks and candy bars will be removed from school vending machines and cafeteria lines as soon as next year, replaced with diet drinks, granola bars and other healthier items. After 4 years of Michelle's anti-obesity campaign, America is still getting fatter . Despite first lady Michelle Obama's four-year campaign to wean the nation off Big Macs and Big Gulps, obesity in America rose last year, continuing an unbroken 15-year streak, according to new figures from the Centers for Disease Control. In an early release of some data in its 2012 National Health Interview Survey, the CDC said that 28.9 percent of adults are obese, a small but significant jump from 28.7 percent in 2011. Officials were hoping that 2012 would snap the trend. 'There Isn't Enough Fresh Produce' for Everyone to Follow Dietary Guidelines . Although the world is still "very far" from meeting the recommended daily intake of healthy foods, if everyone suddenly did follow those guidelines, there wouldn't be enough of the recommended food to go around, says one of the 15 experts appointed to serve on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Grocers object to Obama calorie requirements under health care law . Another group is objecting to another part of President Obama's new health care law: Grocers. "The lobbyist for grocers including Kroger Co. and Safeway Inc. is calling on President Barack Obama to curtail a U.S. health law provision that mandates the companies display the calorie content of all their foods," reports Bloomberg News. The use of textbooks as propaganda tools: Michelle O Wants Textbooks to 'Swap Cupcakes for Apples' in Math Problems . First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative is praising textbook publishers for "swapping out cupcakes for apples in math problems," in a campaign to incorporate health information into the learning resources for kids. "Today at the White House, we celebrated a group of educational publishers on their development of voluntary guidance to incorporate health information into textbooks and other learning materials," Let's Move! said in a blog post entitled, "Cookies 2 Carrots," on Wednesday. [NY] City Education Department cracking down on school kitchens' use of butter . Butter was exiled from school cafeterias as far back 2008 in an effort to make meals healthier. But some school kitchen managers say they are being 'bullied' on how to prepare meals and threatened with 'disciplinary action' should they go against the ban. The Candy Man Can't . A soda fountain in St. Paul may be fined $500 by city inspectors for selling candy cigarettes. Lynden's Soda Fountain opened a few months ago but was recently warned it was violating the city's ban on candy cigarettes, passed in 2009. It said it won't keep selling the candy cigarettes or bubblegum cigars, but it is promoting the incident. "Stop in and try a Soda at half price between now and the end of the year while sugar is still legal!" the store stated in a Facebook post. Miami code enforcement to nuns: Stop feeding the poor. Mother Teresa's Miami soup kitchen harassed by the powerful . Thirty-three years ago, Mother Teresa of Calcutta came to Miami to put her merciful motto of love into action: "To serve the poorest of the poor." Since then, each morning a group of sisters of the congregation of the Missionaries of Charity, donning their distinctive white blue-bordered saris, passes through the gates of their beloved Overtown convent — where they live without air conditioning, washing machines or television — and cross the street to enter the world of the poor: a soup kitchen founded by Mother Teresa. The Skinny on Anti-Obesity Soda Laws . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-obesity campaign to ban the sale of certain sugary drinks in large servings, especially sodas, was struck down last month in state court. [...] Yet Mayor Bloomberg has vowed to fight on, and the wider government war on obesity shows no sign of abating. Municipalities and states continue to target sodas. In February, a bill to levy a penny-per-ounce tax was introduced in California. Politicians and the media like to portray anti-obesity efforts as a battle against a food-industry conspiracy to make America fat. Stupid Food and Drink Bans . Anyone, any city, and any governing body that passes laws to ban what you eat and drink has not read the U.S. Constitution. There is nothing in there granting them the power to decide what you eat and how much. NYPD Food Felonies Unit to Help Make Better Food Choices . Inspired by the dramatic improvements in New Yorkers' health and well-being after he banned smoking and junk food, as well as large sodas, salt, trans fats, Styrofoam food containers, and loud earbuds, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the NYPD is organizing a Food Felonies Unit (FFU) to further combat the proliferation of food crimes. Smoke Gets in Your Rights . One politician thinks he has the right to tell New Yorkers what they can put in their stomachs. Another thinks he has the right to outlaw Californians smoking in the sanctity of their own homes. These two must think they are gods or kings. Or dictators. They know what's best for you, so they feel free to force you to behave — for your own good. Administration Unleashes Food Police on the U.S. Military . U.S. military bases are traditionally outfitted with some of the comforts of home — including comfort food. The naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for example, has McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks, Subway, an Irish pub with notorious fried pickles, and multiple bars. Now, the food police are closing in at the Department of Defense, with similar language that preceded school menu crackdowns. $1.8M Federal Grant Helped D.C. Make Fruits and Vegetables Available at Work . The municipal government of Washington, D.C. received a $1.8 million federal Community Transformation Grant in 2012 to promote healthy lifestyles in the city. Among the things the city would do with the money, as listed on its application, was increasing the "availability of fruit and vegetables to employees in their workplaces." It Took A Judge, But NYC's Soda Nazi Is Stopped Flat . In a ruling stunning in its strong language and moral censure, Judge Milton Tingling struck down the Big Apple's infamous ban on large sugary soft drinks on the brink of its implementation. The judge declared Mayor Mike "Big Gulp" Bloomberg's soda diktat "unconstitutional," "arbitrary and capricious," and said it "would create an administrative Leviathan and violate the separation of powers doctrine." Bloomberg's Soda Folly . New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg's ban on large-size sugary drinks at certain establishments, colloquially known as the soda ban, is a lesson in how to make your cause look ridiculous. Bloomberg hoped the ban would spark a nationwide crackdown on sugary beverages. Instead, it became the subject of widespread mockery [...] What if New York's Nanny Is Actually a Thug? What if a dictator in America used the force of law to tell you what to eat? What if the same dictator told you what to drink? What if the dictator told you the sizes of the containers in which you could purchase a lawful beverage? What if the dictator just made up the rules according to his own personal taste? What if the product he regulated was lawful, sold nearly everywhere and consumed by nearly everyone? Soda Ban and the Government Leviathan . In recent decades, the judiciary has been at the forefront of efforts to expand the power of government and to restrict the rights of the individual citizen. But today at least one judge has struck a blow against the nanny state and its billionaire advocate. Fact check: Bloomberg claims more people die of obesity than hunger . The Red Cross estimates there were 1.5 billion dangerously overweight people worldwide last year, while 925 million were underfed. The numbers on actual deaths seem to suggest hunger is still more deadly, though. The United Nations estimated last year 25,000 people still die of hunger daily. That means more than 9.1 million people die of hunger every year. The Editor says... Whether people die of hunger, obesity, cancer, or old age, it is not the government's responsibility to dictate our diet. Judge halts mayor's soda ban, calls it 'arbitrary and capricious' . A state judge today [3/11/2013] put a cork in City Hall's plans to ban Big Apple restaurants and other venues from selling large sugary drinks — a bubble-bursting defeat for Mayor Bloomberg, who has made public health a cornerstone of his tenure. Bloomberg's soda ban prohibits 2-liter bottles with your pizza and some nightclub mixers . Say goodbye to that 2-liter bottle of Coke with your pizza delivery, pitchers of soft drinks at your kid's birthday party and some bottle-service mixers at your favorite nightclub. They'd violate Mayor Bloomberg's new rules, which prohibit eateries from serving or selling sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces. All is forbidden . Meat's bad. Fish, mercury. Coffee, unhealthy. Cheese, fattening. Spinach, unclean. Tuna needs p.r. Canned soup, too much sodium. Pastrami, too many calories. Chicken, too little regulation. Eggs, eat only the white part. Salad, wash thoroughly. Rice should be brown. Pasta should be wheat. New York City's Imperial Mayor Bloomberg Bans Again . Still pulsing with the power from outlawing big servings of sweet drinks, Michael Bloomberg now wants to run Styrofoam out of his city. Clearly, he believes that everyone has to live exactly as he wants them to live. During Thursday's State of the City address, New York Mayor Bloomberg called for a ban on Styrofoam food packaging. It's all a part of his crusade to eliminate smoking, sugary drinks, salt and other items he doesn't like — and, hence, thinks no one else should have. Bloomberg Cajoles 21 Companies to Remove Salt from Products . On Monday, February 11, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that he had succeeded in cajoling 21 companies to remove more salt from some food products. Companies such as Butterball, Heinz, Starbucks, Oscar Mayer, and Kraft Foods have committed to taking more sodium out of products ranging from popcorn, to cold cuts, to breakfast sandwiches. Bloomberg announced that 21 companies out of 24 agreed to the changes. Food control: New regulations target meals sold in schools . Most candy, high-calorie drinks and greasy meals could soon be on a food blacklist in the nation's schools. Soda, candy out under USDA's proposed school snack rules . The Obama administration proposed regulations Friday that would prohibit U.S. schools from selling unhealthy snacks. The 160-page regulation from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) would enact nutrition standards for "competitive" foods not included in the official school meal. In practice, the proposed rules would replace traditional potato chips with baked versions and candy with granola. Regular soda is out, though high-schoolers may have access to diet versions. Michelle Obama Drops "Let's Move" Campaign . First Lady Michelle Obama has quietly dropped her "Let's Move" campaign, the healthy eating push she took on for schools all over the country during her husband's first term. Let's Stop! Michelle Abandons "Let's Move" Campaign . First Lady Michelle Obama appears to have abandoned, at least for now, her oft-criticized "Let's Move" initiative to promote exercise and healthy eating among the nation's youth, halting public appearances and statements related to the program. Michelle Obama tweets pictures of freshly picked cabbage . Michelle Obama promptly tweeted pictures of freshly picked vegetables today [1/29/2013], after it was suggested that she had dropped her anti-obesity campaign Let's Move. The White House Dossier — an unauthorized blog about the U.S. President and his family — posted an article this morning which highlighted that the First Lady had done little to personally publicize the initiative since last September. No Pork at TX College? The Nanny State Continues . Are you sending your son or daughter off to college? If you are, have you given your adult (or close to adult) child instructions on eating a healthy diet? Or, are you anticipating that the school will make these choices for your young adult? At Paul Quinn College in Dallas (a small private college) the president of the school is making these decisions for you. President Michael Sorrell came to the conclusion that pork is not a nutritious food and therefore banned it from the school cafeterias. All pork. Not just bacon, not just pork rinds. 47 million Americans on food stamps, Obamas pig out on a 3,000 calorie inaugural luncheon . Although Obamacare requires restaurants to post calorie counts for all their menu items, Dear Leader's inaugural luncheon got a pass. It's good to be king! Of course, if you tried to serve this lunch in your local high school cafeteria, Moochelle would have you arrested. Obama gut-busting lunch menu tops 3,000 calories . The ceremonial lunch President Obama and his former congressional colleagues are eating Monday [1/21/2013] tops out at 3,000 calories, according to a website that has tallied up the luxurious menu of lobster, bison and apple pie. Inaugural lunch: glaring nutritional hypocrisy . For all their criticism of fatty foods and the mindless rubes who consume them, Barack Obama's second inaugural luncheon was a display of dietary excess. The surf and turf meal began with lobster and creamy chowder sauce, included grilled bison with plenty of gut-busting sides, and ended with apple pie a la mode. Not including alcoholic beverages, the meal tips the scale at more than 3,000 calories — more than the average individual should eat in a day and a half! Gov't: Food allergies may be disability under law . The Justice Department said in a recent settlement with a Massachusetts college that severe food allergies can be considered a disability under the law. Now Is the Time to Ban... Hot dogs. Every year, between 66 and 77 children choke to death on food. The biggest culprit? The hot dog. My son almost choked to death on a hot dog at a little league baseball game a few years ago. That day still sends shivers up my spine. No child should be allowed near any such food, and frankly, neither should adults. These are dangerous food items that can kill if not eaten responsibly. The fact is: hot dogs kill. FDA proposes sweeping new food safety rules . The rules, the most sweeping food safety guidelines in decades, would require farmers to take new precautions against contamination, to include making sure workers' hands are washed, irrigation water is clean, and that animals stay out of fields. The Editor says... How did any of us survive up to this point? Farming is a dirty business, since food is grown in dirt, and even if all food is contaminated to some degree, that's what cooking is for. It is my opinion that the country would be better off without the FDA and without the Agriculture Department micro-managing everybody's business. (The same goes for the EPA, the Departments of Labor, Energy, HHS, and a few others.) Food allergy discrimination fight . Back in the 1960s, there was real discrimination in American colleges. At places like the University of Mississippi, students were threatened, assaulted, and arrested for demanding equal rights. The U.S. Justice Department (with just a handful of lawyers) fought hard, serious battles to stop these civil rights abuses. Today, with a staff of 800 and a 2012 appropriation of $145 million, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is suing universities over the food they do, and do not, serve in student cafeterias. Top health-policy doc says city's war on salt is misguided . City health czar Dr. Thomas Farley is warring with a noted scientist over sodium in the same medical journal where Farley trumpeted the city's war on salt. "We cannot extrapolate that lowering sodium consumption would reduce cardiovascular risk or premature death," declared Dr. Sean C. Lucan of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in this month's American Journal of Public Health. Committee Approves Rahm's Healthier Vending Machines . Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to crack down on the caloric content of city vending machines popped up in Wednesday's City Council meeting, and aldermen had some heavy concerns. After committee members OK'd the proposed ordinance this week, council members wondered everything from whether the sodium level of drinks would be considered in the plan to if Chicago actually has enough healthy foods to fill the machines according to the mayor's criteria. What about bubble-gum cigars? Old fashioned candy store threatened with fine for selling sugar cigarettes . Owners of an old-school soda shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, have been warned to kick the habit and stop stocking novelty candy cigarettes. City inspectors threatened a misdemeanor citation and $500 fine if Lynden's soda fountain is caught selling the fake smokes again. Obama's 2009 stimulus chief says taxes and rules on junk food are coming . Larry Summers, chair of the White House National Economic Council when the 2009 stimulus was developed, suggested that President Obama will eventually tax and regulate junk food to drive people to eat more healthily — although he dinged First Lady Michelle Obama's healthy foods initiative. Let's rein in 'food police' bureaucrats and get real about nutrition information . Here's food for thought! Despite the looming "fiscal cliff," a national debt standing at $16 trillion and counting, and high unemployment rates, our federal government continues to create heavy-handed, and often times unnecessary, regulations for our small businesses — the true engines of the nation's economic growth. A case in point is a pending federal regulation dealing not with America's many pressing financial needs, but the calorie count of food at your local restaurant. Nanny State: Obamacare Now Regulating Pizza . Section 4205 of PPACA (ObamaCare) requires any pizzeria, grocery, or convenience store with more than 20 locations to post calorie information in their store on menu boards. The way the bill is written, Dominos, for example, will have to write out the caloric information for 34 million different pizza combinations (yes, they've done the math on that). The captain of the Food Police has a 300-pound gingerbread house in her home. 54 Christmas trees a part of the White House's "Joy to All" holiday theme . First lady Michelle Obama debuted the White House Christmas decorations, which this year honor members of the military. The "Joy to All" holiday theme also includes 54 Christmas trees and an elaborate, 300-pound gingerbread house resembling the White House. Menu Labeling: Another Job-Killing Regulation in ObamaCare . The government is addressing the nation's growing obesity epidemic with a regulation: Section 4205, the menu labeling provision attached to ObamaCare meant to "aid consumers in selecting more healthful diets." As currently written, however, the regulation will likely have job-killing effects and result in little, if any, significant reductions in obesity rates and/or improved health.	i don't know
Which hollywood sex symbol, star of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, died in 2011, aged 89?	Sex symbol of the '40s and '50s Jane Russell dies - Telegraph Film news Sex symbol of the '40s and '50s Jane Russell dies Jane Russell, the Hollywood sex symbol who starred in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes alongside Marilyn Monroe, has died aged 89, her family said. Follow Russell, best known as the buxom star of 1940s and 1950s films, died of respiratory problems at her home in Santa Maria, central California, according to Etta Waterfield, her daughter-in-law. The actress, who later in life was the "full-figured girl" in television brassiere ads, was at her best in comedies that, subtly or not, spoofed her sexpot image and focused on her figure. She was "spotted" by the multimillionaire film producer-cum-industrialist Howard Hughes who placed her in her first movie, The Outlaw, which stuck her with the sexpot image based on her chest, which was excitedly described at the time as a size 38D. In the photos, the sultry Russell languished on a bed of straw, looking petulant as her tight-fitting peasant blouse slipped off one shoulder. Censors delayed the release of The Outlaw for almost three years before a limited release in 1943. The promotional material was so striking that in one poll Russell was voted "favorite actress" before the voters had even seen her act. Reviews of The Outlaw and many of her films were less kind with one critic calling her "the queen of motionless pictures." Related Articles	Jane Russell
100 degrees Celsius is how many degrees Fahrenheit?	The Death of Actress Jane Russell The Death of Actress Jane Russell by Frank Wilkins Hollywood sex symbol and legendary pin-up girl Jane Russell has died from respiratory failure. She was 89. Russell found her big hollywood break in the 1940s after she appeared in Howard Hughes' 1943 western, The Outlaw, a story about Billy the Kid in which she played alongside Walter Huston and Mimi Aguglia. But Russell's fame and fortune would be launched into the stratosphere when she later appeared in 1953's hit film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe . The notion of Russell as a pin-up model was brought about when Hughes distributed sexy publicity photos of her in conjunction with the release of The Outlaw. This not only led to delays in the release of the film while censors tried to figure out how to deal with the massive amounts of cleavage Russell displayed in the film, but it also helped the good guys win World War II as the photo of the scantily-clad Russell leaning against a haystack adorned the foot-locker of nearly every G.I. during the war. And no, the rumors about Russell wearing the specially-made cantilevered under-wire bra (the first of its kind) that Howard Hughes designed to expose more of her for the film are not true. According to her 1988 biography, Russell says she was given the bra, decided it had just a "so-so fit" and wore her own instead, with the straps hanging down. Regarding censorship of the film, Russell said in a 2010 interview that the Catholic Church was telling its flock they'd be kicked out of the church if they went to see that naughty picture. Russell would continue to make movies throughout the '50s, including the musical, The French Line which was shot in 3D. Wow, Jane Russell in 3D. Need we say more? The movie's "money-shot" was Russell wearing a form-fitting one-piece bathing suit with strategically placed cut-outs while performing a then-considered-sexy number called Lookin' for Trouble (see video below). She made the sequel to Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (without Marilyn Monroe) in 1955, and then two westerns, The Tall Men and FoxFire in 1955. Russell would go on to eventually make four more films in the '60s and even made a film, Darker Than Amber, in 1970. She would star in 25 films in all. During her successful career in Hollywood, Russell would marry NFL quarterback Bob Waterfield who later became the Los Angeles Rams head coach and a member of the NFL Hall-of-Fame. Their 24-year marriage ended in divorce however in 1968. Russell then wed actor Roger Barrett who died a few months later, and then married real estate-broke John Calvin Peoples who died in 1999. Little known Jane Russell fact: Due to a botched back-alley abortion, Russell was unable to have children. But that didn't stop her from "having" children however, as she and first husband Bob Waterfield adopted a baby girl, Tracy in February of 1952. In December of that same year, they adopted a fifteen-month-old boy, Thomas, and again in 1956, she and Waterfield would adopt a nine-month-old boy, Robert John. Russell would later go on to found World Adoption International Fund (WAIF) which connected childless parents with adoptable children. The organization also pioneered adoptions from foreign countries by Americans. Despite her huge Hollywood success in the '40s and '50s, the 5'7" 38D Russell may well be best remembered by a generation of baby-boomers as the large-busted spokesperson for Playtex "Cross-Your-Heart" bras where she would show TV audiences how the undergarment would "lift and separate," giving full-figured gals both comfort and beauty. Most young boys at the time didn't pay much attention to the "comfort" part of the commercial's message, however. Following the death of her third husband, Jane Russell devoted the remainder of her life to her church and community. She always proclaimed she'd die "in the saddle." "I'm not going to sit at home and become an old woman," Russell's daughter-in-law Etta Waterfield told The Associated Press. And from the sounds of it, that's exactly what she did. Jane Russell died in her Malibu area home yesterday, February 28, 2011. She is survived by her children, Thomas K. Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert "Buck" Waterfield, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Until her health began to take a turn for the worse a few weeks ago, Russell was active in singing at night clubs and '40s-style revues and promotion of various causes. She quietly passed in her home in Santa Maria, California (507 Boscoe Ct. - see pic below). She was 89 years old. A service will be held to honor Russell at Pacific Christian Church in Santa Maria on March 23. God Bless You, Jane. We'll miss you. Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe signing their names in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater. And here's the smoking hot video of Jane Russell brandishing her controversial outfit in The French Line performing "Lookin' For Trouble." Such old-school glamour, Wow! The home where Jane Russell died, at 507 Boscoe Court, Santa Maria, CA . Thanks to Morbidly Hollywood friend John C. for sending it in.	i don't know
Which online music service announced in March 2011 achieving one million paying subscribers across Europe, of a total exceeding 10 million users?	Onkyo USA ONKYO’S NEW ‘SBT-A500 NETWORK SURROUND SOUND BAR SYSTEM’ A PERFECT SOUND SOLUTION FOR GAMES, MUSIC AND MOVIES UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 6, 2017 – Power and simplicity combine for massive sound with a minimalist profile as Onkyo USA today announced the SBT-A500 Network Surround Sound Bar System. On display in the Venetian Bassano Room #2601 during CES 2017, the SBT-A500 features Dolby Atmos immersive audio as well as DTS:X™ playback, along with user-friendly wireless audio features such as Chromecast built-in1, DTS Play-Fi® technology1, AirPlay®, and FireConnect™2 multi-room distribution. The SBT-A500 ships this month with an MSRP of $999 MSRP in USA and $1,399 in Canada. In addition to providing immersive object-based audio to the latest in video and gaming entertainment, the three-piece system offers key advantages over similar products, starting with its low 2.1” profile for an unimpeded view of the TV screen. The wall-mountable sound bar connects to a separate, slim Network A/V Receiver via multichannel audio cable, with authentic full-scale power delivered to precision drivers (comprising two speakers each for the left, right, and center channels, plus single height speakers) by a discrete digital amplification system. Together with wireless subwoofer, this single-cable sound bar design results in neat and clean installation under the TV display. The receiver includes four HDMI® inputs to connect media players and game consoles, with all components and cabling easily concealed in an entertainment unit. TV connection comes via single 4K/60p HDMI cable with Audio Return Channel, allowing the SBT-A500 to enhance broadcast TV audio. The SBT-A500 also achieves a deeply satisfying stereo performance with a choice of network audio options, and includes a pair of upward firing speakers that conform to the Dolby Atmos standard for overhead sound reproduction of object and channel based content. The sound bar will support DTS Play-Fi technology that collects music (streaming services, local files, or network-attached audio) into a simple interface for casting to Wi-Fi®-enabled speakers, and supports multiple streams to different speakers simultaneously without interruption. Chromecast built-in, AirPlay®, and dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi® provide for seamless app-based music casting, while Spotify® Connect lets subscribers stream direct from the Spotify® application. Bluetooth® connectivity completes a universal suite for wireless music streaming. Onkyo Controller app brings together wireless casting technologies, simplifies access to included TuneIn, TIDAL, and Pandora® services, and centralizes house-wide audio distribution to optional FireConnect™-ready wireless speakers. The easy-to-use app compliments on-screen GUI with system remote controls for each zone. With discrete dialog volume adjustment for DTS:X™ soundtracks, DTS Neural:X™ is also included to upmix standard multichannel audio to 3D sound. The SBT-A500 also supports a Dolby Surround upmixer, which decodes and directs sounds to all of the speakers in the sound bar including up-firing capabilities to provide a higher sense of immersion from all channel-based content. Dolby Audio adds a new Surround Enhancer technology that wraps sound around the audience by creating virtual rear speakers. The addition of Dolby Atmos delivers captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment to life all around the audience. Whether you are listening to music, movies, television shows or playing your favorite video games, Dolby Atmos delivers the full impact of the entertainment experience. Rounded out with a 40-preset FM tuner, AV sync function and L/R tone controls, the SBT-A500’s feature set approaches that of a full-sized home theater in a decor-friendly package. Those attending CES 2017 can experience Onkyo’s latest offerings at the Venetian Bassano #2601. 1 Feature enabled following a firmware update. 2 Multi-room audio is realized by FireConnect™ technology. Requires optional FireConnect™-compatible speakers. FireConnect™ is a technology of Blackfire Research Corp., USA. ONKYO USA TO SUPPORT GOOGLE’S NEWLY ANNOUNCED CHROMECAST BUILT-IN UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 5, 2017 — Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation is proud to announce its support of Chromecast built-in, which was recently announced by Google Inc. Onkyo has been working closely with Google Inc. to incorporate new technologies into a broad product lineup, including network-enabled AV and stereo receivers, sound bars and wireless speakers. Customers will be able to use their mobile device to cast their favorite music, radio, or podcasts to Chromecast-enabled AV products, and control the audio from anywhere in the house using Cast-enabled apps running personal devices, including iPhone and iPad, Android phone and tablet, Mac and Windows laptop, and Chromebook. “We expect that the current trend of multi-room entertainment will continue to expand,” said Nobuaki Okuda, director and CTO, Onkyo Corporation. “We are pleased to support Chromecast built-in with a broad range of products to meet the demand from global customers.” Chromecast built-in functions will be activated through firmware updates beginning this spring. Upgradable models and timing will be announced on www.onkyousa.com. Those attending CES 2017 can experience Onkyo’s latest offerings at the Venetian Bassano #2601. ONKYO ANNOUNCES THE ‘VC-FLX1’ - A UNIQUE SMART SPEAKER WITH ALEXA VOICE SERVICE LAS VEGAS, NV, January 5, 2017 — As part of its public display at the Venetian Bassano #2601 during CES 2017 from January 5-8, Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation will be offering attendees new ways to enjoy music, along with the company’s initial foray into the IoT market with the VC-FLX1 smart speaker. In addition to developing products that enable high-quality music playback on mobile devices such as digital audio players (DAP) and smartphones, Onkyo is developing products that produce excellent sound quality with an eye on the IoT sector where all things are connected via the Internet. As part of that initiative, Onkyo has developed the VC-FLX1, a smart speaker that features Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service. In addition to high quality audio playback, the VC-FLX1 can help customers monitor the surrounding area via a built-in web camera, and temperature and humidity sensor. The result is a revolutionary speaker system that not only sounds great but also adds tremendous functionality and value. Responding quickly to the rapidly changing music playback environment, Onkyo continues to develop high quality products and services that provide new ways to enjoy music through a combination of advanced technology cultivated over decades, and advanced digital technology. In cooperation with leading products and music services, Onkyo is establishing an ecosystem centered on providing new high-quality music experiences. VC-FLX1 Key Features • Amazon Alexa that helps users play music, control their smart home and more using just their voice; • High-quality music playback via proprietary full range speaker driver; • Web camera with motion, temperature and humidity sensors. Combined with third party cloud service, it is possible to monitor the environment via your smartphone; • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® capabilities; • Will support a wide variety of network music services and Internet radio. Sales region, suggested retail price and scheduled introduction date are currently under consideration. ONKYO & PIONEER TO PARTNER AT CES 2017 Companies Will Jointly Show Products at the Venetian Bassano Room # 2601 UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ / LONG BEACH, CA, December 29, 2016 – Two powerhouse home entertainment brands, Onkyo USA Corp and Pioneer Home Entertainment U.S.A., are partnering for CES 2017 to display some of the world’s most highly regarded and advanced home entertainment products. “The products on display at CES 2017 clearly demonstrate the innovation and commitment to providing consumers with the features and functionality they want,” said Hiro Izutani, President of Onkyo USA Corporation. “From freeing consumers of traditional wires and cables, to offering whole home audio and portable hi-res music solutions, our lineup shows the depth and detail that have been the hallmark of both brands.” Whole Home Audio The trend towards wireless, whole-home audio remains a focus and both Onkyo and Pioneer will have a multitude of offerings across an array of product categories, including multi-room wireless speakers such as the Onkyo NCP-302 Wireless Multi-Room Speakers and the Pioneer MRX-3 Wireless Speaker. Both companies will also support leading wireless functionality that include FireConnect®1 and Play-Fi®1. Surround Sound Sound bars are a great option for mass-market consumers looking to enjoy premium sound with a simple setup and Onkyo’s SBT-A500 Network Surround Sound Bar System and Pioneer’s Elite FS-EB70 Network Sound Bar System do not disappoint. Both will be on hand with 360 degree DTS:X® and Dolby Atmos® surround sound and full 4K UltraHD including HDR 10. Hi-Res Audio With hi-res music continuing to make inroads with the American consumer, both companies will have products geared to address this burgeoning market, including new offerings for hi-res digital audio players that include Pioneer’s next-generation XDP-300R, and a sneak-peek of its new entry level DAP. Onkyo will be displaying the next iteration of its award-winning digital audio player with the DP-X1A alongside its new entry-level model. Joining the digital audio players will be Pioneer’s new line of hi-res capable and Bluetooth/wireless headphones, and an early look at Onkyo’s new hi-res smartphone. --- 1. Some services and functionality including FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research and Play-Fi are enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. FireConnect is a technology of Blackfire Research Corp, USA. FireConnect is a stable wireless protocol that mirrors audio source connected to the system on optional FireConnect compatible speakers in other rooms. Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby and the double-D symbol are the registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. For DTS patents, see http://patents.dts.com. Manufactured under license from DTS, Inc. DTS, the Symbol, DTS in combination with the Symbol, DTS:X, and the DTS:X logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. © DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. “PIONEER”, “ELITE”, are trademarks of Pioneer Corporation, and are used under license. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. © 2016 Pioneer & Onkyo USA Corporation. All rights reserved. PRODUCTS INCLUDE ADVANCED HOME THEATER UNITS FROM CUSTOM RZ SERIES AND PREVIEW OF NEW ‘NCP-302 WIRELESS MULTI-ROOM SPEAKER’ UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, September 9, 2016 – Displaying the power and innovation that has been the hallmark of the company for 70 years, Onkyo USA today unveiled its lineup of home theater products that will be on display during CEDIA 2016 in booth #5121. Chief among those products is the introduction of the new NCP-302 Multi-Room Wireless Speaker. Available later this year in both black and white, the Wi-Fi®-certified NCP-302 offers consumers a wide variety of options to wirelessly stream audio throughout the home with FireConnect™1 and Play-Fi®2 technology, as well as enjoying music using Bluetooth™ technology. Built-in support of top streaming services including Spotify®, Pandora® and TIDAL™2 give nearly limitless access to music. Best of all, through the use of the new Onkyo Controller app (iOS, Android), owners can control their 2016 Onkyo network A/V receiver with FireConnect™, and direct virtually any connected music source – including CD players or turntables – to individual speakers, groupings of speakers, or even a whole-house mode. The NCP-302 is outfitted with dual 3-inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter housed in a wood cabinet. Direct access buttons include play/pause, input select and a volume knob, which sit atop the speaker. Ethernet and 3.5mm auxiliary inputs allow for wired connections to a home network and for quickly connecting devices lacking wireless connectivity. Joining the NCP-302 will be the latest in the Onkyo RZ Series of A/V receivers and controllers, including the 11.2-Channel TX-RZ3100 Network A/V Receiver and the 9.2-Channel TX-RZ1100 Network A/V Receiver, as well as the 11.2-Channel PR-RZ5100 Network A/V Controller. Onkyo previously announced the inaugural RZ Series products back in March, which included the TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and the TX-RZ610 A/V Network Receivers. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy, and the entire RZ Series is backed by a three-year warranty with priority customer support. Other products being displayed at CEDIA by Onkyo include: • TX-8160 & TX-8140 Network Stereo Receivers • M-5010 2-Channel Amplifier • A-9010, A-9050 & A-9070 Integrated Amplifiers • C-7070 CD Player • DP-X1 Digital Audio Player 1 Multi-room audio enabled by FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research. Optional wireless speakers are due for release in 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee operation with all FireConnect™-compatible products. 2 Some services and functionality including Tidal and Play-Fi enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. Please check regional availability. Some services may require a subscription. Pioneer and Onkyo join DTS Play-Fi® Wireless Audio Ecosystem in wide-reaching Agreement Agreement to extend DTS Play-Fi technology across product lines worldwide; DTS Play-Fi also announces support for wireless surround functionality and integration of European music service Qobuz Berlin, September 2nd, 2016. DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), a global leader in high-definition audio solutions, has announced Pioneer and Onkyo as its newest hardware partners in the DTS Play-Fi® whole-home wireless audio ecosystem. Both brands will upgrade select 2016 soundbars, AVRs, lifestyle products, and home theaters-in-a-box with DTS Play-Fi technology via future firmware updates. DTS Play-Fi integration will expand into their 2017 models, as well as additional product categories in 2017. Company executives will be available to discuss this news and provide demos at IFA 2016 in Berlin, Sept. 2-7, at Reseller Park (Hall 25), Room 31. DTS Play-Fi technology provides listeners the freedom and flexibility to stream their music wirelessly in high-quality lossless audio from smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop PCs over an existing home Wi-Fi network to any number of speakers throughout the home. DTS Play-Fi is a platform that allows products from different brands and manufacturers to interoperate seamlessly, giving consumers an optimized whole-home streaming experience without the constraints of a single brand system. The innovative technology enables wireless audio streaming from the world's most popular music services, Internet radio stations and personal music libraries on any supported product. “We are proud to announce that Pioneer and Onkyo are the latest brands to join DTS Play-Fi, the world’s largest ecosystem of premium wireless audio products,” said Brian Towne, executive vice president, DTS, and president DTS Asia Pacific. “DTS is committed to providing listeners with the most flexibility and choice of products when it comes to their wireless home audio system, and this expansion further increases the Play-Fi ecosystem's industry-leading selection of audio products.” “I’m very pleased to announce that we start adopting DTS Play-Fi technology to Pioneer and Onkyo products today” said Nobuaki Okuda, Director and CTO, Onkyo Corporation and President, Onkyo and Pioneer Technology Corporation. “We will keep expanding implementation of the technology to a broader range of our products to meet global customers’ demand to deliver a great entertainment experience.” Wireless Surround Sound and Qobuz Music Service DTS Play-Fi continues to revolutionize the industry with the introduction of wireless surround technology to provide an immersive home theater environment with discrete 5.1 surround sound, which will begin rollout in late September. Qobuz is the latest music service to join DTS Play-Fi’s constantly growing collection of top services. Qobuz is dedicated to delivering a premium listening experience to its users, and features a library of more than 30 million titles in true CD quality and “À lca carte” Download on more than 45,000 albums in Hi-Res 24-Bit, showing its dedication to delivering premium sound to its listeners. Qobuz joins a roster including Amazon Prime Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, KKBox, Napster, QQ Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify and Tidal, thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as listeners’ personal music libraries. Benefits of DTS Play-Fi Technology * Multi-Room, Multi-Zone, Multi-User Listening Experience: Connect multiple audio systems that incorporate Play-Fi into a zone and enjoy music in every room of your home, perfectly synchronized with no lag. Or create multiple zones and stream different music to different rooms from the same device. Play-Fi technology makes it possible for every user in the home to simultaneously stream from different devices and PCs that incorporate the Play-Fi software. * Exceptional Sound Experience: Play-Fi wirelessly transmits high-quality lossless audio. * Whole-Home Range: Play-Fi works everywhere your Wi-Fi does, even if range extenders are used. It also works over Ethernet, Powerline, and other IP-based networking technologies. There is no need for proprietary bridges or routers. Most homes already have everything that is needed. * Stream Anything. Control Everything: In addition to streaming music services, users can download Play-Fi apps for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire to gain access to more than 20,000 radio stations, podcasts, local music, media servers, and select cloud-based music services. Set-up, link and control all of the speakers on the network from the same streamlined interfaces. * Audio/Video Synchronization with Windows PCs: DTS Play-Fi supports true audio/visual synchronization when streaming audio from YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other video source to a DTS Play-Fi speaker from a Microsoft Windows PC. DTS Play-Fi is the only multi-room streaming platform to offer lip-sync accurate synchronization with a video source, and the only whole-home platform with operating system-level integration compatible with every application and streaming service. The A/V sync feature is available for existing and new purchasers of the premium DTS Play-Fi HD Driver ($14.95). Additionally, all DTS Play-Fi Windows software supports Windows 10.* * Enhanced Play-Fi App: The DTS Play-Fi mobile apps have been significantly enhanced with a brand new design and clean, bright user interface. Users will have streamlined access to basic and advanced controls, a new “switch” feature to easily transfer music from one speaker to another, and built-in coaching points and help throughout the app. For more information about DTS Play-Fi®, please visit www.play-fi.com . DTS:X Firmware Update Now Available. Additionally, Tidal and Deezer support added to 2016 models. Firmware enabling DTS:X™ is now available for select 2015-model and 2016-model DTS:X-Ready Onkyo A/V receivers. 2016 Models • Onkyo TX-NR555, TX-NR656, TX-NR757, TX-RZ610, TX-RZ710, TX-RZ810, HT-R695/HT-S7800 2015 Models • Onkyo TX-NR646, TX-NR747, TX-RZ800, TX-RZ900 This firmware can be applied via Network or USB. To download and apply the firmware via USB, please visit the individual product page or the Downloads section at www.onkyousa.com. After applying the update, users must recalibrate using AccuEQ. Additionally, within the same firmware update, the same 2016 models will add Tidal and Deezer music streaming functionality. These two premium music services require active accounts. Please visit www.Tidal.com and www.Deezer.com to sign up. DTS:X™ is an object-based format that allows audio elements in movie and game soundtracks to be played through any channel, freeing sound to move naturally above and around the audience. The format is playable on DTS:X™-enabled A/V receivers through any surround-sound speaker layout, but works to maximum effect with the inclusion of height channels featured on the above Onkyo AVRs. ONKYO INTRODUCES NEXT WAVE OF ADVANCED RZ SERIES MODELS Unlocks the Ultimate in Multidimensional Object-Based Surround-Sound UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, August 30, 2016 – Driven by 70 years of home audio innovation and design, Onkyo USA today unveiled the details of its second wave of products from its premier RZ Series, including two top-of-the-line A/V receivers: the THX® Select2 Plus-certified 11.2-channel TX-RZ3100 Network AV Receiver and the 9.2-channel TX-RZ1100 Network A/V Receiver, along with a flagship THX Ultra2 Plus-certified 11.2-channel PR-RZ5100 Network A/V Controller, all of which are scheduled to be available next month. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy. Connectivity options include RS-232, IR and 12v triggers as well as PC setup, detachable power cables and optional rack kits, simplifying installation. Finally, the RZ Series is backed by a three-year warranty and features priority customer support. In addition to Zone 2 pre outs with independent HDMI output and Zone3 pre out, all three units include 11.2 channel preamp RCA outputs, the PR-RZ5100 features balanced XLR connectors. The TX-RZ1100 and TXRZ3100 feature Zone 2 and 3 powered outputs for driving speakers in other rooms. Additional multi-room wireless audio capabilities are offered via optional FireConnect1. The AVRs offer prodigious high-current dynamic power to drive large floor-standing loudspeakers with breathtaking accuracy and control. Users can add additional height or ceiling speakers to unlock the full multi-dimensional experience delivered by built in Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™, which incorporates DTS Neural:X™ technology to up-mix lossless multichannel surround formats such as DTS Master Audio™, to emulate height effects and give listeners a 3D experience that’s close to a native object-based soundtrack. All products offer Google Cast™2, AirPlay®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Spotify®, TIDAL2, TuneIn, and Pandora®2 with any app-based audio entertainment cast seamlessly to the theater room and beyond using a user-friendly Onkyo Remote application3. Delivering ultimate clarity, cohesiveness, and full-scale power for movie and game soundtracks, hi-res audio, and stereo sources, both the TX-RZ3100 and the TX-RZ1100 feature a new Onkyo Hi-Current Digital Amplification system that pairs with AccuEQ and AccuReflex technologies to optimally balanced and phase-align sound any listening space. The three models feature premium AKM 384kHz/32-bit digital-to-analog conversion technology and VLSC™ noise-free processing on all channels, which removes pulse-noise for sound that’s true to the source, while delivering a level of richness and emotional heft that make music and TV entertainment an amazing experience. All three products feature separated digital and analog circuitry to minimize interference, custom low-hum transformers, and bespoke audio-grade capacitors for smooth and instantaneous power, while componentry and attention to detail throughout reflects the products’ flagship status. Each include HDCP 2.2 compatibility and a host of 4k video features over HDMI including BT.2020 color, High Dynamic Range, 4:4:4 color space, and 4K/60 Hz should the user choose to update their display or projector in the future. The TX-RZ3100 (MSRP: $3,199), TX-RZ1100 (MSRP: $2,199) and the PR-RZ5100 (MSRP: $2,399) will be available next month. 1 Multi-room audio enabled by FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research. Optional wireless speakers are due for release in 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee operation with all FireConnect™-compatible products. 2 Some services enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. Please check regional availability. Some services may require a subscription. 3 Compatible with iPod touch (5th generation or later) and iPhone 4GS or later. ONKYO ANNOUNCES TWO NEW HOME THEATER SYSTEMS: HT-S7800 and HT-S3800 Onkyo announces two new home theater systems: HT-S7800 5.1.2 Channel Network Home Theater System and the HT-S3800 5.1 Channel Home Theater System. The HT-S7800 is designed for those looking to step-up their current home theater system with object-based surround sound and advanced network features, while the HT-S3800 is geared toward the entry-level consumers. Both systems will be available in May. HT-S7800 5.1.2 Channel Network Home Theater System (MSRP $999) Combining object-based audio and wireless entertainment in an intuitive home theater package is Onkyo’s new HT-S7800. A state-of-the-art UltraHD-ready package, the HT-S7800 has Dolby Atmos™ support and is DTS:X™-ready, and is powered by discrete non-phase amps delivering 170W/ch, a 384 kHz/32-bit high-grade DAC, and VLSC™ noise-free processing, which combine to clarify the audio image and reproduce the energy and vibrancy of the original recording. Leading with next-generation video as well as audio, the receiver passes 4K/60 Hz video with High Dynamic Range (HDR) 4:4:4 color space, and BT.2020 to the latest television displays, offers 4k up-scaling from 1080p and up-converts analog sources via a single HDMI cable. Eight HDMI® inputs and 2 outputs offer plenty of connection options. The receiver has native support for online services including Spotify and TIDAL, and Dynamic Audio Amplification makes stereo listening a satisfying experience, whether spinning a favorite LP or streaming audio via Google Cast,™ Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or Bluetooth. Any source, whether it’s analog audio, TV sound via HDMI®, or streaming audio, can be mirrored on compatible wireless speakers via FireConnect™ technology by Blackfire Research. Dedicated Zone 2 DAC (for Network and digital sources) and speaker outputs allow multi-room playback of different sources at the same time. Completing the package are high-fidelity speakers that reflect Onkyo’s 70 years of experience. Front and center two-way speakers include pairs of Onkyo Micro Fiber (OMF) aramid-laminated woofers for accurate sound. A powered 120W subwoofer lets the receiver focus its power on the front, height, and center channels for effortlessly dynamic performance. HT-S3800 Home Theater System (MSRP $499) Consumers looking for an entry model home theater solution should look no further than the HT-S3800. A compact and affordable system, the new HT-S3800 serves up thrilling full-scale surround-sound while reducing TV cable clutter to a single wire. The heart of the unit is its robust 5.1-channel HT-R395 receiver that features authentic 100 W/ch analog amplifiers with discrete output circuitry. The receiver includes four HDMI® inputs and two composite inputs to route video from your 4K streamer, Blu-ray player, consoles, and legacy gaming devices to the TV through a single cable. Supporting 4K/60 Hz, 4:4:4 color space, HDR, BT.2020, and HDCP 2.2 copy protection, the receiver is ready for future developments in TV display technology. Bluetooth is also included to stream audio from practically any smartphone or laptop app to the home theater, while the well-made micro-speakers are solid and ensure quality sound – especially with the reproduction of lossless multichannel formats such as DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD. Deep bass notes and in-game explosions are felt as well as heard thanks to the powerful 100W subwoofer. Other advantages over popular soundbar solutions include authentic stereo imaging performance with front L/R tone controls, two pairs of digital and analog audio inputs, FM/AM tuner, and a full-sized simple remote controller. Both units feature Onkyo’s AccuEQ calibration suite with the HT-S7800 adding AccuReflex phase-adjustment technology, a new feature that ensures that the overhead sonic dimension from the up-firing front speakers are properly calibrated. The HT-S7800 and HT-S3800 will be available in May. For more information about Onkyo’s complete line of products, please go to onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo on Twitter (@onkyo_usa), Instagram (Onkyo_USA) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA). &star;Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™, Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. DP-X1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER NOW AVAILABLE; FREE MQA UPDATE AVAILABLE April 11, 2016 – Bringing hi-res portable music to consumers, Onkyo today announced the retail availability of its new digital audio player, the DP-X1 (MSRP $899.99). The hi-res unit will be MQA-enabled via a free update tomorrow, April 12, to its native music app making it one of the world’s first MQA-enabled portable digital audio players. Music lovers attending the AXPONA Expo can get a hands-on demo of the DP-X1 in the Onkyo Booth 7 in the Michigan Ballroom at the Weston O’Hare. MQA is a revolutionary end-to-end technology that captures and delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download. And because it’s fully authenticated, the listener can be sure they are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio. When listening to MQA on the DP-X1, the MQA display indicates that the product is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file and a green light signifies that the sound is identical to that of the source material. MQA Studio shows a blue light when it is playing a file which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner. X-DAP Link music transfer application1 with MQA support to be released soon. Note: The current build will display MQA files as FLAC/WAV, but once transferred to the DP-X1 will properly display MQA or MQA Studio. Bob Stuart, MQA’s creator, commented on the Onkyo launch. “We are very excited to launch MQA on the Onkyo DP-X1. The MQA sound on the portable player is truly breathtaking. With more MQA music in the market very soon, Onkyo customers will be amongst the first to truly experience the wonders of MQA. It’s an exciting time for MQA partners and music lovers everywhere.” About OnkyoMusic With webstores available in the U.S., Germany and the United Kingdom, OnkyoMusic is a leading hi-res digital music provider, which provides all downloads as FLAC and MQA. FLAC is an audio format that compresses audio without any loss in quality. Enjoy the DP-X1 with MQA and listen to studio master quality audio. Please visit www.onkyomusic.com for further details. About DP-X1 Based on Android™ OS, the DP-X1 digital audio player supports many High Res Audio formats, up to DSD 11.2MHz, 384kHz/24bit FLAC/WAV audio files, and now MQA. With years of experience in building audio components, the DP-X1 contains many design initiatives dedicated to “Pure Sound”. To isolate sources of internal noise, the Audio circuit board and CPU board are built on separate boards. The Audio circuit design uses ESS technology’s SABRE DAC ES9018K2M and SABRE 9601K amp in a dual setup with a 2.5mm 4 pole jack for full balance output with support for normal BTL balance and Active Control GND drive, a first for the product category. With the ability to expand its storage up to 432GB and access to Google Play, the DP-X1 was built for expansion beyond the built-in functions23. 1 Supports Windows (7, 8, and 10) only. 2 Apps that require GPS, camera, gyro-sensor may not function properly. 3 Will require Wi-Fi network access. Android, Google, and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc. ESS SABRE is a registered trademark of ESS Technology, Inc. The MQA Logo is a trademark of MQA Limited. Other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. ONKYO EXPANDS POWERFUL RZ SERIES Today Onkyo announces three new 7.2 channel network receivers for its advanced Onkyo RZ Series geared towards the custom installation market and discerning audiophile. Available in April, the TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and the TX-RZ610 AV network receivers reflect the superb craftsmanship and commitment to quality that have been the hallmark of Onkyo products. Later this year, Onkyo will unveil details for its advanced 9.2 and 11.2 channel RZ series offerings, including the 9.2 channel TX-RZ1100 network receiver, the 11.2 channel TX-RZ3100 network receiver and 11.2 channel PR-RZ5100 network pre-processor. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy. Connectivity options include RS-232, IR and 12v triggers as well as PC setup, detachable power cables and optional rack kits, simplifying installation. The RZ Series will be backed by a three-year warranty and feature priority customer support. TX-RZ810 (MSRP $1,299) & TX-RZ710 (MSRP $999) These two stunning receivers are THX® Select2™ Plus-certified for theater grade performance and are ready to decode Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™&star; surround formats for a captivating home theater experience. Both feature Dynamic Audio Amplification with massive high-output transformers, upgraded and customized capacitors, and Onkyo's premium amp circuitry to deliver high-current power with the TX-RZ810 delivering 130W/ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC) while the TX-RZ710 brings 110W/ch (8 ohms). The TX-RZ810 also benefits from separate analog amplification and digital processing blocks as well as solid copper bus bars that limit interference and patented Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry (VLSC™) on all channels for noiseless digital to analog conversion. Video connectivity for these receivers is outstanding with eight HDMI® inputs and two outputs—one for the main display and one for Zone 2 HDMI—allowing two 4K/60 Hz video (supporting High Dynamic Range, 4:4:4 color space, and HDCP 2.2) sources to be viewed in two rooms. Both receivers can distribute entertainment across the home with FireConnect™ powered by Blackfire® wireless technology which mirrors analog and digital audio on a compatible wireless speaker®. Dedicated Powered Zone 2A/2B speaker outputs with Zone 2 DAC (NET, SPDIF, HDMI), Zone 2 pre/line-outs enhance multi-room capabilities, while the TX-RZ810's Zone 3 pre/line-outs and 7.2 multichannel pre-outs add flexibility for audiophiles looking to customize their A/V setup further. TX-RZ610 (MSRP $799) The entry model to Onkyo's premium RZ series, the TX-RZ610 is a 7.2-channel network A/V receiver that delivers 100 W/ch (8 ohms). Manufactured with top-quality components, including massive power transformer, custom-spec capacitors, and discrete non-phase-shift amp circuitry, this high-current design enables full-spectrum reproduction down to 5 Hz while improving control of speaker drivers for dynamic, sound. The unit also features rigid insulator feet to dampen vibration-borne interference, while the 384 kHz/32-bit DAC from AKM pairs with VLSC™ technology to eliminate digital noise from audio signals. HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI® inputs are ready for 60 Hz UltraHD video including High Dynamic Range and 4:4:4 color space. Finally, the Zone 2 DAC takes network and digital sources to dedicated powered Zone 2 speakers. All three receivers benefit from the company's new AccuReflex technology—part of its AccuEQ room calibration suite— that ensures that stereo and object-based surround-sound formats are reproduced with striking clarity. The technology adjusts the phase of sound bounced off the ceiling by up-firing speakers so that it syncs perfectly with sound from the other speakers to create a more accurate Dolby Atmos experience. Together with AccuEQ to eliminate standing waves, surround-sound is precisely balanced for supreme clarity. As well as being ready for 4k UltraHD movies, users can stream almost any audio content from mobile devices and laptops via AirPlay, Google Cast™&star;, or Bluetooth to these receivers and share it wirelessly via FireConnect or to other wired zones to enjoy content such as podcasts, Spotify, TIDAL&star;, and Hi-Res Audio, or the traditional sounds of FM/AM radio, cassette, and vinyl records. The TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and TX-RZ610 will be available in April. For more information about Onkyo's RZ Series, please visit http://rzseries.onkyousa.com. &star;Note: Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™, Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. ONKYO ANNOUNCES 2016 LINEUP OF AV RECEIVERS March 14, 2016 – Celebrating 70 years as an innovator of high-quality home theater and hi-fi solutions, Onkyo USA today unveiled details of its AV receiver lineup scheduled to debut in 2016. Redefining expectations for price-to-performance, Onkyo’s new lineup includes the TX-NR757, TX-NR656, TX-NR555 and the TX-SR353 A/V receivers. The first three receivers bring high-current Dynamic Audio Amplification and state-of-the-art features to the mid-range with Dolby Atmos® decoding and are DTS:X™ -ready. They also support 4K UltraHD video and 4K upscaling; AirPlay, and Wi-Fi®, with Google Cast™ Tidal™ music streaming and the new FireConnect™ multi-room audio technology* soon to come via firmware update. FireConnect™ Powered by Blackfire is a stable wireless protocol that sends any audio source connected to the receiver—from vinyl to streaming audio—to an optional Onkyo speaker or another FireConnect-compatible product in another room. Also debuting in these three receivers is Onkyo’s AccuReflex, part of the company’s AccuEQ calibration suite. The technology adjusts the phase of sound bounced off the ceiling by up-firing speakers so that it syncs perfectly with sound from the other speakers to create a more accurate Dolby Atmos experience. Together with AccuEQ to eliminate standing waves, surround-sound is precisely balanced for supreme clarity. TX-NR757 NETWORK AV RECEIVER (MSRP $799) THX® Select2 Plus theater reference sound and cutting-edge wireless tech is ready to transform consumers’ home entertainment with the TX-NR757 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver. The receiver harnesses 180W of high-current power and patented VLSC™ high-frequency pulse-noise removal technology for crystal clear sound. Processing for lossless and Hi-Res Audio is handled by a state-of-the-art AKM 384 kHz/32-bit D/A convertor. Easily bring audio to another room with multi-zone support including multiple speaker connections for Zone 2 (2A/2B). The TX-NR757 looks to the future with HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI® inputs supporting 60Hz UltraHD and Full HD video with 4:4:4 color space and High Dynamic Range (HDR). The receiver was also designed with custom integration in mind with RS232, 12v trigger, IR input and more on board. TX-NR656 (MSRP: $699) & TX-NR555 (MSRP: $599) NETWORK AV RECEIVERS The 7.2-Channel TX-NR656 packs 170W/Ch while the 7.2-Channel TX-NR555 boasts 140W/Ch for powerful home theater experiences. Both receivers let music lovers take advantage of the full-scale stereo power through Google Cast™, AirPlay, Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth streaming music from mobiles and PCs, while Onkyo’s own remote app streams everything from MP3s to hi-res audio stored on a media server. Digital music benefits from noise-free 32-bit D/A conversion with VLSC™, while discrete non-phase-shift amps provide a sense of clarity and depth. Both receivers also feature powered Zone 2 speaker terminals and support the latest in UltraHD entertainment with HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI® terminals passing 4K/60 Hz/4:4:4/HDR video through to the latest TVs for display. The TX-NR555 has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 output, while the TX-NR656 features 8 in and 2 out. TX-SR353 AV RECEIVER (MSRP $399) The powerful yet affordable TX-SR353 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver is engineered front-to-back to streamline and enhance daily entertainment. It features full support for4K video (4K/60 Hz/HDR/4:4:4/HDCP 2.2) via four HDMI® inputs, decoding for Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ common to Blu-ray discs, and video up-conversion via HDMI® to reduce TV connections to a single cable. A redesigned and clearly labeled rear panel and simple remote controller make initial setup and daily operation easy, while AccuEQ room acoustic correction ensures clear stereo imaging and equalized surround-sound. Once connected, the TX-SR353 acts as a hub for all your AV sources, from the latest 4K media players and game consoles to legacy DVD decks and VCRs, and adds 140W of dynamic audio power from five discrete analog amplifiers. Music lovers will appreciate Bluetooth technology for wireless audio from most mobile apps, with Advanced Music Optimizer restoring lost bit information to compressed music. A USB input handles MP3s, while analog/digital terminals are available on the back panel to connect other audio players. The TX-NR656, TX-NR555 and TX-SR353 will be available in mid April while the TX-NR757 debuts in May. For more information about Onkyo’s complete line of products, please visit http://legacy.onkyousa.com/. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at http://legacy.onkyousa.com/ or follow Onkyo on Twitter (@onkyo_usa), Instagram (Onkyo_USA) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/OnkyoWorldwide). Note: Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™ , Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. ONKYO UNVEILS DETAILS AROUND NEW PRODUCTS AT CES 2016 UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 4, 2016 – As it heads into CES 2016, Onkyo USA today unveiled additional details for the products being highlighted at the leading consumer electronics show. On display in the Bassano #2602 meeting room at the Venetian Hotel, Onkyo’s lineup includes the DP-X1, the company’s highly anticipated digital audio player (DAP), as well as its new network stereo receiver, the TX-8140. DP-X1 Digital Audio Player With a well-earned reputation as a leader in hi-res audio, Onkyo’s continues that tradition with its DP-X1 Digital Audio Player. Backed by dual ESS Technology Sabre ES9018K2M DACs and two SABRE9601K amps with balanced headphone output, the DP-X1 is the only DAP with such an advanced configuration, the result of which is unprecedented power and control. The DP-X1 also has two types of balanced drives: ACG and BTL, for greater stability and clean, crystal clear sound. The unit is also among the first to support the MQA format, an anticipated new standard that captures and preserves the original studio recording, and delivers it in a package small enough to stream. From a storage standpoint, the DP-X1 can expand to 432GBs, thanks to dual micro-SDXC card slots and can supply up to 16 hours of playback. The DP-X1 will be available in April for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $899.99. TX-8140 Network Stereo Receiver Delivering 80 W/Ch of high-current power from a fully discrete low-impedance amplification system, the TX-8140 plays all your audio sources with pure dynamic energy. Connectivity is outstanding: you can route TV sound via coaxial/optical inputs; play internet radio or stream music over Wi-Fi® (with built-in support for Spotify Connect, Pandora® and more); play MP3s from a flash drive via USB, or pair and stream audio from almost any application using Bluetooth technology. Four BGM Presets can store your favorite FM/AM and internet radio stations—just push a button on the front panel to power up the receiver and start listening right away. Vinyl collectors will appreciate the phono equalizer input that joins six analog audio inputs for CD players and cassette decks. With rigid oval chassis and custom high-spec audio parts used throughout—along with proper input, balance, tone, and volume controls—the TX-8140 looks and feels every bit as good as it sounds. The TX-8140 will be available in early February for an MSRP of $399.99. For more information on Onkyo’s complete line of products, please visit www.onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at www.onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo on Facebook (www.facebook.com/onkyousa) and Twitter (@Onkyo_USA) PRECISION ENGINEERED ON-EAR HEADPHONES DESIGNED AND TUNED BY STEVE HARRIS FOR ROCK AND METAL FANS New Companion Maiden Audio Smartphone App With Exclusive IRON MAIDEN Custom EQ Settings Also Available UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ,December 8, 2015 - IRON MAIDEN and the award-winning Japanese electronics company ONKYO Corporation are delighted to announce the launch of their unique on-ear headphones, the EDPHON3S . The headphones have been specially designed to provide fans of IRON MAIDEN, rock and heavy metal the ultimate way to hear their music, with the clarity and full acoustic range required by Maiden bassist, founder member and co-producer, Steve Harris. The companion Maiden Audio smartphone app, which includes exclusive IRON MAIDEN custom EQ settings, is now available for free download in the Apple Store and Google Play Store . The Maiden Audio partnership was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2015. Over the following months, Steve Harris worked directly with Mark Cheffins, Artist Relations & Technical Consultant at ONKYO and their Japanese engineers. The resulting ED-PH0N3S are customized to Steve's exacting sonic requirements, delivering the ultimate audio experience when listening to IRON MAIDEN or any rock and metal music. Steve explains how the alliance came about: "I knew that I would need some really good headphones to use for playback of the mixes of ‘The Book Of Souls,’ our new Maiden studio album. I'd actually started looking into this about 18 months prior to when we started recording because I'd been struggling to find a design which came even remotely close to what I felt was an acceptable sonic standard for rock/metal. My main objective was for a balance that wasn't just top and bottom heavy with hardly any mid-range like a lot of headphones these days that are basically designed for dance music. I wanted a good balance across the widest bandwidth incorporating a lot more mid-range frequencies, something I strongly feel is vital to appreciate the complexities of our music and rock/metal in general. A friend at ONKYO suggested I get in touch with the company to create a design that could meet my specifications. We started collaborating and have been working on them ever since, endlessly evaluating frequencies and modifying drive units, materials, cables and connectors until we achieved my ideal balance. I am now really happy with the final result!" Mark Cheffins continues: "We were convinced ONKYO could help Steve achieve the musical authenticity he wanted and were thrilled when he agreed to collaborate with us. It was a challenging undertaking, given Steve's famously keen ear and ‘no compromise’ approach, but we were determined to deliver headphones that would be equal to the high standards Iron Maiden sets for its very distinctive sound. Although there are plenty of other brands marketing artist-endorsed headphones to consumers, to the best of my knowledge this is the first time the whole audio spectrum, including the all-important mid-range, has been engineered to such a rigorous degree, so Iron Maiden fans can be assured the ED-PH0N3S are completely unique. These headphones have been crafted from the ground up so that Maiden fans and devotees of rock and metal music can experience the same crystal-clear sound the band prizes, right across the spectrum. With the level of detail and workmanship that's gone into this project throughout the past year or so, I'm confident we've succeeded in creating a $600 plus product which can sell for considerably less." The suggested retail price for the ED-PH0N3S is $299. For all information go to edphon3s.onkyousa.com ONKYO ANNOUNCES RZ SERIES Onkyo proudly announces two Dolby Atmos®-enabled and DTS:X™-ready A/V receivers, the TX-RZ900 and TX-RZ800 7.2-channel network A/V receivers, along with a feature-packed TX-8160 Network Stereo Receiver – all launching later this summer. The receivers exemplify three cornerstones of Onkyo’s philosophy: World-beating, High-Current Delivery to control large speaker cones and drive them to their maximum potential; Wide Range Amplifiers extending to 5 Hz for wall-shaking bass impact and phase-shift reduction topology for improved timing, imaging, and musicality; Low Noise Processing to erase digital pulse noise and clearly resolve the subtlest details and textures. TX-RZ900 & TX-RZ800 A/V Receivers The RZ900 employs a hand-wound, high-current Toroidal transformer (the TX-RZ800 features a massive EI transformer) to power original three-stage inverted Darlington amplifier circuitry for high power delivery with extremely low distortion. The TX-RZ900 also features parallel push-pull amp circuit topology on the front channels, boosting power and efficiency. Every electrical component is custom-designed to reference standards, from the extra-large capacitors to heavy-duty output transistors. Both RZ products feature separate power amp and processing blocks, the latter featuring a Hi-Grade Asahi Kasei AK4458 384 kHz/32-bit DAC and Onkyo’s original VLSC™ technology. VLSC compares digital input and analog output signals and removes pulse-noise generated during D/A conversion, resulting in uncommonly clear and accurate sound. Positioned at the pinnacle of Onkyo’s impressive mid-range lineup, the THX® Select 2™ Plus-certified RZ units are crafted without compromise to deliver perfect listening enjoyment, unlocking the dynamic energy and unrestrained emotion of the original recording. Onkyo ensures that video performance is ready for the future of 4k Ultra HD entertainment with HDCP 2.2 compliance, the latest 4K/60 Hz- and 4:4:4 color-space-ready HDMI® inputs and two 4K/60 Hz HDMI outputs for dual-zone video for streamed and broadcast Ultra HD content. Users can enjoy the freedom of wireless audio with Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth audio, and ships with internet radio and subscription services built in, including Spotify Connect and Pandora®. FLAC 192 kHz/24-bit and DSD 5.6 MHz Hi-Res Audio decoding is available via DLNA, and selection and control of network audio is centralized in an intuitive smartphone app. For convenience, the rear panel includes dedicated speaker outputs for Height (which add overhead effects contained in object-based soundtracks set to 5.1.2) and Rear Surround (for 7.1 speaker setups). And for the first time, Powered Zone 2 distributes digital audio sources to speakers in another room. Both receivers feature Zone 2 Pre/Line Outs, Zone 3 Line Outs, 7.2 Multichannel Pre Outs, phono input, and USB for digital audio. The TX-RZ900 carries a suggested retail price of $1,599 ($1,999 CAD) and the TX-RZ800 an SRP of $1,299 ($1,699 CAD). TX-8160 Network Stereo Receiver In the TX-8160, Onkyo also unveils a versatile network stereo receiver outputting 80 W + 80 W of high-current power from its discrete wide-range amplifiers. Sharing the same amplification approach as the TX-RZ900 & TX-RZ800, the TX-8160 has a custom, high-output transformer, two customized 8,200 µF capacitors, and non-phase-shift amp circuit design for an exceptionally well-focused audio image. The receiver’s AKM AK4452 384 kHz/32-bit DAC is capable of decoding 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC files and DSD 5.6 MHz transmitted via onboard Wi-Fi® with easy remote app control. Users can stream any network audio from mobile, PC, and NAS, or enjoy streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora. AirPlay and Bluetooth audio are also included, while a handy BGM Pre-Set stores four FM/AM or internet radio stations for instant access. Four digital inputs, seven analog inputs, USB, and phono input allow you to connect everything from TV displays and CD players to turntables and cassette decks. Gold-plated audio terminals, banana-plug-ready speaker posts, and substantial independent knobs for bass, treble, and balance give this product the solidity and feel of a classic ’70s Hi-Fi amp, but with every modern convenience included. The receiver also features Zone 2 Pre Outs to distribute audio to another room with a dedicated DAC allowing digital sources to be enjoyed in both zones, with remote app control from anywhere within wireless range. The TX-8160 will be available at a suggested retail price of $499 ($529 CAD). ONKYO ANNOUNCES NEW, ULTRA HD A/V RECEIVERS & DOLBY ATMOS® HOME THEATER PRODUCTS UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, June 8, 2015—If price has been an impediment to experiencing next-generation sound and vision, Onkyo has the answer with several new A/V and home theater products. The new products include three new A/V receivers; a home theater system and a Dolby Atmos® 5.1.2 channel speaker set. The new line is perfect for consumers who desire easy set-up and integration with their legacy systems, yet still want to enjoy the captivating surround sound for movies and games. TX-NR545 / USA MSRP $599 / CAD MSRP: $749/ Available Now The most affordable Onkyo network receiver to support Dolby Atmos®, the 7.2-channel TX-NR545 features a 115 W/Ch high-current amplification system that extracts ultimate performance from the new Dolby Atmos® audio format. The unit boasts Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth technology, and users can stream direct to the receiver using Spotify Connect, Pandora and others, or stream audio stored on mobile handset and online music services using the free Onkyo Remote 3 control app. Ready for Ultra HD video and premium 4K content, the TX-NR545 features HDMI® and HDCP 2.2 compatibility with one output that can pass 4K/60 Hz video complete with 4:4:4 color space and 21:9 cinema aspect ratio from source devices to display. A premium 384 kHz/32-bit hi-grade AKM DAC unlocks the full potential of all your audio, including multidimensional Dolby Atmos®, DTS-HD Master Audio™, and Hi-Res audio formats. It’s also very easy to use as a Quick Setup function lets you adjust settings without interrupting playback. The TX-NR545 also features a USB port supporting multiple audio formats via flash-memory and the updated AccuEQ room acoustic correction easily calibrates and equalizes the speaker system to the room. TX-SR444 / USA MSRP: $499 / CAD MSRP: $629/ Available Now Slotting between the network-ready TX-NR545 and TX-SR343 base model, the 7.1-channel TX-SR444 delivers 115 W per channel through a discrete high-current amplification system. It is currently the most inexpensive Onkyo receiver to support Dolby Atmos® and has been completely redesigned to simplify connection and operation for first-time users while still featuring HDMI® and HDCP 2.2 compliance for 4k Ultra HD entertainment. A selection of legacy inputs is included to connect older devices such as gaming systems, with HDMI up-conversion allowing for single-cable TV connection and neater installation. Keeping things simple, the receiver has a rear-panel Streaming Box port that supplies power to media streaming sticks, adding apps for on-demand media. HT-S5800 / USA MSRP: $799 / CAD MSRP: $939 / Available end of June For users seeking the a one-step upgrade to Dolby Atmos sound, the HT-S5800 5.1.2-Channel Dolby Atmos Home Theater Package is the perfect way to do so. Featuring a 115W/Ch A/V receiver that connects all your media players and sends video to the TV via a single HDMI cable. Plug a media stick into the Streaming Box port and enjoy a wealth of audio and video streaming apps. The system comes with a precision wall-mountable Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 speaker system (see section below for additional details.) Once you’ve connected the speaker system, AccuEQ optimizes the sound to suit the unique shape of your room. The speaker set and A/V receiver ship with a gloss-finished powered 120 W subwoofer and all the necessary cables in a single carton. SKS-HT594 / USA MSRP: $599 / CDN MSRP: $799 / Available end of June The SKS-HT594 5.1.2-channel speaker system is ideally suited to any Dolby Atmos-ready A/V receiver. The six-piece speaker package reproduces everything from multidimensional Dolby Atmos® soundtracks to MP3s streamed from your phone with utmost precision. Each two-way front speaker houses a 12 cm driver and 2.5 cm balanced-dome tweeter, and incorporates an up-firing 8 cm woofer separately powered by the receiver’s height channel. These woofers bounce discretely mixed sound objects from the ceiling, and allow elements within the soundtrack to pass seamlessly from speaker to speaker above and around the audience. Joining two compact, wall-mountable surround-sound speakers and the dual-drive 2-Way center speaker is a powerful 10-inch subwoofer delivering up to 120 W of wall-shaking bass. TX-SR343 / USA MSRP: $399 / CDN MSRP: $429 / Available Now Recognizing that some consumers may find setting up and using their first A/V receiver a bit intimidating, the company took a fresh approach in designing its base model 5.1-channel A/V receiver, the TX-SR343. To that end, the rear panel has been completely revamped with input and output terminals clearly labeled and illustrated for easy setup. Because the receiver up-converts analog video, all media players (including VCRs and legacy gaming consoles) can plug directly into the receiver, with all video routed to the display via a single HDMI cable – eliminating unsightly, dusty cables running to a wall or stand-mounted flat-panel display. Users can also add full wireless audio and video streaming capabilities (such as the Google Chromecast) via a dedicated rear-panel USB port supplying 5V power to the device. Adding to this capability is built-in Bluetooth with DSP Music Optimizer to enhance lower-quality compressed audio streamed from smartphone applications or PC. As well offering DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD decoding with 100 W/Ch of discrete high-current amplification, the TX-SR343 comes with all the features expected of a modern A/V component, including 4 in & 1 out 4K Ultra HD / HDMI / HDCP 2.2; a high-quality TI Burr-Brown DAC, multiple DSP listening modes, Virtual Surround mode for 2.1-channel setups, and ample connections for media players. WITH DTS:X™ AND DOLBY ATMOS®, NEW ONKYO RECEIVERS BRING HOME THE ULTIMATE IN IMMERSIVE MOVIE REALISM Introducing the groundbreaking TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 network A/V receivers from Onkyo USA deliver best-in-class reproduction of new DTS:X™ and Dolby Atmos® object-based audio formats for an exhilarating multidimensional entertainment experience at home. The TX-NR646 generates an impressive 170 W/Ch of power while the TX-NR747 outputs 175 W/Ch and is THX® Select2™ Plus certified to guarantee theater-reference volume with minimal distortion. Both receivers are fitted with Dual 32-bit DSP Engines and a new 384 kHz/32-bit AK4458 DAC from Asahi-Kasei for transparent reproduction of music and soundtracks. Joining next-generation audio decoding are eight 4K/60 Hz-ready HDMI® inputs and two outputs, including dedicated HDCP 2.2-compliant terminals for 4K streaming and UltraHD Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio (due later this year). High Dynamic Range (HDR) color and 21:9 cinema-aspect are also supported. Onkyo’s exclusive discrete high-current amplification system enables unrivaled control of the speaker drivers for our trademark clarity, timing, and wide-spectrum dynamics, ensuring an emotionally captivating performance every time. Both receivers are set up for wireless audio with Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth. Onkyo’s new Remote App 3 streams digital music stored on mobiles while accessing a generous selection of Internet radio and on-demand music services. Streaming via Spotify app is also supported, while users can enjoy 192/24 FLAC and DSD 5.6 MHz Hi-Res Audio files via DLNA, or use the phono equalizer input to connect a turntable. Operation of both products is clear and simple. Updated AccuEQ room calibration quickly and accurately equalizes the speaker system for clear and balanced surround-sound on initial setup, with Quick Setup function making everyday operation a breeze. The TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 are engineered from the ground up to bring next-generation DTS:X and Dolby Atmos audio and UltraHD video to life, transforming everyday entertainment into an unforgettable experience. DTS:X and Dolby Atmos use revolutionary studio mixing techniques that utilize “sound objects” versus specific channels, that accurately match the sound to their corresponding visual objects as they pass above and around the audience with breathtaking clarity and realism–such as the trajectory of a bullet, a helicopter, or falling rain, for example. With a firmware update coming later in the year to add DTS:X, DTS:X scales a TX-NR646 or TX-NR747 home theater configuration up to 5.1.2 channels with enhanced flexibility for height-channel placement, including in-ceiling speakers, front/rear height channels, and even Dolby Atmos-ready speaker systems. Dialog in DTS:X can be mixed as a discrete sound object, so users can raise or lower it independent to other elements in DTS:X soundtracks, resulting in dramatically improved audibility than is currently possible. Further, DTS:X incorporates Neural:X, the latest spatial remapping technology from DTS, which provides a fully immersive output for all types of source content. This includes DTS bit-streams, non-encoded (PCM) data and Neural-encoded radio broadcasts of major global sporting events, leading to a more thrilling sense of atmosphere regardless of the original source format. “We’re confident that DTS:X represents the most convenient and effective way for movie lovers to experience immersive multidimensional sound,” said DTS EVP and chief marketing officer Kevin Doohan. “Introducing next-generation home entertainment to consumers is only possible when hardware and software partners collaborate closely. We can’t wait for Onkyo’s customers to experience the power and realism of DTS:X in their homes.” The TX-NR646 will be available in early June with a suggested retail price of $699 while the TX-NR747 will be available in late June at a suggested retail price of $999. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at www.onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo at www.facebook.com/onkyousa About DTS:X DTS:X is the next-generation object-based, multi-dimensional audio technology from DTS. Unbound from channels, DTS:X conveys the fluid movement of sound to create an incredibly rich, realistic and immersive soundscape—in front of, behind, beside and above the audience—more accurately than ever before. DTS:X offers the ability to automatically adapt the audio to the speaker layout that best fits the space, from a television’s built-in speakers to a home surround theater system to a dozen or more speakers in a commercial cinema. For the most engaging experience on mobile devices, DTS Headphone:X delivers a spatially distinct, immersive audio experience over any set of headphones. With DTS technology, even the smallest screens will sound huge. Immerse yourself at www.dts.com/dtsx and www.dts.com/headphonex. IRON MAIDEN CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIGH RES EXCLUSIVELY ON ONKYO MUSIC ONKYO Corporation is delighted to announce the exclusive release via their high res audio download service of 19 IRON MAIDEN catalogue albums encoded from 24-bit high resolution masters, delivering the music to listeners exactly the way the artist and recording engineer intended. These are brand new re-masters from their original analog and digital sources and is the next phase in IRON MAIDENs ongoing catalog upgrade to make their music digitally accessible to fans on their preferred devices globally. All 15 studio albums, two Best Of compilations and two live albums were personally selected by Maiden's founder member Steve Harris for this superior mastering technique: Iron Maiden, Killers, The Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere In Time, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, No Prayer For The Dying, Fear Of The Dark, The X Factor, Virtual XI, Brave New World, Dance Of Death, A Matter Of Life And Death, The Final Frontier, Somewhere Back In Time, From Fear To Eternity (2CD), Live after Death (2CD) and Rock In Rio( 2CD) Steve comments: "The high res mastering procedure allows the listener to experience the music as close as possible to the way the artist intended it to be heard. So of course I was very keen for the Maiden albums to be mastered in this way. The records have been available digitally before, when this medium first became a platform for music distribution but that was mastered with CDs in mind. The high res mastering process involves a different approach and it's great to finally deliver the music to our fans in as close to a pure and accurate sound as we could possibly achieve. For example, as most people know, I was never really happy with the sound on the first Maiden album but listening to it now, the guitars are louder, the drums more substantial and the overall tone is so very much improved in my opinion. Tony Newton and Ade Emsley who worked closely with me on the project did a terrific job recapturing everything from the original masters and together we've re- mastered them all digitally and I'm really happy with the results." Tony Newton adds: The process started with locating all of the original album mix tapes (or whichever format they were mixed to). Then the choice of analogue to digital convertor was chosen for the most accurate capture to make it as close as possible to the sound of the mix as it was intended by the band. When a lot of these tapes were last captured it was in the 1980's, early days of digital and only 44.1khz/16bit files were possible. On top of this the new A/D convertors are far superior now, and of course it is possible to produce files of far higher resolution. The result of this is that the songs now sound more defined with added depth and warmth. I was very excited to be asked to be part of this project, I honestly feel that there is a massive improvement in the quality of these classic albums. This entire high res release is available exclusively from OnkyoMusic and e-onkyo music (Japan only): OnkyoMusic https://www.onkyomusic.com/us/iron-maiden-hi-res-catalogue e-onkyo http://www.e-onkyo.com/ About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products and services that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com About e-onkyo music/OnkyoMusic Established in 2005, e-onkyo music is one of the leading hi-res music download service in the world. It is owned by Onkyo & Pioneer Innovations Corporation, a subsidiary company of Japanese audio manufacturer, ONKYO Corporation. e-onkyo music carries PCM files ranges from 44.1kHz to 192kHz / 24bit in WAV and flac format. They also carries DSD files at 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz / 1bit in DSF format (JP only). OnkyoMusic is a hi-res music download service now available in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Visit https://www.onkyomusic.com/ for more information. Announcement concerning the reorganization of subsidiary companies Asset Purchase, Change in corporate name, New directors This is to announce that Onkyo, effective as of March 2, 2015 has resolved to reorganize Onkyo’s subsidiary companies (“Subsidiary reorganization”) at Onkyo’s Board of Directors Meeting held on March 2, 2015, as follows: I.The objectives and summary of Subsidiary reorganization 1.The objective for Subsidiary reorganization Onkyo group has been taking various measures to respond flexibly to the rapidly changing market. As a part of this move, Onkyo and Pioneer Corporation (“Pioneer”) have continued discussions for the unification of the home AV business, the phone business, and the headphone-related business of Pioneer Group (Hereinafter, “Pioneer subject business”) with Onkyo’s. Based on the “Announcement concerning the finalization of the conditions for the issue of new shares through a third party allocation to Pioneer Corporation, the change in major shareholders, and the change concerning a specified subsidiary company” dated February 13, 2015, and as publicized in the “Announcement concerning the completion of payment for the issue of new shares through third party allocation and the change in the controlling shareholder” and “Announcement concerning the acquisition of shares accompanying change to subsidiaries”, both dated March 2, 2015, we are proud to announce that as of March 2, 2015, the issue of new shares of Onkyo through a third party allocation of shares to Pioneer, the change in major shareholders and the change in specific subsidiary companies, and the acquisition of home AV business and headphone-related business overseas conducted by a part of the overseas subsidiary companies of the Pioneer group (“Overseas business”) have been completed. Accompanying these events, with the objective of making approach to business under a new structure to further strengthen the home AV business and to continue both the Onkyo and the Pioneer brands, business reorganization, involving the transfer of business among Onkyo’s subsidiaries (“Business transfer among Subsidiaries”) and the transfer of Overseas business to Onkyo’s subsidiaries will be conducted, together with the change in trade names of Onkyo’s subsidiaries as well as the appointment of new directors. With these changes, we will aim to optimize the management resources and business of Onkyo’s subsidiaries, establish an organizational structure to promote approaches towards new businesses, and to further streamline corporate management, improve the performance and enhance the corporate value. 2.Summary of subsidiaries subject to reorganization and subsidiary business reorganization. (1)Main business of subsidiaries subject to reorganization: •Pioneer Home Electronics Corporation (“PHE”) Planning, development, manufacturing and marketing of audio visual related products. •Onkyo Marketing Japan Corporation (“OMJ”) Marketing of audio visual related products in Japan. •Onkyo Entertainment Technology Corporation (“OET”) Products business for contents management, distribution, creation, planning and development of Hi-Res music and lifestyle planning product business, CRM business focusing on sales promotion, repairs of audio and PC products, customer support, new business development, and the planning, development and marketing of various products, such as digital signage, etc. •Digital Acoustic Corporation (“DAC”) Design and development of audio visual related products. •Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation (“POU”) Marketing of audio visual related products in North Americas. •Onkyo Europe Electronics GmbH (“Onkyo Europe) Marketing of audio visual related products in Europe. •Onkyo Marketing Asia Ltd.(“Onkyo Asia”) Marketing of audio visual related products in the Asian region, with focus on China. (2)Summary of subsidiary business reorganization [1]Business transfer among Subsidiaries: Partial transfer of business will be made from PHE to consolidated subsidiaries of Onkyo. Transfers of domestic marketing business of home AV products will be made to OMJ, the headphone-related and phone business to OET, and the design related business to DAC. [2]Transfer of Overseas business to subsidiaries: The Overseas business acquired by Onkyo will be transferred to the overseas subsidiaries of Onkyo. [3]Change in the trade name of subsidiary companies and appointment of new directors: For the purpose of continuing both the Onkyo and Pioneer brand deployment, each subsidiary will change their trade names to those using the brands of both companies, that have permeated the audio market over a long period. At the same time, new directors will be appointed to further enhance the brand power and expansion of business. II.Summary of Business transfer among Subsidiaries (1)The reason for Business transfer among Subsidiaries and details of the business transfer: In the unification of Onkyo and Pioneer subject business, functions common to both related to marketing and design will be consolidated to Onkyo’s consolidated subsidiaries, to manage the functions under a uniform control, and target for the enhancement of business competitiveness and profit earning strength. Business related to domestic sales will be transferred to OMJ and business concerning design to DAC. In order to capture the Hi-Res market, which is expected to grow further through the enhancement of lifestyle planned products focused on headphones, the headphone-related and phone business will be transferred to OET, who operates “e-onkyo music”, the Hi-Res music distribution site, targeting to provide a new music experience in both software and hardware. (2)Business transfer date: March 2, 2015 III. Summary of transfer of Overseas business As of March 2, 2015, the transfer of Overseas business acquired from Pioneer group have been completed, with business related to marketing in North Americas transferred to POU, business related to marketing in Europe to Onkyo Europe, business related to marketing in the Asian region focusing on China to Onkyo Asia, and business related to overseas marketing in other areas to Onkyo. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware Update for 2014 Model Year A/V Receivers and HTiB packages A free firmware update improving the operation of Spotify Connect on 2014-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers and HTiB packages is now available for download, the company announced. Compatible 2014 models include the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. Spotify Connect allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Learn more about Spotify Connect at: https://www.spotify.com/us/connect/ WOOX Innovations and Onkyo partner to drive growth in headphones and connected speakers Osaka and Hong Kong Onkyo Corporation (Onkyo) and WOOX Innovations (WOOX ) today announced that they have entered a comprehensive, long-term partnership that spans product development and distribution. The two companies will initially focus on creating high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers and headphones under the Onkyo brand. Consumers are looking for hassle-free, high quality music whether theyre at home or on the go. High-fidelity headphones and Bluetooth speakers are a key part of that experience. This is reflected in consumer demand: the global market for wireless home audio, including those incorporating Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, continues to see strong growth both in Japan and the rest of the world. With the market for high resolution audio already at an advanced stage in Japan, the partnership also provides the opportunity to establish Onkyos expertise in this area worldwide. The partnership with WOOX Innovations presents a great opportunity for growth: both through collaboration on product development and through WOOXs extensive global sales organization, which is present in more than and manages sales in over 100 countries, said Munenori Otsuki President, CEO of Onkyo Corporation. Onkyo has long been highly regarded for its development of audio and speaker products, and with this partnership we will accelerate growth and improve our business performance. WOOX, the former audio and lifestyle entertainment business of Netherlands-based Royal Philips, was acquired by Gibson Brands in June 2014. This follows the strategic partnership entered into by Onkyo and Gibson in January 2012. The agreement further advances Gibson Brands ambition to become the largest music lifestyle company in the world. Todays announcement is an important step forward in the implementation of our multibrand strategy, where we will collaborate with our partners in Gibson Brands to create and bring to market innovative products across a range of brands, said Wiebo Vaartjes, CEO of WOOX Innovations. Onkyo has a great heritage, advanced technology capabilities and a strong brand: this partnership will create value for our companies, for our retail customers and most importantly for consumers. Onkyo is a leader in providing hi-res audio. Its Hi-Res music download store, e-onkyo music, is the largest Hi-Res music download store in Japan where it has been running since 2005. In January 2015 Onkyo announced the launch of Hi-Res music download stores in the US, UK and Germany. The company continues to pioneer Hi-Res audio across the full music chain from creation and recording to listening. This includes developing a new method of enjoying Hi-Res audio in a non-PC environment and introducing products capable of working with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), a new audio format for high-resolution music sources developed by Meridian. As a result of the partnership, Onkyo and WOOX will be able to respond quickly to changing user needs and rapidly advancing technology. Focusing on fast-growing market segments, the two companies will introduce products designed around their users lifestyles and, in terms of sound quality, which put the listener right at the center of performances from their favorite artists. About WOOX Innovations From great sound quality, to advanced technology and sophisticated design, WOOX Innovations strives to improve the entertainment experience. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with over 1,900 employees worldwide, we develop and market products in sound, home entertainment and related accessories. WOOX Innovations is a Gibson Brands company and a brand licensee of Royal Philips. For our latest news, go to www.woox.com/news/. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware for 2013 and 2012 Model Year A/V Receivers and HTiB Packages A free firmware update enabling Spotify Connect on many 2012 and 2013-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers and HTiB packages is now available for download. Compatible 2013 models include the TX-NR525, HT-RC550, TX-NR626, HT-RC560, TX-NR727, TX-NR828 and TX-NR929 A/V receivers and HTiB packages. Compatible 2012 models include the TX-NR414, HT-R758, HT-RC440, TX-NR515, TX-NR515AE, HT-RC460, HT-R791, TX-NR616, TX-NR616AE, HT-RC470, TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR1010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR5010 A/V receivers and HTiB packages. Spotify Connect firmware was previously made available for 2014 models including the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. The update allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware, New Remote App for A/V and Hi-Fi Components UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. A free firmware update enabling Spotify Connect on 2014-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers, controllers, and HTiB packages is now available for download, the company announced. Compatible models include the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. The update allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Onkyo also unveiled a new and improved iOS 8-compatible app, Onkyo Remote 3, for iPod touch/iPhone, which is also available as a free download via the App Store. The app seamlessly combines control and streaming functionality in one easy-to-navigate User Interface complete with a fresh new flat design scheme, allowing users to unlock the full potential of their Onkyo component without leaving the lounge. Onkyo Remote 3 is compatible with all Onkyo network A/V receivers and controllers manufactured from 2011 (TX-NRX09 and later), as well as the TX-8050 Network Stereo Receiver and CS-N755 Network Hi-Fi Mini System. As well as providing a simple graphical interface for controlling playback and adjusting system settings, the app will: Streams music stored on iPod touch/iPhone to the receiver or tuner with familiar song organization (album, artist, playlist, and genre), album art, and content information Enables song, album, playlist, and radio channel selection from online streaming services included with select Onkyo products Locates and streams Hi-Res PCM, 2.8 MHz DSD (models manufactured during or after 2013), and 5.6 MHz DSD (2014 models only) stored on compatible network-attached devices via the Home Media function Locates and streams lossless and compressed audio from DLNA®-compatible media servers and PCs Integrates compatibility with Spotify Connect (2014-model receivers only) Manages playback in up to three zones from anywhere within range of the home network Offers fast and efficient input source switching Enables limited control of other A/V and Hi-Fi components connected to the receiver or tuner via Onkyo’s RI (Remote Interactive) terminals, as well as playback control for compatible Blu-ray Disc players via CEC Provides access to the main setup menu on compatible Onkyo A/V receivers, allowing users to perform detailed adjustment using the connected display. Spotify Connect and the Onkyo app join next-generation features such as Dolby Atmos®, HDBaseT connectivity, 4K/60 Hz video via HDMI® 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 copy protection capability in Onkyo 2014 network products. These cutting-edge technologies and smooth operability guarantee a powerful and emotionally captivating entertainment experience. Onkyo Delivers Free Firmware Update to Enable Dolby Atmos® Capability on TX-NR636, TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 A/V Network Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/26/14) -- Onkyo is pleased to announce the firmware update enabling Dolby Atmos sound on the Onkyo TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers is now available. This free update is available via either a network connection or USB download. We are excited to provide this free update to owners of our 2014 network receivers beginning with TX-NR636," says Onkyo Corporation General Manager, Kevin Miyagi. "Our Dolby Atmos enabled receivers allow Onkyo customers to enjoy not only new content that will be released in Dolby Atmos but will also provide an enhanced experience of their current Blu-ray libraries through Dolby Surround. With Dolby Atmos, sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, detail, and depth. Additionally, a new Dolby surround upmixer allows for legacy channel-based content that has not been mixed for Dolby Atmos to be expanded to fill the flexible speaker layouts of a Dolby Atmos system. Since its introduction in cinemas in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award®-winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers. Dolby Atmos transports you from the ordinary into the extraordinary with breathtaking, multidimensional sound that fills your room and flows all around you, said Craig Eggers, Director, Home Theater, Dolby Laboratories. Thats the premium entertainment experience we are excited to bring to the consumer through our partners, like Onkyo, both who have come to expect the very best from Dolby. All of Onkyos 2014-model A/V receivers and controllers, beginning with the TX-NR636, feature Dual 32-bit Processing Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos for any home theater configuration. Onkyos high-end TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers along with the flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller will ship in mid-October with support for Dolby Atmos built in. The HT-S7700 Network Home Theater System will also ship with Dolby Atmos built-in at the end of September. With Dolby Atmos joining THX®-certified theater-reference audio performance, built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth, support for Hi-Res Audio playback as well as HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 copy protection, these Onkyo components have power to elevate next-generation media to transcendental heights. For more information about Dolby Atmos and Onkyo, please visit http://dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. Onkyo Poised to Deliver Dolby Atmos Sound This Month UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. A firmware update enabling Dolby Atmos® sound on the Onkyo TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers will be released on September 29, the home entertainment specialists confirmed today. The free firmware download enabling Dolby Atmos on these mid-range products precedes the release of Onkyos high-end TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers, and the flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller, all of which will ship from mid-October with support for Dolby Atmos built in at the factory. The HT-S7700 Network Home Theater System will also ship with Dolby Atmos built-in beginning at the end of September. Dolby Atmos delivers captivating multidimensional sound that places and moves specific effects anywhere in the room (including overhead) bringing movie entertainment to life all around the audience. Since its introduction in cinemas in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award®-winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers. All of Onkyos 2014-model A/V receivers and controllers from the mid-range and up feature Dual 32-bit Processing Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos for any home theater configuration. With Dolby Atmos joining THX®-certified theater-reference audio performance, built-in Wi-Fi® for Hi-Res PCM/DSD, and HDMI 2.0 supporting 4K/60 Hz video, these Onkyo components have power to elevate next-generation media to transcendental heights. For more information about Dolby Atmos and Onkyo, please visit http://dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Onkyo Unveils Dolby Atmos-Ready HTiB Packages, Speaker System, and Base-Model A/V Receiver with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth 07/14/14 - UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NEW JERSEY. Onkyo, the world’s foremost specialist in audio-video entertainment, has announced major upgrades to its popular line of home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB) packages, along with a new Dolby Atmos®-enabled speaker system and an updated entry-level A/V receiver. The following packages and components—including select models engineered for captivating Dolby Atmos sound right out of the box—are slated for release during the last quarter of this year: The Dolby Atmos-ready HT-S7700 5.1.2-channel network A/V receiver and speaker packages The SKH-410 Dolby Atmos-Enabled Speaker System The 5.1-channel HT-S3700 home theater receiver and speaker packages, and a network-enabled 5.1-channel HT-S5700 Network A/V Receiver/Speaker Package, all with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth The TX-SR333 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth One Easy Step to Dolby Atmos Sound with 5.1.2-Channel Packages Dolby Atmos—a multidimensional audio format developed for commercial cinemas and now available for the first time in home theaters—places and moves specific sounds anywhere in the room, including overhead. Content creators mix in a 3D space with object-oriented overhead sounds (such as aircraft, rain, or birdcalls) passing through pairs of in-ceiling speakers or Dolby Atmos-enabled height speakers. With its Dolby Atmos-enabled front/height speakers, the HT-S7700 is the most convenient and affordable way to enjoy Dolby Atmos sound at home. This factory-balanced 5.1.2-channel HTiB system is powered by a Wi-Fi®- and Bluetooth-ready 7.2-channel network A/V receiver featuring HDMI® 2.0 terminals for 4K/60 Hz video and HDCP 2.2 for 4K video streaming and broadcasting. It supports high-resolution network audio, internet radio and music streaming, and can upscale low-resolution video to 4K with Qdeo™ processing technology. The receiver has two HDMI 2.0 outputs, a phono input for turntable connection, and Powered Zone 2 capability for distributed multiroom audio. Included 2-way front speakers contain OMF (Onkyo Micro Fiber) woofers and a balanced-dome tweeter for clear and accurate sound, while an independently powered up-firing speaker in a sealed top compartment bounces Dolby Atmos height effects from the ceiling into the audience. Sounds fed via the height channels seem to originate from overhead, helping to create a sphere of sound where effects move seamlessly above and around the listener. The package is completed with a 2-way gloss-accented center speaker with dual cone woofers and tweeter, two solid full-range surround speakers, and a large 10-inch powered subwoofer. Speaker System Enables Dolby Atmos on Existing Surround Setups Owners re-powering an existing home theater speaker system with a compatible 2014-model Onkyo A/V receiver can unlock the full Dolby Atmos experience by connecting two of the company’s new SKH-410 speakers to the receiver’s height channels. The compact sealed cabinets contain a full-range up-firing cone speaker and special Dolby Atmos-certified network to create a plane of sound above the listener. Placed on larger floorstanding speakers or mounted on the wall, the SKH-410s offer a convenient and cost-effective way to unleash the power of Dolby Atmos in home theaters where in-ceiling speakers are impractical. Gibson Brands to open world’s first sound and music showroom in Tokyo celebrating Gibson’s 120th anniversary Tokyo, Japan / Nashville, U.S. — July 1, 2014 — Gibson Brands (www.gibson.com), the leading global sound and music company, today announced the launch of its first pioneering music lifestyle concept showroom in Tokyo. Launching on July 2nd, the Showroom will showcase the premium sound and music quality of its three leading brands Gibson Guitars, TEAC and Onkyo, providing customers with the opportunity to play, record, and listen to their own music with the latest high performance products in its state of the art facilities in Yaesu. For the first of its kind, the Showroom, which will be open to the public, will provide a unique environment where music lovers of all levels, from professional musicians to beginners, can immerse themselves in the world of music. After passing under a giant replica of the iconic Les Paul guitar at the entrance, visitors will be free to explore and try out the full range of products first-hand in individually designed and branded zones spread over two floors. In the Gibson Guitar Play Zone, visitors will be able to select and play from the vast display of legendary Gibson Guitars, record and create their own music using TEAC’s latest technology in the “Premium Sound Lab” and relax and listen to music with Onkyo’s high fidelity audio systems and headphones in the “Premium Music Lounge”. There is even a Live Stage area where guest artists and visitors will be able to play out to the crowd – the ultimate experience for any music lover. The launch of the new concept Showroom marks a significant milestone in Gibson Brands history. A global first, the Showroom demonstrates Gibson Brands continued its commitment to improving product innovation, quality and customer experience as it celebrates its 120th anniversary. Masayoshi Yamazaki, a special guest musician for the event who has been recording and distributing live performances using Gibson Brands’ high-resolution systems, launched the opening of the showroom by playing his favorite Gibson acoustic guitar live on the Exhibition Stage. Yamazaki, the first performer ever play out from the Exhibition Stage, demonstrated the new concept by playing the Gibson acoustic guitar, recording his performance with TEAC’s state of the art recording equipment TASCAM DA-3000 and then reproducing it through Onkyo’s Hi-Fi audio system. Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Brands states “Gibson Brands are about bringing the joy of sound and music to music lovers across the world. The collaboration between our three leading brands Gibson, Onkyo and TEAC, our new concept Showroom realizes our shared vision to improving the quality of life of our customers through music. It is fitting that we launch our first Sound and Music Concept Showroom in Tokyo where the collaboration began and will be rolled out to other markets across the World. ” Yuji Hanabusa CEO and President of TEAC Corporation states “The new concept Showroom is a great opportunity for TEAC to broaden its customer base by providing everyday music lovers as well as music professionals the opportunity to experience and access our products. “ Munenori Otsuki President, CEO, Onkyo Corporation states “Onkyo is delighted to be part of this prestigious group of premium sound and music brands and is looking forward to seeing the collaboration continue to flourish as we extend this exciting new concept to other markets”. About Gibson Brands, Inc. Gibson Brands, one the fastest-growing companies in the music and sound industries, was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Nashville, TN. Gibson Brands is a global leader in musical instruments, and consumer and professional audio, and is dedicated to bringing the finest experiences by offering exceptional products with world-recognized brands. Gibson has a portfolio of over 100 well-recognized brand names starting with the number one guitar brand, Gibson. Other brands include: Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Audio brands include: KRK Systems, TASCAM, Cerwin-Vega!, Stanton, Onkyo, Integra, TEAC, TASCAM Professional Software, and Esoteric. All Gibson Brands are dedicated to innovation, prestige and improving the quality of life of our customers. More information is available at www.gibson.com, www.facebook.com/gibson, www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar Gibson, 1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766) or www.gibson.com About TEAC Corporation TEAC CORPORATION (TYO: 6803) is an electronics company based in Japan. It was founded in 1953 as the Tokyo Electro Acoustic Company. TEAC manufactures and distributes high grade audio video electronics, consumer electronics, computer data recording and storage devices, computer peripherals and professional recording equipment as well as disc publishing products. Products are marketed under the brand names ESOTERIC (high end consumer audio products), TEAC (consumer electronics – mass market audio products) and TASCAM (consumer to professional audio products, mostly recording). To learn more about TEAC, please visit: www.teac.com. About Onkyo Corporation Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company’s philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyo.com. Onkyo Announces High-End and Mid-Range A/V Components with Dolby Atmos Sound UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo has announced that its upcoming TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers, flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX HTiB systems, and SKS-HT693 and SKH-410 speaker packages will launch with Dolby Atmos, a next-generation audio format that delivers captivating multidimensional sound in home theater environments. The company will also release a firmware update, targeted in September, enabling Dolby Atmos® on its mid-range TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers now available worldwide. With Dolby Atmos sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, depth, and detail. Some of the worlds leading filmmakers are using Dolby Atmos to transport audiences to the center of the action, said Onkyo Corporation General Manager, Kevin Miyagi. Dolby Atmos delivers a multidimensional sound experience with breathtaking detail and clarity. We are excited to be among the first brands to offer this technology to our customers. Onkyo's 2014 models supporting Dolby Atmos feature Dual 32-bit DSP Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos to suit individual home theater configurations. Owners of compatible Onkyo components have the flexibility to choose their preferred theater layout, unleashing the formats effect with the addition of a pair or more of in-ceiling height speakers, complementing traditional 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 configurations. Alternatively, users can augment an existing speaker setup with Dolby Atmos-enabled loudspeakers. For more information on these speaker configurations please visit dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. About Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos delivers captivating, multidimensional sound that places and moves specific sounds anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment alive all around the audience. Since its introduction in the cinema in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award® winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers, among others. Later this year, entertainment enthusiasts will be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos in their home theaters. To learn more about Dolby Atmos and home theaters, visit the Dolby Lab Notes blog here. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. New Onkyo High-End A/V Components Debut with Dolby Atmos, 4K/60 Hz Video, and Premium Build Onkyo has unveiled three high-end audio-video components offering passionate movie and music lovers the ultimate home entertainment experience. The release includes the THX® Select2 Plus-certified 9.2-channel TX-NR1030 Network A/V Receiver and 11.2-channel TX-NR3030 Network A/V Receiver, and a THX® Ultra2 Plus-certified PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller. All three components introduce HYPERLINK "http://wp.me/p3kGgm-aX" Dolby Atmos multidimensional sound to home theaters as well as the latest HDMI supporting 4K video at 60 Hz with HDCP 2.2 compatibility for Ultra HD streaming and broadcast video. The products combine audiophile design and construction with outstanding connectivity to deliver powerful, controlled, and dynamic audio performance in medium to large listening spaces. A New Age of Surround Sound with Dolby Atmos With Dolby Atmos®, sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, detail, and depth. Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional sound places and moves sounds around the room, like a bird chirping or rainfall from above, to make every sonic element come alive. All three Onkyo components feature Dual 32-bit DSP engines to decode, scale and calibrate Dolby Atmos to suit individual home theater configurations. With up to 11 channels of high-current amplification, users can unlock the full experience with in-ceiling height channels or Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers to augment a standard 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 home theater setup. Unrivalled Video Performance Eight HDMI® inputs and three outputs are specified for 4K/60 Hz video and 21:9 widescreen theater aspect, with HDMI Input 3 and Main Out supporting HDCP 2.2 copy protection to enable playback of streamed or broadcast Ultra HD content and future 4K studio releases. A dedicated HDMI Zone 2 Out routes 1080p video to a second display with multizone control enabled by a streaming and control app. The 4K/60 Hz HDMI Sub Out is intended for dedicated projector connection. Qdeo technology by Marvell upscales low-resolution video to 1080p for Full HD displays and 4K for compatible UHD screens. All three components include selectable ISF video calibration, which optimizes picture settings to industry standards with night and day modes for optimal viewing in any conditions. Together, these technologies deliver next-generation video to big-screen TVs and projectors with picture quality that is nothing short of spectacular. Engineered for Pure Audio Excitement In line with Onkyos Emotion, Delivered concept for ultimate two-channel and multichannel performance, all three components feature separate processing and amplifier blocks to minimize electrical interference. The wide-range amplification system is based on industry-best high-current delivery for superior speaker control, which results in extremely clear, accurate, and dynamic sound. Both the TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 feature a customized high-regulation transformer, with the latter adding two additional EI transformers for audio and video processing, as well as custom 18,000 ?F capacitors and low-distortion Three-Stage Inverted Darlington amplification circuitry. The PR-SC5530, meanwhile, has a custom toroidal power supply and separate EI transformers for A/V processing. All three components are built for high-resolution audio processing with seven discrete TI Burr-Brown DACs. The TX-NR3030 and PR-SC5530 boast top-of-the-line 192 kHz/32-bit processors, with the TX-NR1030 featuring seven 192 kHz/24-bit two-channel DACs. Audio decoding is handled by Dual 32-bit DSP Engines. The components include DTS Neo:X, a powerful multiplexing solution capable of upmixing stereo and 5.1-channel sources to 7.1, 9.1, or 11.1 channels while providing optimized DSP modes to suit games, movies, and music. Quality audio-grade terminals are featured throughout. The TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 have 11.4 multichannel pre-outs and balanced XLR pre-outs for the front L/R channels, while the PR-SC5530 has both balanced 11.4-channel XLR pre-outs and 11.4 multichannel pre-outs. All models feature 18 mm-pitch front-channel RCA pre-outs to accommodate high-quality cables. Multi-room audio entertainment comes courtesy of Powered Zone 2 and Powered Zone 3 outputs with a convenient Whole House Mode and playback control via remote app. Naturally, all components support front-channel bi-amping. Also part of Emotion, Delivered technology is proprietary AccuEQ room calibration. AccuEQ measures and corrects speaker distances, levels, crossovers, and frequency response from one convenient listening position to ensure cohesive surround-sound while enabling playback of 7.1-channel formats at 96 kHz without down-sampling. For pure and authentic stereo performance, AccuEQ bypasses the front channels so the unique character of the user’s loudspeakers can be enjoyed without DSP correction potentially altering the sound. Hi-fi enthusiasts can connect a turntable via the phono input or a high-quality SACD or CD player via analog audio inputs, touch the Pure Direct Analog Path button, and enjoy sound to rival dedicated all-analog hi-fi stereo amplifiers. The mode physically switches off every digital circuit, allowing analog signals to pass directly from the source device to the speakers with zero interference. Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth Offer High-Quality Audio and Convenience For fans of high-resolution audio, built-in Wi-Fi facilitates Double DSD, gapless 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV, and Dolby® TrueHD streaming from media server with song selection via remote app. Audio can also be streamed directly from mobile devices over Wi-Fi, including a limitless selection of music from the widest range of internet streaming services currently available. Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR streaming quality is enhanced by a Music Optimizer DSP mode which restores lost bit information for cleaner, fuller sound. Built to Onkyo’s exacting standards and engineered to deliver the most powerful, dynamic, and enthralling audio possible, these top-shelf components serve up a perfect blend of cutting-edge features and audiophile performance. Users can build a state-of-the-art home theater for a completely immersive A/V experience, but not at the cost of two-channel performance. With over 65 years experience crafting the best-sounding and best-equipped hi-fi components, Onkyo continues to deliver emotionally moving entertainment experiences to users who are truly passionate about sound and vision. Onkyo Premieres “Emotion Delivered” Audio Concept in 2014 Mid-Range A/V Receivers April 16, 2014 • Best-in-Class High Current Capability for THX® Select2™ Plus-Certified Theater Reference Sound • Pure Direct Analog Path Mode Delivers Interference-Free Stereo Playback for Vinyl, SACD, and Compact Disc • Supports Latest HDMI® Standard to Enable 4K/60 Hz Video and 21:9 Widescreen Format • First Receiver Brand with HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection Compatibility for Premium Video Broadcasts and Streaming • Built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth for Universal Wireless Streaming of High-Resolution, Lossless, and Compressed Audio Files UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo’s groundbreaking THX®-certified TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers set a new standard for performance and value by combining superlative sound quality with the latest in 4K/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2-compliant video and wireless hi-res audio connectivity. Onkyo’s commitment to deliver superior performance can be seen in three key areas: sound quality for both multichannel and stereo listening; HDMI connectivity to enable Ultra HD video at 60 frames per second; and usability to make it easy to cue up content. Best-in-Class High Current Capability for Stellar Sound Quality The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 passed over 2,000 laboratory bench tests analyzing every aspect of audio quality in order to achieve THX® Select2™ Plus certification. This guarantees the same high-volume, low-distortion sound experienced in a multiplex theater, with studio-reference soundtracks reproduced exactly as the director intended. The new slogan “Emotion Delivered” neatly expresses Onkyo’s amplification philosophy. Time-proven technology and deep audio engineering know-how combine to produce sound quality that genuinely moves the listener. The cornerstone of the Emotion Delivered concept is high current. High instantaneous current realizes ultimate speaker control for uncommonly accurate and musical audio reproduction, while effortlessly handling impedance fluctuations and the sudden dynamic changes common to movie soundtracks. Both the TX-NR838 and TX-NR737 have Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) at their core, a system built around a custom high-output transformer, extra-large customized capacitors, and low-impedance copper bus-plates. Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry amplification features a discrete low-impedance output stage with high-current transistors for instantaneous power and extremely low distortion. The culmination of over 60 years’ audio engineering experience, WRAT preserves the life and character of the master recording. High-current power amplification combines with dual Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engines and 192 kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown D/A conversion to deliver sound that is wide, deep, and detailed. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 both feature proprietary AccuEQ room calibration that bypasses the front L/R channels so the loudspeakers’ unique audio characteristics are preserved. The remaining channels are very quickly and easily optimized for balanced surround-sound performance. Advanced Music Optimizer DSP, meanwhile, enhances the quality of compressed audio streamed via Bluetooth to further improve two-channel fidelity for passionate music lovers. Interference-Free Playback of Vinyl and SACD On the TX-NR838, users can select Pure Direct Analog Path mode to physically shut down all digital circuitry in the receiver, eliminating electrical interference. Signals pass directly from the phono or analog audio inputs to the amplifiers and arrive at the front loudspeakers in pristine analog form. The improvement in audio quality is significant, and helps to showcase the unique tonal character of vinyl. Pure Direct Analog Path lets the TX-NR838 double as a pure-analog power amp for high-quality source components such as turntables, SACD players, and Blu-ray players. Connectivity for 4K/60 Hz Video and HDCP 2.2 Compatibility Both receivers feature seven HDMI inputs (six rear, one front with MHL™) and two outputs, with inputs 1–4 and the frontside input supporting Ultra HD video at 60 frames per second. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 feature HDCP 2.2 compatibility on HDMI Input 3 and Main Out, allowing the receiver to play copy-protected Ultra HD media and other premium streamed, broadcast, or physical video content. Home theater receivers without HDCP 2.2 compatibility may only be able pass this premium content through to the display in standard definition (480i/576i). Lower definition video from legacy consoles, DVDs, and streamed video via media player is smoothly converted to Full HD or 4K (depending on your display) with industry-leading Qdeo™ upscaling technology. Connect a Second Display As well as powering audio in another room equipped with a pair of speakers, the TX-NR838 transmits high-definition video to a Zone 2 display via the HDMI Sub Out. Users can route 1080p content from media players connected to the receiver and enjoy it on a second display with easy smartphone control. The additional HDMI output on the TX-NR737 is designed for projector connection. The TX-NR838 also features 7.2 multichannel pre-outs, five digital audio inputs, and a 12 V trigger-out for Zone 2 audio. Wireless High-Resolution Audio Streaming and Unparalleled Access to Internet Services Built-in Wi-Fi and DLNA® compatibility allows the easy streaming of high-resolution music libraries from PC or media server, with search, track selection, and playback controls all enabled via the remote app. A huge variety of file formats are supported including 5.6 MHz DSD, Dolby® TrueHD, and gapless 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV. Users can also stream music stored on handheld devices instantly to these receivers via Wi-Fi, or use onboard Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR to enjoy almost any audio playing on their devices wirelessly. Both receivers provide access to the widest assortment of Internet services available in the market today. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 support Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, AUPEO!, and TuneIn Radio; all of which are searchable from within the Onkyo remote app. Smooth and Intuitive Operation Graphical on-screen displays are overlaid via HDMI so that quick adjustments to audio or video can be made without interrupting the program. InstaPrevue™ technology allows users to see content playing on connected devices in thumbnail windows. The remote app provides a wide range of adjustment and control for video and audio in two zones, and also includes a variety of audio streaming options. Unprecedented Power, Performance, and Versatility These versatile mid-range A/V receivers offer consumers much more than a next-generation movie or gaming experience. New technologies and long experience in high-fidelity audio design has resulted in two-channel performance that approaches that of a dedicated hi-fi stereo component system. Whether streaming a Spotify playlist from smartphone, soaking up the warmth of an LP, or settling in with a Blu-ray blockbuster, these two A/V receivers deliver performance that consistently exceeds expectations. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 will both be available in May with suggested retail prices of $899 and $1,199, respectively. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Press contact: Paul Wasek – Onkyo USA Corp [email protected] Onkyo Unveils Next-Generation A/V Receivers for 4K/60 Hz Entertainment, Universal Hi-res Audio Streaming Onkyo announces two state-of-the-art network A/V receivers, the 5.2-channel TX-NR535 and 7.2-channel TX-NR636. Both feature HDMI specified for 4K/60 Hz video, built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth, and universal support for gapless* hi-res network audio, while the TX-NR636 adds HDCP 2.2 compatibility to support the latest DRM copy-protection standard. Onkyo is one of the first CE manufacturers to implement 4K/60 Hz capability in an A/V receiver, paving the way for Ultra HD video playback at a liquid-smooth 60 frames per second. This is great news for PC gamers who can now add wall-shaking surround sound to their 4K/60 Hz experience. Consumers who dont have an Ultra HD TV, meanwhile, can be confident their A/V receiver is ready for future home theater upgrades. The TX-NR636 is also the first A/V receiver to support HDCP 2.2. This latest DRM copy-protection standard will be adopted for future premium 4K studio releases, 4K streaming via internet service providers, as well as for UHD terrestrial and satellite broadcasts. This content will be unplayable (or converted to standard definition) when passed through non-HDCP 2.2-compliant A/V receivers. Compatibility is therefore essential to users who plan to enjoy premium content in the future. Powerful and Dynamic Sound Quality Both the TX-NR535 and TX-NR636 are based on custom high-current architecture. High current is crucial for managing impedance fluctuations and sudden dynamic gains, and to ensure that power is instantaneously available at all times. A massive customized transformer, extra-large capacitors, and discrete low-distortion amplifiers are used, while the TX-NR636 adds Onkyos premier Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry on the front and center channels. Both receivers have been meticulously tuned to deliver clear, full-bodied sound with a revealing midrange and fast, punchy bass. Both are equally adept at steering DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD soundtracks through multiple channels or filling rooms with musical and engaging two-channel sound. Engineered for High-Resolution Audio Onkyo continues to wholeheartedly embrace high-resolution music. The free Onkyo remote app for iOS and Android devices easily locates and streams network-attached hi-res tracks via DLNA®. Both receivers feature gapless* playback of almost any high-resolution file format including 5.6 MHz DSD, Dolby® TrueHD, 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV, and ALAC to 96 kHz and 24-bit depth. Music stored on smartphone and tablet can be streamed via remote app and Wi-Fi to the home theater, while users can browse and stream millions of available tracks on Spotify, Deezer, AUPEO!, and TuneIn from within the app. Support for Spotify Connect will be added later this year via firmware update. This feature will enable subscribers to stream Spotifys massive library of music to the receiver directly from the Spotify app via Wi-Fi. Onboard Bluetooth is also included (no extra charge for an adapter) for convenient wireless listening, with Onkyos Advanced Music Optimizer DSP vastly improving the quality of compressed audio. Dual 32-bit DSP Engines On the TX-NR636, audio processing power has been upgraded from one to two 32-bit DSP engines for smooth and easy decoding of high-resolution formats such as Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and 5.6 MHz DSD. Simple Operation for People of All Ages Everything from initial setup to everyday operation has been made simple and stress-free. Both models include Onkyos proprietary AccuEQ calibration system to optimize the surround sound to suit individual room acoustics and speaker setups. On-screen menus are overlaid via HDMI and adjustments can be made without interruption to the program. All major control functions are also available via the remote streaming app, including cold power-up from Hybrid Standby. Loaded with Useful Features and Connections The TX-NR636 boasts six rear HDMI inputs, one front HDMI input supporting MHL, and two HDMI outputs. It has an MM phono stage for turntable connection, and dedicated Powered Zone 2 terminals for multi-room audio. Users can also assign the surround back channels to bi-amp their front speakers. The receiver includes Dolby Pro Logic IIz 7.1-channel upmixing, and converts low-resolution video (from legacy consoles or DVDs, for example) to 1080p/4K using industry-leading Qdeo™ upscaling technology. The TX-NR535, meanwhile, has six rear 4K/60 Hz-capable HDMI inputs and one output, and can pass 4K/60 Hz content through to a compatible display. Both feature a USB input supporting most lossless audio formats stored on flash memory devices. A Potent Combination of Performance and Value A small but passionate group of hi-fi veterans, Onkyo has raised the bar yet again by marrying next-generation technology with genuine high-fidelity audio performance, and by keeping its products affordable enough for average people. These two A/V network receivers offer supreme value, performance, and usability at the entry level. The TX-NR535 will be available in March with a suggested retail price of $499 while the TX-NR636 will be available in April at a suggested retail of $699. Change to BD-SP809 streaming services Due to new legislation in North America mandating that closed caption be available on all streaming services, we are no longer able to support Netflix, Vudu or FilmFresh services on the BD-SP809 from shipments beginning January 1, 2014. There may be a timeframe where BD-SP809s with and without these service will be in the market. During this transition timing, if you have purchased a BD-SP809 that does not have Netflix or Vudu on board and would not like to keep due to this reason, please contact Onkyo Product Support at 800-229-1687 for assistance. If you purchased a BD-SP809 that includes these streaming services you should not see any interruption in those services. We apologize for any inconvenience Onkyo Unveils Two Stunning New High-Performance Headphones to Partner iOS Devices Onkyo Expands Headphone Range with iOS-Compatible ES-CTI300 On-Ear and IE-CTI300 In-Ear Models UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Users of Apple mobile devices can now enjoy award-winning Onkyo headphone sound with the convenience of inline controls and mic to make on-the-fly playback adjustments and phone calls easy. The ES-CTI300 on-ear and IE-CTI300 in-ear headphones retain the same brilliant design and specification as the existing four-model range but add a detachable oxygen-free 6N copper cable with iOS-Certified controls. Two versions of the on-ear type will be available. The EC-CTI300(SS) will sport a striking silver finish with premium leatherette earpads while the ES-CTI300(BS) will feature a black finish with matching earpads. All CTI300 model headphones come with a silver (transparent) tangle-resistant cable. The slim three-button cable control offers play/pause, track selection, call accept/reject, and volume functionality and includes a sensitive microphone for clean and clear communication. Its compatible with almost all current and legacy iPod, iPhone, and iPad models. When it came to designing its new headphone line, Onkyo invested almost 70 years engineering experience into translating its signature sound into a portable format, while attempting to replicate the look and feel of its reference hi-fi components. With liberal use of aluminum and clean, stylish lines, both the on-ear and in-ear models successfully introduce high-quality sound to products that are beautifully finished and comfortable to wear. At the heart of the ES-CTI300 on-ear headphones are two 40 mm titanium drivers backed by high-capacity bass chambers encased in lightweight, non-resonant aluminum ear-cups. Combined with the super-conductive 6N cable, a full, pure, and highly detailed sound is produced. Bass response is satisfyingly punchy with the brilliantly clear mid-range sure to win the heart of discerning hi-fi enthusiasts. The IE-CTI300 headphones, meanwhile, use a wide-range 14.3 mm dynamic driver and aluminum/ABS hybrid enclosures to create an engaging and musical performance. Vocals and other mid-range instruments are given plenty of space to breathe. Neutral, but not without personality, these headphones are very light and comfortable to wear and make an ideal partner for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Like all Onkyo headphone models, the ES-CTI300 and IE-CTI300 feature detachable cables with gold-plated MMCX connectors and reinforced, gold-plated stereo plugs, allowing users to easily replace a damaged cable rather than a complete set of headphones. With a total of three main cable options now available (including flat tangle-free elastomer, one-piece 6N copper, and 6N copper with inline control), Onkyo has a portable sound solution for anyone seeking an authentic hi-fi experience on the go. The ES-CTI300 and IE-CTI300 will both be available in December and have suggested retail prices of $199 and $149 respectively. About Onkyo ?Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Onkyo HF Player App Offers Precision Equalizer, 192/24 Playback on iOS Devices UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. In a move that could revolutionize how iOS users enjoy music on headphones and other compatible hi-fi systems, Onkyothe world leader in home theater, hi-fi, and personal audio componentshas announced an innovative HF Player app that enables playback of high-resolution audio files while granting users unprecedented control over how their music sounds. The free, full-featured audio player app features an intuitive interface that includes album artwork display, playback controls, and an organizational structure that will be familiar to any iOS user. Once the app has been pointed to the devices music library via a synch with an iTunes-equipped computer (an auto synch function is included), the user can start exploring the benefits of the phase-linear FIR equalizer, which offers 16,384 discrete bands of equalization with zero loss in audio quality. The user simply shapes their desired frequency curve with a finger on the touchscreen to manipulate bass, mid-bass, mid-range, and treble response. Presets may be created to suit a particular musical genre, artist, album, or pair of headphones and can be saved, swapped, and loaded in moments. Onkyo also enlisted a team of respected musicians to personally design EQ presets optimized specifically for Onkyo in-ear and on-ear headphones. The team comprises Chris Traynor (Helmet, Bush), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Jim Ward (Sparta, At the Drive-in), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Tim Lopez (Plain White Ts) and Steven McMorran (Satellite), along with groups Midi Matilda, Buckcherry, and Strange Talk. The Presets from these artists are included in the app. "Onkyo headphones have an incredible sound for both the studio and for leisure, says Stephen Docker, Lead Singer of Strange Talk. We're also finding out more ways of customizing the sound to fit the different genres we're listening to using the Onkyo EQ app. You should definitely check it out." Additional functionality includes an automatic upsampling function (from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz) and selectable track crossfading. Onkyo hopes the friendly interface and audio flexibility will turn casual listeners, who may have only just begun to rediscover their favorite music with a pair of quality headphones, into budding hi-fi enthusiasts. As their confidence grows, so too does HF Player. Users seeking the ultimate in high-resolution audio performance can make an in-app HF Player Pack purchase (US$9.99) to enable FLAC, DSD, WAV, and AIFF playback of up to 192 kHz with 24-bit sampling (these files are loaded via a simple drag-and-drop operation on an iTunes-equipped PC prior to synchronization). This in-app purchase also enables selectable upsampling from 44.1 kHz to a possible 192 kHz, and an HD phase-linear equalizer with an incredible 20,000 bands of adjustment in 64-bit mode. As well as the flexibility and control offered by the precision FIR equalizer, HF Player introduces SACD (Super Audio CD) and better-than-CD audio quality into the portable domain. Paired with a set of quality headphones, such as Onkyos award-winning ES-HF300 on-ear or IE-HF300 in-ear models, HF Player lets audiophiles enjoy premier high-resolution sound while theyre on the road. The release of the HF Player app demonstrates Onkyos ongoing commitment to portable hi-fi. Complementing the companys growing range of premium on-ear and in-ear headphoneswhich have gathered significant momentum both critically and commercially since their releasethis new app will allow listeners to discover how truly great their personal audio setup can sound. Note: DSD-IFF and DSF formats are converted to PCM before playback. Playback of high-resolution files places high demands on CPU and battery resources. For optimal playback results, Onkyo recommends closing other applications and placing your device on Airplane Mode. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. 11th Onkyo International Braille Essay Contest Onkyo Corporation, an audio and visual equipment manufacture, and the Braille Mainichi (The Mainichi Newspapers) created the "Onkyo Braille Essay Contest" in 2003, and it has been held annually since then. Through this contest, we hope to build a bridge between Braille and sound for the visually disabled who are extremely sensitive to the warmth that connects all people. The 11th contest held this year invited entries from Japan for the Japanese Category as well as entries from 108 countries for the International Category: 21 countries and regions in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) under World Blind Union Asia Pacific (WBU-AP), 21 countries in West Asia, Central Asia, and Middle East under Asian Blind Union (ABU), 45 countries in Europe under European Blind Union (EBU), and 21 countries in North America and the Caribbean under World Blind Union North America and Caribbean (WBU-NAC). As an international essay contest, the event promotes cross-cultural communication and serves as a bridge across an increasingly complex global community. We hope that the lives and thoughts of the visually disabled both at home and overseas will reach readers' hearts and the harmony we create together will resonate throughout society. Firmware updates are now available for the following products. Please check the downloads tab on the product pages or support section for details and update procedure. TX-NR414, HT-RC440, HT-R758 (HT-S6500), TX-NR515, HT-RC460, HT-R791 (HT-S7500), TX-NR616, HT-RC470, TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR1010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR5010 New Additions to the Envision Cinema Line: LS-B50 Soundbar System and LS-T10 TV Speaker System Make Global Debut UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo aims to bring cinematic sound to listening rooms where space or budget preclude use of a multi-speaker surround-sound setup by introducing two additions to its Envision Cinema line with a new soundbar system and an innovative all-in-one TV-base speaker system. The LS-B50 (soundbar with wireless subwoofer) and LS-T10 combine a multi-channel, multi-speaker array with powerful DSP technology to fill rooms with panoramic sound. As well as boosting audio from TV, gaming consoles and media players, these audio systems are among the easiest to use of any on the market requiring only a single digital cable to connect. Operating these units is simplified by using a regular TV remote control since both the LS-B50 and LS-T10 are preprogrammed with IR codes for nine major TV brands and learning ability for others. This feature is also available on the Onkyos initial Envision Cinema offering, the LS-3100. Adding even further value, these products double as a powerful home hi-fi systems with Bluetooth technology for wireless audio streaming via mobile and PC. USB ports are also included to play audio from flash-memory-enabled media players such as smartphones, tablets, and mass storage-class devices. For expansive sound in the living room, bedroom, or kitchen, the LS-B50 pack eight drivers (six full-range drivers and two ring-radiator tweeters) into very compact package. The LS-T10, meanwhile, features a total of six full-range drivers plus an powerful integrated subwoofer and is designed to slip neatly underneath the television base. Both models feature an efficient six-channel digital amplifier with audio output controlled by AuraSphere DSP from Onkyo. Advanced algorithms manage equalization and sound pressure levels in real time to create a realistic 3D immersion field from regular PCM stereo or Dolby® Digital sources. Unlike rival DSP technologies, AuraSphere expands the traditional sweet spot (the area directly in front of the TV where audio sounds best) to create an all-enveloping 3D sound field that places the listener in the center of the action wherever they are in the room. Three sound modes optimize playback of different content, with News Mode cleaning up and projecting dialog more intelligibly, Movie Mode shaping for greater realism and impact, and Music Mode equalizing for a more balanced and engaging listen. The LS-B50 adds a wireless active subwoofer for deep-reaching bass impact from almost anywhere in the room, while the LS-B40 includes a subwoofer pre-out. Wall-mounting kits and IR flashers enable flexible soundbar placement. With the release of the LS-B50, and LS-T10, Onkyo reaffirms its position as the leading supplier of home entertainment solutions to suit every lifestyle and budget, from compact TV audio systems to audiophile-grade 9.2-channel home theater installations. The LS-B50 and LS-T10 Envision Cinema products will both be available in September and have suggested retail prices of $699 and $499 respectively. August 12, 2013 Onkyo Ships New Entry-Level TX-8020 Stereo Receiver UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo is now shipping the TX-8020 to reinvigorate its stereo receiver line, stripping back unnecessary extras and focusing on delivering the rich, full-spectrum analog sound for which the brand is celebrated. The 50 watt per channel TX-8020 is a high quality audio component aimed at users that dont require video switching or A/V processing capabilities, but instead seek a powerful, versatile, and affordable amplification solution for all their home entertainment sources. To best equip it for this role, a total of five analog inputs accept audio from TV, BD/DVD players, CD player, and AirPlay-enabled devices such as Onkyos DS-A5 RI Dock for iPod®/iPhone®/iPad®. An FM/AM tuner with 40-preset memory is also included, while a moving-magnet phono stage caters to the vinyl record collector. Two sets of banana plug-compatible speaker A/B terminals on the rear panel allow the receiver to drive a single pair of 416 Ohm floor-standing or bookshelf loudspeakers (A or B), or two pairs of 816 Ohm speakers (A+B) in a distributed multi-room setup. The TX-8020 also provides a subwoofer pre-out for those looking for an enhanced low end. The TX-8020 recalls the glory days of hi-fi with its bulletproof all-metal construction and clean, functional front panel. And just like the vintage classics, this receiver includes bass, treble, and balance controls to enhance the tonal characteristics of different source material, and to correct for room acoustics or speaker frequency response curves. These carefully designed circuits have no discernable impact on sound quality. At the heart of the TX-8020 Stereo Receiver is Onkyos Wide Range Amp Technology, WRAT, which is based around a high-current, low-impedance drive to handle speaker impedance fluctuations and sudden signal gains. Low-negative-feedback amp circuit topology improves dynamic range while preserving the lifelike quality of the original recording. Left- and right-channel power devices are fully discretenot integrated into a printed circuit boardand closed ground loops are used to cancel circuit noise. This combination of high instantaneous power and low distortion adds up to distinctively accurate and musical sound quality for all kinds of audio content. Onkyo prides itself in creating high-performance products for movie and music fans, with solutions to suit every listening space and budget. This new addition carries Onkyos 65-year hi-fi legacy forward to a new generation of passionate audio enthusiasts. The TX-8020 has a suggested retail price of $199. Firmware updates are now available for the following products. Please check the downloads tab on the product pages or support section for details and update procedure. TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR709, TX-NR809, HT-RC370 Onkyo Launches 9.2-Channel TX-NR929 and 7.2-Channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receivers with Onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology Onkyo Launches 9.2-Channel TX-NR929 and 7.2-Channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receivers with Onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology OSAKA, JAPAN. Onkyo announces the release of a fully loaded 9.2-channel TX-NR929 Network A/V Receiver to crown its mid-range lineup, introducing value-conscious consumers to the visceral thrill of nine-channel entertainment. The all-new model is positioned between the 7.2-channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receiver also on release, and the company’s existing audiophile-grade flagship products. The launch of these two THX® Certified receivers—together with the recently unveiled TX-NR727 Network A/V THX Certified Receiver—marks the 20th anniversary of Onkyo’s collaborative partnership with THX Ltd. Onkyo was one of the first manufacturers to embrace THX quality assurance standards for home theater components, releasing the first-ever THX Certified A/V Receiver in 1994. THX certification is an assurance of the highest quality and performance reserved solely for products that deliver an entertainment experience that's true to the original creator’s intent. THX Certified Onkyo A/V receivers guarantee THX Reference Level volume and audio quality similar to that of commercial cinemas and professional mix rooms. “As one of the first CE partners to help bring the THX Certified cinema experience into the living room, we value Onkyo’s dedication to the THX certification process,” said Peter Vasay, VP technology operations, THX Ltd. “For 20 years Onkyo has collaborated closely with THX engineers through vigorous testing to each THX Certified AVR, all to deliver home theater enthusiasts with the promise of an accurate and powerful audio performance – receivers that preserve artistic integrity and deliver movies and music as intended.” With the widest selection of THX Certified A/V receivers, Onkyo’s TX-NR929 and TX-NR828 are both THX® Select2™ Plus certified, signifying they passed more than 2,000 bench tests, ensuring consumers a best-in-class home theater experience. Onkyo is also among the first to include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology on its entry-level and mid-range A/V receivers, enabling universal wireless audio streaming and adding to an extensive suite of proprietary and licensed technology, including: Built-in Wi-Fi to enable lossless audio streaming from iPhone® and Android devices, as well as app-controllable 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC, Apple Lossless, Dolby® TrueHD, LPCM, and DSD streaming from NAS and personal computer (via network and DLNA) Onboard Bluetooth technology for fast and convenient audio streaming Passthrough of 4K Ultra HD content via HDMI®, and upscaling of lower-resolution video to 4K with Qdeo™ processing technology from Marvell Audyssey’s premium MultEQ XT32® room acoustic equalization on the TX-NR929, and Audyssey MultEQ® on the TX-NR828 Upmixing solutions comprising DTS Neo:X™ (TX-NR929 only), Audyssey DSX®, and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz Nine HDMI inputs (including frontside MHL™) and two outputs (TX-NR929); and eight HDMI in (including MHL) and two out (TX-NR828) The TX-NR929 Network A/V Receiver pushes the boundaries of what is possible from a production home theater, with 11.2 multichannel pre-outs and DTS Neo:X™ upmixing for surround-sound playback through up to 11 channels. If preferred, the user can assign four of the nine available channels to drive audio in Zone 2 and Zone 3 simultaneously. The receiver also has an extra HDMI output for sending high-def video to a second display. Multi-zone entertainment is managed via smartphone app, which encompasses the selection of online streaming services, internet radio channels, and network audio files. As well as having the power to steer high-res movie soundtracks through nine channels at theater-reference volumes, the receiver is loaded with high-end features to optimize two-channel performance. Pre-processing incorporates three 192kHz/24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs (with one stereo DAC per front channel in Differential DAC Mode). Amplification comes courtesy of Onkyo’s WRAT (Wide Range Amp Technology) and discrete Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, a combination that preserves a distinctively musical sound even at high volumes. Audiophiles wishing to bi-amp their front speakers can find performance increases from Onkyo’s proprietary Digital Processing Crossover Network. Digital Signal Processing splits the audio signal very precisely into separate high- and low-frequency signals, feeding them to the appropriate speaker drivers. This all but eliminates frequency overlap at the crossover point for a more transparent stereo image. Delivering a similarly high power output, but through 7.2 channels, is the TX-NR828 Network A/V Receiver—a heavyweight model with an appealing blend of features. Along with 4K passthrough and upscaling, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, and THX certification, the receiver has Audyssey DSX® upmixing and Audyssey MultEQ® room acoustic equalization. A full complement of analog and digital A/V connections—including 7.2 multichannel pre-outs and a phono stage—provide the flexibility for user customization. The receiver offers both Powered Zone 2 outputs and Zone 2/3 line-outs to deliver network audio sources to an existing hi-fi system in third zone. Like its larger sibling, this A/V receiver is very simple to set up and use, with an icon-based overlaid graphical on-screen display and InstaPrevue™ video switching technology. Hybrid Standby, meanwhile, preserves a network connection and HDMI passthrough while the home theater sleeps, allowing the use of TV and media players with the receiver powered down. With the release of these two receivers, Onkyo consolidates its reputation for building lavishly equipped products to a high standard of excellence. Lauded for their immensely powerful yet detailed surround sound, the company’s A/V receivers ensure a stress-free user experience with faster access to media, wherever it might be stored. It’s this dedication to fidelity, functionality, and value that keeps Onkyo on the leading edge. The TX-NR828 and TX-NR929 network receivers will have suggested retail prices of $1099 and $1399 respectively. The TX-NR828 will be available at retail in June while the TX-NR929 will be available in July. About Onkyo ?Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. THX, the THX logo and Select2 are trademarks of THX Ltd. THX and the THX logo are registered in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All rights reserved Onkyo Launches TX-NR727, TX-NR626, and TX-NR525 Network A/V Receivers, HT-S5600 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package Upper Saddle River, NJ: Continuing its reign as the worlds foremost creator of user-focused home entertainment products, Onkyo has unveiled three exciting network A/V receiversalong with an affordable home theater package ideal for first-time buyersfor the 2013 model year, pushing standards for performance and value to unprecedented heights at the entry-level. The respected electronics company continues to forge ahead with enhanced features and functionality with following upgrades announced for its entry-level network A/V receivers: Starting from the TX-NR626, built-in Wi-Fi is supported by a remote app that enables lossless audio streaming from iPhone® and Android-based devices, as well as app-controllable FLAC, Apple Lossless, Dolby® TrueHD, LPCM, and DSD hi-res streaming from NAS and personal computer via network and DLNABeginning with the TX-NR626, built-in Bluetooth technology will enable fast and reliable audio streaming from cellphone, smartphone, tablet, and computerAn expanded selection of music streaming services and internet radio providers (including Spotify, TuneIn Radio, and Last.fm) selectable via remote app4K Ultra HD passthrough via HDMI® from media players and projectors (all three models) and Qdeo 4K video upscaling technology (TX-NR626 and TX-NR727)Upgraded Audyssey MultEQ® room acoustic correction to equalize and calibrate subwoofers as well as satellites.As the most powerful model on release, the THX® Select2 Plus-certified TX-NR727 Network A/V Receiver drives through 7.2 channels equipped with Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, making it an ideal choice for filling larger rooms with studio reference surround sound. The receiver offers Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey DSX® upmixing, and Whole House Mode for distributed audio in up to three zones. Eight HDMI inputs include MHL support for 1080p video from smartphone and tablet, while two HDMI outputs are featured to connect a projector and TV display. Harnessing technology and making it easier to use is always a major priority, and to this end, InstaPrevue video switching technology and an elegantly simple HDMI-powered user interface are included. Remote app control, meanwhile, extends across three zones, supporting audio streaming from the local network and making it easy to search for the albums, playlists, and internet radio channels available through the receiver. Users searching for exemplary audio-video performance on a tighter budget may consider the formidable TX-NR626 Network A/V Receiver. Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitrya sophisticated amp topology designed for high-energy output with minimal distortionis present on the front and center channels. The TX-NR626 is suited to playing multi-channel movie soundtracks and two-channel music with a high degree of transparency. 4K Ultra HD video passthrough and upscalingplus built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologyreflect the exceptional value of this fully featured A/V receiver. With a useful amount of power, network connectivity, and streaming service implementationalong with provision for Bluetooth technology and wireless LAN via optional adaptersthe 5.2-channel TX-NR525 Network A/V Receiver is a strong contender at the entry level. Six HDMI inputs, Audyssey MultEQ®, InstaPrevue technology, and Hybrid Standby (which maintains HDMI and network connectivity) are practical inclusions to streamline, simplify, and optimize the home theater system for everyday use. For users seeking the convenience and performance of a professionally calibrated home theater system, Onkyo offers the HT-S5600 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package. Newly compatible with the UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter, the included receiver boasts Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey 2EQ® equalization for immersive surround sound. Multizone support via Powered Zone2 connections is also available on the powerful package. The eight-piece speaker set employs high-performance OMF drivers in the two-way front and center speakers, and an efficient yet punchy 120 W active subwoofer. All models presented here are endowed with class-leading audio pre-processing and proprietary WRAT (Wide Range Amp Technology). This key to this acclaimed technology lies in Onkyos low-negative-feedback amplifier topology, which extracts the full dynamic potential in the recording. High instantaneous current capability, meanwhile, provides a deep reservoir of power to handle the sudden dynamic gains common to movie soundtracks, while noise-canceling closed ground-loop circuits assist with the clean and clear delivery for which the Onkyo brand is celebrated. From its roots in two-channel hi-fi, and pioneering contribution to multi-channel home theater, Onkyo is now leading the way toward house-wide entertainment systems driven by powerful A/V processing hubs. Rapid innovation is leading to better-equipped products at all levels of the market, allowing consumers to enjoy the life-changing benefits of the digital revolution. The TX-NR525, TX-NR-626 and TX-NR727 network receivers will have suggested retail prices of $499, $599 and $899 respectively, and the HT-S5600 home theater system will have suggested retail prices of $599. The TX-NR525, TX-NR626 and HT-S5600 will be available at retail in April while the TX-NR727 will be available in May. About Onkyo : Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Firmware update for TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 A firmware update is available for the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818. This update is available via USB only. The update 1) Improves picture output of 1080p/24 sources; 2) Improves the playback stability of FLAC files via Network/USB and 3) Corrects the sound leak issue between Main and powered Zone2/3 when activating Powered Zones. Information can be found in the download section and product pages on onkyousa.com. Onkyo Headphones Take Component-Quality Audio on the Road LAS VEGAS (1/8/13) -- Onkyo, the world's foremost manufacturer of home theater and hi-fi components, has entered a new product category with the introduction of headphones at the Consumer Electronics Show, which opened here today. The company has focused its vast engineering talent on producing a range of headphones that offer users an authentic hi-fi experience on the go. As smartphone sales continue to skyrocket, interest in headphones is at an all-time high. Onkyo aims to introduce this generation of listeners to component-quality sound with headphones they can comfortably take on the road. Considerable time and resources were spent tuning these new models, with Onkyo's research and development team committed to extracting the best dynamic performance from an all-new titanium driver design. They all include detachable and replaceable cables to economically resolve user mishaps. Two closed-back on-ear models will be first to hit storesthe ES-HF300, which features a audiophile-grade cable, and the ES-FC300, packaged with a tangle-free elastomer cable. These folding on-ear headphones bring listeners closer to genuine hi-fi performance. Two wide-range 40 mm titanium drivers deliver stunning clarity in the mid- and high-frequency bands. Onkyo's unique ported bass sub-chambers, meanwhile, help define a deep, muscular bottom-end response. The aluminum driver housing (shaped to resemble the volume control on Onkyo's hi-fi and A/V components) and single aluminum hanger presents a clean, understated profile. Onkyo is offering the ES-HF300 with a 6N oxygen-free copper cable encased in clear elastomer, providing almost perfect conductivity while keeping touch noise to a minimum. Gold-plated MMCX connectors and mini-stereo plug reflect the highest build standards. The ES-FC300 is available in three striking finishes: black with a red cable, white with a white cable, and violet with a violet cable. It features an elastomer cable with a flattened cross-section to minimize tanglesa feature that essentially eliminates a common annoyance to real-world headphone enthusiasts.. Both the high-quality copper and flat elastomer cables will be available for separate sale should the user wish to upgrade or seek a replacement, thereby extending the life of the product. Two aluminum in-ear modelsthe IE-HF300 and IE-FC300are scheduled for release over the coming months. Powered by a 14.3 mm dynamic transducer, these in-ear headphones balance silky bass with an open and natural mid range. The IE-HF300 is packaged with audiophile-grade 6N copper cable, while the IE-FC300 comes with red, violet, or white tangle-free elastomer cable. Also in the development pipeline is a powerful headphone equalizer app for smartphone and tablet, allowing users to quickly and precisely adjust frequency response to suit their personal taste. The app is designed to partner Onkyo's headphone line, granting smartphone and tablet users unparalleled control over their audio. Onkyo is a trailblazing force in the home entertainment industry, anticipating market trends with intelligent, user-focused products. These new releases join a stable of acclaimed audio and A/V components, and will introduce more music lovers to the iconic Onkyo sound. The Onkyo ES-HF300 and ES-FC300 will have suggested retail prices of $179 and $149 respectively, and IE-HF300 and IE-FC300 will have suggested retail prices of $129 and $99. They will be available in the first quarter of 2013. Firmware update available for the BD-SP309 and BD-SP809 10/26/12 - A firmware update is now available for the BD-SP309 and BD-SP809. This update is available via ethernet connection or USB. The update procedure and USB files are available on the product pages or support section of onkousa.com. The latest version of the firmware for the BD-SP809 is 1.83.00, and it improves the playability of certain DVD discs. The update for the BD-SP309 improves playability of particular Blu-ray discs Onkyo Announces EnvisionCinema A Stylishly Compact TV Speaker System with SRS Processing Technology and Bluetooth Wireless Audio UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of audio and audio-video entertainment products, proudly announces the release of EnvisionCinema LS3100, an exciting 2.1-channel powered speaker package designed to improve the audio performance of modern flat-panel TVs with SRS audio enhancement and Bluetooth wireless streaming technology. The system consists of a slim 20-watt digital amplifier unit to power the two dual-drive speakers, and an active wireless down-firing subwoofer. EnvisionCinema comes pre-programmed for control with most TV remotes, with learning ability for the few models it might not immediately recognize. This means the Onkyo system switches on and off automatically with the TV, and responds to the volume commands of the television remote. Two full-range drivers are installed in each sculpted speaker cabinet. Clever removable speaker stands enable a wide variety of mounting positions on the wall or entertainment unit. Thanks to collaboration with SRS audio research labs, the EnvisionCinema system employs TruVolume, a dynamic control solution to equalize the irritating volume fluctuations in TV programming; and WOW HD, an audio processing technology that generates a more expansive soundstage. Dialog Mode, meanwhile, renders voices more intelligibly in the mixgreat for movies, news, and TV programs. Combined with the powered subwooferwhich can be positioned anywhere in the room thanks to its wireless Bluetooth technologyusers can bid farewell to the days of thin TV sound, and revel in the extraordinary sonic capabilities of this stylish and efficient system. Like all Onkyo products, the EnvisionCinema system is replete with up-to-the-minute features. Bluetooth Version 2.1 +EDR allows the user to stream music from compatible devices, such as most cell phone, smart phone and tablet brands, and a wide selection of laptops and personal computers. The convenience of wireless streaming from portable devicesand the high-quality sound this package is capable of deliveringwill be persuasive factors for astute buyers maximizing their home entertainment budgets. Presented in a sleek and contemporary package, EnvisionCinema finds fertile ground between dedicated multi-channel home theater systems and other prohibitively expensive two-channel options. Onkyo brings more than 60 years audio experience to the table when designing new products, forging partnerships with other industry heavyweights to ensure that any specialist technology featured is the very best available. From the companys audiophile-grade A/V receivers down to its most affordable personal stereo systems, fans around the world recommend Onkyo as the go-to brand for home entertainment. The Onkyo EnvisionCinema LS3100 will be available in November with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo Introduces iLunar a Slick New Six-Channel Bluetooth Docking System with Sonic Emotion 3D Sound Processing UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Onkyo, a company known for its ability to anticipate market trends and capitalize on the latest technology, announces the release of a six-channel Bluetooth and iPod/iPhone docking solution featuring remarkable new 3D sound processing technology. The personal audio system places the listener center stage, immersing them in high quality sound no matter where they are located in the room. While the RBX-500 iLunar Dock Music System represents a departure from the conventional mini systems within the companys lineup, customers can expect the same outstanding audio performance and build quality that has made Onkyo a globally respected name in hi-fi. With the iLunar, traditional stereophonic sound is taken a step further using an arrangement of six full-range drivers positioned above a down-firing subwoofer. Rather than using two channels to create a centralized sweet spot in front of the speakers, a processing chip from Swiss audio research company Sonic Emotion radiates the sound in all directions, creating the impression of stereo sound wherever the listener is located. To achieve the effect of being right in the middle of a stereophonic sweet spot, the processor applies a system of equalization filters and delays to all six channels. Through a process known as wave field synthesis, the technology is able to render a 3D audio image, creating an impression for the listener of being on stage or in the studio with the musicians. The iLunar is perfect for those with busy lifestyles. Users can dock their iPod or iPhoneor use the Bluetooth function to stream from almost any smart phone, tablet, or PCand enjoy immersive entertainment while going about their day. With the expanded bandwidth capabilities of Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, enjoying quality sound with the convenience of wireless streaming is now a reality. Furthermore, the recharging dock for iPod and iPhone ensures signals are transferred from the device in digital format, rather than analog form, for cleaner, more expansive sound. The dock is a recharging type, allowing the user to top off the battery while they listening to music, ready when they are back on the move. A USB port is also included for charging many other types of smart phone or tablet, even as the device streams music wirelessly. The iLunar features a powerful and efficient digital amplifier to drive six speakers and the subwoofer. Without the need for a bulky heat sink, the audio system can be made smaller and lighter, making it ideal for use in areas where space is limited. Onkyo has long been admired for its unique approach to audio design and engineering. In addition to placing a strong emphasis on technological innovation, the company insists on superlative build standards, functional yet elegant design, and above all, extremely good sound quality. So whether the user listens to music while on the go around the house or alone and without distraction, the iLunar rewards with refreshing and realistic audio performance. Its another in a long line of boldly inventive products from a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries of home entertainment technology. The Onkyo RBX-500 iLunar will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $249. Onkyo Introduces Network HiFi Mini System with Outstanding Internet Radio Access UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) --Onkyo has introduced the CS-N755 Network HiFi Mini System, a compact bookshelf music system and speakers designed to provide state-of-the-art audio entertainment from Internet Radio, streaming music from smartphones, tablets, and computers via USB, wireless streaming with an optional USB Bluetooth Adaptor, FM/AM radio, and Compact Disc. The CS-N755 uses Onkyo's premium Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) with symmetrical circuit design and three-stage inverted Darlington Circuitry. Two high-quality two-way bass reflex speakers, each with a 5-inch Onkyo Micro Fiber woofer and 1-inch soft dome tweeter, provide outstanding sound performance. A rear-panel Ethernet port is used for internet access. There are pre-loaded online channels for Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, Sirius Internet Radio, last.fm, aupeo!, and vTuner. It is DNLA Certified and supports MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, and WMA Lossless. The front-panel USB ports supports iPod/iPhone as well as flash drives and hard discs. With the optional USB Bluetooth Adaptor users can stream wirelessly from Apple and Android devices. The CS-N755 can also be operated using Onkyo's free Remote control Apps for iPhone and Android. The Onkyo CS-N755 Network HiFi Mini System will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo Debuts CD/Bluetooth HiFi Mini System in Three Colors UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) --With three colors to choose from, white, black, and red, the Onkyo CS-355 Colibrino CD HiFi Mini System is a compact stylish solution to getting great sound from CDs, radio, and music streamed from an iPod, iPhone or any other device that can communicate via Bluetooth or USB. Ideal for use in a bedroom, dorm, office, or kitchen, the Colibrino comes with a pair of high-performance two-way speakers and a hand-held remote control. The drawer-type CD player protects discs and can play MP3 CD, CD-R, and CD-RW, in addition to conventional Red Book CDs. A quality FM/AM tuner with thirty presets keeps you in-touch with local news and music. The player uses Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR supports wireless audio playback with aptX®, SBC, and AAC Codecs. The front-panel USB supports playback and recharging for compatible iDevices, and playback of USB memory devices. The Onkyo CS-355 Colibrino will be available in September with a suggested retail price of $329. Onkyo to Create a New Generation of Audiophiles with Affordable New Integrated Amplifier UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Demonstrating its commitment to providing exceptionally good sound quality at all levels of the market, Onkyo is pleased to announce a new addition to its range of high quality stereo separates, the A-9050. The A-9050 amplifier features WRAT amplification boosted by Onkyos Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry. And, for the first time at this price point, the A-9050 is graced with premium DIDRC dynamic noise reduction technology. It is rated at 75 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load. The A-9050 follows the A-9070 stereo amplifier in the Onkyo integrated lineupa high-end model that was released last year to universal acclaim. The A-9050 is built around a practically bulletproof 1.6 mm anti-resonant metal chassis with aluminum faceplates. Two large capacitors and a high-output EI transformer drive current through the amplifying circuit and discrete triple-transistor output stage for an open and musical performance. Solid copper bus bars provide each individual circuit with a unique link to the power supply, significantly reducing circuit noise compared to conventional circuit designs. As an integrated amplifier, the A-9050 employs one of the most talented pre-amps in its category, with a powerful Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DAC module and DIDRC technology to cleanse signals of super-high-frequency noise and pulse interference that otherwise affects audio purity. Gold-plated RCA inputs and banana plug-compatible speaker posts also work to improve clarity. Another unique feature found on this amplifier is Onkyos new PM Bass technology, which counters audio phase shifting by matching the phases of low- and mid-frequency sound waves, thereby improving mid-range clarity and enhancing bass response. The A-9050 feature five analog inputs and one output each, while the more powerful model of the pair adds three digital inputs for lossless PC audio (one optical, two coaxial). The user can connect a compatible CD player and tuner, and if desired, a tape deck. Naturally, a quality MM phono input and a subwoofer output are also included. With the release of this new integrated amplifier, Onkyo hopes to make quality component audio a realistic proposition for a greater number of people. As the initial building blocks of a first hi-fi system, or to renew an existing setup, the A-9050 will reignite the listeners passion for music, creating a whole new generation of Onkyo fans in the process. The Onkyo A-9050 integrated amplifier will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo and Sonic Emotion Team Up to Release Music System with Absolute 3D Sound Technology OSAKA, JAPAN. Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of home entertainment products, and Sonic Emotion, the pioneering Swiss audio company, have collaborated to create the iLunara music system that produces a convincing 3D sound field from stereo sources. Onkyo welcomed the opportunity to work with Sonic Emotion on an audio system that places the listener center stageirrespective of their location within the roomusing the companys patented Absolute 3D sound processing technology. We are delighted to release the new iLunar, which was jointly developed with Sonic Emotion, said Mr. Nobuaki Okuda, CTO of Onkyo Corporation. Over the last few years, weve been working on creating some exciting new Listening Style Audio systems, and we are gratified by the favorable response in markets around the world. We believe we can continue to provide a dynamic listening experience to customers with our iLunar, which features Absolute 3D sound technology. With our Value Creation concept, we provide a new value proposition to our customers. We will continue to work hard to introduce products and services with the power to move, Mr Okuda said. Absolute 3D works by locating sound objects within a stereo mix, recreating their original positions using the iLunars loudspeaker array. Together with Onkyos audio engineering mastery, the technology allows listeners to experience natural, immersive sound from anywhere in the room. Partnering with Onkyo to create, develop and launch iLunar with our Absolute 3D sound technology has been an incredible experience, said Rajeev Kapur, CEO of Sonic Emotion. Onkyos history of providing consumers with innovative, high-quality products mirrors Sonic Emotions dedication to providing a sound experience that is second to none, further confirming Sonic Emotion's technology as the best solution for manufacturers. About Onkyo Onkyo has been producing precision audio components for more than 60 years. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the digital media revolution. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.intl.onkyo.com About Sonic Emotion Founded in 2002, Sonic Emotion is the world leader in 3D sound entertainment solutions for consumer electronics and professional applications. Beginning with sound technologies originally developed for large venues, Sonic Emotion holds a number of worldwide patents and is established as the leader in research and application of audio processing technologies. Sonic Emotion applied its expertise in the field to offer a scaled-down version of the technology to meet the demands of consumers. Sonic Emotion Absolute 3D solutions have been included in a growing number of home entertainment electronic products sold worldwide, including sound bars, towers, DAB radios, docking stations, and mobile phone applications. Sonic Emotions first consumer mobile app, Headquake®, was launched in January 2012 as a dynamic listening experience on the go. For more information, visit www.sonicemotion.com A firmware update is now available for the TX-NR515, TX-NR616, HT-RC460 and HT-S7500. Update is available via Ethernet connection or via USB. The update improves operation of "Power on" of remote control. TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 Firmware Notification Onkyo takes very seriously any problem experienced by our fans and customers. The issues on the TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 were experienced by a very small number of consumers (less than .3%) which made isolating the problem very difficult for our engineering staff. Nevertheless, we have been burning the midnight oil to fix the issue and expect to have a firmware update next week. There will be full details on our website. As always, we are here to support our consumers 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a knowledgeable and caring support team in New Jersey and Nashville. Sincerely, Onkyo Unveils Three High-End A/V Receivers, Including the Magnificent New TX-NR5010 Flagship UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (6/27/12) -- Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of home theater and hi-fi equipment, announces the release of three new models at the top of its A/V receiver line for 2012. The lineup includes the world's first full 11.1-channel implementation of DTS Neo:X, and the first use of Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology in an audio/video component. This release includes a new lavishly outfitted nine-channel flagship, the stunning TX-NR5010 Network A/V Receiver; a more moderately priced nine-channel alternative, the TX-NR3010 Network A/V Receiver; and lastly, a high-power seven-channel solution, the value-packed TX-NR1010 Network A/V Receiver. Onkyo invests considerable resources in research and development each year to find innovative ways to enhance the performance, quality and value of its products. When beneficial, the company also forms strategic alliances with external partners to source specialty technology that enhances the product. The fruit of this investment is clearly evident in these three new releases, with an across-the-board focus on high performance technology: THX® Ultra2 Plus certification to recreate the cinematic experience with dynamic Reference Level sound to larger home theaters up to 85 cubic meters in size and a viewing distance of approximately 3.5 meters 11.4-channel pre-outs with DTS Neo:X 11-channel upmixing support for both the TX-NR5010 and TX-NR3010, another world first for Onkyo First consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 room equalization with multi-channel upmixing from DTS Neo:X, Audyssey DSX®, and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz An additional HDMI® output to enable 1080p playback in a second zone InstaPrevue picture-in-picture video input preview and selection technology Front-panel Mobile High-Definition Link HDMI port for phone/camcorder Extra HDMI inputs to support 3D Video plus Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (8+1 inputs on all three models) Bluetooth 3.0 and aptX® wireless audio streaming via optional adapter With Ethernet for access to preloaded audio streaming channels such as Spotify, and connectivity for smart phones, tablets, and PC via DLNA or Bluetooth, these receivers are designed for seamless integration into users digital lifestyles and to distribute entertainment throughout the home. Because of the importance of superior usability in the connected home, Onkyo has been working with Cisco to incorporate SimpleTap that delivers better experiences to mutual broader set of customers. With the inclusion in these three high-end receivers, Onkyo becomes the first company to integrate SimpleTap technology into CE products. Firmware updates will be available to enable all 2012 Onkyo Network enabled receivers to take advantage of this new technology. "We share the vision that the connected home should be simple and enjoyable, and we are proud to be the first consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology into our new AV receivers," said Nobuaki Okuda, president, Onkyo Sound & Vision Corporation. "SimpleTap really simplifies how our new 2012 AV receiver can be connected to the network, so people can instantly enjoy their favorite tunes from music streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify, SiriusXM Internet Radio and many other services." HDMI connectivity has also been enhanced by adding Zone2 HDMI connectivity that removes the need for a secondary analog connection in order to access audio in a second zone. Powered audio is available in up to three zones simultaneouslywith multi-zone playback and setting controls managed by remote app. The receivers primary role, however, is always at the heart of the home theater system, as well as providing transcendent stereo playback for music. As audio and video processors, these three receivers are unrivalled in their respective categories. To conjure up the signature Onkyo sound, audio signals are passed through a sophisticated digital-to-analog conversion stage, with PLL jitter-cleaning, VLSC noise-mitigation, and top-quality TI Burr-Brown DAC modules working to create a pristine analog waveform. Signals are then amplified through discrete Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, with a triple transistor array that cuts distortion and boosts current flow to the speakers. This innovative amplifier design capitalizes on the unique benefits offered by a low negative feedback topology, preserving the life, vitality, and realism of the audio as it was originally recorded. Outputted through discrete transistors, the resulting sound further burnishes Onkyos reputation as the masters of high fidelity audio. For optimum video performance, all three models feature Onkyos Dual Core Video Enginehailed as the best video processing system currently available. This system pairs the mighty HQV® Vida VHD1900 module with Marvells Qdeo technology for seamless upscaling to 4K. ISF video calibration further enhances smooth and vivid picture quality. The flagship TX-NR5010 is aimed squarely at the avid home theater enthusiast. As part of the THX certification promise, this receiver is designed to deliver the highest audio and video quality for an unsurpassed home cinema experience right out of the box. Housed in a rigid chassis with separate anti-resonant aluminum top and side panels, the unit has a massive toroidal transformer supported by two discrete transformers for audio and video processing. With gold-plated audio terminals and speaker posts, this unit is fastidiously outfitted to audiophile-grade specifications. Like its slightly more powerful sibling, TX-NR3010 also boasts multiple transformers for A/V processing, but features a heavy-duty EI transformer in place of toroidal power. All models feature isolated power and preamp blocks to reduce interference with super-rigid chassis to prevent vibration. A new Differential DAC Mode and Digital Crossover Processing Network are also included on all three models to optimize performance when bi-wiring and bi-amping the front channelsfurther demonstrating Onkyos commitment to audiophile-level sound. With everything from an analog video input for PC to a generous mix of optical and coaxial digital audio inputs, all three models boast an exhaustive the list of A/V connections. In addition to the capacity to link with an iPhone®, iPod®, or flash memory device, these models include two USB ports in the front and rear to accommodate the UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter and UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter (sold separately). Onkyo made these heavyweights not only the best-looking, best-finished A/V receivers on the market, but also the easiest to set up and use. The 1080p overlaid display with Quick Set-Up function enables fast mid-program adjustment, while remote control apps for Android-powered phones and iPhone offer access to system settings, as well as playback control from anywhere in the home. The descendents of a long line of award-winning A/V products, these three unique receivers are a triumph of imagination and engineering, and demonstrate Onkyo's commitment to keeping pace with dynamic and evolving technology while faithfully maintaining its traditional insistence on build quality and complete audio integrity. The Onkyo TX-NR5010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR1010 receivers will be available in July with suggested retail prices of $2999, $2299 and $1799, respectively. A firmware update will be available from 6/8 for the following models: TX-NR414, TX-NR515, TX-NR616, TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 *******IMPORTANT NOTICE**** WITH THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE YOUR RECEIVER WILL BE RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS. INITIAL SET-UP MUST BE PERFORMED AGAIN INCLUDING AUDYSSEY CALIBRATION. PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF YOUR SETTINGS AND PASSWORDS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS UPDATE. This firmware version corrects the unexpected instances where a portion of the internal memory may stop working. If your receiver is connected to your home network you will see the firmware update information on your TV tomorrow (6/8/2012). You may also download the firmware update from the Onkyo website via USB. The update will be available on our website tomorrow (6/8/12). Onkyo Mid-Range AVRs Deliver High-End Performance UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (3/26/12) --- Onkyo, widely regarded as the most innovative manufacturer of home theater technology, has introduced two new feature-packed mid-line audio-video receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 are 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receivers that offer an exciting mix of advanced networking technology, high performance video and THX®-certified sound quality. For the home theater enthusiast who sees no need to compromise, the TX-NR818 offers the audio calibration capabilities of Audyssey MultEQ® XT32, three surround processing modes including DTS Neo:X, and the unmatched picture quality provided by Onkyo's Dual Core Video Engine. The Dual Core Video Engine combines the power of an HQV® Vida VHD 1900 video processor core to generate smooth, accurate 1080p upscaling and enhancement of lower-quality content, with the performance of the Marvel Qdeo processor, which can upscale 1080p content to four times that resolution. Additionally, the TX-NR818's Dual Core Video Engine offers video calibration to ISF standards, so the user can enjoy breathtaking TV color accuracy. On the TX-NR717, the Marvel Qdeo provides upscaling of all sources to 1080p and 4K. This year, Onkyo is the first AVR brand to offer the new InstaPrevue and MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) technologies, and both are available on these new receivers. InstaPrevue displays video thumbnails representing available content on devices connected via HDMI, which greatly simplifies the process of switching HDMI sources. The front-panel MHL HDMI® port allows users to easily connect and play high-resolution media stored on compatible smart phones with seven channels of surround sound. The Onkyo TX-NR818 includes Audyssey MultEQ XT32 that adjusts the listening room with data gathered from more than 10,000 control points across eight listening positions. This receiver also includes three surround ambience expansion systems, DTS Neo:X, Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey DSX®. As found on Onkyos high-end models, DTS Neo:X incorporates Front Wide or Front Height channels along with incredibly realistic listening modes to maximize the game, music, and movie experience. The TX-NR717 features Audyssey DSX for Wide Channels and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for Heights, as well as multi-channel expansion of stereo sources and uses Audyssey 2EQ for room calibration. Both receivers earn THX® Select 2 Plus certification with enhancements to Onkyos exclusive WRAT concept. Distortion is all but eliminated by the use of three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, with power supplied by a massive high-power transformer. Both units feature Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all seven channels while the TX-NR818 adds PLL jitter-cleaning circuits to further improve signal quality, as well as isolated power amp and pre-amp blocks. The TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 lead the field in connectivity, with eight HDMI inputs (one front, and seven rear) and two outputs. HDMI implementation enables 3D video support, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD audio decoding. These receivers feature an Audio Return Channel over HDMI, allowing the playback of broadcast TV with surround sound. New 1080p, high-resolution GUI (Graphical User Interface) offers an overlaid Quick Setup menu that provides access to frequently used settingsideal for quick mid-program adjustments. Onkyos home networking execution is beyond compare, with online sources that are easy to set up and fast to access. Users can connect using a LAN cable, or add an optional UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter to the rear-side USB port, leaving the front-panel USB free for an iPod®, iPhone®, or flash memory device. In addition to a vast selection of internet radio channels, and music streaming from Spotify and AUPEO!, users can enjoy their personal cloud-based music collections via MP3tunes with powerful home theater sound. Ethernet connectivity also enables playback of music from PC or media server, and simplifies periodic firmware updates. With the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818, integrated house-wide entertainment is a reality, with three-room audio distribution via dedicated line-outs, or by allocating surround channel outputs designed for the purpose. Amplification of audio signals is easily switched to either of two zones equipped with stereo speakers. Playback control across multiple roomsalong with access to all major home theater settingsis available from anywhere in the house using the Remote App 2 for iPhone, or Onkyo Remote App for Android phone. Both receivers include a comprehensive selection of digital and analog A/V connections, and offer front-channel bi-amping. Furthermore, the TX-NR818 boasts an onboard Digital Crossover Processing Network to cancel frequency interference when bi-wiring loudspeakers. This model also has 9.2-channel pre-outs if the user wishes to use the receiver as a nine-channel processor. In the coming months, Onkyo will introduce its UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adapter to significantly upgrade the ability of its network receivers to interact with a wide variety of hand-held electronic devices. There will also be a new iOs remote control app that will enable music streaming from an iPod/iPhone to an Onkyo network receiver, and also the company's first remote app for the Kindle Fire. These receivers are well suited to powering an existing home theater setup, or as a centerpiece around which a magnificent new system can be built. With the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818, Onkyo delivers the kind of features and performance that keeps the everyday user at the cutting edge of home theater technology. The Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 will be available in May with suggested retail prices of $ 999.00 and $1,199.00, respectively. Sudden Shut down and or Static Noise from speaker Dear Valued Customers, We have discovered that some components used in a limited number of products manufactured between November 2011 and January 2012 do not comply with the high quality required for use in Onkyo products. As a result, these products may exhibit one of or both of the following phenomenon: - When powering on the unit, the unit will turn on then turn off automatically - Static Noise emitted from speakers at low volume level (The above mentioned phenomenon are not safety related) Affected Onkyo Models: TX-SR309 TX-NR609 TX-NR709 TX-NR809 TX-NR1009 TX-NR5009 (HT-R390) HT-S3400 (TX-NR609) HT-S7409 & HT-S8409 Please click on the following link for more information on whether your unit will require service support: Check Serial Number Or, You may also contact our Product Support Team at (800) 229-1687, select option 3, to speak with one of our Product Support Representatives to confirm that your product is part of this limited production lot in need of service. If the serial number of your product is identified as possibly being impacted by either of the above issue(s), you will be provided with the opportunity to request a prepaid return label or if necessary; box, packing and prepaid return label. Your unit will ship to the ONKYO Service Center that will be providing the service support at no cost to you. Once repairs are completed your unit will be shipped back to you. ONKYO is committed to delivering best in class performance, superior build quality and exceptional customer service. Your complete satisfaction is our number 1 priority. We greatly appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this issue may cause. ONKYO USA Corporation This issue will be handled for Onkyo customers residing in one of the States of the United States (including the District of Columbia) or one of the Territories in Canada even if you are out of warranty.** Onkyo Home Theater Packages Ace the Entry-Level UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) -- Home theater specialist, Onkyo, has assembled two class-leading packaged home theater systems for the first round of its 2012 model introductions. Each system combines a high-value audio video receiver with a matched set of home theater speakers to take the guesswork out of purchasing an entry-level surround sound system. The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package offers outstanding audio performance, abundant HDMI® connectivity, and unbeatable value for money. Users seeking to power larger rooms might consider investing in the step-up HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package, which includes an Audyssey room acoustic correction system and an upgraded speaker package. Four HDMI inputs on both receivers facilitate Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high-resolution soundtrack decoding. HDMI implementation also supports an Audio Return Channel for TV audio through the home theater system, 3D video, and an overlaid on-screen display. Both receivers also feature a frontside USB port for direct digital connection of an iPod®, iPhone®, or music-filled flash memory device. Users can control playback using the system remote, and enjoy improved sound quality thanks to Onkyos onboard advanced music optimizer system. The A/V receivers included in this release now come equipped with WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology), a proven amplification concept that reduces signal noise and provides large amounts of controlled power instantaneously. Top-quality TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all channels, a powerful 32-bit DSP processing chip, and discrete output-stage componentsnot inexpensive all-in-one amplifier chipscontribute to exceptionally good audio performance. The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package consists of the HT-R391 A/V receiver, two high-gloss bass reflex front speakers, two satellite surrounds, and a powerful bass reflex center speaker. A subwoofer with 8-inch (20 cm) down-firing cone is also included to add impact to movie scores and game soundtracks. Users can step up to seven-channel surround with the higher-powered HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package. With Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expanding any audio source to include two additional Front Height channels, users can enjoy a more detailed and realistic entertainment experience. A carefully matched Onkyo speaker set delivers clear, dynamic audio reproduction. Two-way front speakers feature a 5-inch (12 cm) OMF Diaphragm woofer for fast and accurate mid-range response, plus a balanced-dome tweeter for well-separated highs. The center speaker has twin cone woofers and tweeter, while the four bass reflex satellite speakers feature a single full-range driver. A gloss-finished 120 W powered subwoofer allows the receiver to operate more efficiently by concentrating all its power on the mid-range and upper-end frequencies. To ensure a perfect install, an Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction system with microphone is included, while Audysseys Dynamic EQ® loudness correction and Dynamic Volume® guarantee a smooth, consistent performance regardless of sudden changes in dynamic levels. For users making their first foray into the world of home theater, these two packages offer simple installation, stress-free operation, and sparkling performance. The attractive price points may even prompt many current home theater owners to invest in a second surround sound system for another room in the home. With this release, Onkyo demonstrates its commitment to providing superior audio and state-of-the-art features at all levels of the home entertainment market. Both the Onkyo HT-S5500 and HT-S3500 will be available in March at suggested retail prices of $649 and $399 respectively. Onkyo Redefines Entry Level with 4 Heavy-Hitting AVRs UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) -- Onkyo, the leader in home theater technology, has announced the first four new AV receivers for its 2012 line, including three with network capability, including one with THX certification. All have USB connections and additional HDMI® inputs. The line also includes the world's first AV receivers to employ Silicon Image's InstaPrevue and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies. Furthermore, the three network capable models are the world's first AVRs to include music 'cloud server' access via MP3tunes. The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver. Onkyo's powerful WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is now implemented throughout the line. This low negative-feedback topology reduces signal noise and guarantees superb performance with minimal distortion. Even the entry model TX-SR313, Onkyo now uses this discrete-component output stage rather than lower cost integrated circuit amplifiers. The TX-NR616 is most powerful model in this release, and it is backed by a THX® Select2 Plus guarantee of cinema-quality sound. Achieving this demanding certification standard for audio quality is made possible partly by the use of Onkyos three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry. The TX-NR616, along with the TX-NR515 and TX-NR414 are the world's first to include InstaPrevue, which provides on-screen video thumbnails to show the content currently available on HDMI-connected components making input source selection easy. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 are also the first to include MHL, an interface protocol that facilitates the playback of 1080p video and stills with 7.1 channels of surround sound over HDMI from MHL compatible smartphones and other portable devices. Whether using the hard-wired Ethernet connection or wireless networking via an optional Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter, these network receivers allow users to enjoy a vast selection of internet radio stations, stream from services such as Spotify or MP3tunes 'Cloud' services or connect to computers and other devices on the network. Users can control all network AVRs with an iPod touch®/iPhone® or Android phone with a free Remote App. A slick GUI makes setting up, controlling input sources, and streaming music from the handset (Android phone only) a stress-free experience. The front-panel USB port on all four receivers also provides a direct digital connection of an iPod®/iPhone® or flash-memory device. The TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 have an additional USB port on the rear panel that can be used for the optional UWF-1 adapter leaving the front-side USB free for iPod and iPhone. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also offer superior video performance thanks to on-board Qdeo processing technology by Marvell. This provides analog video upscaling to 1080p, and up to 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) scaling when used with a compatible 4K display. When it comes to home theater audio, these two 7.2 channel models feature Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expansion to incorporate Front Height channels, and to convert stereo sources to surround sound. The TX-NR616 also includes Audyssey DSX expansion for additional Height channels. Both systems provide a more realistic movie or gaming experience. Users can also connect two subwoofers via parallel pre-outs in a 7.2-channel set-up. Naturally, Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction ensures the best possible performance in any listening space. To help support the increasing numbers of HDMI devices available, Onkyo has given the TX-SR313 four HDMI inputs while the TX-NR414 sports six. All support 3D video, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and ARC all through an easy-to-use interactive OSD. The top models incorporate eight inputs plus two outputs for connecting a TV and a projector. A Q remote button overlays a Quick Set-Up menu on the program being watched via HDMI. Furthermore, Hybrid Standby allows HDMI pass-through to the HDTV while the receiver is off, allowing the user to quickly catch the news, weather, or kids' TV without powering up the whole home theater system. All models have connections for legacy analog and digital audio technology. Additionally, the TX-NR515 offers distributed audio with Powered Zone 2, while the TX-NR616 adds Powered Zone 2 and a Zone 3 line-out. Later this year, Onkyo plans to release the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adaptor which will allow even better integration between electronic devices and Onkyo network receivers. These four receivers redefine the kinds of features and performance the consumer can expect at the entry level, and show Onkyo to be driving the industry forward with innovation, imagination, and style. The TX-NR616 will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $699; the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 will all be available in March at suggested retail prices of $599, $499 and $299, respectively. Onkyo Corporation Announces Strategic Alliance with TEAC Osaka, Japan, January 20, 2012 -- As part of its corporate goal to enhance shareholder value and meet the demands of a changing marketplace, Onkyo Corporation, a worldwide leader in consumer audio, today announced a strategic alliance with TEAC Corporation, a global electronics manufacturer. The alliance between Onkyo and TEAC is particularly synergistic in that both companies share a commitment to excellence and a passion for engineering, designing, manufacturing and marketing products that deliver high value and exceed customers expectations. Through this strategic alliance Onkyo and TEAC will acquire shares of each others stock. The companies are exploring ways to share manufacturing facilities, logistic centers and research & development resources. Onkyo President, Munenori Otsuki, stated that the alliance with TEAC offers unique opportunities to both companies to leverage each others considerable strengths to provide innovative life changing products to its customers. TEAC President, Yuji Hanabusa stated that strategic alliance of Onkyo and TEAC will make both companies more competitive in an ever changing market. ABOUT ONKYO Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. ABOUT TEAC Since its inception in 1953, the guiding principle of TEAC Corporation through its TEAC, TASCAM and Esoteric brands has been to enrich society through innovative products. TEAC's goal has been to increase the productivity of customers through various products by manufacturing high quality recording products. Over the past fifty years, TEAC has been committed to the creation, production and introduction of many innovative products incorporating advanced research, design and production technologies. TEAC's corporate culture of "respect creativity and honesty", demonstrates the Companys ability to contribute to the enjoyment and productivity of millions of customers worldwide. Update for Onkyo Remote 2 for iOS - Ver.1.02 An update for the Onkyo Remote 2 for iOS is now available on the iTunes stores as a free download. Onkyo Remote 2 Ver.1.02 adds Spotify Control for 2011 models (X09) as well as adding the ability to control your TV and Blu-ray that are connected to your Onkyo receiver via CEC (RIHD). Onkyo to Include MP3tunes for Cloud Access to Personal Music Collections and Saved Internet Radio Programs with its 2012-model AVRs UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (1/9/12) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has announced that it will include access to the MP3tunes.com's music Locker with its 2012-model network-capable AV receivers. Onkyo is believed to be the first AV receiver brand to incorporate MP3tunes access in its network operating system. This will allow MP3tunes subscribers to use an Onkyo network capable receiver to play personal music collections stored their MP3tunes' Lockers, which is what the company calls their cloud servers. MP3tunes allows subscribers to maintain up to 2 GB, or about 400 songs, for free, with fee supported accounts starting at $39.95 per year for 50 GB, or the equivalent to about 10,000 songs. Paul Wasek, National Marketing and Product Planning Manager, believes this a great new feature for any Onkyo customer. "MP3tunes Locker is an easy and secure means to maintain this data, while providing easy access through an Onkyo receiver, computer, smart phone, or any of the many network capable devices that support MP3tunes." MP3Tunes capabilities will be included as standard on new Onkyo network capable receivers beginning in the first quarter of 2012. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyos website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. About MP3tunes Based in San Diego, California, MP3tunes was launched in February of 2005 by CEO and founder Michael Robertson (founder of MP3.com). MP3tunes is a Music Service Provider (MSP) and the home of the MP3tunes Locker: the only secure, online music space to feature unlimited listening. With just a couple clicks, Locker users can sync their personal digital music and videos up to "the cloud" to enjoy from any web browser and a wide variety of mobile and home entertainment devices. The MP3tunes Locker is available in an ad-supported Free edition and in Premium levels with more storage space, support for larger media files, and full customer support. For more information, please visit www.mp3tunes.com. Gibson Buys Stake in Onkyo Japan and Majority Interest in Onkyo USA Forms Strategic Alliance to Take Consumer Audio Experience to a New Level Nashville, TN. January 04, 2012: As part of its continued diversification into the music and audio lifestyle arena, Gibson Guitar Corp., the worlds premier musical instrument manufacturer, today announced a strategic partnership with Onkyo Corporation, a worldwide leader in consumer audio. With a reputation of excellence for high quality audio equipment and home theater systems, Onkyo offers Gibsons newly-formed Pro Audio Division substantial technology resources. Gibson will provide Onkyo with its marketing resources and expertise. The result will be an ability to deliver a far superior audio experience to the consumer who has become more and more used to hearing only inferior compressed music through inexpensive ear bud headsets. Through this venture, Gibson will acquire a majority of Onkyo USA (Onkyos exclusive distributor for North America and a distributor for Central and South America) and become the second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation. Gibson will make a strategic investment in the company, and Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be given a position on the Onkyo board of directors. Likewise, Onkyo will invest in Gibson, and CEO and President Munenori Otsuki will take a position on the companys Board of Directors. Together, the two entities will form a Hong Kong-based joint venture focusing on design and development of unparalleled consumer audio products. Through this alliance, Onkyo USA becomes the latest addition to the Gibson Pro Audio division, which already includes KRK, Cerwin-Vega! and Stanton. Onkyo makes some of the worlds best audio equipment, and this partnership will give Gibson the ability to bring a deeper and more enhanced audio experience to music lovers around the world, says Juszkiewicz. While people may be listening to more music, they are listening to it primarily in a severely compressed format. The aural disparity between a real system and compressed sound is vast, and as a result, they are simply not hearing tremendously rich sounds. With Onkyo, our goal is to bring the same exceptional experience artists demand in the studio to a larger consumer base. This partnership has significant positive implications for Onkyo as we are always seeking ways of creating new value, says Otsuki. Gibson is a leading global company with a massive fan base, best-in-class products and superior marketing skills. Coming together in this way opens the door for amazing opportunities for both companies and, more importantly, fans of Onkyo and Gibson. All agreements are subject to Japanese regulatory clearance, negotiation of definitive agreements and financing approvals of lenders. ABOUT GIBSON GUITAR CORP. Gibson Guitar Corp. is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul Guitar is the bestselling guitar of all time and is a tribute to the late, famed musician of the same name. Collectively, the Gibson Robot Guitar, Gibson Dark Fire, Gibson Dusk Tiger and the Gibson Firebird X represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in more than 75 years. Through the Gibson Foundation, Gibson Guitar Corp. has become equally known for its philanthropic efforts on behalf of music, education, health and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville, TN, since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.s family of brands includes Epiphone, Cerwin-Vega!, Dobro, Kramer, Onkyo, KRK Systems, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Stanton, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, Wurlitzer and Gibson Pro Audio. Visit Gibsons website at www.gibson.com. Follow Gibson Guitar at www.facebook.com/gibsonguitar and www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar. ABOUT ONKYO Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyos website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Press Contacts: Ed James / Global VP, Gibson Guitar / 615-871-4500 x1338 / [email protected] Gordon Sell / GSPR / 908-788-0700 / [email protected] Onkyo and Silicon Image Announce the Worlds First A/V Receivers Featuring InstaPrevue and MHL Technologies SUNNYVALE, Calif., and OSAKA, Japan (December 21, 2011): Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG), a leading provider of wireless and wired HD connectivity solutions, and Onkyo (6628:JASDAQ), a leading specialist in hi-fi and home theater, today announced the worlds first line of Audio/Video Receivers (AVRs) featuring Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology and MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) technology. InstaPrevue technology provides the first-ever, live picture-in-picture preview of HDMI® and MHL inputs connected to the AVR, allowing users to view and select a live preview window to switch between their Blu-ray Disc player, DVD player, game console, or other HDMI or MHL-enabled connected devices. With InstaPrevue technology, consumers no longer need to cycle through inputs or navigate text-based menus (i.e., HDMI1, HDMI2, HDMI3, etc.) to switch between source devices. MHL technology is a rapidly growing HD audio/video connectivity standard that enables a mobile device to transmit 1080p uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio over five pins, while also supporting HDCP content protection. MHL-enabled AVRs, such as those manufactured by Onkyo, provide power to the mobile device when connected via MHL, ensuring that the device battery is charged and ready to use even after viewing a full-length feature movie. Consumers are also able to control MHL-enabled mobile devices using the existing AVR remote. Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology is a unique, value-added feature that will enhance and differentiate our AVR products, said Ken Araki, Director of Product Planning and Marketing, Onkyo Sound & Vision Corporation. Were pleased to be the working with Silicon Image and proud to be the first to market with AVRs incorporating InstaPrevue technology. The 2012 Onkyo AVRs add to the growing MHL ecosystem of DTVs, smartphones and tablets, and are the first to support InstaPrevue technology, said Alex Chervet, senior director of marketing at Silicon Image. InstaPrevue technology offers a simple and seamless viewing experience by taking the guesswork out of switching between HDMI sources. With InstaPrevue technology, consumers see a live preview of each active HDMI or MHL input connected to an AVR, making it easier and more intuitive to switch between a Blu-ray Disc player, set-top box, DVD player, game console, MHL-enabled smartphone or other MHL or HDMI-connected devices. Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology will be demonstrated at the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) from January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will exhibit in a private booth #MP25578 located in the South Hall 2, Ground Floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Onkyos audio products are recognized for their innovative features and top quality sound. Onkyo will exhibit in a public suite at the Venetian Hotel rooms 2709/2710 in Las Vegas during CES 2012. About Silicon Image, Inc. Silicon Image is a leading provider of wireless and wired connectivity solutions that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. The company delivers its technology via semiconductor and intellectual property (IP) products that are compliant with global industry standards and also feature industry leading Silicon Image innovations such as InstaPort. Silicon Images products are deployed by the worlds leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. Silicon Image has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVI industry standards, the latest standards for mobile devices - SPMT and MHL, and the standard for 60GHz wireless HD video WirelessHD (WiHD). Via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplay Labs, Silicon Image offers manufacturers comprehensive standards interoperability and compliance testing services. For more information, visit us at http://www.siliconimage.com/. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the growth in adoption of MHL technology and the performance, functionality, features, and benefits of MHL technology and Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time in Silicon Images filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Silicon Image and the Silicon Image logo are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Silicon Image, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries. TX-NR509 and TX-8050 now "Spotified" Onkyo is proud to announce that the TX-NR509 and TX-8050 are now Spotify-enabled. Owners of the TX-NR509 A/V receiver and the TX-8050 network stereo receiver can now download a firmware update that enables onboard access to Spotify as well as allowing direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android. Onkyo became the first AV receiver maker to offer Spotify access via its AV receivers earlier in 2011 and remains the only brand in the world to offer this capability. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. Spotify offers subscribers instant access to millions of songs in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys 320kbps bitrate* and high quality Ogg Vorbis codec. Spotify is now available in twelve countries around the world: US, UK, Sweden, France, Spain, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. More than 99% of Spotifys tracks are available in high bitrate (320 kbps) for Premium users. 9th Annual Braille Essay Contest Onkyo Corporation, an audio, computer and visual equipment maker, and the Braille Mainichi (The Mainichi Newspapers) created the Onkyo Braille Essay Contest in 2003, and it has been held annually since then. Through this contest, we hope to build a bridge between Braille and sound for the visually disabled who are extremely sensitive to the warmth that connects all people. Now in its 9th year, the 2011 contest received entries from 108 countries in the International Category, which includes the Asia-Pacific region (21 countries and regions, not including Japan), the West Asia/Central Asia/Mideast region (21 countries), the European region (45 countries), and the North America and Caribbean region (21 countries) in addition to the Japanese Category. As an international essay contest, we are expanding the circle of cross-cultural communications and serving as a bridge across an increasingly complex global community. We hope that the lives and thoughts of the visually disabled both at home and overseas will reach readers hearts and the harmony we create together will resonate throughout society. Napster Joins Rhapsody Anyone who has a Napster account and accesses it on their Onkyo receiver: Napster has successfully moved over to Rhapsody. Please log on to Rhapsody with your Napster login credentials. According to Rhapsody and Napster, Napster account holders keep ALL their Napster songs, lists, credits- everything from your Napster account will be waiting for you at Rhapsody. Enjoy! (It's all about sound.) Napster and Rhapsody Tips and Tricks: Forgot your Napster password, get it here: https://account.rhapsody.com/myacct/forgotpassword.html?page=login.remind&page=login.remind Love Music? Have accounts with both companies? Click here: http://www.rhapsody.com/napster-instructions Need a little extra help? Heres Rhapsodys FAQ page: http://rhapsody.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/857/kw/napster/r_id/166 Onkyo's New iPod touch/iPhone App Lets you Control All Your Music Anywhere in the House Upper Saddle River, NJ (11/4/2011): Onkyo has introduced a new iPod touch/iPhone App to provide full wireless remote control over the company's 2010 and 2011 networked A/V receivers. The new "Onkyo Remote 2" App will add expanded multi-room control and is presented by a completely revamped graphical look. This new app is compatible with Onkyos existing RI (Remote Interactive) system, allowing ownersof network-capable Onkyo home theater and hi-fi systems to use their iPod touch, iPhone handset as an all-in-one remote controller for multiple components. Furthermore, with the release of the Onkyo Remote 2, iPod touch/iPhone users are now able to control output in individual zones in a multi-room distributed audio set-up. Available as a free download, the application offers a number of benefits to Onkyo home theater and hi-fi owners, not least among them the ability to quickly and easily access commonly used controls. These include play, stop, skip, and pause; volume, bass, and treble adjustment; listening mode and input source selection; network source selection; and radio station. Perhaps best of all, users can also enjoy their treasured digital music libraries, as well as streamed music and internet radio, in spectacular Onkyo sound. The Onkyo Remote 2 app is compatible with all network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers released in 2011 and 2010, as well as the TX-8050 Network Stereo Receiver. (Earlier models may require a firmware update.) This new release further demonstrate Onkyos commitment to enhancing the home entertainment experience. Onkyo Upgrades Android App to Allow Direct 'In-App' Access to Spotify October 31, 2011 - Earlier this year Onkyo became the worlds first consumer electronics brand to offer access to digital music service Spotify through home cinema receivers. Today Onkyo is pleased to announce yet another first Effective immediately owners of selected Onkyo network A/V receivers and home theater systems will be able to download a firmware update that enables direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android. The Android App itself also has been updated in order to support this new feature. Compatible Onkyo products are as follows:- Receivers: TX-NR609/709/809/1009/3009/5009 and HT-RC360/370 Home Theater Systems: HT-S7400/7409/8400/8409 and 9400THX Additionally, towards the end of November 2011 Onkyo will also extend direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android to the TX-NR509 network A/V receiver as well as the TX-8050 network stereo receiver. At this time Onkyo will also issue a firmware upgrade that allows owners of all its network products with Spotify support to access the service using Facebook account details. "Enabling direct support for Spotify via our Remote App for Android represents a major step forward when it comes to ease of use and convenience for our consumers," says Paul Wasek, Onkyo USAs product and marketing manager. "We are very pleased to be extending Spotify access to several of our networked products via the app for Android," continues Wasek, "Onkyo always strives to deliver maximum value and support to consumers this announcement is an obvious example of our ongoing commitment to that end." Three months after making Spotify available in the US, Onkyo is still the only brand to offer this capability in its network receivers. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. The music service offers subscribers instant access to millions of songs in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys 320kbps bitrate and high quality Ogg Vorbis codec. Spotify is now available in 9 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands, Spain and Denmark, with more than 10 million registered users, and over 2 million paying subscribers. More than 99% of Spotifys tracks are available in high bitrate (320 kbps) for our Premium users. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687 About Spotify Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 15 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the worlds music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify is social, making it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in 9 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands, Spain and Denmark. Spotify is the fastest-growing and most successful music service of its kind globally, with more than 10 million registered users, and over 2 million paying subscribers. Number of tracks licensed globally. Catalogue size varies in each country. www.spotify.com Onkyo App For Android now supports X08 network receivers Check it out! The Onkyo App for Andriod now supports the TX-NR708, 808, 1008, 3008 and 5008 as well as the PR-SC5508! Install the firmware update via the network or USB and get the new App from the Andriod Marketplace and you'll be all set! And as always, let us know what you think via Facebook. A firmware update is now available for the following Network Receivers and Home Theater Network Systems. Receivers - TX-NR509, TX-NR609, TX-NR709, TX-NR809, TX-NR1009, HT-RC360, HT-RC370 and TX-8050 HTiB's - HT-S7400, HT-S7409, TH-S8400, HT-S8409 and HT-S9400THX Onkyo Debuts its New "iOnly" Family of Products for Apple Portable Devices. UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/1/11) Onkyo, the leading hi-fi specialist, has today introduced it's new "iOnly" family of products, which will consist of three compact music players and docking systems designed for the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. With digital music so much a part of everyday life, Onkyo's iOnly systems will now allow the user to enjoy their portable music collection in rich, room-filling stereo. The three models, iOnly Play (ABX-100), iOnly Stream (ABX-N300), and iOnly Bass (SBX-300), were conceived as a way to offer users a greater level of convenience, practicality, and performance in portable and affordable packages. Like all Onkyo products, these offer high power, exceptional sound quality, premium build quality, and unique styling. Additionally, iOnly models are designed with smooth, easily cleaned surfaces, and the recharging dock and controls are protected from dust when not in use. The first model to be introduced in this series is the iOnly Play, which is designed specifically for iPod and iPhone devices. The second model will be the iOnly Bass, which will also accommodate the iPad. The iOnly Stream will follow later this year. The iOnly Play is ideal for use on a shelf, table or desk-top in the home, dorm room, or office. With its flat-back exterior, brushed-aluminium base and cover, and dimmable foot lighting, the iOnly Play makes a tasteful addition to any room. The sliding cover also conceals and protects an easy-to-read graphical LCD display and touch-screen control buttons. With the iOnly Bass, the docking port is on the lower front edge of the chassis providing solid support for an iPad. It also delivers superb sound through a pair of full-range speakers and tuned subwoofer port. With its modest weight and comfortable aluminium handle the iOnly Bass is an easily transported entertainment package. Both the iOnly Play and iOnly Bass feature precision-engineered amplifier circuitry, full-range speakers mounted in isolated enclosures, and Active Bass Control for rich, room-filling sound. Both models include a wireless remote control. With the introduction of the iOnly series, Onkyo reaffirms its position as an industry-leading innovator, offering imaginative products that improve the lifestyles of its customers. Onkyo's iOnly Play and iOnly Bass will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $249 each. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. New Hi-Fi Components from Onkyo Offer a Winning Edge UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/1/11) -- Onkyo USA announces the release of two top-quality hi-fi components armed with the technological features needed to stay ahead in todays rapidly changing marketplace. The A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier and C-7070 CD player offer state-of-the-art design, rugged engineering, a multitude of connectivity options, and a startlingly pure sound will appeal both to hi-fi newcomers and more seasoned music lovers looking to upgrade their equipment. A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier The A-9070 amplifier offers four discrete modesintegrated amp, power amp, pre-amp, and split power/pre-ampto provide great flexibility when incorporating other components into the hi-fi system. Alone, it provides ample power with a parallel push-pull amplification design, three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, dedicated Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DACs for symmetrically designed L/R channels, and four large 15,000 µF capacitors. To preserve signal integrity, the unit features DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry). Closed ground-loop circuits and vibration-damping construction combine to produce clear sound across a wide dynamic range. An independent headphone amplifier, a phonograph equalizer, and gold-plated audio terminals/speaker posts are evidence of high build quality. C-7070 Compact Disc Player The C-7070 is a versatile piece of audio equipment designed to play back a wide range of audio formats while carefully preserving the integrity of the signal. The unit is engineered around this objective, featuring vibration-damping brass legs, a 1.6 mm flat base, a full-floating circuit board, a pair of Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DACs, and Onkyos Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry. These improvements all work to reduce noise, distortion, and interference for pristine sound quality. The C-7070 connects to iPod/iPhone devices via the USB port, and can play music off flash-memory drives. Other desirable features include a three-stage dimmer function, a brushed aluminum front panel, a silent aluminum CD tray, gold-plated audio terminals, and headphone amplifier differential circuitry. These two pedigree models continue Onkyos unwavering commitment to high-fidelity sound, intuitive operation, and superb build quality at prices that remain widely accessible. The A-9070 and C-7070 will both be available in November with suggested retail prices of $1299 and $799, respectively. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Unveils Top-of the-line Network Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/22/11) -- Leading home entertainment innovator, Onkyo, announces the release of two flagship high-end network 9.2-channel THX Ultra2 Plus-certified A/V receiversthe TX-NR5009 and the TX-NR3009to complete its line of precision audio-visual products for 2011. As the top models in Onkyo's line, these receivers deliver the power, performance, sophisticated processing, exceptional connectivity, and quality that audio-video enthusiasts have come to expect from Onkyo. Both receiver models include major upgrades from last year, including the use of the latest HQV-Vida and Marvel Qdeo video processors, new DTS Neo:X dimensional surround processing, Dolby Volume, and new streaming internet radio channels. Onkyo receivers continue to offer more internet music options than any other brand in the industry When it comes to input options, the TX-NR5009 and TX-NR3009 are extremely versatile, sporting eight HDMI® inputs and two outputs, plus a full range of legacy analog and digital AV connections. New media connections include an Ethernet port, two USB ports, a Universal Port for Onkyo peripheral devices, and an RGB input for video content from a connected PC. Onkyo also offers an optional UWF-1 wireless LAN adaptor that turns the front panel USB port into a home internet access point. Users can also download and install free applications that turn their Android or iPod touch/iPhone into a full-function remote control to control the receiver. Both receivers are designed to connect to the new generation of user-customized Internet radio stations and streaming music services, including those from Spotify, AUPEO!, Pandora, Last.fm, Rhapsody, Napster, Mediafly, Slacker, Sirius XM, and vTuner. The receiver is also DLNA 1.5 certified; it can interface with USB-compatible portable music devices, such as iPods, and and play music straight off a USB thumb drive. Naturally, the unit can handle a wide variety of audio formats, including FLAC, WMA Lossless, WAV, AAC, Ogg, MP3, and, for audiophiles, Super Audio CD. With terminals for 11 speakers, the nine amplifier channels can be tasked to power a wide variety of front, surround, height, bi-amped, or remote-zone loudspeakers depending on the users needs. Onkyo makes it easy to fine-tune all these speakers by providing the latest Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 room-correction and equalization technology, which perfects audio performance regardless of a rooms shape or acoustics. Onkyo was the first AV receiver manufacturer to introduce DTS Neo:X, the industrys first 2.0/5.1/6.1/7.1-to- 9.1/11.1 conversion technology within a single algorithm. This technology allows users to augment a basic 5.1-channel set-up by adding speakers in various combinations of height, wide, and surround channels. As implemented on the TX-NR5009, Neo:X can bring out subtle ambient sounds or even work around the need to install rear speakers to deliver a cinema-like experience. Like last years' models, both receivers include the related surround processing of Audyssey DSX, and Dolby ProLogic IIz. The next-generation video capabilities of these new receivers are the result of a tag-team effort from two extraordinary new video processors. The HQV® Vida VHD 1900 processor lies at the heart of the system, and brings standard video images to life in high definition. The chip employs multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color-processing, and smooth, motion-adaptive de-interlacing to optimize quality and detail. Marvells Qdeo technology upscales 1080p video to a full 4K (3840 x 2160), even from sources already upscaled by HQV Vida from lower resolutions to 1080p. This remarkable technology treats the viewer to spectacular images of unparalleled color and clarity, provides enhancement of low-resolution streaming video, and facilitates individual ISFccc video calibration capabilities for all video sources. Onkyo's eye for detail extends to conveniently backlit remote controls and an overlaid graphical OSD for swift, seamless, and simple adjustment of settings during a program, game, or movie. Both receivers use Onkyo's proven WRAT (wide range amplifier technology) power stages and three-stage inverted Darlington topology to deliver high power with low distortion and exceptional high current capability. Audio signals on are refined by PLL jitter-cleaning technology and Onkyo's VLSC contributes to an extremely crisp digital-to-analog signal conversion. Separate aluminum panels encase the low-resonance chassis to help eliminate vibration and microphonics. Onkyos TX-NR3009 uses 24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs for each channel and a high-current power supply with large 18,000 µF capacitors and a large EI transformer. The TX-NR5009's amplifier takes the whole issue of amplifier and power supply performance up a notch. Power flows efficiently from a massive high-current toroidal transformer through two 22,000 µF capacitors, with dedicated transformers for audio and video. The digital audio section employs Powerful 192 kHz/32-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs on all channels, coupled to a 32-bit DSP chip. These contribute to the receiver achieving prestigious THX® Ultra2 Plus certification and a level of sound quality that rivals that of many separate component amplifiers. These two new releases demonstrate Onkyos ongoing commitment to offering innovative, integrated, and high-performance home theater products to music and film lovers all over the world. The Onkyo TX-NR5009 will have a suggested retail price of $2,899 with the TX-NR3009 will be offered for $2,199. They will ship to dealers in the beginning of September. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Update announced for the BD-SP309 Blu-ray player Onkyo USA has determined that some of our BD-SP309 3D Ready Bluray Players are unable to access Netflix via the Video On Demand function. Please check your serial number below to see if your BD-SP309 has been affected. If so, please contact Onkyo USA Customer Support. Onkyo Network Receivers to Support New Personal Radio Service from AUPEO! and expands support for LAST.FM UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/8/11) -- Onkyo continues to expand the functionality of its home entertainment systems by adding support for the global AUPEO! Personal Radio service and expanding LAST.FM to Onkyos 2011 network-capable A/V receivers. The AUPEO! service, delivered online and free of charge, offers a wide range of over 120 specialized music channels for users to choose from. It provides an easy way for users to discover new music and enjoy their favorite genres. User-selected stations can be customized with Loves and Bans to create a fully personalized listening experience. Furthermore, users can search for a specific artist on Artist Radio, or use the unique Mood Selector to match the music style to their mood. Onkyo will also expand the support for LAST.FM to all its 2011 network receivers. LAST.FM is currently available on receivers starting with the TX-NR709. LAST.FM is a music recommendation service that uses a process the company calls Scrobbling. This process analyzes the songs users play most often, which songs they like the most, how much they've played an artist over a certain amount of time, which of their friends have similar tastes. By focusing on the music subscribers already play LAST.FM can help them discover more music. AUPEO! and LAST.FM functionality will be incorporated on all new 2011 Onkyo network receivers. A firmware upgrade for current owners of 2011 Onkyo network receivers will be available for network upgrade August 8, 2011. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Announces Remote App for Android UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/25/11) -- Home audio specialist, Onkyo, demonstrates its ongoing commitment to greater convergence in home entertainment with the announcement of its first application for the Android mobile platform. Onkyos Remote App for Android will allow owners to integrate wireless audio from an Android-based device into their Onkyo home theater system, and provides a range of remote control functions. Operating over a wireless local network, the application will allow Onkyo owners to stream music stored on an Android device to an Onkyo network audio system. Music played through an Onkyo system gains far greater power and fidelity. Users will be able to browse networked content without needing to view on-screen menus on a connected display. Instead, they will use the touch-screen GUI on their Android device to navigate menus and control a variety of functions, such as selecting the input source or adjusting the volume and tone. Furthermore, users will be able to control output in individual zones in a multi-room distributed audio set-up. Available in August as a free download from the Android market, the Remote App for Android will be compatible with all of Onkyos network A/V receivers released in 2011, as well as with the TX-8050 stereo network receiver. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Sub-Woofer Speaker Driver Replacement Program Onkyo USA has determined that there is a high probability that the voice coil of certain subwoofers in the Home Theater and Speaker systems listed below may open; consequently, the subwoofer will stop functioning. For our valued customers, Onkyo USA has a speaker driver replacement program for the affected subwoofers. It is important that you check the model and serial number of your subwoofer. Please click on the following link for more infomation on whether your subwoofer is eligible. Link If you are eligible for this program, an Independent Onkyo Regional Service Center will send you material and instructions to return your subwoofer. You can also contact Onkyo USA Customer Support during normal customer support hours (M-F 9am-8pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4pm ET) to see if your subwoofer falls under this speaker driver replacement program. Call toll free 1-855-460-1618 or local (201)785-2654. Onkyo with Spotify: now available in the US UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/14/11) -- Onkyo USA is pleased to announce that digital music service Spotify is now available through home theater receivers in the US. Spotify Premium subscribers in seven countries (UK, France, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway) already use Spotify to expand their musical horizons. Now they will also be able to listen to the service via their Onkyo home entertainment systems in the United States. Onkyo will provide a firmware update that will enable its 2011 network capable receivers beginning with the TX-NR609 to support Spotify. Onkyo will also be introducing additional networked Spotify-ready products in the near future. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. The addition of Spotify offers Premium subscribers instant access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world, in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys high quality streaming. We are excited to be able to provide this update to owners of our 2011 network receivers beginning with model TX-NR609," says Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's National Marketing Manager. "Spotify is an absolute must-have for Onkyo customers who want to enjoy their favorite music in the highest quality at home." "We are very excited to be bringing Spotify to the US, and to be working with partners such as Onkyo towards our goal of making all the world's music available for everyone to enjoy, whenever they want it and wherever they are." Ken Parks Chief Content Officer and Managing Director, Spotify, North America. Spotify is simple and intuitive to operate via the television screen connected to Onkyo home theater receivers. With a few simple clicks on your remote control youre given quick, scrolling onscreen access to your own and collaborative playlists as well as Spotifys 'What's New?' and 'Starred' features. Album cover art is displayed onscreen and subscribers can explore further to browse artists, albums and tracks. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. About Spotify Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world. Our dream is to make all the worlds music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in 8 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands and Spain. www.spotify.com New Top-of-the-line 3D capable Blu-ray Disc Player Brings Premium Performance and Networked Video Content to Home Theater UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/7/11) -- Onkyo, a leading specialist in hi-fi and home theater, has announced the release of the BD-SP809, the companys new top-of-the-line THX® Certified Blu-ray Disc player. The BD-SP809 handles a wide range of disc media, includes sophisticated home-network functionality that supports one of the more recent developments in home entertainment, video on demand (VOD). As well as playing the latest 3D-encoded Blu-ray Discs, the BD-SP809 plays virtually all the major types of CD and DVDincluding those encoded with popular compressed formats such as DivX HD, MP3, and WMA. Furthermore, it features a USB port that enables users to play audio and video files from a USB mass storage device. Owners with a local network set-up in their home can use the BD-SP809 to incorporate videos, music, and photos sent from a DLNA 1.5-certified media server. By enabling users to integrate their computer-based content with their home theater systems, this feature promotes greater convergence in home entertainment. The Onkyo BD-SP809 video-on-demand capabilities allow consumers to stream movies and TV shows directly to their TVs in HD- or SD-quality video through the Netflix, Blockbuster, Film Fresh, and VUDU services. Video sources played through the BD-SP809 are rendered with superb image quality. Onboard Qdeo technology from Marvell ensures pristine deinterlacing, noise-reduction, and 1080p upscaling. Meanwhile, the players twin HDMI® outputs allow users to switch easily between two displays, such as a main TV for casual viewing and a projector for movies and sports. The BD-SP809 supports high-definition audio formats in the form of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD. The integrity of these lossless formats is preserved by the players high-precision clock and by a construction design that incorporates separate blocks for video/audio circuitry and a vibration-reducing top cover. The BD-SP809 has been THX® certified in recognition of its superior build quality, versatile functionality, and high performance levels. Onkyo presents it as an ideal playback source to complement the companys popular A/V receivers and home-theater speaker packages. The Onkyo BD-SP809 will be available in August with a suggested retail price of $599. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Automatic Continuous Change of Listening Modes and/or Remote Controller Commands are not accepted Models: TX-NR708, TX-NR709, TX-NR808, TX-NR1008, TX-NR3008, TX-NR5008, PR-SC5508, HT-RC270, HT-RC370 If your receiver of the above mentioned models experiences the following : Listening modes automatically change one after another. Will sometimes randomly turn on and off on its own. When this problem occurs most commands will not be accepted. Please contact our Product Support Department at (800) 229-1687, option 3, to confirm that this issue exists in your receiver. If the issue exists you will be given further direction on how to have it serviced. This issue will be handled for you even if you are out of warranty (this only applies to US and Canada).* Onkyo Debuts the World's First Nine-Channel Home Theater Receiver with DTS Neo:X Technology UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (6/1/11) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has introduced the world's first home theater receiver to feature DTS Neo:X multidimensional audio technology, delivering a highly realistic sound experience for consumers. The remarkable DTS Neo:X technology, as implemented on the new Onkyo TX-NR1009, enables customers to employ up to nine loudspeakers with distinct direction clues that enhance the height and space dimensions of a home theater room beyond the capabilities of current seven channel systemscreating a lifelike 3-D soundscape. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 is a THX Select2 Plus Certified, 9.2-channel, network-capable home theater receiver that, in addition to DTS Neo:X, includes several audio and video upgrades compared to last year's TX-NR1008 model. These include Marvell Qdeo and IDT's HQV® Vida video upscaling and processing circuits, and Audyssey's MultEQ XT audio room correction. "Onkyo's application of DTS Neo:X allows the top-tier enthusiasts to significantly expand their home theater system's sound stage with new combinations of channels," said Paul Wasek, the marketing manager of Onkyo USA. "When combined with its new higher resolution video capabilities, the TX-NR1009 becomes a powerful tool that far exceeds the capabilities of our competitors offerings even at several times the price." Brian Towne, executive vice president and chief operating officer of DTS, Inc., commented, As the worlds first commercially available receiver to harness the power of Neo:X technology, the TX-NR1009 marks an integral milestone in our journey to take 3-D audio from concept to reality. Were proud to take this step with Onkyo, knowing its customers will benefit from the superior audio afforded by the markets most flexible AVR. This product integration further demonstrates DTS commitment to delivering solutions that push home entertainment to new levels and also accommodate new emerging content delivery platformsso consumers can enjoy a fully-immersive and authentic 3-D audio experience. DTS Neo:X is the industrys first 2.0/5.1/6.1/7.1-to- 9.1/11.1 conversion technology within a single algorithm. On the TX-NR1009 it offers a number of different ways to set up the speakers in a 9.1-channel home theater system. A basic 5.1-channel set-up can be complemented by one of three different arrangements: (1) the addition of surround back- and front-height speakers to bring out ambient, non-directional sounds; (2) adding surround back- and front-wide speakers to provide a more expansive soundstage; or (3) adding front-height and front-width speakers to create an immersive space without needing to install rear speakers. With Neo:X technology, consumers will experience a natural and spacious surround soundscape unlike anything else on the market. On-board video processing on the TX-NR1009 is handled by two highly advanced technologies: HQV® Vida VHD1900 and Qdeo technology by Marvell. Vida offers upscaling of all 480i/p, 576p, and 720p video sources to high-resolution 1080p. Qdeo, meanwhile, performs full 4K (3840 x 2160) upscaling of 1080p sources. The Vida processor incorporates Auto HQV and HQV StreamClean to enhance video images in real time and eliminate noise in compressed video. With multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color processing, and four-field motion-adaptive de-interlacing, Vida optimizes the quality of both standard- and high-definition video images. On the TX-NR1009 also supports independent ISF calibration for optimum video performance. Like most new Onkyo receivers, the TX-NR1009 includes extensive networking capabilities with an Ethernet connection plus front and rear USB ports for digital storage devices and Onkyo's optional wireless USB LAN adaptor, the UWF-1. Direct digital connection for iPod/iPhone is available through the front panel USB. This receiver is certified for Windows 7 and DLNA, and can playback a wide variety digital audio file formats via a home network or USB devices, and it is capable of wireless connectivity via Onkyo's optional UFW-1 wireless USB adaptor. It supports MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, OggVorbis, AAC, and LPCM files. An iPod or iPhone can also be connected using and optional dock connected via Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port. This U-Port can also be used for an optional HD Radio Tuner and forthcoming wireless devices. The network connection provides Internet radio and streaming music services, with preformatted service packages for Mediafly, Pandora®, SlackerTM, Napster, Rhapsody®, vTuner, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio®, and Last.fm. The Onkyo TX-NR1009's powerful 135-watts per channel amplifier section easily achieves THX-Select2 Plus Certification. Each of the nine amplifier sections employ the company's low-negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and the High Current Power Supply (HCPS) uses a massive transformer. In addition, TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs are used on each channel to ensure that all digital signals are converted perfectly to analog sound. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 uses several different audio processing technologies to help improve the room acoustics and to enhance the ambience dimension of the listening experience. The new Audyssey MultEQ XT room-correction technology allows full spectrum acoustic measurements from multiple locations. Audyssey Dynamic EQ® provides loudness correction and Audyssey Dynamic Volume® to maintain optimal listening level and dynamic range. For home theater enthusiasts who wish to explore expanded ambience with height and wide loudspeakers, they have the option of using Audyssey DSX high or wide channels, or Dolby ProLogic IIz height channels. The receiver also includes Dolby Volume processing technology to optimize the sound for any listening level. The TX-NR1009 has one front- and seven rear-panel HDMI inputs, dual HDMI outputs with lossless audio processing using Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. There is also a full complement of legacy analog and digital connections, including multi-channel audio, stereo, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and a phono input. There are two component video inputs, plus composite/S-Video inputs for four devices. It also has a nine-channel multichannel analog preamp output for possible use with a separate component power amplifier. The TX-NR1009 has a bidirectional, preprogrammed, and customizable RI remote control. When connected to the Internet, it maintains up-to-date RC control codes for connected devices. With the receiver's Overlaid Graphical On-screen Display, users can speed through on-screen setups while still viewing their program. The remote also includes Macro presets for four activities. Additionally, the receiver has bi-directional Ethernet and RS232 ports for control, IR input and output, two 12-V triggers, firmware updates via Ethernet and USB, GUI Navigation via HDMI, powered Zone 2, and Zone 2/3 preouts. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 will be available from Onkyo dealers in June with suggested retail price of $1,399. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. DTS and the Symbol are registered trademarks, and DTS Neo:X is a trademark of DTS, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Onkyo Debuts Midline Networking AV Receiver with Advanced Video Capabilities UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (5/12/11) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has introduce the TX-NR809 THX Select2 Plus Certified, 7.2-channel, network-capable home theater receiver. It includes several significant new audio and video upgrades when compared to last year's TX-NR808 model. The Onkyo TX-NR809 adds both the Mavell Qdeo and IDT's HQV® Vida video upscaling and processing circuits. It also includes Imaging Science Foundation's ISF Video Calibration technology for the first time at this price point. On the audio side it gains Audyssey's MultEQ XT advanced automated calibration and Dolby Volume for optimal listening experience at any sound level. There are now front and rear USB ports for digital storage devices and Onkyo's optional wireless USB adaptor. Direct digital connection via the front-panel USB port lets you access MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC audio files stored on a USB flash drives or iPod/iPhone. It also offers improved home integration capabilities with Zone 2/3 preouts and a bi-directional remote control with on-screen RC set-up for attached components, and Macros for four activities. On-board video processing on the TX-NR809 is handled by two advanced technologies: HQV® Vida VHD1900 and Qdeo technology by Marvell. Vida offers upscaling of all 480i/p, 576p, and 720p video sources to high-resolution 1080p. Qdeo, meanwhile, performs full 4K (3840 x 2160) upscaling of 1080p sources. The Vida processor incorporates Auto HQV and HQV StreamClean to enhance video images in real time and eliminate noise in compressed video. With multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color processing, and four-field motion-adaptive de-interlacing, Vida optimizes the quality of both standard- and high-definition video images. The TX-NR809 also supports ISF calibration for optimum video performance. The Onkyo TX-NR809's powerful 135-watts per channel amplifier section easily achieves THX-Select2 Plus Certification. Each of the seven amplifier sections employ the company's low-negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and the High Current Power Supply (HCPS) uses a massive transformer. In addition, TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs are used on each channel to ensure that all digital signals are converted perfectly to analog sound. The Onkyo TX-NR809 uses several different audio processing technologies to help improve the room acoustics and to enhance the ambience dimension of the listening experience. The new Audyssey MultEQ XT room-correction technology allows full spectrum acoustic measurements from multiple locations. Audyssey Dynamic EQ® provides loudness correction and Audyssey Dynamic Volume® to maintain optimal listening level and dynamic range. For home theater enthusiasts who wish to explore expanded ambience with height and wide loudspeakers, they have the option of using Audyssey DSX high or wide channels, or Dolby ProLogic IIz height channels. The receiver also includes Dolby Volume processing technology to optimize the sound for any listening level. The TX-NR809 has one front- and seven rear-panel HDMI inputs, dual HDMI outputs with lossless audio processing using Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding. There is also a full complement of legacy analog and digital connections, including multi-channel audio, stereo, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and a phono input. There are two component video inputs, plus composite/S-Video inputs for four devices. It also has multichannel analog preamp outputs for possible use with a separate component power amplifier. This receiver is certified for Windows 7 and DLNA, and can playback a wide variety digital audio file formats via a home network or USB devices, and it is capable of wireless connectivity via Onkyo's optional UFW-1 wireless USB adaptor. An iPod or iPhone can easily be connected via the front-panel USB or with optional dock connected via Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port. This U-Port can also be used for an optional HD Radio Tuner and forthcoming wireless devices. The network connection provides Internet radio and streaming music services, with preformatted service packages for Mediafly, Pandora®, SlackerTM, Napster, Rhapsody®, vTuner, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio®, and Last.fm. The TX-NR809 is Onkyo's first 2011 AV receiver to use a bidirectional, preprogrammed, and customizable RI remote control. When connected to the Internet, it maintains up-to-date RC control codes for connected devices. With the receiver's Overlaid Graphical On-screen Display, users can speed through on-screen setups while still viewing their program. The remote also includes Macro presets for four activities. Additionally, the receiver has bi-directional Ethernet and RS232 ports for control, IR input and output, two 12-V triggers, firmware updates via Ethernet and USB, GUI Navigation via HDMI, powered Zone 2, and Zone 2/3 preouts. Onkyo Introduces New HTiBs, Speakers, Receiver, and a 3D Blu-Ray Player UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (4/11/11) -- Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has announced four new packaged home theater systems, including its first with networking capabilities, a new home theater speaker system, upgraded mid-line AV receiver, and an affordably-priced 3D Blu-Ray player. Home Theater Systems: Onkyo has increased its premium home theater line-up from three models to four, consisting of the HT-S6400, HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX. All four have a front-panel USB port that offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. The top three models include Ethernet networking capabilities to support streaming PC audio and Internet radio from the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly, Last fm, and vTuner and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These same three models also include the new Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor for use with upcoming higher resolution video display. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. All these models are also compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. As with previous HTiB lineups, the top-of-the-line 7.1-channel HT-S9400THX is THX Certified and includes THX approved speakers--the reference standard for excellence in home theater sound. The HT-S8400 includes a distinctive 7.1-channel slim floor standing speaker package with high-performance 41-inch high front speakers, while the HT-S7400 uses a more-compact 5.1 speaker package. All of these systems include powered subwoofers. The HT-S6400 uses brand new 5.1-channel speaker set that includes a powered subwoofer and matching gloss-finished front, center, and surround speakers. These compactyet reassuringly solidspeakers are made from a new, high- density resin designed for maximum rigidity and minimum vibration. The elegantly curved shape of the speaker cabinets does more than just add a touch of class; it also helps to counteract standing waves, ensuring sound output with greater fidelity. This speaker system will also be sold separately as the SKS-HT690. The Onkyo HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX will be available in May with Suggested retail prices of $799, $899, and $1099 respectively. The HT-S6400 and SKS-HT690 will follow in July with MSRPs of $699 and $449 respectively. Onkyo TX-NR709 AV Receiver: Onkyo has also announced late April deliveries of its 7.2-channel TX-NR709 Network home theater receiver. Like it's predecessor, the TX-NR708, it has full networking capabilities to support streaming PC audio and Internet radio, adding Last.fm to its roster of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly, and vTuner. It is also has compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA, front panel USB, powerful WRAT amplifiers, and a broad suite of audio processing from Dolby, DTS, and Audyssey. The TX-NR709 has been upgraded with the new Marvell Qdeo 4k video upscaling processor, Audyssey MultEQ XT advanced room correction technology, dual subwoofer outputs, dual HDMI outputs and one additional HDMI inputs for a total of eight front and rear. It can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver and it is compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter. The Onkyo TX-NR709 will have a suggested retail price of $899. Onkyo BD-SP309: Onkyo has also introduced its first 3D Blu-Ray Player, the BD-SP309. The BD-SP309 also supports internet radio and video on demand via Pandora, Netflix and VUDU, so you can explore a cornucopia of great audio and video content whenever the mood strikes. With the BD-SP309, standard DVD sources at various resolutions480p, 720p, or 1080ican be upscaled to 1080p for playback on a compatible high-definition display. Its HDMI interface supports lossless studio sound quality of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential for Blu-ray Disc. Connectivity on the BD-SP309 is rounded out by two USB ports that let you play media from a variety of storage devices. The Onkyo BD-SP309 will be available in May with a suggested retail price of $249. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts New HT-RC Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (4/4/11) -- Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has included expanded audio, video, USB, network and internet connectivity in two new upgraded models in its HT-RC family of home theater receivers. The new Onkyo HT-RC370 and HT-RC360, which replace the HT-RC270 and HT-RC260, are also among the first AV receivers equipped with the new Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor. Both include a front-panel USB port that offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. The USB port even support album art from your iPod/iPhone. Among other upgrades, the HT-RC360 gains full networking capabilities while the HT-RC370 adds Audyssey MultEQ XT processing. These two network-capable receivers support streaming PC audio and Internet radio from the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly and vTuner and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. Both models are also compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. For movie and home theater enthusiasts, these receivers have more than enough HDMI inputs to accommodate any likely combination of cable TV, satellite, and disk player sources, including 3D. Both the HT-RC370 and HT-RC360 now also include connections for USB, Ethernet, and Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port (U-Port), as well as a full array of traditional audio and video sources. As would be expected from a company with the audio credentials of Onkyo, both receivers offer exceptional sound quality, with the HT-RC370 earning THX's prestigious Select2 Plus certification. Both modes are 7.2-channel surround sound systems with Audyssey DSX or Dolby ProLogic IIz processing included to provide alternative height or wide channels. The advanced HDMI interface supports lossless high-definition surround sound via Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. The HT-RC370's sonic performance has been upgraded with Audyssey MultEQ XT for a superior room equalization setup and the addition of Dolby Volume for optimal sound at any volume setting. The HT-RC360 uses Audyssey 2EQ room correction and includes Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume to correct loudness issues. Both models feature the brand new Marvell Qdeo video-processing chip, which can upscale video to 1080p and beyond to as much as 4K of horizontal resolution, regardless of the source resolution. While 4K video display technology is not yet on the market, this new processor handles current-source upsampling with ease, and will be ready for future displays. Both receivers include Onkyo's proprietary WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) amplifiers, and the HT-RC370 also employs Onkyo's three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry for even higher dynamics and lower distortion. Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs are provided for all channels on both receivers. Like all current Onkyo receivers, they feature the company's Overlaid Graphic On-Screen Display so users can still watch a program while operating the menus. Onkyo's latest Graphical User Interface (GUI) lets users smoothly navigate internet radio, iPod/iPhone sources, or any other connected sources. The Onkyo HT-RC370 and HT-RC360 will both be available in April with suggested retail prices of $849 and $549 respectively. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts Two High-Value Packaged Home Theater Systems and New Dock for iPod/iPhone UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/10/2011) -- Onkyo is pleased to announce the release of two new home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB) receiver-and-speaker systems that combine the convenience of packaged home theater with the audio pedigree of Onkyo. The 7.1-channel Onkyo HT-S5400 and 5.1-channel HT-S3400 offer an exceptional array of features for these price points, and they are built to exacting standards designed to bring the best out of music, movies, and gaming content. The company is also introducing the Onkyo DS-A4 Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone that is designed to connect to most AV receivers. The home theater receivers at the heart of these two systems all feature the latest implementation of the HDMI® connectivity standard with support for 3D video, lossless audio from Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and an Audio Return Channel. The latter feature sends an audio signal upstream from a connected HDTVs tuner, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable. Along with four HDMI inputs and one output, each receiver includes a generous selection of digital and analog A/V inputs to handle a wide range of playback devices. The amplifier sections for each of these receivers incorporates a massive transformer, optimum gain volume circuitry, and PLL jitter-cleaning circuitry to preserve signal accuracy. Other features include high-quality TI Burr-Brown audio DACs, a new Advanced Music Optimizer to enhance the fidelity of compressed audio files, and a convenient overlaid on-screen display for adjusting the settings. Both receivers also include Audyssey Dynamic EQ® and Audyssey Dynamic Volume®, two volume and equalization technologies that enable users to enjoy audio content in greater comfort. The HT-S5400 offers the most extensive feature set. Its two extra audio channels enable it to support Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz, an audio processing technology that allows users to reconfigure the two surround-back channels as front height channels and increase the ambience of movies and games. The HT-S5400 boasts slightly superior audio DACs compared to the HT-S3400. Located on the front panel of the HT-S5400s receiver is a USB port that offers a direct digital connection for iPod/iPhone. Other highlights of the HT-S5400 include a powered subwoofer and a subwoofer pre-out for greater low-end impact, and Audyssey 2EQ®, which works to adjust the soundstage to the unique dimensions of the users listening space. The receiver is complemented by a seven-channel speaker set consisting of mid-size, two-way front LCR speakers and four compact full-range satellites. The Onkyo HT-S3400 provides a more affordable 5.1-channel HTiB solution that omits the USB port, subwoofer pre-out, and Audyssey 2EQ, but it does include Onkyos proprietary Universal Port to enable single-cable connection of Onkyo peripheral devices. A powerful, down-firing subwoofer and five full-range surround speakers are included with the HT-S3400. The Onkyo DS-A4 Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone provides audio, video outputs, charging, and full function remote control when used with most AV receivers, and advanced functionality and integration when connected to an Onkyo receivers proprietary RI interface jack. The dock is compatible with all current iPod/ iPhone models up to the latest iPhone 4. It has outputs for stereo audio as well as composite and component video. Menu navigation is aided by an On-Screen Display and supplied remote control; RI-enabled systems allow the use of the AV system remote control. The Onkyo HT-S5400, HT-S3400, and DS-A4 will be available at retail in April, with suggested retail prices of $599, $379, and $139 respectively. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts Entry-Level AV Receivers With Internet, Network, and USB Capabilities at Much Lower Prices UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/10/2011). -- Onkyo, a global innovator in hi-fi and home theater, has introduced a line of three new entry-level home theater receivers that include advanced networking capabilities and a 'Made for iPod/iPhone' USB interface for the first time at such low prices. Previously, these features were only available in the US on models with suggested retail prices of $899 and higher. The release includes the 7.2-channel TX-NR609, the 5.1-channel TX-NR509 and the 5.1-channel TX-SR309. The models designated 'TX-NR' are network-capable and all three have front-panel USB connections. The two network-capable receivers support streaming PC audio and Internet radio, and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. Onkyo has also introduced its UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that will be compatible with all Onkyo network-capable receivers with USB and introduced in 2011. It provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. This front-panel USB port also offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. In the case of the TX-NR609 the USB port even support album from your iPod/iPhone. All Onkyo receivers incorporate an implementation of HDMI® that includes compatibility with 3D video, HDMI Thru, and an Audio Return Channel. The latter allows audio content received via an HDTVs tuner to be sent upstream via HDMI to the receiver, without the need for an extra cable from the display. Other features shared by these models include PLL jitter-cleaning circuitry to preserve signal clarity; lossless Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; an overlaid on-screen display for easy adjustment of settings; and a new front panel design. The most advanced model in this group is the THX® Select2 Plus-certified TX-NR609, the latest in Onkyos extremely popular line of 600 series A/V receivers. When it comes to video processing, this receiver employs cutting-edge Marvell Qdeo to upscale video signals to state-of-the-art 4K resolution. Regardless of the original source resolution, users will be able to enjoy smooth and extremely precise video images on a compatible high-resolution display. Along with the aforementioned USB port, the TX-NR609 boasts six HDMI inputs (one located conveniently on the front), a Universal Port for Onkyo-branded peripheral devices, and a raft of popular digital and analog A/V jacks. Another connectivity highlight on the TX-NR609 comes in the form of Powered Zone 2, which lets users play a different audio source in a second room equipped with stereo speakers. The TX-NR609s 7.2-channel configuration includes two subwoofer pre-outs, enabling users to supply larger rooms with more balanced and powerful low frequencies. The TX-NR609 features a PC-compatible analog RGB video inputideal for gamers and fans of PC-based media. This input allows users to send the video signal from a notebook or desktop PC directly to the receiver, which then sends it via HDMI to a compatible display. Among its audio-processing highlights, the TX-NR609 supports decoding for Audyssey DSX. This sophisticated technology allows users to reconfigure the surround-back speakers in a seven-channel set-up as either front-height or front-wide speakers, creating a more immersive home theater experience with increased ambience. The TX-NR609 also supports Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz, which offers a similar front-height surround-sound option. Ease-of-use is always a priority at Onkyo, particularly at the entry level. This is why the TX-NR609 incorporates a suite of Audyssey technologies2EQ®, Dynamic Volume®, and Dynamic EQ®to simplify set-up, and a new overlaid graphical GUI for in-session adjustments to settings. A stylish illuminated volume control knob makes it easy to adjust the volume in the dark. The TX-NR509, meanwhile, offers an appealing choice to users who do not require the 4K video upscaling feature or the expanded surround sound of Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz. It offers 4 HMDI inputs and the same range of networking and superb audio processing as its higher sibling. Rounding out this release is the most affordable model of all, the TX-SR309. This 5.1-channel A/V receiver is targeted at users who do not require the networking, Zone 2, or Audyssey equalization features, but who still seek a modern and budget-friendly home theater centerpiece. It features three HDMI inputs and high-quality TI Burr-Brown audio DACs, along with Onkyos proprietary advanced music optimizer and gaming audio modes. With this current release, Onkyo aims to further cement its position as a trusted provider of high-quality, yet affordable, home theater receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR609 will be available with a manufacture's suggested retail price of $599; TX-NR509 at $399; and TX-SR309 at $299. The Onkyo UWF-1 wireless adapter will cost $39. All of these products will be available at retail in early April. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo's New Range of Separate Hi-Fi Components Combine the Classic Style of the '80s with the Advanced Technology of Tomorrow LAS VEGAS, Jan 5, 2011 --- Onkyo, a company with over 60 years of experience in quality audio, has announced a new range of elite hi-fi separate components with a style reminiscent of the company's classic stereo models of the 1980s. All three models, the P-3000R pre-amplifier, M-5000R power amplifier, and C-7000R CD player, incorporate Onkyos new Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry (DIDRC) to counteract unwanted high-frequency interference. Despite being beyond the normal range of human hearing, frequencies above 100 kHz are susceptible to clock pulses and other forms of distortion from digital devices. Such distortion in the super-high frequency range can generate beat interference, which in turn affects the character or atmosphere of the original sound. DIDRC works to reduce noise by improving linearity and reducing distortion in the super high frequency range, resulting in audio playback that is more faithful to the original source. DIDRC is incorporated into the amplification circuitry of the three hi-fi components. To further reduce interference, these components feature separate digital and analog circuitry. Other features common to all models include audiophile-grade partssuch as massive toroidal transformers and gold-plated terminalsalong with a new circuit board construction and separate chassis panels, to eliminate unwanted vibrations. P-3000R Preamplifier The P-3000R pre-amp accepts both analog and digital sources, with connectivity options including AES/EBU digital connectors and a USB input for PC audio. A high-quality 32-bit Burr-Brown DAC is provided for each stereo channel, to optimize audio performance. Meanwhile, PLL (phase locked loop) technology minimizes the effect of clock jitter, and bi-amping capability provides greater flexibility for audiophile applications. M-5000R Power Amplifier Onkyos new M-5000R offers the best of the traditional and modern, with large front-panel analog power meters reminiscent of Onkyo's classic M-405 from the 1980s combined with state-of-the-art distortion reduction technologies and exceptional high current capabilities. The company's advanced AWRAT amplification design is at the heart of the M-5000R power amplifier. AWRAT comprises DIDRC technology along with a low NFB design, closed ground-loop circuits, and high instantaneous-current capability. While the 8-ohm FTC rating is a conservative 80 watts, the amplifier's remarkable current capabilities allow it to drive even the most demanding complex-impedance loudspeakers to high levels, with a dynamic power rating of over 450 watts into 1 ohm. To minimize errors in stereophonic playback, the M-5000R uses a perfectly symmetrical alignment of power devices for the left and right channels. Power efficiency on the M-5000R is optimized by three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry and a new Quad Push-Pull amplification design that incorporates two extra transistors for each channel. Meanwhile, twin toroidal transformers and four 27,000 µF capacitors work to stabilize the power supply and current, respectively. A high-grade XLR input opens up the possibility of doubling power output via a BTL (bridged transless) set-up. C-7000R CD Player To ensure minimal signal interference, the C-7000R CD player employs a thermally regulated, high-precision clock with a state-of-the-art crystal oscillator. To further reduce potential interference, the player can be operated in analog-only or digital-only mode. Furthermore, analog and digital circuitry are physically separated and employ independent transformers: a massive toroidal transformer for analog, and an EI transformer for digital. The audiophile build-quality of the C-7000R is epitomized by a silent disc mechanism, a solid die-cast aluminum tray, and AES/EBU digital outputs. With these three precision-engineered hi-fi components, Onkyo offers a compelling choice to music aficionados seeking a no-compromise audio solution. All three models will be available through select Onkyo dealers in January , with manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $1,699 for the P-3000R pre-amplifier, $2,499 for the M-5000R power amplifier, and $1,499 for the C-7000R CD player. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.	Spotify
Mattel Inc closed its vast flagship retail store for what iconic product/brand in Shanghai, China, two years after its launch in 2009?	Onkyo USA ONKYO’S NEW ‘SBT-A500 NETWORK SURROUND SOUND BAR SYSTEM’ A PERFECT SOUND SOLUTION FOR GAMES, MUSIC AND MOVIES UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 6, 2017 – Power and simplicity combine for massive sound with a minimalist profile as Onkyo USA today announced the SBT-A500 Network Surround Sound Bar System. On display in the Venetian Bassano Room #2601 during CES 2017, the SBT-A500 features Dolby Atmos immersive audio as well as DTS:X™ playback, along with user-friendly wireless audio features such as Chromecast built-in1, DTS Play-Fi® technology1, AirPlay®, and FireConnect™2 multi-room distribution. The SBT-A500 ships this month with an MSRP of $999 MSRP in USA and $1,399 in Canada. In addition to providing immersive object-based audio to the latest in video and gaming entertainment, the three-piece system offers key advantages over similar products, starting with its low 2.1” profile for an unimpeded view of the TV screen. The wall-mountable sound bar connects to a separate, slim Network A/V Receiver via multichannel audio cable, with authentic full-scale power delivered to precision drivers (comprising two speakers each for the left, right, and center channels, plus single height speakers) by a discrete digital amplification system. Together with wireless subwoofer, this single-cable sound bar design results in neat and clean installation under the TV display. The receiver includes four HDMI® inputs to connect media players and game consoles, with all components and cabling easily concealed in an entertainment unit. TV connection comes via single 4K/60p HDMI cable with Audio Return Channel, allowing the SBT-A500 to enhance broadcast TV audio. The SBT-A500 also achieves a deeply satisfying stereo performance with a choice of network audio options, and includes a pair of upward firing speakers that conform to the Dolby Atmos standard for overhead sound reproduction of object and channel based content. The sound bar will support DTS Play-Fi technology that collects music (streaming services, local files, or network-attached audio) into a simple interface for casting to Wi-Fi®-enabled speakers, and supports multiple streams to different speakers simultaneously without interruption. Chromecast built-in, AirPlay®, and dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi® provide for seamless app-based music casting, while Spotify® Connect lets subscribers stream direct from the Spotify® application. Bluetooth® connectivity completes a universal suite for wireless music streaming. Onkyo Controller app brings together wireless casting technologies, simplifies access to included TuneIn, TIDAL, and Pandora® services, and centralizes house-wide audio distribution to optional FireConnect™-ready wireless speakers. The easy-to-use app compliments on-screen GUI with system remote controls for each zone. With discrete dialog volume adjustment for DTS:X™ soundtracks, DTS Neural:X™ is also included to upmix standard multichannel audio to 3D sound. The SBT-A500 also supports a Dolby Surround upmixer, which decodes and directs sounds to all of the speakers in the sound bar including up-firing capabilities to provide a higher sense of immersion from all channel-based content. Dolby Audio adds a new Surround Enhancer technology that wraps sound around the audience by creating virtual rear speakers. The addition of Dolby Atmos delivers captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment to life all around the audience. Whether you are listening to music, movies, television shows or playing your favorite video games, Dolby Atmos delivers the full impact of the entertainment experience. Rounded out with a 40-preset FM tuner, AV sync function and L/R tone controls, the SBT-A500’s feature set approaches that of a full-sized home theater in a decor-friendly package. Those attending CES 2017 can experience Onkyo’s latest offerings at the Venetian Bassano #2601. 1 Feature enabled following a firmware update. 2 Multi-room audio is realized by FireConnect™ technology. Requires optional FireConnect™-compatible speakers. FireConnect™ is a technology of Blackfire Research Corp., USA. ONKYO USA TO SUPPORT GOOGLE’S NEWLY ANNOUNCED CHROMECAST BUILT-IN UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 5, 2017 — Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation is proud to announce its support of Chromecast built-in, which was recently announced by Google Inc. Onkyo has been working closely with Google Inc. to incorporate new technologies into a broad product lineup, including network-enabled AV and stereo receivers, sound bars and wireless speakers. Customers will be able to use their mobile device to cast their favorite music, radio, or podcasts to Chromecast-enabled AV products, and control the audio from anywhere in the house using Cast-enabled apps running personal devices, including iPhone and iPad, Android phone and tablet, Mac and Windows laptop, and Chromebook. “We expect that the current trend of multi-room entertainment will continue to expand,” said Nobuaki Okuda, director and CTO, Onkyo Corporation. “We are pleased to support Chromecast built-in with a broad range of products to meet the demand from global customers.” Chromecast built-in functions will be activated through firmware updates beginning this spring. Upgradable models and timing will be announced on www.onkyousa.com. Those attending CES 2017 can experience Onkyo’s latest offerings at the Venetian Bassano #2601. ONKYO ANNOUNCES THE ‘VC-FLX1’ - A UNIQUE SMART SPEAKER WITH ALEXA VOICE SERVICE LAS VEGAS, NV, January 5, 2017 — As part of its public display at the Venetian Bassano #2601 during CES 2017 from January 5-8, Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation will be offering attendees new ways to enjoy music, along with the company’s initial foray into the IoT market with the VC-FLX1 smart speaker. In addition to developing products that enable high-quality music playback on mobile devices such as digital audio players (DAP) and smartphones, Onkyo is developing products that produce excellent sound quality with an eye on the IoT sector where all things are connected via the Internet. As part of that initiative, Onkyo has developed the VC-FLX1, a smart speaker that features Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based voice service. In addition to high quality audio playback, the VC-FLX1 can help customers monitor the surrounding area via a built-in web camera, and temperature and humidity sensor. The result is a revolutionary speaker system that not only sounds great but also adds tremendous functionality and value. Responding quickly to the rapidly changing music playback environment, Onkyo continues to develop high quality products and services that provide new ways to enjoy music through a combination of advanced technology cultivated over decades, and advanced digital technology. In cooperation with leading products and music services, Onkyo is establishing an ecosystem centered on providing new high-quality music experiences. VC-FLX1 Key Features • Amazon Alexa that helps users play music, control their smart home and more using just their voice; • High-quality music playback via proprietary full range speaker driver; • Web camera with motion, temperature and humidity sensors. Combined with third party cloud service, it is possible to monitor the environment via your smartphone; • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® capabilities; • Will support a wide variety of network music services and Internet radio. Sales region, suggested retail price and scheduled introduction date are currently under consideration. ONKYO & PIONEER TO PARTNER AT CES 2017 Companies Will Jointly Show Products at the Venetian Bassano Room # 2601 UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ / LONG BEACH, CA, December 29, 2016 – Two powerhouse home entertainment brands, Onkyo USA Corp and Pioneer Home Entertainment U.S.A., are partnering for CES 2017 to display some of the world’s most highly regarded and advanced home entertainment products. “The products on display at CES 2017 clearly demonstrate the innovation and commitment to providing consumers with the features and functionality they want,” said Hiro Izutani, President of Onkyo USA Corporation. “From freeing consumers of traditional wires and cables, to offering whole home audio and portable hi-res music solutions, our lineup shows the depth and detail that have been the hallmark of both brands.” Whole Home Audio The trend towards wireless, whole-home audio remains a focus and both Onkyo and Pioneer will have a multitude of offerings across an array of product categories, including multi-room wireless speakers such as the Onkyo NCP-302 Wireless Multi-Room Speakers and the Pioneer MRX-3 Wireless Speaker. Both companies will also support leading wireless functionality that include FireConnect®1 and Play-Fi®1. Surround Sound Sound bars are a great option for mass-market consumers looking to enjoy premium sound with a simple setup and Onkyo’s SBT-A500 Network Surround Sound Bar System and Pioneer’s Elite FS-EB70 Network Sound Bar System do not disappoint. Both will be on hand with 360 degree DTS:X® and Dolby Atmos® surround sound and full 4K UltraHD including HDR 10. Hi-Res Audio With hi-res music continuing to make inroads with the American consumer, both companies will have products geared to address this burgeoning market, including new offerings for hi-res digital audio players that include Pioneer’s next-generation XDP-300R, and a sneak-peek of its new entry level DAP. Onkyo will be displaying the next iteration of its award-winning digital audio player with the DP-X1A alongside its new entry-level model. Joining the digital audio players will be Pioneer’s new line of hi-res capable and Bluetooth/wireless headphones, and an early look at Onkyo’s new hi-res smartphone. --- 1. Some services and functionality including FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research and Play-Fi are enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. FireConnect is a technology of Blackfire Research Corp, USA. FireConnect is a stable wireless protocol that mirrors audio source connected to the system on optional FireConnect compatible speakers in other rooms. Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby and the double-D symbol are the registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. For DTS patents, see http://patents.dts.com. Manufactured under license from DTS, Inc. DTS, the Symbol, DTS in combination with the Symbol, DTS:X, and the DTS:X logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. © DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. “PIONEER”, “ELITE”, are trademarks of Pioneer Corporation, and are used under license. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. © 2016 Pioneer & Onkyo USA Corporation. All rights reserved. PRODUCTS INCLUDE ADVANCED HOME THEATER UNITS FROM CUSTOM RZ SERIES AND PREVIEW OF NEW ‘NCP-302 WIRELESS MULTI-ROOM SPEAKER’ UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, September 9, 2016 – Displaying the power and innovation that has been the hallmark of the company for 70 years, Onkyo USA today unveiled its lineup of home theater products that will be on display during CEDIA 2016 in booth #5121. Chief among those products is the introduction of the new NCP-302 Multi-Room Wireless Speaker. Available later this year in both black and white, the Wi-Fi®-certified NCP-302 offers consumers a wide variety of options to wirelessly stream audio throughout the home with FireConnect™1 and Play-Fi®2 technology, as well as enjoying music using Bluetooth™ technology. Built-in support of top streaming services including Spotify®, Pandora® and TIDAL™2 give nearly limitless access to music. Best of all, through the use of the new Onkyo Controller app (iOS, Android), owners can control their 2016 Onkyo network A/V receiver with FireConnect™, and direct virtually any connected music source – including CD players or turntables – to individual speakers, groupings of speakers, or even a whole-house mode. The NCP-302 is outfitted with dual 3-inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter housed in a wood cabinet. Direct access buttons include play/pause, input select and a volume knob, which sit atop the speaker. Ethernet and 3.5mm auxiliary inputs allow for wired connections to a home network and for quickly connecting devices lacking wireless connectivity. Joining the NCP-302 will be the latest in the Onkyo RZ Series of A/V receivers and controllers, including the 11.2-Channel TX-RZ3100 Network A/V Receiver and the 9.2-Channel TX-RZ1100 Network A/V Receiver, as well as the 11.2-Channel PR-RZ5100 Network A/V Controller. Onkyo previously announced the inaugural RZ Series products back in March, which included the TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and the TX-RZ610 A/V Network Receivers. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy, and the entire RZ Series is backed by a three-year warranty with priority customer support. Other products being displayed at CEDIA by Onkyo include: • TX-8160 & TX-8140 Network Stereo Receivers • M-5010 2-Channel Amplifier • A-9010, A-9050 & A-9070 Integrated Amplifiers • C-7070 CD Player • DP-X1 Digital Audio Player 1 Multi-room audio enabled by FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research. Optional wireless speakers are due for release in 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee operation with all FireConnect™-compatible products. 2 Some services and functionality including Tidal and Play-Fi enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. Please check regional availability. Some services may require a subscription. Pioneer and Onkyo join DTS Play-Fi® Wireless Audio Ecosystem in wide-reaching Agreement Agreement to extend DTS Play-Fi technology across product lines worldwide; DTS Play-Fi also announces support for wireless surround functionality and integration of European music service Qobuz Berlin, September 2nd, 2016. DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), a global leader in high-definition audio solutions, has announced Pioneer and Onkyo as its newest hardware partners in the DTS Play-Fi® whole-home wireless audio ecosystem. Both brands will upgrade select 2016 soundbars, AVRs, lifestyle products, and home theaters-in-a-box with DTS Play-Fi technology via future firmware updates. DTS Play-Fi integration will expand into their 2017 models, as well as additional product categories in 2017. Company executives will be available to discuss this news and provide demos at IFA 2016 in Berlin, Sept. 2-7, at Reseller Park (Hall 25), Room 31. DTS Play-Fi technology provides listeners the freedom and flexibility to stream their music wirelessly in high-quality lossless audio from smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop PCs over an existing home Wi-Fi network to any number of speakers throughout the home. DTS Play-Fi is a platform that allows products from different brands and manufacturers to interoperate seamlessly, giving consumers an optimized whole-home streaming experience without the constraints of a single brand system. The innovative technology enables wireless audio streaming from the world's most popular music services, Internet radio stations and personal music libraries on any supported product. “We are proud to announce that Pioneer and Onkyo are the latest brands to join DTS Play-Fi, the world’s largest ecosystem of premium wireless audio products,” said Brian Towne, executive vice president, DTS, and president DTS Asia Pacific. “DTS is committed to providing listeners with the most flexibility and choice of products when it comes to their wireless home audio system, and this expansion further increases the Play-Fi ecosystem's industry-leading selection of audio products.” “I’m very pleased to announce that we start adopting DTS Play-Fi technology to Pioneer and Onkyo products today” said Nobuaki Okuda, Director and CTO, Onkyo Corporation and President, Onkyo and Pioneer Technology Corporation. “We will keep expanding implementation of the technology to a broader range of our products to meet global customers’ demand to deliver a great entertainment experience.” Wireless Surround Sound and Qobuz Music Service DTS Play-Fi continues to revolutionize the industry with the introduction of wireless surround technology to provide an immersive home theater environment with discrete 5.1 surround sound, which will begin rollout in late September. Qobuz is the latest music service to join DTS Play-Fi’s constantly growing collection of top services. Qobuz is dedicated to delivering a premium listening experience to its users, and features a library of more than 30 million titles in true CD quality and “À lca carte” Download on more than 45,000 albums in Hi-Res 24-Bit, showing its dedication to delivering premium sound to its listeners. Qobuz joins a roster including Amazon Prime Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, KKBox, Napster, QQ Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify and Tidal, thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as listeners’ personal music libraries. Benefits of DTS Play-Fi Technology * Multi-Room, Multi-Zone, Multi-User Listening Experience: Connect multiple audio systems that incorporate Play-Fi into a zone and enjoy music in every room of your home, perfectly synchronized with no lag. Or create multiple zones and stream different music to different rooms from the same device. Play-Fi technology makes it possible for every user in the home to simultaneously stream from different devices and PCs that incorporate the Play-Fi software. * Exceptional Sound Experience: Play-Fi wirelessly transmits high-quality lossless audio. * Whole-Home Range: Play-Fi works everywhere your Wi-Fi does, even if range extenders are used. It also works over Ethernet, Powerline, and other IP-based networking technologies. There is no need for proprietary bridges or routers. Most homes already have everything that is needed. * Stream Anything. Control Everything: In addition to streaming music services, users can download Play-Fi apps for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire to gain access to more than 20,000 radio stations, podcasts, local music, media servers, and select cloud-based music services. Set-up, link and control all of the speakers on the network from the same streamlined interfaces. * Audio/Video Synchronization with Windows PCs: DTS Play-Fi supports true audio/visual synchronization when streaming audio from YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other video source to a DTS Play-Fi speaker from a Microsoft Windows PC. DTS Play-Fi is the only multi-room streaming platform to offer lip-sync accurate synchronization with a video source, and the only whole-home platform with operating system-level integration compatible with every application and streaming service. The A/V sync feature is available for existing and new purchasers of the premium DTS Play-Fi HD Driver ($14.95). Additionally, all DTS Play-Fi Windows software supports Windows 10.* * Enhanced Play-Fi App: The DTS Play-Fi mobile apps have been significantly enhanced with a brand new design and clean, bright user interface. Users will have streamlined access to basic and advanced controls, a new “switch” feature to easily transfer music from one speaker to another, and built-in coaching points and help throughout the app. For more information about DTS Play-Fi®, please visit www.play-fi.com . DTS:X Firmware Update Now Available. Additionally, Tidal and Deezer support added to 2016 models. Firmware enabling DTS:X™ is now available for select 2015-model and 2016-model DTS:X-Ready Onkyo A/V receivers. 2016 Models • Onkyo TX-NR555, TX-NR656, TX-NR757, TX-RZ610, TX-RZ710, TX-RZ810, HT-R695/HT-S7800 2015 Models • Onkyo TX-NR646, TX-NR747, TX-RZ800, TX-RZ900 This firmware can be applied via Network or USB. To download and apply the firmware via USB, please visit the individual product page or the Downloads section at www.onkyousa.com. After applying the update, users must recalibrate using AccuEQ. Additionally, within the same firmware update, the same 2016 models will add Tidal and Deezer music streaming functionality. These two premium music services require active accounts. Please visit www.Tidal.com and www.Deezer.com to sign up. DTS:X™ is an object-based format that allows audio elements in movie and game soundtracks to be played through any channel, freeing sound to move naturally above and around the audience. The format is playable on DTS:X™-enabled A/V receivers through any surround-sound speaker layout, but works to maximum effect with the inclusion of height channels featured on the above Onkyo AVRs. ONKYO INTRODUCES NEXT WAVE OF ADVANCED RZ SERIES MODELS Unlocks the Ultimate in Multidimensional Object-Based Surround-Sound UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, August 30, 2016 – Driven by 70 years of home audio innovation and design, Onkyo USA today unveiled the details of its second wave of products from its premier RZ Series, including two top-of-the-line A/V receivers: the THX® Select2 Plus-certified 11.2-channel TX-RZ3100 Network AV Receiver and the 9.2-channel TX-RZ1100 Network A/V Receiver, along with a flagship THX Ultra2 Plus-certified 11.2-channel PR-RZ5100 Network A/V Controller, all of which are scheduled to be available next month. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy. Connectivity options include RS-232, IR and 12v triggers as well as PC setup, detachable power cables and optional rack kits, simplifying installation. Finally, the RZ Series is backed by a three-year warranty and features priority customer support. In addition to Zone 2 pre outs with independent HDMI output and Zone3 pre out, all three units include 11.2 channel preamp RCA outputs, the PR-RZ5100 features balanced XLR connectors. The TX-RZ1100 and TXRZ3100 feature Zone 2 and 3 powered outputs for driving speakers in other rooms. Additional multi-room wireless audio capabilities are offered via optional FireConnect1. The AVRs offer prodigious high-current dynamic power to drive large floor-standing loudspeakers with breathtaking accuracy and control. Users can add additional height or ceiling speakers to unlock the full multi-dimensional experience delivered by built in Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™, which incorporates DTS Neural:X™ technology to up-mix lossless multichannel surround formats such as DTS Master Audio™, to emulate height effects and give listeners a 3D experience that’s close to a native object-based soundtrack. All products offer Google Cast™2, AirPlay®, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Spotify®, TIDAL2, TuneIn, and Pandora®2 with any app-based audio entertainment cast seamlessly to the theater room and beyond using a user-friendly Onkyo Remote application3. Delivering ultimate clarity, cohesiveness, and full-scale power for movie and game soundtracks, hi-res audio, and stereo sources, both the TX-RZ3100 and the TX-RZ1100 feature a new Onkyo Hi-Current Digital Amplification system that pairs with AccuEQ and AccuReflex technologies to optimally balanced and phase-align sound any listening space. The three models feature premium AKM 384kHz/32-bit digital-to-analog conversion technology and VLSC™ noise-free processing on all channels, which removes pulse-noise for sound that’s true to the source, while delivering a level of richness and emotional heft that make music and TV entertainment an amazing experience. All three products feature separated digital and analog circuitry to minimize interference, custom low-hum transformers, and bespoke audio-grade capacitors for smooth and instantaneous power, while componentry and attention to detail throughout reflects the products’ flagship status. Each include HDCP 2.2 compatibility and a host of 4k video features over HDMI including BT.2020 color, High Dynamic Range, 4:4:4 color space, and 4K/60 Hz should the user choose to update their display or projector in the future. The TX-RZ3100 (MSRP: $3,199), TX-RZ1100 (MSRP: $2,199) and the PR-RZ5100 (MSRP: $2,399) will be available next month. 1 Multi-room audio enabled by FireConnect™, a wireless technology of Blackfire Research. Optional wireless speakers are due for release in 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee operation with all FireConnect™-compatible products. 2 Some services enabled via firmware update. Details TBA. Please check regional availability. Some services may require a subscription. 3 Compatible with iPod touch (5th generation or later) and iPhone 4GS or later. ONKYO ANNOUNCES TWO NEW HOME THEATER SYSTEMS: HT-S7800 and HT-S3800 Onkyo announces two new home theater systems: HT-S7800 5.1.2 Channel Network Home Theater System and the HT-S3800 5.1 Channel Home Theater System. The HT-S7800 is designed for those looking to step-up their current home theater system with object-based surround sound and advanced network features, while the HT-S3800 is geared toward the entry-level consumers. Both systems will be available in May. HT-S7800 5.1.2 Channel Network Home Theater System (MSRP $999) Combining object-based audio and wireless entertainment in an intuitive home theater package is Onkyo’s new HT-S7800. A state-of-the-art UltraHD-ready package, the HT-S7800 has Dolby Atmos™ support and is DTS:X™-ready, and is powered by discrete non-phase amps delivering 170W/ch, a 384 kHz/32-bit high-grade DAC, and VLSC™ noise-free processing, which combine to clarify the audio image and reproduce the energy and vibrancy of the original recording. Leading with next-generation video as well as audio, the receiver passes 4K/60 Hz video with High Dynamic Range (HDR) 4:4:4 color space, and BT.2020 to the latest television displays, offers 4k up-scaling from 1080p and up-converts analog sources via a single HDMI cable. Eight HDMI® inputs and 2 outputs offer plenty of connection options. The receiver has native support for online services including Spotify and TIDAL, and Dynamic Audio Amplification makes stereo listening a satisfying experience, whether spinning a favorite LP or streaming audio via Google Cast,™ Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or Bluetooth. Any source, whether it’s analog audio, TV sound via HDMI®, or streaming audio, can be mirrored on compatible wireless speakers via FireConnect™ technology by Blackfire Research. Dedicated Zone 2 DAC (for Network and digital sources) and speaker outputs allow multi-room playback of different sources at the same time. Completing the package are high-fidelity speakers that reflect Onkyo’s 70 years of experience. Front and center two-way speakers include pairs of Onkyo Micro Fiber (OMF) aramid-laminated woofers for accurate sound. A powered 120W subwoofer lets the receiver focus its power on the front, height, and center channels for effortlessly dynamic performance. HT-S3800 Home Theater System (MSRP $499) Consumers looking for an entry model home theater solution should look no further than the HT-S3800. A compact and affordable system, the new HT-S3800 serves up thrilling full-scale surround-sound while reducing TV cable clutter to a single wire. The heart of the unit is its robust 5.1-channel HT-R395 receiver that features authentic 100 W/ch analog amplifiers with discrete output circuitry. The receiver includes four HDMI® inputs and two composite inputs to route video from your 4K streamer, Blu-ray player, consoles, and legacy gaming devices to the TV through a single cable. Supporting 4K/60 Hz, 4:4:4 color space, HDR, BT.2020, and HDCP 2.2 copy protection, the receiver is ready for future developments in TV display technology. Bluetooth is also included to stream audio from practically any smartphone or laptop app to the home theater, while the well-made micro-speakers are solid and ensure quality sound – especially with the reproduction of lossless multichannel formats such as DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD. Deep bass notes and in-game explosions are felt as well as heard thanks to the powerful 100W subwoofer. Other advantages over popular soundbar solutions include authentic stereo imaging performance with front L/R tone controls, two pairs of digital and analog audio inputs, FM/AM tuner, and a full-sized simple remote controller. Both units feature Onkyo’s AccuEQ calibration suite with the HT-S7800 adding AccuReflex phase-adjustment technology, a new feature that ensures that the overhead sonic dimension from the up-firing front speakers are properly calibrated. The HT-S7800 and HT-S3800 will be available in May. For more information about Onkyo’s complete line of products, please go to onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo on Twitter (@onkyo_usa), Instagram (Onkyo_USA) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA). &star;Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™, Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. DP-X1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER NOW AVAILABLE; FREE MQA UPDATE AVAILABLE April 11, 2016 – Bringing hi-res portable music to consumers, Onkyo today announced the retail availability of its new digital audio player, the DP-X1 (MSRP $899.99). The hi-res unit will be MQA-enabled via a free update tomorrow, April 12, to its native music app making it one of the world’s first MQA-enabled portable digital audio players. Music lovers attending the AXPONA Expo can get a hands-on demo of the DP-X1 in the Onkyo Booth 7 in the Michigan Ballroom at the Weston O’Hare. MQA is a revolutionary end-to-end technology that captures and delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download. And because it’s fully authenticated, the listener can be sure they are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio. When listening to MQA on the DP-X1, the MQA display indicates that the product is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file and a green light signifies that the sound is identical to that of the source material. MQA Studio shows a blue light when it is playing a file which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner. X-DAP Link music transfer application1 with MQA support to be released soon. Note: The current build will display MQA files as FLAC/WAV, but once transferred to the DP-X1 will properly display MQA or MQA Studio. Bob Stuart, MQA’s creator, commented on the Onkyo launch. “We are very excited to launch MQA on the Onkyo DP-X1. The MQA sound on the portable player is truly breathtaking. With more MQA music in the market very soon, Onkyo customers will be amongst the first to truly experience the wonders of MQA. It’s an exciting time for MQA partners and music lovers everywhere.” About OnkyoMusic With webstores available in the U.S., Germany and the United Kingdom, OnkyoMusic is a leading hi-res digital music provider, which provides all downloads as FLAC and MQA. FLAC is an audio format that compresses audio without any loss in quality. Enjoy the DP-X1 with MQA and listen to studio master quality audio. Please visit www.onkyomusic.com for further details. About DP-X1 Based on Android™ OS, the DP-X1 digital audio player supports many High Res Audio formats, up to DSD 11.2MHz, 384kHz/24bit FLAC/WAV audio files, and now MQA. With years of experience in building audio components, the DP-X1 contains many design initiatives dedicated to “Pure Sound”. To isolate sources of internal noise, the Audio circuit board and CPU board are built on separate boards. The Audio circuit design uses ESS technology’s SABRE DAC ES9018K2M and SABRE 9601K amp in a dual setup with a 2.5mm 4 pole jack for full balance output with support for normal BTL balance and Active Control GND drive, a first for the product category. With the ability to expand its storage up to 432GB and access to Google Play, the DP-X1 was built for expansion beyond the built-in functions23. 1 Supports Windows (7, 8, and 10) only. 2 Apps that require GPS, camera, gyro-sensor may not function properly. 3 Will require Wi-Fi network access. Android, Google, and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc. ESS SABRE is a registered trademark of ESS Technology, Inc. The MQA Logo is a trademark of MQA Limited. Other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. ONKYO EXPANDS POWERFUL RZ SERIES Today Onkyo announces three new 7.2 channel network receivers for its advanced Onkyo RZ Series geared towards the custom installation market and discerning audiophile. Available in April, the TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and the TX-RZ610 AV network receivers reflect the superb craftsmanship and commitment to quality that have been the hallmark of Onkyo products. Later this year, Onkyo will unveil details for its advanced 9.2 and 11.2 channel RZ series offerings, including the 9.2 channel TX-RZ1100 network receiver, the 11.2 channel TX-RZ3100 network receiver and 11.2 channel PR-RZ5100 network pre-processor. Built with custom integration in mind, each Onkyo RZ Series receiver contains features to make installation and integration with control systems easy. Connectivity options include RS-232, IR and 12v triggers as well as PC setup, detachable power cables and optional rack kits, simplifying installation. The RZ Series will be backed by a three-year warranty and feature priority customer support. TX-RZ810 (MSRP $1,299) & TX-RZ710 (MSRP $999) These two stunning receivers are THX® Select2™ Plus-certified for theater grade performance and are ready to decode Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X™&star; surround formats for a captivating home theater experience. Both feature Dynamic Audio Amplification with massive high-output transformers, upgraded and customized capacitors, and Onkyo's premium amp circuitry to deliver high-current power with the TX-RZ810 delivering 130W/ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven, FTC) while the TX-RZ710 brings 110W/ch (8 ohms). The TX-RZ810 also benefits from separate analog amplification and digital processing blocks as well as solid copper bus bars that limit interference and patented Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry (VLSC™) on all channels for noiseless digital to analog conversion. Video connectivity for these receivers is outstanding with eight HDMI® inputs and two outputs—one for the main display and one for Zone 2 HDMI—allowing two 4K/60 Hz video (supporting High Dynamic Range, 4:4:4 color space, and HDCP 2.2) sources to be viewed in two rooms. Both receivers can distribute entertainment across the home with FireConnect™ powered by Blackfire® wireless technology which mirrors analog and digital audio on a compatible wireless speaker®. Dedicated Powered Zone 2A/2B speaker outputs with Zone 2 DAC (NET, SPDIF, HDMI), Zone 2 pre/line-outs enhance multi-room capabilities, while the TX-RZ810's Zone 3 pre/line-outs and 7.2 multichannel pre-outs add flexibility for audiophiles looking to customize their A/V setup further. TX-RZ610 (MSRP $799) The entry model to Onkyo's premium RZ series, the TX-RZ610 is a 7.2-channel network A/V receiver that delivers 100 W/ch (8 ohms). Manufactured with top-quality components, including massive power transformer, custom-spec capacitors, and discrete non-phase-shift amp circuitry, this high-current design enables full-spectrum reproduction down to 5 Hz while improving control of speaker drivers for dynamic, sound. The unit also features rigid insulator feet to dampen vibration-borne interference, while the 384 kHz/32-bit DAC from AKM pairs with VLSC™ technology to eliminate digital noise from audio signals. HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI® inputs are ready for 60 Hz UltraHD video including High Dynamic Range and 4:4:4 color space. Finally, the Zone 2 DAC takes network and digital sources to dedicated powered Zone 2 speakers. All three receivers benefit from the company's new AccuReflex technology—part of its AccuEQ room calibration suite— that ensures that stereo and object-based surround-sound formats are reproduced with striking clarity. The technology adjusts the phase of sound bounced off the ceiling by up-firing speakers so that it syncs perfectly with sound from the other speakers to create a more accurate Dolby Atmos experience. Together with AccuEQ to eliminate standing waves, surround-sound is precisely balanced for supreme clarity. As well as being ready for 4k UltraHD movies, users can stream almost any audio content from mobile devices and laptops via AirPlay, Google Cast™&star;, or Bluetooth to these receivers and share it wirelessly via FireConnect or to other wired zones to enjoy content such as podcasts, Spotify, TIDAL&star;, and Hi-Res Audio, or the traditional sounds of FM/AM radio, cassette, and vinyl records. The TX-RZ810, TX-RZ710 and TX-RZ610 will be available in April. For more information about Onkyo's RZ Series, please visit http://rzseries.onkyousa.com. &star;Note: Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™, Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. ONKYO ANNOUNCES 2016 LINEUP OF AV RECEIVERS March 14, 2016 – Celebrating 70 years as an innovator of high-quality home theater and hi-fi solutions, Onkyo USA today unveiled details of its AV receiver lineup scheduled to debut in 2016. Redefining expectations for price-to-performance, Onkyo’s new lineup includes the TX-NR757, TX-NR656, TX-NR555 and the TX-SR353 A/V receivers. The first three receivers bring high-current Dynamic Audio Amplification and state-of-the-art features to the mid-range with Dolby Atmos® decoding and are DTS:X™ -ready. They also support 4K UltraHD video and 4K upscaling; AirPlay, and Wi-Fi®, with Google Cast™ Tidal™ music streaming and the new FireConnect™ multi-room audio technology* soon to come via firmware update. FireConnect™ Powered by Blackfire is a stable wireless protocol that sends any audio source connected to the receiver—from vinyl to streaming audio—to an optional Onkyo speaker or another FireConnect-compatible product in another room. Also debuting in these three receivers is Onkyo’s AccuReflex, part of the company’s AccuEQ calibration suite. The technology adjusts the phase of sound bounced off the ceiling by up-firing speakers so that it syncs perfectly with sound from the other speakers to create a more accurate Dolby Atmos experience. Together with AccuEQ to eliminate standing waves, surround-sound is precisely balanced for supreme clarity. TX-NR757 NETWORK AV RECEIVER (MSRP $799) THX® Select2 Plus theater reference sound and cutting-edge wireless tech is ready to transform consumers’ home entertainment with the TX-NR757 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver. The receiver harnesses 180W of high-current power and patented VLSC™ high-frequency pulse-noise removal technology for crystal clear sound. Processing for lossless and Hi-Res Audio is handled by a state-of-the-art AKM 384 kHz/32-bit D/A convertor. Easily bring audio to another room with multi-zone support including multiple speaker connections for Zone 2 (2A/2B). The TX-NR757 looks to the future with HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI® inputs supporting 60Hz UltraHD and Full HD video with 4:4:4 color space and High Dynamic Range (HDR). The receiver was also designed with custom integration in mind with RS232, 12v trigger, IR input and more on board. TX-NR656 (MSRP: $699) & TX-NR555 (MSRP: $599) NETWORK AV RECEIVERS The 7.2-Channel TX-NR656 packs 170W/Ch while the 7.2-Channel TX-NR555 boasts 140W/Ch for powerful home theater experiences. Both receivers let music lovers take advantage of the full-scale stereo power through Google Cast™, AirPlay, Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth streaming music from mobiles and PCs, while Onkyo’s own remote app streams everything from MP3s to hi-res audio stored on a media server. Digital music benefits from noise-free 32-bit D/A conversion with VLSC™, while discrete non-phase-shift amps provide a sense of clarity and depth. Both receivers also feature powered Zone 2 speaker terminals and support the latest in UltraHD entertainment with HDCP 2.2-compatible HDMI® terminals passing 4K/60 Hz/4:4:4/HDR video through to the latest TVs for display. The TX-NR555 has 6 HDMI inputs and 1 output, while the TX-NR656 features 8 in and 2 out. TX-SR353 AV RECEIVER (MSRP $399) The powerful yet affordable TX-SR353 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver is engineered front-to-back to streamline and enhance daily entertainment. It features full support for4K video (4K/60 Hz/HDR/4:4:4/HDCP 2.2) via four HDMI® inputs, decoding for Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ common to Blu-ray discs, and video up-conversion via HDMI® to reduce TV connections to a single cable. A redesigned and clearly labeled rear panel and simple remote controller make initial setup and daily operation easy, while AccuEQ room acoustic correction ensures clear stereo imaging and equalized surround-sound. Once connected, the TX-SR353 acts as a hub for all your AV sources, from the latest 4K media players and game consoles to legacy DVD decks and VCRs, and adds 140W of dynamic audio power from five discrete analog amplifiers. Music lovers will appreciate Bluetooth technology for wireless audio from most mobile apps, with Advanced Music Optimizer restoring lost bit information to compressed music. A USB input handles MP3s, while analog/digital terminals are available on the back panel to connect other audio players. The TX-NR656, TX-NR555 and TX-SR353 will be available in mid April while the TX-NR757 debuts in May. For more information about Onkyo’s complete line of products, please visit http://legacy.onkyousa.com/. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at http://legacy.onkyousa.com/ or follow Onkyo on Twitter (@onkyo_usa), Instagram (Onkyo_USA) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/OnkyoWorldwide). Note: Support for DTS:X™, Google Cast™ , Tidal™ and FireConnect™ will be enabled on these receivers following firmware updates currently scheduled for summer 2016. FireConnect™ is a technology developed by Blackfire Research. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in summer 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect™. Please consult the Onkyo website for further announcements regarding these technologies. ONKYO UNVEILS DETAILS AROUND NEW PRODUCTS AT CES 2016 UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, January 4, 2016 – As it heads into CES 2016, Onkyo USA today unveiled additional details for the products being highlighted at the leading consumer electronics show. On display in the Bassano #2602 meeting room at the Venetian Hotel, Onkyo’s lineup includes the DP-X1, the company’s highly anticipated digital audio player (DAP), as well as its new network stereo receiver, the TX-8140. DP-X1 Digital Audio Player With a well-earned reputation as a leader in hi-res audio, Onkyo’s continues that tradition with its DP-X1 Digital Audio Player. Backed by dual ESS Technology Sabre ES9018K2M DACs and two SABRE9601K amps with balanced headphone output, the DP-X1 is the only DAP with such an advanced configuration, the result of which is unprecedented power and control. The DP-X1 also has two types of balanced drives: ACG and BTL, for greater stability and clean, crystal clear sound. The unit is also among the first to support the MQA format, an anticipated new standard that captures and preserves the original studio recording, and delivers it in a package small enough to stream. From a storage standpoint, the DP-X1 can expand to 432GBs, thanks to dual micro-SDXC card slots and can supply up to 16 hours of playback. The DP-X1 will be available in April for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $899.99. TX-8140 Network Stereo Receiver Delivering 80 W/Ch of high-current power from a fully discrete low-impedance amplification system, the TX-8140 plays all your audio sources with pure dynamic energy. Connectivity is outstanding: you can route TV sound via coaxial/optical inputs; play internet radio or stream music over Wi-Fi® (with built-in support for Spotify Connect, Pandora® and more); play MP3s from a flash drive via USB, or pair and stream audio from almost any application using Bluetooth technology. Four BGM Presets can store your favorite FM/AM and internet radio stations—just push a button on the front panel to power up the receiver and start listening right away. Vinyl collectors will appreciate the phono equalizer input that joins six analog audio inputs for CD players and cassette decks. With rigid oval chassis and custom high-spec audio parts used throughout—along with proper input, balance, tone, and volume controls—the TX-8140 looks and feels every bit as good as it sounds. The TX-8140 will be available in early February for an MSRP of $399.99. For more information on Onkyo’s complete line of products, please visit www.onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at www.onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo on Facebook (www.facebook.com/onkyousa) and Twitter (@Onkyo_USA) PRECISION ENGINEERED ON-EAR HEADPHONES DESIGNED AND TUNED BY STEVE HARRIS FOR ROCK AND METAL FANS New Companion Maiden Audio Smartphone App With Exclusive IRON MAIDEN Custom EQ Settings Also Available UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ,December 8, 2015 - IRON MAIDEN and the award-winning Japanese electronics company ONKYO Corporation are delighted to announce the launch of their unique on-ear headphones, the EDPHON3S . The headphones have been specially designed to provide fans of IRON MAIDEN, rock and heavy metal the ultimate way to hear their music, with the clarity and full acoustic range required by Maiden bassist, founder member and co-producer, Steve Harris. The companion Maiden Audio smartphone app, which includes exclusive IRON MAIDEN custom EQ settings, is now available for free download in the Apple Store and Google Play Store . The Maiden Audio partnership was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2015. Over the following months, Steve Harris worked directly with Mark Cheffins, Artist Relations & Technical Consultant at ONKYO and their Japanese engineers. The resulting ED-PH0N3S are customized to Steve's exacting sonic requirements, delivering the ultimate audio experience when listening to IRON MAIDEN or any rock and metal music. Steve explains how the alliance came about: "I knew that I would need some really good headphones to use for playback of the mixes of ‘The Book Of Souls,’ our new Maiden studio album. I'd actually started looking into this about 18 months prior to when we started recording because I'd been struggling to find a design which came even remotely close to what I felt was an acceptable sonic standard for rock/metal. My main objective was for a balance that wasn't just top and bottom heavy with hardly any mid-range like a lot of headphones these days that are basically designed for dance music. I wanted a good balance across the widest bandwidth incorporating a lot more mid-range frequencies, something I strongly feel is vital to appreciate the complexities of our music and rock/metal in general. A friend at ONKYO suggested I get in touch with the company to create a design that could meet my specifications. We started collaborating and have been working on them ever since, endlessly evaluating frequencies and modifying drive units, materials, cables and connectors until we achieved my ideal balance. I am now really happy with the final result!" Mark Cheffins continues: "We were convinced ONKYO could help Steve achieve the musical authenticity he wanted and were thrilled when he agreed to collaborate with us. It was a challenging undertaking, given Steve's famously keen ear and ‘no compromise’ approach, but we were determined to deliver headphones that would be equal to the high standards Iron Maiden sets for its very distinctive sound. Although there are plenty of other brands marketing artist-endorsed headphones to consumers, to the best of my knowledge this is the first time the whole audio spectrum, including the all-important mid-range, has been engineered to such a rigorous degree, so Iron Maiden fans can be assured the ED-PH0N3S are completely unique. These headphones have been crafted from the ground up so that Maiden fans and devotees of rock and metal music can experience the same crystal-clear sound the band prizes, right across the spectrum. With the level of detail and workmanship that's gone into this project throughout the past year or so, I'm confident we've succeeded in creating a $600 plus product which can sell for considerably less." The suggested retail price for the ED-PH0N3S is $299. For all information go to edphon3s.onkyousa.com ONKYO ANNOUNCES RZ SERIES Onkyo proudly announces two Dolby Atmos®-enabled and DTS:X™-ready A/V receivers, the TX-RZ900 and TX-RZ800 7.2-channel network A/V receivers, along with a feature-packed TX-8160 Network Stereo Receiver – all launching later this summer. The receivers exemplify three cornerstones of Onkyo’s philosophy: World-beating, High-Current Delivery to control large speaker cones and drive them to their maximum potential; Wide Range Amplifiers extending to 5 Hz for wall-shaking bass impact and phase-shift reduction topology for improved timing, imaging, and musicality; Low Noise Processing to erase digital pulse noise and clearly resolve the subtlest details and textures. TX-RZ900 & TX-RZ800 A/V Receivers The RZ900 employs a hand-wound, high-current Toroidal transformer (the TX-RZ800 features a massive EI transformer) to power original three-stage inverted Darlington amplifier circuitry for high power delivery with extremely low distortion. The TX-RZ900 also features parallel push-pull amp circuit topology on the front channels, boosting power and efficiency. Every electrical component is custom-designed to reference standards, from the extra-large capacitors to heavy-duty output transistors. Both RZ products feature separate power amp and processing blocks, the latter featuring a Hi-Grade Asahi Kasei AK4458 384 kHz/32-bit DAC and Onkyo’s original VLSC™ technology. VLSC compares digital input and analog output signals and removes pulse-noise generated during D/A conversion, resulting in uncommonly clear and accurate sound. Positioned at the pinnacle of Onkyo’s impressive mid-range lineup, the THX® Select 2™ Plus-certified RZ units are crafted without compromise to deliver perfect listening enjoyment, unlocking the dynamic energy and unrestrained emotion of the original recording. Onkyo ensures that video performance is ready for the future of 4k Ultra HD entertainment with HDCP 2.2 compliance, the latest 4K/60 Hz- and 4:4:4 color-space-ready HDMI® inputs and two 4K/60 Hz HDMI outputs for dual-zone video for streamed and broadcast Ultra HD content. Users can enjoy the freedom of wireless audio with Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth audio, and ships with internet radio and subscription services built in, including Spotify Connect and Pandora®. FLAC 192 kHz/24-bit and DSD 5.6 MHz Hi-Res Audio decoding is available via DLNA, and selection and control of network audio is centralized in an intuitive smartphone app. For convenience, the rear panel includes dedicated speaker outputs for Height (which add overhead effects contained in object-based soundtracks set to 5.1.2) and Rear Surround (for 7.1 speaker setups). And for the first time, Powered Zone 2 distributes digital audio sources to speakers in another room. Both receivers feature Zone 2 Pre/Line Outs, Zone 3 Line Outs, 7.2 Multichannel Pre Outs, phono input, and USB for digital audio. The TX-RZ900 carries a suggested retail price of $1,599 ($1,999 CAD) and the TX-RZ800 an SRP of $1,299 ($1,699 CAD). TX-8160 Network Stereo Receiver In the TX-8160, Onkyo also unveils a versatile network stereo receiver outputting 80 W + 80 W of high-current power from its discrete wide-range amplifiers. Sharing the same amplification approach as the TX-RZ900 & TX-RZ800, the TX-8160 has a custom, high-output transformer, two customized 8,200 µF capacitors, and non-phase-shift amp circuit design for an exceptionally well-focused audio image. The receiver’s AKM AK4452 384 kHz/32-bit DAC is capable of decoding 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC files and DSD 5.6 MHz transmitted via onboard Wi-Fi® with easy remote app control. Users can stream any network audio from mobile, PC, and NAS, or enjoy streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora. AirPlay and Bluetooth audio are also included, while a handy BGM Pre-Set stores four FM/AM or internet radio stations for instant access. Four digital inputs, seven analog inputs, USB, and phono input allow you to connect everything from TV displays and CD players to turntables and cassette decks. Gold-plated audio terminals, banana-plug-ready speaker posts, and substantial independent knobs for bass, treble, and balance give this product the solidity and feel of a classic ’70s Hi-Fi amp, but with every modern convenience included. The receiver also features Zone 2 Pre Outs to distribute audio to another room with a dedicated DAC allowing digital sources to be enjoyed in both zones, with remote app control from anywhere within wireless range. The TX-8160 will be available at a suggested retail price of $499 ($529 CAD). ONKYO ANNOUNCES NEW, ULTRA HD A/V RECEIVERS & DOLBY ATMOS® HOME THEATER PRODUCTS UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, June 8, 2015—If price has been an impediment to experiencing next-generation sound and vision, Onkyo has the answer with several new A/V and home theater products. The new products include three new A/V receivers; a home theater system and a Dolby Atmos® 5.1.2 channel speaker set. The new line is perfect for consumers who desire easy set-up and integration with their legacy systems, yet still want to enjoy the captivating surround sound for movies and games. TX-NR545 / USA MSRP $599 / CAD MSRP: $749/ Available Now The most affordable Onkyo network receiver to support Dolby Atmos®, the 7.2-channel TX-NR545 features a 115 W/Ch high-current amplification system that extracts ultimate performance from the new Dolby Atmos® audio format. The unit boasts Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth technology, and users can stream direct to the receiver using Spotify Connect, Pandora and others, or stream audio stored on mobile handset and online music services using the free Onkyo Remote 3 control app. Ready for Ultra HD video and premium 4K content, the TX-NR545 features HDMI® and HDCP 2.2 compatibility with one output that can pass 4K/60 Hz video complete with 4:4:4 color space and 21:9 cinema aspect ratio from source devices to display. A premium 384 kHz/32-bit hi-grade AKM DAC unlocks the full potential of all your audio, including multidimensional Dolby Atmos®, DTS-HD Master Audio™, and Hi-Res audio formats. It’s also very easy to use as a Quick Setup function lets you adjust settings without interrupting playback. The TX-NR545 also features a USB port supporting multiple audio formats via flash-memory and the updated AccuEQ room acoustic correction easily calibrates and equalizes the speaker system to the room. TX-SR444 / USA MSRP: $499 / CAD MSRP: $629/ Available Now Slotting between the network-ready TX-NR545 and TX-SR343 base model, the 7.1-channel TX-SR444 delivers 115 W per channel through a discrete high-current amplification system. It is currently the most inexpensive Onkyo receiver to support Dolby Atmos® and has been completely redesigned to simplify connection and operation for first-time users while still featuring HDMI® and HDCP 2.2 compliance for 4k Ultra HD entertainment. A selection of legacy inputs is included to connect older devices such as gaming systems, with HDMI up-conversion allowing for single-cable TV connection and neater installation. Keeping things simple, the receiver has a rear-panel Streaming Box port that supplies power to media streaming sticks, adding apps for on-demand media. HT-S5800 / USA MSRP: $799 / CAD MSRP: $939 / Available end of June For users seeking the a one-step upgrade to Dolby Atmos sound, the HT-S5800 5.1.2-Channel Dolby Atmos Home Theater Package is the perfect way to do so. Featuring a 115W/Ch A/V receiver that connects all your media players and sends video to the TV via a single HDMI cable. Plug a media stick into the Streaming Box port and enjoy a wealth of audio and video streaming apps. The system comes with a precision wall-mountable Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 speaker system (see section below for additional details.) Once you’ve connected the speaker system, AccuEQ optimizes the sound to suit the unique shape of your room. The speaker set and A/V receiver ship with a gloss-finished powered 120 W subwoofer and all the necessary cables in a single carton. SKS-HT594 / USA MSRP: $599 / CDN MSRP: $799 / Available end of June The SKS-HT594 5.1.2-channel speaker system is ideally suited to any Dolby Atmos-ready A/V receiver. The six-piece speaker package reproduces everything from multidimensional Dolby Atmos® soundtracks to MP3s streamed from your phone with utmost precision. Each two-way front speaker houses a 12 cm driver and 2.5 cm balanced-dome tweeter, and incorporates an up-firing 8 cm woofer separately powered by the receiver’s height channel. These woofers bounce discretely mixed sound objects from the ceiling, and allow elements within the soundtrack to pass seamlessly from speaker to speaker above and around the audience. Joining two compact, wall-mountable surround-sound speakers and the dual-drive 2-Way center speaker is a powerful 10-inch subwoofer delivering up to 120 W of wall-shaking bass. TX-SR343 / USA MSRP: $399 / CDN MSRP: $429 / Available Now Recognizing that some consumers may find setting up and using their first A/V receiver a bit intimidating, the company took a fresh approach in designing its base model 5.1-channel A/V receiver, the TX-SR343. To that end, the rear panel has been completely revamped with input and output terminals clearly labeled and illustrated for easy setup. Because the receiver up-converts analog video, all media players (including VCRs and legacy gaming consoles) can plug directly into the receiver, with all video routed to the display via a single HDMI cable – eliminating unsightly, dusty cables running to a wall or stand-mounted flat-panel display. Users can also add full wireless audio and video streaming capabilities (such as the Google Chromecast) via a dedicated rear-panel USB port supplying 5V power to the device. Adding to this capability is built-in Bluetooth with DSP Music Optimizer to enhance lower-quality compressed audio streamed from smartphone applications or PC. As well offering DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby® TrueHD decoding with 100 W/Ch of discrete high-current amplification, the TX-SR343 comes with all the features expected of a modern A/V component, including 4 in & 1 out 4K Ultra HD / HDMI / HDCP 2.2; a high-quality TI Burr-Brown DAC, multiple DSP listening modes, Virtual Surround mode for 2.1-channel setups, and ample connections for media players. WITH DTS:X™ AND DOLBY ATMOS®, NEW ONKYO RECEIVERS BRING HOME THE ULTIMATE IN IMMERSIVE MOVIE REALISM Introducing the groundbreaking TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 network A/V receivers from Onkyo USA deliver best-in-class reproduction of new DTS:X™ and Dolby Atmos® object-based audio formats for an exhilarating multidimensional entertainment experience at home. The TX-NR646 generates an impressive 170 W/Ch of power while the TX-NR747 outputs 175 W/Ch and is THX® Select2™ Plus certified to guarantee theater-reference volume with minimal distortion. Both receivers are fitted with Dual 32-bit DSP Engines and a new 384 kHz/32-bit AK4458 DAC from Asahi-Kasei for transparent reproduction of music and soundtracks. Joining next-generation audio decoding are eight 4K/60 Hz-ready HDMI® inputs and two outputs, including dedicated HDCP 2.2-compliant terminals for 4K streaming and UltraHD Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio (due later this year). High Dynamic Range (HDR) color and 21:9 cinema-aspect are also supported. Onkyo’s exclusive discrete high-current amplification system enables unrivaled control of the speaker drivers for our trademark clarity, timing, and wide-spectrum dynamics, ensuring an emotionally captivating performance every time. Both receivers are set up for wireless audio with Wi-Fi®, AirPlay, and Bluetooth. Onkyo’s new Remote App 3 streams digital music stored on mobiles while accessing a generous selection of Internet radio and on-demand music services. Streaming via Spotify app is also supported, while users can enjoy 192/24 FLAC and DSD 5.6 MHz Hi-Res Audio files via DLNA, or use the phono equalizer input to connect a turntable. Operation of both products is clear and simple. Updated AccuEQ room calibration quickly and accurately equalizes the speaker system for clear and balanced surround-sound on initial setup, with Quick Setup function making everyday operation a breeze. The TX-NR646 and TX-NR747 are engineered from the ground up to bring next-generation DTS:X and Dolby Atmos audio and UltraHD video to life, transforming everyday entertainment into an unforgettable experience. DTS:X and Dolby Atmos use revolutionary studio mixing techniques that utilize “sound objects” versus specific channels, that accurately match the sound to their corresponding visual objects as they pass above and around the audience with breathtaking clarity and realism–such as the trajectory of a bullet, a helicopter, or falling rain, for example. With a firmware update coming later in the year to add DTS:X, DTS:X scales a TX-NR646 or TX-NR747 home theater configuration up to 5.1.2 channels with enhanced flexibility for height-channel placement, including in-ceiling speakers, front/rear height channels, and even Dolby Atmos-ready speaker systems. Dialog in DTS:X can be mixed as a discrete sound object, so users can raise or lower it independent to other elements in DTS:X soundtracks, resulting in dramatically improved audibility than is currently possible. Further, DTS:X incorporates Neural:X, the latest spatial remapping technology from DTS, which provides a fully immersive output for all types of source content. This includes DTS bit-streams, non-encoded (PCM) data and Neural-encoded radio broadcasts of major global sporting events, leading to a more thrilling sense of atmosphere regardless of the original source format. “We’re confident that DTS:X represents the most convenient and effective way for movie lovers to experience immersive multidimensional sound,” said DTS EVP and chief marketing officer Kevin Doohan. “Introducing next-generation home entertainment to consumers is only possible when hardware and software partners collaborate closely. We can’t wait for Onkyo’s customers to experience the power and realism of DTS:X in their homes.” The TX-NR646 will be available in early June with a suggested retail price of $699 while the TX-NR747 will be available in late June at a suggested retail price of $999. About Onkyo Since 1946, Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality, and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry-leading publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obvious quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it’s turned on. For more information, visit the Onkyo website at www.onkyousa.com or follow Onkyo at www.facebook.com/onkyousa About DTS:X DTS:X is the next-generation object-based, multi-dimensional audio technology from DTS. Unbound from channels, DTS:X conveys the fluid movement of sound to create an incredibly rich, realistic and immersive soundscape—in front of, behind, beside and above the audience—more accurately than ever before. DTS:X offers the ability to automatically adapt the audio to the speaker layout that best fits the space, from a television’s built-in speakers to a home surround theater system to a dozen or more speakers in a commercial cinema. For the most engaging experience on mobile devices, DTS Headphone:X delivers a spatially distinct, immersive audio experience over any set of headphones. With DTS technology, even the smallest screens will sound huge. Immerse yourself at www.dts.com/dtsx and www.dts.com/headphonex. IRON MAIDEN CATALOGUE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIGH RES EXCLUSIVELY ON ONKYO MUSIC ONKYO Corporation is delighted to announce the exclusive release via their high res audio download service of 19 IRON MAIDEN catalogue albums encoded from 24-bit high resolution masters, delivering the music to listeners exactly the way the artist and recording engineer intended. These are brand new re-masters from their original analog and digital sources and is the next phase in IRON MAIDENs ongoing catalog upgrade to make their music digitally accessible to fans on their preferred devices globally. All 15 studio albums, two Best Of compilations and two live albums were personally selected by Maiden's founder member Steve Harris for this superior mastering technique: Iron Maiden, Killers, The Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere In Time, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, No Prayer For The Dying, Fear Of The Dark, The X Factor, Virtual XI, Brave New World, Dance Of Death, A Matter Of Life And Death, The Final Frontier, Somewhere Back In Time, From Fear To Eternity (2CD), Live after Death (2CD) and Rock In Rio( 2CD) Steve comments: "The high res mastering procedure allows the listener to experience the music as close as possible to the way the artist intended it to be heard. So of course I was very keen for the Maiden albums to be mastered in this way. The records have been available digitally before, when this medium first became a platform for music distribution but that was mastered with CDs in mind. The high res mastering process involves a different approach and it's great to finally deliver the music to our fans in as close to a pure and accurate sound as we could possibly achieve. For example, as most people know, I was never really happy with the sound on the first Maiden album but listening to it now, the guitars are louder, the drums more substantial and the overall tone is so very much improved in my opinion. Tony Newton and Ade Emsley who worked closely with me on the project did a terrific job recapturing everything from the original masters and together we've re- mastered them all digitally and I'm really happy with the results." Tony Newton adds: The process started with locating all of the original album mix tapes (or whichever format they were mixed to). Then the choice of analogue to digital convertor was chosen for the most accurate capture to make it as close as possible to the sound of the mix as it was intended by the band. When a lot of these tapes were last captured it was in the 1980's, early days of digital and only 44.1khz/16bit files were possible. On top of this the new A/D convertors are far superior now, and of course it is possible to produce files of far higher resolution. The result of this is that the songs now sound more defined with added depth and warmth. I was very excited to be asked to be part of this project, I honestly feel that there is a massive improvement in the quality of these classic albums. This entire high res release is available exclusively from OnkyoMusic and e-onkyo music (Japan only): OnkyoMusic https://www.onkyomusic.com/us/iron-maiden-hi-res-catalogue e-onkyo http://www.e-onkyo.com/ About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products and services that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com About e-onkyo music/OnkyoMusic Established in 2005, e-onkyo music is one of the leading hi-res music download service in the world. It is owned by Onkyo & Pioneer Innovations Corporation, a subsidiary company of Japanese audio manufacturer, ONKYO Corporation. e-onkyo music carries PCM files ranges from 44.1kHz to 192kHz / 24bit in WAV and flac format. They also carries DSD files at 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz / 1bit in DSF format (JP only). OnkyoMusic is a hi-res music download service now available in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Visit https://www.onkyomusic.com/ for more information. Announcement concerning the reorganization of subsidiary companies Asset Purchase, Change in corporate name, New directors This is to announce that Onkyo, effective as of March 2, 2015 has resolved to reorganize Onkyo’s subsidiary companies (“Subsidiary reorganization”) at Onkyo’s Board of Directors Meeting held on March 2, 2015, as follows: I.The objectives and summary of Subsidiary reorganization 1.The objective for Subsidiary reorganization Onkyo group has been taking various measures to respond flexibly to the rapidly changing market. As a part of this move, Onkyo and Pioneer Corporation (“Pioneer”) have continued discussions for the unification of the home AV business, the phone business, and the headphone-related business of Pioneer Group (Hereinafter, “Pioneer subject business”) with Onkyo’s. Based on the “Announcement concerning the finalization of the conditions for the issue of new shares through a third party allocation to Pioneer Corporation, the change in major shareholders, and the change concerning a specified subsidiary company” dated February 13, 2015, and as publicized in the “Announcement concerning the completion of payment for the issue of new shares through third party allocation and the change in the controlling shareholder” and “Announcement concerning the acquisition of shares accompanying change to subsidiaries”, both dated March 2, 2015, we are proud to announce that as of March 2, 2015, the issue of new shares of Onkyo through a third party allocation of shares to Pioneer, the change in major shareholders and the change in specific subsidiary companies, and the acquisition of home AV business and headphone-related business overseas conducted by a part of the overseas subsidiary companies of the Pioneer group (“Overseas business”) have been completed. Accompanying these events, with the objective of making approach to business under a new structure to further strengthen the home AV business and to continue both the Onkyo and the Pioneer brands, business reorganization, involving the transfer of business among Onkyo’s subsidiaries (“Business transfer among Subsidiaries”) and the transfer of Overseas business to Onkyo’s subsidiaries will be conducted, together with the change in trade names of Onkyo’s subsidiaries as well as the appointment of new directors. With these changes, we will aim to optimize the management resources and business of Onkyo’s subsidiaries, establish an organizational structure to promote approaches towards new businesses, and to further streamline corporate management, improve the performance and enhance the corporate value. 2.Summary of subsidiaries subject to reorganization and subsidiary business reorganization. (1)Main business of subsidiaries subject to reorganization: •Pioneer Home Electronics Corporation (“PHE”) Planning, development, manufacturing and marketing of audio visual related products. •Onkyo Marketing Japan Corporation (“OMJ”) Marketing of audio visual related products in Japan. •Onkyo Entertainment Technology Corporation (“OET”) Products business for contents management, distribution, creation, planning and development of Hi-Res music and lifestyle planning product business, CRM business focusing on sales promotion, repairs of audio and PC products, customer support, new business development, and the planning, development and marketing of various products, such as digital signage, etc. •Digital Acoustic Corporation (“DAC”) Design and development of audio visual related products. •Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation (“POU”) Marketing of audio visual related products in North Americas. •Onkyo Europe Electronics GmbH (“Onkyo Europe) Marketing of audio visual related products in Europe. •Onkyo Marketing Asia Ltd.(“Onkyo Asia”) Marketing of audio visual related products in the Asian region, with focus on China. (2)Summary of subsidiary business reorganization [1]Business transfer among Subsidiaries: Partial transfer of business will be made from PHE to consolidated subsidiaries of Onkyo. Transfers of domestic marketing business of home AV products will be made to OMJ, the headphone-related and phone business to OET, and the design related business to DAC. [2]Transfer of Overseas business to subsidiaries: The Overseas business acquired by Onkyo will be transferred to the overseas subsidiaries of Onkyo. [3]Change in the trade name of subsidiary companies and appointment of new directors: For the purpose of continuing both the Onkyo and Pioneer brand deployment, each subsidiary will change their trade names to those using the brands of both companies, that have permeated the audio market over a long period. At the same time, new directors will be appointed to further enhance the brand power and expansion of business. II.Summary of Business transfer among Subsidiaries (1)The reason for Business transfer among Subsidiaries and details of the business transfer: In the unification of Onkyo and Pioneer subject business, functions common to both related to marketing and design will be consolidated to Onkyo’s consolidated subsidiaries, to manage the functions under a uniform control, and target for the enhancement of business competitiveness and profit earning strength. Business related to domestic sales will be transferred to OMJ and business concerning design to DAC. In order to capture the Hi-Res market, which is expected to grow further through the enhancement of lifestyle planned products focused on headphones, the headphone-related and phone business will be transferred to OET, who operates “e-onkyo music”, the Hi-Res music distribution site, targeting to provide a new music experience in both software and hardware. (2)Business transfer date: March 2, 2015 III. Summary of transfer of Overseas business As of March 2, 2015, the transfer of Overseas business acquired from Pioneer group have been completed, with business related to marketing in North Americas transferred to POU, business related to marketing in Europe to Onkyo Europe, business related to marketing in the Asian region focusing on China to Onkyo Asia, and business related to overseas marketing in other areas to Onkyo. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware Update for 2014 Model Year A/V Receivers and HTiB packages A free firmware update improving the operation of Spotify Connect on 2014-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers and HTiB packages is now available for download, the company announced. Compatible 2014 models include the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. Spotify Connect allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Learn more about Spotify Connect at: https://www.spotify.com/us/connect/ WOOX Innovations and Onkyo partner to drive growth in headphones and connected speakers Osaka and Hong Kong Onkyo Corporation (Onkyo) and WOOX Innovations (WOOX ) today announced that they have entered a comprehensive, long-term partnership that spans product development and distribution. The two companies will initially focus on creating high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers and headphones under the Onkyo brand. Consumers are looking for hassle-free, high quality music whether theyre at home or on the go. High-fidelity headphones and Bluetooth speakers are a key part of that experience. This is reflected in consumer demand: the global market for wireless home audio, including those incorporating Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, continues to see strong growth both in Japan and the rest of the world. With the market for high resolution audio already at an advanced stage in Japan, the partnership also provides the opportunity to establish Onkyos expertise in this area worldwide. The partnership with WOOX Innovations presents a great opportunity for growth: both through collaboration on product development and through WOOXs extensive global sales organization, which is present in more than and manages sales in over 100 countries, said Munenori Otsuki President, CEO of Onkyo Corporation. Onkyo has long been highly regarded for its development of audio and speaker products, and with this partnership we will accelerate growth and improve our business performance. WOOX, the former audio and lifestyle entertainment business of Netherlands-based Royal Philips, was acquired by Gibson Brands in June 2014. This follows the strategic partnership entered into by Onkyo and Gibson in January 2012. The agreement further advances Gibson Brands ambition to become the largest music lifestyle company in the world. Todays announcement is an important step forward in the implementation of our multibrand strategy, where we will collaborate with our partners in Gibson Brands to create and bring to market innovative products across a range of brands, said Wiebo Vaartjes, CEO of WOOX Innovations. Onkyo has a great heritage, advanced technology capabilities and a strong brand: this partnership will create value for our companies, for our retail customers and most importantly for consumers. Onkyo is a leader in providing hi-res audio. Its Hi-Res music download store, e-onkyo music, is the largest Hi-Res music download store in Japan where it has been running since 2005. In January 2015 Onkyo announced the launch of Hi-Res music download stores in the US, UK and Germany. The company continues to pioneer Hi-Res audio across the full music chain from creation and recording to listening. This includes developing a new method of enjoying Hi-Res audio in a non-PC environment and introducing products capable of working with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), a new audio format for high-resolution music sources developed by Meridian. As a result of the partnership, Onkyo and WOOX will be able to respond quickly to changing user needs and rapidly advancing technology. Focusing on fast-growing market segments, the two companies will introduce products designed around their users lifestyles and, in terms of sound quality, which put the listener right at the center of performances from their favorite artists. About WOOX Innovations From great sound quality, to advanced technology and sophisticated design, WOOX Innovations strives to improve the entertainment experience. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with over 1,900 employees worldwide, we develop and market products in sound, home entertainment and related accessories. WOOX Innovations is a Gibson Brands company and a brand licensee of Royal Philips. For our latest news, go to www.woox.com/news/. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware for 2013 and 2012 Model Year A/V Receivers and HTiB Packages A free firmware update enabling Spotify Connect on many 2012 and 2013-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers and HTiB packages is now available for download. Compatible 2013 models include the TX-NR525, HT-RC550, TX-NR626, HT-RC560, TX-NR727, TX-NR828 and TX-NR929 A/V receivers and HTiB packages. Compatible 2012 models include the TX-NR414, HT-R758, HT-RC440, TX-NR515, TX-NR515AE, HT-RC460, HT-R791, TX-NR616, TX-NR616AE, HT-RC470, TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR1010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR5010 A/V receivers and HTiB packages. Spotify Connect firmware was previously made available for 2014 models including the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. The update allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Onkyo Releases Spotify Connect Firmware, New Remote App for A/V and Hi-Fi Components UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. A free firmware update enabling Spotify Connect on 2014-model network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers, controllers, and HTiB packages is now available for download, the company announced. Compatible models include the TX-NR535, TX-NR636, TX-NR737, TX-NR838, TX-NR1030, and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers; the PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller; and the HT-S5700, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX home theater packages. The update allows Spotify Premium subscribers to stream over 20 million tracks from the Spotify smartphone and tablet application to their A/V component, with the service bolstering a suite of existing streaming options bundled with Wi-Fi®-enabled Onkyo home theater products. Spotify Connect also allows users to make calls or use other apps without interrupting playback since the technology is built into the receiver. Onkyo also unveiled a new and improved iOS 8-compatible app, Onkyo Remote 3, for iPod touch/iPhone, which is also available as a free download via the App Store. The app seamlessly combines control and streaming functionality in one easy-to-navigate User Interface complete with a fresh new flat design scheme, allowing users to unlock the full potential of their Onkyo component without leaving the lounge. Onkyo Remote 3 is compatible with all Onkyo network A/V receivers and controllers manufactured from 2011 (TX-NRX09 and later), as well as the TX-8050 Network Stereo Receiver and CS-N755 Network Hi-Fi Mini System. As well as providing a simple graphical interface for controlling playback and adjusting system settings, the app will: Streams music stored on iPod touch/iPhone to the receiver or tuner with familiar song organization (album, artist, playlist, and genre), album art, and content information Enables song, album, playlist, and radio channel selection from online streaming services included with select Onkyo products Locates and streams Hi-Res PCM, 2.8 MHz DSD (models manufactured during or after 2013), and 5.6 MHz DSD (2014 models only) stored on compatible network-attached devices via the Home Media function Locates and streams lossless and compressed audio from DLNA®-compatible media servers and PCs Integrates compatibility with Spotify Connect (2014-model receivers only) Manages playback in up to three zones from anywhere within range of the home network Offers fast and efficient input source switching Enables limited control of other A/V and Hi-Fi components connected to the receiver or tuner via Onkyo’s RI (Remote Interactive) terminals, as well as playback control for compatible Blu-ray Disc players via CEC Provides access to the main setup menu on compatible Onkyo A/V receivers, allowing users to perform detailed adjustment using the connected display. Spotify Connect and the Onkyo app join next-generation features such as Dolby Atmos®, HDBaseT connectivity, 4K/60 Hz video via HDMI® 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 copy protection capability in Onkyo 2014 network products. These cutting-edge technologies and smooth operability guarantee a powerful and emotionally captivating entertainment experience. Onkyo Delivers Free Firmware Update to Enable Dolby Atmos® Capability on TX-NR636, TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 A/V Network Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/26/14) -- Onkyo is pleased to announce the firmware update enabling Dolby Atmos sound on the Onkyo TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers is now available. This free update is available via either a network connection or USB download. We are excited to provide this free update to owners of our 2014 network receivers beginning with TX-NR636," says Onkyo Corporation General Manager, Kevin Miyagi. "Our Dolby Atmos enabled receivers allow Onkyo customers to enjoy not only new content that will be released in Dolby Atmos but will also provide an enhanced experience of their current Blu-ray libraries through Dolby Surround. With Dolby Atmos, sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, detail, and depth. Additionally, a new Dolby surround upmixer allows for legacy channel-based content that has not been mixed for Dolby Atmos to be expanded to fill the flexible speaker layouts of a Dolby Atmos system. Since its introduction in cinemas in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award®-winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers. Dolby Atmos transports you from the ordinary into the extraordinary with breathtaking, multidimensional sound that fills your room and flows all around you, said Craig Eggers, Director, Home Theater, Dolby Laboratories. Thats the premium entertainment experience we are excited to bring to the consumer through our partners, like Onkyo, both who have come to expect the very best from Dolby. All of Onkyos 2014-model A/V receivers and controllers, beginning with the TX-NR636, feature Dual 32-bit Processing Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos for any home theater configuration. Onkyos high-end TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers along with the flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller will ship in mid-October with support for Dolby Atmos built in. The HT-S7700 Network Home Theater System will also ship with Dolby Atmos built-in at the end of September. With Dolby Atmos joining THX®-certified theater-reference audio performance, built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth, support for Hi-Res Audio playback as well as HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 copy protection, these Onkyo components have power to elevate next-generation media to transcendental heights. For more information about Dolby Atmos and Onkyo, please visit http://dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. Onkyo Poised to Deliver Dolby Atmos Sound This Month UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. A firmware update enabling Dolby Atmos® sound on the Onkyo TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers will be released on September 29, the home entertainment specialists confirmed today. The free firmware download enabling Dolby Atmos on these mid-range products precedes the release of Onkyos high-end TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers, and the flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller, all of which will ship from mid-October with support for Dolby Atmos built in at the factory. The HT-S7700 Network Home Theater System will also ship with Dolby Atmos built-in beginning at the end of September. Dolby Atmos delivers captivating multidimensional sound that places and moves specific effects anywhere in the room (including overhead) bringing movie entertainment to life all around the audience. Since its introduction in cinemas in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award®-winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers. All of Onkyos 2014-model A/V receivers and controllers from the mid-range and up feature Dual 32-bit Processing Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos for any home theater configuration. With Dolby Atmos joining THX®-certified theater-reference audio performance, built-in Wi-Fi® for Hi-Res PCM/DSD, and HDMI 2.0 supporting 4K/60 Hz video, these Onkyo components have power to elevate next-generation media to transcendental heights. For more information about Dolby Atmos and Onkyo, please visit http://dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Onkyo Unveils Dolby Atmos-Ready HTiB Packages, Speaker System, and Base-Model A/V Receiver with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth 07/14/14 - UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NEW JERSEY. Onkyo, the world’s foremost specialist in audio-video entertainment, has announced major upgrades to its popular line of home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB) packages, along with a new Dolby Atmos®-enabled speaker system and an updated entry-level A/V receiver. The following packages and components—including select models engineered for captivating Dolby Atmos sound right out of the box—are slated for release during the last quarter of this year: The Dolby Atmos-ready HT-S7700 5.1.2-channel network A/V receiver and speaker packages The SKH-410 Dolby Atmos-Enabled Speaker System The 5.1-channel HT-S3700 home theater receiver and speaker packages, and a network-enabled 5.1-channel HT-S5700 Network A/V Receiver/Speaker Package, all with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth The TX-SR333 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 2.0 and Bluetooth One Easy Step to Dolby Atmos Sound with 5.1.2-Channel Packages Dolby Atmos—a multidimensional audio format developed for commercial cinemas and now available for the first time in home theaters—places and moves specific sounds anywhere in the room, including overhead. Content creators mix in a 3D space with object-oriented overhead sounds (such as aircraft, rain, or birdcalls) passing through pairs of in-ceiling speakers or Dolby Atmos-enabled height speakers. With its Dolby Atmos-enabled front/height speakers, the HT-S7700 is the most convenient and affordable way to enjoy Dolby Atmos sound at home. This factory-balanced 5.1.2-channel HTiB system is powered by a Wi-Fi®- and Bluetooth-ready 7.2-channel network A/V receiver featuring HDMI® 2.0 terminals for 4K/60 Hz video and HDCP 2.2 for 4K video streaming and broadcasting. It supports high-resolution network audio, internet radio and music streaming, and can upscale low-resolution video to 4K with Qdeo™ processing technology. The receiver has two HDMI 2.0 outputs, a phono input for turntable connection, and Powered Zone 2 capability for distributed multiroom audio. Included 2-way front speakers contain OMF (Onkyo Micro Fiber) woofers and a balanced-dome tweeter for clear and accurate sound, while an independently powered up-firing speaker in a sealed top compartment bounces Dolby Atmos height effects from the ceiling into the audience. Sounds fed via the height channels seem to originate from overhead, helping to create a sphere of sound where effects move seamlessly above and around the listener. The package is completed with a 2-way gloss-accented center speaker with dual cone woofers and tweeter, two solid full-range surround speakers, and a large 10-inch powered subwoofer. Speaker System Enables Dolby Atmos on Existing Surround Setups Owners re-powering an existing home theater speaker system with a compatible 2014-model Onkyo A/V receiver can unlock the full Dolby Atmos experience by connecting two of the company’s new SKH-410 speakers to the receiver’s height channels. The compact sealed cabinets contain a full-range up-firing cone speaker and special Dolby Atmos-certified network to create a plane of sound above the listener. Placed on larger floorstanding speakers or mounted on the wall, the SKH-410s offer a convenient and cost-effective way to unleash the power of Dolby Atmos in home theaters where in-ceiling speakers are impractical. Gibson Brands to open world’s first sound and music showroom in Tokyo celebrating Gibson’s 120th anniversary Tokyo, Japan / Nashville, U.S. — July 1, 2014 — Gibson Brands (www.gibson.com), the leading global sound and music company, today announced the launch of its first pioneering music lifestyle concept showroom in Tokyo. Launching on July 2nd, the Showroom will showcase the premium sound and music quality of its three leading brands Gibson Guitars, TEAC and Onkyo, providing customers with the opportunity to play, record, and listen to their own music with the latest high performance products in its state of the art facilities in Yaesu. For the first of its kind, the Showroom, which will be open to the public, will provide a unique environment where music lovers of all levels, from professional musicians to beginners, can immerse themselves in the world of music. After passing under a giant replica of the iconic Les Paul guitar at the entrance, visitors will be free to explore and try out the full range of products first-hand in individually designed and branded zones spread over two floors. In the Gibson Guitar Play Zone, visitors will be able to select and play from the vast display of legendary Gibson Guitars, record and create their own music using TEAC’s latest technology in the “Premium Sound Lab” and relax and listen to music with Onkyo’s high fidelity audio systems and headphones in the “Premium Music Lounge”. There is even a Live Stage area where guest artists and visitors will be able to play out to the crowd – the ultimate experience for any music lover. The launch of the new concept Showroom marks a significant milestone in Gibson Brands history. A global first, the Showroom demonstrates Gibson Brands continued its commitment to improving product innovation, quality and customer experience as it celebrates its 120th anniversary. Masayoshi Yamazaki, a special guest musician for the event who has been recording and distributing live performances using Gibson Brands’ high-resolution systems, launched the opening of the showroom by playing his favorite Gibson acoustic guitar live on the Exhibition Stage. Yamazaki, the first performer ever play out from the Exhibition Stage, demonstrated the new concept by playing the Gibson acoustic guitar, recording his performance with TEAC’s state of the art recording equipment TASCAM DA-3000 and then reproducing it through Onkyo’s Hi-Fi audio system. Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Brands states “Gibson Brands are about bringing the joy of sound and music to music lovers across the world. The collaboration between our three leading brands Gibson, Onkyo and TEAC, our new concept Showroom realizes our shared vision to improving the quality of life of our customers through music. It is fitting that we launch our first Sound and Music Concept Showroom in Tokyo where the collaboration began and will be rolled out to other markets across the World. ” Yuji Hanabusa CEO and President of TEAC Corporation states “The new concept Showroom is a great opportunity for TEAC to broaden its customer base by providing everyday music lovers as well as music professionals the opportunity to experience and access our products. “ Munenori Otsuki President, CEO, Onkyo Corporation states “Onkyo is delighted to be part of this prestigious group of premium sound and music brands and is looking forward to seeing the collaboration continue to flourish as we extend this exciting new concept to other markets”. About Gibson Brands, Inc. Gibson Brands, one the fastest-growing companies in the music and sound industries, was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Nashville, TN. Gibson Brands is a global leader in musical instruments, and consumer and professional audio, and is dedicated to bringing the finest experiences by offering exceptional products with world-recognized brands. Gibson has a portfolio of over 100 well-recognized brand names starting with the number one guitar brand, Gibson. Other brands include: Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Audio brands include: KRK Systems, TASCAM, Cerwin-Vega!, Stanton, Onkyo, Integra, TEAC, TASCAM Professional Software, and Esoteric. All Gibson Brands are dedicated to innovation, prestige and improving the quality of life of our customers. More information is available at www.gibson.com, www.facebook.com/gibson, www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar Gibson, 1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766) or www.gibson.com About TEAC Corporation TEAC CORPORATION (TYO: 6803) is an electronics company based in Japan. It was founded in 1953 as the Tokyo Electro Acoustic Company. TEAC manufactures and distributes high grade audio video electronics, consumer electronics, computer data recording and storage devices, computer peripherals and professional recording equipment as well as disc publishing products. Products are marketed under the brand names ESOTERIC (high end consumer audio products), TEAC (consumer electronics – mass market audio products) and TASCAM (consumer to professional audio products, mostly recording). To learn more about TEAC, please visit: www.teac.com. About Onkyo Corporation Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company’s philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyo.com. Onkyo Announces High-End and Mid-Range A/V Components with Dolby Atmos Sound UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo has announced that its upcoming TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 network A/V receivers, flagship PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller, HT-S7700 and HT-S9700THX HTiB systems, and SKS-HT693 and SKH-410 speaker packages will launch with Dolby Atmos, a next-generation audio format that delivers captivating multidimensional sound in home theater environments. The company will also release a firmware update, targeted in September, enabling Dolby Atmos® on its mid-range TX-NR636, TX-NR737, and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers now available worldwide. With Dolby Atmos sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, depth, and detail. Some of the worlds leading filmmakers are using Dolby Atmos to transport audiences to the center of the action, said Onkyo Corporation General Manager, Kevin Miyagi. Dolby Atmos delivers a multidimensional sound experience with breathtaking detail and clarity. We are excited to be among the first brands to offer this technology to our customers. Onkyo's 2014 models supporting Dolby Atmos feature Dual 32-bit DSP Engines to decode, scale, and calibrate Dolby Atmos to suit individual home theater configurations. Owners of compatible Onkyo components have the flexibility to choose their preferred theater layout, unleashing the formats effect with the addition of a pair or more of in-ceiling height speakers, complementing traditional 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 configurations. Alternatively, users can augment an existing speaker setup with Dolby Atmos-enabled loudspeakers. For more information on these speaker configurations please visit dolbyatmos.onkyousa.com. About Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos delivers captivating, multidimensional sound that places and moves specific sounds anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment alive all around the audience. Since its introduction in the cinema in 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award® winning directors, and 16 Academy Award-winning sound mixers, among others. Later this year, entertainment enthusiasts will be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos in their home theaters. To learn more about Dolby Atmos and home theaters, visit the Dolby Lab Notes blog here. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. New Onkyo High-End A/V Components Debut with Dolby Atmos, 4K/60 Hz Video, and Premium Build Onkyo has unveiled three high-end audio-video components offering passionate movie and music lovers the ultimate home entertainment experience. The release includes the THX® Select2 Plus-certified 9.2-channel TX-NR1030 Network A/V Receiver and 11.2-channel TX-NR3030 Network A/V Receiver, and a THX® Ultra2 Plus-certified PR-SC5530 Network A/V Controller. All three components introduce HYPERLINK "http://wp.me/p3kGgm-aX" Dolby Atmos multidimensional sound to home theaters as well as the latest HDMI supporting 4K video at 60 Hz with HDCP 2.2 compatibility for Ultra HD streaming and broadcast video. The products combine audiophile design and construction with outstanding connectivity to deliver powerful, controlled, and dynamic audio performance in medium to large listening spaces. A New Age of Surround Sound with Dolby Atmos With Dolby Atmos®, sound comes alive from all directions, including overhead, to fill the home theater with astonishing clarity, power, detail, and depth. Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional sound places and moves sounds around the room, like a bird chirping or rainfall from above, to make every sonic element come alive. All three Onkyo components feature Dual 32-bit DSP engines to decode, scale and calibrate Dolby Atmos to suit individual home theater configurations. With up to 11 channels of high-current amplification, users can unlock the full experience with in-ceiling height channels or Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers to augment a standard 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1 home theater setup. Unrivalled Video Performance Eight HDMI® inputs and three outputs are specified for 4K/60 Hz video and 21:9 widescreen theater aspect, with HDMI Input 3 and Main Out supporting HDCP 2.2 copy protection to enable playback of streamed or broadcast Ultra HD content and future 4K studio releases. A dedicated HDMI Zone 2 Out routes 1080p video to a second display with multizone control enabled by a streaming and control app. The 4K/60 Hz HDMI Sub Out is intended for dedicated projector connection. Qdeo technology by Marvell upscales low-resolution video to 1080p for Full HD displays and 4K for compatible UHD screens. All three components include selectable ISF video calibration, which optimizes picture settings to industry standards with night and day modes for optimal viewing in any conditions. Together, these technologies deliver next-generation video to big-screen TVs and projectors with picture quality that is nothing short of spectacular. Engineered for Pure Audio Excitement In line with Onkyos Emotion, Delivered concept for ultimate two-channel and multichannel performance, all three components feature separate processing and amplifier blocks to minimize electrical interference. The wide-range amplification system is based on industry-best high-current delivery for superior speaker control, which results in extremely clear, accurate, and dynamic sound. Both the TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 feature a customized high-regulation transformer, with the latter adding two additional EI transformers for audio and video processing, as well as custom 18,000 ?F capacitors and low-distortion Three-Stage Inverted Darlington amplification circuitry. The PR-SC5530, meanwhile, has a custom toroidal power supply and separate EI transformers for A/V processing. All three components are built for high-resolution audio processing with seven discrete TI Burr-Brown DACs. The TX-NR3030 and PR-SC5530 boast top-of-the-line 192 kHz/32-bit processors, with the TX-NR1030 featuring seven 192 kHz/24-bit two-channel DACs. Audio decoding is handled by Dual 32-bit DSP Engines. The components include DTS Neo:X, a powerful multiplexing solution capable of upmixing stereo and 5.1-channel sources to 7.1, 9.1, or 11.1 channels while providing optimized DSP modes to suit games, movies, and music. Quality audio-grade terminals are featured throughout. The TX-NR1030 and TX-NR3030 have 11.4 multichannel pre-outs and balanced XLR pre-outs for the front L/R channels, while the PR-SC5530 has both balanced 11.4-channel XLR pre-outs and 11.4 multichannel pre-outs. All models feature 18 mm-pitch front-channel RCA pre-outs to accommodate high-quality cables. Multi-room audio entertainment comes courtesy of Powered Zone 2 and Powered Zone 3 outputs with a convenient Whole House Mode and playback control via remote app. Naturally, all components support front-channel bi-amping. Also part of Emotion, Delivered technology is proprietary AccuEQ room calibration. AccuEQ measures and corrects speaker distances, levels, crossovers, and frequency response from one convenient listening position to ensure cohesive surround-sound while enabling playback of 7.1-channel formats at 96 kHz without down-sampling. For pure and authentic stereo performance, AccuEQ bypasses the front channels so the unique character of the user’s loudspeakers can be enjoyed without DSP correction potentially altering the sound. Hi-fi enthusiasts can connect a turntable via the phono input or a high-quality SACD or CD player via analog audio inputs, touch the Pure Direct Analog Path button, and enjoy sound to rival dedicated all-analog hi-fi stereo amplifiers. The mode physically switches off every digital circuit, allowing analog signals to pass directly from the source device to the speakers with zero interference. Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth Offer High-Quality Audio and Convenience For fans of high-resolution audio, built-in Wi-Fi facilitates Double DSD, gapless 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV, and Dolby® TrueHD streaming from media server with song selection via remote app. Audio can also be streamed directly from mobile devices over Wi-Fi, including a limitless selection of music from the widest range of internet streaming services currently available. Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR streaming quality is enhanced by a Music Optimizer DSP mode which restores lost bit information for cleaner, fuller sound. Built to Onkyo’s exacting standards and engineered to deliver the most powerful, dynamic, and enthralling audio possible, these top-shelf components serve up a perfect blend of cutting-edge features and audiophile performance. Users can build a state-of-the-art home theater for a completely immersive A/V experience, but not at the cost of two-channel performance. With over 65 years experience crafting the best-sounding and best-equipped hi-fi components, Onkyo continues to deliver emotionally moving entertainment experiences to users who are truly passionate about sound and vision. Onkyo Premieres “Emotion Delivered” Audio Concept in 2014 Mid-Range A/V Receivers April 16, 2014 • Best-in-Class High Current Capability for THX® Select2™ Plus-Certified Theater Reference Sound • Pure Direct Analog Path Mode Delivers Interference-Free Stereo Playback for Vinyl, SACD, and Compact Disc • Supports Latest HDMI® Standard to Enable 4K/60 Hz Video and 21:9 Widescreen Format • First Receiver Brand with HDCP 2.2 Copy Protection Compatibility for Premium Video Broadcasts and Streaming • Built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth for Universal Wireless Streaming of High-Resolution, Lossless, and Compressed Audio Files UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo’s groundbreaking THX®-certified TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 network A/V receivers set a new standard for performance and value by combining superlative sound quality with the latest in 4K/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2-compliant video and wireless hi-res audio connectivity. Onkyo’s commitment to deliver superior performance can be seen in three key areas: sound quality for both multichannel and stereo listening; HDMI connectivity to enable Ultra HD video at 60 frames per second; and usability to make it easy to cue up content. Best-in-Class High Current Capability for Stellar Sound Quality The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 passed over 2,000 laboratory bench tests analyzing every aspect of audio quality in order to achieve THX® Select2™ Plus certification. This guarantees the same high-volume, low-distortion sound experienced in a multiplex theater, with studio-reference soundtracks reproduced exactly as the director intended. The new slogan “Emotion Delivered” neatly expresses Onkyo’s amplification philosophy. Time-proven technology and deep audio engineering know-how combine to produce sound quality that genuinely moves the listener. The cornerstone of the Emotion Delivered concept is high current. High instantaneous current realizes ultimate speaker control for uncommonly accurate and musical audio reproduction, while effortlessly handling impedance fluctuations and the sudden dynamic changes common to movie soundtracks. Both the TX-NR838 and TX-NR737 have Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) at their core, a system built around a custom high-output transformer, extra-large customized capacitors, and low-impedance copper bus-plates. Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry amplification features a discrete low-impedance output stage with high-current transistors for instantaneous power and extremely low distortion. The culmination of over 60 years’ audio engineering experience, WRAT preserves the life and character of the master recording. High-current power amplification combines with dual Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engines and 192 kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown D/A conversion to deliver sound that is wide, deep, and detailed. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 both feature proprietary AccuEQ room calibration that bypasses the front L/R channels so the loudspeakers’ unique audio characteristics are preserved. The remaining channels are very quickly and easily optimized for balanced surround-sound performance. Advanced Music Optimizer DSP, meanwhile, enhances the quality of compressed audio streamed via Bluetooth to further improve two-channel fidelity for passionate music lovers. Interference-Free Playback of Vinyl and SACD On the TX-NR838, users can select Pure Direct Analog Path mode to physically shut down all digital circuitry in the receiver, eliminating electrical interference. Signals pass directly from the phono or analog audio inputs to the amplifiers and arrive at the front loudspeakers in pristine analog form. The improvement in audio quality is significant, and helps to showcase the unique tonal character of vinyl. Pure Direct Analog Path lets the TX-NR838 double as a pure-analog power amp for high-quality source components such as turntables, SACD players, and Blu-ray players. Connectivity for 4K/60 Hz Video and HDCP 2.2 Compatibility Both receivers feature seven HDMI inputs (six rear, one front with MHL™) and two outputs, with inputs 1–4 and the frontside input supporting Ultra HD video at 60 frames per second. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 feature HDCP 2.2 compatibility on HDMI Input 3 and Main Out, allowing the receiver to play copy-protected Ultra HD media and other premium streamed, broadcast, or physical video content. Home theater receivers without HDCP 2.2 compatibility may only be able pass this premium content through to the display in standard definition (480i/576i). Lower definition video from legacy consoles, DVDs, and streamed video via media player is smoothly converted to Full HD or 4K (depending on your display) with industry-leading Qdeo™ upscaling technology. Connect a Second Display As well as powering audio in another room equipped with a pair of speakers, the TX-NR838 transmits high-definition video to a Zone 2 display via the HDMI Sub Out. Users can route 1080p content from media players connected to the receiver and enjoy it on a second display with easy smartphone control. The additional HDMI output on the TX-NR737 is designed for projector connection. The TX-NR838 also features 7.2 multichannel pre-outs, five digital audio inputs, and a 12 V trigger-out for Zone 2 audio. Wireless High-Resolution Audio Streaming and Unparalleled Access to Internet Services Built-in Wi-Fi and DLNA® compatibility allows the easy streaming of high-resolution music libraries from PC or media server, with search, track selection, and playback controls all enabled via the remote app. A huge variety of file formats are supported including 5.6 MHz DSD, Dolby® TrueHD, and gapless 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV. Users can also stream music stored on handheld devices instantly to these receivers via Wi-Fi, or use onboard Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR to enjoy almost any audio playing on their devices wirelessly. Both receivers provide access to the widest assortment of Internet services available in the market today. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 support Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, AUPEO!, and TuneIn Radio; all of which are searchable from within the Onkyo remote app. Smooth and Intuitive Operation Graphical on-screen displays are overlaid via HDMI so that quick adjustments to audio or video can be made without interrupting the program. InstaPrevue™ technology allows users to see content playing on connected devices in thumbnail windows. The remote app provides a wide range of adjustment and control for video and audio in two zones, and also includes a variety of audio streaming options. Unprecedented Power, Performance, and Versatility These versatile mid-range A/V receivers offer consumers much more than a next-generation movie or gaming experience. New technologies and long experience in high-fidelity audio design has resulted in two-channel performance that approaches that of a dedicated hi-fi stereo component system. Whether streaming a Spotify playlist from smartphone, soaking up the warmth of an LP, or settling in with a Blu-ray blockbuster, these two A/V receivers deliver performance that consistently exceeds expectations. The TX-NR737 and TX-NR838 will both be available in May with suggested retail prices of $899 and $1,199, respectively. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Press contact: Paul Wasek – Onkyo USA Corp [email protected] Onkyo Unveils Next-Generation A/V Receivers for 4K/60 Hz Entertainment, Universal Hi-res Audio Streaming Onkyo announces two state-of-the-art network A/V receivers, the 5.2-channel TX-NR535 and 7.2-channel TX-NR636. Both feature HDMI specified for 4K/60 Hz video, built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth, and universal support for gapless* hi-res network audio, while the TX-NR636 adds HDCP 2.2 compatibility to support the latest DRM copy-protection standard. Onkyo is one of the first CE manufacturers to implement 4K/60 Hz capability in an A/V receiver, paving the way for Ultra HD video playback at a liquid-smooth 60 frames per second. This is great news for PC gamers who can now add wall-shaking surround sound to their 4K/60 Hz experience. Consumers who dont have an Ultra HD TV, meanwhile, can be confident their A/V receiver is ready for future home theater upgrades. The TX-NR636 is also the first A/V receiver to support HDCP 2.2. This latest DRM copy-protection standard will be adopted for future premium 4K studio releases, 4K streaming via internet service providers, as well as for UHD terrestrial and satellite broadcasts. This content will be unplayable (or converted to standard definition) when passed through non-HDCP 2.2-compliant A/V receivers. Compatibility is therefore essential to users who plan to enjoy premium content in the future. Powerful and Dynamic Sound Quality Both the TX-NR535 and TX-NR636 are based on custom high-current architecture. High current is crucial for managing impedance fluctuations and sudden dynamic gains, and to ensure that power is instantaneously available at all times. A massive customized transformer, extra-large capacitors, and discrete low-distortion amplifiers are used, while the TX-NR636 adds Onkyos premier Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry on the front and center channels. Both receivers have been meticulously tuned to deliver clear, full-bodied sound with a revealing midrange and fast, punchy bass. Both are equally adept at steering DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD soundtracks through multiple channels or filling rooms with musical and engaging two-channel sound. Engineered for High-Resolution Audio Onkyo continues to wholeheartedly embrace high-resolution music. The free Onkyo remote app for iOS and Android devices easily locates and streams network-attached hi-res tracks via DLNA®. Both receivers feature gapless* playback of almost any high-resolution file format including 5.6 MHz DSD, Dolby® TrueHD, 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC and WAV, and ALAC to 96 kHz and 24-bit depth. Music stored on smartphone and tablet can be streamed via remote app and Wi-Fi to the home theater, while users can browse and stream millions of available tracks on Spotify, Deezer, AUPEO!, and TuneIn from within the app. Support for Spotify Connect will be added later this year via firmware update. This feature will enable subscribers to stream Spotifys massive library of music to the receiver directly from the Spotify app via Wi-Fi. Onboard Bluetooth is also included (no extra charge for an adapter) for convenient wireless listening, with Onkyos Advanced Music Optimizer DSP vastly improving the quality of compressed audio. Dual 32-bit DSP Engines On the TX-NR636, audio processing power has been upgraded from one to two 32-bit DSP engines for smooth and easy decoding of high-resolution formats such as Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and 5.6 MHz DSD. Simple Operation for People of All Ages Everything from initial setup to everyday operation has been made simple and stress-free. Both models include Onkyos proprietary AccuEQ calibration system to optimize the surround sound to suit individual room acoustics and speaker setups. On-screen menus are overlaid via HDMI and adjustments can be made without interruption to the program. All major control functions are also available via the remote streaming app, including cold power-up from Hybrid Standby. Loaded with Useful Features and Connections The TX-NR636 boasts six rear HDMI inputs, one front HDMI input supporting MHL, and two HDMI outputs. It has an MM phono stage for turntable connection, and dedicated Powered Zone 2 terminals for multi-room audio. Users can also assign the surround back channels to bi-amp their front speakers. The receiver includes Dolby Pro Logic IIz 7.1-channel upmixing, and converts low-resolution video (from legacy consoles or DVDs, for example) to 1080p/4K using industry-leading Qdeo™ upscaling technology. The TX-NR535, meanwhile, has six rear 4K/60 Hz-capable HDMI inputs and one output, and can pass 4K/60 Hz content through to a compatible display. Both feature a USB input supporting most lossless audio formats stored on flash memory devices. A Potent Combination of Performance and Value A small but passionate group of hi-fi veterans, Onkyo has raised the bar yet again by marrying next-generation technology with genuine high-fidelity audio performance, and by keeping its products affordable enough for average people. These two A/V network receivers offer supreme value, performance, and usability at the entry level. The TX-NR535 will be available in March with a suggested retail price of $499 while the TX-NR636 will be available in April at a suggested retail of $699. Change to BD-SP809 streaming services Due to new legislation in North America mandating that closed caption be available on all streaming services, we are no longer able to support Netflix, Vudu or FilmFresh services on the BD-SP809 from shipments beginning January 1, 2014. There may be a timeframe where BD-SP809s with and without these service will be in the market. During this transition timing, if you have purchased a BD-SP809 that does not have Netflix or Vudu on board and would not like to keep due to this reason, please contact Onkyo Product Support at 800-229-1687 for assistance. If you purchased a BD-SP809 that includes these streaming services you should not see any interruption in those services. We apologize for any inconvenience Onkyo Unveils Two Stunning New High-Performance Headphones to Partner iOS Devices Onkyo Expands Headphone Range with iOS-Compatible ES-CTI300 On-Ear and IE-CTI300 In-Ear Models UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Users of Apple mobile devices can now enjoy award-winning Onkyo headphone sound with the convenience of inline controls and mic to make on-the-fly playback adjustments and phone calls easy. The ES-CTI300 on-ear and IE-CTI300 in-ear headphones retain the same brilliant design and specification as the existing four-model range but add a detachable oxygen-free 6N copper cable with iOS-Certified controls. Two versions of the on-ear type will be available. The EC-CTI300(SS) will sport a striking silver finish with premium leatherette earpads while the ES-CTI300(BS) will feature a black finish with matching earpads. All CTI300 model headphones come with a silver (transparent) tangle-resistant cable. The slim three-button cable control offers play/pause, track selection, call accept/reject, and volume functionality and includes a sensitive microphone for clean and clear communication. Its compatible with almost all current and legacy iPod, iPhone, and iPad models. When it came to designing its new headphone line, Onkyo invested almost 70 years engineering experience into translating its signature sound into a portable format, while attempting to replicate the look and feel of its reference hi-fi components. With liberal use of aluminum and clean, stylish lines, both the on-ear and in-ear models successfully introduce high-quality sound to products that are beautifully finished and comfortable to wear. At the heart of the ES-CTI300 on-ear headphones are two 40 mm titanium drivers backed by high-capacity bass chambers encased in lightweight, non-resonant aluminum ear-cups. Combined with the super-conductive 6N cable, a full, pure, and highly detailed sound is produced. Bass response is satisfyingly punchy with the brilliantly clear mid-range sure to win the heart of discerning hi-fi enthusiasts. The IE-CTI300 headphones, meanwhile, use a wide-range 14.3 mm dynamic driver and aluminum/ABS hybrid enclosures to create an engaging and musical performance. Vocals and other mid-range instruments are given plenty of space to breathe. Neutral, but not without personality, these headphones are very light and comfortable to wear and make an ideal partner for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Like all Onkyo headphone models, the ES-CTI300 and IE-CTI300 feature detachable cables with gold-plated MMCX connectors and reinforced, gold-plated stereo plugs, allowing users to easily replace a damaged cable rather than a complete set of headphones. With a total of three main cable options now available (including flat tangle-free elastomer, one-piece 6N copper, and 6N copper with inline control), Onkyo has a portable sound solution for anyone seeking an authentic hi-fi experience on the go. The ES-CTI300 and IE-CTI300 will both be available in December and have suggested retail prices of $199 and $149 respectively. About Onkyo ?Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Onkyo HF Player App Offers Precision Equalizer, 192/24 Playback on iOS Devices UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. In a move that could revolutionize how iOS users enjoy music on headphones and other compatible hi-fi systems, Onkyothe world leader in home theater, hi-fi, and personal audio componentshas announced an innovative HF Player app that enables playback of high-resolution audio files while granting users unprecedented control over how their music sounds. The free, full-featured audio player app features an intuitive interface that includes album artwork display, playback controls, and an organizational structure that will be familiar to any iOS user. Once the app has been pointed to the devices music library via a synch with an iTunes-equipped computer (an auto synch function is included), the user can start exploring the benefits of the phase-linear FIR equalizer, which offers 16,384 discrete bands of equalization with zero loss in audio quality. The user simply shapes their desired frequency curve with a finger on the touchscreen to manipulate bass, mid-bass, mid-range, and treble response. Presets may be created to suit a particular musical genre, artist, album, or pair of headphones and can be saved, swapped, and loaded in moments. Onkyo also enlisted a team of respected musicians to personally design EQ presets optimized specifically for Onkyo in-ear and on-ear headphones. The team comprises Chris Traynor (Helmet, Bush), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Jim Ward (Sparta, At the Drive-in), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Tim Lopez (Plain White Ts) and Steven McMorran (Satellite), along with groups Midi Matilda, Buckcherry, and Strange Talk. The Presets from these artists are included in the app. "Onkyo headphones have an incredible sound for both the studio and for leisure, says Stephen Docker, Lead Singer of Strange Talk. We're also finding out more ways of customizing the sound to fit the different genres we're listening to using the Onkyo EQ app. You should definitely check it out." Additional functionality includes an automatic upsampling function (from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz) and selectable track crossfading. Onkyo hopes the friendly interface and audio flexibility will turn casual listeners, who may have only just begun to rediscover their favorite music with a pair of quality headphones, into budding hi-fi enthusiasts. As their confidence grows, so too does HF Player. Users seeking the ultimate in high-resolution audio performance can make an in-app HF Player Pack purchase (US$9.99) to enable FLAC, DSD, WAV, and AIFF playback of up to 192 kHz with 24-bit sampling (these files are loaded via a simple drag-and-drop operation on an iTunes-equipped PC prior to synchronization). This in-app purchase also enables selectable upsampling from 44.1 kHz to a possible 192 kHz, and an HD phase-linear equalizer with an incredible 20,000 bands of adjustment in 64-bit mode. As well as the flexibility and control offered by the precision FIR equalizer, HF Player introduces SACD (Super Audio CD) and better-than-CD audio quality into the portable domain. Paired with a set of quality headphones, such as Onkyos award-winning ES-HF300 on-ear or IE-HF300 in-ear models, HF Player lets audiophiles enjoy premier high-resolution sound while theyre on the road. The release of the HF Player app demonstrates Onkyos ongoing commitment to portable hi-fi. Complementing the companys growing range of premium on-ear and in-ear headphoneswhich have gathered significant momentum both critically and commercially since their releasethis new app will allow listeners to discover how truly great their personal audio setup can sound. Note: DSD-IFF and DSF formats are converted to PCM before playback. Playback of high-resolution files places high demands on CPU and battery resources. For optimal playback results, Onkyo recommends closing other applications and placing your device on Airplane Mode. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. 11th Onkyo International Braille Essay Contest Onkyo Corporation, an audio and visual equipment manufacture, and the Braille Mainichi (The Mainichi Newspapers) created the "Onkyo Braille Essay Contest" in 2003, and it has been held annually since then. Through this contest, we hope to build a bridge between Braille and sound for the visually disabled who are extremely sensitive to the warmth that connects all people. The 11th contest held this year invited entries from Japan for the Japanese Category as well as entries from 108 countries for the International Category: 21 countries and regions in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) under World Blind Union Asia Pacific (WBU-AP), 21 countries in West Asia, Central Asia, and Middle East under Asian Blind Union (ABU), 45 countries in Europe under European Blind Union (EBU), and 21 countries in North America and the Caribbean under World Blind Union North America and Caribbean (WBU-NAC). As an international essay contest, the event promotes cross-cultural communication and serves as a bridge across an increasingly complex global community. We hope that the lives and thoughts of the visually disabled both at home and overseas will reach readers' hearts and the harmony we create together will resonate throughout society. Firmware updates are now available for the following products. Please check the downloads tab on the product pages or support section for details and update procedure. TX-NR414, HT-RC440, HT-R758 (HT-S6500), TX-NR515, HT-RC460, HT-R791 (HT-S7500), TX-NR616, HT-RC470, TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR1010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR5010 New Additions to the Envision Cinema Line: LS-B50 Soundbar System and LS-T10 TV Speaker System Make Global Debut UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo aims to bring cinematic sound to listening rooms where space or budget preclude use of a multi-speaker surround-sound setup by introducing two additions to its Envision Cinema line with a new soundbar system and an innovative all-in-one TV-base speaker system. The LS-B50 (soundbar with wireless subwoofer) and LS-T10 combine a multi-channel, multi-speaker array with powerful DSP technology to fill rooms with panoramic sound. As well as boosting audio from TV, gaming consoles and media players, these audio systems are among the easiest to use of any on the market requiring only a single digital cable to connect. Operating these units is simplified by using a regular TV remote control since both the LS-B50 and LS-T10 are preprogrammed with IR codes for nine major TV brands and learning ability for others. This feature is also available on the Onkyos initial Envision Cinema offering, the LS-3100. Adding even further value, these products double as a powerful home hi-fi systems with Bluetooth technology for wireless audio streaming via mobile and PC. USB ports are also included to play audio from flash-memory-enabled media players such as smartphones, tablets, and mass storage-class devices. For expansive sound in the living room, bedroom, or kitchen, the LS-B50 pack eight drivers (six full-range drivers and two ring-radiator tweeters) into very compact package. The LS-T10, meanwhile, features a total of six full-range drivers plus an powerful integrated subwoofer and is designed to slip neatly underneath the television base. Both models feature an efficient six-channel digital amplifier with audio output controlled by AuraSphere DSP from Onkyo. Advanced algorithms manage equalization and sound pressure levels in real time to create a realistic 3D immersion field from regular PCM stereo or Dolby® Digital sources. Unlike rival DSP technologies, AuraSphere expands the traditional sweet spot (the area directly in front of the TV where audio sounds best) to create an all-enveloping 3D sound field that places the listener in the center of the action wherever they are in the room. Three sound modes optimize playback of different content, with News Mode cleaning up and projecting dialog more intelligibly, Movie Mode shaping for greater realism and impact, and Music Mode equalizing for a more balanced and engaging listen. The LS-B50 adds a wireless active subwoofer for deep-reaching bass impact from almost anywhere in the room, while the LS-B40 includes a subwoofer pre-out. Wall-mounting kits and IR flashers enable flexible soundbar placement. With the release of the LS-B50, and LS-T10, Onkyo reaffirms its position as the leading supplier of home entertainment solutions to suit every lifestyle and budget, from compact TV audio systems to audiophile-grade 9.2-channel home theater installations. The LS-B50 and LS-T10 Envision Cinema products will both be available in September and have suggested retail prices of $699 and $499 respectively. August 12, 2013 Onkyo Ships New Entry-Level TX-8020 Stereo Receiver UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ. Onkyo is now shipping the TX-8020 to reinvigorate its stereo receiver line, stripping back unnecessary extras and focusing on delivering the rich, full-spectrum analog sound for which the brand is celebrated. The 50 watt per channel TX-8020 is a high quality audio component aimed at users that dont require video switching or A/V processing capabilities, but instead seek a powerful, versatile, and affordable amplification solution for all their home entertainment sources. To best equip it for this role, a total of five analog inputs accept audio from TV, BD/DVD players, CD player, and AirPlay-enabled devices such as Onkyos DS-A5 RI Dock for iPod®/iPhone®/iPad®. An FM/AM tuner with 40-preset memory is also included, while a moving-magnet phono stage caters to the vinyl record collector. Two sets of banana plug-compatible speaker A/B terminals on the rear panel allow the receiver to drive a single pair of 416 Ohm floor-standing or bookshelf loudspeakers (A or B), or two pairs of 816 Ohm speakers (A+B) in a distributed multi-room setup. The TX-8020 also provides a subwoofer pre-out for those looking for an enhanced low end. The TX-8020 recalls the glory days of hi-fi with its bulletproof all-metal construction and clean, functional front panel. And just like the vintage classics, this receiver includes bass, treble, and balance controls to enhance the tonal characteristics of different source material, and to correct for room acoustics or speaker frequency response curves. These carefully designed circuits have no discernable impact on sound quality. At the heart of the TX-8020 Stereo Receiver is Onkyos Wide Range Amp Technology, WRAT, which is based around a high-current, low-impedance drive to handle speaker impedance fluctuations and sudden signal gains. Low-negative-feedback amp circuit topology improves dynamic range while preserving the lifelike quality of the original recording. Left- and right-channel power devices are fully discretenot integrated into a printed circuit boardand closed ground loops are used to cancel circuit noise. This combination of high instantaneous power and low distortion adds up to distinctively accurate and musical sound quality for all kinds of audio content. Onkyo prides itself in creating high-performance products for movie and music fans, with solutions to suit every listening space and budget. This new addition carries Onkyos 65-year hi-fi legacy forward to a new generation of passionate audio enthusiasts. The TX-8020 has a suggested retail price of $199. Firmware updates are now available for the following products. Please check the downloads tab on the product pages or support section for details and update procedure. TX-NR717, TX-NR818, TX-NR709, TX-NR809, HT-RC370 Onkyo Launches 9.2-Channel TX-NR929 and 7.2-Channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receivers with Onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology Onkyo Launches 9.2-Channel TX-NR929 and 7.2-Channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receivers with Onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology OSAKA, JAPAN. Onkyo announces the release of a fully loaded 9.2-channel TX-NR929 Network A/V Receiver to crown its mid-range lineup, introducing value-conscious consumers to the visceral thrill of nine-channel entertainment. The all-new model is positioned between the 7.2-channel TX-NR828 Network A/V Receiver also on release, and the company’s existing audiophile-grade flagship products. The launch of these two THX® Certified receivers—together with the recently unveiled TX-NR727 Network A/V THX Certified Receiver—marks the 20th anniversary of Onkyo’s collaborative partnership with THX Ltd. Onkyo was one of the first manufacturers to embrace THX quality assurance standards for home theater components, releasing the first-ever THX Certified A/V Receiver in 1994. THX certification is an assurance of the highest quality and performance reserved solely for products that deliver an entertainment experience that's true to the original creator’s intent. THX Certified Onkyo A/V receivers guarantee THX Reference Level volume and audio quality similar to that of commercial cinemas and professional mix rooms. “As one of the first CE partners to help bring the THX Certified cinema experience into the living room, we value Onkyo’s dedication to the THX certification process,” said Peter Vasay, VP technology operations, THX Ltd. “For 20 years Onkyo has collaborated closely with THX engineers through vigorous testing to each THX Certified AVR, all to deliver home theater enthusiasts with the promise of an accurate and powerful audio performance – receivers that preserve artistic integrity and deliver movies and music as intended.” With the widest selection of THX Certified A/V receivers, Onkyo’s TX-NR929 and TX-NR828 are both THX® Select2™ Plus certified, signifying they passed more than 2,000 bench tests, ensuring consumers a best-in-class home theater experience. Onkyo is also among the first to include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology on its entry-level and mid-range A/V receivers, enabling universal wireless audio streaming and adding to an extensive suite of proprietary and licensed technology, including: Built-in Wi-Fi to enable lossless audio streaming from iPhone® and Android devices, as well as app-controllable 192 kHz/24-bit FLAC, Apple Lossless, Dolby® TrueHD, LPCM, and DSD streaming from NAS and personal computer (via network and DLNA) Onboard Bluetooth technology for fast and convenient audio streaming Passthrough of 4K Ultra HD content via HDMI®, and upscaling of lower-resolution video to 4K with Qdeo™ processing technology from Marvell Audyssey’s premium MultEQ XT32® room acoustic equalization on the TX-NR929, and Audyssey MultEQ® on the TX-NR828 Upmixing solutions comprising DTS Neo:X™ (TX-NR929 only), Audyssey DSX®, and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz Nine HDMI inputs (including frontside MHL™) and two outputs (TX-NR929); and eight HDMI in (including MHL) and two out (TX-NR828) The TX-NR929 Network A/V Receiver pushes the boundaries of what is possible from a production home theater, with 11.2 multichannel pre-outs and DTS Neo:X™ upmixing for surround-sound playback through up to 11 channels. If preferred, the user can assign four of the nine available channels to drive audio in Zone 2 and Zone 3 simultaneously. The receiver also has an extra HDMI output for sending high-def video to a second display. Multi-zone entertainment is managed via smartphone app, which encompasses the selection of online streaming services, internet radio channels, and network audio files. As well as having the power to steer high-res movie soundtracks through nine channels at theater-reference volumes, the receiver is loaded with high-end features to optimize two-channel performance. Pre-processing incorporates three 192kHz/24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs (with one stereo DAC per front channel in Differential DAC Mode). Amplification comes courtesy of Onkyo’s WRAT (Wide Range Amp Technology) and discrete Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, a combination that preserves a distinctively musical sound even at high volumes. Audiophiles wishing to bi-amp their front speakers can find performance increases from Onkyo’s proprietary Digital Processing Crossover Network. Digital Signal Processing splits the audio signal very precisely into separate high- and low-frequency signals, feeding them to the appropriate speaker drivers. This all but eliminates frequency overlap at the crossover point for a more transparent stereo image. Delivering a similarly high power output, but through 7.2 channels, is the TX-NR828 Network A/V Receiver—a heavyweight model with an appealing blend of features. Along with 4K passthrough and upscaling, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, and THX certification, the receiver has Audyssey DSX® upmixing and Audyssey MultEQ® room acoustic equalization. A full complement of analog and digital A/V connections—including 7.2 multichannel pre-outs and a phono stage—provide the flexibility for user customization. The receiver offers both Powered Zone 2 outputs and Zone 2/3 line-outs to deliver network audio sources to an existing hi-fi system in third zone. Like its larger sibling, this A/V receiver is very simple to set up and use, with an icon-based overlaid graphical on-screen display and InstaPrevue™ video switching technology. Hybrid Standby, meanwhile, preserves a network connection and HDMI passthrough while the home theater sleeps, allowing the use of TV and media players with the receiver powered down. With the release of these two receivers, Onkyo consolidates its reputation for building lavishly equipped products to a high standard of excellence. Lauded for their immensely powerful yet detailed surround sound, the company’s A/V receivers ensure a stress-free user experience with faster access to media, wherever it might be stored. It’s this dedication to fidelity, functionality, and value that keeps Onkyo on the leading edge. The TX-NR828 and TX-NR929 network receivers will have suggested retail prices of $1099 and $1399 respectively. The TX-NR828 will be available at retail in June while the TX-NR929 will be available in July. About Onkyo ?Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. THX, the THX logo and Select2 are trademarks of THX Ltd. THX and the THX logo are registered in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All rights reserved Onkyo Launches TX-NR727, TX-NR626, and TX-NR525 Network A/V Receivers, HT-S5600 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package Upper Saddle River, NJ: Continuing its reign as the worlds foremost creator of user-focused home entertainment products, Onkyo has unveiled three exciting network A/V receiversalong with an affordable home theater package ideal for first-time buyersfor the 2013 model year, pushing standards for performance and value to unprecedented heights at the entry-level. The respected electronics company continues to forge ahead with enhanced features and functionality with following upgrades announced for its entry-level network A/V receivers: Starting from the TX-NR626, built-in Wi-Fi is supported by a remote app that enables lossless audio streaming from iPhone® and Android-based devices, as well as app-controllable FLAC, Apple Lossless, Dolby® TrueHD, LPCM, and DSD hi-res streaming from NAS and personal computer via network and DLNABeginning with the TX-NR626, built-in Bluetooth technology will enable fast and reliable audio streaming from cellphone, smartphone, tablet, and computerAn expanded selection of music streaming services and internet radio providers (including Spotify, TuneIn Radio, and Last.fm) selectable via remote app4K Ultra HD passthrough via HDMI® from media players and projectors (all three models) and Qdeo 4K video upscaling technology (TX-NR626 and TX-NR727)Upgraded Audyssey MultEQ® room acoustic correction to equalize and calibrate subwoofers as well as satellites.As the most powerful model on release, the THX® Select2 Plus-certified TX-NR727 Network A/V Receiver drives through 7.2 channels equipped with Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, making it an ideal choice for filling larger rooms with studio reference surround sound. The receiver offers Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey DSX® upmixing, and Whole House Mode for distributed audio in up to three zones. Eight HDMI inputs include MHL support for 1080p video from smartphone and tablet, while two HDMI outputs are featured to connect a projector and TV display. Harnessing technology and making it easier to use is always a major priority, and to this end, InstaPrevue video switching technology and an elegantly simple HDMI-powered user interface are included. Remote app control, meanwhile, extends across three zones, supporting audio streaming from the local network and making it easy to search for the albums, playlists, and internet radio channels available through the receiver. Users searching for exemplary audio-video performance on a tighter budget may consider the formidable TX-NR626 Network A/V Receiver. Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitrya sophisticated amp topology designed for high-energy output with minimal distortionis present on the front and center channels. The TX-NR626 is suited to playing multi-channel movie soundtracks and two-channel music with a high degree of transparency. 4K Ultra HD video passthrough and upscalingplus built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologyreflect the exceptional value of this fully featured A/V receiver. With a useful amount of power, network connectivity, and streaming service implementationalong with provision for Bluetooth technology and wireless LAN via optional adaptersthe 5.2-channel TX-NR525 Network A/V Receiver is a strong contender at the entry level. Six HDMI inputs, Audyssey MultEQ®, InstaPrevue technology, and Hybrid Standby (which maintains HDMI and network connectivity) are practical inclusions to streamline, simplify, and optimize the home theater system for everyday use. For users seeking the convenience and performance of a professionally calibrated home theater system, Onkyo offers the HT-S5600 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package. Newly compatible with the UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter, the included receiver boasts Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey 2EQ® equalization for immersive surround sound. Multizone support via Powered Zone2 connections is also available on the powerful package. The eight-piece speaker set employs high-performance OMF drivers in the two-way front and center speakers, and an efficient yet punchy 120 W active subwoofer. All models presented here are endowed with class-leading audio pre-processing and proprietary WRAT (Wide Range Amp Technology). This key to this acclaimed technology lies in Onkyos low-negative-feedback amplifier topology, which extracts the full dynamic potential in the recording. High instantaneous current capability, meanwhile, provides a deep reservoir of power to handle the sudden dynamic gains common to movie soundtracks, while noise-canceling closed ground-loop circuits assist with the clean and clear delivery for which the Onkyo brand is celebrated. From its roots in two-channel hi-fi, and pioneering contribution to multi-channel home theater, Onkyo is now leading the way toward house-wide entertainment systems driven by powerful A/V processing hubs. Rapid innovation is leading to better-equipped products at all levels of the market, allowing consumers to enjoy the life-changing benefits of the digital revolution. The TX-NR525, TX-NR-626 and TX-NR727 network receivers will have suggested retail prices of $499, $599 and $899 respectively, and the HT-S5600 home theater system will have suggested retail prices of $599. The TX-NR525, TX-NR626 and HT-S5600 will be available at retail in April while the TX-NR727 will be available in May. About Onkyo : Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyo's website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Firmware update for TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 A firmware update is available for the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818. This update is available via USB only. The update 1) Improves picture output of 1080p/24 sources; 2) Improves the playback stability of FLAC files via Network/USB and 3) Corrects the sound leak issue between Main and powered Zone2/3 when activating Powered Zones. Information can be found in the download section and product pages on onkyousa.com. Onkyo Headphones Take Component-Quality Audio on the Road LAS VEGAS (1/8/13) -- Onkyo, the world's foremost manufacturer of home theater and hi-fi components, has entered a new product category with the introduction of headphones at the Consumer Electronics Show, which opened here today. The company has focused its vast engineering talent on producing a range of headphones that offer users an authentic hi-fi experience on the go. As smartphone sales continue to skyrocket, interest in headphones is at an all-time high. Onkyo aims to introduce this generation of listeners to component-quality sound with headphones they can comfortably take on the road. Considerable time and resources were spent tuning these new models, with Onkyo's research and development team committed to extracting the best dynamic performance from an all-new titanium driver design. They all include detachable and replaceable cables to economically resolve user mishaps. Two closed-back on-ear models will be first to hit storesthe ES-HF300, which features a audiophile-grade cable, and the ES-FC300, packaged with a tangle-free elastomer cable. These folding on-ear headphones bring listeners closer to genuine hi-fi performance. Two wide-range 40 mm titanium drivers deliver stunning clarity in the mid- and high-frequency bands. Onkyo's unique ported bass sub-chambers, meanwhile, help define a deep, muscular bottom-end response. The aluminum driver housing (shaped to resemble the volume control on Onkyo's hi-fi and A/V components) and single aluminum hanger presents a clean, understated profile. Onkyo is offering the ES-HF300 with a 6N oxygen-free copper cable encased in clear elastomer, providing almost perfect conductivity while keeping touch noise to a minimum. Gold-plated MMCX connectors and mini-stereo plug reflect the highest build standards. The ES-FC300 is available in three striking finishes: black with a red cable, white with a white cable, and violet with a violet cable. It features an elastomer cable with a flattened cross-section to minimize tanglesa feature that essentially eliminates a common annoyance to real-world headphone enthusiasts.. Both the high-quality copper and flat elastomer cables will be available for separate sale should the user wish to upgrade or seek a replacement, thereby extending the life of the product. Two aluminum in-ear modelsthe IE-HF300 and IE-FC300are scheduled for release over the coming months. Powered by a 14.3 mm dynamic transducer, these in-ear headphones balance silky bass with an open and natural mid range. The IE-HF300 is packaged with audiophile-grade 6N copper cable, while the IE-FC300 comes with red, violet, or white tangle-free elastomer cable. Also in the development pipeline is a powerful headphone equalizer app for smartphone and tablet, allowing users to quickly and precisely adjust frequency response to suit their personal taste. The app is designed to partner Onkyo's headphone line, granting smartphone and tablet users unparalleled control over their audio. Onkyo is a trailblazing force in the home entertainment industry, anticipating market trends with intelligent, user-focused products. These new releases join a stable of acclaimed audio and A/V components, and will introduce more music lovers to the iconic Onkyo sound. The Onkyo ES-HF300 and ES-FC300 will have suggested retail prices of $179 and $149 respectively, and IE-HF300 and IE-FC300 will have suggested retail prices of $129 and $99. They will be available in the first quarter of 2013. Firmware update available for the BD-SP309 and BD-SP809 10/26/12 - A firmware update is now available for the BD-SP309 and BD-SP809. This update is available via ethernet connection or USB. The update procedure and USB files are available on the product pages or support section of onkousa.com. The latest version of the firmware for the BD-SP809 is 1.83.00, and it improves the playability of certain DVD discs. The update for the BD-SP309 improves playability of particular Blu-ray discs Onkyo Announces EnvisionCinema A Stylishly Compact TV Speaker System with SRS Processing Technology and Bluetooth Wireless Audio UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of audio and audio-video entertainment products, proudly announces the release of EnvisionCinema LS3100, an exciting 2.1-channel powered speaker package designed to improve the audio performance of modern flat-panel TVs with SRS audio enhancement and Bluetooth wireless streaming technology. The system consists of a slim 20-watt digital amplifier unit to power the two dual-drive speakers, and an active wireless down-firing subwoofer. EnvisionCinema comes pre-programmed for control with most TV remotes, with learning ability for the few models it might not immediately recognize. This means the Onkyo system switches on and off automatically with the TV, and responds to the volume commands of the television remote. Two full-range drivers are installed in each sculpted speaker cabinet. Clever removable speaker stands enable a wide variety of mounting positions on the wall or entertainment unit. Thanks to collaboration with SRS audio research labs, the EnvisionCinema system employs TruVolume, a dynamic control solution to equalize the irritating volume fluctuations in TV programming; and WOW HD, an audio processing technology that generates a more expansive soundstage. Dialog Mode, meanwhile, renders voices more intelligibly in the mixgreat for movies, news, and TV programs. Combined with the powered subwooferwhich can be positioned anywhere in the room thanks to its wireless Bluetooth technologyusers can bid farewell to the days of thin TV sound, and revel in the extraordinary sonic capabilities of this stylish and efficient system. Like all Onkyo products, the EnvisionCinema system is replete with up-to-the-minute features. Bluetooth Version 2.1 +EDR allows the user to stream music from compatible devices, such as most cell phone, smart phone and tablet brands, and a wide selection of laptops and personal computers. The convenience of wireless streaming from portable devicesand the high-quality sound this package is capable of deliveringwill be persuasive factors for astute buyers maximizing their home entertainment budgets. Presented in a sleek and contemporary package, EnvisionCinema finds fertile ground between dedicated multi-channel home theater systems and other prohibitively expensive two-channel options. Onkyo brings more than 60 years audio experience to the table when designing new products, forging partnerships with other industry heavyweights to ensure that any specialist technology featured is the very best available. From the companys audiophile-grade A/V receivers down to its most affordable personal stereo systems, fans around the world recommend Onkyo as the go-to brand for home entertainment. The Onkyo EnvisionCinema LS3100 will be available in November with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo Introduces iLunar a Slick New Six-Channel Bluetooth Docking System with Sonic Emotion 3D Sound Processing UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Onkyo, a company known for its ability to anticipate market trends and capitalize on the latest technology, announces the release of a six-channel Bluetooth and iPod/iPhone docking solution featuring remarkable new 3D sound processing technology. The personal audio system places the listener center stage, immersing them in high quality sound no matter where they are located in the room. While the RBX-500 iLunar Dock Music System represents a departure from the conventional mini systems within the companys lineup, customers can expect the same outstanding audio performance and build quality that has made Onkyo a globally respected name in hi-fi. With the iLunar, traditional stereophonic sound is taken a step further using an arrangement of six full-range drivers positioned above a down-firing subwoofer. Rather than using two channels to create a centralized sweet spot in front of the speakers, a processing chip from Swiss audio research company Sonic Emotion radiates the sound in all directions, creating the impression of stereo sound wherever the listener is located. To achieve the effect of being right in the middle of a stereophonic sweet spot, the processor applies a system of equalization filters and delays to all six channels. Through a process known as wave field synthesis, the technology is able to render a 3D audio image, creating an impression for the listener of being on stage or in the studio with the musicians. The iLunar is perfect for those with busy lifestyles. Users can dock their iPod or iPhoneor use the Bluetooth function to stream from almost any smart phone, tablet, or PCand enjoy immersive entertainment while going about their day. With the expanded bandwidth capabilities of Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, enjoying quality sound with the convenience of wireless streaming is now a reality. Furthermore, the recharging dock for iPod and iPhone ensures signals are transferred from the device in digital format, rather than analog form, for cleaner, more expansive sound. The dock is a recharging type, allowing the user to top off the battery while they listening to music, ready when they are back on the move. A USB port is also included for charging many other types of smart phone or tablet, even as the device streams music wirelessly. The iLunar features a powerful and efficient digital amplifier to drive six speakers and the subwoofer. Without the need for a bulky heat sink, the audio system can be made smaller and lighter, making it ideal for use in areas where space is limited. Onkyo has long been admired for its unique approach to audio design and engineering. In addition to placing a strong emphasis on technological innovation, the company insists on superlative build standards, functional yet elegant design, and above all, extremely good sound quality. So whether the user listens to music while on the go around the house or alone and without distraction, the iLunar rewards with refreshing and realistic audio performance. Its another in a long line of boldly inventive products from a company that prides itself on pushing the boundaries of home entertainment technology. The Onkyo RBX-500 iLunar will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $249. Onkyo Introduces Network HiFi Mini System with Outstanding Internet Radio Access UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) --Onkyo has introduced the CS-N755 Network HiFi Mini System, a compact bookshelf music system and speakers designed to provide state-of-the-art audio entertainment from Internet Radio, streaming music from smartphones, tablets, and computers via USB, wireless streaming with an optional USB Bluetooth Adaptor, FM/AM radio, and Compact Disc. The CS-N755 uses Onkyo's premium Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) with symmetrical circuit design and three-stage inverted Darlington Circuitry. Two high-quality two-way bass reflex speakers, each with a 5-inch Onkyo Micro Fiber woofer and 1-inch soft dome tweeter, provide outstanding sound performance. A rear-panel Ethernet port is used for internet access. There are pre-loaded online channels for Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, Sirius Internet Radio, last.fm, aupeo!, and vTuner. It is DNLA Certified and supports MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, and WMA Lossless. The front-panel USB ports supports iPod/iPhone as well as flash drives and hard discs. With the optional USB Bluetooth Adaptor users can stream wirelessly from Apple and Android devices. The CS-N755 can also be operated using Onkyo's free Remote control Apps for iPhone and Android. The Onkyo CS-N755 Network HiFi Mini System will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo Debuts CD/Bluetooth HiFi Mini System in Three Colors UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) --With three colors to choose from, white, black, and red, the Onkyo CS-355 Colibrino CD HiFi Mini System is a compact stylish solution to getting great sound from CDs, radio, and music streamed from an iPod, iPhone or any other device that can communicate via Bluetooth or USB. Ideal for use in a bedroom, dorm, office, or kitchen, the Colibrino comes with a pair of high-performance two-way speakers and a hand-held remote control. The drawer-type CD player protects discs and can play MP3 CD, CD-R, and CD-RW, in addition to conventional Red Book CDs. A quality FM/AM tuner with thirty presets keeps you in-touch with local news and music. The player uses Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR supports wireless audio playback with aptX®, SBC, and AAC Codecs. The front-panel USB supports playback and recharging for compatible iDevices, and playback of USB memory devices. The Onkyo CS-355 Colibrino will be available in September with a suggested retail price of $329. Onkyo to Create a New Generation of Audiophiles with Affordable New Integrated Amplifier UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/30/12) -- Demonstrating its commitment to providing exceptionally good sound quality at all levels of the market, Onkyo is pleased to announce a new addition to its range of high quality stereo separates, the A-9050. The A-9050 amplifier features WRAT amplification boosted by Onkyos Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry. And, for the first time at this price point, the A-9050 is graced with premium DIDRC dynamic noise reduction technology. It is rated at 75 watts per channel into an 8-ohm load. The A-9050 follows the A-9070 stereo amplifier in the Onkyo integrated lineupa high-end model that was released last year to universal acclaim. The A-9050 is built around a practically bulletproof 1.6 mm anti-resonant metal chassis with aluminum faceplates. Two large capacitors and a high-output EI transformer drive current through the amplifying circuit and discrete triple-transistor output stage for an open and musical performance. Solid copper bus bars provide each individual circuit with a unique link to the power supply, significantly reducing circuit noise compared to conventional circuit designs. As an integrated amplifier, the A-9050 employs one of the most talented pre-amps in its category, with a powerful Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DAC module and DIDRC technology to cleanse signals of super-high-frequency noise and pulse interference that otherwise affects audio purity. Gold-plated RCA inputs and banana plug-compatible speaker posts also work to improve clarity. Another unique feature found on this amplifier is Onkyos new PM Bass technology, which counters audio phase shifting by matching the phases of low- and mid-frequency sound waves, thereby improving mid-range clarity and enhancing bass response. The A-9050 feature five analog inputs and one output each, while the more powerful model of the pair adds three digital inputs for lossless PC audio (one optical, two coaxial). The user can connect a compatible CD player and tuner, and if desired, a tape deck. Naturally, a quality MM phono input and a subwoofer output are also included. With the release of this new integrated amplifier, Onkyo hopes to make quality component audio a realistic proposition for a greater number of people. As the initial building blocks of a first hi-fi system, or to renew an existing setup, the A-9050 will reignite the listeners passion for music, creating a whole new generation of Onkyo fans in the process. The Onkyo A-9050 integrated amplifier will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $499. Onkyo and Sonic Emotion Team Up to Release Music System with Absolute 3D Sound Technology OSAKA, JAPAN. Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of home entertainment products, and Sonic Emotion, the pioneering Swiss audio company, have collaborated to create the iLunara music system that produces a convincing 3D sound field from stereo sources. Onkyo welcomed the opportunity to work with Sonic Emotion on an audio system that places the listener center stageirrespective of their location within the roomusing the companys patented Absolute 3D sound processing technology. We are delighted to release the new iLunar, which was jointly developed with Sonic Emotion, said Mr. Nobuaki Okuda, CTO of Onkyo Corporation. Over the last few years, weve been working on creating some exciting new Listening Style Audio systems, and we are gratified by the favorable response in markets around the world. We believe we can continue to provide a dynamic listening experience to customers with our iLunar, which features Absolute 3D sound technology. With our Value Creation concept, we provide a new value proposition to our customers. We will continue to work hard to introduce products and services with the power to move, Mr Okuda said. Absolute 3D works by locating sound objects within a stereo mix, recreating their original positions using the iLunars loudspeaker array. Together with Onkyos audio engineering mastery, the technology allows listeners to experience natural, immersive sound from anywhere in the room. Partnering with Onkyo to create, develop and launch iLunar with our Absolute 3D sound technology has been an incredible experience, said Rajeev Kapur, CEO of Sonic Emotion. Onkyos history of providing consumers with innovative, high-quality products mirrors Sonic Emotions dedication to providing a sound experience that is second to none, further confirming Sonic Emotion's technology as the best solution for manufacturers. About Onkyo Onkyo has been producing precision audio components for more than 60 years. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the digital media revolution. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.intl.onkyo.com About Sonic Emotion Founded in 2002, Sonic Emotion is the world leader in 3D sound entertainment solutions for consumer electronics and professional applications. Beginning with sound technologies originally developed for large venues, Sonic Emotion holds a number of worldwide patents and is established as the leader in research and application of audio processing technologies. Sonic Emotion applied its expertise in the field to offer a scaled-down version of the technology to meet the demands of consumers. Sonic Emotion Absolute 3D solutions have been included in a growing number of home entertainment electronic products sold worldwide, including sound bars, towers, DAB radios, docking stations, and mobile phone applications. Sonic Emotions first consumer mobile app, Headquake®, was launched in January 2012 as a dynamic listening experience on the go. For more information, visit www.sonicemotion.com A firmware update is now available for the TX-NR515, TX-NR616, HT-RC460 and HT-S7500. Update is available via Ethernet connection or via USB. The update improves operation of "Power on" of remote control. TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 Firmware Notification Onkyo takes very seriously any problem experienced by our fans and customers. The issues on the TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 were experienced by a very small number of consumers (less than .3%) which made isolating the problem very difficult for our engineering staff. Nevertheless, we have been burning the midnight oil to fix the issue and expect to have a firmware update next week. There will be full details on our website. As always, we are here to support our consumers 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a knowledgeable and caring support team in New Jersey and Nashville. Sincerely, Onkyo Unveils Three High-End A/V Receivers, Including the Magnificent New TX-NR5010 Flagship UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (6/27/12) -- Onkyo, the worlds leading manufacturer of home theater and hi-fi equipment, announces the release of three new models at the top of its A/V receiver line for 2012. The lineup includes the world's first full 11.1-channel implementation of DTS Neo:X, and the first use of Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology in an audio/video component. This release includes a new lavishly outfitted nine-channel flagship, the stunning TX-NR5010 Network A/V Receiver; a more moderately priced nine-channel alternative, the TX-NR3010 Network A/V Receiver; and lastly, a high-power seven-channel solution, the value-packed TX-NR1010 Network A/V Receiver. Onkyo invests considerable resources in research and development each year to find innovative ways to enhance the performance, quality and value of its products. When beneficial, the company also forms strategic alliances with external partners to source specialty technology that enhances the product. The fruit of this investment is clearly evident in these three new releases, with an across-the-board focus on high performance technology: THX® Ultra2 Plus certification to recreate the cinematic experience with dynamic Reference Level sound to larger home theaters up to 85 cubic meters in size and a viewing distance of approximately 3.5 meters 11.4-channel pre-outs with DTS Neo:X 11-channel upmixing support for both the TX-NR5010 and TX-NR3010, another world first for Onkyo First consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 room equalization with multi-channel upmixing from DTS Neo:X, Audyssey DSX®, and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz An additional HDMI® output to enable 1080p playback in a second zone InstaPrevue picture-in-picture video input preview and selection technology Front-panel Mobile High-Definition Link HDMI port for phone/camcorder Extra HDMI inputs to support 3D Video plus Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (8+1 inputs on all three models) Bluetooth 3.0 and aptX® wireless audio streaming via optional adapter With Ethernet for access to preloaded audio streaming channels such as Spotify, and connectivity for smart phones, tablets, and PC via DLNA or Bluetooth, these receivers are designed for seamless integration into users digital lifestyles and to distribute entertainment throughout the home. Because of the importance of superior usability in the connected home, Onkyo has been working with Cisco to incorporate SimpleTap that delivers better experiences to mutual broader set of customers. With the inclusion in these three high-end receivers, Onkyo becomes the first company to integrate SimpleTap technology into CE products. Firmware updates will be available to enable all 2012 Onkyo Network enabled receivers to take advantage of this new technology. "We share the vision that the connected home should be simple and enjoyable, and we are proud to be the first consumer electronics partner to incorporate Cisco Linksys' SimpleTap technology into our new AV receivers," said Nobuaki Okuda, president, Onkyo Sound & Vision Corporation. "SimpleTap really simplifies how our new 2012 AV receiver can be connected to the network, so people can instantly enjoy their favorite tunes from music streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify, SiriusXM Internet Radio and many other services." HDMI connectivity has also been enhanced by adding Zone2 HDMI connectivity that removes the need for a secondary analog connection in order to access audio in a second zone. Powered audio is available in up to three zones simultaneouslywith multi-zone playback and setting controls managed by remote app. The receivers primary role, however, is always at the heart of the home theater system, as well as providing transcendent stereo playback for music. As audio and video processors, these three receivers are unrivalled in their respective categories. To conjure up the signature Onkyo sound, audio signals are passed through a sophisticated digital-to-analog conversion stage, with PLL jitter-cleaning, VLSC noise-mitigation, and top-quality TI Burr-Brown DAC modules working to create a pristine analog waveform. Signals are then amplified through discrete Three-Stage Inverted Darlington Circuitry, with a triple transistor array that cuts distortion and boosts current flow to the speakers. This innovative amplifier design capitalizes on the unique benefits offered by a low negative feedback topology, preserving the life, vitality, and realism of the audio as it was originally recorded. Outputted through discrete transistors, the resulting sound further burnishes Onkyos reputation as the masters of high fidelity audio. For optimum video performance, all three models feature Onkyos Dual Core Video Enginehailed as the best video processing system currently available. This system pairs the mighty HQV® Vida VHD1900 module with Marvells Qdeo technology for seamless upscaling to 4K. ISF video calibration further enhances smooth and vivid picture quality. The flagship TX-NR5010 is aimed squarely at the avid home theater enthusiast. As part of the THX certification promise, this receiver is designed to deliver the highest audio and video quality for an unsurpassed home cinema experience right out of the box. Housed in a rigid chassis with separate anti-resonant aluminum top and side panels, the unit has a massive toroidal transformer supported by two discrete transformers for audio and video processing. With gold-plated audio terminals and speaker posts, this unit is fastidiously outfitted to audiophile-grade specifications. Like its slightly more powerful sibling, TX-NR3010 also boasts multiple transformers for A/V processing, but features a heavy-duty EI transformer in place of toroidal power. All models feature isolated power and preamp blocks to reduce interference with super-rigid chassis to prevent vibration. A new Differential DAC Mode and Digital Crossover Processing Network are also included on all three models to optimize performance when bi-wiring and bi-amping the front channelsfurther demonstrating Onkyos commitment to audiophile-level sound. With everything from an analog video input for PC to a generous mix of optical and coaxial digital audio inputs, all three models boast an exhaustive the list of A/V connections. In addition to the capacity to link with an iPhone®, iPod®, or flash memory device, these models include two USB ports in the front and rear to accommodate the UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter and UBT-1 Bluetooth USB Adapter (sold separately). Onkyo made these heavyweights not only the best-looking, best-finished A/V receivers on the market, but also the easiest to set up and use. The 1080p overlaid display with Quick Set-Up function enables fast mid-program adjustment, while remote control apps for Android-powered phones and iPhone offer access to system settings, as well as playback control from anywhere in the home. The descendents of a long line of award-winning A/V products, these three unique receivers are a triumph of imagination and engineering, and demonstrate Onkyo's commitment to keeping pace with dynamic and evolving technology while faithfully maintaining its traditional insistence on build quality and complete audio integrity. The Onkyo TX-NR5010, TX-NR3010 and TX-NR1010 receivers will be available in July with suggested retail prices of $2999, $2299 and $1799, respectively. A firmware update will be available from 6/8 for the following models: TX-NR414, TX-NR515, TX-NR616, TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 *******IMPORTANT NOTICE**** WITH THIS FIRMWARE UPDATE YOUR RECEIVER WILL BE RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS. INITIAL SET-UP MUST BE PERFORMED AGAIN INCLUDING AUDYSSEY CALIBRATION. PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF YOUR SETTINGS AND PASSWORDS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS UPDATE. This firmware version corrects the unexpected instances where a portion of the internal memory may stop working. If your receiver is connected to your home network you will see the firmware update information on your TV tomorrow (6/8/2012). You may also download the firmware update from the Onkyo website via USB. The update will be available on our website tomorrow (6/8/12). Onkyo Mid-Range AVRs Deliver High-End Performance UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (3/26/12) --- Onkyo, widely regarded as the most innovative manufacturer of home theater technology, has introduced two new feature-packed mid-line audio-video receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 are 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receivers that offer an exciting mix of advanced networking technology, high performance video and THX®-certified sound quality. For the home theater enthusiast who sees no need to compromise, the TX-NR818 offers the audio calibration capabilities of Audyssey MultEQ® XT32, three surround processing modes including DTS Neo:X, and the unmatched picture quality provided by Onkyo's Dual Core Video Engine. The Dual Core Video Engine combines the power of an HQV® Vida VHD 1900 video processor core to generate smooth, accurate 1080p upscaling and enhancement of lower-quality content, with the performance of the Marvel Qdeo processor, which can upscale 1080p content to four times that resolution. Additionally, the TX-NR818's Dual Core Video Engine offers video calibration to ISF standards, so the user can enjoy breathtaking TV color accuracy. On the TX-NR717, the Marvel Qdeo provides upscaling of all sources to 1080p and 4K. This year, Onkyo is the first AVR brand to offer the new InstaPrevue and MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) technologies, and both are available on these new receivers. InstaPrevue displays video thumbnails representing available content on devices connected via HDMI, which greatly simplifies the process of switching HDMI sources. The front-panel MHL HDMI® port allows users to easily connect and play high-resolution media stored on compatible smart phones with seven channels of surround sound. The Onkyo TX-NR818 includes Audyssey MultEQ XT32 that adjusts the listening room with data gathered from more than 10,000 control points across eight listening positions. This receiver also includes three surround ambience expansion systems, DTS Neo:X, Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz and Audyssey DSX®. As found on Onkyos high-end models, DTS Neo:X incorporates Front Wide or Front Height channels along with incredibly realistic listening modes to maximize the game, music, and movie experience. The TX-NR717 features Audyssey DSX for Wide Channels and Dolby Pro Logic IIz for Heights, as well as multi-channel expansion of stereo sources and uses Audyssey 2EQ for room calibration. Both receivers earn THX® Select 2 Plus certification with enhancements to Onkyos exclusive WRAT concept. Distortion is all but eliminated by the use of three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, with power supplied by a massive high-power transformer. Both units feature Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all seven channels while the TX-NR818 adds PLL jitter-cleaning circuits to further improve signal quality, as well as isolated power amp and pre-amp blocks. The TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 lead the field in connectivity, with eight HDMI inputs (one front, and seven rear) and two outputs. HDMI implementation enables 3D video support, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD audio decoding. These receivers feature an Audio Return Channel over HDMI, allowing the playback of broadcast TV with surround sound. New 1080p, high-resolution GUI (Graphical User Interface) offers an overlaid Quick Setup menu that provides access to frequently used settingsideal for quick mid-program adjustments. Onkyos home networking execution is beyond compare, with online sources that are easy to set up and fast to access. Users can connect using a LAN cable, or add an optional UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter to the rear-side USB port, leaving the front-panel USB free for an iPod®, iPhone®, or flash memory device. In addition to a vast selection of internet radio channels, and music streaming from Spotify and AUPEO!, users can enjoy their personal cloud-based music collections via MP3tunes with powerful home theater sound. Ethernet connectivity also enables playback of music from PC or media server, and simplifies periodic firmware updates. With the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818, integrated house-wide entertainment is a reality, with three-room audio distribution via dedicated line-outs, or by allocating surround channel outputs designed for the purpose. Amplification of audio signals is easily switched to either of two zones equipped with stereo speakers. Playback control across multiple roomsalong with access to all major home theater settingsis available from anywhere in the house using the Remote App 2 for iPhone, or Onkyo Remote App for Android phone. Both receivers include a comprehensive selection of digital and analog A/V connections, and offer front-channel bi-amping. Furthermore, the TX-NR818 boasts an onboard Digital Crossover Processing Network to cancel frequency interference when bi-wiring loudspeakers. This model also has 9.2-channel pre-outs if the user wishes to use the receiver as a nine-channel processor. In the coming months, Onkyo will introduce its UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adapter to significantly upgrade the ability of its network receivers to interact with a wide variety of hand-held electronic devices. There will also be a new iOs remote control app that will enable music streaming from an iPod/iPhone to an Onkyo network receiver, and also the company's first remote app for the Kindle Fire. These receivers are well suited to powering an existing home theater setup, or as a centerpiece around which a magnificent new system can be built. With the TX-NR717 and TX-NR818, Onkyo delivers the kind of features and performance that keeps the everyday user at the cutting edge of home theater technology. The Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 will be available in May with suggested retail prices of $ 999.00 and $1,199.00, respectively. Sudden Shut down and or Static Noise from speaker Dear Valued Customers, We have discovered that some components used in a limited number of products manufactured between November 2011 and January 2012 do not comply with the high quality required for use in Onkyo products. As a result, these products may exhibit one of or both of the following phenomenon: - When powering on the unit, the unit will turn on then turn off automatically - Static Noise emitted from speakers at low volume level (The above mentioned phenomenon are not safety related) Affected Onkyo Models: TX-SR309 TX-NR609 TX-NR709 TX-NR809 TX-NR1009 TX-NR5009 (HT-R390) HT-S3400 (TX-NR609) HT-S7409 & HT-S8409 Please click on the following link for more information on whether your unit will require service support: Check Serial Number Or, You may also contact our Product Support Team at (800) 229-1687, select option 3, to speak with one of our Product Support Representatives to confirm that your product is part of this limited production lot in need of service. If the serial number of your product is identified as possibly being impacted by either of the above issue(s), you will be provided with the opportunity to request a prepaid return label or if necessary; box, packing and prepaid return label. Your unit will ship to the ONKYO Service Center that will be providing the service support at no cost to you. Once repairs are completed your unit will be shipped back to you. ONKYO is committed to delivering best in class performance, superior build quality and exceptional customer service. Your complete satisfaction is our number 1 priority. We greatly appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this issue may cause. ONKYO USA Corporation This issue will be handled for Onkyo customers residing in one of the States of the United States (including the District of Columbia) or one of the Territories in Canada even if you are out of warranty.** Onkyo Home Theater Packages Ace the Entry-Level UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) -- Home theater specialist, Onkyo, has assembled two class-leading packaged home theater systems for the first round of its 2012 model introductions. Each system combines a high-value audio video receiver with a matched set of home theater speakers to take the guesswork out of purchasing an entry-level surround sound system. The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package offers outstanding audio performance, abundant HDMI® connectivity, and unbeatable value for money. Users seeking to power larger rooms might consider investing in the step-up HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package, which includes an Audyssey room acoustic correction system and an upgraded speaker package. Four HDMI inputs on both receivers facilitate Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high-resolution soundtrack decoding. HDMI implementation also supports an Audio Return Channel for TV audio through the home theater system, 3D video, and an overlaid on-screen display. Both receivers also feature a frontside USB port for direct digital connection of an iPod®, iPhone®, or music-filled flash memory device. Users can control playback using the system remote, and enjoy improved sound quality thanks to Onkyos onboard advanced music optimizer system. The A/V receivers included in this release now come equipped with WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology), a proven amplification concept that reduces signal noise and provides large amounts of controlled power instantaneously. Top-quality TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs on all channels, a powerful 32-bit DSP processing chip, and discrete output-stage componentsnot inexpensive all-in-one amplifier chipscontribute to exceptionally good audio performance. The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package consists of the HT-R391 A/V receiver, two high-gloss bass reflex front speakers, two satellite surrounds, and a powerful bass reflex center speaker. A subwoofer with 8-inch (20 cm) down-firing cone is also included to add impact to movie scores and game soundtracks. Users can step up to seven-channel surround with the higher-powered HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package. With Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expanding any audio source to include two additional Front Height channels, users can enjoy a more detailed and realistic entertainment experience. A carefully matched Onkyo speaker set delivers clear, dynamic audio reproduction. Two-way front speakers feature a 5-inch (12 cm) OMF Diaphragm woofer for fast and accurate mid-range response, plus a balanced-dome tweeter for well-separated highs. The center speaker has twin cone woofers and tweeter, while the four bass reflex satellite speakers feature a single full-range driver. A gloss-finished 120 W powered subwoofer allows the receiver to operate more efficiently by concentrating all its power on the mid-range and upper-end frequencies. To ensure a perfect install, an Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction system with microphone is included, while Audysseys Dynamic EQ® loudness correction and Dynamic Volume® guarantee a smooth, consistent performance regardless of sudden changes in dynamic levels. For users making their first foray into the world of home theater, these two packages offer simple installation, stress-free operation, and sparkling performance. The attractive price points may even prompt many current home theater owners to invest in a second surround sound system for another room in the home. With this release, Onkyo demonstrates its commitment to providing superior audio and state-of-the-art features at all levels of the home entertainment market. Both the Onkyo HT-S5500 and HT-S3500 will be available in March at suggested retail prices of $649 and $399 respectively. Onkyo Redefines Entry Level with 4 Heavy-Hitting AVRs UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/13/12) -- Onkyo, the leader in home theater technology, has announced the first four new AV receivers for its 2012 line, including three with network capability, including one with THX certification. All have USB connections and additional HDMI® inputs. The line also includes the world's first AV receivers to employ Silicon Image's InstaPrevue and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies. Furthermore, the three network capable models are the world's first AVRs to include music 'cloud server' access via MP3tunes. The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver. Onkyo's powerful WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is now implemented throughout the line. This low negative-feedback topology reduces signal noise and guarantees superb performance with minimal distortion. Even the entry model TX-SR313, Onkyo now uses this discrete-component output stage rather than lower cost integrated circuit amplifiers. The TX-NR616 is most powerful model in this release, and it is backed by a THX® Select2 Plus guarantee of cinema-quality sound. Achieving this demanding certification standard for audio quality is made possible partly by the use of Onkyos three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry. The TX-NR616, along with the TX-NR515 and TX-NR414 are the world's first to include InstaPrevue, which provides on-screen video thumbnails to show the content currently available on HDMI-connected components making input source selection easy. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 are also the first to include MHL, an interface protocol that facilitates the playback of 1080p video and stills with 7.1 channels of surround sound over HDMI from MHL compatible smartphones and other portable devices. Whether using the hard-wired Ethernet connection or wireless networking via an optional Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter, these network receivers allow users to enjoy a vast selection of internet radio stations, stream from services such as Spotify or MP3tunes 'Cloud' services or connect to computers and other devices on the network. Users can control all network AVRs with an iPod touch®/iPhone® or Android phone with a free Remote App. A slick GUI makes setting up, controlling input sources, and streaming music from the handset (Android phone only) a stress-free experience. The front-panel USB port on all four receivers also provides a direct digital connection of an iPod®/iPhone® or flash-memory device. The TX-NR515 and TX-NR616 have an additional USB port on the rear panel that can be used for the optional UWF-1 adapter leaving the front-side USB free for iPod and iPhone. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also offer superior video performance thanks to on-board Qdeo processing technology by Marvell. This provides analog video upscaling to 1080p, and up to 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) scaling when used with a compatible 4K display. When it comes to home theater audio, these two 7.2 channel models feature Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz expansion to incorporate Front Height channels, and to convert stereo sources to surround sound. The TX-NR616 also includes Audyssey DSX expansion for additional Height channels. Both systems provide a more realistic movie or gaming experience. Users can also connect two subwoofers via parallel pre-outs in a 7.2-channel set-up. Naturally, Audyssey 2EQ room acoustic correction ensures the best possible performance in any listening space. To help support the increasing numbers of HDMI devices available, Onkyo has given the TX-SR313 four HDMI inputs while the TX-NR414 sports six. All support 3D video, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and ARC all through an easy-to-use interactive OSD. The top models incorporate eight inputs plus two outputs for connecting a TV and a projector. A Q remote button overlays a Quick Set-Up menu on the program being watched via HDMI. Furthermore, Hybrid Standby allows HDMI pass-through to the HDTV while the receiver is off, allowing the user to quickly catch the news, weather, or kids' TV without powering up the whole home theater system. All models have connections for legacy analog and digital audio technology. Additionally, the TX-NR515 offers distributed audio with Powered Zone 2, while the TX-NR616 adds Powered Zone 2 and a Zone 3 line-out. Later this year, Onkyo plans to release the UBT-1 USB Bluetooth Adaptor which will allow even better integration between electronic devices and Onkyo network receivers. These four receivers redefine the kinds of features and performance the consumer can expect at the entry level, and show Onkyo to be driving the industry forward with innovation, imagination, and style. The TX-NR616 will be available in April with a suggested retail price of $699; the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 will all be available in March at suggested retail prices of $599, $499 and $299, respectively. Onkyo Corporation Announces Strategic Alliance with TEAC Osaka, Japan, January 20, 2012 -- As part of its corporate goal to enhance shareholder value and meet the demands of a changing marketplace, Onkyo Corporation, a worldwide leader in consumer audio, today announced a strategic alliance with TEAC Corporation, a global electronics manufacturer. The alliance between Onkyo and TEAC is particularly synergistic in that both companies share a commitment to excellence and a passion for engineering, designing, manufacturing and marketing products that deliver high value and exceed customers expectations. Through this strategic alliance Onkyo and TEAC will acquire shares of each others stock. The companies are exploring ways to share manufacturing facilities, logistic centers and research & development resources. Onkyo President, Munenori Otsuki, stated that the alliance with TEAC offers unique opportunities to both companies to leverage each others considerable strengths to provide innovative life changing products to its customers. TEAC President, Yuji Hanabusa stated that strategic alliance of Onkyo and TEAC will make both companies more competitive in an ever changing market. ABOUT ONKYO Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. ABOUT TEAC Since its inception in 1953, the guiding principle of TEAC Corporation through its TEAC, TASCAM and Esoteric brands has been to enrich society through innovative products. TEAC's goal has been to increase the productivity of customers through various products by manufacturing high quality recording products. Over the past fifty years, TEAC has been committed to the creation, production and introduction of many innovative products incorporating advanced research, design and production technologies. TEAC's corporate culture of "respect creativity and honesty", demonstrates the Companys ability to contribute to the enjoyment and productivity of millions of customers worldwide. Update for Onkyo Remote 2 for iOS - Ver.1.02 An update for the Onkyo Remote 2 for iOS is now available on the iTunes stores as a free download. Onkyo Remote 2 Ver.1.02 adds Spotify Control for 2011 models (X09) as well as adding the ability to control your TV and Blu-ray that are connected to your Onkyo receiver via CEC (RIHD). Onkyo to Include MP3tunes for Cloud Access to Personal Music Collections and Saved Internet Radio Programs with its 2012-model AVRs UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (1/9/12) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has announced that it will include access to the MP3tunes.com's music Locker with its 2012-model network-capable AV receivers. Onkyo is believed to be the first AV receiver brand to incorporate MP3tunes access in its network operating system. This will allow MP3tunes subscribers to use an Onkyo network capable receiver to play personal music collections stored their MP3tunes' Lockers, which is what the company calls their cloud servers. MP3tunes allows subscribers to maintain up to 2 GB, or about 400 songs, for free, with fee supported accounts starting at $39.95 per year for 50 GB, or the equivalent to about 10,000 songs. Paul Wasek, National Marketing and Product Planning Manager, believes this a great new feature for any Onkyo customer. "MP3tunes Locker is an easy and secure means to maintain this data, while providing easy access through an Onkyo receiver, computer, smart phone, or any of the many network capable devices that support MP3tunes." MP3Tunes capabilities will be included as standard on new Onkyo network capable receivers beginning in the first quarter of 2012. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyos website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. About MP3tunes Based in San Diego, California, MP3tunes was launched in February of 2005 by CEO and founder Michael Robertson (founder of MP3.com). MP3tunes is a Music Service Provider (MSP) and the home of the MP3tunes Locker: the only secure, online music space to feature unlimited listening. With just a couple clicks, Locker users can sync their personal digital music and videos up to "the cloud" to enjoy from any web browser and a wide variety of mobile and home entertainment devices. The MP3tunes Locker is available in an ad-supported Free edition and in Premium levels with more storage space, support for larger media files, and full customer support. For more information, please visit www.mp3tunes.com. Gibson Buys Stake in Onkyo Japan and Majority Interest in Onkyo USA Forms Strategic Alliance to Take Consumer Audio Experience to a New Level Nashville, TN. January 04, 2012: As part of its continued diversification into the music and audio lifestyle arena, Gibson Guitar Corp., the worlds premier musical instrument manufacturer, today announced a strategic partnership with Onkyo Corporation, a worldwide leader in consumer audio. With a reputation of excellence for high quality audio equipment and home theater systems, Onkyo offers Gibsons newly-formed Pro Audio Division substantial technology resources. Gibson will provide Onkyo with its marketing resources and expertise. The result will be an ability to deliver a far superior audio experience to the consumer who has become more and more used to hearing only inferior compressed music through inexpensive ear bud headsets. Through this venture, Gibson will acquire a majority of Onkyo USA (Onkyos exclusive distributor for North America and a distributor for Central and South America) and become the second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation. Gibson will make a strategic investment in the company, and Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be given a position on the Onkyo board of directors. Likewise, Onkyo will invest in Gibson, and CEO and President Munenori Otsuki will take a position on the companys Board of Directors. Together, the two entities will form a Hong Kong-based joint venture focusing on design and development of unparalleled consumer audio products. Through this alliance, Onkyo USA becomes the latest addition to the Gibson Pro Audio division, which already includes KRK, Cerwin-Vega! and Stanton. Onkyo makes some of the worlds best audio equipment, and this partnership will give Gibson the ability to bring a deeper and more enhanced audio experience to music lovers around the world, says Juszkiewicz. While people may be listening to more music, they are listening to it primarily in a severely compressed format. The aural disparity between a real system and compressed sound is vast, and as a result, they are simply not hearing tremendously rich sounds. With Onkyo, our goal is to bring the same exceptional experience artists demand in the studio to a larger consumer base. This partnership has significant positive implications for Onkyo as we are always seeking ways of creating new value, says Otsuki. Gibson is a leading global company with a massive fan base, best-in-class products and superior marketing skills. Coming together in this way opens the door for amazing opportunities for both companies and, more importantly, fans of Onkyo and Gibson. All agreements are subject to Japanese regulatory clearance, negotiation of definitive agreements and financing approvals of lenders. ABOUT GIBSON GUITAR CORP. Gibson Guitar Corp. is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul Guitar is the bestselling guitar of all time and is a tribute to the late, famed musician of the same name. Collectively, the Gibson Robot Guitar, Gibson Dark Fire, Gibson Dusk Tiger and the Gibson Firebird X represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in more than 75 years. Through the Gibson Foundation, Gibson Guitar Corp. has become equally known for its philanthropic efforts on behalf of music, education, health and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville, TN, since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.s family of brands includes Epiphone, Cerwin-Vega!, Dobro, Kramer, Onkyo, KRK Systems, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Stanton, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, Wurlitzer and Gibson Pro Audio. Visit Gibsons website at www.gibson.com. Follow Gibson Guitar at www.facebook.com/gibsonguitar and www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar. ABOUT ONKYO Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. Visit Onkyos website at www.onkyousa.com. Follow Onkyo USA at www.facebook.com/OnkyoUSA. Press Contacts: Ed James / Global VP, Gibson Guitar / 615-871-4500 x1338 / [email protected] Gordon Sell / GSPR / 908-788-0700 / [email protected] Onkyo and Silicon Image Announce the Worlds First A/V Receivers Featuring InstaPrevue and MHL Technologies SUNNYVALE, Calif., and OSAKA, Japan (December 21, 2011): Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG), a leading provider of wireless and wired HD connectivity solutions, and Onkyo (6628:JASDAQ), a leading specialist in hi-fi and home theater, today announced the worlds first line of Audio/Video Receivers (AVRs) featuring Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology and MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) technology. InstaPrevue technology provides the first-ever, live picture-in-picture preview of HDMI® and MHL inputs connected to the AVR, allowing users to view and select a live preview window to switch between their Blu-ray Disc player, DVD player, game console, or other HDMI or MHL-enabled connected devices. With InstaPrevue technology, consumers no longer need to cycle through inputs or navigate text-based menus (i.e., HDMI1, HDMI2, HDMI3, etc.) to switch between source devices. MHL technology is a rapidly growing HD audio/video connectivity standard that enables a mobile device to transmit 1080p uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio over five pins, while also supporting HDCP content protection. MHL-enabled AVRs, such as those manufactured by Onkyo, provide power to the mobile device when connected via MHL, ensuring that the device battery is charged and ready to use even after viewing a full-length feature movie. Consumers are also able to control MHL-enabled mobile devices using the existing AVR remote. Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology is a unique, value-added feature that will enhance and differentiate our AVR products, said Ken Araki, Director of Product Planning and Marketing, Onkyo Sound & Vision Corporation. Were pleased to be the working with Silicon Image and proud to be the first to market with AVRs incorporating InstaPrevue technology. The 2012 Onkyo AVRs add to the growing MHL ecosystem of DTVs, smartphones and tablets, and are the first to support InstaPrevue technology, said Alex Chervet, senior director of marketing at Silicon Image. InstaPrevue technology offers a simple and seamless viewing experience by taking the guesswork out of switching between HDMI sources. With InstaPrevue technology, consumers see a live preview of each active HDMI or MHL input connected to an AVR, making it easier and more intuitive to switch between a Blu-ray Disc player, set-top box, DVD player, game console, MHL-enabled smartphone or other MHL or HDMI-connected devices. Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology will be demonstrated at the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) from January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will exhibit in a private booth #MP25578 located in the South Hall 2, Ground Floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Onkyos audio products are recognized for their innovative features and top quality sound. Onkyo will exhibit in a public suite at the Venetian Hotel rooms 2709/2710 in Las Vegas during CES 2012. About Silicon Image, Inc. Silicon Image is a leading provider of wireless and wired connectivity solutions that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. The company delivers its technology via semiconductor and intellectual property (IP) products that are compliant with global industry standards and also feature industry leading Silicon Image innovations such as InstaPort. Silicon Images products are deployed by the worlds leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. Silicon Image has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVI industry standards, the latest standards for mobile devices - SPMT and MHL, and the standard for 60GHz wireless HD video WirelessHD (WiHD). Via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplay Labs, Silicon Image offers manufacturers comprehensive standards interoperability and compliance testing services. For more information, visit us at http://www.siliconimage.com/. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to create award-winning products that are lauded by industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the growth in adoption of MHL technology and the performance, functionality, features, and benefits of MHL technology and Silicon Images InstaPrevue technology. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time in Silicon Images filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Silicon Image and the Silicon Image logo are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Silicon Image, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries. TX-NR509 and TX-8050 now "Spotified" Onkyo is proud to announce that the TX-NR509 and TX-8050 are now Spotify-enabled. Owners of the TX-NR509 A/V receiver and the TX-8050 network stereo receiver can now download a firmware update that enables onboard access to Spotify as well as allowing direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android. Onkyo became the first AV receiver maker to offer Spotify access via its AV receivers earlier in 2011 and remains the only brand in the world to offer this capability. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. Spotify offers subscribers instant access to millions of songs in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys 320kbps bitrate* and high quality Ogg Vorbis codec. Spotify is now available in twelve countries around the world: US, UK, Sweden, France, Spain, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. More than 99% of Spotifys tracks are available in high bitrate (320 kbps) for Premium users. 9th Annual Braille Essay Contest Onkyo Corporation, an audio, computer and visual equipment maker, and the Braille Mainichi (The Mainichi Newspapers) created the Onkyo Braille Essay Contest in 2003, and it has been held annually since then. Through this contest, we hope to build a bridge between Braille and sound for the visually disabled who are extremely sensitive to the warmth that connects all people. Now in its 9th year, the 2011 contest received entries from 108 countries in the International Category, which includes the Asia-Pacific region (21 countries and regions, not including Japan), the West Asia/Central Asia/Mideast region (21 countries), the European region (45 countries), and the North America and Caribbean region (21 countries) in addition to the Japanese Category. As an international essay contest, we are expanding the circle of cross-cultural communications and serving as a bridge across an increasingly complex global community. We hope that the lives and thoughts of the visually disabled both at home and overseas will reach readers hearts and the harmony we create together will resonate throughout society. Napster Joins Rhapsody Anyone who has a Napster account and accesses it on their Onkyo receiver: Napster has successfully moved over to Rhapsody. Please log on to Rhapsody with your Napster login credentials. According to Rhapsody and Napster, Napster account holders keep ALL their Napster songs, lists, credits- everything from your Napster account will be waiting for you at Rhapsody. Enjoy! (It's all about sound.) Napster and Rhapsody Tips and Tricks: Forgot your Napster password, get it here: https://account.rhapsody.com/myacct/forgotpassword.html?page=login.remind&page=login.remind Love Music? Have accounts with both companies? Click here: http://www.rhapsody.com/napster-instructions Need a little extra help? Heres Rhapsodys FAQ page: http://rhapsody.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/857/kw/napster/r_id/166 Onkyo's New iPod touch/iPhone App Lets you Control All Your Music Anywhere in the House Upper Saddle River, NJ (11/4/2011): Onkyo has introduced a new iPod touch/iPhone App to provide full wireless remote control over the company's 2010 and 2011 networked A/V receivers. The new "Onkyo Remote 2" App will add expanded multi-room control and is presented by a completely revamped graphical look. This new app is compatible with Onkyos existing RI (Remote Interactive) system, allowing ownersof network-capable Onkyo home theater and hi-fi systems to use their iPod touch, iPhone handset as an all-in-one remote controller for multiple components. Furthermore, with the release of the Onkyo Remote 2, iPod touch/iPhone users are now able to control output in individual zones in a multi-room distributed audio set-up. Available as a free download, the application offers a number of benefits to Onkyo home theater and hi-fi owners, not least among them the ability to quickly and easily access commonly used controls. These include play, stop, skip, and pause; volume, bass, and treble adjustment; listening mode and input source selection; network source selection; and radio station. Perhaps best of all, users can also enjoy their treasured digital music libraries, as well as streamed music and internet radio, in spectacular Onkyo sound. The Onkyo Remote 2 app is compatible with all network-ready Onkyo A/V receivers released in 2011 and 2010, as well as the TX-8050 Network Stereo Receiver. (Earlier models may require a firmware update.) This new release further demonstrate Onkyos commitment to enhancing the home entertainment experience. Onkyo Upgrades Android App to Allow Direct 'In-App' Access to Spotify October 31, 2011 - Earlier this year Onkyo became the worlds first consumer electronics brand to offer access to digital music service Spotify through home cinema receivers. Today Onkyo is pleased to announce yet another first Effective immediately owners of selected Onkyo network A/V receivers and home theater systems will be able to download a firmware update that enables direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android. The Android App itself also has been updated in order to support this new feature. Compatible Onkyo products are as follows:- Receivers: TX-NR609/709/809/1009/3009/5009 and HT-RC360/370 Home Theater Systems: HT-S7400/7409/8400/8409 and 9400THX Additionally, towards the end of November 2011 Onkyo will also extend direct support for Spotify Premium via Onkyos Remote App for Android to the TX-NR509 network A/V receiver as well as the TX-8050 network stereo receiver. At this time Onkyo will also issue a firmware upgrade that allows owners of all its network products with Spotify support to access the service using Facebook account details. "Enabling direct support for Spotify via our Remote App for Android represents a major step forward when it comes to ease of use and convenience for our consumers," says Paul Wasek, Onkyo USAs product and marketing manager. "We are very pleased to be extending Spotify access to several of our networked products via the app for Android," continues Wasek, "Onkyo always strives to deliver maximum value and support to consumers this announcement is an obvious example of our ongoing commitment to that end." Three months after making Spotify available in the US, Onkyo is still the only brand to offer this capability in its network receivers. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. The music service offers subscribers instant access to millions of songs in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys 320kbps bitrate and high quality Ogg Vorbis codec. Spotify is now available in 9 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands, Spain and Denmark, with more than 10 million registered users, and over 2 million paying subscribers. More than 99% of Spotifys tracks are available in high bitrate (320 kbps) for our Premium users. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687 About Spotify Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 15 million tracks. Our dream is to make all the worlds music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify is social, making it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in 9 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands, Spain and Denmark. Spotify is the fastest-growing and most successful music service of its kind globally, with more than 10 million registered users, and over 2 million paying subscribers. Number of tracks licensed globally. Catalogue size varies in each country. www.spotify.com Onkyo App For Android now supports X08 network receivers Check it out! The Onkyo App for Andriod now supports the TX-NR708, 808, 1008, 3008 and 5008 as well as the PR-SC5508! Install the firmware update via the network or USB and get the new App from the Andriod Marketplace and you'll be all set! And as always, let us know what you think via Facebook. A firmware update is now available for the following Network Receivers and Home Theater Network Systems. Receivers - TX-NR509, TX-NR609, TX-NR709, TX-NR809, TX-NR1009, HT-RC360, HT-RC370 and TX-8050 HTiB's - HT-S7400, HT-S7409, TH-S8400, HT-S8409 and HT-S9400THX Onkyo Debuts its New "iOnly" Family of Products for Apple Portable Devices. UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/1/11) Onkyo, the leading hi-fi specialist, has today introduced it's new "iOnly" family of products, which will consist of three compact music players and docking systems designed for the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. With digital music so much a part of everyday life, Onkyo's iOnly systems will now allow the user to enjoy their portable music collection in rich, room-filling stereo. The three models, iOnly Play (ABX-100), iOnly Stream (ABX-N300), and iOnly Bass (SBX-300), were conceived as a way to offer users a greater level of convenience, practicality, and performance in portable and affordable packages. Like all Onkyo products, these offer high power, exceptional sound quality, premium build quality, and unique styling. Additionally, iOnly models are designed with smooth, easily cleaned surfaces, and the recharging dock and controls are protected from dust when not in use. The first model to be introduced in this series is the iOnly Play, which is designed specifically for iPod and iPhone devices. The second model will be the iOnly Bass, which will also accommodate the iPad. The iOnly Stream will follow later this year. The iOnly Play is ideal for use on a shelf, table or desk-top in the home, dorm room, or office. With its flat-back exterior, brushed-aluminium base and cover, and dimmable foot lighting, the iOnly Play makes a tasteful addition to any room. The sliding cover also conceals and protects an easy-to-read graphical LCD display and touch-screen control buttons. With the iOnly Bass, the docking port is on the lower front edge of the chassis providing solid support for an iPad. It also delivers superb sound through a pair of full-range speakers and tuned subwoofer port. With its modest weight and comfortable aluminium handle the iOnly Bass is an easily transported entertainment package. Both the iOnly Play and iOnly Bass feature precision-engineered amplifier circuitry, full-range speakers mounted in isolated enclosures, and Active Bass Control for rich, room-filling sound. Both models include a wireless remote control. With the introduction of the iOnly series, Onkyo reaffirms its position as an industry-leading innovator, offering imaginative products that improve the lifestyles of its customers. Onkyo's iOnly Play and iOnly Bass will be available in October with a suggested retail price of $249 each. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. New Hi-Fi Components from Onkyo Offer a Winning Edge UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (9/1/11) -- Onkyo USA announces the release of two top-quality hi-fi components armed with the technological features needed to stay ahead in todays rapidly changing marketplace. The A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier and C-7070 CD player offer state-of-the-art design, rugged engineering, a multitude of connectivity options, and a startlingly pure sound will appeal both to hi-fi newcomers and more seasoned music lovers looking to upgrade their equipment. A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier The A-9070 amplifier offers four discrete modesintegrated amp, power amp, pre-amp, and split power/pre-ampto provide great flexibility when incorporating other components into the hi-fi system. Alone, it provides ample power with a parallel push-pull amplification design, three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, dedicated Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DACs for symmetrically designed L/R channels, and four large 15,000 µF capacitors. To preserve signal integrity, the unit features DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry). Closed ground-loop circuits and vibration-damping construction combine to produce clear sound across a wide dynamic range. An independent headphone amplifier, a phonograph equalizer, and gold-plated audio terminals/speaker posts are evidence of high build quality. C-7070 Compact Disc Player The C-7070 is a versatile piece of audio equipment designed to play back a wide range of audio formats while carefully preserving the integrity of the signal. The unit is engineered around this objective, featuring vibration-damping brass legs, a 1.6 mm flat base, a full-floating circuit board, a pair of Wolfson® 192 kHz/24-bit DACs, and Onkyos Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry. These improvements all work to reduce noise, distortion, and interference for pristine sound quality. The C-7070 connects to iPod/iPhone devices via the USB port, and can play music off flash-memory drives. Other desirable features include a three-stage dimmer function, a brushed aluminum front panel, a silent aluminum CD tray, gold-plated audio terminals, and headphone amplifier differential circuitry. These two pedigree models continue Onkyos unwavering commitment to high-fidelity sound, intuitive operation, and superb build quality at prices that remain widely accessible. The A-9070 and C-7070 will both be available in November with suggested retail prices of $1299 and $799, respectively. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Unveils Top-of the-line Network Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/22/11) -- Leading home entertainment innovator, Onkyo, announces the release of two flagship high-end network 9.2-channel THX Ultra2 Plus-certified A/V receiversthe TX-NR5009 and the TX-NR3009to complete its line of precision audio-visual products for 2011. As the top models in Onkyo's line, these receivers deliver the power, performance, sophisticated processing, exceptional connectivity, and quality that audio-video enthusiasts have come to expect from Onkyo. Both receiver models include major upgrades from last year, including the use of the latest HQV-Vida and Marvel Qdeo video processors, new DTS Neo:X dimensional surround processing, Dolby Volume, and new streaming internet radio channels. Onkyo receivers continue to offer more internet music options than any other brand in the industry When it comes to input options, the TX-NR5009 and TX-NR3009 are extremely versatile, sporting eight HDMI® inputs and two outputs, plus a full range of legacy analog and digital AV connections. New media connections include an Ethernet port, two USB ports, a Universal Port for Onkyo peripheral devices, and an RGB input for video content from a connected PC. Onkyo also offers an optional UWF-1 wireless LAN adaptor that turns the front panel USB port into a home internet access point. Users can also download and install free applications that turn their Android or iPod touch/iPhone into a full-function remote control to control the receiver. Both receivers are designed to connect to the new generation of user-customized Internet radio stations and streaming music services, including those from Spotify, AUPEO!, Pandora, Last.fm, Rhapsody, Napster, Mediafly, Slacker, Sirius XM, and vTuner. The receiver is also DLNA 1.5 certified; it can interface with USB-compatible portable music devices, such as iPods, and and play music straight off a USB thumb drive. Naturally, the unit can handle a wide variety of audio formats, including FLAC, WMA Lossless, WAV, AAC, Ogg, MP3, and, for audiophiles, Super Audio CD. With terminals for 11 speakers, the nine amplifier channels can be tasked to power a wide variety of front, surround, height, bi-amped, or remote-zone loudspeakers depending on the users needs. Onkyo makes it easy to fine-tune all these speakers by providing the latest Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 room-correction and equalization technology, which perfects audio performance regardless of a rooms shape or acoustics. Onkyo was the first AV receiver manufacturer to introduce DTS Neo:X, the industrys first 2.0/5.1/6.1/7.1-to- 9.1/11.1 conversion technology within a single algorithm. This technology allows users to augment a basic 5.1-channel set-up by adding speakers in various combinations of height, wide, and surround channels. As implemented on the TX-NR5009, Neo:X can bring out subtle ambient sounds or even work around the need to install rear speakers to deliver a cinema-like experience. Like last years' models, both receivers include the related surround processing of Audyssey DSX, and Dolby ProLogic IIz. The next-generation video capabilities of these new receivers are the result of a tag-team effort from two extraordinary new video processors. The HQV® Vida VHD 1900 processor lies at the heart of the system, and brings standard video images to life in high definition. The chip employs multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color-processing, and smooth, motion-adaptive de-interlacing to optimize quality and detail. Marvells Qdeo technology upscales 1080p video to a full 4K (3840 x 2160), even from sources already upscaled by HQV Vida from lower resolutions to 1080p. This remarkable technology treats the viewer to spectacular images of unparalleled color and clarity, provides enhancement of low-resolution streaming video, and facilitates individual ISFccc video calibration capabilities for all video sources. Onkyo's eye for detail extends to conveniently backlit remote controls and an overlaid graphical OSD for swift, seamless, and simple adjustment of settings during a program, game, or movie. Both receivers use Onkyo's proven WRAT (wide range amplifier technology) power stages and three-stage inverted Darlington topology to deliver high power with low distortion and exceptional high current capability. Audio signals on are refined by PLL jitter-cleaning technology and Onkyo's VLSC contributes to an extremely crisp digital-to-analog signal conversion. Separate aluminum panels encase the low-resonance chassis to help eliminate vibration and microphonics. Onkyos TX-NR3009 uses 24-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs for each channel and a high-current power supply with large 18,000 µF capacitors and a large EI transformer. The TX-NR5009's amplifier takes the whole issue of amplifier and power supply performance up a notch. Power flows efficiently from a massive high-current toroidal transformer through two 22,000 µF capacitors, with dedicated transformers for audio and video. The digital audio section employs Powerful 192 kHz/32-bit TI Burr-Brown DACs on all channels, coupled to a 32-bit DSP chip. These contribute to the receiver achieving prestigious THX® Ultra2 Plus certification and a level of sound quality that rivals that of many separate component amplifiers. These two new releases demonstrate Onkyos ongoing commitment to offering innovative, integrated, and high-performance home theater products to music and film lovers all over the world. The Onkyo TX-NR5009 will have a suggested retail price of $2,899 with the TX-NR3009 will be offered for $2,199. They will ship to dealers in the beginning of September. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Update announced for the BD-SP309 Blu-ray player Onkyo USA has determined that some of our BD-SP309 3D Ready Bluray Players are unable to access Netflix via the Video On Demand function. Please check your serial number below to see if your BD-SP309 has been affected. If so, please contact Onkyo USA Customer Support. Onkyo Network Receivers to Support New Personal Radio Service from AUPEO! and expands support for LAST.FM UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (8/8/11) -- Onkyo continues to expand the functionality of its home entertainment systems by adding support for the global AUPEO! Personal Radio service and expanding LAST.FM to Onkyos 2011 network-capable A/V receivers. The AUPEO! service, delivered online and free of charge, offers a wide range of over 120 specialized music channels for users to choose from. It provides an easy way for users to discover new music and enjoy their favorite genres. User-selected stations can be customized with Loves and Bans to create a fully personalized listening experience. Furthermore, users can search for a specific artist on Artist Radio, or use the unique Mood Selector to match the music style to their mood. Onkyo will also expand the support for LAST.FM to all its 2011 network receivers. LAST.FM is currently available on receivers starting with the TX-NR709. LAST.FM is a music recommendation service that uses a process the company calls Scrobbling. This process analyzes the songs users play most often, which songs they like the most, how much they've played an artist over a certain amount of time, which of their friends have similar tastes. By focusing on the music subscribers already play LAST.FM can help them discover more music. AUPEO! and LAST.FM functionality will be incorporated on all new 2011 Onkyo network receivers. A firmware upgrade for current owners of 2011 Onkyo network receivers will be available for network upgrade August 8, 2011. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Announces Remote App for Android UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/25/11) -- Home audio specialist, Onkyo, demonstrates its ongoing commitment to greater convergence in home entertainment with the announcement of its first application for the Android mobile platform. Onkyos Remote App for Android will allow owners to integrate wireless audio from an Android-based device into their Onkyo home theater system, and provides a range of remote control functions. Operating over a wireless local network, the application will allow Onkyo owners to stream music stored on an Android device to an Onkyo network audio system. Music played through an Onkyo system gains far greater power and fidelity. Users will be able to browse networked content without needing to view on-screen menus on a connected display. Instead, they will use the touch-screen GUI on their Android device to navigate menus and control a variety of functions, such as selecting the input source or adjusting the volume and tone. Furthermore, users will be able to control output in individual zones in a multi-room distributed audio set-up. Available in August as a free download from the Android market, the Remote App for Android will be compatible with all of Onkyos network A/V receivers released in 2011, as well as with the TX-8050 stereo network receiver. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Sub-Woofer Speaker Driver Replacement Program Onkyo USA has determined that there is a high probability that the voice coil of certain subwoofers in the Home Theater and Speaker systems listed below may open; consequently, the subwoofer will stop functioning. For our valued customers, Onkyo USA has a speaker driver replacement program for the affected subwoofers. It is important that you check the model and serial number of your subwoofer. Please click on the following link for more infomation on whether your subwoofer is eligible. Link If you are eligible for this program, an Independent Onkyo Regional Service Center will send you material and instructions to return your subwoofer. You can also contact Onkyo USA Customer Support during normal customer support hours (M-F 9am-8pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4pm ET) to see if your subwoofer falls under this speaker driver replacement program. Call toll free 1-855-460-1618 or local (201)785-2654. Onkyo with Spotify: now available in the US UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/14/11) -- Onkyo USA is pleased to announce that digital music service Spotify is now available through home theater receivers in the US. Spotify Premium subscribers in seven countries (UK, France, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway) already use Spotify to expand their musical horizons. Now they will also be able to listen to the service via their Onkyo home entertainment systems in the United States. Onkyo will provide a firmware update that will enable its 2011 network capable receivers beginning with the TX-NR609 to support Spotify. Onkyo will also be introducing additional networked Spotify-ready products in the near future. All you need to enjoy Spotify on Onkyo is an internet connection and a Spotify Premium account. The addition of Spotify offers Premium subscribers instant access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world, in excellent sound quality, courtesy of Onkyos seamless integration of Spotifys high quality streaming. We are excited to be able to provide this update to owners of our 2011 network receivers beginning with model TX-NR609," says Paul Wasek, Onkyo USA's National Marketing Manager. "Spotify is an absolute must-have for Onkyo customers who want to enjoy their favorite music in the highest quality at home." "We are very excited to be bringing Spotify to the US, and to be working with partners such as Onkyo towards our goal of making all the world's music available for everyone to enjoy, whenever they want it and wherever they are." Ken Parks Chief Content Officer and Managing Director, Spotify, North America. Spotify is simple and intuitive to operate via the television screen connected to Onkyo home theater receivers. With a few simple clicks on your remote control youre given quick, scrolling onscreen access to your own and collaborative playlists as well as Spotifys 'What's New?' and 'Starred' features. Album cover art is displayed onscreen and subscribers can explore further to browse artists, albums and tracks. About Onkyo Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. About Spotify Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to one of the biggest music libraries in the world. Our dream is to make all the worlds music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it. Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal. Spotify is available in 8 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, The Netherlands and Spain. www.spotify.com New Top-of-the-line 3D capable Blu-ray Disc Player Brings Premium Performance and Networked Video Content to Home Theater UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (7/7/11) -- Onkyo, a leading specialist in hi-fi and home theater, has announced the release of the BD-SP809, the companys new top-of-the-line THX® Certified Blu-ray Disc player. The BD-SP809 handles a wide range of disc media, includes sophisticated home-network functionality that supports one of the more recent developments in home entertainment, video on demand (VOD). As well as playing the latest 3D-encoded Blu-ray Discs, the BD-SP809 plays virtually all the major types of CD and DVDincluding those encoded with popular compressed formats such as DivX HD, MP3, and WMA. Furthermore, it features a USB port that enables users to play audio and video files from a USB mass storage device. Owners with a local network set-up in their home can use the BD-SP809 to incorporate videos, music, and photos sent from a DLNA 1.5-certified media server. By enabling users to integrate their computer-based content with their home theater systems, this feature promotes greater convergence in home entertainment. The Onkyo BD-SP809 video-on-demand capabilities allow consumers to stream movies and TV shows directly to their TVs in HD- or SD-quality video through the Netflix, Blockbuster, Film Fresh, and VUDU services. Video sources played through the BD-SP809 are rendered with superb image quality. Onboard Qdeo technology from Marvell ensures pristine deinterlacing, noise-reduction, and 1080p upscaling. Meanwhile, the players twin HDMI® outputs allow users to switch easily between two displays, such as a main TV for casual viewing and a projector for movies and sports. The BD-SP809 supports high-definition audio formats in the form of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby® TrueHD. The integrity of these lossless formats is preserved by the players high-precision clock and by a construction design that incorporates separate blocks for video/audio circuitry and a vibration-reducing top cover. The BD-SP809 has been THX® certified in recognition of its superior build quality, versatile functionality, and high performance levels. Onkyo presents it as an ideal playback source to complement the companys popular A/V receivers and home-theater speaker packages. The Onkyo BD-SP809 will be available in August with a suggested retail price of $599. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Automatic Continuous Change of Listening Modes and/or Remote Controller Commands are not accepted Models: TX-NR708, TX-NR709, TX-NR808, TX-NR1008, TX-NR3008, TX-NR5008, PR-SC5508, HT-RC270, HT-RC370 If your receiver of the above mentioned models experiences the following : Listening modes automatically change one after another. Will sometimes randomly turn on and off on its own. When this problem occurs most commands will not be accepted. Please contact our Product Support Department at (800) 229-1687, option 3, to confirm that this issue exists in your receiver. If the issue exists you will be given further direction on how to have it serviced. This issue will be handled for you even if you are out of warranty (this only applies to US and Canada).* Onkyo Debuts the World's First Nine-Channel Home Theater Receiver with DTS Neo:X Technology UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (6/1/11) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has introduced the world's first home theater receiver to feature DTS Neo:X multidimensional audio technology, delivering a highly realistic sound experience for consumers. The remarkable DTS Neo:X technology, as implemented on the new Onkyo TX-NR1009, enables customers to employ up to nine loudspeakers with distinct direction clues that enhance the height and space dimensions of a home theater room beyond the capabilities of current seven channel systemscreating a lifelike 3-D soundscape. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 is a THX Select2 Plus Certified, 9.2-channel, network-capable home theater receiver that, in addition to DTS Neo:X, includes several audio and video upgrades compared to last year's TX-NR1008 model. These include Marvell Qdeo and IDT's HQV® Vida video upscaling and processing circuits, and Audyssey's MultEQ XT audio room correction. "Onkyo's application of DTS Neo:X allows the top-tier enthusiasts to significantly expand their home theater system's sound stage with new combinations of channels," said Paul Wasek, the marketing manager of Onkyo USA. "When combined with its new higher resolution video capabilities, the TX-NR1009 becomes a powerful tool that far exceeds the capabilities of our competitors offerings even at several times the price." Brian Towne, executive vice president and chief operating officer of DTS, Inc., commented, As the worlds first commercially available receiver to harness the power of Neo:X technology, the TX-NR1009 marks an integral milestone in our journey to take 3-D audio from concept to reality. Were proud to take this step with Onkyo, knowing its customers will benefit from the superior audio afforded by the markets most flexible AVR. This product integration further demonstrates DTS commitment to delivering solutions that push home entertainment to new levels and also accommodate new emerging content delivery platformsso consumers can enjoy a fully-immersive and authentic 3-D audio experience. DTS Neo:X is the industrys first 2.0/5.1/6.1/7.1-to- 9.1/11.1 conversion technology within a single algorithm. On the TX-NR1009 it offers a number of different ways to set up the speakers in a 9.1-channel home theater system. A basic 5.1-channel set-up can be complemented by one of three different arrangements: (1) the addition of surround back- and front-height speakers to bring out ambient, non-directional sounds; (2) adding surround back- and front-wide speakers to provide a more expansive soundstage; or (3) adding front-height and front-width speakers to create an immersive space without needing to install rear speakers. With Neo:X technology, consumers will experience a natural and spacious surround soundscape unlike anything else on the market. On-board video processing on the TX-NR1009 is handled by two highly advanced technologies: HQV® Vida VHD1900 and Qdeo technology by Marvell. Vida offers upscaling of all 480i/p, 576p, and 720p video sources to high-resolution 1080p. Qdeo, meanwhile, performs full 4K (3840 x 2160) upscaling of 1080p sources. The Vida processor incorporates Auto HQV and HQV StreamClean to enhance video images in real time and eliminate noise in compressed video. With multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color processing, and four-field motion-adaptive de-interlacing, Vida optimizes the quality of both standard- and high-definition video images. On the TX-NR1009 also supports independent ISF calibration for optimum video performance. Like most new Onkyo receivers, the TX-NR1009 includes extensive networking capabilities with an Ethernet connection plus front and rear USB ports for digital storage devices and Onkyo's optional wireless USB LAN adaptor, the UWF-1. Direct digital connection for iPod/iPhone is available through the front panel USB. This receiver is certified for Windows 7 and DLNA, and can playback a wide variety digital audio file formats via a home network or USB devices, and it is capable of wireless connectivity via Onkyo's optional UFW-1 wireless USB adaptor. It supports MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, OggVorbis, AAC, and LPCM files. An iPod or iPhone can also be connected using and optional dock connected via Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port. This U-Port can also be used for an optional HD Radio Tuner and forthcoming wireless devices. The network connection provides Internet radio and streaming music services, with preformatted service packages for Mediafly, Pandora®, SlackerTM, Napster, Rhapsody®, vTuner, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio®, and Last.fm. The Onkyo TX-NR1009's powerful 135-watts per channel amplifier section easily achieves THX-Select2 Plus Certification. Each of the nine amplifier sections employ the company's low-negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and the High Current Power Supply (HCPS) uses a massive transformer. In addition, TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs are used on each channel to ensure that all digital signals are converted perfectly to analog sound. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 uses several different audio processing technologies to help improve the room acoustics and to enhance the ambience dimension of the listening experience. The new Audyssey MultEQ XT room-correction technology allows full spectrum acoustic measurements from multiple locations. Audyssey Dynamic EQ® provides loudness correction and Audyssey Dynamic Volume® to maintain optimal listening level and dynamic range. For home theater enthusiasts who wish to explore expanded ambience with height and wide loudspeakers, they have the option of using Audyssey DSX high or wide channels, or Dolby ProLogic IIz height channels. The receiver also includes Dolby Volume processing technology to optimize the sound for any listening level. The TX-NR1009 has one front- and seven rear-panel HDMI inputs, dual HDMI outputs with lossless audio processing using Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. There is also a full complement of legacy analog and digital connections, including multi-channel audio, stereo, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and a phono input. There are two component video inputs, plus composite/S-Video inputs for four devices. It also has a nine-channel multichannel analog preamp output for possible use with a separate component power amplifier. The TX-NR1009 has a bidirectional, preprogrammed, and customizable RI remote control. When connected to the Internet, it maintains up-to-date RC control codes for connected devices. With the receiver's Overlaid Graphical On-screen Display, users can speed through on-screen setups while still viewing their program. The remote also includes Macro presets for four activities. Additionally, the receiver has bi-directional Ethernet and RS232 ports for control, IR input and output, two 12-V triggers, firmware updates via Ethernet and USB, GUI Navigation via HDMI, powered Zone 2, and Zone 2/3 preouts. The Onkyo TX-NR1009 will be available from Onkyo dealers in June with suggested retail price of $1,399. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. DTS and the Symbol are registered trademarks, and DTS Neo:X is a trademark of DTS, Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Onkyo Debuts Midline Networking AV Receiver with Advanced Video Capabilities UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (5/12/11) Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has introduce the TX-NR809 THX Select2 Plus Certified, 7.2-channel, network-capable home theater receiver. It includes several significant new audio and video upgrades when compared to last year's TX-NR808 model. The Onkyo TX-NR809 adds both the Mavell Qdeo and IDT's HQV® Vida video upscaling and processing circuits. It also includes Imaging Science Foundation's ISF Video Calibration technology for the first time at this price point. On the audio side it gains Audyssey's MultEQ XT advanced automated calibration and Dolby Volume for optimal listening experience at any sound level. There are now front and rear USB ports for digital storage devices and Onkyo's optional wireless USB adaptor. Direct digital connection via the front-panel USB port lets you access MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC audio files stored on a USB flash drives or iPod/iPhone. It also offers improved home integration capabilities with Zone 2/3 preouts and a bi-directional remote control with on-screen RC set-up for attached components, and Macros for four activities. On-board video processing on the TX-NR809 is handled by two advanced technologies: HQV® Vida VHD1900 and Qdeo technology by Marvell. Vida offers upscaling of all 480i/p, 576p, and 720p video sources to high-resolution 1080p. Qdeo, meanwhile, performs full 4K (3840 x 2160) upscaling of 1080p sources. The Vida processor incorporates Auto HQV and HQV StreamClean to enhance video images in real time and eliminate noise in compressed video. With multi-cadence tracking, expanded 12-bit color processing, and four-field motion-adaptive de-interlacing, Vida optimizes the quality of both standard- and high-definition video images. The TX-NR809 also supports ISF calibration for optimum video performance. The Onkyo TX-NR809's powerful 135-watts per channel amplifier section easily achieves THX-Select2 Plus Certification. Each of the seven amplifier sections employ the company's low-negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT), three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, and the High Current Power Supply (HCPS) uses a massive transformer. In addition, TI Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit DACs are used on each channel to ensure that all digital signals are converted perfectly to analog sound. The Onkyo TX-NR809 uses several different audio processing technologies to help improve the room acoustics and to enhance the ambience dimension of the listening experience. The new Audyssey MultEQ XT room-correction technology allows full spectrum acoustic measurements from multiple locations. Audyssey Dynamic EQ® provides loudness correction and Audyssey Dynamic Volume® to maintain optimal listening level and dynamic range. For home theater enthusiasts who wish to explore expanded ambience with height and wide loudspeakers, they have the option of using Audyssey DSX high or wide channels, or Dolby ProLogic IIz height channels. The receiver also includes Dolby Volume processing technology to optimize the sound for any listening level. The TX-NR809 has one front- and seven rear-panel HDMI inputs, dual HDMI outputs with lossless audio processing using Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding. There is also a full complement of legacy analog and digital connections, including multi-channel audio, stereo, optical and coaxial digital inputs, and a phono input. There are two component video inputs, plus composite/S-Video inputs for four devices. It also has multichannel analog preamp outputs for possible use with a separate component power amplifier. This receiver is certified for Windows 7 and DLNA, and can playback a wide variety digital audio file formats via a home network or USB devices, and it is capable of wireless connectivity via Onkyo's optional UFW-1 wireless USB adaptor. An iPod or iPhone can easily be connected via the front-panel USB or with optional dock connected via Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port. This U-Port can also be used for an optional HD Radio Tuner and forthcoming wireless devices. The network connection provides Internet radio and streaming music services, with preformatted service packages for Mediafly, Pandora®, SlackerTM, Napster, Rhapsody®, vTuner, SIRIUS XM Internet Radio®, and Last.fm. The TX-NR809 is Onkyo's first 2011 AV receiver to use a bidirectional, preprogrammed, and customizable RI remote control. When connected to the Internet, it maintains up-to-date RC control codes for connected devices. With the receiver's Overlaid Graphical On-screen Display, users can speed through on-screen setups while still viewing their program. The remote also includes Macro presets for four activities. Additionally, the receiver has bi-directional Ethernet and RS232 ports for control, IR input and output, two 12-V triggers, firmware updates via Ethernet and USB, GUI Navigation via HDMI, powered Zone 2, and Zone 2/3 preouts. Onkyo Introduces New HTiBs, Speakers, Receiver, and a 3D Blu-Ray Player UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (4/11/11) -- Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has announced four new packaged home theater systems, including its first with networking capabilities, a new home theater speaker system, upgraded mid-line AV receiver, and an affordably-priced 3D Blu-Ray player. Home Theater Systems: Onkyo has increased its premium home theater line-up from three models to four, consisting of the HT-S6400, HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX. All four have a front-panel USB port that offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. The top three models include Ethernet networking capabilities to support streaming PC audio and Internet radio from the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly, Last fm, and vTuner and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These same three models also include the new Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor for use with upcoming higher resolution video display. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. All these models are also compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. As with previous HTiB lineups, the top-of-the-line 7.1-channel HT-S9400THX is THX Certified and includes THX approved speakers--the reference standard for excellence in home theater sound. The HT-S8400 includes a distinctive 7.1-channel slim floor standing speaker package with high-performance 41-inch high front speakers, while the HT-S7400 uses a more-compact 5.1 speaker package. All of these systems include powered subwoofers. The HT-S6400 uses brand new 5.1-channel speaker set that includes a powered subwoofer and matching gloss-finished front, center, and surround speakers. These compactyet reassuringly solidspeakers are made from a new, high- density resin designed for maximum rigidity and minimum vibration. The elegantly curved shape of the speaker cabinets does more than just add a touch of class; it also helps to counteract standing waves, ensuring sound output with greater fidelity. This speaker system will also be sold separately as the SKS-HT690. The Onkyo HT-S7400, HT-S8400, and HT-S9400THX will be available in May with Suggested retail prices of $799, $899, and $1099 respectively. The HT-S6400 and SKS-HT690 will follow in July with MSRPs of $699 and $449 respectively. Onkyo TX-NR709 AV Receiver: Onkyo has also announced late April deliveries of its 7.2-channel TX-NR709 Network home theater receiver. Like it's predecessor, the TX-NR708, it has full networking capabilities to support streaming PC audio and Internet radio, adding Last.fm to its roster of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly, and vTuner. It is also has compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA, front panel USB, powerful WRAT amplifiers, and a broad suite of audio processing from Dolby, DTS, and Audyssey. The TX-NR709 has been upgraded with the new Marvell Qdeo 4k video upscaling processor, Audyssey MultEQ XT advanced room correction technology, dual subwoofer outputs, dual HDMI outputs and one additional HDMI inputs for a total of eight front and rear. It can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver and it is compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter. The Onkyo TX-NR709 will have a suggested retail price of $899. Onkyo BD-SP309: Onkyo has also introduced its first 3D Blu-Ray Player, the BD-SP309. The BD-SP309 also supports internet radio and video on demand via Pandora, Netflix and VUDU, so you can explore a cornucopia of great audio and video content whenever the mood strikes. With the BD-SP309, standard DVD sources at various resolutions480p, 720p, or 1080ican be upscaled to 1080p for playback on a compatible high-definition display. Its HDMI interface supports lossless studio sound quality of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential for Blu-ray Disc. Connectivity on the BD-SP309 is rounded out by two USB ports that let you play media from a variety of storage devices. The Onkyo BD-SP309 will be available in May with a suggested retail price of $249. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts New HT-RC Receivers UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (4/4/11) -- Onkyo, a brand renowned worldwide for quality home entertainment technology, has included expanded audio, video, USB, network and internet connectivity in two new upgraded models in its HT-RC family of home theater receivers. The new Onkyo HT-RC370 and HT-RC360, which replace the HT-RC270 and HT-RC260, are also among the first AV receivers equipped with the new Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor. Both include a front-panel USB port that offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. The USB port even support album art from your iPod/iPhone. Among other upgrades, the HT-RC360 gains full networking capabilities while the HT-RC370 adds Audyssey MultEQ XT processing. These two network-capable receivers support streaming PC audio and Internet radio from the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker, Mediafly and vTuner and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. Both models are also compatible with the recently announced UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. For movie and home theater enthusiasts, these receivers have more than enough HDMI inputs to accommodate any likely combination of cable TV, satellite, and disk player sources, including 3D. Both the HT-RC370 and HT-RC360 now also include connections for USB, Ethernet, and Onkyo's proprietary Universal Port (U-Port), as well as a full array of traditional audio and video sources. As would be expected from a company with the audio credentials of Onkyo, both receivers offer exceptional sound quality, with the HT-RC370 earning THX's prestigious Select2 Plus certification. Both modes are 7.2-channel surround sound systems with Audyssey DSX or Dolby ProLogic IIz processing included to provide alternative height or wide channels. The advanced HDMI interface supports lossless high-definition surround sound via Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. The HT-RC370's sonic performance has been upgraded with Audyssey MultEQ XT for a superior room equalization setup and the addition of Dolby Volume for optimal sound at any volume setting. The HT-RC360 uses Audyssey 2EQ room correction and includes Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume to correct loudness issues. Both models feature the brand new Marvell Qdeo video-processing chip, which can upscale video to 1080p and beyond to as much as 4K of horizontal resolution, regardless of the source resolution. While 4K video display technology is not yet on the market, this new processor handles current-source upsampling with ease, and will be ready for future displays. Both receivers include Onkyo's proprietary WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) amplifiers, and the HT-RC370 also employs Onkyo's three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry for even higher dynamics and lower distortion. Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs are provided for all channels on both receivers. Like all current Onkyo receivers, they feature the company's Overlaid Graphic On-Screen Display so users can still watch a program while operating the menus. Onkyo's latest Graphical User Interface (GUI) lets users smoothly navigate internet radio, iPod/iPhone sources, or any other connected sources. The Onkyo HT-RC370 and HT-RC360 will both be available in April with suggested retail prices of $849 and $549 respectively. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts Two High-Value Packaged Home Theater Systems and New Dock for iPod/iPhone UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/10/2011) -- Onkyo is pleased to announce the release of two new home-theater-in-a-box (HTiB) receiver-and-speaker systems that combine the convenience of packaged home theater with the audio pedigree of Onkyo. The 7.1-channel Onkyo HT-S5400 and 5.1-channel HT-S3400 offer an exceptional array of features for these price points, and they are built to exacting standards designed to bring the best out of music, movies, and gaming content. The company is also introducing the Onkyo DS-A4 Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone that is designed to connect to most AV receivers. The home theater receivers at the heart of these two systems all feature the latest implementation of the HDMI® connectivity standard with support for 3D video, lossless audio from Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and an Audio Return Channel. The latter feature sends an audio signal upstream from a connected HDTVs tuner, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable. Along with four HDMI inputs and one output, each receiver includes a generous selection of digital and analog A/V inputs to handle a wide range of playback devices. The amplifier sections for each of these receivers incorporates a massive transformer, optimum gain volume circuitry, and PLL jitter-cleaning circuitry to preserve signal accuracy. Other features include high-quality TI Burr-Brown audio DACs, a new Advanced Music Optimizer to enhance the fidelity of compressed audio files, and a convenient overlaid on-screen display for adjusting the settings. Both receivers also include Audyssey Dynamic EQ® and Audyssey Dynamic Volume®, two volume and equalization technologies that enable users to enjoy audio content in greater comfort. The HT-S5400 offers the most extensive feature set. Its two extra audio channels enable it to support Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz, an audio processing technology that allows users to reconfigure the two surround-back channels as front height channels and increase the ambience of movies and games. The HT-S5400 boasts slightly superior audio DACs compared to the HT-S3400. Located on the front panel of the HT-S5400s receiver is a USB port that offers a direct digital connection for iPod/iPhone. Other highlights of the HT-S5400 include a powered subwoofer and a subwoofer pre-out for greater low-end impact, and Audyssey 2EQ®, which works to adjust the soundstage to the unique dimensions of the users listening space. The receiver is complemented by a seven-channel speaker set consisting of mid-size, two-way front LCR speakers and four compact full-range satellites. The Onkyo HT-S3400 provides a more affordable 5.1-channel HTiB solution that omits the USB port, subwoofer pre-out, and Audyssey 2EQ, but it does include Onkyos proprietary Universal Port to enable single-cable connection of Onkyo peripheral devices. A powerful, down-firing subwoofer and five full-range surround speakers are included with the HT-S3400. The Onkyo DS-A4 Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone provides audio, video outputs, charging, and full function remote control when used with most AV receivers, and advanced functionality and integration when connected to an Onkyo receivers proprietary RI interface jack. The dock is compatible with all current iPod/ iPhone models up to the latest iPhone 4. It has outputs for stereo audio as well as composite and component video. Menu navigation is aided by an On-Screen Display and supplied remote control; RI-enabled systems allow the use of the AV system remote control. The Onkyo HT-S5400, HT-S3400, and DS-A4 will be available at retail in April, with suggested retail prices of $599, $379, and $139 respectively. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo Debuts Entry-Level AV Receivers With Internet, Network, and USB Capabilities at Much Lower Prices UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (2/10/2011). -- Onkyo, a global innovator in hi-fi and home theater, has introduced a line of three new entry-level home theater receivers that include advanced networking capabilities and a 'Made for iPod/iPhone' USB interface for the first time at such low prices. Previously, these features were only available in the US on models with suggested retail prices of $899 and higher. The release includes the 7.2-channel TX-NR609, the 5.1-channel TX-NR509 and the 5.1-channel TX-SR309. The models designated 'TX-NR' are network-capable and all three have front-panel USB connections. The two network-capable receivers support streaming PC audio and Internet radio, and provide compatibility with Windows® 7 and DLNA. The Internet connection greatly simplifies the process of providing future updates to the receivers firmware. These networking models can also take advantage of Onkyos free Remote App for iPod, iPhone, or iPad to control the A/V receiver. Onkyo has also introduced its UWF-1 Wireless USB Adapter that will be compatible with all Onkyo network-capable receivers with USB and introduced in 2011. It provides an IEEE 802.11b/g/n connection to access music on a home network. This front-panel USB port also offers a direct digital connection for an iPod or iPhone, along with support for audio playback from USB mass-storage devices. In the case of the TX-NR609 the USB port even support album from your iPod/iPhone. All Onkyo receivers incorporate an implementation of HDMI® that includes compatibility with 3D video, HDMI Thru, and an Audio Return Channel. The latter allows audio content received via an HDTVs tuner to be sent upstream via HDMI to the receiver, without the need for an extra cable from the display. Other features shared by these models include PLL jitter-cleaning circuitry to preserve signal clarity; lossless Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; an overlaid on-screen display for easy adjustment of settings; and a new front panel design. The most advanced model in this group is the THX® Select2 Plus-certified TX-NR609, the latest in Onkyos extremely popular line of 600 series A/V receivers. When it comes to video processing, this receiver employs cutting-edge Marvell Qdeo to upscale video signals to state-of-the-art 4K resolution. Regardless of the original source resolution, users will be able to enjoy smooth and extremely precise video images on a compatible high-resolution display. Along with the aforementioned USB port, the TX-NR609 boasts six HDMI inputs (one located conveniently on the front), a Universal Port for Onkyo-branded peripheral devices, and a raft of popular digital and analog A/V jacks. Another connectivity highlight on the TX-NR609 comes in the form of Powered Zone 2, which lets users play a different audio source in a second room equipped with stereo speakers. The TX-NR609s 7.2-channel configuration includes two subwoofer pre-outs, enabling users to supply larger rooms with more balanced and powerful low frequencies. The TX-NR609 features a PC-compatible analog RGB video inputideal for gamers and fans of PC-based media. This input allows users to send the video signal from a notebook or desktop PC directly to the receiver, which then sends it via HDMI to a compatible display. Among its audio-processing highlights, the TX-NR609 supports decoding for Audyssey DSX. This sophisticated technology allows users to reconfigure the surround-back speakers in a seven-channel set-up as either front-height or front-wide speakers, creating a more immersive home theater experience with increased ambience. The TX-NR609 also supports Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz, which offers a similar front-height surround-sound option. Ease-of-use is always a priority at Onkyo, particularly at the entry level. This is why the TX-NR609 incorporates a suite of Audyssey technologies2EQ®, Dynamic Volume®, and Dynamic EQ®to simplify set-up, and a new overlaid graphical GUI for in-session adjustments to settings. A stylish illuminated volume control knob makes it easy to adjust the volume in the dark. The TX-NR509, meanwhile, offers an appealing choice to users who do not require the 4K video upscaling feature or the expanded surround sound of Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz. It offers 4 HMDI inputs and the same range of networking and superb audio processing as its higher sibling. Rounding out this release is the most affordable model of all, the TX-SR309. This 5.1-channel A/V receiver is targeted at users who do not require the networking, Zone 2, or Audyssey equalization features, but who still seek a modern and budget-friendly home theater centerpiece. It features three HDMI inputs and high-quality TI Burr-Brown audio DACs, along with Onkyos proprietary advanced music optimizer and gaming audio modes. With this current release, Onkyo aims to further cement its position as a trusted provider of high-quality, yet affordable, home theater receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR609 will be available with a manufacture's suggested retail price of $599; TX-NR509 at $399; and TX-SR309 at $299. The Onkyo UWF-1 wireless adapter will cost $39. All of these products will be available at retail in early April. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687. Onkyo's New Range of Separate Hi-Fi Components Combine the Classic Style of the '80s with the Advanced Technology of Tomorrow LAS VEGAS, Jan 5, 2011 --- Onkyo, a company with over 60 years of experience in quality audio, has announced a new range of elite hi-fi separate components with a style reminiscent of the company's classic stereo models of the 1980s. All three models, the P-3000R pre-amplifier, M-5000R power amplifier, and C-7000R CD player, incorporate Onkyos new Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry (DIDRC) to counteract unwanted high-frequency interference. Despite being beyond the normal range of human hearing, frequencies above 100 kHz are susceptible to clock pulses and other forms of distortion from digital devices. Such distortion in the super-high frequency range can generate beat interference, which in turn affects the character or atmosphere of the original sound. DIDRC works to reduce noise by improving linearity and reducing distortion in the super high frequency range, resulting in audio playback that is more faithful to the original source. DIDRC is incorporated into the amplification circuitry of the three hi-fi components. To further reduce interference, these components feature separate digital and analog circuitry. Other features common to all models include audiophile-grade partssuch as massive toroidal transformers and gold-plated terminalsalong with a new circuit board construction and separate chassis panels, to eliminate unwanted vibrations. P-3000R Preamplifier The P-3000R pre-amp accepts both analog and digital sources, with connectivity options including AES/EBU digital connectors and a USB input for PC audio. A high-quality 32-bit Burr-Brown DAC is provided for each stereo channel, to optimize audio performance. Meanwhile, PLL (phase locked loop) technology minimizes the effect of clock jitter, and bi-amping capability provides greater flexibility for audiophile applications. M-5000R Power Amplifier Onkyos new M-5000R offers the best of the traditional and modern, with large front-panel analog power meters reminiscent of Onkyo's classic M-405 from the 1980s combined with state-of-the-art distortion reduction technologies and exceptional high current capabilities. The company's advanced AWRAT amplification design is at the heart of the M-5000R power amplifier. AWRAT comprises DIDRC technology along with a low NFB design, closed ground-loop circuits, and high instantaneous-current capability. While the 8-ohm FTC rating is a conservative 80 watts, the amplifier's remarkable current capabilities allow it to drive even the most demanding complex-impedance loudspeakers to high levels, with a dynamic power rating of over 450 watts into 1 ohm. To minimize errors in stereophonic playback, the M-5000R uses a perfectly symmetrical alignment of power devices for the left and right channels. Power efficiency on the M-5000R is optimized by three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry and a new Quad Push-Pull amplification design that incorporates two extra transistors for each channel. Meanwhile, twin toroidal transformers and four 27,000 µF capacitors work to stabilize the power supply and current, respectively. A high-grade XLR input opens up the possibility of doubling power output via a BTL (bridged transless) set-up. C-7000R CD Player To ensure minimal signal interference, the C-7000R CD player employs a thermally regulated, high-precision clock with a state-of-the-art crystal oscillator. To further reduce potential interference, the player can be operated in analog-only or digital-only mode. Furthermore, analog and digital circuitry are physically separated and employ independent transformers: a massive toroidal transformer for analog, and an EI transformer for digital. The audiophile build-quality of the C-7000R is epitomized by a silent disc mechanism, a solid die-cast aluminum tray, and AES/EBU digital outputs. With these three precision-engineered hi-fi components, Onkyo offers a compelling choice to music aficionados seeking a no-compromise audio solution. All three models will be available through select Onkyo dealers in January , with manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $1,699 for the P-3000R pre-amplifier, $2,499 for the M-5000R power amplifier, and $1,499 for the C-7000R CD player. Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.	i don't know
In which European city are the headquarters of the European Central Bank?	European Central Bank too big for new headquarters building \| City A.M. Monday 11 November 2013 5:18am European Central Bank too big for new headquarters building Share Tim Wallace is a former City A.M. reporter. Follow Tim Tim Wallace THE EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) will not be able to fit all of its staff into its new headquarters, it said over the weekend. The institution is expanding as it is being given more powers to oversee the Eurozone’s banking system, requiring another 1,000 staff. It had not forseen the expansion when it commissioned the new building, which has been under construction since 2010. The building in Frankfurt is also running over budget – according to Der Spiegel it is likely to cost at least €1.15bn (£960m), more than double the £500m initially planned. “The ECB has decided to continue to rent one of its current buildings, the Eurotower, to house its supervisory staff,” the ECB said. “This decision means that the ECB will maintain its link with the Eurotower in Frankfurt, together with the large euro symbol in front of it, which has become something of a landmark not only for the ECB but also for the city of Frankfurt.” Share	Frankfurt
Which Jewish holiday is also known as the Day of Atonement?	Thousands Of Protesters Clash With Riot Police Near New European Central Bank Headquarters In Frankfurt \| The Huffington Post Thousands Of Protesters Clash With Riot Police Near New European Central Bank Headquarters In Frankfurt 03/18/2015 04:32 am ET \| Updated May 17, 2015 180 John O'Donnell and Paul Carrel By John O'Donnell and Frank Siebelt FRANKFURT, March 18 (Reuters) - Anti-capitalist protesters clashed with riot police near the new headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt on Wednesday and set fire to barricades and cars, casting a pall over the ceremonial opening of the billion-euro skyscraper. Nearly 90 police were injured by stones and unidentified liquids hurled by a violent minority from within the thousands-strong protest, police said. Some protesters said they were injured when police used pepper spray. Seven police cars were set on fire, streets were blocked by burning stacks of tires and rubbish bins, and shops were damaged in the city center. Dark smoke billowed in front of the ECB towers and across central Frankfurt. Police used water cannon to try to make a path through the mass of black-clad protesters to the entrance of the building, blocked off from the street by police barricades. Five people were detained and others taken into custody for questioning. ECB President Mario Draghi addressed the demonstrators in his speech at the opening ceremony but said they were missing the point by blaming the ECB. "European unity is being strained," he said, according to an advance text. "People are going through very difficult times. There are some, like many of the protesters outside today, who believe the problem is that Europe is doing too little. "But the euro area is not a political union of the sort where some countries permanently pay for others. It has always been understood that countries have to be able to stand on their own two feet - that each is responsible for its own policies. The fact that some had to go through a difficult period of adjustment was therefore not a choice that was imposed on them. It was a consequence of their past decisions." The protest organizers, a group called Blockupy - named after the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 - estimated that about 10,000 demonstrators were at the rally. Thousands came into the German financial capital from other parts of Europe. "Our protest is against the ECB, as a member of the troika, that, despite the fact that it is not democratically elected, hinders the work of the Greek government. We want the austerity politics to end," Ulrich Wilken, one of the organizers, said. "We want a loud but peaceful protest," he told Reuters. Blockupy says it represents grass-roots critics of supranational financial institutions including the "troika": the ECB, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund, whose inspectors monitor countries such as Greece and Cyprus that have received international bailouts. The ECB is also influential as a provider of finance to the banks of struggling countries and has in recent weeks sanctioned a drip feed of extra emergency finance to Greece's lenders. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis last week criticized ECB policy towards Athens as "asphyxiating," a criticism also made by the protest organizers. (Additional reporting by Paul Carrel; Editing by Erik Kirschbaum and Louise Ireland) Clashes In Frankfurt	i don't know
The Tinikling, a dance using bamboo poles, is the (or a) main national dance of which 7,000-island nation?	Folk Dance Folk Dance Joomla Website Tutorial INTRODUCTION AND DANCES Countries in the world have their own cultures made more colorful, beautiful and vibrant because of Folk Dances that are reflection of who they are. In the east, the Chinese have their symbolic Dragon Dance, the Japanese have the ancestral dance Bon Odori. In the west the Americans have their Square Dance. On the other hand, the Philippines will not be left behind. "The Pearl of The Orient" boast of a variety of Filipino Folk Dances. The Philippines consist of 7107 islands, and is broken down in three groups of islands. The Luzon, Mindanao, and Visayas. Each of these regions contain different languages,history, religion, and traditions. With each region having different influence in their arts, crafts, and an historical dances. Lets take a trip through each region and explore the different styles, costumes, Dances and Talents from Each Region.... As we explore each of the regions and styles, please remember a lot of these Cultural and Folk dances represents hardships and daily back breaking tasks, that has turned into an art form. Many of the dances you will read about here were actual activities or chores that the Filipino endured to survive the poor economy and state of the nation. List of Philippine Folk Dances The Philippines enjoys a rich cultural heritage which includes a diverse collection of traditional dances. From the well-known national dance the Tinikling, which pays homage to the movements of a much-loved bird, to dances that reflect elements of daily Philippine life, these folk dances all offer a glimpse into the history of the country. Traditional Folk Dances of the Philippines The Philippines has many popular folk dances which have evolved and changed as they have been passed down from generation to generation. Although a particular dance might be performed slightly differently from one region to the next, its remains true to its roots. Here are some of the most popular dances from the region. The Itik-Itik The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate. According to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing at a baptismal party. The other guests copied her movements, and everyone liked the dance so much that it has been passed along ever since. The Tinikling The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines' national dance. The dance's movements imitate the movement of the tikling bird as it walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People perform the dance using bamboo poles. The dance is composed of three basic steps which include singles, doubles and hops. It looks similar to playing jump rope, except that the dancers perform the steps around and between the bamboo poles, and the dance becomes faster until someone makes a mistake and the next set of dancers takes a turn. The Sayaw sa Bangko The Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on top of a narrow bench. Dancers need good balance as they go through a series of movements that include some impressive acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back to the areas of Pangapisan, Lingayen and Pangasinan. The Binasuan The Binasuan is an entertaining dance that is usually performed at festive social occasions like weddings and birthdays. Dancers carefully balance three half-filled glasses of rice wine on their heads and hands as they gracefully spin and roll on the ground. The dance originated in Bayambang in the Pangasinan province, and though it's usually performed alone, it can also become a competition between several dancers. The Pandanggo sa Ilaw The Pandanggo sa Ilaw is similar to a Spanish Fandango, but the Pandanggo is performed while balancing three oil lamps - one on the head, and one in each hand. It's a lively dance that originated on Lubang Island. The music is in 3/4 time and is usually accompanied by castanets. The Pandanggo Oasiwas The Pandanggo Oasiwas is similar to the Pandanggo sa Ilaw, and is typically performed by fishermen to celebrate a good catch. In this version, the lamps are placed in cloths or nets and swung around as the dancers circle and sway. The Maglalatik The Maglalatik is a mock war dance that depicts a fight over coconut meat, a highly-prized food. The dance is broken into four parts: two devoted to the battle and two devoted to reconciling. The men of the dance wear coconut shells as part of their costumes, and they slap them in rhythm with the music. The Maglalatik is danced in the religious procession during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. The Kuratsa The Kuratsa is described as a dance of courtship and is often performed at weddings and other social occasions. The dance has three parts. The couple first performs a waltz. In the second part, the music sets a faster pace as the man pursues the woman around the dance floor in a chase. To finish, the music becomes even faster as the man wins over the woman with his mating dance. La Jota Moncadeña The La Jota Moncadeña is adapted by the Filipinos from an old Spanish dance. It's a combination of Spanish and Ilocano dance steps set to Spanish music and castanets. A more solemn version of this dance is sometimes used to accompany a funeral procession, but it is also performed at celebrations. The Kappa Malong-Malong The Kappa Malong-Malong is a Muslim-influenced dance. The malong is a tubular garment, and the dance essentially shows the many ways it can be worn. There are men's and women's versions of the dance since they wear malongs in different ways. The Habanera Botolena The Habanera Botolena is a strongly flamenco-influenced dance that comes from Botolan, Zambales. It combines Filipino and Spanish steps, and is a popular dance at weddings. It is also considered a courting dance in some situations. The Pantomina Also known as the Dance of the Doves, the Pantomina mimics the courtship between doves and is often also a courtship dance between the couples that perform it. This dance is an important part of the Sorsogon Kasanggayahan Festival held each October, where it is mainly performed by the elders of the community. The Cariñosa The Cariñosa is a dance made for flirting! Dancers make a number of flirtatious movements as they hide behind fans or handkerchiefs and peek out at one another. The essence of the dance is the courtship between two sweethearts. The Surtido Surtido literally means "assortment," and this square dance combines influences of French, Spanish and Mexican dance. Traditionally the Surtido is performed by a head couple accompanied by two other couples who lead all the dancers through various formations that resemble an old-fashioned quadrille. The Singkil The Singkil is a dance traditionally performed by single women to attract the attention of potential suitors. Dancers perform a series of graceful movements as they step in and out from between bamboo poles which are rhythmically clapped together. Fans and scarves are often used to enhance the dancers' movements. The Polkabal The Polkabal shows some European influence in its steps. The dance is composed of nine different steps which include various movements such as fluttering, stepping heel-to-toe, a reenactment of a bull fight, and even a leisurely walk. History Through Dance Dancing plays an important role in Filipino culture, telling their history and preserving traditions through folk dances and music. These dances are entertaining to observe, and even more fun to learn and perform yourself.	Philippines
The Hallé Orchestra, named after its Anglo-German founder (born Karl Halle) is based in which city?	Bamboo Furnitures, Bamboo Store Philippines, Rattan and Scaffolding by BambooPoles.com.ph Product Order Request News and Announcement Read more about our customer satisfaction with our Products and Services. Get the Latest News and Announcement as well. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay West Rembo is located in the Second District of Makati and situated at the North East Cluster along with Cembo, Northside and Guadalupe Viejo.Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, West Rembo has a total of 28, 406 population and percentage share of 5.4% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 5,681 households. By population density, on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 52 person per square meters. This barangay has a total land area of 0.552 square kilometer and predominantly residential. Barangay West Rembo is known to house several institutional lots such as the Makati Parks and Garden and University of Makati. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Tejeros is one of the four barrios comprising San Pedro Macati (Guadalupe, Olympia, Pio del Pilar and Tejeros). It belongs to Makati City's first district and a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. The barangay used to be composed of five sitios namely Carmon (Crystal), Kasilawan (Suaboy or Bakahan), Singkamas, La Paz and Sta.Cruz (Paltok). Based on the 2010 NSO census, there are 13,868 residents in Tejeros, which is 2.60% of the total population of Makati. With a total land area of 0.2832 square kilometers which is almost 1% of the City’s land area and population density of 49 residents per 1,000 square meters. Up to now, Tejeros remains as one of the city’s main residential areas providing low cost housing facilities for its residents (Makati Homes I and Tejeros Garden BLISS). From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Singkamas is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2. It has a land area of 0.1293 square kilometers which is 0.5% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 census of population released by the National Statistics Office, Singkamas has a percentage share of 1.4% or 7,426 versus the City’s population with a density of 57 persons per 1,000 square meters. This barangay is predominantly a residential area. Singkamas is bounded by Manila and Barangay Tejeros in the North, Barangay La Paz in the south, Barangay Tejeros in the east, and City of Manila in the west. Recognized structures located in the barangay include F. Benitez Elementary School III, Playhouse for Early Education and Holy Cross Chapel among others. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay San Antonio is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2. It has a land area of 0.8958 square kilometers which occupies 3.3% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 census of population released by the National Statistics Office, San Antonio has a percentage share of 2.2% or 11,443 versus the City’s population with a density of 13 persons per 1,000 square meters. San Antonio is bounded Barangay La Paz in the north, Barangays Pio Del Pilar and San Lorenzo in the south, Barangays Sta. Cruz and Bel-Air in the east, and Barangay Palanan in the west. Barangay San Antonio once housed the Makati Polytechnic University or Pamantasan ng Makati before it was relocated to Brgy. West Rembo and converted to now University of Makati. Other recognized structures located in the barangay include the San Antonio National High School, San Antonio Elementary School, National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and St. Paul the Apostle Sanctuary and ST. PAULS - an international Catholic religious congregation composed of priests and brothers. Moreover, the most notable personality residing in Barangay San Antonio is Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and his family. Predominant land use of Barangay San Antonio is commercial and can be seen through the wide array of business establishments ranging from banks, restaurants, shipping companies, wine/liquor stores, recruitment agencies and condominiums/apartelles among others. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Post Proper Northside is included in the Second Congressional District of Makati. It completes the Cluster 6 or the North East Cluster along with Guadalupe Viejo, Cembo and West Rembo. This barangay occupies the whole Bonifacio Global City and Makati City Jail. This barangay is predominantly mixed-use because of the presence of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and International Schools. It has a total land area of 2.376 square kilometers and consist of 6,010 population based on 2010 Census Population conducted by the National Statistics Office. In addition, it has a percentage share of 1.14% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 1,202 households.Considering its land area and population count, the barangay has a population density of 22 person per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Pio del Pilar is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2 in the first district of Makati. It has a land area of 0.8809 square kilometers which is 3.2% share to the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 Census of population released by the National Statistics Office, Palanan has a percentage share of 5.1% or 27,035 versus the City’s population with a density of 31 persons per 1,000 square meters. Pio del Pilar is bounded by Barangays San Isidro and San Antonio in the north, Barangays Bangkal and San Lorenzo in the south, Barangay San Lorenzo in the east and Pasay City in the west. One of the major means of transportation in Barangay Pio del Pilar is the Pasay Road Station of the Philippine National Railways. Other recognized structures located in the barangay include Pio del Pilar Elementary School, Koliseyum ng Bayan, Don Bosco Parish Church, Waltermart and Citimotors. Predominant land use of barangay Pio del Pilar is commercial which can be seen through wide arrays of business establishments such as banks, gas stations, restaurants, apartelles, hotels and drug stores among others. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Palanan is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2 in the first district of Makati. It has a land area of 0.6499 square kilometers which occupies 2.4% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 Census of population released by the National Statistics Office, Palanan has a percentage share of 3.3% or 17,283 versus the City’s population with a density of 27 persons per 1,000 square meters. This barangay is a predominantly residential area. Palanan is bounded by the City of Manila in the north, Barangay San Isidro in the south, Barangay San Antonio in the east and Pasay City in the west. Recognized structures located in the barangay include Palanan Elementary School, Fire substation located at Casino St. and the Police Station Precinct 2. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay La Paz is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2 in the first district of Makati. It has a land area 0.2478 square kilometers which occupies 0.9% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 Census of population released by the National Statistics Office, La Paz has a percentage share of 1.5% or 7,931 of the total City’s population with a density of 32 persons per 1,000 square meters. Barangay La Paz is a predominantly residential area. La Paz is bounded by the City of Manila, barangays Singkamas and Tejeros in the north, Barangay San Antonio in the south, Barangay Sta. Cruz in the East and City of Manila in the West. Barangay La Paz houses the City’s biggest indoor sporting arena which is Makati Coliseum with a seating capacity of 3,000 and became a regular venue for major sporting events. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Guadalupe Nuevo is part of the North Central Cluster along with Pitogo, Pinagkaisahan, Post Proper Southside, and South Cembo. Being situated at the north central cluster, part of Guadalupe Nuevo lying along EDSA and Kalayaan Avenue are generally classified as commercial areas while inner portions are mostly residential. Predominantly, the type of business establishments located within the barangay are small and medium stores, banks, restaurants, hotels/tourism-related establishments, among others. Also, the largest public wet market of Makati is located at the barangay. Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Guadalupe Nuevo has a percentage share of 3.5% or 18,271 population count versus the city’s population, with an estimate of at least 3,655 households. By population density, on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 32 residents per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Dasmariñas is one of the six (6) gated communities in Makati. It has a total land area of 1.9033 square kilometers with a population density of 3 persons per 1,000 square meter. The village was developed by the Ayala Corporation in 1965 while the local government agency was established in 1971. Located in the center of the City, Dasmarinas is bounded in the north by EDSA, National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) right of way in the west, San Antonio Church in the east, and Maricaban Creek in the south. It is home to 5,654 residents of local and foreign decent according to the 2010 Census by the National Statistics Office in addition to various embassies and consulates such as China, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, and Oman. Although considered as purely residential in use, the Colegio de San Agustin also holds its residence inside Barangay Dasmariñas. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Carmona belongs to the Makati City's first district, and is a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. The barangay is located in the northern part of Makati City. It is a residential area with a population of 3,096, recorded by the 2010 census. The barangay was named after Comandante Isidoro Carmona, a Filipino soldier who fought during the Philippine Revolution against Spaniards. Barangay Carmona is predominantly a recreational area which is due to the former Philippine Racing Club (PRC) which is now being developed and is called Makati Circuit. Soon to rise as Makati’s entertainment district, Makati Circuit is poised to be the unequivocal destination for all things entertainment – with its world-class indoor theatre, multipurpose entertainment spaces and open grounds integrated with commercial, hotel and residential blocks. A collaboration among Ayala Land, Inc., PRCI and the City of Makati, Circuit completes the vision for Makati to be a leading city for entertainment, lifestyle and business. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Valenzuela, a former Sitio of Barangay Olympia, belongs to Makati City's first district and a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. It was once a musky, grassy and sprawling lowland with a total population of less than 3,000 residents. Based on 2010 NSO census, there are 7,261 residents in the barangay, that represents 1.40% of the total population of Makati City. It has a total land area of 0.2514 square kilometers which is 0.9% of the City’s land area and a population density of 29 residents per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Sta. Cruz is a barangay located in Makati's first congressional district. It is bounded by Barangay Olympia in the north, Manila South Cemetery of the City of Manila to the east, Barangays Bel-Air and San Antonio to the south, and Barangays La Paz and Tejeros to the west. The Barangay is a member of the Northwest Cluster, or Cluster 3 of Makati. Barangay Sta. Cruz hosts one of the known public cemeteries in Metro Manila, which is the Manila South Cemetery. It covers 0.91% of the barangay, while 0.36% is used as residential area. Sta. Cruz’s population as of 2010 is 7,440, which is 1.40% of the total population of Makati City. On the other hand, the barangay’s land area is 0.473 square kilometers or 1.70% of the total land area of Makati. There are 16 residents per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay San Lorenzo belongs to the 1st congressional district of Makati and is included under Cluster 1 or Central Cluster. It is considered as one of the richest barangays in the Philippines for embraces part of the Central Business District from where its revenue mainly comes from. BSL has a total land area of 1.7341 square kilometers with a population of 10,006. The population density of Barangay San Lorenzon is computed to be 6 persons per 1,000 square meters. Barangay San Lorenzo is considered to be predominantly commercial in land use. Prominent establishments located in the barangay are PLDT, Glorietta and Greenbelt Malls, New World Hotel, and Makati Medical Center among others. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Rizal belongs to the Second District of Makati. It is part of Cluster 5 or the Eastside Cluster along with barangays Comembo, East Rembo and Pembo. The barangay is third to the largest in the district in terms of population. Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Rizal has a total of 41,959 population and percentage share of 2.17% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 8,392 households. By population density on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 71 residents per 1,000 square meters. Barangay Rizal, being purely a residential area, does not have big commercial establishments. Since it is just starting to modernize the community, it can only boast of concrete houses booming in the area. Barangay Rizal is named after the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, because its declaration as an independent barangay coincided with his Centennial Death Celebration. The Makati Rizal Pabahay of the City Government of Makati lies in this barangay as its well known landmark. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Poblacion belongs to Makati City's first district and a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. Poblacion has a total land area of 1,034,200 sq.m., that is 3.80% of the total land area of Makati. 3.20% or 17,120 of Makati residents live in Poblacion, or 17 residents per 1,000 square meters. Barangay Poblacion is the first settlement of the City of Makati. In fact, when one mentions San Pedro Makati during the pre-war period, it indicated Barangay Poblacion. Since it was the original community of the town, it became the center of the local government and has remained as such, today. Barangay Poblacion is also known as Makati’s Heritage District. In 2006 and 2007, local and foreign urban planning consultants and other public and private sector partners conducted a Cultural Mapping Report of the Heritage of Poblacion last, through the grant of Instituto Cervantes Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation. However, based on its existing land use, Poblacion is still predominantly a commercial area. It houses the upscale mixed-use development - Rockwell Center and A. Venue Event Mall. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Pinagkaisahan is characterized as gradually sloping downwards from the west towards the northeast, where a creek (Balisampan) cuts across the barangay. Inner parts of the barangay are mostly residential while alongside EDSA are classified commercial. Pinagkaisahan, by clustering, is in District II under the North Central Cluster along with Guadalupe Nuevo, South Cembo, Post Proper Southside, and Pitogo. Also, the barangay boasts its proximity in two (2) Central Business Districts – Ayala and the Bonifacio Global City. The population count as per 2010 Census of Population is 5,804, with approximately 1,161 households at 5 household size. The average population density of the barangay is estimated at 36 per 1,000 square meters considering a land area of 0.1603 square kilometers. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Olympia belongs to Makati City's first district, and is a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. The barangay is a residential area with a population of 21,270 recorded by the 2010 census, which is 4% of the total population of Makati City. On the other hand, the barangay’s land area is only 0.4565 square kilometers or 1.70% of the total land area of Makati. There are 47 residents per 1,000 square meters. The Barangay came from 3 former Sitios: Proper, Obrero and Sampalukan and was later called HINYERO after a German Engineer who lived in the area, but it was changed to OLYMPIA after the tile and brick factory on the bank of Pasig River adjacent to the Lazzai Building. The barangay also hosts the part of Makati Circuit, formerly known as the Philippine Racing Club (PRC) together with Brgy. Carmona. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Kasilawan belongs to the Makati City's first district, and is a member of the Northwest Cluster or Cluster 3 of Makati. Kasilawan is the smallest barangay in Makati with a total land area of only 0.946 square kilometers. that is 0.30% of the total land area of Makati. Based on its existing land use, Kasilawan is predominantly a residential area. During the 2010 NSO census, its total population is 5,291 which is lower than the 2007 data which is 5,756. Relating this to its total land area, there are 56 residents per 1,000 square meters. Although relatively a small barangay, the residence of the first Mayor of Makati, Mayor Pablo Cortez is located in barangay Kasilawan. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Forbes Park, which was established in early 1940s, is one of the first villages to be developed by Ayala Corporation. It was named after an American Governor-General assigned in the Philippines – William Cameron Forbes. It has a land area of 2.5 square kilometers with a population density of one (1) person per 1,000 square meters. Based on the 2010 Census of Population, Forbes Parks has 2,533 residents. Purely residential in use, Forbes Park is considered as one of the oldest settlement in Makati and is renowned to be the home of the Philippines’ flushest families and well-known diplomats and expatriates business executives. Famous landmarks of Barangay Forbes Park include the following: Manila Golf Club, Manila Polo Club, Santuario de San Antonio Parish, San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Kasiyahan Homes, Manila Polo Townhouses, and the more than a hundred century old Acacia Trees. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Comembo belongs to the Makati City's second district and is located at the Southeastern of Makati and Northeastern part of Fort Bonifacio. It is part of Cluster 5 or the Eastside Cluster along with East Rembo, Pembo and Rizal. Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Comembo has a total of 14,433 population and percentage share of 1.13% versus the city’s population with an estimate of 2,887 households. By population density on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 47 per 1,000 square meters. Comembo is generally a residential area except for strips of Commercial areas along the J.P. Rizal Extension, Anahaw and Sampaguita Streets. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Bel-air is an affluent enclave in the heart of Makati’s Central Business District which was established early in 195o’s. It has a total land area of 1.7121 square kilometers. and is the third largest among the posh villages comprising Cluster 1 or the Central Cluster. As of 2010, the population of the barangay reached 18,280 according to the National Statistics Office (NSO). Built in four (4) phases – Bel-Air I to IV, the barangay now includes Ayala North, Buendia Avenue Extension, the Ayala Triangle, and the entire Salcedo Village. The predominant land use of this tobacco pipe shaped barangay is both residential and commercial. The barangay boasts of its skyscrapping buildings and establishments and offers wide arrays of choices for bed, dine and businesses. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 The smallest barangay to complete Cluster 1 or Central Cluster is Barangay Urdaneta with a total land area of 0.7399 square kilometers. It is one of the first centrally planned communities together with Forbes Park, San Lorenzo and Bel-Air which was established in the 1950s by the Ayala Family. Originally, Urdaneta and Bel-Air is form part of a single village called “Beldaneta”. The barangay is bounded by the roads of EDSA, Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, and Buendia Avenue. Its bounding barangays are Bel-Air (north and west), San Lorenzo (south), and Forbes Park (east). Its primary use is considered purely residential same with Barangay Dasmariñas. Its main revenue source comes from real property tax and internal revenue allotment. The Mandarin Oriental and the Peninsula Hotel the noticeable establishments in the area. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay South Cembo, a District II barangay, belongs to the North Central Cluster along with Pitogo, Guadalupe Nuevo, Post Proper Southside, and Pinagkaisahan. The barangay is teeming with a variety of plants and trees and some of which are big Acacia trees planted during the American occupation of Fort Bonifacio in the 1900s. Because it is situated on a hilly part of Fort Bonifacio, it commands a panoramic view of skyscrapers in Makati, Mandaluyong and Pasig. Land use classification is mostly residential, only few were converted to mix-use. As per 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the total population count of the barangay is 14,672 and an estimated number of households of 2,935. The average population density of South Cembo is 73 per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay San Isidro is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2. It has a land area of 0.4829 square kilometers which is 1.8% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 census of population released by the National Statistics Office, San Isidro has a percentage share of 1.4% or 7,589 versus the City’s population with a density of 16 persons per 1,000 square meters. This barangay is predominantly a residential area. San Isidro is bounded by Barangay Palanan in the north, Pasay City and Barangay Pio del Pilar in the south, Pio del Pilar in the east, and Pasay City in the west. Recognized structures located in the barangay includes St. Mary of the Woods School, SM Hypermarket, Fire Sub Station, Police Station Precinct 4, and Holy Family Parish Church among others. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 The Barangay Post Proper Southside, located in District II, hosts several historical and tourist sites namely: Philippine Army Museum and American Cemetery. By clustering, the barangay is under the North Central Cluster along with other four (4) barangays – Guadalupe Nuevo, Pitogo, Pinagkaisahan, and South Cembo. The land area of Post Proper Southside covers 12.5% (3.412 square kilometers) of Makati, and is the largest among the 33 barangays. Given the largest share on land area, it also houses a total of 45,310 residents, as per 2010 Census of Population by NSO or an estimated of 9,062 households - the highest population count as compared with other barangays in Makati. Average population density, on this note, is only at 13 people per 1,000 square meters given the greater chunk occupied by the American Cemetery (601,000 sqm.), and the commercialized part of the Bonifacio Global City. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Pitogo, a District II barangay, derived its name from a palm plant called “Pitogo” (seen in front of the Barangay Hall) which abound in the area before World War II. It is bounded on the north by Guadalupe Nuevo, on the west by Pinagkaisahan, on the east by South Cembo, and Bonifacio Global City on the south. By cluster, on the other hand, Pitogo belongs to the North Central Cluster. Barangay Pinagkaisahan has an area of 0.196 square kilometers, composed of 971 houses and a population count of 15,332 as per 2010 Census of Population, with an estimated number of households of at least 3,000. Meanwhile, the average population density of the barangay is estimated at 78 people per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 Barangay Pembo is part of the Second District of Makati. It belongs to the Cluster 5 or the Eastside Cluster along with Comembo, East Rembo and Rizal. The War Tunnel at Morning Glory Street is considered as a heritage site in the Barangay Pembo which is connected to the Fort Bonifacio War Tunnel. Also, Barangay Pembo accommodates the Ospital ng Makati as its well-known landmark. Pembo is a residential and commercial area and is second to the largest in the district in terms of population. Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Pembo has a total of 44,803 population and percentage share of 2.34% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 8,961 households. By population density on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 70 per 1,000 square meters. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 INTRODUCTION Barangay Magallanes is one of the wealthy barangays in Makati located in the southwestern tip of the City. It is the second smallest village barangay in Cluster 1 with a total land area of 1.1995square kilometers. As of 2010 population census of NSO, a total of 5,576 residents are inhabiting Barangay Magallanes. It belongs to the Central Cluster or Cluster 1 of Makati together with Bel-Air, Dasmarinas, Forbes Park, San Lorenzo and Urdaneta. It provides easy access to the Central Business district due to its proximity to EDSA and South Expressway. Barangay Magallanes is bounded on the north by EDSA facing Barangay Bangkal; Fort Bonifacio and Villamor on the south; Barangay Dasmariñas on the east; and Tripa de Gallina on the west facing Pasay City. Predominantly residential, almost half of the residents of the barangays are expatriates. Moreover, it is home to local and international schools such as Asia Pacific College, Singapore School Manila and Makati Hope Christian School. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 INTRODUCTION Located on the North Gateway of Makati is Barangay Guadalupe Viejo. This is the non-contiguous barangay of the Cluster 6 or Northeast Cluster.Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Guadalupe Viejo has a total of 16,411 population and has a percentage share of 3.1% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 3,282 households. Its population density is 30 person per 1,000 square meters. Guadalupe Viejo is considered as a religious site because of its well-known landmarks such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, San Carlos Seminary and Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish. This barangay has a total land area of 0.540 square kilometer and predominantly residential. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 INTRODUCTION Barangay East Rembo is a barangay located in the Second District of Makati City. It is part of Cluster 5 or the Eastside Cluster along with barangays Comembo, Pembo and Rizal. It is purely a residential area and based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, East Rembo has a total of 26,433 population and percentage share of 1.76% versus the city’s population with an estimate of 5,287 households. By population density on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 55 per 1,000 square meters. REMBO is actually an acronym for Riverside Enlisted Men’s Barrio. Geographically, East Rembo lies at the heart of three barrios namely: West Rembo, Comembo and Pembo. These settlements were named after the special units of the Armed Forces of the geographical location within or around the Fort. Mater Dolorosa Parish lies in this barangay as its well known landmark. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 INTRODUCTION Barangay Cembo is situated along the Pasig River and belongs to the Second District of Makati City. It is under the North East Cluster or Cluster 6 with Guadalupe Viejo, West Rembo and Northside. Based on the 2010 Census of Population conducted by the National Statistics Office, Cembo has 27,998 total population and a percentage share of 5.3% versus the city’s population with an estimate of at least 5,600 households. By population density, on the other hand, considering its land area and population count, the barangay has 66 person per 1,000 square meters. This barangay has a total land area of 0.427 square kilometer and it is predominantly residential. Cembo Bliss and the New Building of Makati Science High School is located within Barangay Cembo. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/25/2016 01/25/2016 INTRODUCTION Barangay Bangkal is one of the seven (7) barangays comprising the Westside Cluster or Cluster 2 in the first district of Makati. It has a land area of 0.8759 square kilometers which occupies 3.2% of the City’s total land area. Based on the 2010 Census of population released by the National Statistics Office, Bangkal has 23,378 residents which is 4.4% share with the City’s population and a population density of 27 persons per 1,000 square meters. This barangay is bounded by Barangay Pio del Pilar in the north, Barangay Magallanes in the south, Barangay San Lorenzo in the east and Pasay City in the west. Bangkal is a predominantly commercial area because of the business establishments along the main thoroughfares like EDSA, South Superhighway and Evangelista St. where various automotive shops are situated. Bangkal is well-known for its thrift shops located in Hizon St. where second hand antique stores are situated. Each store seemed to carry collections of old, wooden furniture; intricately carved sculptures and lamps and other antique collections. HISTORY Barangay Bangkal derived its name from the tree called 'Bangkal'. The early inhabitants gave the name because during those times, Bangkal trees were in abundance. To give more significance to the site, the residents planted the tree as its boundary marker. It used to abound with entertainment establishments catering both the locals and foreigners. The residents, however, being devout Christians and law abiding citizens, wanted to get rid of the notoriety in their place. And their efforts proved to be a success as can be seen in the improvements that had been effected in the community. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/28/2015 06/28/2015 Tinikling dance is one of the most popular traditional Philippine dances. It originated during the Spanish colonial era and is danced to rondalla music, a sort of serenade played by an ensemble of stringed instruments which originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. The dance involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail species; the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like." The dance originated in Samar, an island in the Visayas in central Philippines, as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles. Legend says that Tinikling originated during the Spanish rule of the Philippines, when natives worked on large plantations under the control of the King of Spain. Those who didn't work productively were punished by standing between two bamboo poles. This however, is a mere legend and has no historical basis. For this traditional folk dance, females wear a dress called balintawak or patadyong, and males wear an untucked embroidered shirt called the barong tagalog. The balintawak are colorful dresses with wide arched sleeves and the patadyong is a pineapple fiber blouse paired with checkered skirts. The barong tagalog uniform is usually lightweight long sleeved shirts and worn with red trousers. Dancers wear no footwear while performing. Tinikling involves five steps; during the first four steps, the dancers dance opposite each other, and during the last step, they start from the same side of the poles. The bamboo is also used as a percussive instrument as it is banged against the ground (or a piece of wood to make it easier to hold) and each other in a pattern. The bamboo has to be closed hard enough to make a sound, and the dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As the dance continues, the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of the clashing bamboo and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers thrilling and awing the crowd. In the United States, this dance had been altered into a four-beat rhythm to adjust to popular music. In some cases, it has been used in conjunction with traditional Filipino martial arts to demonstrate fleetness of foot and flow of movement. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 National Capital Region Metro Manila, otherwise known as National Capital Region, is the center of Luzon and the capital region of the Philippines. Unlike the other 17 Philippine regions, NCR does not have any provinces. It is composed of 16 cities – namely the City of Manila itself, Caloocan, Las Pinas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Paranaque, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela – and the municipality of Pateros. Metro Manila is bounded by the Cordillera Mountains on the east, Laguna de Bay on the southeast, Central Luzon on the north and Southern Tagalog Region on the south. Metro Manila is composed of almost all the cultural groups of the Philippines. The primary language used is Tagalog with English as the secondary language. Metro Manila lies entirely within the tropics and because of its proximity to the equator, the temperature range is very small. It has a distinct, relatively short dry season from January through April and a long wet season from May through December. The region is considered as the political, economic, social, and cultural center of the Philippines and is one of the more modern metropolises in Southeast Asia. According to Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila is the Philippines’ seat of government but the City of Manila is the capital. The Malacanan Palace, the official office and residence of the President of the Philippines, and the buildings of the Supreme Court of the Philippines are based in Metro Manila. Metro Manila is the shopping center of the Philippines. Three “megamalls” are located in this region and these are SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM City North Edsa which is the 2nd largest mall in the world. Makati is regarded as the main central business district of Metro Manila while Ortigas City is the second most important business district in Metro Manila. Metro Manila is a place of economic extremes. Many high-income citizens live in exclusive communities such as Forbes Park in Makati and Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa. In contrast to these residences are the slums and illegal settlement scattered across the metropolitan area and are often found in vacant government land or in districts such as Tondo. Metro Manila is rich in historical landmarks and recreational areas. Located west of Metro Manila is the famous Rizal Park, also known as the Luneta Park. Rizal Park features the Rizal Monument, a statue of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Near Rizal Park is the 400-year-old Imperial City known as Intramuros, a walled domain which was once the seat of government during the Spanish Colonial Era and American Period. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Manila City Of Manila is a Philippine highly urbanized city in First District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to the Luzon group of islands. City Of Manila is the capital of the Philippines. Regarding urbanization City Of Manila is classified as urban. City Of Manila occupies an area of 24.98 km². By the end of 2007 City Of Manila was the home of 1,660,714 residents. Thus by average 66,481.75 people are living on one km². Among the bigger cities and municipalities in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Manila there are Caloocan City (Third District) 8 km north-west, Taguig City (Fourth District) 8 km east-south-east, Quezon City (Second District) 7 km north-north-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 16 km east, City Of Pasig(Second District) 7 km east, City Of Valenzuela (Third District) 13 km north-west, City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite) 32 km south, City Of Parañaque (Fourth District) 10 km south-south-west, City Of Las Piñas (Fourth District) 12 km south-south-west as well as 23 km south of City Of Manila the highly urbanized city City Of Muntinlupa (Fourth District). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 Quezon City Quezon City is a philippine highly urbanized city in Second District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to theLuzon group of islands. The highly urbanized city Quezon City is seated about 8 km north-east of Philippine main capital Manila. Quezon City is the former capital (1948-1976) and the most populous city in the Philippines. Its total population is 2,679,450 as of 2007 and has a total of 142 barangays. The city was named after Manuel L. Quezon, the former president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines who founded the city and developed it to replace Manila as the country’s capital. Quezon City is not located in Region IV and should not be confused with Quezon province, which was also named after the president. Quezon City is located in the island of Luzon. It is one of the cities and municipalities that make up the National Capital Region. Since it was the former capital, many government offices are located in Quezon City, including the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the seat of the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber in the Philippine Congress. The main campuses of two noteworthy universities, the Ateneo de Manila University and the country’s National University-the University of the Philippines Diliman-are located in the city. Quezon City is divided into a number of areas. The northern half of the city is called Novaliches and contains the areas of Fairview and Lagro while the southern portion of the city is divided into a number of places including Diliman, Commonwealth, the Project Areas, Cubao, Kamias, Kamuning, New Manila, San Francisco del Monte and Sta. Mesa Heights. Most of these areas are primarily residential in nature. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of Quezon City is subdivided into 142 barangays. The most populous are Mangga, Bayanihan, Quirino 3-A, Blue Ridge B, Damar, Dioquino Zobel, Blue Ridge A, Escopa II, Escopa IV,Old Capitol Site, Nayong Kanluran, Tagumpay, Saint Ignatius, Villa Maria Clara, Escopa I. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of Quezon City there are City Of Manila (First District) 7 km south-south-west, City Of Pasig 8 km south-south-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 14 km east-south-east, Caloocan City (Third District) 8 km west, City Of Valenzuela (Third District) 10 km west-north-west,Taguig City (Fourth District) 11 km south-south-east, City Of Muntinlupa (Fourth District) 29 km south, City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite) 39 km south-south-west, City Of Parañaque (Fourth District) 17 km south-south-west as well as 9 km south-south-west of Quezon City the highly urbanized city City Of Makati (Fourth District). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 Caloocan City Caloocan City is one of the cities and municipalities that comprise the National Capital Region of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located just north of the capital City of Manila, Caloocan City is a major residential area in Metro Manila. As of the 2007 census, the city’s population is 1,378,856 and it is third most populous city in the Philippines. Caloocan City has a total land area of 55.80 km² making it the 2nd largest city in Metro Manila in terms of land area. The City of Caloocan is divided into two separate areas. Southern Caloocan City lies directly north of the City of Manila while Northern Caloocan City, which is larger than its southern counterpart, is the northernmost territory of Metro Manila. Caloocan City is considered as a 1st class highly urbanized city with 188 barangays. The city uses “zone system” for its barangays, meaning the barangays uses numbers to identify the corresponding barangay. But some barangays, mostly in the northern area use names instead of numbers. Caloocan City has 16 zones. District 1 (North Caloocan) has the biggest zone. The largest barangay in the country, Barangay Bagong Silang or Barangay 176 in Zone 15 has a population of 221,874. Caloocan City has a broad network of roads and the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, popularly known as “EDSA”, is the most famous of these roads. The Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) has a terminal in the city. The train passes through Rizal Avenue Extension of Caloocan City, into the City of Manila and Pasay which only takes about 30 minutes. Going around the city is very convenient and affordable because of tricycles and jeepneys plying around the city. Metro Manila fares of a minimum of PHP 8.00 are applied. The most celebrated landmark in Caloocan City is the monument of Philippine revolutionary Andres Bonifacio located along EDSA and was erected in 1933 by national artist Guillermo Tolentino. The city hall of Caloocan is located on A. Mabini Avenue in the southern part of the city, across the street from San Roque Parish Cathedral. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of Caloocan City is subdivided into 188 barangays. The most populous are Barangay 76, Barangay 72, Barangay 26, Barangay 113, Barangay 62, Barangay 47, Barangay 136, Barangay 121, Barangay 106, Barangay 110, Barangay 92, Barangay 103, Barangay 79, Barangay 44,Barangay 48. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neighborhood of Caloocan City there are City Of Valenzuela 5 km north, Quezon City (Second District) 8 km east, City Of Manila (First District) 8 km south-south-east, Taguig City (Fourth District) 16 km south-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 22 km east-south-east, City Of Pasig (Second District) 14 km east-south-east, City Of Makati (Fourth District) 11 km south-east, City Of Parañaque (Fourth District) 16 km south, City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite) 38 km south as well as 18 km south of Caloocan City the highly urbanized city City Of Las Piñas (Fourth District From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Pasig City Of Pasig is a philippine highly urbanized city in Second District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to theLuzon group of islands. The highly urbanized city City Of Pasig is seated about 8 km east of Philippine main capital Manila. The City of Pasig is one of the cities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of the grouping of cities designated or as what we know now as the National Capital Region. Pasig is a highly urbanized city with a population of 617,301 as of 2007 and it occupies a total land area of 48.46 km². It is primarily residential and industrial but has been becoming increasingly commercial in recent years. The city is politically subdivided into 30 barangays, which are grouped into two districts for city council representation purposes. The first district is comprised of the southern and western sections of the city, and the second district is comprised of the northern and eastern sections. One of the oldest churches in Metro Manila, The Immaculate Conception Cathedral lies within the city. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Pasig is subdivided into 30 barangays. One forms the center of the city wheras the other 29 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the Highly Urbanized City. The most populous are Bagong Katipunan, Santa Rosa, San Nicolas (Pob.), San Jose, Santa Cruz, Oranbo, Sumilang, Malinao, Santo Tomas, Kapasigan, Sagad, Buting,Kapitolyo, San Antonio, San Joaquin. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Pasig there are City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 8 km east, Taguig City (Fourth District) 3 km south, Caloocan City (Third District) 14 km west-north-west,Quezon City 8 km north-west, City Of Manila (First District) 7 km west, City Of Valenzuela (Third District) 18 km north-west, City Of Muntinlupa (Fourth District) 22 km south, City Of Parañaque (Fourth District) 13 km south-west, City Of Makati (Fourth District) 5 km west-south-west as well as 33 km south-south-west of City Of Pasig the highly urbanized city City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 Taguig City Taguig City is a philippine highly urbanized city in Fourth District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to the Luzongroup of islands. Taguig is a city in Metro Manila in the National Capital Region in the Philippines. It is known as the "Emerging Supernova of the Philippines". Taguig City is an important residential, commercial and industrial center from a once thriving fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay. The recent construction of the C-5 highway and the acquisition of the Fort Bonifacio development area have paved the way for the cityhood of the municipality. It will also be accessed by the future C-6 Road. The city ranked first among Philippine cities in the Ease of Doing Business Index, conducted by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation. Makati City and Taguig have recently fought over the jurisdiction of Fort Bonifacio because the location of this Philippine military base lies in an uncertain area. The Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cementery for the Heroes) and the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, which is a portion of Fort Bonifacio, lies within Taguig, while the northern portion where the development center is now located used to be considered part of Makati. Taguig City however, gained jurisdiction over the whole Fort Bonifacio, including the Fort Bonifacio Global City on a 2003 ruling in the Pasig Regional Trial Court. Some notable landmarks of Taguig City are the Museo de Sta. Ana, a museum at the Shrine of St. Anne where artifacts are stored detailing the rich religious culture and history of Taguig since 1857; Dambanang Kawayan, a century old church in Tipas which is made of pure, native bamboo; Shrine of St. Anne, one of Philippines’ oldest churches built in 1587; Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a tribute to the heroes of Taguig during World War I at Fort Bonifacio; The Blue Mosque, a socio-civic and religious center for both Filipino and foreign Muslims in Maharlika Village; The Veteran’s Museum, a museum where war stories in life-sized tableaus are retold using all forms of art fused with high-end technology; Department of Science and Technology, a mini forest and eco-tourism park in Bicutan suitable for camping and bivouac activity; Camp Bagong Diwa, the camp located in lower Bicutan where NCRPO headquarters, prison complex and drug rehabilitation centers are located, and lastly, the Food Terminal Inc., the business center that has over 300 medium scale companies in food manufacturing, electronics, garments and service industries. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of Taguig City is subdivided into 28 barangays. The most populous are Central Bicutan, Fort Bonifacio, Katuparan, New Lower Bicutan, North Daan Hari, North Signal Village,Pinagsama, San Miguel, South Daan Hari, South Signal Village, Bambang, Ligid-Tipas, Tuktukan, Wawa,Palingon. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Valenzuela City Of Valenzuela is a philippine highly urbanized city in Third District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to the Luzon group of islands. Valenzuela, the “Vibrant City” and the “City of Discipline,” is now becoming one of the premiere business and industrial centers in Northern Metro Manila area. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Valenzuela is subdivided into 32 barangays. One forms the center of the city wheras the other 31 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the Highly Urbanized City. The most populous are Poblacion, Pulo, Bisig, Pariancillo Villa, Mabolo, Wawang Pulo, Tagalag, Isla, Palasan, Pasolo, Rincon, Arkong Bato, Balangkas, Coloong,Bagbaguin. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Valenzuela there are City Of Manila(First District) 13 km south-south-east, Taguig City (Fourth District) 20 km south-east, Quezon City (Second District) 10 km east-south-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 25 km east-south-east, City Of Pasig (Second District) 18 km south-east, Caloocan City 5 km south, City Of Makati (Fourth District) 16 km south-south-east, City Of Muntinlupa (Fourth District) 36 km south-south-east, City Of Las Piñas (Fourth District) 24 km south as well as 44 km south of City Of Valenzuela the highly urbanized city City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Parañaque is a philippine highly urbanized city in Fourth District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to theLuzon group of islands. The highly urbanized city City Of Parañaque is seated about 17-20 km south-south-west of Philippine main capital Manila. Parañaque is bordered on the north by Pasay, by Taguig to the northeast, Muntinlupa to the southeast, by Las Piñas to the southwest, and by Manila Bay to the west. It is about 17 to 20 kilometers away from the City of Manila. The city has a total population of 552,660 as of 2007. It occupies a total land area of 46.57 km² and this translates to a population density of 11,867.30 residents per square kilometre. The city is composed of two congressional districts and two legislative districts which are further subdivided into 16 barangays. When it comes to accessibility and transportation, Parañaque City is part of the Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) system—Baclaran Station—and the Philippine National Railway (PNR) system—Bicutan and Sucat station. The city is also included in the various routes of buses, FXs and shuttle services from Manila—either taking the route to Bicutan or Sucat area. The city can also be reached through the South Luzon Expressway and the Metro Manila Skyway, both exiting in Bicutan; the C-5 south extension and through Roxas Boulevard, exiting by the Coastal Road. Housing options vary in the city. After all, it is home to the well-off, the average and the one who just have enough for the day—home to the people from all walks of life. There are plenty of condominiums in the city, starting off with SMDC’s Chateau Elysee in Barangay Don Bosco, DMCI’s Artista Place in Barangay Sto. Niño and many others. Of course, there is also the choice of availing apartments and townhouses. There are private subdivisions such as BF Homes, Betterliving Subdivision and Multinational Village. There are also a couple of “sitios” in barangays Sto. Niño, San Martin de Porres, Baclaran, and others. The city is also home to various celebrities and known personalities namely Joey Marquez, Anjo Yllana, Ted Failon, Freddie Webb, Jason Webb, Andrew E., the late comedy king Dolphy and a whole lot more. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Parañaque is subdivided into 16 barangays. The most populous are Vitalez, La Huerta, Don Galo, Merville, San Martin De Porres, Tambo, Baclaran, Santo Niño,Marcelo Green Village, Sun Valley, Don Bosco, Moonwalk, San Antonio, San Dionisio, San Isidro. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Parañaque there are Quezon City(Second District) 17 km north-north-east, Taguig City 11 km east-north-east, City Of Manila (First District) 10 km north-north-east, Caloocan City (Third District) 16 km north, City Of Pasig (Second District) 13 km north-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 20 km east-north-east, City Of Makati 8 km north-north-east, City Of Dasmariñas(Cavite) 22 km south, City Of Muntinlupa From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Las Piñas City Of Las Piñas is a philippine highly urbanized city in Fourth District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to theLuzon group of islands. Las Piñas is a highly urbanized city in the Fourth District of the National Capital Region of the Philippines. The city is about 12 km south-southwest of Philippine capital, Manila. The City of Las Piñas occupies an area of 32.69 km² and as of 2007; the city has a population of 523,330. Thus by average 16,284 people are living on one square kilometer of the city. Las Piñas consists of three zones; Manila Bay, Coastal Margin and Guadalupe Plateau. The city is bisected by Real Street(Spanish for Royal), also known as the Alabang-Zapote Road, forming the Maharlika Highway which spans the whole country. It connects the South Luzon Expressway which passes through Muntinlupa City in the east to the Coastal Road along Manila Bay. The Coastal Road, despite its name, is a major tollway which runs the southern length of Metro Manila’s shoreline with Manila Bay. It is an important artery for people commuting to and from Las Pinas and Cavite to Manila. "Daang Hari" (Filipino for King’s Way) developed in 2004, was completed in the eastern part of Las Pinas City, connecting the neighbouring towns of Cavite, Muntinlupa City, Bacoor and San Pedro Laguna to the city. It is a popular route for cyclists, especially on weekends; it also allows residents to avoid heavy traffic in the Zapote and Alabang districts if they pass this route. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Las Piñas is subdivided into 20 barangays. The most populous are Ilaya, Pamplona Dos, Elias Aldana, Manuyo Uno, Daniel Fajardo, Pamplona Uno, Zapote, Talon Kuatro, Talon Tres, Manuyo Dos, Talon Uno, Almanza Uno, Pamplona Tres, Pilar, Pulang Lupa Dos. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Las Piñas there are City Of Manila(First District) 12 km north-north-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 22 km east-north-east, City Of Pasig (Second District) 15 km north-east, Caloocan City (Third District) 18 km north, Taguig City 13 km east-north-east,Quezon City (Second District) 19 km north-north-east, City Of Muntinlupa 13 km south-south-east, City Of Parañaque 2 km north-north-east, City Of Makati 10 km north-north-east as well as 20 km south of City Of Las Piñas the highly urbanized city City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Makati City Of Makati is a philippine highly urbanized city in the province Fourth District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to the Luzon group of islands. The highly urbanized city City Of Makati is seated about 3 km south-east of main capitalManila. Regarding urbanization City Of Makati is classified as urban. City Of Makati occupies an area of 21.57 km² and had 510,383 resi¬dents by the end of 2007. Thus by average 23,661.71 resi¬dents are living on one km². Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Makati is subdivided into 33 barangays. One forms the center of the city wheras the other 32 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the Highly Urbanized City. The most populous are Post Proper Northside, Carmona, Pinagkaisahan, Kasilawan, Santa Cruz, Singkamas, Urdaneta, Forbes Park, Valenzuela, San Isidro,Magallanes, La Paz, Dasmariñas, San Antonio, Guadalupe Viejo. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Makati there are Caloocan City (Third District) 11 km north-west, City Of Pasig (Second District) 5 km east-north-east, City Of Manila (First District) 3 km north-west, Quezon City (Second District) 9 km north-north-east, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 14 km east, Taguig City 5 km east-south-east, City Of Las Piñas 10 km south-south-west, City Of Muntinlupa20 km south, City Of Valenzuela (Third District) 16 km north-west as well as 30 km south-south-west of City Of Makati the highly urbanized city City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 City Of Muntinlupa City Of Muntinlupa is a philippine highly urbanized city in Fourth District in Region National Capital Region which be¬longs to theLuzon group of islands. The highly urbanized city City Of Muntinlupa is seated about 23 km south of Philippine main capital Manila. Muntinlupa City is the southernmost city in the National Capital Region which belongs to Luzon group of islands. It is setaed about 23 kilometers south of Manila, the Philippine capital. The city is bordered on the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Paranaque City; by Las Pinas to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor, Cavite; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake in the country. Muntinlupa City is classified as a highly urbanized city with a population of 452,943 residents and occupies a total land area of 39.75 km². The city is dubbed as the "Emerald City of the Philippines" by the tourism establishment. Muntinlupa is also home of the best commercial establishment in the metropolis and is also the location of one of the country’s biggest and most expensive residential communities, the Ayala Alabang Village, where many of the wealthy and famous live. In the 1900’s, the development boom of Barangay Alabang, underwent a tremendous growth, the product of this growth were the two large scale commercial real estate projects, the Filinvest Corporate City and Ayala Land’s Madrigal Business Park, that changed the landscape of Muntinlupa City from what was once vast fields of cow pasture in the late 1980’s, into a super city that houses new residential, business, industrial and commercial establishments. It was a transformation reminiscent of Makati City’s development boom some 30 years prior. Administratively the Highly Urbanized City of City Of Muntinlupa is subdivided into 9 barangays. One forms the center of the city wheras the other 8 are in the outlying areas. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the Highly Urbanized City. The most populous are Buli, New Alabang Village, Bayanan, Sucat,Tunasan, Alabang, Cupang, Poblacion, Putatan. Among the bigger cities and muni¬ci¬pa¬li¬ties in the neigh¬bor¬hood of City Of Muntinlupa there are Caloocan City(Third District) 30 km north-west, City Of Antipolo (Rizal) 25 km north-north-east, City Of Pasig (Second District) 22 km north, City Of Manila (First District) 23 km north, Taguig City 18 km north-north-east, Quezon City (Second District) 29 km north, City Of Makati 20 km north, City Of Dasmariñas (Cavite) 12 km south-west,City Of Las Piñas 13 km north-west as well as 14 km north-west of City Of Muntinlupa the highly urbanized city City Of Parañaque. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 CITY OF MALABON Situated in the Northern Sector of Mega Manila, the thriving City is bounded on the North by the City of Valenzuela, on the West and Southwest by the City of Navotas, and on the East and Southeast by Caloocan City. The City of Malabon is a traditional fishing village traversed and divided by a once navigable river system that, in the past centuries, reached the upstream provinces of Bulacan and eastward localities of the National Capital Region. The 1980s’ reclamation project for residential areas consumed most of the local fishpond areas. This period also introduced more diversity in commerce and industry. Withstanding time and the toll of change and progress, the new City still retains its reputation as a fish-trading center of the metropolis; such that, the time-honored “bulungan” and other activities in numerous “consignacion” dotting the riversides render the midnight and early dawns as festive and hyper-trading hours. Malabon’s enduring image is its proximity to the bounty of the sea. This image is made even more aqueous by the presence of three major rivers (Malabon, Tinajeros and Tullahan Rivers) that traverse the City. Its geographical location, which is the downstream or end line of the North Metro’s river system makes the river system doubly prone to water pollution. Thus, multi-sectoral approach is the preferred strategy of the incumbent administration to address the daunting challenge of cleaning up and revitalization of the city’s river system. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 CITY OF MANDALUYONG Mandaluyong, the heart of the “Golden Triangle” (Manila, Makati, and Quezon City), has finally emerged as a veritable boom city. It is one of the leading business and industrial centers in the country today, the “New Tiger” of Metro Manila, which made an unprecedented giant leap to progress. A popular landmark of Mandaluyong is the EDSA Shrine. Located along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or EDSA, the shrine serves as a monument to the Virgin Mary, considered to be the protector of those who participated in the People Power Revolution of 1986, the country’s first peaceful and bloodless revolution, which led to the downfall of the corrupt regime under President Ferdinand Marcos. What used to be a swampy, stagnating town is now the haven of industrial giants and business conglomerates. The astonishing growth of Mandaluyong gained headway because its local and foreign investors hone a conducive climate for capital growth. The city today boasts top-class amenities, from deluxe hotels and commercial centers to high-rise offices and residential condominiums. GEOGRAPHY Mandaluyong lies on a heart-shaped 26 sq. km. of land, 7 km. southeast of Manila and 8 km. west of Pasig. To the south lies Makati, to the northwest, San Juan, and to the northeast, Quezon City. Thus, Mandaluyong is located at the very center of Metro Manila. With this geographical advantage, it has in recent years emerged as a veritable boomtown, the leading business and industrial mecca of the country. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 CITY OF MARIKINA Marikina (/mərɪˈkɪnə/), officially the City of Marikina (Filipino: Lungsod ng Marikina), located on the island ofLuzon in the Philippines, is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. Marikina became the capital of the Province of Manila from 1898 to 1899. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 424,150. Marikina was given the title Shoe Capital of the Philippines because of its notable shoe industry, being the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoes manufactured in the country. The Philippine International Footwear Center is located here where top quality shoes can be found. The Shoe Museum houses part of the famous shoe collection of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, shoes of some of the world leaders and celebrities and shoes of different countries, making it the world's largest collection of pairs of shoes in a museum. Marikina is the main gateway of Metro Manila to Rizal Province as well as Quezon Province. It is one of the most awarded metropolitan cities in the Philippines, including the prestigious "Most Competitive Cities in the Philippines" awarded by the National Competitiveness Council in 2003 and 2005. Marikina remains in top 10 Philippine rankings, and ranking number one in Metro Manila for many years. A formerly rural settlement, Marikina is primarily residential and industrial, the city rapidly transformed into a highly urbanized and one of the wealthiest local government units in the Philippines. It is also home of some of high-end communities in Metro Manila, such as Loyola Grand Villas, Provident Villages and gated communities in Barangay Industrial Valley where many of the wealthy and famous live. From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 CITY OF PASAY In terms of area, Pasay City is the third smallest political subdivision in the National Capital Region. It is adjacent to the City of Manila and is bounded to the south Parañaque, to the northeast by Makati and Taguig and to the west in Manila Bay. The city is located at latitude 14º 32' and longitude 121º 00'. The City has a total land area of 18.50 square kilometers of which 5.5050 square kilometer is the City proper, 9.5 square kilometers is being occupied by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) complex, which include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Villamor Air Base and the rest of the reclamation area with 4.00 square kilometers. Thus, among the local government in the region, Pasay has the greater area devoted to utilities covering 51.35% of its total land area or 9.50 square kilometers. The City is known for its entertainment - business-restaurants, coffee shops, and clubs, particularly those located along Roxas Boulevard, facing Manila Bay. A large part of Metro Manila's "tourist belt" is located in the City. Pasay is composed of seven (7) districts, divided into twenty (20) Zones, with a total of 200 Barangays. Zone 19, Covering Barangays 178 and 191 is the largest among the zones with an area of 5.10 square kilometers. Zone 1, on the other hand, is the smallest covering Barangays 1 to 3 and 14 to 17 with an area of 100,000 square meters (0.1 sq. km.). From: ADMIN Posted on: 06/21/2015 06/21/2015 CITY OF SAN JUAN SAN JUAN CITY is a HISTORIC CITY right in the heart of Metro Manila. It is geographically small but very big in terms of cultural significance, social prominence, economic progress and tourism potentials. San Juan is located at the very core of the metropolis. It only has a land area of 5.94 square kilometers, which accounts for a less than one percent of the total land area of National Capital Region, the urban center of the country. Its size has become an advantage because it is easier to manage and govern. It is bounded by Quezon City to the North and East, Mandaluyong City to the South and Manila to the West. This heart-shaped city has a total population of more than 200,000 presently. There is more to San Juan than its colorful political and cultural history. The city has improved considerably all these years and merit must be given to the local government's constant effort to address the fundamental economic, social and political concerns, especially the enforcement of laws and anti-crime campaigns, to make it better and safer place to live and to do business. San Juan is officially named, Municipality of San Juan del Monte before it was converted into a highly urbanized City of San Juan on June 17, 2007. It is located nearly in the center of Metro Manila; bordered by Quezon City to the north and east, Mandaluyong City to the south, and Manila to the west. It is the second smallest among the cities and municipalities in the metropolis. It is a small, congested city and one of the smallest political subdivisions of the metropolis. It has a total land area of 5.94 sq. kms., that accounts for less than one percent of the total area of the National Capital Region. It has a population of 204,382 as of the year 2006. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bamboo Fence Magallanes Village Magallanes Village is a modern community in Makati which boasts a serene and homey neighborhood, despite its central location in the city. It features three well-maintained parks, a multi-purpose gymnasium and two tennis courts. It has its own security force, maintenance crew, a private contractor to collect garbage and a medical and dental clinic run by Barangay Magallanes. Just outside the village perimeter is Paseo de Magallanes Commercial Center which has a supermarket, dining and service establishments, and banks, among others. A few minutes away are the Makati Central Business District, schools, the international and domestic airport and places of worships for most religions. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bamboo Fence at Ayala Alabang Village Ayala Alabang Village offers the conveniences of modern living outside the busy streets of the city. The village's total area measures 694 hectares, and residential population is approximately 40,000.Found around the area is the Ayala Alabang Country Club, which is a developed sports clubs as it is the first in the country to combine the features of a golf club, a polo club and a sports club. It is said that it is the biggest and most complete sports complex in Southeast Asia. The Alabang Riding School is also established for people who wish to avail of its equestrian facilities. It is one of handful of schools of its kind in the country and was inaugurated and blessed on December 11, 1980.Exclusive schools like PAREF Woodrose School, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, The Learning Child, Institute for Child Advancement, and the Montessori School, and churches such as the St. Susana Parish, St. James the Great Parish, and St. Jerome Chapel can also be found inside the village.The village also has the Alabang Commercial Center, which is managed by Alabang Commercial Corporation. It occupies an area of 17.85 hectares and is the biggest planned commercial center complex in the southernmost reaches of Metro Manila. Its first phase was opened to the public on May 30, 1982 to cater to the shopping needs of the residents in and around the village. It consists of a supermarket/department store, a drugstore, beauty salon, an optical clinic, a bookstore, a bakeshop, a laundry and dry cleaning shop and various food outlets.The employee housing project, which is in the process of completion, for the Ayala Group of Companies is Ayala’ s social experiment in an attempt to create an egalitarian community where people of both high and low income levels share the same facilities and services. The architecture is similar to those of the west Mediterranean villages where houses are covered with red brick-tile Tegula roofs and white walls.The Barangay Hall and the community/neighborhood centers fill the need of residents for an assembly place to plan and discuss matters that are of interest to the community. The Barangay office, formerly located at the Multi-Purpose Hall along Palawan Street, is now located at the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) Community Center (back of AAVA office) on Narra Street. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bamboo Fence at San Lorenzo Village San Lorenzo Village is one of the pioneer gated communities in Makati City which was developed in the 1950s. Through the years, it has built an outstanding reputation as a well-off, well-maintained, and friendly neighborhood offering a taste of excellent quality life in the city. It has strict 24-hour security checkpoints, a playground, an association building, tennis courts and several nursery schools. An all-female school called the Assumption College is located within the village, but all of Metro Manila's international schools have pick-up points within the village. Located within the CBD, it is nearby various national and multi-national corporations. Its perimeters run along EDSA, Amorsolo St., and Pasay Road. The village is very close to both Makati Cinema Square and the Greenbelt Complex, one of Metro Manila's renowned commercial establishments. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bamboo Fence at JOYA LOFTS AND TOWERS Joya Lofts and Towers is a modern, unique and innovative concept. Consisting of two yin-yang shaped high-rise residential towers, Architects W. V. Coscolluela and Associates are responsible for the sheer elegance and beauty of these high-rise condominiums inspired by the Santana Row in San Francisco, California. Three masters are behind the artful interiors: Guillermo J. Valdez of California, Arlen P. De Guzman Design Associates and Erfe & Associates. Located at the exclusive and welcoming community of the Rockwell Center, Joya Lofts and Towers is a stone’s throw away from the Power Plant Mall and minutes away from the Makati Central Business District and other major business districts such as Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas. Exclusive residential villages Dasmarinas Village and Forbes Park are also within close proximity. Rockwell’s Joya Lofts and Towers continued to introduce innovations in the market as it has pioneered loft living in the country. Joya also offers all the recreation you want, with its swimming pools in tropical landscape setting, garden and playground which provide a breathtaking view for the podium units. Not to mention a fully equipped gym and spa services for your enjoyment and relaxation. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bamboo Fence at San Lorenzo Village San Lorenzo Village is one of the pioneer gated communities in Makati City which was developed in the 1950s. Through the years, it has built an outstanding reputation as a well-off, well-maintained, and friendly neighborhood offering a taste of excellent quality life in the city. It has strict 24-hour security checkpoints, a playground, an association building, tennis courts and several nursery schools. An all-female school called the Assumption College is located within the village, but all of Metro Manila's international schools have pick-up points within the village. Located within the CBD, it is nearby various national and multi-national corporations. Its perimeters run along EDSA, Amorsolo St., and Pasay Road. The village is very close to both Makati Cinema Square and the Greenbelt Complex, one of Metro Manila's renowned commercial establishments. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 The Gramercy Residences is the Philippines' first fully-furnished, fully-serviced, hyper-amenitized and fully-technologized condominium - a New York-inspired luxury tower of unmatched grace and elegance. Developed by Century Properties and based on a design collaboration between top Filipino architectural firm Roger Villarosa Architects & Associates and the world-famous Jerde Partnership, it rises a magnificent 71 stories into the sky. The Gramercy offers a number of remarkable amenities including top-storey restaurants, bars, entertainment and well-being facilities, secure units, exclusive internet and telecommunications solutions, as well as grand and unparalleled views of Makati City. Its magnificent exterior is illuminated in the evening with lights by internationally-acclaimed lighting consultant Tino Kwan. The Gramercy Residences is located within the former location of the 4.8-hectare International School Manila, of which 3.4 hectares was sold to Century Properties Corporation (the remaining was sold to Picar Development) in a bidding by the Philippine government in 2007. Situated along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati Poblacion, it is just a block away from the busy entertainment area along Makati Avenue. It is also about a few blocks away from the Makati Central Business District, the capital's financial hub.[2] From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Essensa is one of the premier high-rise residential condominiums in Metro Manila. The graceful concave buildings resembling butterfly wings is a mastery of aesthetics with a generous layout of 236 luxury residential suites. Essensa has a business center, a fitness center, helipad, an indoor heated lap pool, and four levels of underground car park, private dining facilities and a poolside gazebo. all of which offer first class hotel service which including a 24 hour concierge and elevator attendant. These twin 116-unit luxury condominium apartment towers project were undertaken to create luxury residential estate in the Fort Bonifacio Development Area. The complex is located on a gateway site adjacent to the exclusive Forbes Park Residential district and the neighboring Manila Golf and Polo Clubs. Unobstructed views, while embracing the lush private gardens at their base, Essensa retains nearly 70% of its site for landscape and open space. The scale and character of the carefully detailed windows is distinctly residential and draws from the elegant Antillan style of Manila's past. Enhanced by the traditions of place, Essensa's dramatic towers, ornamented by nature, achieve a distinctive image and unique identity in the 21st-century city growing up around it. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Dasmariñas Village or simply Dasma, is a private subdivision and gated community in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It occupies 187.21 hectares and is bounded byEpifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to the north, McKinley Road to the northeast, Pili Avenue/Forbes Park South to the east, Maricaban Creek to the south, and Ecology Village to the west. Politically, it is roughly coterminous with Barangay Dasmariñas. According to the 2007 census, it is inhabited by 9,173 people. The village is managed by the Dasmariñas Village Association (DVA), whose current president is Carlos P. Gatmaitan. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Forbes Park, also known simply as Forbes, is a private subdivision and gated community in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Established in the 1940s, Forbes Park was named after William Cameron Forbes, an American Governor-General of the Philippines. It is divided into Forbes Park North and Forbes Park South by McKinley Road and is bounded roughly by Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to the northwest, Bonifacio Global City to the east, the Maricaban Creek to the south and southeast, and Acacia Avenue/Dasmariñas Village to the west. One of the first villages to be developed by Ayala Corporation, Forbes Park is home to Manila Golf and Country Club and Manila Polo Club. It is also well known for housing some of the country's wealthiest families and prominent expatriates, including the ambassador of the United States, the ambassador of Japan, the ambassador of France, the ambassador of Spain, the ambassador of the United Kingdom and the ambassador of Kuwait. The average home price in this exclusive neighborhood is upwards of US$5,000,000. Forbes Park, together with Dasmariñas Village, et al. form the Makati Inter-Village Association headed by Dasmariñas Village Association (DVA) President Raymund Bryan O. Manaloto. The Santuario de San Antonio, a Franciscan church, and San Antonio Plaza, a small commercial center, lie between North and South Forbes Park. Meanwhile, the Church of the Holy Trinity, an Anglican-Episcopal Pro-cathedral, is just across the street. From: ADMIN Posted on: 05/31/2015 05/31/2015 Bel-Air Village is a private residential community in Makati City that consists of four developed phases called Bel-Air 1, 2, 3 and 4 and is managed by the Bel-Air Village Association. It hosts a clinic, post office extension, fitness gym, and two function rooms for the use of village residents. Gym membership is also open to residents. Two covered badminton and basketball courts are located at the parks on Juno and Hercules Streets in Bel-Air II as well as on Solar Street in Bel-Air III. The village perimeters run along EDSA, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Nicanor Garcia and Kalayaan Avenue. Between Bel-air Village 1 and 2 is Makati Avenue. Bel-Air Village is conveniently close to schools in the area as well as commercial establishments such as Rockwell Center's Power Plant Mall and Greenbelt shopping malls. Due to its exclusivity, Bel-Air Village is home to many expatriates and urban professionals. From: ADMIN Posted on: 01/04/2015 01/04/2015 The Bamboo in Construction & Interior Design Bamboo has become a popular furniture and decor material. Bamboo products are more commonly used in Asia but have recently been gaining great momentum in the American and European markets. Bamboos have many notable advantages over other hardwood counterparts. They are renewable and low maintenance. Bamboo is a woody grass variety so they grow a lot faster; the fastest growing woody plant in the world. Also, bamboos are hard, yet they can also be flexible but still maintain their durable property. They are also lightweight and water-resistant, so bamboo panels and furniture are safe from wood warping or the deformation of wood after being soaked in water. Having all these great characteristics, bamboo has been used in many ways for construction and design purposes. Bamboo furniture and wood panels are getting more acknowledged by builders and interior decorators today.Bamboo can be made into wood panels that are usable for flooring, wall and practically any part of a structure that you’d wish to put it. Aside from being a durable building material, bamboo can also be used to make many exceptional decorative pieces. Bamboo shades/blinds are popular design ideas, mixed with bamboo shoji divider, which will surely give an Asian touch in your room.Bamboo is a very versatile material. Aside from the above decor ideas, bamboo has a place in every room of your home. They make great living room sets; bamboo chairs and sofas are popular in the Philippines. They can even be upholstered to make them a lot comfier.In the bedroom, bamboo-made bed called “papag” is very commonly used in the Philippines. Lying on this type of bed is very practical since this furnishing is “breathable”, suited for the very hot climate of the country. But modern variations of this papag have been made, making the papag as a bed frame, putting a comfy mattress on top of it. This type of bed design gives the bedroom a tropical island vacation touch. Since bamboo is water-resistant, you would not worry about having damage in the quality of the bamboo wood. Bamboo is a multi-purpose hardwood alternative. Though it is lightweight, it is still assured to be tough and tensile, and is even water-resistant. Many have reaped the benefits of this wonderful wood material. Maybe it is time that many more ride this bamboo wave. From: ADMIN Posted on: 12/09/2014 12/09/2014 The Benefits of Bamboo When Used As a Fencing System: There are many benefits to bamboo when used as a fencing system that provides privacy as well as the decorative purposes for residential and commercial applications; they include the following: • Enhances the overall appearance of your yard with its natural appeal • Provides privacy on your property as a fence system or screening system • It is very durable and versatile to use in residential landscaping • Very affordable when compared to other decorative fence systems • Hides the presence of unattractive fences to provide new dimension to your yard that has style and character • It’s all weather tolerant • Does not attract termites or any other pests • Available in various bamboo types • Available in several natural shades and tones • It is a strong natural material So if you are considering a bamboo fence system for your property, all the benefits of this tremendous material should tempt you to select it as it is regarded as the most environmentally and sustainable wood that mother nature has created. From: ADMIN Posted on: 12/09/2014 12/09/2014 Bamboo has many decorative and functional purposes uses in residential landscaping. A bamboo fence has so much to offer for residential landscaping with its many attributes which includes its natural presentation, its strength, its durability, its versatility and long lasting benefits when used as a fencing system or a screening system on your property. Most home owners relate bamboo only for Oriental style gardens, but that’s not true, as your garden style does not have to be traditional Japanese or an Asian style garden to use this wonderful natural material. You can simply combine and highlight a bamboo fence system to any modern, contemporary or traditional landscape garden design that will transform your yard and adds a new dimension beautifully with the rest of your landscaping style and design. If you have a fence on your property that is sturdy but looks unattractive, you should consider a bamboo fence that hides the unforeseeable fence system you have in place as it will have an amazing visual appeal in terms of enhancement, style and character to complement the rest of your garden tastefully and gracefully without spending thousands of pesos replacing your old fence. This type of fence will provide your property privacy so when your spending time outdoors, you know there is no peeping from your neighbors and they’re not watching your every move. From: ADMIN Posted on: 12/08/2014 12/08/2014 Bamboo fencing is often a good choice for those who want privacy in their yard while still maintaining a natural look. It is durable, as it is grass rather than wood, and known for being stronger than steel in some ways. It is also sustainable, as bamboo is known for growing quickly, which means that harvesting this plant is actually considered eco-friendly. Aside from the fact that bamboo fencing is considered fine for the environment, it is also stronger than traditional wooden fencing because it is a grass, not a wood. In fact, its tensile strength is considered stronger than steel, as it can be stretched and pulled quite a bit without breaking. Additionally, this material contains silica, which allows it to withstand damage from termites and rotting over time. Many people also like the fact that bamboo fencing is lightweight, making it easier to move and manage than traditional fence materials. From: ADMIN Posted on: 08/18/2014 08/18/2014 First Philippine Bamboo Flag Museum unveiled, aims to celebrate Filipino resiliency Resiliency. It’s a Filipino quality that has made him a survivor of war, political upheavals, and even environmental disasters. It’s also the inspiration behind a unique museum built from bamboo to symbolize the trait. On June 11, the first Philippine Bamboo Flag Museum was launched at the Ayala Triangle in Makati as part of the city's celebration of the 115th Philippine Independence Day. The event was led by Ayala Land under its Make It Makati: Make It Happen campaign. The museum, which stands five feet tall and occupying 50 square-meters of the Ayala Triangle, was built using bamboo, a material known to be sturdy and versatile, and a familiar symbol of Filipino resiliency. The Bamboo Flag Museum is a walk-through museum with a gigantic Philippine flag made from bamboo sticks placed together as a facade. As you go inside, a gallery exhibit entitled, "Grass: Routes of a Nation" is on view. One can take a peek at the history of the Philippines through the images and vignettes showcased inside the museum. Musical instruments, which visitors can touch and play with, are also displayed inside. Some of the panels inside the exhibit provide trivia about bamboo. Meanwhile, apart from the exhibit, Filipino artistry was also highlighted during the unveiling of the museum. Banda Kawayan, a group of university students, performed classical and native tunes using their bamboo musical instruments. Another art and culture organization, the Palihang Hagonoy, performed traditional dances such as tinikling and singkil, and demonstrated the Palo Sebo (bamboo pole) dance. They also serenaded the audience with a Waray folk song entitled, "Lawiswis Kawayan. From: ADMIN Posted on: 08/18/2014 08/18/2014 TUGUEGARAO CITY—The hottest place in the country has mounted the first-ever fire-themed festival. Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano said making fire the theme of the weeklong Pav-vurulun (Ybanag for “get-together”) celebration served as a symbol for the people’s “burning desire for change” by turning back to its long history and culture. “This is our way of giving importance to fire as an element of life and how it has shaped our city and our citizens, both literally and figuratively,” the mayor said. Soriano was referring to a historical account that the name Tuguegarao was coined from the Ybanag word “tuggui” or fire. Stories say the place where the city center now stands was once “a wilderness that was cleared by fire” through “kaingin” (slash and burn farming). It is also an allusion to great fires that have engulfed the town center since the 1500s. “We hope that with this festivity, we will establish our own cultural identity as a people of northern Luzon, especially so that Tuguegarao City is not only the capital of Cagayan but also the face of the entire Cagayan Valley as its regional center,” Soriano said. For years, Tuguegarao has been cited for having the hottest average temperature and the highest temperature in the country’s history (42.2 degrees Celsius on May 11, 1969). This year’s Pav-vurulun Festival honors the city’s patron, St. Hyacinth, whose feast day falls on Aug. 16. “This event is centered on spiritual thanksgiving because for the past year, our city has been spared from major natural calamities,” said Soriano, the event’s overall chair. A highlight of the celebration, Soriano said, was the lighting of bamboo torches by 3,100 college students from Cagayan State University early evening on Aug. 8 as part of the kick-off activities. “This can set a world record in the coming years because based on our research, the current record [for torch lighting] was [made] by 2,000 people,” Soriano said. Organizers used citronella oil instead of kerosene to ignite the torches as a safety precaution. With the City Hall grounds in Barangay (village) Carig now being used as the center for most activities, this year’s festivity was a new experience for Tuguegarao residents like Miguel Pamittan, who is used to witnessing the annual Pav-vurulun activities at the city’s center. “The venue is now more spacious and can easily accommodate thousands of Tuguegarao residents and visitors without the usual hassles of traffic congestion. It also provides good vantage points for the audience,” he said. Aside from the torch lighting, revelers also witnessed the traditional boat race along 500 meters of Pinacanauan River and the “parade of bounties” that features the products of 49 villages in Tuguegarao. From: ADMIN Posted on: 08/12/2014 08/12/2014 Here's our new High Quality Bamboo fence applicable to any outdoor design structures.	i don't know
What 1986 disaster caused pollution across Europe by the radioactive isotope caesium-137, which at least 25 years later still required livestock to be scanned on some UK upland farms?	Chernobyl, 25 years on: cash plea for new roof to contain deadly remains \| Environment \| The Guardian Chernobyl, 25 years on: cash plea for new roof to contain deadly remains Britain urged to contribute £43m of £640m cost as Ukraine marks anniversary of world's worst nuclear accident A visitor walks through the control centre of the damaged fourth reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters Sunday 27 February 2011 12.53 EST First published on Sunday 27 February 2011 12.53 EST Close This article is 5 years old Britain is coming under increasing pressure to provide Ukraine with an extra €50m (£43m) to construct a new contamination shield over the top of the stricken Chernobyl nuclear plant before the old one collapses. Officials from the European commission said governments around the world were being urged to find €750m to help build a more sophisticated roof over the burnt-out reactor and storage for 200 tonnes of highly radioactive fuel. Jean-Paul Joulia, from the commission's nuclear safety unit, admitted the cost of just this aspect of the Chernobyl clean-up was running at €1.5bn – double the original estimate – partly due to "some delays" to some projects. But he said he was confident that foreign governments would stump up the money needed for the shield, even in today's financially difficult climate. "I am optimistic the international community is committed to this. It is important for a number of reasons," he said. The disaster at Chernobyl, on 26 April 1986, is recognised as the world's worst nuclear accident. One of the power station's reactors exploded and the subsequent fire spewed a radioactive cloud across Europe . The accident claimed the lives directly of at least 50 people, mainly fire crews and nuclear workers who tried to fight the fire on the fateful night. Radioactive fallout is believed to have caused many other deaths from thyroid cancer and related illnesses, with an eventual death toll estimated at anywhere between 4,000 and 200,000. The disaster also triggered the relocation of tens of thousands of local people, some of whom have never been allowed back to the contaminated towns. The accident and its aftermath have resonance currently as new nuclear plants are being planned in Britain and other parts of Europe. Nuclear power was heavily discredited for some time after Chernobyl because the accident pointed to the enormous dangers associated with it. Ukraine and foreign contributors have already spent more than €750m trying to make safe the nuclear plant. The UK has so far provided €53.1m to help build the new shield and is under pressure to stump up a further €50m, although Ukrainian sources said no money had yet been promised. With the 25th anniversary approaching, the European commission is encouraging governments to make public new cash commitments in advance of a "pledging" conference scheduled for one week before the April anniversary. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has been overseeing the spending of the money at Chernobyl, admitted squeezing out more money at this time was a "big challenge". Vince Novak, a director of the nuclear safety department of the EBRD in London, said the design life of the temporary shield thrown up by the-then Soviet Union in the immediate aftermath of the accident in 1986 "runs out" in 2016. A new moveable barrier would be one of the world's biggest engineering feats due to its size and innovative features. The work will be done by a consortium involving Bechtel, the US firm which has worked on the London Underground and the Channel tunnel. The current shield has been propped up by a series of new steel columns but experts working on the project accept that the structure is barely adequate and needs replacing as quickly as possible. The barrier is sitting over the top of what remains of a deeply radioactive reactor core, but also covers the vast bulk of the fuel from the plant which has seeped into the concrete floor. A new permanent shield would prevent rain from getting into the old plant but also allow more work to be carried out on dismantling the remains of the equipment and the fuel without creating more escapes of hazardous dust and particles. Fallout over UK Nuclear workers in Sweden were the first to detect the radioactive material that was thrown into the atmosphere from Chernobyl. The fallout from the accident in the early hours of 26 April 1986 crossed over Europe, and deposited the radioactive isotope caesium-137 in mainly upland areas of Wales, Scotland and England. The disaster, which released at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, forced the government to put 9,700 farms and 4.2 million sheep under restriction across the UK. Restrictions were lifted in Northern Ireland in 2000. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed yesterday that the last time the government updated the public on the restrictions was in 2009 when the then health minister Dawn Primarolo revealed 369 farms and 190,000 sheep were still affected. Of those farms, 355 are in north Wales, with nine in Cumbria and seven in Scotland. Farmers in these areas must have their livestock scanned before they are able to move them.	Chernobyl
The liqueur sambuca originates from which European country?	Radiation effects from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster Advertising Radiation effects from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster , the worst nuclear incident in 25 years, displaced 50,000 households after radioactive material leaked into the air, soil and sea. [1] Radiation checks led to bans on some shipments of vegetables and fish. [2] Map of contaminated areas around the plant (22 March – 3 April). Fukushima dose rate comparison to other incidents and standards, with graph of recorded radiation levels and specific accident events from 11 to 30 March. Radiation hotspot in Kashiwa, February 2012. The radiation effects from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster are the observed and predicted effects resulting from the release of radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . Radioactive isotopes were released from reactor containment vessels as a result of venting to reduce gaseous pressure, and the discharge of coolant water into the sea. This resulted in Japanese authorities implementing a 20 km exclusion zone around the power plant, and the continued displacement of approximately 156,000 people as of early 2013. [3] Trace quantities of radioactive particles from the incident, including iodine-131 and caesium-134 / 137 , have since been detected around the world. [4] [5] [6] The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that estimates an increase in risk for specific cancers for certain subsets of the population inside the Fukushima Prefecture. A 2013 WHO report predicts that for populations living in the most affected areas there is a 70% higher risk of developing thyroid cancer for girls exposed as infants (the risk has risen from a lifetime risk of 0.75% to 1.25%), a 7% higher risk of leukemia in males exposed as infants, a 6% higher risk of breast cancer in females exposed as infants and a 4% higher risk, overall, of developing solid cancers for females. [7] [8] Preliminary dose-estimation reports by WHO and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) indicate that, outside the geographical areas most affected by radiation, even in locations within Fukushima prefecture, the predicted risks remain low and no observable increases in cancer above natural variation in baseline rates are anticipated. [9] In comparison, after the Chernobyl accident, only 0.1% of the 110,000 cleanup workers surveyed have so far developed leukemia, although not all cases resulted from the accident. [10] [11] [12] However, 167 Fukushima plant workers received radiation doses that slightly elevate their risk of developing cancer. [11] [13] [14] Estimated effective doses from the accident outside of Japan are considered to be below, or far below the dose levels regarded as very small by the international radiological protection community. [15] The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation is expected to release a final report on the effects of radiation exposure from the accident by the end of 2013. [14] A June 2012 Stanford University study estimated, using a linear no-threshold model , that the radioactivity release from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant could cause 130 deaths from cancer globally (the lower bound for the estimate being 15 and the upper bound 1100) and 199 cancer cases in total (the lower bound being 24 and the upper bound 1800), most of which are estimated to occur in Japan. Radiation exposure to workers at the plant was projected to result in 2 to 12 deaths. [16] However, a December 2012 UNSCEAR statement to the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety advised that because of the great uncertainties in risk estimates at very low doses, UNSCEAR does not recommend multiplying very low doses by large numbers of individuals to estimate numbers of radiation-induced health effects within a population exposed to incremental doses at levels equivalent to or lower than natural background levels.” [17] Contents 13 External links Health effects Preliminary dose-estimation reports by the World Health Organization and United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation indicate that 167 plant workers received radiation doses that slightly elevate their risk of developing cancer, however like the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that it may not be statistically detectable. [12] After the Chernobyl accident, only 0.1% of the 110,000 cleanup workers surveyed have so far developed leukemia, although not all cases resulted from the accident [11] [13] [14] Estimated effective doses from the accident outside Japan are considered to be below (or far below) the dose levels regarded as very small by the international radiological protection community. [13] According to the Japanese Government, 180,592 people in the general population were screened in March 2011 for radiation exposure and no case was found which affects health. [18] Thirty workers conducting operations at the plant had exposure levels greater than 100 mSv. [19] It is believed that the health effects of the radioactivity release are primarily psychological rather than physical effects. Even in the most severely affected areas, radiation doses never reached more than a quarter of the radiation dose linked to an increase in cancer risk. (25 mSv whereas 100 mSv has been linked to an increase in cancer rates among victims at Hiroshima and Nagasaki) However, people who have been evacuated have suffered from depression and other mental health effects. [3] While there were no deaths caused by radiation exposure, approximately 18,500 people died due to the earthquake and tsunami. Very few cancers would be expected as a result of the very low radiation doses received by the public. [20] Stanford University professor Mark Z. Jacobson and his colleague John Ten Hoeve suggest that according to the linear no-threshold model (LNT model) the accident is most likely to cause an eventual total of 130 cancer deaths. [21] [22] Radiation epidemiologist Roy Shore contends that estimating health effects in a population from the LNT model “is not wise because of the uncertainties”. [23] The LNT model did not accurately model casualties from Chernobyl, Hiroshima or Nagasaki; it greatly overestimated the casualties. Evidence that the LNT model is a gross distortion of damage from radiation has existed since 1946, and was suppressed by Nobel Prize winner Hermann Muller in favour of assertions that no amount of radiation is safe. [24] [25] [26] In 2013 (two years after the incident), the World Health Organization indicated that the residents of the area who were evacuated were exposed to so little radiation that radiation induced health impacts are likely to be below detectable levels. [27] The health risks in the WHO assessment attributable to the Fukushima radioactivity release were calculated by largely applying the conservative Linear no-threshold model of radiation exposure, a model that assumes even the smallest amount of radiation exposure will cause a negative health effect. [28] The World Health Organization (WHO) report released in 2013 predicts that for populations living around the Fukushima nuclear power plant there is a 70% higher relative risk of developing thyroid cancer for females exposed as infants, and a 7% higher relative risk of leukemia in males exposed as infants and a 6% higher relative risk of breast cancer in females exposed as infants. [8] With the WHO communicating that the values stated in that section of their report are relative increases, and not representative of the absolute increase of developing these cancers, as the lifetime absolute baseline chance of developing thyroid cancer in females is 0.75%, with the Radiation-induced cancer chance now predicted to increase that 0.75% to 1.25%, with this 0.75% to 1.25% change being responsible for the “70% higher relative risk”: [8] These percentages represent estimated relative increases over the baseline rates and are not absolute risks for developing such cancers. Due to the low baseline rates of thyroid cancer, even a large relative increase represents a small absolute increase in risks. For example, the baseline lifetime risk of thyroid cancer for females is just (0.75%)three-quarters of one percent and the additional lifetime risk estimated in this assessment for a female infant exposed in the most affected location is (0.5%)one-half of one percent. The WHO calculations determined that the most at-risk group, infants , who were in the most affected area, would experience an absolute increase in the risk of cancer (of all types) during their lifetime, of approximately 1% due to the accident. With the lifetime risk increase for thyroid cancer , due to the accident, for a female infant, in the most affected radiation location, being estimated to be one half of one percent[0.5%]. [8] [29] Cancer risks for the unborn child are considered to be similar to those in 1 year old infants. [30] The estimated risk of cancer to people who were children and adults during the Fukushima accident, in the most affected area, was determined to be lower again when compared to the most at-risk group— infants . [31] A thyroid ultrasound screening programme is currently (2013) ongoing in the entire Fukushima prefecture; this screening programme is, due to the screening effect , likely to lead to an increase in the incidence of thyroid disease due to early detection of non- symptomatic disease cases. [32] About one-third of people (~30%) in industrialized nations are presently diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes. Radiation exposure can increase cancer risk, with the cancers that arise being indistinguishable from cancers resulting from other causes. [33] In the general population, no increase is expected in the frequency of tissue reactions attributable to radiation exposure and no increase is expected in the incidence of congenital or developmental abnormalities, including cognitive impairment attributable to in-utero radiation exposure. [34] No significant increase in heritable effects has been found in studies of the children of the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or in the offspring of cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy, which indicates that moderate acute radiation exposures have little impact on the overall risk of heritable effects in humans. [35] As of August 2013, there have been more than 40 children newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer and other cancers in Fukushima prefecture . 18 of these were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, but these cancers are not attributed to radiation from Fukushima, as similar patterns occurred before the accident in 2006 in Japan, with 1 in 100,000 children per year developing thyroid cancer in that year, that is, this is not higher than the pre-accident rate. While controversial scientist Christopher Busby disagrees, claiming the rate of thyroid cancer in Japan was 0.0 children per 100,000 in 2005, the Japan Cancer Surveillance Research Group showed a thyroid cancer rate of 1.3 per 100,000 children in 2005 based on official cancer cases. [26] As a point of comparison, thyroid cancer incidence rates after the Chernobyl accident of 1986 did not begin to increase above the prior baseline value of about 0.7 cases per 100,000 people per year until 1989 to 1991, 3 to 5 years after the accident in both the adolescent and children age groups. Therefore, data from Chernobyl suggests that an increase in thyroid cancer around Fukushima is not expected to begin to be seen until at least 3 to 5 years after the accident [36] [37] According to the Tenth Report of the Fukushima Prefecture Health Management Survey released in February 2013, more than 40% of children screened around Fukushima prefecture were diagnosed with thyroid nodules or cysts. Ultrasonographic detectable thyroid nodules and cysts are extremely common and can be found at a frequency of up to 67% in various studies. [38] 186 (0.5%) of these had nodules larger than 5.1 mm and/or cysts larger than 20.1 mm and underwent further investigation. None had thyroid cancer. An RT report into the matter was highly misleading. [39] Fukushima Medical University gives the number of children diagnosed with thyroid cancer as of December 2013 as 33 and concluded, “[I]t is unlikely that these cancers were caused by the exposure from 131I from the nuclear power plant accident in March 2011″. [40] Thyroid cancer is one of the most survivable cancers, with an approximate 94% survival rate after first diagnosis. That rate increases to a 100% survival rate with catching it early. [41] A 2013 article in the Stars and Stripes asserted that a Japanese government study released in February of that year had found that more than 25 times as many people in the area had developed thyroid cancer compared with data from before the disaster. [42] As part of the ongoing precautionary ultrasound screening program in and around Fukushima, (36%) of children in Fukushima Prefecture in 2012 were found to have thyroid nodules or cysts, [43] but these are not considered abnormal. [44] This screening programme is, due to the screening effect , likely, according to the WHO , to lead to an increase in the incidence of the diagnosis of thyroid disease due to early detection of non- symptomatic disease cases. [32] For example, the overwhelming majority of thyroid growths prior to the accident, and in other parts of the world, are overdiagnosed (that is, a benign growth that will never cause any symptoms, illness, or death for the patient, even if nothing is ever done about the growth) with autopsy studies, again done prior to the accident and in other parts of the world, on people who died from other causes showing that more than one third (33%+), of adults technically has a thyroid growth/cancer, but it is benign/never caused them any harm. [45] Thyroid cancer is one of the most survivable cancers, with an approximate 94% survival rate after first diagnosis, and that rate increases to a 100% survival rate with catching it early. [41] For example, from 1989 to 2005, an excess of 4000 children and adolescent cases of thyroid cancer were observed in those who lived around Chernobyl; of these 4000 people, nine have died so far, a 99% survival rate. [46] [47] Psychological effects of perceived radiation exposure A survey by the newspaper Mainichi Shimbun computed that there were 1,600 deaths related to the evacuation, comparable to the 1,599 deaths due to the earthquake and tsunami in the Fukushima Prefecture. [48] In the former Soviet Union , many patients with negligible radioactive exposure after the Chernobyl disaster displayed extreme anxiety about low level radiation exposure, and therefore developed many psychosomatic problems, including radiophobia , and with this an increase in fatalistic alcoholism being observed. As Japanese health and radiation specialist Shunichi Yamashita noted: [49] We know from Chernobyl that the psychological consequences are enormous. Life expectancy of the evacuees dropped from 65 to 58 years—not [predominantly] because of cancer, but because of depression , alcoholism and suicide . Relocation is not easy, the stress is very big. We must not only track those problems, but also treat them. Otherwise people will feel they are just guinea pigs in our research. A survey by the Iitate, Fukushima local government obtained responses from approximately 1,743 people who have evacuated from the village, which lies within the emergency evacuation zone around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Plant. It shows that many residents are experiencing growing frustration and instability due to the nuclear crisis and an inability to return to the lives they were living before the disaster. Sixty percent of respondents stated that their health and the health of their families had deteriorated after evacuating, while 39.9% reported feeling more irritated compared to before the disaster. [50] Summarizing all responses to questions related to evacuees’ current family status, one-third of all surveyed families live apart from their children, while 50.1% live away from other family members (including elderly parents) with whom they lived before the disaster. The survey also showed that 34.7% of the evacuees have suffered salary cuts of 50% or more since the outbreak of the nuclear disaster. A total of 36.8% reported a lack of sleep, while 17.9% reported smoking or drinking more than before they evacuated. [50] Experts on the ground in Japan agree that mental health challenges are the most significant issue. Stress, such as that caused by dislocation, uncertainty and concern about unseen toxicants, often manifests in physical ailments, such as heart disease. So even if radiation risks are low, people are still concerned and worried. Behavioral changes can follow, including poor dietary choices, lack of exercise and sleep deprivation, all of which can have long-term negative health consequences. People who lost their homes, villages and family members, and even just those who survived the quake, will likely continue to face mental health challenges and the physical ailments that come with stress. Much of the damage was really the psychological stress of not knowing and of being relocated, according to U.C. Berkeley’s McKone. [51] The relationship between mental health disorders—such as anxiety and depression—and thyroid disorders is well known in the medical community. [52] [53] [54] [55] Further studies are required to assess whether there may be links between radiation, low-level thyroid disruption and mood disorders. Total emissions On 24 May 2012, more than a year after the disaster, TEPCO released their estimate of radioactivity releases due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster. An estimated 538,100 terabecquerels (TBq) of iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137 was released. 520,000 TBq was released into the atmosphere between 12 and 31 March 2011 and 18,100 TBq into the ocean from 26 March to 30 September 2011. A total of 511,000 TBq of iodine-131 was released into both the atmosphere and the ocean, 13,500 TBq of caesium-134 and 13,600 TBq of caesium-137. [56] In May 2012, TEPCO reported that at least 900 PBq had been released “into the atmosphere in March last year [2011] alone” [57] [58] up from previous estimates of 360-370 PBq total. The primary releases of radioactive nuclides have been iodine and caesium; [59] [60] strontium [61] and plutonium [62] [63] have also been found. These elements have been released into the air via steam; [64] and into the water leaking into groundwater [65] or the ocean. [66] The expert who prepared a frequently cited Austrian Meteorological Service report asserted that the “Chernobyl accident emitted much more radioactivity and a wider diversity of radioactive elements than Fukushima Daiichi has so far, but it was iodine and caesium that caused most of the health risk – especially outside the immediate area of the Chernobyl plant.” [59] Iodine-131 has a half-life of 8 days while caesium-137 has a half-life of over 30 years. The IAEA has developed a method that weighs the “radiological equivalence” for different elements. [67] TEPCO has published estimates using a simple-sum methodology, [68] [69] As of 25 April 2012 TEPCO has not released a total water and air release estimate. According to a June 2011 report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at that time no confirmed long-term health effects to any person had been reported as a result of radiation exposure from the nuclear accident. [70] In a leaked TEPCO report dated June 2011, it was revealed that plutonium-238, −239, −240, and −241 were released “to the air” from the site during the first 100 hours after the earthquake, the total amount of plutonium said to be 120 billion becquerels (120 GBq) — perhaps as much as 50 grams. The same paper mentioned a release of 7.6 trillion becquerels of neptunium-239 – about 1 milligram. As neptunium-239 decays, it becomes plutonium-239. TEPCO made this report for a press conference on 6 June, but according to Mochizuki of the Fukushima Diary website, the media knew and “kept concealing the risk for 7 months and kept people exposed”. [71] According to one expert, the release of radioactivity is about one-tenth that from the Chernobyl disaster and the contaminated area is also about one-tenth that of Chernobyl. [72] Air releases A 12 April report prepared by NISA estimated the total release of iodine-131 was 130 PBq and caesium-137 at 6.1 PBq . [69] On 23 April the NSC updated its release estimates, but it did not reestimate the total release, instead indicating that 154 TBq of air release were occurring daily as of 5 April. [73] [74] On 24 August 2011, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) of Japan published the results of the recalculation of the total amount of radioactive materials released into the air during the incident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The total amounts released between 11 March and 5 April were revised downwards to 130 PBq for iodine-131 (I-131) and 11 PBq for caesium-137 (Cs-137). Earlier estimations were 150 PBq and 12 PBq. [75] On 20 September the Japanese government and TEPCO announced the installation of new filters at reactors 1, 2 and 3 to reduce the release of radioactive materials into the air. Gases from the reactors would be decontaminated before they would be released into the air. In the first half of September 2011 the amount of radioactive substances released from the plant was about 200 million becquerels per hour, according to TEPCO, which was approximately one-four millionths of the level of the initial stages of the accident in March. [76] According to TEPCO the emissions immediately after the accident were around 220 billion becquerel; readings declined after that, and in November and December 2011 they dropped to 17 thousand becquerel, about one-13 millionth the initial level. But in January 2012 due to human activities at the plant, the emissions rose again up to 19 thousand becquerel. Radioactive materials around reactor 2, where the surroundings were still highly contaminated, got stirred up by the workers going in and out of the building, when they inserted an optical endoscope into the containment vessel as a first step toward decommissioning the reactor. [77] [78] Iodine-131 A widely cited Austrian Meteorological Service report estimated the total amount of I-131 released into the air as of 19 March based on extrapolating data from several days of ideal observation at some of its worldwide CTBTO radionuclide measuring facilities (Freiburg, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Takasaki, Japan and Sacramento, USA) during the first 10 days of the accident. [59] [79] The report’s estimates of total I-131 emissions based on these worldwide measuring stations ranged from 10 PBq to 700 PBq. [79] This estimate was 1% to 40% of the 1760 PBq [79] [80] of the I-131 estimated to have been released at Chernobyl. [59] A later, 12 April 2011, NISA and NSC report estimated the total air release of iodine-131 at 130 PBq and 150 PBq, respectively – about 30 grams. [69] However, on 23 April, the NSC revised its original estimates of iodine-131 released. [73] The NSC did not estimate the total release size based upon these updated numbers, but estimated a release of 0.14 TBq per hour on 5 April. [73] [74] On 22 September the results were published of a survey conducted by the Japanese Science Ministry. This survey showed that radioactive iodine was spread northwest and south of the plant. Soil samples were taken at 2,200 locations, mostly in Fukushima Prefecture, in June and July, and with this a map was created of the radioactive contamination as of 14 June. Because of the short half-life of 8 days only 400 locations were still positive. This map showed that iodine-131 spread northwest of the plant, just like caesium-137 as indicated on an earlier map. But I-131 was also found south of the plant at relatively high levels, even higher than those of caesium-137 in coastal areas south of the plant. According to the ministry, clouds moving southwards apparently caught large amounts of iodine-131 that were emitted at the time. The survey was done to determine the risks for thyroid cancer within the population. [81] Tellurium-129m On 31 October the Japanese ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology released a map showing the contamination of radioactive tellurium-129m within a 100-kilometer radius around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. The map displayed the concentrations found of tellurium-129m – a byproduct of uranium fission – in the soil at 14 June 2011. High concentrations were discovered northwest of the plant and also at 28 kilometers south near the coast, in the cities of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, and Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki Prefecture. Iodine-131 was also found in the same areas, and most likely the tellurium was deposited at the same time as the iodine. The highest concentration found was 2.66 million becquerels per square meter, two kilometers from the plant in the empty town of Okuma. Tellurium-129m has a half-life of 6 days, so present levels are a very small fraction of the initial contamination. Tellurium has no biological functions, so even when drinks or food were contaminated with it, it would not accumulate in the body, like iodine in the thyroid gland. [82] Caesium-137 On 24 March 2011, the Austrian Meteorological Service report estimated the total amount of caesium-137 released into the air as of 19 March based on extrapolating data from several days of ideal observation at a handful of worldwide CTBTO radionuclide measuring facilities. The agency estimated an average being 5,000 TBq daily. [59] [79] Over the course of the disaster, Chernobyl put out a total of 85,000 TBq of caesium-137. [59] However, later reporting on 12 April estimated total caesium releases at 6,100 TBq to 12,000 TBq, respectively by NISA and NSC – about 2–4 kg. [69] On 23 April, NSC updated this number to 0.14 TBq per hour of caesium-137 on 5 April, but did not recalculate the entire release estimate. [73] [74] Strontium 90 On 12 October 2011 a concentration of 195 becquerels/kilogram of Strontium-90 was found in the sediment on the roof of an apartment building in the city of Yokohama , south of Tokyo, some 250 km from the plant in Fukushima. This first find of strontium above 100 becquerels per kilogram raised serious concerns that leaked radioactivity might have spread far further than the Japanese government expected. The find was done by a private agency that conducted the test upon the request of a resident. After this find Yokohama city started an investigation of soil samples collected from areas near the building. The science ministry said that the source of the Strontium was still unclear. [83] Plutonium isotopes On 30 September 2011, the Japanese Ministry of Education and Science published the results of a plutonium fallout survey, for which in June and July 50 soil samples were collected from a radius of slightly more than 80 km around the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Plutonium was found in all samples, which is to be expected since plutonium from the nuclear weapon tests of the 1950s and ’60s is found everywhere on the planet. The highest levels found (of Pu-239 and Pu-240 combined) were 15 becquerels per square meters in Fukushima prefecture and 9.4 Bq in Ibaraki prefecture, compared to a global average of 0.4 to 3.7 bq / kg from atomic bomb tests. Earlier in June, university researchers detected smaller amounts of plutonium in soil outside the plant after they collected samples during filming by NHK. [84] A recent study published in Nature found up to 35 bq / kg plutonium 241 in leaf litter in 3 out of 19 sites in the most contaminated zone in Fukushima. They estimated the Pu-241 dose for a person living for 50 years in the vicinity of the most contaminated site to be 0.44 mSv. However, the Cs-137 activity at the sites where Pu-241 was found was very high (up to 4.7Mbq / kg or about 135,000 times greater than the plutonium 241 activity), which suggests that it will be the Cs-137 which prevents habitation rather than the relatively small amounts of plutonium of any isotope in these areas. [85] Water releases On 21 April, TEPCO estimated that 520 tons of radioactive water leaked into the sea before leaks in a pit in unit 2 were plugged, totaling 4,700 TBq of water release (calculated by simple sum, which is inconsistent with the IAEA methodology for mixed-nuclide releases [68] ) (20,000 times facility’s annual limit). [68] [86] TEPCO’s detailed estimates were 2,800 TBq of I-131, 940 TBq of Cs-134, 940 TBq of Cs-137. [68] Another 300,000 tons of relatively less-radioactive water had already been reported to have leaked or been purposefully pumped into the sea to free room for storage of highly radioactively contaminated water. [87] TEPCO had attempted to contain contaminated water in the harbor near the plant by installing “curtains” to prevent outflow, but now believes this effort was unsuccessful. [87] According to a report published in October 2011 by the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety , between 21 March and mid-July around 2.7 × 1016 Bq of caesium-137 (about 8.4 kg) entered the ocean, about 82 percent having flowed into the sea before 8 April. [88] This emission of radioactivity into the sea represents the most important individual emission of artificial radioactivity into the sea ever observed. However, the Fukushima coast has some of the world’s strongest currents and these transported the contaminated waters far into the Pacific Ocean, thus causing great dispersion of the radioactive elements. The results of measurements of both the seawater and the coastal sediments led to the supposition that the consequences of the accident, in terms of radioactivity, would be minor for marine life as of autumn 2011 (weak concentration of radioactivity in the water and limited accumulation in sediments). On the other hand, significant pollution of sea water along the coast near the nuclear plant might persist, because of the continuing arrival of radioactive material transported towards the sea by surface water running over contaminated soil. Further, some coastal areas might have less-favorable dilution or sedimentation characteristics than those observed so far. Finally, the possible presence of other persistent radioactive substances, such as strontium-90 or plutonium, has not been sufficiently studied. Recent measurements show persistent contamination of some marine species (mostly fish) caught along the coast of Fukushima district. Organisms that filter water and fish at the top of the food chain are, over time, the most sensitive to caesium pollution. It is thus justified to maintain surveillance of marine life that is fished in the coastal waters off Fukushima. Despite caesium isotopic concentration in the waters off of Japan being 10 to 1000 times above concentration prior to the accident, radiation risks are below what is generally considered harmful to marine animals and human consumers. [89] A year after the disaster, in April 2012, sea fish caught near the Fukushima power plant still contain as much radioactive 134Cs and 137Cs compared to fish caught in the days after the disaster. [90] At the end of October 2012 TEPCO admitted that it could not exclude radioactivity releases into the ocean, although the radiation levels were stabilised. Undetected leaks into the ocean from the reactors, could not be ruled out, because their basements remain flooded with cooling water, and the 2,400-foot-long steel and concrete wall between the site’s reactors and the ocean, that should reach 100 feet underground, was still under construction, and would not be finished before mid-2014. Around August 2012 two greenling were caught close to the Fukushima shore, they contained more than 25,000 becquerels a kilogram of cesium, the highest cesium levels found in fish since the disaster and 250 times the government’s safety limit. [91] In August 2013, a Nuclear Regulatory Authority task force reported that contaminated groundwater had breached an underground barrier, was rising toward the surface and exceeded legal limits of radioactive discharge. [92] The underground barrier was only effective in solidifying the ground at least 1.8 meters below the surface, and water began seeping through shallow areas of earth into the sea. [92] Radiation at the plant site Normal radiation dose rates at the Fukushima I site as established by the stream of monitoring post readings in the 3 months preceding the accident. (03/01=1 March 2011, 1 Gray = 1 Sv for gamma radiation) [93] Radiation fluctuated widely on the site after the tsunami and often correlated to fires and explosions on site. Radiation dose rates at one location between reactor units 3 and 4 was measured at 400 mSv/h at 10:22 JST, 13 March, causing experts to urge rapid rotation of emergency crews as a method of limiting exposure to radiation. [94] Dose rates of 1,000 mSv/h were reported (but not confirmed by the IAEA) [95] close to the certain reactor units on 16 March, prompting a temporary evacuation of plant workers, with radiation levels subsequently dropping back to 800–600 mSv/h. [96] At times, radiation monitoring was hampered by a belief that some radiation levels may be higher than 1 Sv/h, but that “authorities say 1,000 millisieverts [per hour] is the upper limit of their measuring devices.” [97] Exposure of workers Prior to the accident, the maximum permissible dose for Japanese nuclear workers was 100 mSv per year, but on 15 March 2011, the Japanese Health and Labor Ministry increased that annual limit to 250 mSv, for emergency situations. [98] [99] This level is below the 500 mSv/year considered acceptable for emergency work by the World Health Organization . Some contract companies working for TEPCO have opted not to use the higher limit. [100] [101] On 15 March, TEPCO decided to work with a skeleton crew (in the media called the Fukushima 50 ) in order to minimize the number of people exposed to radiation. [102] On 17 March, IAEA reported 17 persons to have suffered deposition of radioactive material on their face; the levels of exposure were too low to warrant hospital treatment. [95] On 22 March, World Nuclear News reported that one worker had received over 100 mSv during “venting work” at Unit 3. [103] An additional 6 had received over 100 mSv, of which for 1 a level of over 150 mSv was reported for unspecified activities on site. [103] On 24 March, three workers were exposed to high levels of radiation which caused two of them to require hospital treatment after radioactive water seeped through their protective clothes while working in unit 3. Based on the dosimeter values, exposures of 170 mSv were estimated, [101] the injuries indicated exposure to 2000 to 6000 mSv around their ankles. [104] [105] [106] [107] They were not wearing protective boots, as their employing firm’s safety manuals “did not assume a scenario in which its employees would carry out work standing in water at a nuclear power plant”. [106] The amount of the radioactivity of the water was about 3.9 M Bq per cubic centimetre. As of 24 March 19:30 (JST), 17 workers (of which 14 were from plant operator TEPCO ) had been exposed to levels of over 100 mSv. [95] By 29 March, the number of workers reported to have been exposed to levels of over 100 mSv had increased to 19. [108] An American physician reported Japanese doctors have considered banking blood for future treatment of workers exposed to radiation. [108] Tepco has started a re-assessment of the approximately 8300 workers and emergency personnel who have been involved in responding to the incident, which has revealed that by 13 July, of the approximately 6700 personnel tested so far, 88 personnel have received between 100 and 150 mSv, 14 have received between 150 and 200 mSv, 3 have received between 200 and 250 mSv, and 6 have received above 250 mSv. [109] TEPCO has been criticized in its provision of safety equipment for its workers. [110] [111] After NISA warned TEPCO that workers were sharing dosimeters , since most of the devices were lost in the disaster, the utility sent more to the plant. [112] Japanese media has reported that workers indicate that standard decontamination procedures are not being observed. [113] Others reports suggest that contract workers are given more dangerous work than TEPCO employees. [110] TEPCO is also seeking workers willing to risk high radiation levels for short periods of time in exchange for high pay. [114] Confidential documents acquired by the Japanese Asahi newspaper suggest that TEPCO hid high levels of radioactive contamination from employees in the days following the incident. [115] In particular, the Asahi reported that radiation levels of 300 mSv/h were detected at least twice on 13 March, but that “the workers who were trying to bring the disaster under control at the plant were not informed of the levels.” [115] Workers on-site now wear full-body radiation protection gear, including masks and helmets covering their entire heads, but it means they have another enemy: heat. [116] As of 19 July 2011, 33 cases of heat stroke had been recorded. [117] In these harsh working conditions, two workers in their 60s died from heart failure. [118] [119] Iodine-intake On 19 July 2013 TEPCO said that 1,973 employees would have a thyroid-radiation dose exceeding 100 millisieverts. 19,592 workers—3,290 TEPCO employees and 16,302 employees of contractor firms—were given health checks. The radiation doses were checked from 522 workers. Those were reported to the World Health Organization in February 2013. From this sample, 178 had experienced a dose of 100 millisieverts or more. After the U.N. Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, questioned the reliability of TEPCO´s thyroid gland dosage readings, the Japanese Health Ministry ordered TEPCO to review the internal dosage readings. [120] The intake of radioactive iodine was calculated based on the radioactive cesium intake and other factors: the airborne iodine-to-cesium ratio on the days that the people worked at the reactor compound and other data. For one worker a reading was found of more than 1,000 millisieverts. [120] According to the workers, TEPCO did little to inform them about the hazards of the intake of radioactive iodine. [120] All workers with an estimated dose of 100 millisieverts were offered an annual ultrasound thyroid test during their lifetime for free. But TEPCO did not know how many of these people had received a medical screening already. A schedule for the thyroid gland test was not announced. TEPCO did not indicate what would be done if abnormalities were spotted during the tests. [121] Radiation within the primary containment of the reactors Within the primary containment of reactors 1, 2, 3 and 4, widely varying levels of radiation were reported: time (JST) La 3.4×102 On 27 March, TEPCO reported stagnant water in the basement of unit 2 (inside the reactor/turbine building complex, but outside the primary containment) was measured at 1000 mSv/h or more, which prompted evacuation. The exact dose rate remains unknown as the technicians fled the place after their first measurement went off-scale. Additional basement and trench-area measurements indicated 60 mSv/h in unit 1, “over 1000″ mSv/h [132] in unit 2, and 750 mSv/h in unit 3. The report indicated the main source was iodine-134 [133] with a half-life of less than an hour, which resulted in a radioactive iodine concentration 10 million times the normal value in the reactor. [134] TEPCO later retracted its report, stating that the measurements were inaccurate and attributed the error to comparing the isotope responsible, iodine-134 , to normal levels of another isotope. [135] Measurements were then corrected, stating that the iodine levels were 100,000 times the normal level. [136] On 28 March, the erroneous radiation measurement caused TEPCO to reevaluate the software used in analysis. [137] Measurements within the reactor/turbine buildings, but not in the basement and trench areas, were made on 18 April. [138] These robotic measurements indicated up to 49 mSv/h in unit 1 and 57 mSv/h in unit 3. [8] This is substantially lower than the basement and trench readings, but still exceeds safe working levels without constant worker rotation. [8] [139] Inside primary containment, levels are much higher. [8] By 23 March 2011, neutron radiation had been observed outside the reactors 13 times at the Fukushima I site. While this could indicate ongoing fission , a recriticality event was not believed to account for these readings. [140] Based on those readings and TEPCO reports of high levels of chlorine-38, Dr. Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress speculated that transient criticalities may have occurred. However, Edwin Lyman at the Union of Concerned Scientists was skeptical, believing the reports of chlorine-38 to be in error. [141] TEPCO’s chlorine-38 report was later retracted. [142] Noting that limited, uncontrolled chain reactions might occur at Fukushima I, a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) “emphasized that the nuclear reactors won’t explode.” [143] On 15 April, TEPCO reported that nuclear fuel had melted and fallen to the lower containment sections of three of the Fukushima I reactors, including reactor three. The melted material was not expected to breach one of the lower containers, causing a serious radioactivity release. Instead, the melted fuel was thought to have dispersed uniformly across the lower portions of the containers of reactors No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, making the resumption of the fission process, known as a “recriticality,” most unlikely. [144] On 19 April, TEPCO estimated that the unit-2 turbine basement contained 25,000 cubic meters of contaminated water. [145] The water was measured to have 3 MBq/cm3 of Cs-137 and 13 MBq/cm3 of I-131: TEPCO characterized this level of contamination as “extremely high.” [145] To attempt to prevent leakage to the sea, TEPCO planned to pump the water from the basement to the Centralized Radiation Waste Treatment Facility. [145] A suspected hole from the melting of fuel in unit 1 has allowed water to leak in an unknown path from unit 1 [146] [147] which has exhibited radiation measurements “as high as 1,120 mSv/h.” [148] [149] Radioactivity measurements of the water in the unit-3 spent-fuel pool were reported at 140 kBq of radioactive caesium-134 per cubic centimeter, 150 kBq of caesium-137 per cubic centimeter, and 11 kBq per cubic centimeter of iodine-131 on 10 May. [150] In August 2011, several areas were spotted inside the reactor buildings where dose rates reach several sieverts per hour. [151] Site contamination Soil TEPCO have reported at three sites 500 meters from the reactors that the caesium-134 and caesium-137 levels in the soil are between 7.1 kBq and 530 kBq per kilo of undried soil. [152] The Fukushima soil contamination compared with the Chernobyl release for a series of key isotopes. The two data sets have been adjusted to make the caesium-137 bars the same size to allow the isotope signatures to be compared with ease Small traces of plutonium have been found in the soil near the stricken reactors: repeated examinations of the soil suggest that the plutonium level is similar to the background level caused by atomic bomb tests. [153] As the isotope signature of the plutonium is closer to that of power-reactor plutonium, TEPCO suggested that “two samples out of five may be the direct result of the recent incident.” [154] The more important thing to look at is the curium level in the soil; [155] the soil does contain a short-lived isotope (curium-242) which shows that some alpha emitters have been released in small amounts by the accident. The release of the beta/gamma emitters such as caesium-137 has been far greater. In the short and medium term the effects of the iodine and the caesium release will dominate the effect of the accident on farming and the general public. In common with almost all soils, the soil at the reactor site contains uranium , but the concentration of uranium and the isotope signature [156] suggests that the uranium is the normal, natural uranium in the soil. Radioactive strontium-89 and strontium-90 were discovered in soil at the plant on 18 April, amounts detected in soil one-half kilometer from the facility ranging from 3.4 to 4400 Bq/kg of dry soil. [61] [157] [158] Strontium remains in soil from above-ground nuclear testing; however, the amounts measured at the facility are approximately 130 times greater than the amount typically associated with previous nuclear testing. [61] [158] The isotope signature of the release looks very different from that of the Chernobyl accident: [159] [160] the Japanese accident has released much less of the involatile plutonium, minor actinides and fission products than Chernobyl did. On 31 March, TEPCO reported that it had measured radioactivity in the plant-site groundwater which was 10,000 times the government limit. The company did not think that this radioactivity had spread to drinking water. [161] NISA questioned the radioactivity measurement and TEPCO is re-evaluating it. [112] Some debris around the plant has been found to be highly radioactive, including a concrete fragment emanating 900 mSv/h. [162] Air and direct radiation Air outside, but near, unit 3 was reported at 70 mSv/h on 26 April 2011. [163] This was down from radiation levels as high as 130 mSv/h near units 1 and 3 in late March. [163] Removal of debris reduced the radiation measurements from localized highs of up to 900 mSv/h to less than 100 mSv/h at all exterior locations near the reactors; however, readings of 160 mSv/h were still measured at the waste-treatment facility. [164] Discharge to seawater and contaminated sealife Results revealed on 22 March from a sample taken by TEPCO about 100 m south of the discharge channel of units 1–4 showed elevated levels of Cs-137, caesium-134 (Cs-134) and I-131. [103] A sample of seawater taken on 22 March 330 m south of the discharge channel (30 kilometers off the coastline) had elevated levels of I-131 and Cs-137. Also, north of the plant elevated levels of these isotopes were found on 22 March (as well as Cs-134, tellurium-129 and tellurium-129m (Te-129m)), although the levels were lower. [101] Samples taken on 23 and/or 24 March contained about 80 Bq/mL of iodine-131 (1850 times the statutory limit) and 26 Bq/mL and caesium-137, most likely caused by atmospheric deposition. [95] By 26 and 27 March this level had decreased to 50 Bq/mL (11) [165] iodine-131 and 7 Bq/mL (2.9) [165] caesium-137 (80 times the limit). [166] Hidehiko Nishiyama, a senior NISA official, stated that radionuclide contamination would “be very diluted by the time it gets consumed by fish and seaweed.” [134] Above the seawater, IAEA reported “consistently low” dose rates of 0.04–0.1 μSv/h on 27 March. By 29 March iodine-131 levels in seawater 330 m south of a key discharge outlet had reached 138 Bq/ml (3,355 times the legal limit), [167] [168] and by 30 March, iodine-131 concentrations had reached 180 Bq/ml at the same location near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, 4,385 times the legal limit. [168] The high levels could be linked to a feared overflow of highly radioactive water that appeared to have leaked from the unit -2 turbine building. [97] On 15 April, I-131 levels were 6,500 times the legal limits. [169] On 16 April, TEPCO began dumping zeolite, a mineral “that absorbs radioactive substances, aiming to slow down contamination of the ocean.” [170] Seawater radionuclide concentration on 29 March 2011: [171] Nuclide 0.4 6.3 On 4 April, it was reported that the “operators of Japan’s crippled power plant say they will release more than 10,000 tons of contaminated water into the ocean to make room in their storage tanks for water that is even more radioactive.” [172] Measurements taken on 21 April indicated 186 Bq/l measured 34 km from the Fukushima plant; Japanese media reported this level of seawater contamination second to the Sellafield nuclear accident. [173] On 11 May, TEPCO announced it believed it had sealed a leak from unit 3 to the sea; TEPCO did not immediately announce the amount of radioactivity released by the leak. [174] [175] On 13 May, Greenpeace announced that 10 of the 22 seaweed samples it had collected near the plant showed 10,000 Bq/Kg or higher, five times the Japanese standard for food of 2,000 Bq/Kg for iodine-131 and 500 Bq/kg for radioactive caesium. [175] In addition to the large releases of contaminated water (520 tons and 4,700 TBq [68] [86] ) believed to have leaked from unit 2 from mid-March until early April, another release of radioactive water is believed to have contaminated the sea from unit 3, because on 16 May TEPCO announced seawater measurements of 200 Bq per cubic centimeter of caesium-134, 220 Bq per cubic centimeter of caesium-137, and unspecified high levels of iodine shortly after discovering a unit-3 leak. [176] [177] At two locations 20 kilometers north and south and 3 kilometers from the coast, TEPCO found strontium-89 and strontium-90 in the seabed soil. The samples were taken on 2 June. Up to 44 becquerels per kilogram of strontium-90 were detected, which has a half-life of 29 years. These isotopes were also found in soil and in seawater immediately after the accident. Samples taken from fish and seafood caught off the coast of Ibaraki and Chiba did not contain radioactive stontium. [178] As of October 2012, regular sampling of fish and other sea life off the coast of Fukushima showed that total cesium levels in bottom-dwelling fish were higher off Fukushima than elsewhere, with levels above regulatory limits, leading to a fishing ban for some species. Cesium levels had not decreased 1 year after the accident. [90] Continuous monitoring of radioactivity levels in seafood by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) shows that for the Fukushima prefecture the proportion of catches which exceed Japanese safety standards has been decreasing continuously, falling below 2% in the second half of 2013 and below 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2014. None of the fish caught in 2014 exceeded the less stringent pre-Fukushima standards. [179] For the rest of Japan, the peak figure using the post-Fukushima standards was 4.7% immediately after the catastrophe, falling below 0.5% by mid-2012, and below 0.1% by mid-2013. [179] In February 2014, NHK reported that TEPCO was reviewing its radioactivity data, after finding much higher levels of radioactivity than was reported earlier. TEPCO now says that levels of 5 million becquerels of strontium per liter were detected in groundwater collected in July 2013 and not 900,000 becquerels, as initially reported. [180] [181] Radiation and nuclide detection in Japan Periodic overall reports of the situation in Japan are provided by the United States Department of Energy. [182] In April 2011, the United States Department of Energy published projections of the radiation risks over the next year (that is, for the future) for people living in the neighborhood of the plant. Potential exposure could exceed 20 mSv/year (2 rems/year) in some areas up to 50 kilometers from the plant. That is the level at which relocation would be considered in the USA, and it is a level that could cause roughly one extra cancer case in 500 young adults. However, natural radiation levels are higher in some parts of the world than the projected level mentioned above, and about 4 people out of 10 can be expected to develop cancer without exposure to radiation. [183] [184] Further, the radiation exposure resulting from the incident for most people living in Fukushima is so small compared to background radiation that it may be impossible to find statistically significant evidence of increases in cancer. [23] The highest detection of radiation outside of Fukushima peaked at 40 mSv. This represents a much lower level then the amount required to increase a persons risk of cancer. 100 mSv represents the level at which a definitive increased risk of cancer occurs. Radiation above this level increases the risk of cancer, and after 400 mSv radiation poisoning can occur, but is unlikely to be fatal. [185] [186] [187] Air exposure within 30 kilometers Dose rates for locations in Fukushima Prefecture and neighboring prefectures. * Iitate, Fukushima * Minamisōma, Fukushima * Iwaki, Fukushima * Tamura, Fukushima The zone within 20 km from the plant was evacuated on 12 March, [188] while residents within a distance of up to 30 km were advised to stay indoors. IAEA reported on 14 March that about 150 people in the vicinity of the plant “received monitoring for radiation levels”; 23 of these people were also decontaminated. [95] From 25 March, nearby residents were encouraged to participate in voluntary evacuation. [189] At a distance of 30 km (19 mi) from the site, radiation of 3–170 μSv/h was measured to the north-west on 17 March, while it was 1–5 μSv/h in other directions. [95] [190] Experts said exposure to this amount of radiation for 6 to 7 hours would result in absorption of the maximum level considered safe for one year. [190] On 16 March Japan’s ministry of science measured radiation levels of up to 330 μSv/h 20 kilometers northwest of the power plant. [191] At some locations around 30 km from the Fukushima plant, the dose rates rose significantly in 24 hours on 16–17 March: in one location from 80 to 170 μSv/h and in another from 26 to 95 μSv/h. The levels varied according to the direction from the plant. [95] In most locations, the levels remained well below the levels required to damage human health, as the recommended annual maximum limit is well below the level that would affect human health. [185] [186] [187] Natural exposure varies from place to place but delivers a dose equivalent in the vicinity of 2.4 mSv /year, or about 0.3 µSv/h. [192] [193] For comparison, one chest x-ray is about 0.2 mSv and an abdominal CT scan is supposed to be less than 10 mSv (but it has been reported that some abdominal CT scans can deliver as much as 90 mSv). [194] [195] People can mitigate their exposure to radiation through a variety of protection techniques . Department of Energy Same survey single-day flight revision on 24 March 2011. Same survey performed 24 and 26 March. Broader area survey focusing on outside the 24-mile radius, from 27 and 28 March. Combination of measurements made from 30 March to 3 April. On 22 April 2011 a Japanese government report was presented by Minister of Trade Yukio Edano to leaders of the town Futaba. In it predictions were made about radioactivity releases for the years 2012 up to 2132. According to this report, in several parts of Fukushima Prefecture – including Futaba and Okuma – the air would remain dangerously radioactive at levels above 50 millisieverts a year. This was all based on measurements done in November 2011. [196] In August 2012, Japanese academic researchers announced that 10,000 people living near the plant in Minamisoma City at the time of the accident had been exposed to well less than 1 millisievert of radiation. The researchers stated that the health dangers from such exposure was “negligible”. Said participating researcher Masaharu Tsubokura, “Exposure levels were much lower than those reported in studies even several years after the Chernobyl incident.” [197] Most detailed radiation map published by the Japanese government A detailed map was published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, going online on 18 October 2011. The map contains the cesium concentrations and radiation levels caused by the airborne radioactivity from the Fukushima nuclear reactor. This website contains both web-based and PDF versions of the maps, providing information by municipality as had been the case previously, but also measurements by district. The maps were intended to help the residents who had called for better information on contamination levels between areas of the same municipalities, using soil and air sample data already released. A grid is laid over a map of most of eastern Japan. Selecting a square in the grid zooms in on that area, at which point users can choose more detailed maps displaying airborne contamination levels, cesium-134 or -137 levels, or total caesium levels. Radiation maps [198] Ground and water contamination within 30 kilometers The unrecovered bodies of approximately 1,000 quake and tsunami victims within the plant’s evacuation zone are believed to be inaccessible at the time of 1 April 2011 due to detectable levels of radiation. [199] Air exposure outside of 30 kilometers Tokyo low-level gamma radiation with comparisons to average annual radiation intake. Based on Geiger counter measurements in Tokyo. Does not show radiation from physically transported sources, i.e. particulate matter transported in food, water, or the atmosphere. Radiation levels in Tokyo on 15 March were at one point measured at 0.809 μ Sv /hour although they were later reported to be at “about twice the normal level”. [200] [201] Later, on 15 March 2011, Edano reported that radiation levels were lower and the average radiation dose rate over the whole day was 0.109 μSv/h. [200] The wind direction on 15 March dispersed radioactivity away from the land and back over the Pacific Ocean. [202] On 16 March, the Japanese radiation warning system, SPEEDI, indicated high levels of radioactivity would spread further than 30 km from the plant, but Japanese authorities did not relay the information to citizens because “the location or the amount of radioactive leakage was not specified at the time.” [203] From 17 March, IAEA received regular updates on radiation from 46 cities and indicated that they had remained stable and were “well below levels which are dangerous to human health”. [95] In hourly measurements of these cities until 20 March, no significant changes were reported. [95] On 18 June 2012 it became known that from 17 to 19 March 2011 in the days directly after the explosions, American military aircraft gathered radiation data in an area with a radius of 45 kilometers around the plant for the U.S. Department of Energy. The maps revealed radiation levels of more than 125 microsieverts per hour at 25 kilometers northwest of the plant, which means that people in these areas were exposed to the annual permissible dose within eight hours. The maps were neither made public nor used for evacuation of residents. On 18 March 2011 the U.S. government sent the data through the Japanese Foreign Ministry to the NISA under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology got the data on 20 March. The data were not forwarded to the prime minister’s office and the Nuclear Safety Commission, and subsequently not used to direct the evacuation of the people living around the plant. Because a substantial portion of radioactive materials released from the plant went northwest and fell onto the ground, and some residents were “evacuated” in this direction, these people could have avoided unnecessary exposure to radiation had the data been published directly. According to Tetsuya Yamamoto, chief nuclear safety officer of the Nuclear Safety Agency, “It was very regrettable that we didn’t share and utilize the information.” But an official of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau of the technology ministry, Itaru Watanabe, said it was more appropriate for the United States, rather than Japan, to release the data. [204] On 23 March – after the Americans – Japan released its own fallout maps, compiled by Japanese authorities from measurements and predictions from the computer simulations of SPEEDI. On 19 June 2012 Minister of Science Hirofumi Hirano said that Japan would review the decision of the Science Ministry and the Nuclear-Safety Agency in 2011 to ignore the radiation maps provided by the United States. He defended his ministry’s handling of the matter with the remark that its task was to measure radiation levels on land. But the government should reconsider its decision not to publish the maps or use the information. Studies would be done by the authorities, whether the maps could have been a help with the evacuations. [205] [206] On 30 March 2011, the IAEA stated that its operational criteria for evacuation were exceeded in the village of Iitate, Fukushima , 39 kilometres (24 miles) north-west of Fukushima I, outside the existing 30 kilometres (19 miles) radiation exclusion zone. The IAEA advised the Japanese authorities to carefully assess the situation there. [207] Experts from Kyoto University and Hiroshima University released a study of soil samples, on 11 April, that revealed that “as much as 400 times the normal levels of radiation could remain in communities beyond a 30-kilometer radius from the Fukushima” site. [208] Urine samples taken from 10 children in the capital of Fukushima Prefecture were analyzed in a French laboratory. All of them contained caesium-134. The sample of an eight-year-old girl contained 1.13 becquerels/liter. The children were living up to 60 kilometers away from the troubled nuclear power plant. The Fukushima Network for Saving Children urged the Japanese government to check the children in Fukushima. The Japanese non-profit Radiation Effects Research Foundation said that people should not overreact, because there are no reports known of health problems with these levels of radiation. [209] Radioactive dust particles On 31 October 2011 a scientist from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute , Marco Kaltofen, presented his findings on the releases of radioactive isotopes from the Fukushima accidents at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Airborne dust contaminated with radioactive particles was released from the reactors into the air. This dust was found in Japanese car filters: they contained cesium-134 and cesium-137, and cobalt at levels as high as 3 nCi total activity per sample. Materials collected during April 2011 from Japan also contained iodine-131. Soil and settled dust were collected from outdoors and inside homes, and also from used children’s shoes. High levels of cesium were found on the shoelaces. US air-filter and dust samples did not contain “hot” particles, except for air samples collected in Seattle, Washington in April 2011. Dust particles contaminated with radioactive cesium were found more than 100 miles from the Fukushima site, and could be detected on the U.S. West Coast. [210] Ground, water and sewage contamination outside of 30 kilometers Tests concluded between 10 and 20 April revealed radioactive caesium in amounts of 2.0 and 3.2 kBq/kg in soil from the Tokyo districts of Chiyoda and Koto, respectively. [211] On 5 May, government officials announced that radioactivity levels in Tokyo sewage had spiked in late March. [175] Simple-sum measurements of all radioactive isotopes in sewage burned at a Tokyo treatment plant measured 170,000 Bq/kg “in the immediate wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis”. [175] The government announced that the reason for the spike was unclear, but suspected rainwater. [175] The 5 May announcement further clarified that as of 28 April, the radioactivity level in Tokyo sewage was 16,000 Bq/kg. [175] A detailed map of ground contamination within 80 kilometers of the plant, the joint product of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ( MEXT ), was released on 6 May. [212] The map showed that a belt of contamination, with radioactivity from 3 to 14.7 MBq caesium-137 per square meter, spread to the northwest of the nuclear plant. [212] For comparison, areas with activity levels with more than 0.55 MBq caesium-137 per square meter were abandoned after the 1986 Chernobyl accident. [212] The village of Iitate and the town of Namie are impacted. [212] Similar data was used to establish a map that would calculate the amount of radiation a person would be exposed to if a person were to stay outdoors for eight hours per day through 11 March 2012. [213] Scientists preparing this map, as well as earlier maps, targeted a 20 mSv/a dosage target for evacuation. [213] The government’s 20 mSv/a target led to the resignation of Toshiso Kosako, Special Adviser on radiation safety issues to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who stated “I cannot allow this as a scholar”, and argued that the target is too high, especially for children; he also criticized the increased limit for plant workers. [214] In response, parents’ groups and schools in some smaller towns and cities in Fukushima Prefecture have organized decontamination of soil surrounding schools, defying orders from Tokyo asserting that the schools are safe. [215] Eventually, the Fukushima education board plans to replace the soil at 26 schools with the highest radiation levels. [215] Anomalous “hot spots” have been discovered in areas far beyond the adjacent region. For example, experts cannot explain how radioactive caesium from the reactors at Fukushima ended up in Kanagawa more than 300 kilometers (190 mi) to the south. [216] In the first week of September the Ministry of Science published a new map showing radiation levels in Fukushima and four surrounding prefectures, based on the results of an aerial survey. In the map, different colors were used to show the level of radiation at locations one meter above the ground. Red: 19 microsieverts per hour or higher. The red band pointed in a north-west direction and was more than 30 kilometers long. Yellow: radiation between 3.8 and 19 microsieverts per hour. This corresponds to less than a chest X-ray to 3 chest X-rays. This is the threshold to designate an area an evacuation zone. The yellow area extended far beyond the evacuation zone already put into place. Light green: radiation between 0.5 and one microsieverts per hour. This was still far above the annual level of one hundred millisievert, which should cause no harm to people. This zone contained most of Fukushima Prefecture, southern parts of Miyagi Prefecture, and northern parts of Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures. [217] Up to 307,000 becquerels of cesium per kilogram of soil were detected during a survey held in Fukushima City , 60 kilometers away from the crippled reactors, on 14 September 2011. This was triple the amount for contaminated soil that by Japanese governmental orders should be sealed into concrete. According to “Citizens Against Fukushima Aging Nuclear Power Plants”, these readings were comparable to the high levels in special regulated zones where evacuation was required after the Chernobyl accident. They urged the government to designate the area as a hot spot, where residents would need to voluntarily evacuate and be eligible for state assistance. Professor Tomoya Yamauchi of the University of Kobe , in charge of the study, in which soil samples were tested from five locations around the district, noted that the decontamination conducted in some of the areas tested has not yet reduced the radiation to pre-accident levels. [218] On 18 October 2011 a hot-spot in a public square was found in the city of Kashiwa , Chiba in the Nedokoyadai district, by a resident walking with a dosimeter. He informed the city council. Their first readings were off the scale, as their Geiger-counter could measure up to 10 microsieverts per hour. Later measurements by the Chiba environment foundation reported a final result of 57.5 microsieverts per hour. On 21 October the roads around the place were sealed off, and the place was covered with sandbags three meters thick. Further investigations and check-ups were planned on 24 October 2011. [219] These investigations showed on 23 October levels up to 276,000 becquerels radioactive cesium per kilogram of soil, 30 centimeters below the surface. The first comments of town officials on the find of 57.7 microsieverts per hour were that there could not be a link with the Fukushima disaster, but after the find of this large amount of cesium, officials of the Science Ministry could not deny the possibility that the cause could be found at the Fukushima-site. [220] In October 2011, radiation levels as high as those in the evacuation zone around Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant were detected in a Tokyo suburb. Japanese officials said the contamination was linked to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Contamination levels “as high as those inside Fukushima’s no-go zone have been detected, with officials speculating that the hotspot was created after radioactive caesium carried in rain water became concentrated because of a broken gutter”. [221] In October 2011 the Japanese Ministry of Science launched a phone hotline to deal with concerns about radiation exposure outside Fukushima Prefecture. Concerned Japanese citizens had been walking with Geiger-counters through their locality in search of all places with raised radiation levels. Whenever a site was found with a radiation dose at one meter above the ground more than one microsievert per hour and higher than nearby areas, this should be mentioned at the hotline. One microsievert per hour is the limit above this topsoil at school playgrounds would be removed, subsidized by the state of Japan. Local governments were asked to carry out simple decontamination works, such as clearing mud from ditches if necessary. When radiation levels would remain more than one microsievert higher than nearby areas even after the cleaning, the ministry offered to help with further decontamination. On the website of the ministry a guideline was posted on how to measure radiation levels in a proper way, how to hold the dosimeter and how long to wait for a proper reading. [222] [223] In October 2011 hotspots were reported on the grounds of two elementary schools in Abiko in Chiba : 11.3 microsieverts per hour was detected on 25 September just above the surface of the ground near a ditch in the compounds of the Abiko Municipal Daiichi Elementary School. At 50 centimeters above the ground the reading was 1.7 microsieverts per hour. The soil in the ditch contained 60,768 becquerels per kilogram. After the soil was removed, the radiation decreased to 0.6 microsieverts per hour at 50 centimeters above groundlevel. 10.1 microsieverts per hour was found at the Abiko Municipal Namiki Elementary School near the surface of the ground where sludge removed from the swimming pool of the school had been buried. The area was covered with a waterproof tarp and dirt was put on top of the tarp to decrease the radiation; 0.6 microsieverts per hour was measured 50 centimeters above the ground after this was done. [224] Radioactive cesium was found in waste water discharged into Tokyo Bay from a cement factory in the prefecture Chiba east of Tokio. In September and October two water samples were taken, measuring 1,103 becquerels per liter and 1,054 becquerels per liter respectively. These were 14 to 15 times higher than the limit set by NISA . Ash from incinerators in the prefecture constituted the raw material to produce cement. In this process toxic substances are filtered out of the ashes, and the water used to clean these filters was discharged into Tokyo Bay. On 2 November 2011 this waste-water discharge was halted, and the Japanese authorities started a survey on the cesium contamination of the seawater of Tokyo Bay near the plant. [225] [226] Cesium-134 and cesium-137 soil contamination map On 12 November the Japanese government published a contamination map compiled by helicopter. This map covered a much wider area than before. Six new prefectures Iwate , Yamanashi , Nagano , Shizuoka , Gifu , and Toyama were included in this new map of the soil radioactivity of cesium-134 and cesium-137 in Japan. Contamination between 30,000 and 100,000 becquerels per square meter was found in Ichinoseki and Oshu (prefecture Iwate ), in Saku , Karuizawa and Sakuho (prefecture Nagano , in Tabayama (prefecture Yamanashi ) and elsewhere. [227] Computer simulations of cesium contamination Based on radiation measurements made all over Japan between 20 March and 20 April 2011, and the atmospheric patterns in that period, computer simulations were performed by an international team of researchers, in cooperation with the University of Nagoya , in order to estimate the spread of radioactive materials like cesium-137. Their results, published in two studies [228] [229] on 14 November 2011, suggested that cesium-137 reached up to the northernmost island of Hokkaido , and the regions of Chugoku and Shikoku in western Japan at more than 500 kilometers from the Fukushima plant. Rain accumulated the cesium in the soil. Measured radioactivity per kilogram reached 250 becquerels in eastern Hokkaido, and 25 becquerels in the mountains of western Japan. According to the research group, these levels were not high enough to require decontamination. Professor Tetsuzo Yasunari of the University of Nagoya called for a national soil-testing program because of the nationwide spread of radioactive material, and suggested identified hotspots, places with high radiation levels, should be marked with warning signs. [230] [231] The first study concentrated on cesium-137. Around the nuclear plant, places were found containing up to 40.000 becquerels/kg, 8 times the governmental safety limit of 5.000 becquerels/kg. Places further away were just below this maximum. East and north-east from the plant the soil was contaminated the most. North-west and westwards the soil was less contaminated, because of mountain protection. The second study had a wider scope, and was meant to study the geographic spread of more-radioactive isotopes, like tellurium and iodine. Because these isotopes deposit themselves in the soil with rain, Norikazu Kinoshita and his colleagues observed the effect of two specific rain-showers on 15 and 21 March 2011. The rainfall on 15 March contaminated the grounds around the plant; the second shower transported the radioactivity much further from the plant, in the direction of Tokyo. According to the authors, the soil should be decontaminated, but when this is found impossible, farming should be limited. [232] Elementary school yard in Tokyo On 13 December 2011 extremely high readings of radioactive cesium – 90,600 becquerels per kilogram, 11 times the governmental limit of 8000 becquerels – were detected in a groundsheet at the Suginami Ward elementary school in Tokyo at a distance of 230 kilometers from Fukushima. The sheet was used to protect the school lawn against frost from 18 March until 6 April 2011. Until November this sheet was stored alongside a gymnasium. In places near this storage area up to 3.95 microsieverts per hour were measured one centimeter above the ground. The school planned to burn the sheet. Further inspections were requested. [233] Radiation exposure in the city of Fukushima All citizens of the town Fukushima received dosimeters to measure the precise dose of radiation to which they were exposed. After September the city of Fukushima collected the 36,478 “glass badges” of dosimeters from all its citizens for analysis. It turned out that 99 percent had not been exposed to more than 0.3 millisieverts in September 2011, except four young children from one family: a girl, in third year elementary school, had received 1.7 millisieverts, and her three brothers had been exposed to 1.4 to 1.6 millisieverts. Their home was situated near a highly radioactive spot, and after this find the family moved out of Fukushima Prefecture. A city official said that this kind of exposure would not affect their health. [234] Similar results were obtained for a three-month period from September 2011: among a group of 36,767 residents in Fukushima city, 36,657 had been exposed to less than 1 millisievert, and the average dose was 0.26 millisieverts. For 10 residents, the readings ranged from 1.8 to 2.7 millisieverts, but these values are mostly believed to be related to usage errors (dosimeters left outside or exposed to X-ray luggage screening). [235] Disposal of radioactive ash Due to objections from concerned residents it became more and more difficult to dispose of the ashes of burned household garbage in and around Tokyo. The ashes of waste facilities in the Tohoku , Kanto and Kōshin’etsu regions were proven to be contaminated with radioactive cesium. According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment , ashes radiating 8,000 becquerels per kilogram or lower could be buried. Ashes with cesium levels between 8,000 and 100,000 becquerels should be secured, and buried in concrete vessels. A survey was done on 410 sites of waste-disposal facilities, on how the ash disposal was proceeding. At 22 sites, mainly in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, the ashes with levels under 8000 becquerels could not be buried due to the objections of concerned residents. At 42 sites, ashes were found that contained over 8,000 becquerels of cesium, which could not be buried. The ministry made plans to send officials to meetings in the municipalities to explain to the Japanese people that the waste disposal was done safely, and to demonstrate how the disposal of the ashes above 8000 becquerels was conducted. [236] On 5 January 2012 the Nambu (south) Clean Center, a waste incinerator in Kashiwa, Chiba , was taken out of production by the city council because the storage room was completely filled with 200 metric tons of radioactive ash that could not disposed of in landfills. Storage at the plant was full, with 1049 drums, and some 30 tons more were still to be taken out of the incinerator. In September 2011, the factory was closed for two months for the same reason. The Center’s special advanced procedures were able to minimize the volume of the ash, but radioactive cesium was concentrated to levels above the national limit of 8.000 becquerels per kilogram for waste disposal in landfills. It was not possible to secure new storage space for the radioactive ash. Radiation levels in Kashiwa were higher than in surrounding areas, and ashes containing up to 70,800 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram – higher than the national limit – were detected in the city. Other cities around Kashiwa were facing the same problem: radioactive ash was piling up. Chiba prefecture asked Abiko and Inzai to accept temporary storage at the Teganuma waste-disposal facility located at their border. But this met strong opposition from their citizens. [237] Deposition of radioactivity and effect on agricultural products and building materials Radiation monitoring in all 47 prefectures showed wide variation, but an upward trend in 10 of them on 23 March. No deposition could be determined in 28 of them until 25 March [95] The highest value obtained was in Ibaraki (480 Bq/m2 on 25 March) and Yamagata (750 Bq/m2 on 26 March) for iodine-13. For cesium-137, the highest values were in Yamagata at 150 and 1200 Bq/m2 respectively. [95] Measurements made in Japan in a number of locations have shown the presence of radionuclides in the ground. [95] On 19 March, upland soil levels of 8,100 Bq/kg of Cs-137 and 300,000 Bq/kg of I-131 were reported. One day later, the measured levels were 163,000 Bq/kg of Cs-137 and 1,170,000 Bq/kg of I-131. [238] Summary of restrictions imposed by the Japanese government as of 25 April 2011 4/20 – ongoing: All areas Agricultural products On 19 March, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that levels of radioactivity exceeding legal limits had been detected in milk produced in the Fukushima area and in certain vegetables in Ibaraki. On 21 March, IAEA confirmed that “in some areas, iodine-131 in milk and in freshly grown leafy vegetables, such as spinach and spring onions, is significantly above the levels set by Japan for restricting consumption”. One day later, iodine-131 (sometimes above safe levels) and caesium-137 (always at safe levels) detection was reported in Ibaraki prefecture. [95] On 21 March, levels of radioactivity in spinach grown in the open air in Kitaibaraki city in Ibaraki , around 75 kilometers south of the nuclear plant, were 24,000 becquerel (Bq) /kg of iodine-131, 12 times more than the limit of 2,000 Bq/kg, and 690 Bq/kg of caesium, 190 Bq/kg above the limit. [240] In four Prefectures (Ibaraki, Totigi, Gunma, Fukushima), distribution of spinach and kakina was restricted as well as milk from Fukushima. [95] On 23 March, similar restrictions were placed on more leafy vegetables ( komatsuna , cabbages) and all flowerheads brassicas (like cauliflower) in Fukushima, while parsley and milk distribution was restricted in Ibaraki. [95] On 24 March, IAEA reported that virtually all milk samples and vegetable samples taken in Fukushima and Ibaraki on 18–21 and 16–22 March respectively were above the limit. Samples from Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi also had excessive levels in celery , parsley, spinach and other leafy vegetables. In addition, certain samples of beef mainly taken on 27–show of 29 Marched concentrations of iodine-131 and/or caesium-134 and caesium-137 above the regulatory levels. [95] After the detection of radioactive cesium above legal limits in Sand lances caught off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture , the government of the prefecture banned such fishing. [241] On 11 May, cesium levels in tea leaves from a prefecture “just south of Tokyo” were reported to exceed government limits: this was the first agricultural product from Kanagawa Prefecture that exceeded safety limits. [242] In addition to Kanagawa Prefecture, agricultural products from Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures have also been found to exceed the government limits, for example, pasture grass collected on 5 May, measured 3,480 Bq/kg of radioactive caesium, approximately 11 times the state limit of 300 becquerels. [243] Even into July radioactive beef was found on sale in eleven prefectures , as far away as Kōchi and Hokkaido . Authorities explained that until that point testing had been performed on the skin and exterior of livestock. Animal feed and meat cuts had not been checked for radioactivity previously. [244] Hay and straw were found contaminated with cesium 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the reactors and outside the evacuation zone. The news of the contamination of foods with radioactive substances leaking from the Fukushima nuclear reactors damaged the mutual trust between local food producers, including farmers, and consumers. The source of cesium was found to be rice straw that had been fed to the animals. A notice from the Japanese government that was sent to cattle farmers after the nuclear accident made no mention of the possibility that rice straw could be contaminated with radioactive materials from the fallout. [245] Beef from Fukushima Prefecture was removed from the distribution channels. Health minister Kohei Otsuka stated on 17 July 2011 that this removal might not be sufficient. The urine of all cattle for sale was tested in order to return those cows that showed levels of radioactive substances higher than the government-set limit to farms so they could be decontaminated by feeding them safe hay. The minister said that the government should try to buy uncontaminated straw and hay in other parts of the country and offer this to the farmers in the affected areas. [246] All transport of beef raised in the prefecture Fukushima was prohibited after 19 July. The meat of some 132 cows was sold to at least 36 of the 47 prefectures of Japan. In more and more places contaminated meat was found. [247] In March 2012 up to 18,700 becquerels per kilogram radioactive cesium was detected in yamame , or landlocked masu salmon, caught in the Niida river near the town Iitate , which was over 37 times the legal limit of 500 becquerels/kg. The fish was caught for testing purposes prior to the opening of the fishing season. Fishing cooperatives were asked to refrain from catching and eating yamame fish from this river and all streams adjacent to it. No fish was sold in local markets. [248] No fishing was allowed in the river Nojiri in the region Okuaizu in Fukushima after-mid March 2012. The fish caught in this river contained 119 to 139 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram, although this river is located some 130 kilometers from the damaged reactors. In 2011 at this place the fish measured about 50 becquerels per kilogram, and the fishing season was opened as usual. But fishing was not popular in 2011. Local people hoped it would be better in 2012. After the new findings the fishing season was prosponed. [249] On 28 March 2012 smelt caught in the Akagi Onuma lake near the city of Maebashi in the prefecture Gunma was found to be contaminated with 426 becquerels per kilogram of cesium. [250] In April 2012 radioactive cesium concentrations of 110 becquerels per kilogram were found in silver crucian carp fish caught in the Tone River north of Tokyo, some 180 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. Six fishery cooperatives and 10 towns along the river were asked to stop all shipments of fish caught in the river. In March 2012 fish and shellfish caught in a pond near the same river were found to contain levels above the new legal limits of 100 becquerels per kilogram. [251] The Dutch bio-farming company Waterland International and a Japanese federation of farmers made an agreement in March 2012 to plant and grow camellia on 2000 to 3000 hectare. The seeds will be used to produce bio-diesel, which could be used to produce electricity. According to director William Nolten the region had a big potential for the production of clean energy. Some 800,000 hectares in the region could not be used to produce food anymore, and after the disaster because of fears for contamination the Japanese people refused to buy food produced in the region anyway. Experiments would be done to find out whether camelia was capable of extracting caesium from the soil. An experiment with sunflowers had no success. [252] High levels of radioactive cesium were found in 23 varieties of freshwater fish sampled at five rivers and lakes in Fukushima Prefecture between December 2011 and February 2012 and in 8 locations on the open sea. On 2 July 2012 the Ministry of the Environment published that it had found radioactive cesium between 61 and 2,600 becquerels per kilogram. 2,600 becquerels were found in a kind of goby caught in Mano River, which flows from Iitate Village to the city of Minamisoma , north of the nuclear plant. Water bugs, common food for freshwater fish, also showed high levels of 330 to 670 becquerels per kilogram. Marine fish was found less contaminated and showed levels between 2.15 and 260 Bq/kg. Marine fish might be more capable of excreting cesium from their bodies, because saltwater fish have the ability to excrete salt. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment would closely monitor freshwater fish as radioactive cesium might remain for much longer periods in their bodies. According to Japanese regulations, food is considered safe for consumption up to a maximum of 100 Bq/kg. [253] [254] In August 2012, the Health ministry found that cesium levels had dropped to undetectable levels in most cultivated vegetables from the affected area, while food sourced from forests, rivers or lakes in the Tohoku and northern Kanto regions are showing excessive contamination. [255] In a ‘murasoi’-fish (or rock-fish Sebastes pachycephalus) caught in January 2013 at the coast of Fukushima an enormous amount of radioactive cesium was found: 254.000 becquerel/kilogram, or 2540 times the legal limitm in Japan for seafood. [256] [257] On 21 February 2013 a greenling – 38 centimeters long and weighing 564 grams – was caught near a water intake of the reactor units. It did set a new record: containing 740,000 becquerels radioactive cesium per kilogram, 7,400 times the Japanese limit deemed safe for human consumption. The previous record of cesium concentration in fish was 510,000 Bq/kg detected in another greenling. On the sea floor a net was installed by TEPCO, in order to prevent migrating fish to escape from the contaminated area. [258] [259] Cattle and beef As of July 2011, the Japanese government has been unable to control the spread of radioactive material into the nation’s food, and “Japanese agricultural officials say meat from more than 500 cattle that were likely to have been contaminated with radioactive caesium has made its way to supermarkets and restaurants across Japan”. [260] On 22 July it became known that at least 1400 cows were shipped from 76 farms that were fed with contaminated hay and rice-straw that had been distributed by agents in Miyagi and farmers in the prefectures of Fukushima and Iwate, near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Supermarkets and other stores were asking their customers to return the meat. Farmers were asking for help, and the Japanese government was considering whether it should buy and burn all this suspect meat. [261] Beef had 2% more Caesium then the governments strict limits. [262] On 26 July more than 2,800 cattle carcasses, fed with cesium-contaminated food, had been shipped for public consumption to 46 of the 47 prefectures in Japan, with only Okinawa remaining free. Part of this beef, which had reached the markets, still needed to be tested. In an attempt to ease consumer concern the Japanese government promised to impose inspections on all this beef, and to buy the meat back when higher-than-permissible cesium levels were detected during the tests. The government planned to eventually pass on the buy-back costs to TEPCO. [263] The same day the Japanese ministry of agriculture urged farmers and merchants to renounce the use and sale of compost made of manure from cows that may have been fed the contaminated straw. The measure also applied to humus from leaves fallen from trees. After developing guidelines for safety levels of radioactive caesium in compost and humus, this voluntary ban could be lifted. [264] On 28 July a ban was imposed on all the shipments on cattle from the prefecture Miyagi . Some 1,031 beasts had been shipped that probably were fed with contaminated rice-straw. Measurements of 6 of them revealed 1,150 becquerels per kilogram, more than twice the governmental set safety level. Because the origins were scattered all over the prefecture, Miyagi became the second prefecture with a ban on all beef-cattle shipments. In the year before 11 March about 33,000 cattle were traded from Miyagi. [265] On 1 August a ban was put on all cattle in the prefecture Iwate , after 6 cows from two villages were found with heavy levels of caesium. Iwate was the third prefecture where this was decided. Shipments of cattle and meat would only be allowed after examination, and when the level of caesium was below the regulatory standard. In Iwate some 36,000 cattle were produced in a year. All cattle would be checked for radioactive contamination before shipment, and the Japanese government asked the prefecture to temporarily reduce the number of shipments to match its inspection capability. [266] On 3 August, the prefecture Shimane , in western Japan, conducted radiation checks on all beef cattle to ease consumer concerns about food safety. Starting from the second week of August all cattle were tested. Late July at one farm in this prefecture rice-straw was discovered with radioactive caesium levels exceeding the government safety guide. Although all other tests of beef cattle found far lower levels of radioactivity than the government standard, prices of beef from Shimane plummeted and wholesalers avoided all cattle from the prefecture. All processed beef would undergo preliminary screening, and meat registering 250 becquerels per kilogram or more of radioactive caesium – half the government safety level – would be tested further. [267] The second week of August the prefecture of Fukushima Prefecture initiated a buy-out of all cattle that could not be sold because the high levels of caesium in the meat. The prefecture decided to buy back all beef cattle that had become too old for shipment due to the shipping suspension in place since July. On 2 August a group of farmers agreed with the Fukushima prefectural government to set up a consultative body to regulate this process. The prefectural government provided the subsidies needed. There was some delay, because the farmers and the local government could not agree about the prices. [268] The problems for the farmers were growing, because they did not know how to protect their cattle from contamination and did not know how to feed their cattle. The farmers said that the buy-back plan needed to be implemented immediately. [268] On 5 August 2011, in response to calls for more support by farmers, the Japanese government revealed a plan to buy up all beef contaminated with radioactive caesium, that had already reached the distribution chains, as an additional measurement to support beef cattle farmers. The plan included: the buy-out of about 3,500 head of cattle suspected to have been fed with contaminated rice straw, with caesium in excess of the safety limit. regardless the fact that some beef could be within the national safety limits. all this meat would be burned, to keep it out of distribution-channels Other measurements were the expansion of subsidies to beef cattle farmers: Farmers who were unable to ship their cattle due to restrictions received 50,000 yen, (~ 630 dollars) per head of cattle regardless of the cattle’s age. financial support was offered to prefectures that were buying up beef cattle, that had become too old to ship due to the ban. The Japanese Government planned to go on to buy all beef containing unsafe levels of radioactive caesium that reached the market through private organizations. [269] On 19 August 2011 was reported, the meat of 4 cows from one Fukushima farm had been found to be contaminated with radioactive caesium in excess of the government-set safety limits. The day after the meat of 5 other cows from this farm was also found to contain radioactive caesium. Because of this the central government delayed lifting a shipment ban on Fukushima beef. The 9 cows were among a total of over 200 head of cattle shipped from the farm and slaughtered at a facility in Yokohama city between 11 March nuclear accident and April. The beef had been stored by a food producer. The farmer denied feeding the cows contaminated rice straw, instead he used imported hay that had been stored at another farm. [270] Japan banned Fukushima beef. These domestic animals were affected by the food supply. It was reported that 136 cows consumed feed affected by radioactive caesium. A number of cows were found to have consumed rice straw containing high levels of radioactive caesium. This meat had already been distributed nationwide and that it “could have already reached consumers.” They traced contaminated beef on farms near the Fukushima power plant, and on farms 100 km (70 miles) away. “The government has also acknowledged that the problem could be wider than just Fukushima.” [271] By August 2012, sampling of beef from affected areas revealed that 3 out of 58,460 beef samples contained radioactivity above regulatory limits. Much of the radioactivity is believed to have come from contaminated feed. Radioactivity infiltration into the beef supply has subsided with time, and is projected to continue decreasing. [272] Natto In August 2011, a group of 5 manufacturers of natto , or fermented soybeans, in Mito, Ibaraki planned to seek damages from TEPCO because their sales had fallen by almost 50 percent. Natto is normally packed in rice-straw and after the discovery of caesium contamination, they had lost many customers. The lost sales from April–August 2011 had risen to around 1.3 million dollars. [273] Tea-leaves On 3 September 2011 radioactive caesium exceeding the government’s safety limit had been detected in tea leaves in Chiba and Saitama prefectures, near Tokyo. This was the ministry’s first discovery of radioactive substances beyond legal limits since the tests of food stuffs started in August. These tests were conducted in order to verify local government data using different numbers and kinds of food samples. Tea leaves of one type of tea from Chiba Prefecture contained 2,720 becquerels of radioactive caesium per kilogram, 5 times above the legal safety limit. A maximum of 1,530 becquerels per kilogram was detected in 3 kinds of tea leaves from Saitama Prefecture. Investigations were done to find out where the tea was grown, and to determine how much tea had already made its way to market. Tea producers were asked to recall their products, when necessary. [274] As tea leaves are never directly consumed, tea produced from processed leaves are expected to contain no more than 1/35th the density of caesium (in the case of 2720bq/kg, the tea will show just 77bq/l, below the 200bq/l legal limit at the time) [275] In the prefecture Shizuoka at the beginning of April 2012, tests done on tea-leaves grown inside a greenhouse were found to contain less than 10 becquerels per kilogram, below the new limit of 100 becquerels, [276] The tests were done in a governmental laboratory in Kikugawa city, to probe cesium-concentrations before the at the end of April the tea-harvest season would start. [250] The health ministry published in August 2012, that cesium levels in tea made from “yacon” leaves and in samples of Japanese tea “shot through the ceiling” this year. [255] Rice On 19 August radioactive caesium was found in a sample of rice. This was in Ibaraki Prefecture, just north of Tokyo, in a sample of rice from the city of Hokota, about 100 miles south of the nuclear plant. The prefecture said the radioactivity was well within safe levels: it measured 52 becquerels per kilogram, about one-tenth of the government-set limit for grains. Two other samples tested at the same time showed no contamination. The Agriculture Ministry said it was the first time that more than trace levels of cesium had been found in rice. [277] On 16 September 2011 the results were published of the measurements of radioactive cesium in rice. The results were known of around 60 percent of all test-locations. Radioactive materials were detected in 94 locations, or 4.3 percent of the total. But the highest level detected so far, in Fukushima prefecture, was 136 becquerels per kilogram, about a quarter of the government’s safety limit of 500 Becquerel per kilogram. Tests were conducted in 17 prefectures, and were completed in more than half of them. In 22 locations radioactive materials were detected in harvested rice. The highest level measured was 101.6 becquerels per kilogram, or one fifth of the safety limit. Shipments of rice did start in 15 prefectures, including all 52 municipalities in the prefecture Chiba . In Fukushima shipments of ordinary rice did start in 2 municipalities, and those of early-harvested rice in 20 municipalities. [278] On 23 September 2011 radioactive caesium in concentrations above the governmental safety limit was found in rice samples collected in an area in the northeastern part of the prefecture Fukushima. Rice-samples taken before the harvest showed 500 becquerels per kilogram in the city of Nihonmatsu. The Japanese government ordered a two way testing procedure of samples taken before and after the harvest. Pre-harvest tests were carried out in nine prefectures in the regions of Tohoku and Kanto . After the find of this high level of cesium, the prefectural government dis increase the number of places to be tested within the city from 38 to about 300. The city of Nihonmatsu held an emergency meeting on 24 September with officials from the prefecture government. The farmers, that already had started harvesting, were ordered to store their crop until the post-harvest tests were available. [279] On 16 November [280] 630 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium was detected in rice harvested in the Oonami district in Fukushima City. [281] [282] All rice of the fields nearby was stored and none of this rice had been sold to the market. On 18 November all 154 farmers in the district were asked to suspend all shipments of rice. Tests were ordered on rice samples from all 154 farms in the district. The result of this testing was reported on 25 November: five more farms were found with cesium contaminated rice at a distance of 56 kilometers from the disaster reactors in the Oonami district of Fukushima City, The highest level of cesium detected was 1,270 becquerels per kilogram. [283] On 28 November 2011 the prefecture of Fukushima reported the find of cesium-contaminated rice, up to 1050 Becquerels per kilogram, in samples of 3 farms in the city Date at a distance of 50 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi reactors. Some 9 kilo’s of this crops were already sold locally before this date. Officials tried to find out who bought this rice. Because of this and earlier finds the government of the prefecture Fukushima decided to control more than 2300 farms in the whole district on cesium-contamination. [284] [285] A more precise number was mentioned by the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi Daily News : on 29 November orders were given to 2381 farms in Nihonmatsu and Motomiya to suspend part of their rice shipments. This number added to the already halted shipments at 1941 farms in 4 other districts including Date , raised the total to 4322 farms. [286] Rice exports from Japan to China became possible again after a bilateral governmental agreement in April 2012. With government-issued certificates of origin Japanese rice produced outside the prefectures Chiba , Fukushima prefecture , Gunma , Ibaraki , Niigata , Nagano , Miyagi , Saitama , Tokyo , Tochigi and Saitama was allowed to be exported. In the first shipment 140.000 tons of Hokkaido rice of the 2011 harvest was sold to China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation . [287] Noodles On 7 February 2012 noodles contaminated with radioactive cesium (258 becquerels of cesium per kilogram) were found in a restaurant in Okinawa . The noodles, called “Okinawa soba”, were apparently produced with water filtered through contaminated ashes from wood originating from the prefecture Fukushima. On 10 February 2012 the Japanese Agency for Forestry set out a warning not to use ashes from wood or charcoal, even when the wood itself contained less than the governmental set maximum of 40 becquerels per kilo for wood or 280 becquerels for charcoal. When the standards were set, nobody thought about the use of the ashes to be used for the production of foods. But, in Japan it was a custom to use ashes when kneading noodles or to take away a bitter taste, or “aku” from “devil’s tongue” and wild vegetables. [288] Mushrooms On 13 October 2011 the city of Yokohama terminated the use of dried shiitake-mushrooms in school lunches after tests had found radioactive cesium in them up to 350 becquerels per kilogram. In shiitake mushrooms grown outdoors on wood in a city in the prefecture Ibaraki , 170 kilometers from the nuclear plant, samples contained 830 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium, exceeding the government’s limit of 500 becquerels. Radioactive contaminated shiitake mushrooms, above 500 becquerels per kilogram, were also found in two cities of prefecture Chiba , therefore restrictions were imposed on the shipments from these cities. [289] On 29 October the government of the prefecture Fukushima Prefecture announced that shiitake mushrooms grown indoors at a farm in Soma , situated at the coast north from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, were contaminated with radioactive cesium: They contained 850 becquerels per kilogram, and exceeded the national safety-limit of 500-becquerel. The mushrooms were grown on beds made of woodchips mixed with other nutrients. The woodchips in the mushroom-beds sold by the agricultural cooperative of Soma were thought to have caused of the contamination. Since 24 October 2011 this farm had shipped 1,070 100-gram packages of shiitake mushrooms to nine supermarkets. Besides these no other shiitake mushrooms produced by the farm were sold to customers. [290] In the city of Yokohama in March and October food was served to 800 people with dried shiitake -mushrooms that came from a farm near this town at a distance of 250 kilometer from Fukushima. The test-results of these mushrooms showed 2,770 Becquerels per kilo in March and 955 Becquerels per kilo in October, far above the limit of 500 Becquerels per kilo set by the Japanese government. The mushrooms were checked for contamination in the first week of November, after requests of concerned people with questions about possible contamination of the food served. No mushrooms were sold elsewhere. [291] On 10 November 2011 some 120 kilometers away southwest from the Fukushima-reactors in the prefecture Tochigi 649 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram was measured in kuritake mushrooms. Four other cities of Tochigi did already stop with the sales and shipments of the mushrooms grown there. The farmers were asked to stop all shipments and to call back the mushrooms already on the market. [292] [293] Drinking water The regulatory safe level for iodine-131 and caesium-137 in drinking water in Japan are 100 Bq/kg and 200 Bq/kg respectively. [95] The Japanese science ministry said on 20 March that radioactive substances were detected in tap water in Tokyo, as well as Tochigi , Gunma , Chiba and Saitama prefectures. [294] IAEA reported on 24 March that drinking water in Tokyo, Fukushima and Ibaraki had been above regulatory limits between 16 and 21 March. [95] On 26 March, IAEA reported that the values were now within legal limits. [95] On 23 March, Tokyo drinking water exceeded the safe level for infants, prompting the government to distribute bottled water to families with infants. [295] Measured levels were caused by iodine-131 (I-131) and were 103, 137 and 174 Bq/l. [296] On 24 March, iodine-131 was detected in 12 of 47 prefectures, of which the level in Tochigi was the highest at 110 Bq/kg. Caesium-137 was detected in 6 prefectures but always below 10 Bq/kg. [95] On 25 March, tap water was reported to have reduced to 79 Bq/kg [296] and to be safe for infants in Tokyo and Chiba but still exceeded limits in Hitachi and Tokaimura. [297] On 27 April, “radiation in Tokyo’s water supply fell to undetectable levels for the first time since 18 March.” [298] The following graphs show Iodine-131 water contaminations measured in water purifying plants From 16 March to 7 April: Chiba Prefecture Tochigi Prefecture Tokyo Prefecture On 2 July samples of tapwater taken in Tokyo Shinjuku ward radioactive caesium-137 was detected for the first time since April. The concentration was 0.14 becquerel per kilogram and none was discovered yesterday, which compares with 0.21 becquerel on 22 April, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health. No caesium-134 or iodine-131 was detected. The level was below the safety limit set by the government. “This is unlikely to be the result of new radioactive materials being introduced, because no other elements were detected, especially the more sensitive iodine”, into the water supply, were the comments of Hironobu Unesaki, a nuclear engineering professor at Kyoto University. [299] Breast milk Small amounts of radioactive iodine were found in the breast milk of women living east of Tokyo. However, the levels were below the safety limits for tap water consumption by infants. [300] Regulatory limits for infants in Japan are several levels of magnitude beneath what is known to potentially affect human health. Radiation protection standards in Japan are currently stricter than international recommendations and the standards of most other states, including those in North America and Europe . [276] By Nov 2012, no radioactivity was detected in Fukushimas mothers breast milk. 100% of samples contained no detectable amount of radioactivity. [301] [302] Baby-milk Mid November 2011 radioactive cesium was found in milk-powder for baby-food produced by the food company Meiji Co. Although this firm was warned about this matter three times, the matter was taken seriously by its consumer service after it was approached by Kyodo News . Up to 30.8 becquerels per kilogram was found in Meiji Step milk powder. While this is under the governmental safety-limit of 200 becquerels per kilogram, this could be more harmful for young children. Because of this cesium-contaminated milk powder, the Japanese minister of health Yoko Komiyama said on 9 December 2011 at a press conference, that her ministry would start regularly tests on baby food products in connection with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crisis, every three months and more frequently when necessary. Komiyama said: “As mothers and other consumers are very concerned (about radiation), we want to carry out regular tests”, Test done by the government in July and August 2011 on 25 baby products did not reveal any contamination. [303] Children In a survey by the local and central governments conducted on 1,080 children aged 0 to 15 in Iwaki, Kawamata and Iitate on 26–30 March, almost 45 percent of these children had experienced thyroid exposure to radiation with radioactive iodine , although in all cases the amounts of radiation did not warrant further examination, according to the Nuclear Safety Commission on Tuesday 5 July. In October 2011, hormonal irregularies in 10 evacuated children were reported. However, the organization responsible for the study said that no link had been established between the children’s condition and exposure to radiation. [304] On 9 October a survey started in the prefecture Fukushima: ultrasonic examinations were done of the thyroid glands of all 360,000 children between 0 and 18 years of age. Follow-up tests will be done for the rest of their lives. This was done in response to concerned parents, alarmed by the evidence showing increased incidence of thyroid cancer among children after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The project was done by the Medical University of Fukushima. [305] The results of the tests will be mailed to the children within a month. At the end of 2014 the initial testing of all children should be completed, after this the children will undergo a thyroid checkup every 2 years until they turn 20, and once every 5 years above that age. [306] In November 2011 in urine-samples of 1500 pre-school-children (ages 6 years or younger) from the city of Minamisoma in the prefecture Fukushima radioactive cesium was found in 104 cases. Most had levels between 20 and 30 becquerels per liter, just above the detection limit, but 187 becquerels was found in the urine of a one-year-old baby boy. The parents had been concerned about internal exposure. Local governments covered the tests for elementary schoolchildren and older students. According to RHC JAPAN a medical consultancy firm in Tokyo, these levels could not harm the health of the children. But director Makoto Akashi of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences said, that although those test results should be verified, this still proved the possibility of internal exposure in the children of Fukushima, but that the internal exposure would not increase, when all food was tested for radioactivity before consumption. [307] [308] Soil Also in July citizens groups reported that a survey of soil at four places in the city of Fukushima taken on 26 June proved that all samples were contaminated with radioactive caesium, measuring 16,000 to 46,000 becquerels per kilogram and exceeding the legal limit of 10,000 becquerels per kg, [309] A study published by the PNAS found that cesium 137 had “strongly contaminated the soils in large areas of eastern and northeastern Japan.” [228] Wildlife After the find of 8,000 becquerels of caesium per kilogram in wild mushrooms , and a wild boar that was found with radioactivity amounts about 6 times the safety limit, Professor Yasuyuki Muramatsu at the Gakushuin University urged detailed checks on wild plants and animals. Radioactive caesium in soil and fallen leaves in forests in his opinion would be easily absorbed by mushrooms and edible plants. He said that wild animals like boars were bound to accumulate high levels of radioactivity by eating contaminated mushrooms and plants. The professor added that detailed studies were on wild plants and animals. Across Europe the Chernobyl -incident had likewise effects on wild fauna and flora. [310] The first study of the effects of radioactive contamination following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster suggested, through standard point count censuses that the abundance of birds was negatively correlated with radioactive contamination, and that among the 14 species in common between the Fukushima and the Chernobyl regions, the decline in abundance was presently steeper in Fukushima. [311] However criticism of this conclusion is that naturally there would be less bird species living on a smaller amount of land, that is, in the most contaminated areas, than the number one would find living in a larger body of land, that is, in the broader area. [312] Scientists in Alaska are testing seals struck with an unknown illness to see if it is connected to radiation from Fukushima. [313] Japanese bloggers are also reporting sick birds that cannot fly in the Fukushima area. [314] About a year after the nuclear disaster some Japanese scientists found what they regarded was an increased number of mutated butterflies. In their paper, they said, this was an unexpected finding, as “insects are very resistant to radiation.” Since these are recent findings, the study suggests that these mutations have been passed down from older generations. [315] Timothy Jorgensen, of the Department of Radiation Medicine and the Health Physics Program of Georgetown University raised a number of issues with this “simply not credible” paper, in the journal Nature and concluded that the team’s paper is “highly suspect due to both their internal inconsistencies and their incompatibility with earlier and more comprehensive radiation biology research on insects”. [316] Plankton Radioactive cesium was found in high concentration in plankton in the sea near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Samples were taken up to 60 kilometers from the coast of Iwaki city in July 2011 by scientists of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology . Up to 669 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium was measured in samples of animal plankton taken 3 kilometers offshore. The leader of the research-group Professor Takashi Ishimaru, said that the sea current continuously carried contaminated water southwards from the plant. Further studies to determine the effect on the food-chain and fish would be needed. [317] Building materials Detectable levels of radiation were found in an apartment building in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima , where the foundation was made using concrete containing crushed stone collected from a quarry near the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, situated inside the evacuation-zone. Of the 12 households living there were 10 households relocated after the quake. [318] After inspection at the quarry – situated inside the evacuation-zone around the nuclear plant—in the town of Namie, Fukushima between 11 and 40 microsieverts of radiation per hour were detected one meter above gravel held at eight storage sites in the open, while 16 to 21 microsieverts were detected in three locations covered by roofs. From this place about 5,200 metric tons of gravel was shipped from this place and used as building material. On 21 January 2012 the association of quarry agents in the prefecture Fukushima asked its members to voluntarily check their products for radioactivity to ease public concerns over radioactive contamination of building materials. [319] The minister of Industry Yukio Edano did instruct TEPCO to pay compensation for the economical damages. Raised radiation levels were found on many buildings constructed after the quake. [320] Schools, private houses, roads. Because of the public anger raised by these finds. the government of Nihonmatsu, Fukushima decided to examine all 224 city construction projects started after the quake. [321] [322] [323] Some 200 construction companies received stone from the Namie-quarry, and the material was used in at least 1000 building-sites. The contaminated stone was found in some 49 houses and apartments. Radiation levels of 0.8 mSv per hour were found, almost as high as the radiation levels outside the homes. [324] [325] None of these represents a potential danger to human health. On 22 January 2012, the Japanese government survey had identified around 60 houses built with the radioactive contaminated concrete. Even after 12 April 2011, when the area was declared to be an evacuation zone, the shipments continued, and the stone was used for building purposes. [326] In the first weeks of February 2012 up to 214,200 becquerels of radioactive caesium per kilogram was measured in samples gravel in the quarry near Namie, situated inside the evacuation zone. The gravel stored outside showed about 60,000–210,000 becquerels of caesium in most samples. From the 25 quarries in the evacuation zones, up to 122,400 becquerels of radioactive caesium was found at one that has been closed since the nuclear crisis broke out on 11 March 2011. In one quarry, that is still operational 5,170 becquerels per kilogram was found. Inspections were done at some 150 of the 1.100 construction sites, where the gravel form the Namie-quarry was suspected to be used. At 27 locations the radioactivity levels were higher than the surrounding area. [327] Hot spots at school-yards On 6 May 2012 it became known that according to documents of the municipal education board reports submitted by each school in Fukushima prefecture in April at least 14 elementary schools, 7 junior high and 5 nursery schools so called “hot spots” existed, where the radiation exposure was more than 3.8 microsieverts per hour, resulting in an annual cumulative dose above 20 millisieverts. However all restrictions, that limited the maximum time to three hours for the children to play outside at the playgrounds of the schools, were lifted at the beginning of the new academic year in April by the education board. The documents were obtained by a group of civilians after a formal request to disclose the information. Tokiko Noguchi, the foreman of a group of civilians, insisted that the education board would restore the restrictions. [328] New radioactivity limits for food in Japan On 22 December 2011 the Japanese government announced new limits for radioactive cesium in food. The new norms would be enforced in April 2012. [329] food 10 becquerel per liter 200 becquerel per liter On 31 March 2012 the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan published a report on radioactive cesium found in food. Between January and around 15 March 2012 at 421 occasions food was found containing more than 100 becquerels per kilogram cesium. All was found within 8 prefectures: Chiba , Fukushima Prefecture (285 finds), Gunma , Ibaraki (36 finds), Iwate , Miyagi , Tochigi (29 finds) and Yamagata . Most times it involved fish: landlocked salmon and flounder, seafood, after this: Shiitake-mushrooms or the meat of wild animals. [330] [331] In the first week of April 2012 cesium-contamination above legal limits was found in: Shiitake mushrooms in Manazuru Kanagawa prefecture situated at 300 kilometers from Fukushima: 141 becquerels/kg bamboo-shoots in two cities in Chiba prefecture bamboo-shoots and Shiitake-mushrooms in 5 cities in the region Kantō , Ibaraki prefecture In Gunma prefecture 106 becquerels/kg was found in beef. Sharper limits for meat would be taken effect in October 2012, but in order to ease consumer concern the farmers were asked to refrain from shipping. [332] Decontamination efforts In the last week of August Prime Minister Naoto Kan informed the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture about the plans to build a central storage facility to store and treat nuclear waste including contaminated soil in Fukushima. On 27 August at a meeting in Fukushima City Governor Yuhei Sato spoke out his concern about the sudden proposals, and the implications that this would have for the prefecture and its inhabitants, that had already endured so much from the nuclear accident. Kan said, that the government had no intention to make the plant a final facility, but the request was needed in order to make a start with decontamination. [333] Distribution outside Japan Radioactivity from the disaster was found in kelp off of Coastal California . [334] According to a Professor at Stanford, there were some meteorological effects involved and that “81 percent of all the emissions were deposited over the ocean” instead of mainly being spread inland. [335] Distribution by sea Seawater containing measurable levels of iodine-131 and caesium-137 were collected by Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) on 22–23 March at several points 30 km from the coastline iodine concentrations were “at or above Japanese regulatory limits” while caesium was “well below those limits” according to an IAEA report on 24 March. [95] On 25 March, IAEA indicated that in the long term, caesium-137 (with a half-life of 30 years) would be the most relevant isotope as far as doses was concerned and indicated the possibility “to follow this nuclide over long distances for several years.” The organization also said it could take months or years for the isotope to reach “other shores of the Pacific”. [95] The survey by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) reveals that radioactive cesium released from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant reached the ocean 2000 kilometers from the plant and 5000 meters deep one month after the accident. It is considered that airborne cesium particles fell on the ocean surface, and sank as they were attached to the bodies of dead plankton. The survey result was announced in a symposium held on 20 November in Tokyo. From 18 to 30 April, JAMSTEC collected “marine snow”, sub-millimeter particles made mostly of dead plankton and sand, off the coast of Kamchatka Peninsula, 2000 kilometers away from Fukushima, and off the coast of Ogasawara Islands, 1000 kilometers away, at 5000 meters below the ocean surface. The Agency detected radioactive cesium in both locations, and from the ratio of cesium-137 and cesium-134 and other observations it was determined that it was from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The density of radioactive cesium is still being analyzed, according to the Agency. It has been thus confirmed that radioactive materials in the ocean are moving and spreading not just by ocean currents but by various other means. Distribution by air File:Fukushima trajectory animation for days 10 to 21 after the accident The United Nations predicted that the initial radioactivity plume from the stricken Japanese reactors would reach the United States by 18 March. Health and nuclear experts emphasized that radioactivity in the plume would be diluted as it traveled and, at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States. [336] A simulation by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy indicated that trace amounts of radioactivity would reach California and Mexico around 19 March. [337] [338] These predictions were tested by a worldwide network of highly sensitive radiative isotope measuring equipment, with the resulting data used to assess any potential impact to human health as well as the status of the reactors in Japan. [339] [340] Consequently, by 18 March radioactive fallout including isotopes of iodine-131, iodine-132, tellurium-132, iodine-133, caesium-134 and caesium-137 was detected in air filters at the University of Washington, Seattle , USA. [341] [342] Due to an anticyclone south of Japan, favorable westerly winds were dominant during most of the first week of the accident, depositing most of the radioactive material out to sea and away from population centers, with some unfavorable wind directions depositing radioactive material over Tokyo. Low-pressure area over Eastern Japan gave less favorable wind directions 21–22 March. Wind shift to north takes place Tuesday midnight. After the shift, the plume would again be pushed out to the sea for the next becoming days. Roughly similar prediction results are presented for the next 36 hours by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. [343] In spite of winds blowing towards Tokyo during 21–22 March, he comments, “From what I’ve been able to gather from official reports of radioactivity releases from the Fukushima plant, Tokyo will not receive levels of radiation dangerous to human health in the coming days, should emissions continue at current levels.” Norwegian Institute for Air Research have continuous forecasts of the radioactive cloud and its movement. [344] These are based on the FLEXPART model, originally designed for forecasting the spread of radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster . As of 28 April, the Washington State Department of Health, located in the U.S state closest to Japan, reported that levels of radioactive material from the Fukushima plant had dropped significantly, and were now often below levels that could be detected with standard tests. [345] Response in other countries Rush for iodine Packaged potassium iodide tablets. Fear of radiation from Japan prompted a global rush for iodine pills, including in the United States, [346] Canada, Russia, [347] Korea, [348] China, [349] Malaysia [350] and Finland. [351] There is a rush for iodized salt in China. [349] A rush for iodine antiseptic solution appeared in Malaysia. WHO warned against consumption of iodine pills without consulting a doctor and also warned against drinking iodine antiseptic solution. [350] The United States Pentagon said troops are receiving potassium iodide before missions to areas where possible radiation exposure is likely. [352] The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it has received reports of people being admitted to poison centres around the world after taking iodine tablets in response to fears about harmful levels of radiation coming out of the damaged nuclear power plant in Fukushima. [353] U.S. military Humanitarian flight is checked for radiation at Yokota In Operation Tomodachi , the United States Navy dispatched the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and other vessels in the Seventh Fleet to fly a series of helicopter operations. [354] A U.S. military spokesperson said that low-level radiation forced a change of course en route to Sendai. [355] The Reagan and sailors aboard were exposed to “a month’s worth of natural background radiation from the sun, rocks or soil” [356] in an hour and the carrier was repositioned.[357] Seventeen sailors were decontaminated after they and their three helicopters were found to have been exposed to low levels of radioactivity. [358] The aircraft carrier USS George Washington was docked for maintenance at Yokosuka Naval Base , about 280 kilometres (170 mi) from the plant, when instruments detected radiation at 07:00 JST on 15 March. [359] Rear Admiral Richard Wren stated that the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, 320 kilometres (200 mi) from Yokosuka, was too distant to warrant a discussion about evacuating the base. [360] Daily monitoring and some precautionary measures were recommended for Yokosuka and Atsugi bases, such as limiting outdoor activities and securing external ventilation systems. [361] As a precaution, the Washington was pulled out of its Yokosuka port later in the week. [362] [363] The Navy also temporarily stopped moving its personnel to Japan. [364] Isotopes of concern The isotope iodine-131 is easily absorbed by the thyroid . Persons exposed to releases of I-131 from any source have a higher risk for developing thyroid cancer or thyroid disease, or both. Iodine-131 has a short half-life at approximately 8 days, and therefore is an issue mostly in the first weeks after the incident. Children are more vulnerable to I-131 than adults. Increased risk for thyroid neoplasm remains elevated for at least 40 years after exposure. Potassium iodide tablets prevent iodine-131 absorption by saturating the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine. [365] Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission recommended local authorities to instruct evacuees leaving the 20-kilometre area to ingest stable (not radioactive) iodine. [95] CBS News reported that the number of doses of potassium iodide available to the public in Japan was inadequate to meet the perceived needs for an extensive radioactive contamination event. [366] Caesium-137 is also a particular threat because it behaves like potassium and is taken up by cells throughout the body. Additionally, it has a long, 30-year half-life. Cs-137 can cause acute radiation sickness , and increase the risk for cancer because of exposure to high-energy gamma radiation. Internal exposure to Cs-137, through ingestion or inhalation, allows the radioactive material to be distributed in the soft tissues, especially muscle tissue, exposing these tissues to the beta particles and gamma radiation and increasing cancer risk. [367] Prussian blue helps the body excrete caesium-137. [366] [368] Strontium-90 behaves like calcium , and tends to deposit in bone and blood-forming tissue (bone marrow). 20–30% of ingested Sr-90 is absorbed and deposited in the bone. Internal exposure to Sr-90 is linked to bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near the bone, and leukemia. [369] Risk of cancer increases with increased exposure to Sr-90. [369] [370] Plutonium is also present in the MOX fuel of the Unit 3 reactor and in spent fuel rods. [371] Officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency say the presence of MOX fuel does not add significantly to the dangers. Plutonium-239 is long-lived and potentially toxic with a half-life of 24,000 years. Some hazard hazardous for tens of thousands of years. [372] Radioactive products with long half-lives release less radioactivity per unit time than products with a short half life, as isotopes with a longer half life emit particles much less frequently. For example, one mole (131 grams) of 131I releases 6×1023 decays 99.9% of them within three months, whilst one mole (238 grams) of 238U releases 6×1023 decays 99.9% of them within 45 billion years, but only about 40 parts per trillion in the first three months. Experts commented that the long-term risk associated with plutonium toxicity is “highly dependent on the geochemistry of the particular site.”[373] Regulatory levels An overview for regulatory levels in Japan is shown in the table below: – Summarised daily events Radiation dose rates during ventings, hydrogen explosions and fires at Fukushima On 11 March, Japanese authorities reported that there had been no “release of radiation” from any of the power plants. [95] On 12 March, the day after the earthquake, increased levels of iodine-131 and caesium-137 were reported near Unit 1 on the plant site. [95] On 13 March, venting to release pressure started at several reactors resulting in the release of radioactive material. [95] From 12 to 15 March the people of Namie were evacuated by the local officials to a place in the north of the town. This may have been in an area directly affected by a cloud of radioactive materials from the plants. There are conflicting reports about whether or not the government knew at the time the extent of the danger, or even how much danger there was. [374] Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano announced on 15 March 2011 that radiation dose rates had been measured as high as 30 mSv/h on the site of the plant between units 2 and 3, as high as 400 mSv /h [375] near unit 3, between it and unit 4, and 100 mSv/h near unit 4. He said, “there is no doubt that unlike in the past, the figures are the level at which human health can be affected.” [376] Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people living between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors, “The danger of further radiation leaks (from the plant) is increasing”, Kan warned the public at a press conference, while asking people to “act calmly”. [377] A spokesman for Japan’s nuclear safety agency said TEPCO had told it that radiation levels in Ibaraki, between Fukushima and Tokyo, had risen but did not pose a health risk. Edano reported that the average radiation dose rate over the whole day was 0.109 μSv/h. [200] 23 out of 150 tested persons living close to the plant were decontaminated [95] On 16 March power plant staff were briefly evacuated after smoke rose above the plant and radiation levels measured at the gate increased to 10 mSv/h. [378] Media reported 1,000 mSv/h close to the leaking reactor, with radiation levels subsequently dropping back to 800–600 mSv. [96] Japan’s defence ministry criticized the nuclear-safety agency and TEPCO after some of its troops were possibly exposed to radiation when working on the site. [379] Japan’s ministry of science (MEXT) measured radiation levels of up to 0.33 mSv/h 20 kilometers northwest of the power plant. [191] Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission recommended local authorities to instruct evacuees leaving the 20-kilometre area to ingest stable (not radioactive) iodine. [95] On 17 March IAEA radiation monitoring over 47 cities showed that levels of radiation in Tokyo had not risen. Although at some locations around 30 km from the Fukushima plant, the dose rates had risen significantly in the preceding 24 hours (in one location from 80 to 170 μSv/h and in another from 26 to 95 μSv/h), levels varied according to the direction from the plant. [95] Spinach grown in open air around 75 kilometers south of the nuclear plant had elevated levels of radioactive iodine and caesium [240] On 18 March IAEA clarified that, contrary to several news reports, the IAEA had not received any notification from the Japanese authorities of people sickened by radiation contamination. [95] On 19 March MEXT said a trace amount of radioactive substances was detected in tap water in Tokyo, as well as Tochigi , Gunma , Chiba and Saitama prefectures. [294] The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that radioactivity levels exceeding legal limits had been detected in milk produced in the Fukushima area and in certain vegetables in Ibaraki. Measurements made by Japan in a number of locations have shown the presence of radionuclides such as iodine-131 (I-131) and caesium-137 (Cs-137) on the ground. [95] On 23 March, MEXT released new environmental data. [380] Radioactivity readings for soil and pond samples were highest at one location 40 km northwest of the plant. On 19 March, upland soil there contained 28.1 kBq /kg of Cs-137 and 300 kBq/kg of I-131. One day later, these same figures were 163 kBq/kg of Cs-137 and 1,170 kBq/kg of I-131. Cs-137 of 163 kBq/kg is equal to 3,260 kBq/m2. On 24 March, three workers were exposed to high levels of radiation which caused two of them to require hospital treatment after radioactive water seeped through their protective clothes while working in unit 3. [104] It rained in Tokyo from the morning of 21 March [381] to 24 March. [382] The rain brought radioactive fallout there. In Shinjuku , based on the research by Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 83900 Bq/m2 of I-131, 6310 Bq/m2 of Cs-134, and 6350 Bq/m2 of Cs-137 were detected for these four days in total as radioactive fallout, including 24 hours from 20 March 9:00 am to 21 March 9:00 am. [383] On 25 March the German Ministry of the Environment announced that small amounts of radioactive iodine had been observed in three places within the German atmosphere. [384] On 26 March, Japan’s nuclear safety agency said that contamination from iodine-131 in seawater near the discharge had increased to 1,850 times the limit. [134] 27 March: Levels of “over 1000″ (the upper limit of the measuring device) [385] and 750 mSv/h were reported from water within unit 2 (but outside the containment structure) and 3 respectively. A statement that this level was “ten million times the normal level” in unit 2 was later retracted and attributed to iodine-134 rather than to a longer-lived element. [132] [135] [386] [387] Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency indicated that “The level of radiation is greater than 1,000 millisieverts. It is certain that it comes from atomic fission [...]. But we are not sure how it came from the reactor.” [388] 29 March: iodine-131 levels in seawater 330m south of a key discharge outlet had reached 138 Bq/ml (3,355 times the legal limit) [167] [168] 30 March: iodine-131 concentrations in seawater had reached 180 Bq/ml at a location 330m south of a plant discharge, 4,385 times the legal limit. [168] Tests indicating 3.7 MBq/m2 of Cs-137 caused the IAEA to state that its criteria for evacuation were exceeded in the village of Iitate, Fukushima , outside the existing 30 kilometres (19 miles) radiation exclusion zone. [207] [389] On 31 March, IAEA corrected the value of iodine-131 that had been detected in the Iitate village to 20 million Bq/m2. [390] The value that had been announced at a press interview was about 2 million Bq/m2. [391] On 1 April, besides leafy vegetables and parsley, also beef with iodine-131 and/or caesium-134 and caesium-137 levels above the regulatory limit was reported. [95] 3 April: Health officials reported radioactive substances higher than the legal limits were found in mushrooms . [392] The Japanese government publicly stated that it expected ongoing radioactive-material releases for “months” assuming normal containment measures were used. [393] 4 to 10 April TEPCO announced it had begun dumping 9,100 tons of water that was 100 times the contamination limit from a wastewater treatment plant, and dumping would take 6 days. [394] [395] 5 April: Fish caught 50 miles off the coast of Japan had radioactivity exceeding safe levels. [396] 15 April: Iodine-131 in seawater was measured at 6,500 times the legal limit, while levels of caesium-134 and caesium-137 rose nearly fourfold, possibly due to installation of steel plates meant to reduce the possibility of water leaking into the ocean. [169] 18 April: High levels of radioactive strontium-90 were discovered in soil at the plant, prompting the government to begin regularly testing for the element. [61] [157] [158] 22 April: The Japanese government asked residents to leave Iitate and four other villages within a month due to radiation levels. [397] See also More… Finding More You are currently browsing the the MedLibrary.org general encyclopedia supplement. To return to our medication library, please select from the menu above or use our search box at the top of the page. In addition to our search facility, alphabetical listings and a date list can help you find every medication in our library. Questions or Comments? If you have a question or comment about material specifically within the site’s encyclopedia supplement, we encourage you to read and follow the original source URL given near the bottom of each article. You may also get in touch directly with the original material provider.	i don't know
The Scoville Scale is used to measure the heat of what?	Scoville Scale Organoleptic Test Scoville Scale Organoleptic Test Scoville Scale Organoleptic Test Scoville Organoleptic Test Naga Jolokia peppers are extremely hot, with a heat of over one million Scoville units. Gannon anjo, public domain By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Updated August 14, 2015. The Scoville scale is a measure of the pungency or spicy heat of chili peppers and other chemicals. Here is how the scale is determined and what it means. Origin of the Scoville Scale The Scoville scale is named for American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, who devised the Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912 as a measure of the amount of capsaicin in hot peppers. Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for most of the spicy heat of peppers and certain other foods. Scoville Organoleptic Test or Scoville Scale To perform the Scoville Organoleptic Test, an alcohol extract of capsaicin oil from a dried pepper is mixed with a solution of water and sugar to the point where a panel of taste-testers can barely detect the heat of the pepper. The pepper is assigned Scoville units based on how much the oil was diluted with water in order to reach this point. As an example, if a pepper has a Scoville rating of 50,000, that means capsaicin oil from that pepper was diluted 50,000 times before the testers could just barely detect the heat. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World The higher the Scoville rating, the hotter the pepper. Tasters on the panel taste one sample per session, so that they results from one sample don't interfere with subsequent testing. Even so, the test is subjective because it relies on human taste, so it is inherently imprecise. Scoville ratings for peppers also change according to a type of pepper's growing conditions (especially humidity and soil), maturity, seed lineage and other factors. The Scoville rating for a type of pepper may vary naturally by a factor of 10 or more. Scoville Scale and Chemicals The hottest hot pepper on the Scoville scale probably is the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper, with a Scoville rating of around 1.6 million Scoville units (compared with 16 million Scoville units for pure capsaicin). Other extremely hot and pungent peppers include the naga jolokia or bhut jolokia and its cultivars, the Ghost chili and Dorset naga. However, other plants produce spicy hot chemicals which can be measured using the Scoville scale, including piperine from black pepper and gingerol from ginger. The 'hottest' chemical is resiniferatoxin, which comes from a species of resin spurge, a cactus-like plant found in Morocco. Resiniferatoxin has a Scoville rating a thousand times hotter than pure capsaicin from hot peppers, or over 16 billion Scoville units! ASTA Pungency Units Because the Scoville test is subjective, the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) uses high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to accurately measure the concentration of spice-producing chemicals. The value is expressed in ASTA Pungency Units, where different chemicals are mathematically weighted according to their capacity to produce a sensation of heat. The conversion for ASTA Pungency Units to Scoville heat units is that ASTA pungency units are multiplied by 15 to give equivalent Scoville units (1 ASTA pungency unit = 15 Scoville units). Even though HPLC gives an accurate measurement of the chemical concentration, the conversion to Scoville units is a little 'off', since converting ASTA Pungency Units to Scoville Units yields a value from 20-50% lower than the value from the original Scoville Organoleptic Test.	Chili pepper
Eutrophication is the addition of natural or artificial nutrients to what, causing plant growth?	How Hot Are Chile Peppers? \| Pepper Heat Scale \| Capsaicin Scoville Scale Just How HOT Are My Chiles? Professor Wilber L. Scoville In 1912 a chemists by the name of Wilbur Scoville , working for the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company, developed a method to measure the heat level of chile peppers. The test is named after him, the "Scoville Organoleptic Test". It is a subjective dilution-taste procedure. In the original test, Wilbur blended pure ground Chiles with sugar-water and a panel of "testers" then sipped the solution, in increasingly diluted concentrations, until they reached the point that the liquid no longer burned their mouths. A number was then assigned to each chile pepper based on how much it needed to be diluted before they could no longer taste (feel) the heat. "1,000,000 drops of water is rated at only 1.5 Scoville Units" The pungency (or heat factor) of chile peppers is measured in multiples of 100 units. The sweet bell peppers at zero Scoville units to the mighty Naga Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) at over 1,000,000 Scoville units! One part of chile "heat" per 1,000,000 drops of water is rated at only 1.5 Scoville Units. The substance that makes a chile so hot is called Capsaicin (cap-say-ah-sin). Pure Capsaicin rates between 15,000,000 and 16,000,000 Scoville Units! Today more scientific and accurate methods like Electrochemistry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography ( HPLC ) are used to determine capsaicin levels. In honor of Dr. Wilbur the unit of measure is still named Scoville. Below is a list of Chile peppers and their Scoville Heat Units. Due to variations in growing conditions, soil and weather, peppers tend to vary between the lower and upper levels listed, but can go beyond them. = Click to purchase Pepper Seeds = Click to purchase Chile Powders = Click to purchase Dried Peppers Official World's Largest List Of Scoville Heat Unit Rated A Little Chile Chemistry For The Visiting Rocket Scientist Chiles are members of the Capsicum family. The heat range is diverse, ranging from very mild to extremely wild. The particular class of substances that determine their disposition is known, by those who study such things, as Capsaicinoids. The two most common component of this class are Capsaicin and Di-Hydrocapsaicin they looks something like this. Capsaicin H3CO \____ O CH3 / \ \| \| HO-< >-C-N-C-(CH2)4-C=C-C-CH3 \____/ \| \| \| \| \| H2 H H H H Di-Hydrocapsaicin H3CO \____ O CH3 / \ \| \| HO-< >-C-N-C-(CH2)6-C-CH3 \____/ \| \| H2 H Capsaicin and Di-hydrocapsaicin together make up 80-90% of the Capsaicinoids found in Chile peppers. In the Capsicum annum species, the total Capsaicinoid content ranges from 0.1 to 1.0%, and the Capsaicin to Dihydrocapsaicin ratio is about 1:1. In Capsicum frutescens the total content ranges from 0.4-1.0% with the ratio around 2:1. The minor Capsaicinoids include Nordihydrocapsaicin [Dihydrocapsaicin with a (CH2)5 instead of (CH2)6], Homocapsaicin [Capsaicin with a (CH2)5 instead of (CH2)4, and Homodihydrocapsaicin [Dihydrocapsaicin with a (CH2)7 instead of (CH2)6]. The different capsaicin-like compounds found in Chiles have slight structural variations in the hydrocarbon tail, changing their ability to bind to the nerve receptors and their ability to penetrate layers of receptors on the tongue, mouth, and throat. This may explain why some Chiles burn in the mouth, while others burn deep in the throat. Capsaicinoids are not soluble in water, but very soluble in fats, oils and alcohol. This is why drinking water after accepting a dare to eat an extra hot Habanero Chile won't stop the burning. Downing a cold beer is the traditional remedy, but the small percentage of alcohol will not wash away much capsaicin. To get some relief from a chile burn (can't think of a good reason not to "Enjoy the heat"), drink milk or eat ice-cream. Milk contains casein, a lipophilic (fat-loving) substance that surrounds and washes away the fatty capsaicin molecules in much the same way that soap washes away grease. The perception that peppers are "hot" is not an accident. The capsaicin key opens a door in the cell membrane that allows calcium ions to flood into the cell. That ultimately triggers a pain signal that is transmitted to the next cell. When the cells are exposed to heat, the same events occur. Chile burns and heat burns are similar at the molecular, cellular, and sensory levels. Paradoxically, capsaicin's ability to cause pain makes it useful in alleviating pain. Exposure to capsaicin lowers sensitivity to pain, and it is applied as a counter irritant in the treatment of arthritis and other chronically painful conditions. The capsaicinoids are unique compared to other spicy substances, such as piperine (black pepper) and gingerol (ginger) in that capsaicin causes a long-lasting selective desensitization to the pain and discomfort, as a result of repeated doses. The result is an increasing ability to tolerate ever hotter foods and permits one to assume the title of "Chile-Head" or "CH" for short. People that eat lots of spicy capsaicin-rich foods build up a tolerance to it. The incentive: Once a person has become somewhat desensitized to the extreme heat of the "hotter" Chiles, he or she can starts on a new culinary journey. Not being over powered by the heat factor, the palate now has the ability to explore the many diverse flavors offered by the myriad of different Chiles that are currently available from around the world. Also for some Chile-Heads a good jolt of capsaicin excites the nervous system into producing endorphins, which promote a pleasant sense of well-being that can last several hours. The endorphin lift or "high", makes spicy foods mildly addictive and for some, an obsession. I offer the below information and pictures for folks that are really into the science of Chiles. Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 Uncle Steve, Here are the images as promised. I included structures of some of the minor capsaicinoids as well. There are two versions (a and b) of each structure, corresponding to different conventions of drawing. They're equally correct and unequivocal, and you're free to choose whichever version you prefer. The 'a' convention is most commonly used by chemists, but the 'b' convention might be a bit easier to understand for non-chemists. Best regards,	i don't know
Alberto Grando, who died in 2011 aged 88, was whose motorcycle companion in the 1950s?	Alberto Granado obituary \| World news \| The Guardian Alberto Granado obituary Travelling companion of Che Guevara during their trip around Latin America in 1951-52 Alberto Granado was taken on as an adviser by Walter Salles, the director of the 2004 film The Motorcycle Diaries, based on his and Guervara's journey. Photograph: Photos 12/Alamy Share on Messenger Close Alberto Granado, who has died aged 88, was a biochemist from Argentina whose name became indelibly associated with that of Che Guevara , his revolutionary friend and former travelling companion. Their travels together through Latin America in the early 1950s were given fresh currency more than half a century later in Walter Salles's popular film, The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). Both men wrote diaries of their journey that fed into the creation of the myths associated with Guevara's life and death. Granado was born in the Argentinian province of Córdoba, the son of an impoverished Spanish immigrant and trade unionist who worked on the railways. He became friendly with the teenage Guevara largely because Alberto's younger brother, Tomás, was at school in Córdoba with the future revolutionary; Guevara was soon enrolled in a rugby team that Alberto had organised. Granado was six years older than Guevara, but they shared literary and political interests, combined with a romantic enthusiasm for foreign travel. Coming from a leftwing, working-class family, Granado was already a Marxist. He was briefly imprisoned for anti-Peronist activities in 1943. He studied biochemistry at Córdoba University and then went to work in the laboratory of a provincial leprosarium, in the years when Guevara was studying medicine in Buenos Aires. The two men remained friends, often discussing such urgent topics as the development of Britain's national health service during Clement Attlee's government, but their particular passion was for trips abroad. When Granado abandoned his job at the leprosarium, Guevara willingly agreed to give up his medical studies to engage in a foreign adventure. In December 1951, the two young men set off together on a journey through Latin America on Granado's motorcycle, a 1939 Norton 500cc nicknamed La Poderosa II ("The Mighty One"). After a couple of months' travelling through the south of Argentina and Chile, the motorcycle finally broke down and was abandoned in Santiago. The two travellers were obliged to make their way north by ship, bus and riverboat. Granado later recalled that "the trip would not have been as useful and beneficial as it was, as a personal experience, if the motorcycle had held out ... This gave us a chance to become familiar with the people. We worked, took on jobs to make money and continue travelling ... We hauled merchandise, carried sacks, worked as sailors, cops and doctors." After arriving eventually in Venezuela in the summer of 1952, Guevara headed off to Miami while Granado decided to stay behind. He secured a job in the laboratory of the Cabo Blanco leprosarium in Maiquetía. Three years later he went to Europe, with a scholarship to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome, and travelled through France and Spain. On his return to Caracas, he married his Venezuelan girlfriend, Delia Duque, and transferred to the school of biochemistry at the university there. After the victory of the Cuban revolutionaries in 1959, Granado was invited to Havana by Guevara, and he moved there with his family and took a job in the medicine faculty at the university of Havana. In 1962 he co-founded a new medical school in Santiago de Cuba. In those years he helped Guevara organise a guerrilla movement in Argentina. He made contact with Ciro Bustos, an Argentinian artist who had come to Cuba attracted by the revolution, and also worked with an Argentinian journalist, Jorge Masetti, who had set up the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina. Bustos and Masetti helped prepare the future Argentinian guerrilla force that would be led by Masetti. Granado travelled to Buenos Aires in 1962 to revive old contacts in the Argentinian Communist party, seeking to recruit men with technical skills who might come to Cuba for military training. The guerrilla campaign in northern Argentina, in 1963-64, was a dismal failure, discovered before it was ready to go into action. Many guerrillas died, including Masetti, and only Bustos survived to take part in a later campaign in Bolivia. Granado returned to his scientific research, and never referred again to his participation in this Argentinian episode, which was rarely referred to in Cuba. A book of interviews with Granado, El Che Confía En Mí (Che Trusted Me), by Rosa María Fernández Sofía, was published in Havana last year, but contained no mention of the Argentinian guerrilla campaign. After the death of Guevara in 1967, Granado became the director of the genetics department of the National Health Centre for Stockbreeding and Farming, one of Fidel Castro's favourite projects. He retired in 1994. Short of stature, and with a broad smile, Granado remained a benign observer of Cuban developments and, in later years, became a permanent source of anecdotes about Guevara. In a recent television documentary, My Best Friend, the producer Clare Lewins asked Granado why Guevara was still such a continuing attraction. "He was a man who fought and died for what he thought was fair," Granado replied. "So for young people, he is a man who needs to be followed. And as time goes by and countries are governed by increasingly corrupt people ... Che's persona gets bigger and greater, and he becomes a man to imitate. He is not a god who needs to be praised or anything like that, just a man whose example we can follow, in always giving our best in everything we do." Granado himself lived his life in that belief. His account of his journey with Guevara, Con el Che por Sudamerica, was published in 1978 and translated into English in 2003 as Travelling with Che Guevara: The Making of a Revolutionary. He was taken on as an adviser by Salles, who had embarked on the filming of The Motorcycle Diaries, a story based on both Granado and Guevara's accounts of their Latin American trip. Already in his 80s, Granado enthusiastically followed the film team as they retraced his and Guevara's youthful journey from Argentina to the Andes and down to the Amazon. Invited in 2004 to its screening at the Sundance film festival, he was refused a US visa. "It's always easy to blame the imperialists," he reflected ruefully, "but maybe we didn't ask for the visa in time." He had a brief walk-on part at the end of the film, and also appeared in a documentary about its making. When Granado returned with the film crew to the leprosarium of San Pablo, on the Amazon close to Peru's frontier with Colombia, he found some of the people he had treated half a century earlier. "It was wonderful and amazing that they could still remember me," he recalled. "Some of the patients were maybe 14 or 15 when I had met them first. They were cheering when they saw me." Elsewhere the experience was less uplifting: "Sometimes retracing our old journey was sad. In many places circumstances had not changed, and some villages are just as poor as they were when we visited them 50 years ago." Granado is survived by Delia and their children, Alberto, Delita and Roxana. • Alberto Granado Jiménez, scientist, born 8 August 1922; died 5 March 2011	Che Guevara
Which is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas?	Obits A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X-Y-Z Macias, Claudina A. October 19, 2006 Claudina A. Macias, 81, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on October 19, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Felix Macias, sisters, Delfina Sandoval, Grace Chavez, Ernestina Hammer and brother, Sevedeo Sanchez. She is survived by her son, Cipriano J. Macias (Amy) of Ranchos de Taos, grandchildren, Santiago, Samantha and Santana Macias, brother in law, George Hammer, many nieces and nephews. Rosary will be recited on Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 7 PM at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 10 AM at San Francisco de Asis Church. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. www.riverafuneralhome.com Madrid, Maria de La Paz March 8, 2006 Maria de La Paz Madrid, 96, of Arroyo Seco passed away on March 08, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jose Ambrosio Madrid, son, Leo Madrid and daughter, Eloisa Garcia. She is survived by her children, Roselia Martinez (Ruben) of Pueblo, CO, Elvira Garcia (Fidel) of Arroyo Seco, Olivia Rendon (George) of Montrose, CO, Frank Madrid (Mary) of Arroyo Seco, Berlinda Madrid (Uvaldo Olonia) of Taos, 33 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren, 25 great great grandchildren and many other relatives. Rosaries were recited on Saturday, March 11, 2006 and Sunday, March 12, 2006 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Arroyo Seco. Funeral mass was held on Monday, March 13, 2006 Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Interment was held at Arroyo Seco Cemetery. Madrid, Viviana Silva de Viviana Silva de Madrid age 77 years 1 month and 28 days of Los Valdeces, Colo (Monte Vista, Co.) died 29 Jan 1909 at 8:00 AM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Maes, Amada Amada Maes, 86, of Amalia passed away on March 16, 2005. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alcario Maes, sons, Willie, Anthony and John Maes. She is survived by her children, Ruben (Debbie), Betty and Jimmy Maes. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and brother, Celestino Sanchez. Rosary was recited on Friday, March 18, 2005 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Costilla. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, March 19, 2005 at Sacred Heart Church. Interment was held at Amalia Cemetery. Born: May 03, 1918 Place of Birth: Amalia Death: March 16, 2005. Place of Death: Colorado Maes, Dulcinia Dulcinia Maes age 89, Resident of Amalia, NM. died April 1,1968 in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by her sons Alcario and Ben Maes Jr.;Daughters Mrs.Eliza Baxberger, Mrs. Pablita Santistevan, Mrs. Mercy Cardenas, Mrs. Ofelia Sanchez and Mrs.Eppie Gallegos. Taos News. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Maes, Frances Frances Maes, age 90, passed away on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. She was born in San Pedro, New Mexico on December 26, 1919 to Basilio and Genoveva Quintana. Frances was preceded in death by her husband, William R. Maes; son Julian Santiago Maes; sisters: Eufelia Bond, Agatha Chavez and Natividad (Nettie) Quintana; brothers: Juan, Lorenzo, Celestino and Antonio Quintana. She is survived by her daughter, Inez V. Martinez and her husband Max (Tito) A. Martinez; grandchildren: Barbara Lynn Maes Ballard, Stephanie Annie Martinez-Stephan and her husband John, Damian Dominic Martinez, Maxine Therese Gerbino and her husband Vincent, Mark Nathaniel Martinez and Martin Anthony Martinez. Frances has 6 great-grandchildren: Christopher, Aaron, and Megan Martinez, Amber Channel, Audrey and Anthony Gerbino. A public visitation will be held on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz with burial to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers: Damian Martinez, Martin Martinez, Mark Martinez, Christopher Martinez, John Stephan and Fabian Quintana. The family of Frances Maes have entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Maes, Isabel G. Isabel G. Maes August 1, 1934 - June 15, 2005 Isabel Maes age 70 of Santa Cruz born August 1, 1934 went to be with our lord on Wednesday June 15, 2005. Ms. Maes is preceded in death by her father, Juan I. Gallegos and great-grandson Vincent G. Maes. She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Riddick and her husband Ron of El Paso TX; son, David Maes of Espanola, grandsons, Vincent Maes and his wife Cynthia of Chaparral, NM, Johnny A. Maes and his wife Raquel of El Paso, TX; granddaughter, Rosa A. Riddick of El Paso, TX, great-grandchildren, Isabel, Daniel, and Nick; brother, Jerry Gallegos; sisters, Benita Baldonado, Tiofila Herra, and Rosa Gallegos; as well as nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends. A puplic visitation has been scheduled for today, Friday, June 17, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. at Block-Salazar Mortuary in Espanola. The Rivera family of Block-Salazar Mortuary is providing the family of Isabel Maes with care and professional service. 753-2288 or 800-443-4854. Born: August 1, 1934 Place of Birth: Abiquiu, New Mexico Death: June 15, 2005 Place of Death: Albuquerque, New Mexico Maes, Joe February 27, 2001, The Santa Fe New Mexican, page B-1, Two people died in separate single-vehicle accidents in Taos County over the weekend. The were identified as Brian Simsovic of Las Trampas and Joe Maes of Costilla. Funeral services are planned this week for Simsovic, 17, who was killed near Penasco in southern Taos County. His mother, Melinda Simsovic, said Monday that he was killed instantly when the 1994 Toyota pickup he was driving hit a patch of ice on N.M. 75, ran off the road, rolled over and landed in a ravine about 7:30 p.m. Friday. A passenger, Ray Lopez, Brian Simsovic's cousin and best friend, also of Las Trampas, suffered injuries to his head and hands and remains in UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, she said. "Ray was thrown out into the brushes and crawled up the ravine," she said. "He finally saw headlights, and could see which direction. He was totally disoriented." Melinda Simsovic said a Mora couple picked Lopez up along the road about 9 p.m. Friday. She said Brian Simsovic was attending Taos High School at the time of his death, but had attended Penasco public schools most of his life. A rosary is planned at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Las Trampas church. A Mass will be celebrated there at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by burial of his ashes with a reception at the Las Trampas morada. Survivors include his grandfather, Delfido Lopez of Las Trampas; parents Melinda and Jeff Simsovic of Las Trampas; brother Scott Simsovic of Espanola; aunts Florence Vigil, Rosina Lopez and Carol Lopez, all of Las Trampas, and Patsy Romero of Santa Fe, and numerous cousins, including Ray Lopez, John Lopez and Crystal Vigil, all of Las Trampas. "His greatest love, besides girls, was the culture and Northern New Mexico," Melinda Simsovic said. "The entire community of Las Trampas was his family. We've been here since he was 5. He was an incredible child." Taos County Sheriff's deputies, who investigated the crash, have not been available for comment. In the other fatal crash, involving Maes, New Mexico State Police say they have charged the driver, Steve Cortez of Costilla, with driving while intoxicated and vehicular homicide. Lt. Oscar Gonzalez of the State Police office in Espanola said Cortez, 37, was driving a 1976 Chevrolet Blazer west on N.M. 196 in far northern Taos County at 1:40 p.m. Saturday when it left the roadway and overturned three times. Maes, 42, died from multiple injuries. Cortez and another passenger, Billy Valdez, 42, of the Costilla area, were taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos for treatment of their injuries. Maes, Joe A. Joe A. Maes, age 79, a lifelong resident of Albuquerque, died November 15, 1999. He is survived by daughters, Anna Abeyta and husband, Eddie of Ranchos de Taos, NM, Alice Maes of Albuquerque, Angela Blea and husband, Jesse of Albuquerque; sons, Victor Maes and wife, Liz of Taos, NM, Leo Maes and wife, Antionette of Albuquerque, Herman Maes of Albuquerque; sisters, Mercedes Jaramillo of Questa, NM, Fedelina Trujillo of Block Lake, NM; brother, Manuel Maes of Albuquerque; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Mark Laviolette. He was a member of St. Charles Parish, and a member of DAV and the VFW. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, Thursday, November 18, 1999. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m., Friday, November 19, 1999. Strong-Thorne Mortuary, 1100 Coal Ave. SE, in charge of arrangements. ABQ Journal November 18, 1999 Maes, Jose Ben Jose Ben Maes-77 Questa, New Mexico-Jose Ben Maes Passed away on December 9, 2009 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ï¿½He was born to Ventura and Rebecca Maes on November 6,1932 in Amalia, NM. ï¿½He was married to Dora Maes. Jose was a member of the V.F.W. , was an avid hunter and fisherman, for the past several years he was a casino player, and was only happy when he would win! He attended basic training in Ft. Hood Texas. From February 1953-1955 he was in the Army 4th Tank Battalion, serving one year in the Korean War, with the remaining tour of duty in Hawaii and was discharged in January 1961. ï¿½He is preceded in death by his parents, one grandson; Gary Michael Maes Jr., one brother; Tony Maes. ï¿½Jose is survived by two sons; Loren (Bea) Maes, Gary (JoAna Vigil) Maes, one daughter; Diane (Michael) Larmore, four sisters; Cora (rudy) Gallegos, Silvia Maes, Jean (Amador) Duran, Margie Maes, 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, several special nieces nephews and many friends. A rosary was held on Friday December 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM at the Sacred Heart Church in Costilla. Funeral Mass was held on Saturday December 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Church In Costilla with the burial at the El Pueblito Cemetery in Questa. Arrangements were made with Weylen's Funeral Home in Questa Maestas, David James David James Maestas age 19 of Talpa, NM. died in a Motor vehicle in Taos, NM. Last Friday night. Surviving him is his mother Delia Maestas; Sisters Silva and Benita Maestas; Brother Ben Maestas, (David James Maestas and Mike Ortiz were in the same vehicle). Taos News Dec 26,1968 1. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. MAESTAS, Florence MAESTAS, Florence; 51; Ranchos de Taos; died September 24, 1998; Albuquerque Journal North, Saturday, September 26, 1998, page 2 Maestas, Guillermo Guillermo "Billy" Maestas, 43, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on January 02, 2007. He is preceded in death by his brother, Jose "Joey" Maestas Jr. He is survived by his parents, Jose Elias and Faby Maestas, sons, Anthony, Guillermo and Elias Maestas, sister, Bernadette Solivan, uncle and aunt, Ed and Pam Quintana, cousins, Nicole and Lucilla Quintana, Alyssa Jaramillo. Rosary was held on January 04, 2007 at San Francisco Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on January 05, 2007 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Maestas, Jacobo Jacobo "Jake" Maestas, 72, passed away November 27, 1999. He was born and raised in Taos, NM, was a longtime resident of Albuquerque, retired from Duke City Lumber Company, and was a member of Alameda Bible Church. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nettie Maestas; four daughters, Pamala Montoya, Kathleen Dodd and husband, Ken, Linda Malone and husband, Don, and Valerie Sanchez and husband, Glenn; son, Cliff Maestas and wife, Nancy; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; brothers, Ben, Florimel, and Tom; sisters, Viola, Corina, and Emily; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends who loved and will miss him. Services will be held at Alameda Bible Church, 220 El Pueblo NW on Tuesday, November 30, 1999 with viewing at 8:45 a.m. and Funeral at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Malcolm Bicker officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th NW. 505-343-8008. ï¿½ ABQ JournalNovember 29, 1999 Maestas, John John Maestas, 31, of Taos passed away unexpectedly on November 23, 2005. He was a graduate of Taos High School and worked as a sales representative for the Maloof Distributing Company. He is survived by his daughter Trinity Lynne Maestas, his parents, Benjamin and Ernesta Maestas of Taos, Henry and Susan Vigil of Santa Fe and Bea M. Vigil of Taos, his grandmother, Beatrice P. Vigil of Taos, his godmother, Diana V. Martinez of Taos, his brothers and sisters, Jennifer Kesner (Daniel), Jim Maestes, Alfonso Vigil, Marisa Vigil, Virginia Medina (Anthony) and Jayne Trujillo (Jimmie) and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.A memorial service was held November 26, 2005 at the Rivera Chapel. There was a reception immediately following the memorial at the Taosena Restaurant. Maestas, Jose Atanacio Jose Atanacio Maestas age 5 months of Gallina, Rio Arriba County NM. died 20 Sept 1909. Survived by grand mother Josefita M. de Maestas. Mother and 4 brothers. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Maestas, Jose Jr. September 17, 2005 Jose "Joey" Maestas, Jr., of Ranchos de Taos, passed away September 17, 2005. He is survived by his parents, Elias and Faby Maestas, sons Joey Maestas III and Daniel Maestas both of Hawaii, his sister, Bernadette Solivan, brother, Billy Walter Maestas and his uncle and aunt, Ed and Pam Quintana. A Rosary was recited on September 21, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Taos. Mass was held on September 22, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis. Maestas, Leroy Leroy Maestas age 21 resident of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died in a vehicle accident between a motorcycle and a dump truck Saturday, March 1,1968. He is survived by his parents Mr. & Mrs. Albert Maestas; Sisters Mrs.Marcia Harris, Mrs. Margie Gallegos, Mrs. Marlou Lucero and Miss Terry Maestas; Brothers Fares and Ben Maestas. Taos News March 7,1968 4 and March 21, 1968 2. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Maestas, Lorenzo A. Lorenzo A. Maestas March 10, 2006 Lorenzo Maestas, 64, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on March 10, 2006. He is preceded in death by his son, Lorenzo Maestas, Jr and his parents, Abedon and Damiana Maestas. He is survived by his children, Cathy Romero (Leonard) of Ranchos de Taos and Lori Ann Maestas of Ranchos de Taos, his sisters, Becky Cortez and Frances Mondragon (Leo), his grandchildren, Melinda Montoya, Valorie Bermudez and Andrew "A.J." Lampman and his great grandchildren, Isaiah Montoya, Marisol Montoya, Javier Montoya and Kayla Bermudez. Rosary was recited on Monday, March 13, 2006. Funeral mass was held on Tuesday, March 14, 2006. Both services were held San Francisco de Asis. Interment was held at New Llano Quemado Cemetery. Maestas, May May Maestas, born November 4th, 1924 in Jaroso, CO, she was raised and lived in Taos, NM, died February 9, 2007. Throughout her life, she dedicated her time to helping others through many local civic and faith-based organizations. She gave to her parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe, through the use of her time. She was a dedicated lector, a member of the Altar Society, The Catholic Daughters, and was active in the Cursillo movement. She was also a member of Las Taosenas. She was a charter member of the local Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Her service to the veterans represented by the VFW included the positions of National Department Secretary and State President. When not giving of her time, she shared her love of people and was a tireless worker. Through the years her smiling face could be seen helping people at several local stores where she either worked or managed including J.C. Penney, Del Sol Weaving, Kachina Gifts, Aaronson Brothers, and Anthony's. In the interval between Aaronson Brothers and Anthony's, she worked as a teacher's aide in the Enos Garcia Middle School reading lab and she felt that perhaps being a teacher was a missed calling. Following the demise of the Anthony's chain, she landed on her feet, as always, in the position that would define the remainder of her life. For nearly twenty years she worked at the Ancianos Senior Center in Taos where she shared her love of life with other seniors. She continued to visit as a participant and volunteer until her death. She is survived by her four children and their families; Joseph Robert & Bernadette Maestas of Taos, their children Pamela, Robert Christopher & April, and Jamie; Joseph Paul & JoAnn Maestas of Albuquerque, and their children Matthew & Debbie, Charles and Maureen, Gregory, Gail, and Reuben; Cecilia Consuelo & Magarito Lucero of Taos, and their children, Philip & Heather Graybull, and Maya Graybull; Teresa May & Abel Montoya of Taos, and their children, Mark and Carla, and Stephen. She is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren and an entire community of close friends. Rosaries were recited on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at Rivera Chapel and on Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on Monday, February 12, 2007 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment was held at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Maestas, Patricio Patricio Maestas, 68, a resident of Los Lunas, NM passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2002. He was a member of the Catholic Church. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Airforce with the 77150 Air Police. Preceding him in death were his parents, Patricio Maestas Sr. and Genoveva Maestas; two grandsons, Steven and John Contreras; and one granddaughter, Rose Ann Gomez. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Rita of the family home in Belen, NM; his seven children, Patsy Gomez and her husband, Robert of Tome, NM, Margie Tapia and her husband, Joe of Springerville, AZ, Brigette Contreras and her husband, ArABQ Journalof Albuquerque, NM, Toby Baca and his wife, Therese of Los Lunas, Steve Maestas and his wife, Germaine of Albuquerque, Dolores Maestas and Martin Otero of Albuquerque, and Don Maestas of Los Lunas; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; three brothers, Joe Maestas of Taos, NM; Ernesto Maestas and his wife, Mary of Albuquerque; and Francis Maestas and his wife, Hazel of Taos; and one sister, Loyola Crees of Albuquerque. Patricio is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews. All services will take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta, NM. A viewing will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2002 at 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary following at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Albert Gallegos officiating. Pallbearers will be Randy and Ronnie Gomez, Sunny and Michael Tapia, Cody, Joshua, Antonio, and Ethan Baca. Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert Gomez Jr., Art Contreras Jr., and Jody Tapia. With the utmost respect to Patricio Maestas wishes, cremation will then take place. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM. ABQ Journal October 26, 2002 Maestas, Rafael Rafael Maestas died Wednesday of this week ( 5 April 1905) of a heart attack at the residence of Jose Manuel Santistevan in Talpa, NM.. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Malone, A.D. A.D. "Michael" III, 55 years and one week, has left us on Monday, November 9, 1998. He was the only son of Maxine Adams and is survived by a daughter, Michelle of Farmington. Mr. Malone had fond remembrances of his lifelong friends, Foster and Grace Holtzclaw of Fayetteville, AR. He was educated in the parochial schools in New Mexico having been a resident here since 1952. He was also a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. He spent his early years in Fayetteville, AR where he attended St. Josephs School and maintained many childhood friends there. He was best known for his compassion and tenderness to those less fortunate than himself. He was a chess champion; an avid skier and worked at Taos Ski Valley. His favorite partner was his late stepfather, Quincy D. Adams, renowned New Mexico attorney. Please pray for this kind and gentle soul. Goodbye precious son. Services will be held Thursday, 10:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, 1111 University Blvd. NE, with Father Vidal Martinez officiating. Entombment will follow at Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made to Joy Junction, 4500 2nd St SW, 87105. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE. ABQ Journal Thu November 12, 1998 Malouff, Lizzie S. Malouff, Lizzie S.; 59; died August 25, 1998; Albuquerque Journal North, Wednesday, August 26, 1998, page 2 Manchego, Anita M. July 17, 1990, Commerce City Express, Commerce City, Colorado - Anita M. Manchego of Commerce City died June 19, 1990, in Mercy Hospital, Denver. She was born in Des Montes, N.M. Sept. 8, 1923. Mrs. Manchego worked for Gates Rubber Company. She had been manager of El Jardin Restaurant in Commerce City in the early 1980's. Mrs. Manchego was also a home-maker and was a member of the Catholic Church. She is survived by her husband, Arthur E. Manchego; children, Michael Manchego, Marilyn Manchego, Anita Harbottle, Loretta Sparks and Patricia Solano; eight grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Benito, Floyda, Frank, Bercilia, Manuel, Rose, Margarito and Delfina. A rosary was said in Our Lady Mother of the Church June 22 and a Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at the church June 23. Interment was private. Mandonado, Jose Inocencio Jose Inocencio Mandonado age 79. Resident of Questa, NM died Nov 1,1968. He is survived by his wife Maria Mandonado; Soms Nick Gallegos, Gilbert Mandonado, Amarente, Joe and Ricardo Mandonado. Daughters Mrs. Felix Mandonado, Mrs. Julian Quintana and Mrs. Gregoria Jaramillo. Taos News Nov 7, 1968 1. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Manweller, Nancy Norwood Nancy Norwood Manweller July 18, 1940 - June 17, 2004 of Bend, Oregon died at home Thursday, June 17 after battling a long illness. She was 63. Nancy was born July 18, 1940, in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Friedrich and Josephine Von Falkenberg. She married James Manweller on June 7, 1961 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nancy was an accomplished artist in watercolor, oil, pencil, and crafts until she became too ill to paint. She was especially well known for her watercolor New Mexico and Oregon landscapes and pencil portraits, some of which have been displayed in prestigious galleries in Taos, New Mexico. Nancy also served with her husband as a Senior Patroller on the National Volunteer Ski Patrol at Sandia Peak, New Mexico for 15 years. Nancy's passions were God, her family, fly fishing, wildlife and art. Survivors include her husband, James Manweller of Bend; son, Daniel Manweller of Albuquerque, New Mexico; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Brian Wright of Nampa, Idaho; grandchildren, Nikola and Benjamin Wright; a sister, Holly McCarthy of Albuquerque; and several wonderful nieces, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Pamela Williams of Evergreen Home Services. A small private family service will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. ABQ Journal Tue June 22, 2004 Manzanares, Maria Tonita Maria Tonita Manzanares age 36 of Blanco, NM. died 10 Sept 1906. Survived by her husband J. G. Jacquez, 10 children, 4 brothers and her father Andres Manzanares. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Manzanares, Robert P. February 26, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, ROBERT "BOB" P. MANZANARES , Age 43, of Santa Fe died on Monday, February 21, 2000 after a lengthy illness. Bob was born in Colorado on April 7, 1956 to Hipolito and Christine Manzanares. He graduated from Battle Mountain High School in Eagle Vail, CO and from Northern New Mexico Community College. He formerly lived in Taos, NM and worked at Taos Rentals, and also lived in Espanola, NM and worked at Lowes Supersave and Amigo Rentals. He was preceded in death by his father, Hipolito Manzanares; brothers: Eloy and Albert Manzanares; and a nephew. He is survived by his mother, Christine Manzanares; brothers: Henry Manzanares and Joe Manzanares and wife Monica; sisters: Pauline Rocha, Martha Manzanares and husband Fidel, Dolores Manzanares, Rachel Cuffee and husband Jerry, and Pamela Manzanares; ten nephews; seven nieces; and others he considered family: Margaret Yuma, Sarah Yuma and Santiago, Jo Jo, Raquel and their father Fred Sandoval, Sophie Coblentz and Jorge, Jorge, Jr., Ryan and Veronica, Albert Yuma and Lisa, Randy, Michelle, and Stacey M. Yuma and many friends in Taos, Espanola and Santa Fe. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. at Berardinelli Family Funeral Chapel and a rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. at Loma Vista Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa, 984-8600. Manzanares, Ventura Ventura "Ace" Manzanares, age 57, a life long resident of Tierra Azul passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2010 after a lengthy illness. He loved fishing the outdoors and liked to play golf and go bowling. Ace enjoyed going to the casino with his sisters. He was very easy going & friendly. He loved all his children & family very much and will be dearly missed. Ace was preceded in death by his parents: Salomon and Getrudis Manzanares; brother, Heraldo Manzanares; grandmother, Augueda Martinez. He is survived by his children: Dominic Manzanares of Tierra Azul, Larry Luke Manzanares and companion Yvette of Tierra Azul, Moraya Manzanares and companion Jeremy of Espaï¿½ola, Tovah Manzanares of Espaï¿½ola; grandchildren: Isa Manzanares, Carmelita Manzanares, Ventura Manzanares, Luke and Danielle Manzanares, Joshua & Isiah Martinez, Noah & Jonah Gutierrez and Jacob Ten Eyck; brothers and sisters: Cecilia, Agueda, Salomon, Esther, Dolores, Fermin, Barbara, Eusebio, all of Tierra Azul; special nephew, Brian Balkey & numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Public visitation will be held on Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 8, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Abiquiu with burial to follow at the San Antonio Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers: Horacio Manzanares, David Manzanares, Mario Manzanares, Eric Garcia, Greg Salazar, Benny Sandoval; honorary pallbearers: Carlos Coronado and Placido Montoya. The family of Ventura "Ace" Manzanares have entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Mares, Alberto D. Alberto D. Mares age 74, of Taos,NM. died at Holy Cross Hospital Taos, NM. April 26,1968. He is survived by his wife Alice M. Mares; Sons Daniel, George and Eddie Mares. Daughter Emma Martinez and sister Lucy Martines. Taos News May 2, 1968 B 7. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mares, Cristobal Cristobal Mares of Taos, NM died at his residence this past Saturday 6 July 1906 at 7:00 AM of Fiebre Pneumonia (Fever Pneumonia). He was the son of Juan Mares and Juanita Gonzales de Mares. Born July 1833 A.D. in Taos, NM. 2 Aug 1858 A.D. he married Trinidad Pacheco, daughter of Antonio Maria Pacheco. She died 31 March 1899. They had 19 children. Survivors: Laureano, Fernando and Edwardo Mares. Daughter Lupita M. de Martinez wife of Severino Martinez from Black Lake, NM. Porfiria M. de Martinez wife of Epimenio Martinez from Wagon Mound, NM. Isabel M. de Lujan wife of Lorenzo Lujan from Kimball, Okla. He was buried in La Loma Cemetery. (Taos, NM). La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mares, Doloritas Fernandez de Doloritas Fernandez de Mares age 18 years, 4 months and 20 days. died 30 Oct 1906. Survived by her husband Juan Isidro Maes; Father Jose Grabiel Fernandez; Grand mother Maria Trinidad Fernandez; Brothers Cresencio Fernandez, Juan B, Fernandez, Maximiano Fernandez and Jose G. Fernandez; Sisters Reyecitas F. Cordova and Epimenia F. Vasquez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mares, Ercilia Ercilia Mares, 65, passed away at her residence in Arroyo Seco, NM. 21 Oct 1994. Survived by her husband Jose D. Mares and 5 children (names not listed). The Taos News. 27 Oct 1994 B-6. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mares, Ernesto G. On the night the planet Mars made its closest approach to earth for centuries to come, Ernesto G. Mares died. It is appropriate that Ernie, friend and father, left us at this time. He was, like Mars, a soldier, but he was also a hunter and an outdoorsman. He was born in Wagon Mound, New Mexico, December 28, 1914 and died on October 29, 2005. He came of old ranching stock, of the Mares and Martinez families of Taos and Northern New Mexico, and lived his early years in Raton. He was well known for his athletic abilities. Shortly after graduating from Albuquerque High School in 1933, he worked as a lifeguard at Tingley Beach where he single-handedly defeated the entire swimming team of the University of Southern California. Unable to afford college, he worked as a machinist for the Santa Fe Railroad and for Kirtland Air Force Base during World War II. He later worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, joined the U. S. Army, and served in military intelligence in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Later, he worked for Sandia Laboratories as a model and instrument maker until he retired in 1980. A liberal in the FDR tradition, he always worked politically for the benefit of the uncommon common man. Ernie married Rebecca (Becky) Garca y Gutierrez Devine in 1936. They had three children, Ernest Anthony, Michael, and Chris. As brothers, we remember passionate discussions about war, religion, politics, science, literature, music and many other topics in the family home. While our mother, Rebecca, was a devout and feisty Roman Catholic, our dad Ernie was something of a tough skeptic. Perhaps unconsciously, Ernie encouraged his children to question authority, to question the status quo, to ask the uncomfortable questions, to always rebel. Becky, for her part, along with Ernie, always urged us to strive for the highest possible education. For this, and above all for their unselfish love, we are deeply indebted to both of them and will never forget them. Becky died in 1995. May they both be at home and at peace in the cosmos where eventually we will join them. Our dad was also preceded in death by his parents, Eduardo and Alicia Mares, and by his siblings Inocencio, Epimenia and Alicia. He is survived by his children and their spouses, E. A. Mares and Carolyn Meyer, Michael and Lynn Mares, Chris Mares, and by Georgia Canon-Vivoli, who, by her life and actions, is the daughter our parents had always wished to have. Ernie is also survived by his brother Christie Mares and his wife Donna of Springfield, Virginia. His grandchildren Ernesto Mares and Maria Ehrnstein, Vered Mares, Gabriel and Daniel Mares, and Michelle Mares will miss him dearly. Our dad is also survived by his great grandchildren, Lianna, Danielle, and Shannon Rebecca Ehrnstein and by an extraordinary number of Mares, Martinez, and Devine relatives. And so we carve our names in the air as we, too, pass by on our uncertain voyage . . . forever. Viviendo morimos Pale rider on a winter horse Ride well the fog covered trail Through mountain snow Muriendo vivimos. Our dad kept his sense of humor and his wonderful smile literally to his very last moments on earth. He would have laughed at the image of himself as a rider on a winter horse, yet indeed he had memories of riding horses through snow covered mountains. We are deeply grateful for the loving care the nurses, therapists, and aides at Laurel Skies Health Care gave to Ernie. We are also thankful for the help of Fernanda and Millie of Hospice of the Sandias. Services will be held Friday, November 4, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd. NE, with military honors. There will be a visitation for family and friends Thursday, November 3, 2005, at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333 ABQ Journal Tue November 01, 2005 Mares, Frank J. Rev. Deacon Frank J. Mares, A Kind And Gentle Man Passed Away On Saturday, January 21, 2006. He Will Be Greatly Missed By His Family And Friends. He Was Born On June 15, 1918 In Wagon Mound, New Mexico To Frank Vicente Mares And Margarita Ledoux. He Lived And Worked In Taos, New Mexico Most Of His Life, And Settled In El Paso For The Past 35 Years. He Went To College In Kansas And Studied Meat Cutting. He Was Also Trained As An Airplane Mechanic In California, To Support The Wwii Effort. Later, He Also Worked In The Shipyards In Alameda, Ca. After The War, The Family Returned To Taos, N.M. Where He Was Engaged In Various Sales Positions. He Held The Positions Of Director Of Cap For Oeo/Vista, A Federal Program For Rural America. It Was His Position As A Usda Federal Meat Inspector That Brought Him To El Paso,Tx. He Was One Of The First Catholic Deacons Ordained In El Paso And Was Very Proud To Serve The Community In That Capacity At St. Raphael's Catholic Church. He Felt Being A Deacon Had Enriched And Fulfilled His Life; Therefore, He Encouraged Other Men In The Community To Find The Same Happiness He Had Found In Service To God. He Is Survived By His Wife Of 65 Yrs., Orlinda Anglada Mares And Their Five Children: Corine Otero Reeber, Vincent Mares, Carmen Brocklehurst, Anna Mares & R. Frank (Franco) Mares; Four Grandchildren: Lisa Otero Dominguez, Phil Otero, Lea Mares, & Juan Bourke-Mares; Two Great-Grandchildren: Samm & Kyleigh Dominguez; And Two Sisters: Euphercine Tune & Eleanor Costales.Rosary And Mass Were Held At St. Raphael's Catholic Church At Sunset Funeral Home, El Paso, Tx.Visitation Was Held On , January 27, 2006 At Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home With A Rosary At 7 Pm At Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral Mass Was Held On Saturday, January 28, 2006 At Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic Church With Interment At Nuestra Senora De Dolores Cemetery. Mares, Katherine Katherine Mares December 5, 2005 Katherine "Katie" Mares, 48, of Taos passed away on December 04, 2005. She is preceded in death by her mother, Isabel Valerio and brother, Robert Lee Valerio. She is survived by her sons, Brian and Eric Mares, father, Eppie Valerio, sister, Diana McMains, her companion, Chris Maes, granddaughter, Valerie Mares and many other relatives. Memorial service was held on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mares, Leonor Muller de Leonor Muller de Mares age 51 of Wagon Mound, NM. died at her home Thursday 9 June 1909. She was a former Taos, NM resident. Wife of Vicente Mares. They have 3 sons and 3 daughters names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mares, Polinario Polinario "Paul" Mares, 84, of upper Ranchitos died Thursday, February 12, 2004. He retired in 1986 from the town of Taos and worked for many years for the Mabel Dodge Lujan House. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice Mares; children, Clarence Mares and wife Bonnie, John Mares and wife Stephanie, Joann Castillo and husband Sef, Delia Ortega and Frances Parraz and husband Tommy; 15 grandchildren; and sister, Isabel Valerio. A funeral mass will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Taos with burial to follow at Dolores Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Journal North February 14, 2004 Mares, Sofia Ernestina Sofia Ernestina Mares age 4 Months and 17 days old of Taos, NM died 13 Jan 1905. Daughter of Carlos F. Mares and Teresina T. Mares. Buried Saturday at 4:00 PM in the cemetery of La Loma, Taos, NM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Marler, Annie V. Annie V. Marler, 83, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 14, 2010 after many challenges with failing health. She is survived by son Leon Marler and wife Arlyn, and son Patrick Olaechea and wife Melinda: grandchildren Shane Marler and wife Becky, Shey Marler and wife Tamara, Calyn Ogie, Brian Olaechea, Andrea Olaechea, Jace Marler, Jill Veitch and husband Mark, Jody Marler and Chad Zipp; and great-grandchildren: Avery, Allison, Meghan and Greg. Annie was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Leon P. Marler. Loving, helpful and giving doesn't begin to describe Annie's journey throughout her life. Born December 1, 1926 in Thoreau, NM, Annie began her life of giving by caring for her horses and all of God's creatures on the ranch. She was an accomplished horse woman, basketball player for Grants High School, "Ranch Hand" and aspiring pilot. Annie moved to Taos in 1988 to manage an insurance agency after working for Consolidated Agency for 30+ years. She volunteered at a rape counseling center, worked with underprivileged children in learn-to-read programs, volunteered for numerous charities and, most importantly, became a Secular Franciscan. We know you are at peace in the arms of the Lord. We miss you mom, grandma and "Great Grannie Annie". A rosary will be recited Monday, February 22, 2010, 9:00 a.m., at Church of the Risen Savior, 7701 Wyoming Blvd NE, with mass following immediately at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 7999 Wyoming Blvd. NE. ABQ Journal Wed February 17, 2010 Marquez, Cleo E. Cleo E. Marquez was born January 16, 1954 in Embudo, New Mexico, Taos County. She passed away Monday, March 16, 2009 at the age of 55, after a long illness. Cleo was preceded in death by her father, Felix Marquez; her mother, Rebecca Lucero Marquez; and her brother-in-law, Israel Garcia. She is survived by her three loving sisters, Velma Garcia, Evangeline Gonzales and Elizabeth Garcia; one brother, Felix Gonzales; as well as many other family members and friends who loved and will miss her. Visitation and Services will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 816 Broadway Blvd. SE. on Monday, March 23, 2009. A Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. The Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow the Mass. Private family Burial will take place at a later date. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St. NW. ABQ. 505-343-8008 ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun March 22, 2009 Marquez, Leocadita Leocadita Marquez age 9 months of Arroyo Seco, NM. died of Fever Pneumonia Aug 1914 daughter of Gabriel Marquez and Bersabe M. de Marquez. Grandparents Jose M. Medina and Guilliermita de Medina. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Marquez, Luis Luis Marquez age 30. died 22 Oct 1906 in Hastings, Colo. He is survived by his mother Manuelita R. Marquez; Brother Luis Gonzaga Marquez; Sister Floripa Marquez de Vigil wife of Juan B. Vigil of Arroyo Hondo, NM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Marquez, Noberto Noberto Marquez 82 to 84 years old. Of Manzanares, Colo. died at 8: 30 PM 12 Nov 1909. He is survived by 4 sons and 4 daughters. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Marquez, Rudy M. Rudy M. Marquez was born September 8, 1953 in Albuquerque, NM. He passed away Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Rudy lived in Taos, NM. He is survived by his long life companion, Judy Lujan; his brothers, Richard Marquez, Ray Marquez and Robert Sanchez; his sisters, Genevieve Kozlowski and Linda Torrez; brothers-in-law, Joseph Kozlowski and Eugene Torres; numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends who loved him very much and will miss him greatly. A Memorial Service will be held at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 816 Broadway Blvd. SE. on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St. NW, ABQ. 505-343-8008 ABQ Journal June 08, 2007 Marquez, Saraita Saraita Marquez age 3 months 14 days of Vermejo Park, NM. 14 Jan 1909 6:00 AM. She was the daughter of (Names not listed) Cleofas Marquez submitted the information. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Marquez, Steven Steven Marquez of Arroyo Seco passed away October 23, 2009. ï¿½He is preceded in death by his parents Juan C. Marquez and Percilla Marquez as well as his brother Juan Uvaldo Marquez. ï¿½He is survived by his wife Frances Rachel Marquez, his two children Reynita (Gabriel) Martinez and Moises Martinez, two Grandchildren; Angelina and Gabriel Martinez. ï¿½He is also survived by his siblings Carol Silva (Enrique), Favian Marquez (Geralyn), Cathy Marquez, and Yolanda Lewis whom he considered his little sister, caretaker-Michaela. Nieces and nephews; Juan Carlos Silva (Belen), Stephanie Morales (Aldo), Erica Marquez, Jessica Marquez, Jose Marquez, Jose Marquez, Santiago Marquez, Esperanza Marquez, and other nieces and nephews. A Rosary will be held on Monday October 26, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Holy Trinity Parish in Arroyo Seco. Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 10:00 AM also at Holy Trinity Parish, with the burial at Arroyo Seco Cemetery. Arrangements were made with Weylen's Funeral Home in Questa. ï¿½ Martinez, Abran Abran Martinez age 17 years and 6 months old from Halls Peak, NM. died 2 Aug 1909 at 7:00 PM. Survived by parents Manuel Martinez and Carmelita Sanchez; Brother Ernesto and Trinidad Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Alejandro A. Alejandro A. Martinez age 83 died Dec 24, 1967. died at home in La Lomita. Survivors: Wife Elivera Martinez, Sons Feliberto, Alejandro, Leroy, Jose,and Felix Martinez; Daughters Trinidad Padilla, Ascencion Padilla, Susana Lopez and Mrs. Ignacio Duran. Taos News Jan 4,1968, A 10. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Alex C. Alex C. Martinez, 68, of Albuquerque passed away on November 12, 2001 due to complications of cancer at St. Joseph's Hospital. His devoted friend, Jan Arrott, and family were with him in his final moments. He was born in Taos, NM on July 16, 1933 to Gavina (Minie) and Alejandro C. Martinez. He spent most of his life in Taos, but spent three years in Boy's Town in Nebraska where he learned to play football and was a member of the Boy's Town Choir where he developed a deep appreciation for music. He loved to sing and play the guitar as well as many other instruments. In high school, he met Maxine Rael, they were married and had seven children. Alex was the consummate outdoorsman and learned early in life to appreciate the mountains, lakes, streams and rivers of the New Mexico that he loved so much. He was active and loved to hunt, fish, hike or sit on a mountain top to enjoy the view. He loved beautiful places like the ocean, beaches and the mountains of California, Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay. He passed his love for nature to his children who accompanied him on many of his treks. He was also an avid cyclist, mountain trekker and hiked many 13,000+ foot peaks in New Mexico and Colorado. He also enjoyed golf and played religiously until the last few months prior to his death. His sons and occasionally his daughter and son-in-law would play with him. He took his responsibility of being a grandfather seriously and loved spending time with his family and friends but especially with his grandchildren. He felt it was very important to teach them basic skills in using tools, building a fire, and his appreciation for the outdoors. He would take them fishing, cycling, hiking and camping. He was preceded in death by brother, Roberto Martinez. He is survived by his children, Alex Martinez, Jr., Cecilia Salenger, Richard, Mario and Carlos Martinez, Patricia Apt and Cynthia Martinez; sister, Rebecca Stuzinski; brothers, Leopoldo, Maxemino, Richardo and Reynaldo Martinez; grandchildren, Shawna, Adrienne, Nathan, Little Alex, Carolina, Stephanie, and Christopher Martinez, Kathryn, Alexandra, Charlie and Steven Salanger and Thomas Apt; great-grandchildren, Ethan and Trenton Smith; numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 19th Street and Golf Course Road in Rio Rancho, NM on Friday, November 16, 2001 at 4:30 p.m. Cremation arrangements by Sunrise Society of NM. All will dearly miss our beloved"Hanje". In lieu of flowers, the family suggest Memorial contributions be made to Father Flangan's Boy's Home, Boy's town, NE 68010.ï¿½ABQ Journal Thu November 15, 2001 Martinez, Alvaro MARTINEZ, Alvaro; 72; Chamita; died August 27, 1998; Albuquerque Journal North, Friday, August 28, 1998, page 2 Martinez, Analisa Alica Analisa Alica Martinez, infant daughter of Max and Charlotte Martinez, died Tuesday, September 9, 2003. She is survived by her parents; grandparents, Jimmy and Eloyda Torres of Ranchos de Taos, Max D. and Alice Martinez of Cebolla; and many other relatives. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church with burial to follow at New Llano Quemado Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Journal North September 12, 2003 Martinez, Andrea Andrea Martinez age 76 of Alcalde, NM. died 18 Sept 1909. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Andres Esquipula Andres Esquipula Martinez age 3 Years old of Chamisal, NM. died at home June 4,1968. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Alferino Martinez. Survived by his parents, Brother Filemon Martinez; Sister Christian Martinez; Grand Parents Mr. & Mrs. Adolfo Romero and Mrs. Felonice Martinez. Taos News June 13, 1968 6. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Andrew Charles Andrew Charles Martinez, 28, of Arizona and formerly of Taos died unexpectedly Wednesday December 3, 2003. He was a 1995 graduate of Taos High School. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jose Demostenes Romero; and aunt, Cindy Martinez. He is survived by his son, Andrew Jose Martinez of Arizona; mother, Catherine Romero Martinez and husband Beto Pacheco of Taos; father, Anthony Martinez and wife Juila Coca of Angel Fire; grandparents, Rachel Romero of Penasco and Arturo and Maryanne Martinez of Black Lake; and many other relatives. Rosaries will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and at 7 p.m. Monday at Rivera Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with burial to follow at Santa Barbara Cemetery in Penasco. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, Journal North December 6, 2003 Martinez, Angelica Elena Angelica Elena Martinez, 17, of Albuquerque passed away on March 3, 2002. She transferred from Capital High School in Santa Fe to Manzano High School in Albuquerque. She was an actress, singer and a musician. She is preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Pablo Trujillo, Flavio & Elena Cruz, Zacharias & Beatrice Martinez. She is survived by her parents, David J. and Deborah J. Martinez; sister, Sonyaann Martinez all of Albuquerque; grandparents, Tom and Eva Martinez, Manny and Lorraine Trujillo all of Taos. She is also survived by great-grandmothers, Susana Trujillo and Maclovia Martinez; many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Rosary was recited on March 7, 2002. Funeral Mass was held on March 8, 2002. Both Services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taos. To contact family, please look up Angelica's memorial at taosnews.com. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. ï¿½ï¿½ ABQJournal March 10, 2002 Martinez, Anita Anita Martinez age 48, Resident of Des Montes, NM. died Aug 27,1968. She is survived by her mother Mrs. Trinidad Martinez; Sisters Mrs. Maggie Martinez, Mrs. Claudio Trujillo and brother Felisano Martinez. Taos News Sept 12, 1968 6. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Athur A. Arthur A. (Kiker) Martinez, 78, A resident of Black Lake, New Mexico formally of Arroyo Hondo passed away on Wednesday July 16, 2008. Arthur Anthony Martinez was born on September 12, 1929 in Taos. He grew up in Arroyo Hondo and was the son of Tomas and Rebeca Martinez. ï¿½He attended school in Taos and served in the Army during the Korean War. ï¿½He sold Singer sewing machines out of Alamosa, Colorado for about 4 years. ï¿½He was an auditor with the New Mexico Tax & Revenue for about 5 years in Santa Fe. ï¿½He then moved his family back to Taos where he was self employed and owned Allstate Bookkeeping & Tax Service. He served on the Taos Municipal School Board for several years where all his children attended and graduated. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at St Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe. He was part of the Knights of Columbus for over 40 years at different parishes and a member of the Kiwanis. ï¿½He loved to fish and hunt. He was preceded in death by his parents Tomas & Rebeca ï¿½Martinez of Arroyo Hondo, daughter, Cynthia, grandson Andrew, brother Joe Mondragon of Santa Monica & sister Margaret of Albuquerque. ï¿½He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 58 years, Marian Segura. ï¿½Children Anthony (Julia) of Angel Fire, Louisa Smith of Black Lake, Adrian of Black Lake, Angelico (Jill) of Silverdale, Washington, Albino (Lilly) of Taos, Rebecca of Moriarty, Augustine (Lois) of Black Lake and Jacinta (Andy) Sipe of Wilmingtion, NC, 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. ï¿½He is also survived by brothers John (Doris) Mondragon of Santa Monica, CA, and Joe Odocio of Albuquerque, sisters Stella (John) Wipson, of Waterford, Michigan, Rose Lane of Albuquerque and Cecelia Lynch of Merced, CA, and Numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary was recited Sunday July 20, 2008 at 7:00 PM at St. Mel's Catholic Church in Eagle Nest. The Funeral Mass was Monday July 21, 2008 at 10:00 AM also at St. Mel's Catholic Church in Eagle Nest, with interment at Black Lake Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were thoughtfully and respectfully made by Weylen's Funeral Home in Questa, New Mexico. Martinez, Bartolo Bartolo Martinez died in Springer, NM. 25 Sept 1907. Has 3 sons and 2 daughter (names not Listed) La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Benedito Benedito Martinez of San Cristobal, NM died last wed. (11 Oct 1905) sometime in the evening. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Benjamin N. Benjamin N. Martinez November 22, 2006 Ben Martinez, 67, of Las Colonias, passed away on November 22, 2006. He retired from Moly Corp and was a veteran of the Air Force. He is preceded in death by his parents, Juan B. and Carolina Martinez, infant sister, Juanita, niece, Cindy Martinez, nephew, Jerome Quintana, parents-in-law, Honorio and Juanita Rael, aunts Elena Medina and Dolores Mascarenas. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Bernice Martinez, his children Johnny Martinez (Lisa) of El Prado, Liza Sanders of Panama City, FL, Francina Beck of Houston, TX, Patricia Gallegos (Donald) of Questa, Amy Pacheco (Eduardo) of Santa Fe, Benny Martinez of Taos, Rozella Bransford (Joseph) of Santa Fe, Renee Lynda Martinez of Taos, Mary Ann Cardenas of Taos, Don J. Martinez of Taos, Antonio Martinez of Taos, brothers and sisters, Oclides Gonzales (Frank), Clorinda Gonzales (Fred), Mario Martinez (Mabel), Florence Quintana (Deacon Jerry), Rose Martinez (Elias), Loretta Suazo (Joe), Tillie Valdez (Peter) and Yolanda Martinez. Rosary was recited on Sunday, November 26, 2006 Funeral mass was held on Monday, November 27, 2006. Both services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Martinez, Benjamin O. Benjamin O. Martinez, 91, long-time resident of Albuquerque, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2009. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Maria Soledad Martinez; brothers, Isaac and wife, Mercy, Seferino "Nino" and wife, Janice, and Alonzo Martinez; sisters, Teodora "Teddy" Cruz, Drusilla Telles and husband, Louis, and Eva Moore; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by parents, Louis and Drusilla; son, Gilbert Estevan Martinez; brothers, Louis, Seferino and Lonnie Martinez; and sisters, Dolores, Lupita and Isabel Martinez. As a youth, Ben worked on his father's ranch in Black Lake. He worked in California during World War II. He moved to Taos where he worked at Ilfeld Hardware Company and met and married Maria Soledad. Later, they took residence in Albuquerque, where he owned and operated a successful ice-delivery business. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and many interests, including organic gardening, chili making, and playing the accordion. He also had many artistic talents - acrylic and watercolor painting and calligraphy. Ben was knowledgeable of many facets relating to the animal kingdom as well as historical dates. He was a descendant of the late, Padre Martinez. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, March 21, 2009, 2:00 p.m. at French Mortuary, University Chapel. Interment of cremated remains will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. Please visit our online guestbook for Ben at RememberTheirStory.com French 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun March 15, 2009 Martinez, Benedito Benedito Martinez of San Cristobal, NM died last wed. (11 Oct 1905) sometime in the evening. Martinez, Bernardita Gurule Bernardita Gurule Martinez age 74, Resident of Vadito, NM. died at the Embudo Presbyterian Hospital, Embudo, NM. Aug 7,1968.She is survived by her sons Adolfo and Noe Martinez; Daughters Mrs. George Barela, Mrs. Estevan Martinez, Mrs. Miejirilo Martinez, Mrs. Edwardo Martinez and Mrs. Max Martinez; Brothers Onofre Gurule, Quirino Gurule and Bernabe Gurule; Sisters Mrs. Carlota Medina, Mrs. Matilde Martinez, Mrs. Mary Miliano and Mrs. Isabel Archuleta. Taos News Aug 15,1968 A 5. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Bobby A. Bobby A. Martinez, 50, of Taos and formerly of Penasco passed away on May 07, 2006. He is preceded in death by his son, Shawn Barela and father, Alberto Martinez. He is survived by his children, Damian Martinez and Christy Martinez (Crystal), mother, Eneda Martinez, sister, Bernadette Martinez, brothers, Peter, Gabriel and Freddie Martinez. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 7 PM at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco. Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 1 PM at San Antonio de Padua Church. Martinez, Carla Geraldine Apodaca Carla Geraldine Apodaca Martinez, 41, of Albuquerque, NM passed away on June 1, 2008. Carla, who was also known as "Carz" and "Carlita," was born in Las Vegas, NM and moved to Taos where she met her beloved husband, Mike Martinez. She graduated from Taos High School in 1984, married, and had their son Eric in 1989. The family lived in Albuquerque where Carla is survived by her husband Mike; and son Eric. They also had two daughters, Michelle and Tanya who died at birth. Other survivors include father, Roger T. Apodaca; mother, Dolores G. Apodaca; brothers and sisters include Nancy Miera and husband Tony, Rose Marie Apodaca, Roger T. Apodaca Jr., Raul Apodaca and wife Carla, and Amy Olonia and boyfriend David; mother-in-law Edith Medina (Felipe). Other survivors include numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews in New Mexico and Colorado. She is preceded in death by her father-in-law, Samuel "Fito" Martinez. Carla was known for her beautiful smile, kind heart and feisty attitude. Everyone who knew Carla was touched by these things. She loved to go riding with Mike wearing her leathers, the wind in her hair and with a great love of freedom that riding gave them. Carla loved her family and was a fantastic cook, her fresh salsas were the best! People who worked with Carla knew how she always brightened their work days. We will miss and love her forever. A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 7 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with interment to follow at the Old LLano Quemado Cemetery. There will be a gathering after the Burial at the Llano Quemado Community Center. ï¿½ABQ Journal Wed June 04, 2008 Martinez, Carlos Ernesto Carlos Ernesto Martinez Age: 66 Lifelong resident of Rinconada, passed away Friday, July 9, 2010 after suffering a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manual and Beatrice Martinez; and brother Jose Guadalupe Martinez. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ruth Martinez; sons, Billy and Juan Martinez; daughters, Dorothy and Shirley Martinez (Michael Lucero) and a very special granddaughter, Brianna Lucero all of Rinconada; Sisters, Clorinda Elmore of Santa Fe, Rosina McDowell of La Mesilla, Rose (Gege) Sandoval of Sombrillo, Alberta Martinez of La Mesilla; Brother, Cornelio Martinez of Espanola and many nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 5:00p.m. in the Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory, with a rosary to follow at 7:00p.m. a second rosary will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010 at 7:00p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dixon. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:00a.m. also at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church, with burial to follow at the Pilar Cemetery. Assisting the family as pallbearers will be Ernest Torres, Juan Chavez, Randy Torres, Pat Archuleta, Michael Lucero and Jimmy Torres. Honorary pallbearer is Brianna Lucero. The family of Carlos Ernesto Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory of the Espanola Valley. Martinez, Cleofas Cleofas Martinez age 36 from the Taos, NM area died Sunday 19 August 1906 at 8:00 PM. She was the wife of Jose B. Martinez. She died of Hidropesia (Dropsy-Edema). La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Cleofas CLEOFAS "CLEO" MARTINEZ, 84, a resident of El Rito, passed away on Sunday, June 20, 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Alfonso Martinez; son, Robert George Martinez; parents, Eliseo and Bernardita Archuleta; brothers, Jose Cecilio, Jose Bernabe, Jose B. Pedro and Jose Vicente Archuleta; in-laws, Silviano and Gregorita Martinez and 4 brothers-in-law; 3 sisters-in-law. Cleo enjoyed quilting, crocheting, embroidering, sewing, traveling, the casino, her plants and flowers. She also loved spending time with her children and loved to bake horno bread, biscochitos, pies and chicos. Mrs. Martinez is survived by her children, Corine Archuleta, Elizabeth Lucero and husband Ermiï¿½io of El Rito, Melicendro Martinez and wife Geneva of Grand Canyon, Arizona, Irene Aldaz and husband Marcelino of Dolores, CO, Grace Archuleta and husband Pete of El Rito, Felix Martinez and wife Lillie of El Rito, Janet Martinez and husband Ronnie of Caï¿½on Plaza, Steve Martinez and wife Debbie of La Puebla, Jake Martinez and wife Maybel of El Rito, Clarence J. Martinez and wife Cassandra of El Rito and David Martinez of El Rito; 30 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers-in-law; 7 sisters-in-law and numerous other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. at the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. also at San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito. Burial to follow at the Martinez cemetery in El Rito with the following serving as pallbearers, Steve, Felix, Melicendro, Jake, Clarence, and David Martinez. Honorary pallbearers named are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Martinez family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Martinez, Cordilla Cordilla Martinez age 38 of Santa Fe and Taos, NM died March 3,1968 in Santa Fe, NM.She is survived by her husband Eloy Martinez; Sons Leonard and Larry Martinez; Daughter Shirley Martinez; Sisters Pita Romero, Rosita Martinez and Elidia Gallegos; Brother Gilbert Crus and Father and Mother-in-law Mr. & Mrs. David Martinez. Taos News March 14,1968 7. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Cornelia R. Cornelia R. Martinez of El Prado, NM. died last monday (7 Oct 1905). She was the wife of the deceased Jose Dolores Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, David J. David J. Martinez, Jr., 74, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2008, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 13, 1934 to David and Juanita Martinez in Taos, NM. David is preceded in death by his father, David J. Martinez Sr.; mother, Juanita Richards; brother, Louie "Sweetie" Martinez, and brother-in-law, Leo Hoch. He is survived by his son, David J. Martinez; grandson, Darius J. Martinez; three sisters, Nina Hoch, Gloria (Felix) Gonzales and Lillian (Orlando) Chavez, all of Albuquerque; sister-in-law, Minnie Martinez of Santa Fe, and numerous nieces and nephews. David was a proud veteran of the United States Army and served our country during the Korean War. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 99. His favorite pastimes included fishing, dancing and spending time at Post 99. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be held on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 9:00 a.m., at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 1800 Martha St. NE. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Special appreciation to all who assisted in making this difficult moment memorable, with heartfelt thanks from the family. ï¿½ABQ Journal Sat January 10, 2009 Martinez, Domitila G. Domitila G. "Tillie" Martinez, 92, of Taos, died Thursday November 6, 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank S. Martinez; infant son, Frank Martinez; and parents, Carlota and Demetrio Gomez. She is survived by her daughters, Josie M. Espinoza (Joe J.) and Rufie Martinez, all of Taos; four grandchildren; sister, Ada Vargas; and brother, Bences Gomez. A rosary will be recited on at 7 p.m. Sunday at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church with burial to follow at Los Cordovas Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home Journal North November 8, 2003 Martinez, Donaciano Donaciano Martinez age 51 years, 5 months and 9 days from Questa, NM. died 15 Sept 1907 at his residence. Survived by his father Pedro I Martinez and 4 sons (Names not listed). La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Dora G. Dora G. Martinez, 72, of Arroyo Seco, NM. passed away at Holy Cross Hospital, Taos, NM on 22 Feb 1995. Preceded in death by daughter Bertha Martinez. She is survived by her daughter Marie (Jose Paul) Pacheco of Taos, NM; Grand Daughters Maria (Joe Ben) Pacheco and Cathy (Desie) Garcia of Taos, NM. Burial at the Arroyo Seco, NM Cemetery. The Taos News. 2 Mar 1995 A-17. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Eduvigen Eduvigen Martinez, 77, of Costilla passed away on October 28, 2006. She is survived by her husband, Juan Martinez, daughter, Mary Abeyta Eleas of Santa Fe, sister, Mary Chavez of Texas, numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Rosary was recited on Friday, November 03, 2006 at Rivera Hanlon Funeral Home. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, November 04, 2006 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Costilla. Interment was held at Las Cruces Cemetery in Taos. Martinez, Edward Taos Review News. Thur 30 May 1940. Edward Martinez age 12 of Arroyo Seco, NM was dragged to his death near his parent's Reyes and Matilde M. Martinez home Monday by a frightened pony. He died of a broken neck. He had the lead rope tied around his small waist. The parents concluded that the horse the boy was leading to a pasture became frightened and bolted, tied to the other end of the rope, Edward Martinez was dragged by the running horse. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Edwardo Lalito Edwardo Lalito Martinez - a resident of Ranchos de Taos passed away on Aug. 17 at the age of 71. He was born on Feb.ï¿½4 1939 to Edward and Estephanita Martinez. Lalito worked as a miner at Molycorp for nearly 20 years. He enjoyed being in the mountains and loved to hunt. He was wed to Ruby Griego and had 6 children which include Marianne Martinez and husband Jose of Santa Fe, Donna Panetta and husband Richard of Windsor, California, Stephanie Martinez from Tacoma, WA, Veronica Walborn and husband Anthony of Olympia, WA, Edward Martinez and wife Lupe of Ranchos de Taos, and Angela Martinez from Olympia, WA. He is survived by 6 living sisters and 3 brothers who are Gilbert Valerio and wife Florence, Frank Martinez, Gaby Martinez and wife Maria, Nestor Martinez, Matilda Hollobaugh and husband Bill, Patsy Jeantette, Diane Martinez, Lillian Martinez, Sarah Martinez and Jane Lucero and husband Dennis. He also had 4 deceased siblings, Florence Maestas, David Martinez, Ernest Martinez and Steve Martinez. Grandchildren include: Lauren and Sean Stone, Christiano Rivera, Raquel and Joey Panetta, Oliver Romero, Anthony Walborn, Edward Martinez, Danny Martinez, Stevan Martinez, Andrew Martinez and Isabella Torres. He was loved by many and will be missed greatly. A memorial will be held on Friday, August 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Asisi Catholic Church in Ranchos de Taos. The family of Edwardo Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Martinez, Elfigo Elfigo Martinez age 68, resident of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died Feb 28,1968 at Rock Springs, Wyo. Survivors are her daughters Mrs. Arthur Coca, Mrs. Rufina Espinosa, and Mrs. Jerry Duran; Son Nick Martinez; Brother David Martinez; Sisters Josefita Sandoval and Mrs. Amanda Sanchez. Taos News March 15,1968 7. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Elisa Elisa Martinez of Alcalde (Rio Arriba County) NM. died 11 Sept 1909 at 2:00 AM. She is survived by her husband Urbano Salzar and 6 children. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Eliseo Eliseo Martinez age 55 from Chacon Mora County NM. died 10:15 PM 7 Aug 1909. Survived by Wife Generia R. de Martinez; Sons Demesio, Maximiano and Demostenes Martinez; Daughters Josefina M. de Vigil, Rafaelita, Delfina And Aurora Martinez. He was buried in the San Antonio chapel Cemetery. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martï¿½nez, Elvira Elvira Martï¿½nez died peacefully at her home on October 1, 2006. She was born on January 1, 1922, in Taos, New Mexico. She was preceded in death by her parents, Narciso Montoya and Juanita Montoya; brothers: Pedro, Levï¿½ and Eusebio, and sister, Terri. She is survived by her daughter Mary Ann; her son, John and wife Susi, granddaughter Illeana, and sister Deliah. Elvira retired from the New Mexico State Highway Department. She was a long time member of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, a member of the St. Francis Altar Society and a Third Order Secular Franciscan. A visitation was held on October 4, 2006, at Berardinelli, with a rosary following. Mass was held on October 5, 2006, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. 1399 Luï¿½sa Street, 87505. 505-984-8600. Martinez, Emma Emma Martinez, 81, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on September 18, 2008. She is preceded in death by husband, Liberato Martinez, brothers, Victor Chavez, Clemaco Chavez, Tobias Chavez, and Loy Chavez. She is survived by children, Lee Martinez, Loretta Mondragon (Anthony), Albert Martinez (Barbara), grandchildren, Daniel, Sheree (Jason), Antonio (Crystal), Meredith (James) and 7 great grandchildren, brother, Enrique Henry (Donna) and sister-in-law, Ida Chavez. Rosary will be recited on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 7 PM at San Francisco de Asis Church. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10 AM at San Francisco de Asis Church with interment to follow at the Llano Quemado Cemetery. Martinez, Ercilia E. Ercilia E. Martinez, 78, of Questa died Saturday November 15, 2003. She was an administrative secretary for Sen. Dennis Chavez in Washington, D.C., and retired from the New Mexico state government. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jose Amarante and Maria Elena Martinez; and brothers, the Rev. Armando Martinez, Ricardo Martinez, Orlando Martinez and Nicolas Martinez. She is survived by her son, Dennis Manzanares and wife Menice of Los Cordovas; brother, Jose Amarante Martinez Jr. of Madisonville, Ky.; sisters, Filia Higgins of Santa Fe, Alma Martinez of Albuquerque and Stella Ortega of Taos. Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. today at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Ranchos de Taos with burial to follow at the San Pedro Catholic Cemetery in Questa. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, Journal North November 18, 2003 Martinez, Escolastico Escolastico Martinez of Arroyo Seco, NM Died 11 Jan 1910 at 6:00 AM of Tisis (Tuberculosis). Survived by his wife and children. No names listed. Brother who submitted the death notice Seferino Martinez y Marquez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Esquipula Esquipula Martinez age 64,Of Chamisal, NM, died Jan 9,1968 at Las Vegas,NM.Survivors include his wife Veronica Martinez; Sons Jose, Alfredo, Armando and Henry Martinez; Daughters Isabel Maes, Carolina Martinez and Helen Martinez; Sisters Irene Mascarenas and Rosa Dominguez. Taos News Jan 18,1968, 3. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Evangelina Evangelina Martinez, 90, a resident of El Rito for the past 10 years, formerly of Chimayo passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 15, 2010, surrounded by her family.ï¿½ She was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Martinez; children, Ruben, Irene, Concha Martinez; grandsons, Armando, Patrick Jr.; brothers, Frank and Calletano Martinez; sisters, Salome Vargas, Leonarda Raymond, Ramoncita Espinoza, Trinidad Martinez.ï¿½ Evangelina was a hard working lady.ï¿½ She enjoyed gardening, especially her flower garden.ï¿½ She was a wonderful mother and grandmother.ï¿½ Evangelina was very delightful to all she knew.ï¿½ She is survived by her children, Nora Marquez, Ida and husband Matthew Baldonado, Pat Martinez Sr. and companion Jennifer Lopez; grandchildren, Frances, Matthew Marquez and companion Carlene, Eric Martinez and companion Crystal, Andrew Martinez and companion Crystal and, Daisy Martinez, Epi and wife Sophia Baldonado, Ivan Baldonado and companion Theresa and great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Jerome, Destiny Martinez, Matthew Baldonado, Kishauen Alire, Ashely Martinez-Vigil and a very special great-granddaughter, Amanda Martinez and also a sisters-in-law, Lillie, Molly and Bernie Martinez; brother-in-law, Victor Martinez.ï¿½ Public visitation will begin on Monday, May 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory.ï¿½ A devotional service will follow at 7:00 p.m.ï¿½ Funeral service will take place on Tuesday, May 18th at 11:00 a.m. at the Light House Church in Chimayo, burial will follow at the Nuestra Seï¿½ora de Dolores Cemetery in Chimayo.ï¿½ The family of Evangelina Martinez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. Martinez, Evangeline A. October 24, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, EVANGELINE A MARTINEZ, Age 60, a resident of Las Vegas, New Mexico passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2000 at the St. Vincents Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after fighting a year long battle with Leukemia. She born in Taos, New Mexico on January 15, 1940 to Cipriano Salazar and Rufina Cortez Salazar. She was united in marriage in Costilla, New Mexico on July 2, 1960 to Edmundo P. Martinez. She was employed by the Las Vegas City Schools as a Food Service Manager. A lifelong Catholic, she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She had a special and unique love for her grandchildren. She preceded in death by her Father: Cipriano Salazar. She is survived by her husband: Edmundo Martinez of the family home in Las Vegas, NM; Sons and Daughters: David Martinez and wife Priscilla of Las Vegas, NM, Diana Martinez Gonzales and husband David, Danny Martinez and wife Roberta and Richard Martinez all of Santa Fe, NM; Mother: Rufina Salazar of Amalia, NM; Sisters and Brothers; Eralia Torres and husband Lloyd of Denver, Colorado, Cipriano Salazar Jr. and wife Lucia of Costilla, NM, Roberta Christina Ortiz and husband Pete of Denver, Colorado, Larry Salazar and wife Grace of Amalia, NM. Leroy Salazar and friend Christine and Fidela Jacquez and husband Osvaldo all of Denver, Colorado and Sarah Martinez and husband Albino of Las Vegas, NM; Sister-in-law; Elsie Cisneros and husband Fred of Santa Fe, NM; Brothers-in-law: Joe Martinez and wife Celsa of Taos, NM and George Martinez and Special Friend: Ella of Santa Fe, NM: numerous other relatives and friends. Rosary devotional services will be conducted Tuesday evening at7:00 at the Immaculate Conception Church. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday morning at 10:00 at the Immaculate Conception Church with Father George Salazar as celebrant. Interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. She will lie in state at the Rogers Chapel on Tuesday until time or rosary where family and friends may call. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, NM, 1-800-479-3511. Martinez, Facunda Facunda Martinez age 95 of Arroyo Seco, NM. died Last Saturday March 1915. She was the mother in law of Juan de Dios Martinez and sister of Juan Geronimo Martinez. Funeral 28 March 1915. Burial at the Arroyo Seco, NM Cemetery. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Filemon Filemon Martinez, 44, of Santa Fe and formerly of Chamisal passed away on May 14, 2006. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Andres and Gerald Martinez. He is survived by his daughters, Monique Martinez and her mother, Jeanette Barber, Amber Martinez and her mother, Tracy Hightower, whom he shared 17 years with, parents, Alferino and Mabel Martinez, brother, Dennis Martinez (Pamela), sisters, Christine Martinez, Anna Martinez (David), Priscilla Aaron (James), and Josephine Martinez. He is also survived by many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Rosary was recited on May 17, 2006 at Rivera Chapel in Taos and on May 18, 2006 at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco. Funeral mass was held on May 19, 2006 at San Antonio de Padua Church in Penasco. Interment was held at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Martinez, Frances M. Frances M. Martinez, 91, of Taos passed away on January 21, 2007. She was a 2001 Taos Living Treasure. She was on the Planning, Zoning & Historical Committees for the Town of Taos and a financial consultant for La Loma Plaza Park. She was administrator and supervisor of food services at Taos Municipal Schools. She was active in the VFW Lady's Auxiliary & Retired Teachers, volunteered at Taos Senior Citizens Center and was a paralegal aide for the State of New Mexico. Her hobbies were painting and being a good neighbor. She is preceded in death by her sons, Ernesto "Ernie" Trujillo and Frank "Frankie" Trujillo, grandson, Eric S. Trujillo, husbands, Jose Teodoro "Pope" Trujillo, Laureano "Larry" Mares and Carlos Martinez. She is survived by her children, Pete "Pedro" Trujillo (Bernadette) of Taos, Ted Trujillo of Albuquerque and Cecilia Trujillo of Taos, grandchildren, Janice Cowley, Pete Trujillo III, Frankie Trujillo Jr. and Teresa Lane, and numerous great grandchildren. Rosary was recited on Friday, January 26, 2007. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 27, 2007. Both services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Martinez, Frutosa Frutosa Martinez, 82, of Arroyo Seco, passed away on April 26, 2005. Mrs. Martinez worked for many years as a cook for Taos Municipal Schools. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ruben Martinez Sr.; her parents, Jose Damian and Eleonor Martinez; brothers, Roberto Martinez, Max Martinez, Jose Escolastico Martinez; and sisters, Maria Inez Baros, infant sister, Josefina Martinez. She is survived by her children, Ruben Martinez of Arroyo Seco, Tony Martinez (Lorraine) of Los Cordovas, Violanda Romo (Albert) of Talpa, Louise Cordova (Alex) of Costilla; and sisters, Cirila Martinez, and Stephanie Rivera; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. Rosaries will be recited Thursday, April 28, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at Rivera Funeral Chapel and Friday, April 29, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Arroyo Seco. Mass will be held on Saturday April 30, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Arroyo Seco. Interment will follow at the Arroyo Seco Catholic Cemetary. Pallbearers will be Matthew Martinez, Pablo Martinez, Miguel Romo, Robert Valencia, Jr., Andrew Salazar, Arturo Suazo, Jr. ï¿½ABQ Journal Thu April 28, 2005 Martinez, Genoveva Genoveva Martinez of Taos, NM. died Last Saturday (May 27,1905) at 5:30 PM. She was the daughter of Romualdo Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Guadalupe Guadalupe Martinez age 65 of Talpa, NM was killed by lighting Monday of this week (19 Aug 1907) at 1:00 PM, while he and his wife were inside the house in the kitchen. Survived by his wife and son.(Names not listed) La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Guillermo Guillermo Martinez age 52 of Black Lake, NM died 25 Dec 1908. Survived by his mother and brothers. (Names not listed). Buried in La Loma Cemetery Taos, NM. Place where most of the Martinez family is buried. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Guillermo F. Guillermo F. Martinez, age 80, born in the historic Martinez Hacienda in Taos to Juan Manual and Higinia Martinez on April 5, 1918, died on Sunday January 3, 1999 in Albuquerque at his daughter's home after a 20 year battle with cancer. He was married to Juanita Mares (now deceased). He is survived by their children, daughter, Carla and her husband, Ray Garcia and their son, Marco Guillermo; son, Charles E. and his wife, Louise and their children, Alfred Martinez and Deanna Stanley; brother, Luis G. Martinez of California; sisters, Alice Vargas, Delia Martinez; and brother, Robert Martinez, all of Taos, NM. Mr. Martinez served in the Merchant Marines during World War II and worked for the REA, Friday Motors, and Cantu Furniture. He was a lifelong resident of Taos and genuinely proud of his residence. A Memorial service will be held on Friday, January 8, 1999 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic church in Taos at 11:00 a.m. ABQJournal ï¿½ï¿½ January 06, 1999 Martinez, Higinio Higinio Martinez age 64 of Monte Vista, Colo 13 Oct 1907 at 7:30 PM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Irene M. Irene M. Martinez age 14 years, 6 months and 10 days of Guadalupita, Mora County NM. died at home at 10:00 AM 10 July 1909. She was killed by lighting as she was in the kitchen cooking near the stove. She is the daughter of Jose Dela Luz Martinez and Doloritas P. de Martinez. Survived by her parents; Grandmother Maria De Los Reyes Duran and 4 brothers. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Isabel Ustacia Isabel Ustacia Martinez, 88, of Taos passed away on November 16, 2005. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bonifacio L. Pacheco, children, Sammy Pacheco, Ramona Pacheco and Susie Tighe. She is survived by her children, Viola L. Romo, Rudy Pacheco (Rosie), Manuel Pacheco, 15 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Rosary was recited on Sunday, November 20, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on Monday, November 21, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment was held at Las Cruces Cemetery. Martinez, Jimmy Spec 4th Jimmy Martinez age 21, resident of Chamisal,NM. Killed in Combat in the Republic of Viet Nam Jan 24,1968. Survivos include his mother Mrs. Chonita Martinez, Brothers Juan and Filadelfio Martinez; Sisters Nancy Dominguez, Florence Salazar, Elsie Castonieda, Rose Yolanda Martinez and Valorie Martinez. Taos News Jan 10,1968 & Feb 1,1968 A 3. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Joe A. May 17, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, JOE A. MARTINEZ, Age 81, a resident of Dixon passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2000 following a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his son, Leroy; his parents: Fidel and Delfina Martinez; brothers and sisters: Henry, Clarence, Lita and Nora. He is survived by his loving wife, Consuelo of 62 years; sons: Elbert and wife Eva of Redondo Beach, CA, Michael and Florence of Espanola, Wilfred and wife Patty of Santa Fe, Kenneth and wife Cecilia of Espanola; daughter-in-law, Helen of Norwalk, CA; brothers: Carlos Martinez and wife Lisida of Espanola, and Augustine Martinez and wife Lucille of Albuquerque; sisters: Eliza Duran and husband Clarence of Dixon, Grace Medina and husband Ismael of Lyden, Lucille Liedkie of Belen, and Evila Rendon and husband Gene of Espanola; sister-in-laws: Berna Martinez of Dixon, Casilda Jaramillo of Taos, and Angie Graham and husband Alfonso of Santa Fe; brother-in-laws: Gustavo Garcia and wife Christina of Taos, and Eugene Garcia and wife Tina of Espanola; ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; many loving nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends. A rosary will be recited on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dixon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 18, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dixon with interment to follow at the Father Kupper Cemetery. Assisting the Martinez family as pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Elroy, Vincent, Miguel, Veronica, Filiberto and Armando. Serving as an honorary pallbearer will be Melvin Montoya. The family of Joe A. Martinez has entrusted these funeral arrangements to Devargas Funeral Home of the Espanola Valley. Martinez, Jose Carrizozo Outlook December 22 1904 Martinez Death - A Santa Fe dispatch of December 7th says: Owing to the isolated location of Llano, Taos county, news just reached this city this evening telling of the gruesome murder of Jose Martinez, aged 74 years. He was found dead in his doorway, four miles from Picuris pueblo. His son, Gabino Martinez arrived today to lay the facts before District Attorney E. C. Abbott. The head of the murdered man was terribly mangled. An eye was torn out of its socket, there was an ugly cleft in his forehead and his skull was crushed. Three stones covered with blood were found near the body. No arrest has been made. Martinez, Jose Angel Jose Angel Martinez was killed Thursday 24 June 1909. He was killed in Enzenada Rio Arriba County, NM (near Tierra Amarilla). He was struck with an unknown object on the face and head. Poliarpio Jaramillo was arrested and charged with the murder. Policarpio Jaramillo at his trial in district court pled guilty and was sentenced to 99 years confinement in prison. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Jose Benjamin Jose Benjamin Martinez, 67, of Arroyo Seco, NM passed away at his residence 15 Nov 1995. Preceded in death by a grandson, Clarence M. Martinez. Survived by his wife Medalia of Arroyo Seco; Sons Juan A. (Josie) Martinez of Arroyo Seco, Joe T. Martinez of Arroyo Seco, Thomas V. Martinez of Cheyenne, Wyo and Fares R. (Ernestine) Martinez of Ranchos de Taos, NM; Daughter Viola (Steve) Rivera of Cheyenne, Wyo; Brothers Bernabel Martinez and Jake Martinez of Arroyo Seco; Sisters Juanita (Thomas) Romero of Des Montes and Estevan (Manuel) Martinez of Des Montes; Mother-in-law Amalia Duran of Arroyo Seco. 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.Interment at the Arroyo Seco, NM Cemetery. The Taos News. 22 Nov 1995 B-4, 30 Nov 1995 B-3. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Jose Dionicio Jose Dionicio Martinez age 79 of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died at his residence Thursday 27 Sept 1906. Survived by his wife and 5 children.(No names listed) La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Jose Francisco Jose Francisco Martinez of Ranchitos, Taos, NM. Died Last Monday (13 Aug 1905) at dawn. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Jose Manuel Jose Manuel Martinez age 83 years, 3 months died at his residence in Taos, NM. 11:00 AM 7 Jan 1909. He was a son of Jose Maria Martinez a brother of Antonio Jose Martinez (Famous Padre). Jose Manuel Martinez was born in Abiquiu, NM in 1826. He married Maria Dela Luz Romero 31 May 1851 in Taos, NM. Their padrinos were Jose Benito Martinez and Maria Dolores Cordova. Surviving him is a son Antonio Martinez, husband of the deceased Carmen Martinez de Varela died 3 years ago. Jose Manuel Martinez was buried in the American Cemetery Taos, NM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Jose Maurilio Jose Maurilio Martinez age 70 of Taos, NM. died July 29,1968.The son of Emilio Martinez and Fidelia Vargas.Surviving him his wife Alicia Elena Martinez; Daughters Mrs. Robert Sandoval, Mrs. Joe Mondragon, Mrs. Alfred Kallenbach, Mrs. Jake Mossman, Mrs. Anita Martinez, Mrs. Julia Teddye, Sylvia and Patsy Martinez; Sons Gonzalo E, Maurillo Jr, and Leonides Martinez. Taos News Aug 8,1968 & Aug 15,1968 A. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. NOTE: Corrected obituary from Jennifer Flores: Jose Maurilio Martinez age 60 of Taos, NM. died July 29,1968. The son of Emilio Martinez and Fidelia Vargas. Surviving him his wife Alicia Elena Martinez; Daughters Mrs. Robert Sandoval, Mrs. Joe Mondragon, Mrs. Alfred Kallenbach, Mrs. Jake Mossman; Anita, Julia, Teddye, Sylvia and Patsy Martinez; Sons Gonzalo E, Maurillo Jr, and Leonides Martinez. Martinez, Jose Orlando Jose Orlando Martinez, 79, a resident of Rio Chama, went home to be with our Lord on Sunday, September 19, 2010 following a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents Fidel and Adelina Martinez; brother, Clotario Martinez; brother-in-law, Medardo Gallegos; and some nieces and nephews. Jose is survived by his wife of 43 yrs. Lucy Martinez of Rio Chama; daughter, Yolanda Martinez and companion Johnny Herrera of El Duende; son, Stephen Martinez of Lymon, CO.; grandchildren, Isaac and Jazmin Martinez of Rio Chama and Juanito Martinez of Denver, CO.; sons, Manuel Martinez and wife Bonnie of Indiana and LeRoy Martinez and wife Ruby of Grand Junction, CO.; brothers and sisters, Tere Gallegos of Rio Chama, Fidel Jr. and wife Rose Martinez of Hernandez, Augustin Martinez and wife Florida of El Rito, Luis Martinez and wife Luisa Martinez, Cy Martinez, Loyola and Candy all of Rio Chama. Numerous nieces, nephews and others loving relatives and friends. A devotional will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. The family of Jose Orlando Martinez has entrusted the care of their loved to the DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory of the Espanola Valley. Martinez, Josephine Josephine "Fina" Martinez September 12, 2005 Josephine "Fina" A. Martinez, 85, of Taos passed away on September 12, 2005. She was a longtime member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and of the Guadalupanas. She was preceded in death by her husband Abad Martinez. She is survived by her sons, Antonio A. Martinez, Jr. (Dalia) of Taos, Alfred D. Martinez, of Albuquerque, daughters, Lillian Nagle (Ray) of Albuquerque, Dolores Ortiz (Alfonso) of Beeville, TX and Laura A. Van Arsdale (Greg) of Pueblo, CO, 14 grandchildren and 9 great- grandchildren. A rosary was recited on September 14, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taos. A Funeral mass was held, September 15, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Interment followed at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Services by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Martinez, Josie Josie Martinez, 93, passed away on February 1, 2006. Mrs. Martinez was preceded in death by her husband, Bernie Martinez; her half-brother, Carlos Valdez; her sister, Porfie Baca; and grandson, Bobby Salazar. She was a beloved mother and grandmother. She is survived by her children, Lucy Salazar, Stella Alires and husband, Arthur, Dolores Salazar and husband, Jim, Fernando Martinez and wife, Liz, Cecelia Cortes and husband, Fernando, and Leonora Armitage; her step-sisters, Loyola Tenorio and Julia Medina; 21 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was born in Taos, NM on July 1, 1912. She was involved in the Rosary Altar Society, the Spanish Choir, and the Mayordomos at Our Lady de Guadalupe de Taos. She obtained her first employment at age 70 at the Weavers of Chimayo in Truchas, NM and was also the manager at Kachina Gift Shop in Cabot Plaza in Taos, NM. She had been a resident of Albuquerque for the past nine years. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at the Sangre de Cristo Catholic Church, 8911 Candelaria NE, Albuquerque. The family would like to express a special thanks to Simple Pleasures Senior Care for their tender loving care the past year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity. Sunrise Funeral Options 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 ABQ Journal February 02, 2006 Martinez, Juan A. Juan A. Martinez age 71 years, 5 months and 15 days died at his residence in Abiquiu,NM. 15 Feb 1909.He served in the military in 1861 during the American Civil War. He was elected and served as Rio Arriba County Commissioner and notary public.He married Maria Dionicita Quintana in 1866. He is survived by his wife and sons Marcelino Martinez and Juan A. Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Juan Francisco Juan Francisco Martinez April 19, 2006 Juan Francisco Martinez, 76, of Taos passed away on April 19, 2006. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Rosemarie Marquez, brothers, Abrencio and Melecio Martinez and sister Donelia Gonzales. He is survived by his children, Pablo Martinez (Debbie), Jeanette Martinez (Alex), Debbie Martinez, Lori Pavelko (Scott) and Frank Martinez. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 1 great granddaughter, sisters and brother, Lupita Muniz, Rutelio Martinez, Ursinia Lujan and Lydia Paiz (Joe). Rosary was recited on Sunday, April 23, 2006. Funeral mass was held on Monday, April 24, 2006. Both services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment was held at Santa Fe National Cemetery Martinez, Julian P. Julian P. Martinez, a retired devoted soldier was called to the Lord on February 24, 2007, born March 16, 1926 in Taos, NM to Neves Martinez and Emerenciana Lara. A proud military man serving in both the U.S. Army from June 24, 1943 until October 8, 1943 and the U.S. Marines Corps from April 22, 1946. He fought in WWII, Iwojima Volcano Islands and Occupation of Japan. He retired a Corporal with the Purple Heart and good service medal. He is a lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was united in marriage to the late Vera Martinez, preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Aneceto and Dalio Martinez; sisters, Maria Viapando and Felice Martinez . He is survived by his sister, Jenny Vigil; children, Mary Ann Martinez, Johnny Martinez and wife, Susie; his second wife, Helen Vigil; children, Michael Martinez and wife, Theresa, Mark Martinez and wife, Geraldine, Diana Martinez, and Christine Martinez; ten grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, numerous nephews, nieces; and many close friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Steve Martinez, James Martinez, Michael Apodaca, Leo Garcia, Benny Viapando, and Max Abeyta. Honorary pallbearers will be all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 6:00 p.m. at Berardinelli where a Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m.. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 1, 2007, 10:00 a.m. St. Francis Catherdal. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa St, Santa Fe, NM 87505 ï¿½ABQ Journal Wed February 28, 2007 Martinez, Kathy Kathy Martinez, 55, of Questa, died Sunday November 2, 2003. She was preceded in death by her father, Alex Quintana; and grandmother, Eufemia Gallegos. She was employed as a dietician at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos for 26 years until her retirement. She is survived by her longtime companion, Lloyd Varela and his son, Chris, of Questa; mother, Olivia Quintana of Questa; two sons, Martin Martinez and wife Yolanda and Brian Martinez and wife Debbie, all of Questa; brother, Alexander Jay Quintana of Questa; sisters, Renee "Sandy" Romero and husband Dan of Arroyo Seco and Lisa Bailon and husband Patrick of Questa; three grandchildren; six nephews and nieces; and numerous other close relatives and friends. Cremation has taken place. Rosaries will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Questa. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Questa with burial to follow. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Journal North November 5, 2003 Martinez, Katie G. Katie G. Martinez March 16, 2006 Katie G. Martinez, 89, of El Prado passed away on March 16, 2006 in Questa. She worked for many years as a nurse's aid with the State of New Mexico Senior Care. She is preceded in death by daughter, Juanita Martinez, son, Fernando Martinez and grandson, Arnie Cisneros, Sr. She is survived by her children, Sofia Cisneros (Cornelio, Jr.) and Tony Martinez of Taos, sister, Marlou Herrera (John) of Albuquerque, brother, Eddie Cisneros (Lisa) of Orange, CA, sister, Merlin Santistevan, brother-in-law Menard Martinez (Betty), 15 grand children, 22 great grand children and 1 great grand child. Rosaries were recited on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at Rivera Chapel and Sunday, March 19, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mass was held on Monday March 20, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Interment was held at Dolores Cemetery. Martinez, Maclovia Maclovia Martinez age 15 died at her grandmother Francisquita Santistevan's residence in Naranjos, NM. 19 Sept 1909 at 4:00 PM. Survivors Father Pablo Martinez; Sister Virginia Martinez wife of Telesforo Martinez; Brothers Eliseo and Frank Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Margarito Margarito Martinez, 77, of Des Montes died 26 Nov 1995 at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, NM. Preceded in death by 3 children Elmer, Dora and Elva, 2 brothers Juan B. Martinez and Epifanio Martinez. Survived by wife Elizaida Martinez; Children Candy Suazo (Frank), Lucy Martinez (Joseph Cortez), George Martinez (Jeanette), Debbie Herrera (Toby) and Eloy Martinez; Brothers Ben Martinez (Velma), Frank Martinez (Jennie), Manuel Martinez (Evan); Sisters Delfina Quintana (Bert), Flavia Pineda (Orlando), Vircilia Cortez (Nabor) and Rose Quintana. 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Interment at Arroyo Seco Cemetery. The Taos News. 7 Dec 1995 A-16. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Malaquias Jr. Malaquias Martinez Jr. age 68, Resident of Taos, NM. Former Taos County Sheriff (1935-38) and former State Senator, died Aug 28,1968 at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Joya, Calif. He is survived by his wife Selina Martinez; Daughter Lydia Medina, Emily Romero, Marie Martinez and Mrs. Hope West. Brothers Francis G. and Ruben Martinez. Taos News Aug 28,1968 & Sept 5,1968 2. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Manuel A. Manuel A. Martinez age 14 years, 6 months and 4 days of Pina, NM. died 8 Dec 1909. He is survived by his parents Teodoro Martinez and Maria Ines Martinez. 2 sisters and 3 brother. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Manuel R. Manuel R. Martinez, 83, of Des Montes passed away on July 24, 2005. He is preceded in death by his son, Rudy Martinez, parents, Juan Antonio & Lucinda Martinez, brothers and sisters, Juan Martinez, Epifanio Martinez Margarito Martinez, Emelina Cordova, Anita Manchego and Rose Quintana. He is survived by his wife, Eva Martinez, children, Manuel Martinez Jr., (Patricia), Romaine Miera (Andy), Virginia Romero (Ray), Herbert Martinez (Melissa) and Edward Martinez (Becky). He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Delfina Quintana of Denver, Floyda Pineda of Rock Springs, WY, Bercilia Cortez (Nabor) of Gallup, Frank Martinez (Jenny) and Benito Martinez (Velma) all of Denver. Rosaries were recited on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 at Rivera Chapel and on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Arroyo Seco. Funeral mass was held on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at Holy Trinity Church. Interment was held at Arroyo Seco Cemetery. Martinez, Maria Antonita Chavez de Maria Antonita Chavez de Martinez age 54 of San Antonio, Colo. died 29 April 1909 at her residence. Survived by husband Crus Martinez; Sons Antonio, Lusiano and Jose Catario Martinez; Daughter Tonita M. de Sisneros; Brother Francisco Chavez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Maria dela Luz R. Maria dela Luz R. Martinez age 73. Wife of Juan Manuel Martinez died 27 May 1907. She is survived by a son Antonio Martinez of El Prado, NM; Brother Rev, Vicente F. Romero. Several grand children including Jacobo Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Maria Inacita Maria Inacita Martinez age 20 days old of Valdez, NM. died 18 Aug 1909. Parents Jose E. Martinez and Librada Gonzales de Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Maria Valles Maria Valles Martinez age 72, resident of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died March 10,1968 in Albuquerque,NM. Her deceased husband was Daniel Martinez. Survived by a foster daughter Prescilla Martinez. Taos News March 21, 1968 3 & 10. Contributed by Alberto Vidau Martinez, Maria Wengert Maria Wengert Martinez (No age listed) of Taos,NM died in Pueblo, Colo. March 11,1968. She was the wife of the deceased J. Antonio Martinez and mother of Joe C. Martinez, Mrs. J. D. Arellano and Mrs. Alex Valerio. Stepmother of Ernest Martinez and Mrs. Delfino Martinez; Sister Mrs. Nick Jaramillo and Louis Wengert. Taos News April 4,1968 B 4. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Meregildo Sr. Meregildo Martinez Sr., 82, of Llano Quemado passed away on August 14, 2005. Mr. Martinez was a longtime rancher in Wyoming and Colorado and retired from the Town of Taos as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He served in the US Army during WW II and the Korean Conflict. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pedro and Virginia Martinez, son, Johnny Martinez, brothers and sisters, Nabor Martinez, Luis Martinez, Florinda Martinez, Alfonso Martinez, Elena Martinez, Maria Duran and Teodorita Martinez. He is survived by his wife, Grace Martinez, children, Virginia Romero (Urban), Teddie Santistevan (David), Charlie Martinez, Rudy Martinez (Debra), Betty Martinez, Geraldine Martinez, Peter Martinez (Gayle), Meregildo Martinez Jr. (Debra) and Eddie Martinez (Paula). He is also survived by twenty six grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and many other relatives. Rosary was recited on August 17, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Funeral service was held on August 18, 2005 at the Good New Christian Fellowship with burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters. Martinez, Miguel Miguel Martinez age 74 of Taos, NM. died Monday 3 April 1905. Wife Rosalia Guara; Son Jose Martinez; Daughter Adelina Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Nabor Nabor Martinez from Cerro, NM was found dead near Tres Piedras,NM 21 Jan 1906. Foul play was suspected at first but an investigation by the Taos County sheriff and the coroners jury determined that Nestor Martinez had frozen to death. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Nestora Nestora Martinez, 72, passed on to be with the Lord April 5, 2001. She was a member of the Catholic Church, and a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and will be missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Trinidad T. Martinez and daughter, Lorraine Moya, and is survived by her father, Miguel Sanchez; sons, Freddy Martinez and wife, Lorraine of Bernalillo, Trinidad R. Martinez of Taos, Leroy Martinez and wife, Clydine of Albuquerque; sister, Mary Jaramillo; brothers, Pete Sanchez, and Tony Sanchez; granddaughters, Mary Lou Moya and husband, Ernest, Mary Therese Romero and husband, Clorindo, and Melanie Martinez; grandsons, Louie Moya and wife, Debra, and Erik Martinez; seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Services will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church, 4th St. and Mildred NW., with a Rosary to be recited on Monday, April 9, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, with burial following at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Ladera Nursing Center where Nestora resided. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th ST. NW. Albuquerque. 505-343-8008. ABQ Journal Sun April 08, 2001 Martinez, Mary Pino Mary Pino Martinez, 86, of Santa Fe died Saturday, January 17, 2004, after a long illness. She was born in Santa Fe but lived most of her life in Taos, where she was married to former state Sen. Palemon R. Martinez. She was affectionately called "Mama Mary" by both friends and family. She received her basic education at the Loretto Academy in Santa Fe. Upon graduation, she attended the University of New Mexico, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree. She later received a full scholarship to Columbia University, where she earned her master's degree in social welfare. She returned to New Mexico and worked for the state Welfare Department until her marriage and then moved to Taos and served for over 25 years as the juvenile probation officer for Taos County until her retirement in 1982. Because of her dedication to the children and youth of New Mexico, she received numerous awards and tributes throughout her professional career. Just a few of these included: the Leading Hispanic in Taos County award, presented by LULAC; the 1992 Women of Distinction Award for Services to Youth and Family, presented by Gov. Bruce King; the Certificate of Achievement for Contributions to Women in the State of New Mexico, presented by the New Mexico Women's Conference; the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Services in the Field of Corrections, presented by yhe New Mexico Association of Criminal Justice; the Distinguished Service Award for Work in Social Services, presented by the state Bar Association of New Mexico. In 1982, she was the first woman to be appointed as an honorary member to the state Supreme Court for outstanding service to children and youth in New Mexico. She was preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Anthony Pino, Manuel Pino and Apolonio Pino; and sister, Louisa Pino Trujillo. She is survived by stepdaughters, Patricia Pena, Margaret Hurtado, Marcella Valerio and husband Dan; stepson, Librado Chavez and wife Patricia; eight grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Cathedral with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, Journal North, January 21, 2004 Martinez, Melvin V. Melvin V. Martinez 56, of Questa lost his 5 year battle to cancer on Monday, July 26, 2010. ï¿½He is preceded in death by his beloved mother Chavela Martinez Ortiz, his sister Alieen Valdez, grandparents Tim and Nives Mtz, Uncles; Charlie, Tim Jr., Louie, Fernando Mtz, Aunts; Loretta, Josie, Margie, Dorthy, Special cousins Norma, Cheryl, Betty Jo, Parents, In law Wallace and Elivera Cisneros, Leroy, Anthony, Robert and our two little angels Felicity Aragon and Erilia Arguello and a very special friend Rose Additon. ï¿½Melvin is survived ï¿½by his wife Pauline of 38 years, daughters; Julia Rae Cebada, Jennifer (Andrew) , Kolynn (Curtis), sons; Charlie (Angela), Gerald, Grandchildren Natoria ï¿½my boyï¿½ Joaquin and Baby Arellano, sisters; Mildred (Ernie) Garcia, Geri (Tony) Mauri, brother Donald (Liz) Martinez, Alfred Valdez, Ray Ortiz, 29 very special nieces and nephews, 12 special sisters and brother in laws and to many friends to mention. ï¿½A Memorial service ï¿½will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at Weylen's Funeral Home Chapel in Questa at 6:00 PM. ï¿½Inurnment will be on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 10:00 AM at San Pedro Cemetery in Questa. ï¿½Arrangements were made with Weylen's Funeral Home of Questa. ï¿½ Martinez, Nicholas Isidro Jose Nicholas Isidro Jose Martinez, age 74, of Montrose, CO died Tuesday, January 15, 2002 in the V.A. Medical Center at Grand Junction, CO. Nicholas Isidro Jose Martinez, the son of Jose Armarante Martinez and Maria Elena (Martinez) Martinez, was born on May 15, 1927 in Questa, NM where he spent his childhood years and attended school. During his lifetime, Nicholas worked as a Uranium Miner. He lived in Questa, NM Grand Junction, CO and Montrose, CO. He honorably served his country during the years between WWII and the Korean Conflict, from 1945 until 1948 with the US Army, the Army Corps of Engineers, and then the US Air Force, living in a variety of other places where he was stationed. He greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. Nicholas and his wonderful sense of humor will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Surviving family members who had the privilege of sharing Nicholas' life include his beloved fiance, Anne Martinez of Montrose, CO; his sons, Mike Martinez of Taos, NM; and Jerome Martinez of Longmont, CO; five daughters, Elena Bruson of Big Bear, CA, Elaine Schmidt of California, Luciana Martinez and fiance, Steven Cortez of Artesia, NM, Josephine Nunez and husband, Felix of Albuquerque, NM, and Juanita Martinez of Arizona; a brother, Jose Armarante Martinez Jr. and wife, Carol of Madisonville, KY; four sisters, Filia Higgins of Santa Fe, NM, Ercilia Martinez of Santa Fe, Stella Ortega of Taos, and Alma Martinez of Albuquerque; and nine precious grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ricardo, Orlando, and Armando Martinez. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Frank Prieto, Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Santa Fe. A visitation and Rosary will precede the Mass beginning at 9:00 a.m. Nicholas will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled under the direction of Montrose Valley Funeral Home of Montrose, CO 970-249-4400. ABQ Journal January 22, 2002 Martinez, Nichole Sophia Nichole Sophia Martinez February 15, 2006 Nichole Sophia Martinez, 17, of Arroyo Hondo passed away unexpectedly on February 15, 2006. She was a Senior at Taos High School. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Jose Vicente Sanchez and Bernabe Martinez, uncle, Jospeh Sanchez and cousin, Vicente Vigil. She is survived by her parents, Marcia Sanchez (Randy) and Johnny Martinez (Donna), sisters, Jessica Martinez of Arroyo Hondo, Sonya Martinez of Taos, Alicia Martinez of Arroyo Hondo, Tiana Martinez of Taos, brothers, Ronnie and Anthony Cordova. She is also survived by nephews, Jerome, Juan and Joseph Romero, grandmothers, Genara Sanchez of Arroyo Hondo and Sophia Martinez of Arroyo Seco, many aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends. Rosary was recited on February 17, 2006 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Arroyo Seco. Funeral mass will be held on February 18, 2006 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Arroyo Hondo. Interment followed at Rael Cemetery. Martinez, Otilia May 25, 2006 Otilia Martinez, 96, of Costilla passed away on May 25, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband Fidel Martinez, grandchildren, Gerald and Pearl Maes, Brenda Maes Martinez and Gary Martinez. She is survived by her children Erlinda Maes, Ray Martinez (Rita), Fidel Martinez, Leo Martinez (Martha) and Grace Salazar (Larry). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, many other relatives and friends. Rosary was recited on May 26, 2006 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Costilla. Funeral mass was held on May 27, 2006 at Sacred Heart Church with interment at the Costilla Catholic Cemetery. Martinez, Pablo Pablo Martinez age 76 of Taos/Halls Peak, NM. died at his daughter Manuelita M. Luna's home in Taos, NM. 2 Sept 1909. Pablo Martinez was born in Taos, NM in 1833. In 1858 he married Librada Romero. 20 years ago he and his family moved to plazita de Los Martinez now known as Halls Peak Colfax County, NM.He served in the military in the 1860 American Civil War and fought at the battle of Valverde. Pablo Martinez was a son of the deceased Santiago Martinez who was a brother to Padre Antonio Martinez. Survived by sons Pedro and Epimenio Martinez residents of Wagon Mound, NM. Daughters Rosario, Manuelita, Rebecca and Carolina Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Paul Evaristo Paul Evaristo Martinez, 70, of Questa passed away on June 07, 2006. He is preceded in death by his parents Rudolfo and Maria Martinez two brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife, Angelina Sally Martinez of Questa, children, Sandra Y. Ortega of Santa Fe, Paul Evaristo Martinez Jr. of Colorado Springs, CO, Rudy C. Martinez (Patricia) of Colorado Springs, CO, Arlene Romero (Repito) of Questa, Frank L. Martinez of Questa and Yvonne Vialpando of Santa Fe, 13 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, many other relatives and friends. Memorial service was held on June 09, 2006 at Rivera Chapel. Graveside service were held on June 10, 2006 at El Pueblito Cemetery. Martinez, Phillip PHILLIP MARTINEZ, 40, a resident of Peï¿½asco, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 28, 2010. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Vivianita Roybal; uncles, Joe and William Roybal and Paul Medina; cousins, Fred Sr. and Fred Jr., James Merrill, Bobby Medina and Tommy Pacheco. Mr. Martinez is survived by his daughter, Brianna Martinez; partner, Carmen; mother, Eliza Martinez; sister, Melissa Romero and husband Rick; nephew and God-son, Chad Romero; niece, Chantel Romero and nephew, Cody Romero all of Peï¿½asco and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other loving relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the San Antonio de Padua Church in Peï¿½asco. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. also at San Antonio de Padua Church in Peï¿½asco. Burial to follow at La Morada de San Antonio de Padua Cemetery in Peï¿½asco. The Martinez family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espaï¿½ola Valley. Martinez, Porfiria Porfiria Martinez age 8 years, 10 months and 12 days from Llano, NM. died Monday 5 May 1907 at her residence. She was the daughter of Nobero Martinez and Cesaria Cordova. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Porfiria Guara de Porfiria Guara de Martinez died 29 Dec 1909. died of Fiebre Peunomia (Fever Pneumonia). She was the wife of Jacobo Martinez and daughter of Bentura Guara. Place of death and age not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Quirino Quirino Martinez age 25 of Taos, NM. died at his residence 11 April 1909 at 9:00 PM. He was the son of Gabino Martinez. He was buried in the Pueblo Catholic Cemetery. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Refugio Refugio Martinez age 48 years 1 month and 6 days from Taos, NM. died at her residence Last Saturday March 1909.died of a heart attack. Wife of Jose M. Santistevan. Survived by her husband and mother Eulogia Q. Martinez. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Ricardo Ricardo Martinez age 18 of Llano, NM. died in Santa Cruz Rio Arriba County NM 7 Sept 1907. He was the son of Seferino Martinez and brother to Felicitas de Abeyta. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Martinez, Robert L. Robert L. Martinez, 65, a resident of Belen, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 1999. He was a member of the Catholic Church and served in the United States Air National Guard in 1950. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, which led him to spend time in his beloved outdoors. He was a journeyman carpenter and a master builder. Robert was a very loving father and provider. He loved all of his sons, as well as his grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by his three sisters; and one brother. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Clara Gurule of Los Lunas; his five sons, Robert Martinez of Seattle, WA, Rolando Martinez and his wife, Sheila of Taos, NM, Ronaldo Martinez of Belen, Rubaldo Martinez and his wife, Tanya of Los Chavez, Ricardo Martinez of Seattle, WA; 12 grandchildren, Rachelle, Robert III, Ronnie, Gerald, Elenna, Roland, Ashli, Justin, Ryan, Amber, Ruiz, Raven; his two sisters; and one brother. Robert is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews. A Rosary will be recited on Monday, 6:00 p.m., at Romero Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Interment will follow at a later date in the Taos Catholic Cemetery. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM. ABQ Journal December 26, 1999 Martinez, Robert N. Robert N. "Bobby" Martinez. Born June 7, 1941 passed on April 2, 2001. A native of Taos, he moved to Albuquerque at the age of seven. A graduate of Valley High School, he served four years in the U.S.M.C. Robert chose a career in law enforcement, retiring from the New Mexico State Police in 1988. Robert is survived by wife, Hope; sons, Gary, Carl and Joaquin; brothers, Alejandro, Maximino, Leo, Ricardo, Reynaldo, Patrizio; and sister, Rebecca; grandchildren, Beth, Gabriel, Lena, Elija and Sierra. Robert was a devoted family man, wonderful husband, hard worker, but above all, a great father and friend. A Memorial Service will be held Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Christian Life Center in San Ysidro. Dad, we love you and we'll miss you. Thank you for a lifetime of memories. ABQ Journal April 05, 2001 Martinez, Roberto M. Roberto M. Martinez, 85, of Taos passed away on February 12, 2006. He was a longtime rancher and also worked in Los Alamos for many years and retired from the Town of Taos. He is preceded in death by his wife, Juanita V. Martinez, infant son, Robert Edgar Martinez, brothers and sisters, Elias, Guillermo and Louis Martinez, Andrea Tejada and Aurora Cruz. He is survived by his daughter, Eleanor Cardenas (Benny) of Santa Fe and son, Robert A. Martinez (Molly) of Taos, sisters, Delia Martinez and Alice Vargas (Elias) all of Taos. He is also survived by grandchildren, Barbara Wolf (David), Thomas Cardenas (Rosalyn), Andrea Overturf (Ryan), Robert and Jennifer Martinez, great grandchildren, Danielle Cardenas, Ryan Wolf, Benjamin and Caleb Cardenas and Marisa Overturf. Rosary was recited February 14, 2006 at at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on February 15, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment followed at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Martinez, Rowena Matteson Meyers March 08, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, ROWENA M. MARTINEZ, Age 90, of Taos passed away on March 05, 2000. She was the owner for many years of El Rincon, the original trading post of Taos. She retired from the Federal Government where she worked at the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Ralph E. Meyers in 1948; and her second husband, J. Paul Martinez in 1978; son, Michael Stephen Martinez in 1981; and granddaughters: Larissa and Cinnamon Martinez. She is survived by her daughter, Nina C. Meyers and son, Ouray Meyers and wife Marty all of Taos. She is also survived by grandchildren: Miguel Castillo, Paul Castillo, Estevan Castillo, Jenina Castillo, Raymond David Meyers, Ralph Courtney Meyers, Robert Emerson Meyers; and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2000 at 10:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church with burial to follow at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home Martinez, Rowena Matteson Meyers Former `First Lady of the West' dies in Taos, March 11, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, TAOS -- Funeral services are scheduled today for Rowena Matteson Meyers Martinez, who during various careers helped operate the town's oldest trading post, owned a restaurant and worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Martinez died March 5 at the age of 90. She was recognized by the Taos County Historical Society "for her longtime interest in the tri-cultural manners and customs of Taos Community; for acquiring and preserving costumes and accessories of the past and for her dedication to reviving the crafts and skills that produced them." In 1987, she was presented the "First Lady of the West" award by Michael Martin Murphey at the first West Fest, held in Colorado. In the last year of her life, she was honored as a Living Treasure by the town of Taos for her unselfish and dedicated service to the citizens of our community. Born in Erie, Penn. on July 31, 1909, she moved west with her family in 1923 to homestead in Sunshine Valley, just north of Taos. After completing high school, her first job was a secretarial position with a small Christmas-card company in Taos. She eventually became the first woman to own a car in Taos, a teal Ford Model A for which she paid $400, before leaving for San Francisco to attend Mills College. In June 1932, she married Ralph Meyers, who was a member of the Taos Art Colony and operated the first Indian trading post in Taos, The Mission Shop. Among their friends were Mabel Dodge Luhan and her husband Tony, along with Frieda and D.H. Lawrence, Frank Waters, Gisella Loeffler, Lady Brett, E. Irving Couse, Herbert "Buck" Dunton, Leon Gaspard and Nicolai Fechin. She modeled for Fechin, Dunton, Ward Lockwood and other artists. She was portrayed as "Angelina" in Frank Water's novel, The Man Who Killed the Deer. The couple opened a restaurant in an old adobe house. However, with the hardship imposed by the start of World War II and the rationing of food, the restaurant closed in its first year. Around this time, to make ends meet, she began a career with the U.S. Forest Service. After her husband died in 1948, she had a hard time running the shop, working for the Forest Service and managing as a single parent.In 1949, she married J. Paul Martinez, a forest ranger. She retired from the Forest Service in 1970 and reopened her shop, in which she also set up a small museum. She researched and wrote a study of Spanish land grants of Northern New Mexico for the Bureau of Land Management. And in 1974, she researched and wrote a history of the Taos Presbyterian Church for its 100th anniversary. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Martinez, Rowena Matteson Meyers Remembered For Love of Taos History, March 10, 2000, Albuquerque Journal, Page: 2, Rowena Matteson Meyers Martinez was a businesswoman, author, patron of the arts and Taos historian. A Taos resident for most of her life, Martinez died Monday at Holy Cross Hospital of complications from Alzheimer's disease, a grandson, Paul Castillo, said Thursday. She was 90. Services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Taos. "She was very sweet, witty and very intelligent," Castillo said. "She was very ahead of her time in a lot of ways." Her family moved from Pennsylvania, where she was born, to homestead in Sunshine Valley, north of Taos, in 1923. Martinez's first job was a secretarial position with a Taos Christmas card company. She was the first woman to own a car in the village, a Model "A" with a rumble seat. Martinez was daring enough to drive with her sister to San Francisco to attend college, Castillo said. In 1932, she left school to marry Ralph Meyers, a member of the Taos art colony and operator of a trading post called The Mission Shop. She learned to make jewelry and woven blankets. Their circle of literary friends included the famed Mabel Dodge Luhan and D.H. Lawrence, her grandson said. Martinez's love of Taos history and its people was well known.Castillo said it was not just a hobby, but more of a passion which consumed her time and energy. "People would refer to her as being a walking encyclopedia of Taos history," Castillo said. After her husband died in 1948, Martinez returned to clerical work for the U.S. Forest Service. She married J. Paul Martinez, a forest ranger, in 1949. In 1970, she left the service and reopened the shop she and Meyers had owned, changing its name to El Rincon. She taught and encouraged many young silversmiths, Castillo said. Martinez wrote a study of Spanish land grants of northern New Mexico for the Bureau of Land Management. She also wrote a history of the Presbyterian Church of Taos for its 100th anniversary. Martinez also was known for putting on historical fashion shows in Taos and Santa Fe, outfitting men, women and children in the clothing of their ancestors. Her second husband died in 1978, the same year that the Taos County Historical Society recognized her for her years of work in preserving history. She received the "First Lady of the West" award in 1987. And in1999, Taos honored Martinez as a "Living Treasure." Other survivors include a daughter, Nina Meyers, and a son, Ouray Meyers, both of Taos. Martinez, Sam V. Sam V. Martinez, 89, of Taos passed away on January 4, 2006. He is preceded in death by his wife, Susana C. Martinez. He is survived by his children, Carla M. Trujillo (Tom) and Sammy Martinez Jr. (Maria), grandchildren, Tommy Trujillo Jr., Phillip Trujillo (Tracy), Matthew Trujillo, Sammy Martinez III (Renee) and Abenicio Martinez (Delia). He is also survived by 4 great grandchildren, Phillip Jr. and Andrea Trujillo, Zeke and Celso Martinez. Rosary was recited on Friday, January 06, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 07, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment was held at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Martinez, Severo Severo Martinez, 90, was welcomed into the arms of our dear Lord Jesus on, Sunday July 16, 2006 surrounded by his loving family and friends. Severo was preceded in death by his wife Rosemary, and is survived by his daughters Leonor (Norie) Martinez, Kate Martinez and companion Jose Marquez, Rebecca Martinez, and son Severo Vincent Martinez and wife, Amy. He had five grandchildren that he adored, David St. James, Severo William, Megan, Ashley and Natalie Martinez. He is also survived by his brother Conrad Rivera and wife Eva, sister Cordy Conley, his companion and friend Dolores Sullivan, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Rosenda Gallegos, brothers Manuel and Pat Martinez, Antonio A Rivera II and Mario Rivera. He was born May 7, 1916 in Chama, New Mexico. Growing up in Chama, Taos, and El Rito he gained a great love and appreciation for the great outdoors and the beauty of Northern New Mexico. He loved to fish in the small streams of the North and hunt dear, elk, and grouse. Severo was a proud veteran of World War II where he served with the 58th Quartermaster Battalion in Europe and in the South Pacific. He was recalled to federal service as a member of the New Mexico National Guard during the Korean Conflict. As a forward observer he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. After release from federal service Severo remained in the New Mexico National Guard until his retirement at the rank of Major. Severo was always very proud of the men he served within the National Guard and loved them dearly. Severo was employed with the Employment Security Commission (DOL) for 39 years. His faithful and dedicated service to that agency as Manager and District Supervisor assisted many New Mexico Veterans and citizens to obtain employment and helped start many careers. Severo is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a life member and charter member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Patrick Hurley Chapter. A life member of the American Legion, and the Santa Fe Elks Club #460. Rosary was recited on July 18, 2006 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Osage Av. in Santa Fe. Funeral mass was held July 19, 2006 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Internmentl was held at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Open Hands in memory of Severo Martinez. Martinez, Thomas R. Jr. Thomas R. Martinez, Jr., 70, passed away at a local hospital on March 5, 2001. He was born on November 25, 1930 in Leadville, CO, the son of Thomas R. and Josephine (Trujillo) Martinez, Sr. He was an officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Department in Albuquerque for 25 years and a member of the Catholic Church. Thomas is survived by daughters, Karen and Debye Martinez, both of Albuquerque; sisters, Chris Guy and her husband, Larry; and Pearl Sako, all of Albuquerque; brother, Frank Martinez and his wife, Sylvia, of Wenatchee, WA; sister-in-law, Catherine Martinez, of Albuquerque; and sister-in-law, Bernice DesGeorges, of Taos, NM; granddaughter, Kristi LaJeunesse, of San Diego, CA and former wife, Alice DesGeorges, of Taos, NM. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 8, 2001 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Chapel, Fitzgerald and Son Funeral Directors, 3113 Carlisle NE. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2001 in Fitzgerald Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9th at Immaculate Conception Church, 619 Copper NW. Pallbearers are Larry Guy, Richard Norris, Josh Stockham, Mathew Stockham, Joey Olonia, and Tom Holder. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Fitzgerald and Son Funeral Directors are in charge of his arrangements. ABQJournal March 08, 2001 Martinez, Tom Tom Martinez, 75, of Taos passed away on May 07, 2006. He was a longtime Taos Educator and coach at Taos Municipal Schools. He is preceded in death by his parents, Zacarias & Beatrice Martinez, brothers, Vidal & Gilbert Martinez and granddaughter, Angelica Martinez. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eva Martinez, children, Yolanda "Yogi" Romero (Richard), Liz Martinez, David Martinez (Deborah), Tomas Martinez and Yvette Ruiz (Federico). He is also survived by nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, brothers and sisters, Juan Martinez (Mary), Flora Gonzales (Frank), Martha Martinez, Bernice Hayes and Marcella Rivera. Funeral mass was held on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Martinez, Vicente F. Vicente F. Martinez age 77 of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died Saturday 4 Dec 1909 at 11:00 PM. He had served in the American military in 1855 and rejoined the military in during the 1860 Civil Wasr. He is survived by his wife Pablita G. de Martinez; Sons J. D. Martinez and Francisco Martinez. Buried at the Ranchos de Taos Cemetery. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mascarenas, Juan B. Juan B. Mascarenas age 3 years, 4 months and 8 days of Santa Barbara, NM. Adopted son of Blas Sanchez and Juanita F. Sanchez. Son of Candelario Mascarenas and Guadalupe S. de Mascarenas. Was playing with other children near a fire place and was burned to death 2 Jan 1909. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mascarenas, Mary Gloria Mary Gloria Mascarenas, 61, passed away on June 13, 2006. She is survived by her children, Darnell, Gary, Susan and Raymond Mascarenas, mother, Teodora, sister and brothers, Eloy, Julie and Archie and many other relatives. Rosary will be recited on Sunday, June 18, 2006 at 7 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cerro. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, June 19, 2006 at 10 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cerro with interment to follow at Cerro Cemetery. Massey, Robert Scott Robert Scott Massey, 58, was born on Wednesday, March 6, 1946 in Detroit, MI. He died on Thursday, July 15, 2004 near his home in Cochiti Canyon. Scott grew up in Albuquerque and attended the Albuquerque Academy before serving in the army. He attended Oberlin College in Ohio, and St. John's University in Santa Fe. Scott was a free spirit, who was pulled by his passion for sailing, and his love of Cochiti Canyon. He used the strength and grace of his hands to create amazing beauty in whatever he undertook. As a jeweler, he created unique styles of turquoise mosaic, wood and stone inlays. As a master carpenter, he worked for Taos furniture from 1977 to 1983 and developed a number of designs for that company, as well as for his own customers. He hand built wooden boats and dreamed of sailing down the Atlantic coast. As a building contractor, he built or renovated dozens of homes, using the same gift for design, woodworking skill and meticulous care that characterized all he did. He showered his family with affection and kindness, and was loved for his life-long pursuit of knowledge, his incredible work ethic, and his youthful spirit. We will miss his amazing smile, the depth of his eyes and his infectious laugh. He is survived by his wife of eighteen years, Melinda Massey, of Cochiti Canyon, NM; his parents, Dr. Robert and Mrs. June Massey, of Avon, CT; his sister, Janet Massey of Avon, CT; his son, Dr. Jonathan Massey Taylormoore, and his wife, Melissa of Falls Church, VA; his daughter, Rachel Idris Massey, and her husband, Will of Santa Fe, NM; his son, Cadet James Joshua Hall, of West Point, NY; and his niece, Melissa Massey Morgan, and her husband, Peter of Middletown, CT. Services will be held at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral on Thursday, July 22, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 823-9400 ABQ Journal Wed July 21, 2004 Masters, Donald D. Donald D. Masters, 71 was born on June 22, 1935, to Trula Lindley Masters and Chester Masters in Greenfield, Missouri. He passed away November 13, 2006. After graduating from High School, He started his career operating heavy equipment. Donald was drafted into the US Army in 1958. He did his basic training in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was then recruited into the Honor Guard where he served the rest of his service duty walking the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at Arlington, Virginia. When he got out of the service, he continued to perfect his skills operating heavy equipment, working out of the Operating Engineers Local # 9 all over Colorado. Don and Jeannie Sanchez were married in March of 1973., The energy boom in Wyoming in 1976 inspired him to move there. He and Jeannie then invited newlyweds Andamo and Linda along with baby little Andamo to come and join them there. They also invited Lewis and Sedonia along with little Lewis to come and join them in Casper, Wyoming. In the mid 80's they left Wyoming to go back to Colorado to work. Jeannie came home to New Mexico and Don continued to pursue his craft in California, and Colorado. He retired in 2000, and came home to the CerroQuesta Area, to live permanently, a place, which he dearly loved. He was very fond of saying "This place was just as beautiful as Colorado, but more affordable". When his sister-in-law Yolanda and her family moved to Cerro, he became very involved in the lives of her boys which he came to love and claim as his own. Juaquin, Richard and Miguel were the pride of his life. Don came to be loved, and respected for his gregarious attitudes, the love of his extended family and community, his loyalty to the Denver Broncos. He used to tell Jeannie that he sure enjoyed riding on her coat tails, never fully realizing how many lives he touched on his own. Don is survived by his wife Jeannie, His boys Juaquin Martinez, Richard and Miguel Sanchez, His sister Kay McCrea (Bob), brother-in-law Jerry Sanchez, sisterinlaw Yolanda Acosta (Ross), Nieces, Sedonia Herrera, (Lewis), Bowina Burback, (Pete), Moriah Sanchez, and Pamela McCrea, Nephews, Andamo Sanchez (Linda), Marcos Mascarenas (Angelique) and Patrick Mc- Crea, and their families, His Holy Cross Hospital Family, and his large extended family otherwise called community. Viewing was held from 1:005:30 PM on Wednesday November 15, 2006 at Weylen's Funeral Home Chapel in Questa, NM. A Rosary was held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday November 15, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church In Cerro, NM. The Funeral Mass was held at 10:00 AM on Thursday November 16, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cerro, NM With Burial to follow at the Cerro Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Weylen's Funeral Home in Questa NM. www.weylens-funeral-home.com Maxwell, Francisca Trujillo Francisca Trujillo Maxwell age 72 died thursday 5 April 1905 at 9:00 PM. Survived by a sister and 3 nephews, only 1 named Felix Sandoval and his wife Cleofas Sandoval. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Maxwell, Joyce Majel Joyce Majel Maxwell, 77, of Taos passed away on July 09, 2006. She is survived by her children, Robert E. Tye of Chamita, Harry Franklin Tidwell of Oklahoma City, OK, Julia, Sylvia, Marcella and Cynthia, brother, Deni Jones (Betty) of Kansas City, KS and sister, Jeanine Corbley of Kansas City, KS. Funeral service was held on , July 13, 2006 at Rivera Chapel. Mayer, Charles Charles Mayer, 81, of Arroyo Seco, NM Passed away 18 Nov 1994 at his residence. Former director of the Ski School at Red River, NM. Survived by his wife Nicole; Children Jean Mayer, Bernard Mayer and Christine Morel; Brother and sister from France.(Names not listed). Private graveyard service. The Taos News. 23 Nov 1994 A-12. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mayo, Donald L. Donald L. Mayo, 54, Tres Piedras, NM, passed away January 15, 2006. Don was a cowboy, first and foremost. He worked for ranches, feedlots and individuals all of his life in southern Colorado and New Mexico. He was an avid hunter and a licensed guide in New Mexico. He loved animals, the outdoors and most of all his family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Mary Mayo of Tres Piedras, brother, Mike Mayo (Elaine), Farmington, NM, sisters, Kathy Haston (Larry), Hobbs, NM and Becky Mayo, Del Norte, CO, nephews Eddie Mayo, Michael Mayo (Julie) and Shane Haston, a niece Kimberly Haston, great-nephew Riley Mayo and great-niece Ashley Mayo, Aunt Kate Schofield and cousins Ricky, Robert and Randy Schofield, Tres Piedras, Uncle Jack Gilson, CA, Aunt Grace Mayo, CO and numerous others. Don was preceded in death by his father Pete Mayo, grandparents, four uncles and an aunt. A memorial service will be held later in the spring in Tres Piedras, with the date, time and place to be announced at a later date. Good Ride, cowboy! Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. McDonald, Richard Thursday, November 4, 2010 9:12 AM MDT Cattle industry leader Richard McDonald, 66, of Angel Fire died Friday (Oct. 29) in Amarillo.Memorial services were Monday (Nov. 1) at First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo with Dr. Jim Bankhead and Dr. Murray Gossett officiating.McDonald, retired President and CEO of Texas Cattle Feeders Association, died following an inspiring year-long battle with cancer.Richard Peterson McDonald's life of service to agriculture began with his birth on February 21, 1944, in Clifton, Texas to Roy and Werner McDonald. He grew up in San Benito, honing his leadership abilities in FFA and 4-H activities, including serving as Chairman of the State 4-H Council. Following graduation from San Benito High School, Richard attended Texas A & M University, graduating with a BS in animal science in 1966. He then graduated from Louisiana State University with a MS in 1969 and PhD in 1972 in animal breeding, nutrition and statistics. His first job was with Texas Agricultural Extension Service as an Area Livestock Specialist in the Dallas area.Dr. McDonald joined Texas Cattle Feeders Association as Executive Assistant in 1974 and retired as President and CEO in 2006, leaving giant footprints on the growth of the Association over more than 30 years. His strengths in research and regulatory areas coincided with the organization's growth. His integrity and credibility in legislative affairs led to major political victories for TCFA and national organizations.Upon retirement from TCFA, he continued service to cattle organizations across the United States and was a consultant with McCormick Company in Amarillo until his death.At the time of his death, Dr. McDonald was serving on the West Texas A & M University Foundation Board and was appointed the Canadian River Compact Commissioner by Gov. Rick Perry in 2009.Recognitions over the years have included the Distinguished Service to Texas Agriculture Award from Professional Ag Workers of Texas in 1985; Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture from the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association in 1996; Blue and Gold Award from Texas FFA in 1997; Outstanding Alumnus, Texas A & M University in 1999; Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturist Award from Texas Tech University in 2002; first recipient Industry Leadership Award, Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, 2010.Richard McDonald and Sharon Tolzien were married on October 5, 1979 in Amarillo.ï¿½ Richard was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo.He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Kelly McDonald in 2008.He is survived by his wife Sharon; two sons, Lanny McDonald and his wife Deanna of Amarillo and Lyle McDonald and his wife Myra of Round Rock; one daughter, Lori Price and her husband Danny of Tyler; a daughter-in-law, Kerri McDonald of Amarillo; 12 grandchildren; two brothers, Roy McDonald and wife Rhea of Georgetown and Robert McDonald and wife Darleen of San Benito; sister-in-law, Sandra Woodward and husband Tom of Amarillo; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.The Richard McDonald Leadership Institute has been established in honor of his legacy.ï¿½ The program offers leadership development and training for young people involved with cattle organizations throughout the United States.ï¿½ Contributions in support of this effort may be sent to:ï¿½ The Richard McDonald Leadership Institute, c/o The Amarillo Area Foundation, 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 700, Amarillo, Texas 79101.ï¿½ Contributions may also be made to Shuter Library of Angel Fire, P.O. Box 298, Angel Fire, New Mexico 87710 or Olivia's Angels, c/o BSA Hospice, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79105-9975.ï¿½ McDowell, Bettye Lochridge Bettye Lochridge McDowell, 80, a resident of Albuquerque, died March 26, 2001. She is survived by her daughters, Kay Morrell and husband, Chris of Catania, Sicily, Sue McDowell and husband, Robert Crollett of Taos, New Mexico; and grandchildren, Tyler, Whitney and Marissa. She was the founder/owner of Humpty Dumpty School then retired from Albuquerque Public Schools as an elementary teacher. Before and during her retirement, she spent happy hours traveling, fishing and enjoyed her cabin in Red River. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 2, 2001 at Sandia Presbyterian Church, 10704 Paseo del Norte, N.E. with Reverend Dewey Johnson, officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032. French Mortuary, Wyoming Chapel, 7121 Wyoming Blvd N.E. ABQ Journal March 30, 2001 McElroy, Luisa Leonor H. Luisa Leonor "Lena" H. McElroy, born March 28, 1916, was a life-long resident of Las Vegas, NM. Lena was the youngest of nine children and the last remaining member of her family. She passed away peacefully on November 2, 2007 in Albuquerque, NM at the Sunrise Retirement Home. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Thomas, on April 29, 2007. Lena is survived by her four children, Daniel McElroy and wife, Martha of Taos, NM, Stephen McElroy and wife, Karen, of Las Vegas, NM, Therese Dickey and husband, Charles of Albuquerque, NM and John McElroy and wife, Denise of Las Vegas, NM; grandchildren, Michelle, Patricia, Cheryl, Erika, Thomas, Ethan, Caitlin, Ashley, and Casey; great-grandchildren, Danielle, Jon Michael, Estevan, and Sayre as well as many nieces and nephews. Lena was a devout Roman Catholic and member of the Immaculate Conception Church, Catholic Daughters of America, Sacred Heart League and Alter Society. Lena was a beautician for 55 years and owned and operated her own beauty shop for 45 years. Lena's favorite hobby was knitting, but she also enjoyed needlepoint and hook rugs. She made wonderful homemade jelly and was an exceptional pie maker. At any given time, there were 2 or 3 different pies prepared for her family. Lena loved tending to her rose bushes and would always have fresh cut roses in her home. She loved cookouts, family gatherings and all the holidays. She especially loved Christmas, when the family was together in her home. Having a houseful of family was her greatest joy, it sustained her and made her happy her entire life. Lena devoted her life to taking care of her family, and the life time memories she gave us will be shared and recounted with affection and laughter. Her children and grandchildren have been so fortunate to have had their parents and grandparents for so many years and their passing away is the last of a generation. We are deeply saddened at the lost of our parents and grandparents this year, and we feel a great void in all our lives. Our memories are everlasting, and their devotion and guidance will be with us forever. We are forever grateful to Maria Rios for the four years she devoted and cared for our parents in Las Vegas. Her kindness, patience and loyalty allowed us to keep them in their own home until this year. Thank you to Sunrise Retirement Home for their compassion, guidance and medical care during the last months our parent's lives. The pallbearers will be Casey McElroy, Ethan Proffer, Jon Michael Griego, Estevan Lopez, Albert Lopez, and Charles Dickey; Honorary Pallbearers, Thomas H. McElroy, Gene McElroy, Gene Falvey, Frank Berged, and William Ludi. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will be on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Las Vegas, NM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at the Immaculate Conception Church with interment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Immaculate Conception Church building fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, NM, ABQ Journal November 06, 2007 McFarland, Agnes Agnes ï¿½Peteï¿½ McFarland, 91, of Lancaster, OH passed away Friday evening December 29, 2006 at the Rockmill Rehabilitation Centre, Lancaster, OH. She was born on September 21, 1915 in Canal Winchester, OH to the late William H. & Bertha A. (Cooper) Morehart. Pete graduated from Carroll High School in 1933. She retired from Anchor Hocking Glass Corp, Lancaster. She was a member of the Cedar Hill Calvary United Church, Amanda, OH. Agnes is survived by her sons: Robert (Florence) McFarland IV of Ashville, OH, Ted (Paula) McFarland of Lancaster, OH, Wyatt (Barbara) McFarland of Lancaster, OH; grandsons: Robert R. McFarland V and Harold E. (Jill) McFarland both of Ashville. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell ï¿½Russï¿½ McFarland III and her parents, 3 brothers & 3 sisters. There will be no funeral services or visitation. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be in Sierra Vista Cemetery, Taos, New Mexico. Memorial Contributions may be made to Cedar Hill Calvary United Church, Amanda, OH c/o Gwendolyn Hoplite 5075 Leist Rd. Amanda, OH 43102. Arrangements are being handled by the Sheridan Funeral Home Lancaster, OH. McGill, Donald David Donald David McGill, 84, born September 2, 1923 in Camp Crook, SD, passed away November 11, 2007 in Albuquerque, NM. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Donna; and four children, Bruce and wife, Ginny; Barbara and husband, William Langford; Craig; and Curt and wife, Cindy; three grandchildren, Adrienne, Steve, and Meghan; and a sister, Margaret Jobe. He was a Forest Service "Brat", and also, worked for the Forest Service for 20 years in Taos, NM and Albuquerque. After retirement he traveled extensively with his wife to all 50 states, all of Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, and parts of Mexico. In accordance with his wishes there will be no services. Memorial contributions can be made to the Ballut Abyad Shrine Transportation Fund (this fund is for the transportation needs of the children that the Shriners help, and is tax deductible), 6600 Zuni SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 2400 Southern Blvd. SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-891-9192 ï¿½ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun November 18, 2007 McGinnis, Francella Francella McGinnis, 74 of Taos passed away on November 07, 2007. She is preceded in death by her parents, Selso & Cordelia Martï¿½nez, sister, Isabel McGuire, brothers, Alex, Selso and Eloy Martï¿½nez. She is survived by her sisters and brothers, Amalia Valerio, Eloy Martï¿½nez (Rose) all of Ranchos de Taos, Connie Anaya of Taos, Frances "Pancha" Reynolds (Leonard) of Richfield, Utah, Dolly Peralta (Fred) of Taos, Gloria Martï¿½nez (Ted) of Taos, Johnny Martï¿½nez (Juanita) of Ranchos de Taos, many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral mass was held on November 09, 2007 at San Francisco de Asï¿½s Catholic Church. Interment was held at Hartt Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera- Hanlon Funeral Home. www.riverafuneralhome.com McGrath, Juana Juana McGrath age 31 of Ranchos de Taos, NM. died Saturday night in an automobile accident that occurred 8 miles south of Espanola, NM on U.S.highway 64. The car in which the family was riding struck a truck which turned in front of them unexpectedly at the junction of 64 and NM 4. State police indicated. Mr. McGrath and 6 children were injuried in the accident which killed Mrs. McGrath. Funeral arrangements were made by Blocks Mortuary in Santa Fe, NM. Taos News Nov 28,1968 1. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. McIntyre, Ignatius Sister Ignatius taught at local school, April 21, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, Sister Ignatius McIntyre, a Sister of Loretto for 75 years and a former teacher at St. Francis Cathedral School in Santa Fe, died in El Paso April 17 at the age of 95. Sister Ignatius' funeral was held Wednesday in El Paso at Nazareth Hall, the Sisters of Loretto's nursing home, and she was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, also in El Paso. Sister Ignatius was born in San Antonio, not far from Socorro, one of six sisters. Three of the siblings became Sisters of Loretto. The other two nuns, Sister Angeline McIntyre and Sister Rose Anthony McIntyre, live in El Paso. Sister Ignatius also is survived by another sister, Frances McIntyre Carter, who lives in El Paso. The McIntyre family lived across the street from the Hilton family, one of whom, Conrad, went on to found the Hilton Hotel chain. "My mother had gone to school at Loretto Academy in Santa Fe, where she knew Conrad Hilton's mother," Sister Rose Anthony said. After attending Loretto Academy in El Paso, Sister Ignatius joined the Sisters of Loretto and spent 1 years at the order's mother house near Bardstown, Ky. She later earned a degree in Spanish at Loretto Heights College in Denver. Sister Ignatius taught at St. Francis Cathedral School from 1929 to 1941 and at St. Joseph's School in Taos from 1948 to 1953. She also taught at Immaculate Conception School in Las Vegas and was at a school in Pueblo, Colo. "She always taught elementary school, and she was precious with them," Sister Rose Anthony said. Before retiring to El Paso some years ago, Sister Ignatius lived in Kansas City and tutored children there, Sister Rose Anthony said. In lieu of flowers, the McIntyre family is requesting that donations be sent to the Loretto Academy's scholarship fund in El Paso. The address is 1300 Hardaway St., El Paso, Texas 79903. McKenzie, Mary Madge Shepard Mary Madge Shepard McKenzie, 93, passed away Sunday, February 28, 1999 at the Plaza de Retiro, Taos. She was born to Mary Lee Blakey Shepard and Jasper Henry Shepard, March 23, 1906 in Haskell, Texas, and attended schools in El Paso, Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Roswell, NM. She graduated from UNM in 1927 as an English major and a Phi Beta Kappa. Skilled in secretarial skills, she spent two years in Washington, DC as secretary and general assistant to New Mexico Congressman, Albert Gallatin Simms. She was married to Donald Alexander McKenzie in a civil ceremony on Christmas eve 1929 in Las Cruces, NM; the following day, her father, a weekly newspaper owner and publisher, and an itinerant preacher, performed religious rites in El Paso, Texas. In 1930-31, the newly-weds traveled in Europe, primarily in Germany and France. Their daughter, Jennifer, was born in Nice, France in 1931. They returned to the US in 1933 and were living in Tucson when their son, Cameron, was born. At this time, Madge worked at the University of Arizona and later at Stanford, where her husband received his Ph.D. The family spent a year in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1945 at Coe College, where Don taught and Madge worked as a secretary; in 1947 they returned to New Mexico and UNM. At the University Madge worked for Francis Scholes, academic vice president, and Don, who was fluent in more than six languages, including French, Italian and Russian, taught German. In the 1950's and 60's they traveled extensively in Europe, visiting Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Austria, Germany, Scandinavia, and their favorite place, the Scottish Hebrides Islands. They moved to the Plaza de Retiro in Taos in 1982. Her husband predeceased her, dying December 1991. Also preceding her in death was a brother, Robert Shepard; and a 21 year old grandson, Timothy Drake; her only son, Cameron died in 1996. During the McKenzies' residence at the Plaza de Retiro, they started a collection and donated books for a community library, which their son, Cameron memorialized with a bronze plaque,"McKenzie Library." The management of the Retiro has provided an apartment for its use, and present residents, Margaret and Curt Anderson, take care of it, accepting donations, checking books in and out and keeping order generally. Survivors include daughter, Jennifer Drake; daughter-in-law, Carman Anna McKenzie; granddaughter, Cammie McKenzie; grandsons, Kent McKenzie and Cameron McKenzie II; also grandchildren, Randy, Carman and Alia Drake; and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Shepard; and 12 great-grandchildren. Her wish was that the body be donated to the Medical School, University of New Mexico. Private memorial services. ï¿½ABQ Journal Fri March 12, 1999 McKinney, Volney O. Volney O. McKinney age not listed. Former Taos, NM resident. died Aug 22,1968. He is survived by his wife Edith Niles; Sons Kenneth N., Volney O. Jr., Glenn W and Fred L. McKinney. Taos News Sept 12,1968 5. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medary, Elizabeth Gatlin Elizabeth Gatlin Medary (Liz) of Taos and Ft. Worth TX, passed away on September 26, 2006. Liz was born on February 28, 1929 to John and Elizabeth Gatlin in Oklahoma City. She grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1946 and the University of New Mexico in 1952 with a B.S. in Geology. She enjoyed life and was a constant explorer and learner. She earned her degree from the University of New Mexico in Geology while raising her oldest daughter, Susie. She continued to raise her children and spent countless hours teaching them, and later her grandchildren, about nature and the outdoors through activities such as fossil hunting, fishing, hunting, bird watching and reading. An adventurer at heart, Liz not only rode motorcycles, but obtained her private pilot's license and could be seen flying high above in her aerobatics plane. After her children had gone to college, Liz continued her passion to teach by joining the faculty at Fort Worth Country Day School where she taught sixth grade earth science. She was always the first to volunteer for field trips to Big Bend National Park and the Texas Gulf Coast. Liz was a dear friend to many and will be missed for her open mind, open heart, generosity and deep held belief that all people are good. She is survived by her children, Dorothy Sue Cooke, Thomas Alan Medary, Sarah Jane Medary, grandchildren, Alex Boyd Cooke, Alyssa Beth Cooke, John Gatlin Medary, Katherine Chandler Medary, Timothy David Longoria and James David Longoria. A memorial service was held on Saturday, September 30, 2006 at the Rivera Chapel at 2 PM with interment to follow at Las Cruces Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera- Hanlon Funeral Home. www.riverafuneralhome.com Medina, Abel F. September 12, 2005 Abel F. Medina, 75, of Talpa passed away on October 29, 2005. He worked as a logger at the sawmill in Pot Creek, maintenance with Harper Ford Motor Co. and with the Forest Service. He is preceded in death by his sisters and brother, Sobeida Romero, Mary Medina, Basilia Medina and Raymundo Medina. He is survived by his children, Flavio Nick Medina of Taos, Thomas R. Medina (Bernadette) of Raton, Paul G. Medina (Antonia) of Talpa, Anabelle Silox (Thomas) and Don Medina all of Albuquerque, 14 grandchildren and 8 grandchildren. Rosary was recited on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 at San Juan de Los Lagos Talpa Capilla. Funeral mass was held on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 at San Juan de Los Lagos. Interment was held at Talpa Cemetery. Medina, Adelina April 20, 2006 Adelina Medina, 92, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on April 20, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Juan Manuel Medina, son, Dionicio Gallegos, daughters, Elsie Shields, Mercy and Orlinda Medina and grandson, Miguel Lopez. She is survived by her children, Jose A. Gallegos (Loyola) of Penasco, Helen Medina (Cornelio) of Leadville, CO, Zenovio Medina (Maria) of Ranchos de Taos, Joe C. "Jackie" Medina (Helen) of Roswell, Maria Lopez of Taos, Howard Medina of Ranchos de Taos, Juan Manuel Medina Jr. (Darlene) of Gypsum, CO. and Abraham Medina (Nancy) of Dixon. She is also survived by 32 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and many other relatives. Rosary was recited April 20, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis in Ranchos de Taos. Mass was held on April 22, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis. Interment to followed at Santa Barbara Cemetery in Penasco. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Medina, Clarence B. Clarence B Medina, 75 of San Luis died at Evergreen Nursing Home in Alamosa under hospice care on October 15, 2006. ï¿½He was born to Sam and Rose Medina on March 8, 1931 in San Luis. His hobbies included bingo, walking in the mountains, gambling, and especially smoking. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sons Clarence & Joseph, one daughter Kathy, one grandchild Lucas, two great grandchildren Jeremy & Zoey. He is survived by three sons; Danny (Gail) ï¿½Sanchez ï¿½of San Luis, Leroy (Lorraine) Medina of San Luis, Victor Medina of Denver, three daughters; Betty (Maggie) Medina of San Luis, Cindy (Genaro) Medina, Rose Medina, Cathy Medina all of Denver, one brother Sam (Theresa) Medina of San Luis.17 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Viewing and Visitation will be held from 1-5 PM on October 17, 2006 at Weylen's Funeral Home Chapel. A Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM October 17, 2006 at Sangre De Cristo Parish in San Luis. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday October 18, 2006 at Sangre De Cristo Parish in San Luis with burial to follow at San Luis Cemetery. Arrangements were made with Weylen's Funeral Home of San Pablo. Medina, Dora G. Dora G. Medina, 92, of Talpa passed away on June 12, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Esias Medina, sisters, Teresita Garcia, Andelesia Gallegos, Perfecta Apodaca and brother, David Gutierrez. She is survived by her children, Bernie Garcia (Rose) of Talpa, Eliu Medina (Gloria) of Colorado, Eloy Medina of Albuquerque, Gloria Lavadie (Toby) of Taos, Frances Medina (Charlie) of Llano Quemado and Becky Espinoza of Taos . She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren and brother, Augustine Cordova (Kathy) of Pueblo, CO, many other relatives and friends. Rosary was recited on Tuesday, June 13, 2006. Funeral mass was held on Wednesday, June 14, 2006. Both services were held at Talpa Capilla. Interment was held at Talpa Cemetery. Medina, Doriteo Doriteo Medina of Arroyo Seco, NM was killed by lighting Tuesday 21 June 1917 at his place of employement in Douglas, Wyo. Son of Jose Medina. Survived by parents, wife and 4 young children. 1 brother and 1 sister. Names not listed. Buried in Douglas, Wyo. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Eugene E. Mr. Eugene E. Medina Jr. died Sunday, February 9, 2003 in Albuquerque at the age of 81. Mr. Medina is survived by his children, Anthony E. (Tony) Medina and wife, Susan of Rio Rancho, NM, Chris R. Medina, Beatrice Medina-O'Daniel and husband, Larry, Charles (Rocky) Medina, Bonnie Szczawinski and husband, Gerry, and Michael E. Medina and wife, Lorraine, all of Albuquerque; sister, Mary Gurule and husband, Eloy of Taos, NM; brother-in-law, Chris Martinez and wife, Isabel of Albuquerque; sister-in-law, Mary Medina of Taos, NM; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services for Mr. Medina will be held on Thursday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church where the Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 12:00 noon. Pallbearers will be Richard Torres, Matthew Medina, Anthony (A.E.) Medina, Branden Medina, Justen Medina, and Raymond Torres. Honorary pallbearers will be Fred Ortega and Fred Lovato. A Rosary for Mr. Medina will be recited on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Salazar & Sons Mortuary. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the mortuary chapel. A Rosary will also be recited on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Rosary Church. Arrangements by Salazar & Sons Mortuary, 400 Third St. SW. ï¿½ ABQ Journal February 11, 2003 Medina, Gilbert Ramon September 12, 2005 Gilbert Ramon Medina of Lower Ranchitos passed away in his sleep on September 12, 2005. He was born on July 22, 1933 in Penasco, New Mexico. He is survived by his mother, Isabel Medina, his children, Margaret Thielemann, Raymond Medina, Jacqueline Medina, Paul Medina and his former wife Carmen Medina. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, J.D. Medina, Andres Medina, Johny Medina, Irene Medina, Michael Medina, Robert Medina and numerous grandchildren, nephews and nieces. May he rest in peace. A Rosary was recited on September 15, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on September 16, 2005 at our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Medina, Jose Eugenio Jose Eugenio Medina age 67, Resident of Taos, died Jan 27,1968 at Holy Cross Hospital, Taos, NM. Survivors include his wife Casandra Medina; Sons Joe and Eugene Medina and Benjamin Lowe. Daughter Mary Gurule ; Brother Juanito Medina. Taos News Feb 1,1968 A 2. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Juan Del Carmen Juan Del Carmen Medina age 79, Resident of Talpa, NM. died at home August 2,1968. He was a veteran of world war I. He is survived by his wife Manuelita Medina; Daughters Mrs. Cordilia Torres, Mrs. Eleuterio M. Coca, Mrs. Ursulita M. Chavez and Mrs. Beatice Gonzales; Adopted daughter Mrs. Juan Fernandez; Son Juan B. Medina. Taos News Aug 22, 1968 A 2. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Margarita Margarita Medina age 16 years and 7 months of Penasco, NM. died at home 23 August 1909 at 9:00 PM. Survived by her mother Josefa R. Medina 5 sisters and 3 brothers. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Maria Florida Maria Florida Medina, 83, of Talpa died Thursday. She is survived by her children, Shirley Ann House Vigil and husband Daniel of Albuquerque, Roberta "Bobbie" House Velasquez and husband Lt. Col. Enrico Velasquez of Ranchos de Taos and Ben House of Talpa; granddaughter she raised as her own, Melinda House Sanft; six grandchildren; and brothers, Raymundo and Abel Medina. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at the Talpa Capilla. Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the same place with burial to follow at Talpa Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Journal North January 30, 2004. Medina, Mateo James Baby Mateo James Medina, the son of Christopher and Elizabeth Medina, was born and died on Thursday, March 5, 2009 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He lived two beautiful hours and in his short life, knew only love. Mateo is survived by his parents, Christopher and Elizabeth Medina of Corrales, NM; sister, Cassandra Medina and brother, Joseph Medina both of Corrales, NM; uncles Todd Riley and wife Cheryl of Peabody, MA, Steven Medina of Albuquerque, NM; aunts Crucita Medina of Las Cruces, NM, and Crestina Medina of Taos, NM; maternal grandparents, Alan and Judy Riley of Reading, MA; paternal grandparents, Cipriano and Teodora Medina of Taos, NM. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Rd. at Meadowlark Ln., Rio Rancho. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the March of Dimes, New Mexico Chapter, 7007 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Arrangements are entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124 (505) 892-9920 ABQ Journal March 10, 2009 Medina, Monica Rae Monica Rae Medina age 2 years. Child of Mr. & Mrs. Andy Medina of Leadville, Colo and Penasco,NM. died 25 January 1968 in Leadville, Colo. Taos News Feb 1,1968 A 3. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Placida Valdez de Placida Valdez de Medina age 66 of La Loma Taos, NM died at 12:00 Midnight wednesday 7 March 1906 at her home of Fiebre Pnenomia (fever pneumonia). La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Medina, Randy Gary December 5, 2005 Randy Gary Medina, 13, of Ranchos de Taos passed away unexpectedly on December 05, 2005. He is survived by his father, Gary Medina (Kondru), mother, Yevette Maul (Anthony), brothers and sister, Gary Medina Jr., Michael and Alyssa Maul, grandparents, Mary Ann and Stanley Saiz, Anthony Jeantette, Carmen Medina and Beatrice Medina. He is also survived by his great grandmother, Sally Trujillo, step grandmother, Corina Saiz, uncles and aunts, Jovan Jeantete (Isaac Martinez), Anthony Jeantete Jr. (Carla), Eric Jeantete (Erica), Denise Jeantete, Arnold Trujillo (Vanessa), Rick Medina (Renee), Manda Medina, Brandon Medina, Isaac Martinez, Gabriel Gomez (Sonya), Terry Torres (Manuel), Loretta Trujillo (Alfonso Vigil), Stacey Saiz (Frances) and many other relatives. Rosary was recited on Thursday, December 08, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on Friday, December 09, 2005 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment was held at Dolores Cemetery. Medina, Roberto Roberto Medina, 90, of Canon in Taos, passed away on February 29, 2008. He was a World War II Veteran and Prisoner of War, he was also the founder and owner of Robert Medina and Sons Concrete and Sand, Inc. He was preceded in death by his children, Berlinda, Georgianna, Michael and Janice; granddaughter, Melissa Medina; sister, Manuelita Aragon; brother, Bonifacio Cruz Medina; and brother-in-law, Moises Aragon. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Juanita Medina; children, Cipriano Medina (Teodora), Louie Medina, Annabel Medina, Adelmo Medina (Beatrice), Herman Medina (Karen), Manuel Medina (Theresa), Elizardo Medina, Efren Medina (Sandra), Sarah Martinez, Francis Medina (Paula), and George Medina (Julie). He is also survived by his sister, Maria Estela Robbins; daughters-in-law, Patsy Medina, Sandra Montoya and Karen McCalister Medina; son-in-law, Mark Martinez; numerous grandchildren, great-grand-children, many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Rosary will be recited on Monday March 3, 2008 at 7:30PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday March 4, 2008 at 10AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with interment to follow at the Dolores Cemetery in Canon. Arrangements by Rivera Family Mortuaries ï¿½ABQ Journal Mon March 03, 2008 Medina, Susan E. June 2, 2006 Susan E. Medina passed away on June 02, 2006. She was owner of Susan's Grill. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Frances Dewey, parents-in-law, Epimenio and Margarita Medina and brother, Richard Dewey. She is survived by her husband, John E. Medina, children, Wendy Harris (Ken) of Taos, Mark Harris (Patricia) of Rio Rancho, David Medina (Ana) of California, James Medina (Xochilt) of California, grandchildren, Ryann, Rachel, Kathryn and Brittney Harris, Desiree, Brandon, Erick and Anthony Medina, Raul, Blanca, Roman and Lili Martinez, many other relatives and friends.Evening service was held on Monday, June 05, 2006 at Rivera Chapel. Funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Interment was held at Miera Family Cemetery. Metter, Barbara J. Barbara J. Metter, a resident of Albuquerque since 1973, died Friday, August 27, 2004. She is survived by her son, Gerald and wife, Beth Metter of Taos, NM; daughter, Alana- Eden Lykins and husband, John of Sandia Park; significant other, David Newsom of Albuquerque; step-daughter, Ellen Metter of Denver, CO; step-son, Richard Metter of New York, NY; and grandchildren, Brianna and Holly Metter, Christian, Logan, and Kadin Lykins, Stephanie and Brandi Rhodes. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kieven Ray Metter. French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 275-3500 ABQ Journal August 30, 2004 Meyer, Charlotte Herman Charlotte Herman Meyer. Mrs. Ben F. Meyer passed away Friday morning, June 25th. She was preceded by her husband, Ben F. Meyer; daughter, Charlene Smith Shrum; brother, Carl Herman and sister, Anna McCollough. She is survived by her son, Thomas A. Meyer of New Orleans, Jane Zerby of Messilla and sister, Sister Carlanne; a sister of Lorreto residing at the mother house in Nerinx Kentucky; 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Born July 27th, 1906 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, she is a member of one of northern New Mexico's oldest families, Charlotte was the daughter of Marie Antoinette and Charles Herman and granddaughter of Charles Blanchard and Marguerite Des Marais Blanchard. She was also the great-granddaughter of Michael Des Marais who came from the Province of Quebec to New Mexico in the 1820's and became one of the founders of the city of Las Vegas in 1835, and Dona Deluvina Vigil y Montes de Des Marais, whose home still stands on the plaza of West Las Vegas where as a matriarch of a large family of descendants, Dona Deluvina was almost a legendary figure in the annals of San Miguel County. On October 7, 1925 Charlotte married Mr. Ben F. Meyer of Estancia Valley, also from a pioneer family of New Mexico. Charlotte and Ben lived in Las Vegas, Taos and Santa Fe before settling in Albuquerque where they raised there three children. Charlotte a devout communicant of the Roman Catholic faith, lived with complaint or judgment, only acceptance. Funeral arrangements are pending. ABQ Journal Sun June 27, 1999 Meyers, Nina Christine Nina Christine Meyers, born January 6, 1936 in Taos, died peacefully on July 6, 2007 in her home with her family at her side. Nina was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Meyers; her mother, Rowena Matteson Meyers Martinez; and her brother, Michael "Cinco" Martinez. She is survived by her brother, Ouray Meyers of Taos; her children, Miguel Castillo of Santa Fe, Paul Castillo, Stev Castillo and Jenina Castillo, all of Taos; grandchildren, Lara Via of Albuquerque, Jessica Greenfield, Michael Castillo, Amanda Castillo, Christopher Castillo and Jeremy Castillo of Taos, Alina Castillo, Gabriella Castillo and Cruz Castillo of Santa Fe, Gregory Freidholm of Denver; great-grandchildren, Jayden and Calvin Via of Albuquerque. A Memorial celebrating her life will be held on July 31, 2007, time and location to be announced. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. ABQJournal July 10, 2007 Mickelson, Walter Walter Mickelson, "Bill," publisher, telecommunications company president, community supporter, and long-time New Mexico resident, died September 4, 2010 in Minneapolis, at age 84, after a series of strokes. Walter Koren Mickelson Jr. "Bill," the son of Doris (Boyer) and Walter K. Mickelson, was born November 28, 1925, in Stoughton, WI. Bill graduated from New Ulm High School in 1943 as salutatorian, and was awarded a Rector scholarship for full tuition to attend Methodist school DePauw University, in Greencastle, IN. He graduated in 1948 earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Bill returned to work at the New Ulm Journal, a paper published by his father, as a reporter, then circulation manager, regional editor, becoming publisher of the Fairmont Sentinel in 1956. That year he met Hazel Herrick, a school nurse in Anoka County, MN, and they were married in 1957. In 1959 Bill took a sabbatical to earn a master's of business of administration degree at Northwestern University, in Chicago, before returning to Fairmont. Bill became interested in the cable television industry in the 1960's, and built a cable system in Las Vegas, NM in 1967. Upon his father's death in 1967, he returned to New Ulm as president of Mickelson Media Inc. (MMI). MMI continued its expansion into cable, principally in New Mexico, acquiring franchises including Taos, Deming, and Los Alamos. In 1980 MMI sold its Minnesota community newspapers and operations and relocated to Santa Fe, NM to expand its cable operations in the state, and nationally. In 1989 MMI sold its cable operations to Century (now Comcast). Bill continued to work with several local companies, including Deming Waters (Deming, Las Cruces, El Paso) and Multimedia Development Corp (Albuquerque), a provider of cable services (Sierra Cable & TV West), until a stroke in 2001. Bill lived out the imperative to love's one neighbor with his imagination, organization and humor. He was active in church and civic groups. He was recognized by the Boy Scouts with the Silver Beaver award for distinguished service. He was active at St. John's and Zia (Santa Fe), and Asbury United Methodist churches (Albuquerque). Bill served as a trustee at Hamline University (St. Paul, MN) and the New Mexico United Methodist Conference Foundation. He established foundations to support his work locally and in Africa. He initiated support and challenge grants to build community foundations, including support for the Taos and Las Vegas's Northeastern Community Foundations. Bill sought out relationships, whether it was a person he met on the street, friendships cultivated through decades, or meeting a dog on a walk. He loved to garden, raising roses to share with neighbors. He relished living with the wonders and people of New Mexico. Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Janet (Harold Mildenberg), and Caryl (John Radke). Survivors include his wife, Hazel of Minneapolis; children, Kirsten and Thor (Cindi Beth) of Minneapolis; nieces, Julie (Bob) Murray of Canton, NC and Janice (Robert) Roberts of North Augusta, SC; and nephews, Monte (Amy) Mildenberg of Zionsville, IN; and David (Janet) Mildenberg of Charlotte, NC. A service will be held Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403, (612) 871-5303, followed by a luncheon. Bishops Wayne Clymer and Lowell Erdahl will preside. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Community Foundations of Fairmont, New Ulm, Las Vegas and Taos; Hamline University, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Arrangements with the Cremation Society of Minnesota, (952) 924-4100. ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun October 03, 2010 Miera, Antonia Rose Adelle Antonia Rose Adelle Miera, 16, of Taos passed away unexpectedly on October 24, 2006. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Rose Roybal, Edna and Rubï¿½n Miera, aunt, Ruby Miera. She is survived by her mother, Tammy C. Roybal (Davï¿½ Gonzales) of Taos, father, Anthony Miera (Francisca Chï¿½vez) of Ranchos de Taos, sisters, Tanya Miera and Christine Martinez, great grandmother, Margarita Anaya, aunts, Florence and Dolores Miera, uncle, Edward Miera, many other relatives and friends. Rosary was recited on October 27, 2006. Funeral mass was held on October 28, 2006. Both services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment was held at Arroyo Seco Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera- Hanlon Funeral Home. www.riverafuneralhome.com Miera, Celia C. Celia C. Miera age 78 of El Prado, NM. died Nov 9,1968 at the Embudo Presbyterian Hospital, Embudo, NM.Survivors include sons Luis, Jake, Alfredo, Antonio, Eli and Fernando Miera; Daughters Mrs. Simonita Miera Trujillo, Mrs. Amelia Salazar, Mrs. Dolores Sandoval and Juanita Miera; Brother Benito Cardenas; Sisters Mrs. Juanita Montoya and Mrs. Anita Martinez. Taos News Nov 14,1968 6. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Miera, Elias P. Elias P. Miera, 76 of Amalia passed away on June 25, 2008. He is survived by wife, Senaida Miera, children, Elias Miera, Jr. (Charlene), Gloria Segura (Antonio), Berlinda Rivera (Steve), Donna Griego (Joe), grandchildren, Antonio Segura Jr. (Hannah) Tim Segura (Santana), Andrew Segura (Raeann), Chris Trujillo (Celina), Luke Trujillo (Angel), Jeremy Trujillo, Juan Miera, Jason Miera (Vanessa), Nicole Griego, Tina Marie Griego, Tony Orlando Griego and Angelica Griego, great grandchildren, Anika Segura, Ammorette Segura, Aliana Segura, James Segura and Andrew J. Segura Jr. An evening service will be held on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 7 PM at Abundant Life Christian Church in Amalia. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 10 AM at the Abundant Life Christian Church with interment to follow at the Amalia Cemeteryï¿½ Miera, Jose Manuel Jose Manuel Miera age 78,of Taos, NM. died in Ogden, Utah Feb 12,1968. He is survived by daughters Mrs. Fred Trujillo, Mrs. Pete Salazar, Miss Juantita Miera and Mrs. Tom Sandoval; Sons Luis, Eli, Jake, Fernando, Fred and Antonio Miera. Taos News March 21,1968 11. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Miera, Senaida M. Senaida M. Miera, 73, of Amalia passed away on July 29, 2009. She is preceded in death by her husband, Elias Miera, daughter, Rita Miera, parents, Erineo & Sarita Vallejos. She is survived by her children, Elias Miera, Jr. (Charlene), Gloria Segura (Antonio), Berlinda Rivera (Steve), Donna Griego (Joe), nephew, Roger Torres, grandchildren, Antonio Segura Jr. (Hannah) Tim Segura (Santana), Andrew Segura (Raeann and expecting baby, Matthias Lee), Chris Trujillo (Celina), Luke Trujillo (Angel), Jeremy Trujillo, Juan Miera, Jason Miera (Vanessa), great grandchildren, Anika Segura, Amorette Segura, Aliana Segura, James Segura, Andrew J. Segura Jr., Karla Alexis Trujillo, Josiah Miera, sisters, Elciria Torres (Fred) and Erlinda Barela and brother, Joe Gonzales (Cora). An evening service will be held on Sunday, August 02, 2009 at 7 PM at Abundant Life Christian Church in Amalia. Funeral service will be held on Monday, August 03, 2009 at 10 AM at the Abundant Life Christian Church with interment following at the Amalia Cemetery. Burial: Amalia Cemetery Amalia Taos County New Mexico, USA Miller, Edna Edna (Ted) Miller, 93, died Sunday, September 26, 1999 in Albuquerque. She had formerly resided in Taos for 52 years, moving to Albuquerque in October 1997. She is survived by her daughters, Dolores Shull and husband, Bob of San Antonio, TX and Wylene Santistevan and husband, Bill of Albuquerque; sons, Allen Taylor of Santa Fe, and David Hedrick and wife, Beth of Taos and Austin, TX; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wylie Miller. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Taos. Mrs. Miller loved gardening and she was a former member of the Taos Garden Club. Graveside services will be held Thursday, September 30, 1999, 1:00 p.m., at Sierra Vista Cemetery in Taos, with Rev. John Snider officiating. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in Mrs. Miller's memory. French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE. ï¿½ï¿½ ABQJournal September 28, 1999 Miller, Janet Faye Janet Faye Miller, 54, passed away Monday, February 17, 2003 after a long illness. Janet was born in Taos, NM to Richard and Louise Wadley who survive her. She worked as an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance during the early 1980's and New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union from 1990 to 1997. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She is survived by Mr. Jean Hughes; two children, Mindi King and husband, Jimmy and Mike Fenstermacher and fiancï¿½e, Jennifer Cunningham; two grandchildren, Morgan and Danny; two brothers, Richard Wadley, Jr. and wife, Leslie and Steven Wadley and wife, Ellen; and a sister, Patti Norris and husband, Edward. The family would like to thank Dr. Robin J. Tuchler, Dr. John Burdon, Dr. W. Gerald Brown and the nursing staff of Presbyterian Hospital's Intensive Care Unit for their expertise, support, and care. A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Sunrise Funeral Options, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to All Faiths Receiving Home in Albuquerque. Sunrise Funeral Options 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505)821-0010 ABQ Journal Thu February 20, 2003 Miller, Jerry A. Jerry A. Miller of Taos, NM passed away in Albuquerque January 27, 2009 after a brief illness. Jerry was born October 15, 1935 in Wichita, Kansas. The son of Otis and Dortha Miller, attended East High School before falling in love with the state of New Mexico while working on his BA degree at the University of New Mexico. After receiving his BA, he spent four and a half years as an Officer in the Navy at CINPAC in Hawaii where he also learned to play the guitar, then returned to New Mexico to complete his MA and begin a forty year career as a Parks and Recreation Administrator. Mr. Miller helped contribute to numerous municipal and state parks in New Mexico, including Hobbs and Los Alamos, Idaho, Utah, and South Carolina. Jerry was active as a member, an Elder, and sang in the choirs of the Presbyterian Church. He treasured the friendships made with the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. As a career-long member of numerous local and national Parks and Recreation organizations, Jerry was awarded the State Parks Director of the Year in 1990 by his peers during their annual conference. He enjoyed membership with several Rotary organizations, especially the Taos-Milagro Chapter where he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2002-2003. Jerry is lovingly survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay; two sons, Wade (Kristin) of Menomonee Falls, WI and Mark (Sheri) of Albuquerque, NM; two grandsons, Nolan and Mason, and many relatives and friends throughout New Mexico and the United States. He loved the sport of baseball and coaching of his sons' teams. He treasured our dogs, Juliet and the 4 wire-haired terriers our family has had over the years. Jerry will truly be missed by everyone who knew and loved him. A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 2:00 pm in the First Presbyterian Church in Taos. The family requests that instead of flowers, please direct memorials in his name to the First Presbyterian Church in Taos or the National Aphasia Association, 350 Seventh Avenue, Suite 902, New York, NY 10001 or online at www.aphasia.org/support. Special thanks to the members of the Taos-Milagro Rotary Club for the support and love they provided Jerry, especially during his affliction with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Funeral services have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 ABQ Journal February 01, 2009 Miller, Michael Victor Michael Victor Miller, 56, of Eagle Nest passed away on January 29, 2007 from an illness related to his service in Vietnam. Michael was a loving dad, caring husband and a wonderful giving person. He was born on March 08, 1950 in Aurora, Illinois to Glenn & Naomi Miller. Michael grew up in Wisconsin where he lived with his brothers, Glenn & Eric. Michael graduated from high school in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He joined the military and served in Vietnam for two years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Eric Miller. He is survived by his wife, Frances, his children, Travis, Jonah and Adam Miller, Anthony Trujillo and his wife, Noel, Elaine Trujillo, grandchildren, Chris, Brian, Cynthia, Isiah, Jonah, Charlene, Chaz and Cecilia, brother, Glenn Halak, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and other relatives. Memorial services will be held at a later date Miller, William William "Tom" Miller, 48, of Taos died Thursday, February 19, 2004, at St. Vincent Hospital. He was born in Embudo. He graduated from Taos High School and the University of New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Lola Miller. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah of Taos; and sisters, Carolyn McAddo and Margaret Gibson, both of Albuquerque. Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held. McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary. Journal North, New Mexico, February 21, 2004. Miranda, Teresita M. de Teresita M. de Miranda age 24 of Clapham,NM died at her residence 26 May 1909. Survived by her grand mother Desideria Armenta; Mother Esequias A. de Montoya; Husband and 2 children, 9 sisters and 3 brother. Names not lsted. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mitchell, Alma Nelle Cashion Alma Nelle Cashion Mitchell born June 7, 1913 in Wesson, Mississippi, the third child of Daniel Newton Cashion and Beulah Olivia Connally Cashion. At an early age her family-parents. Brother, James and sister, Mildred- moved to Monroe, Louisiana. Through the untimely deaths of first her sister, then her mother and finally her father she was orphaned at the age of 12. She spent the years aged 12 through 20 at the Methodist Children's Home in Ruston, Louisiana when she graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1933 at the height of the Depression. Over the next two years she taught school in Louisiana and in College Station, Texas ending up in Amarillo, Texas working for the U.S. government. She continued west arriving in Albuquerque in 1937 where she was employed as a bookkeeper with the Charles Ilfeld Company. As a young single woman she took up residence at Mrs. Barber's boarding house near the Albuquerque Public Library on Edith NE where she met Claude Stephen Mitchell who became her husband in 1938 in Taos. Casey Mitchell, born in Vinita, Oklahoma, was raised in Gallup, Las Vegas, and Roy, N. M. graduating from Roy High School and the attending UNM. During the Second World War while ?Casey? served with the Army Motion Picture Service in the Pacific, Nelle and their two children, Stephanie and Stephen, lived in Taos with Mr. Mitchell's mother, Fern Hogue Mitchell. The family returned to Albuquerque in 1952. Mrs. Mitchell joined the staff of the UNM Records and Admissions offices in 1952. She served as Supervisor of Records, Assistant Registrar and administered the relationships between the U.S. Selective Service and UNM students during the Vietnam war. She received a Selective Service Certificate of Merit from President Richard M. Nixon. Mrs. Mitchell retired from UNM in 1974. Following her retirement Nelle traveled extensively in the U. S. with her husband visiting 37 states. For a number of years she ran the Thrift Shop on north Fourth Street for St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. In 1987 she was received and feted by the mayor and city of Figeac, France, the town from which her Huguenot ancestor, Reverend Jean Casion, immigrated to Virginia in 1619. Mrs. Mitchell moved to Taos in 1988 and returned to Albuquerque in 1993 where she resided at Valle Norte Caring Center until her death. Nelle was an accomplished designer and seamstress and an ardent gardener, planning and maintaining extensive gardens at her home and at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. She was a member of Zia chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a former President of the Wardrobe Workers Union Local. Mrs. Mitchell is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Lee Bennett-Smith of Vero Beach, Florida and her son Stephen Connally Mitchell of Chicago, Illinois; two grandsons Brendan Terence Bennett of Johannesburg, South Africa and Graham Stephen Mitchell of Chicago, Illinois and a great-grand daughter Caitlin Ashley Bennett of Johannesburg. A memorial service will be held in the Chapel of St. John's Episcopal C athedral, 318 Silver Ave. SW Tuesday March 30, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be on Saturday April 3, 2004 in the Riverview Cemetery in Monroe, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Unit 200 Activity Fund, Valle Northe Caring Center, 8200 Horizon Blvd., NE Albuquerque, NM 87113. Strong-Thorne Mortuary 1100 Coal Ave. SE 842-8800 ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun March 28, 2004 Mitchell, John Palmer Sgt. Major John Palmer Mitchell, U.S. Army (Ret.), 81, a resident of Albuquerque; died Monday, June 16, 2003. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Phyllis Mitchell of Albuquerque; sons, John P. Mitchell, Jr. of Miami, FL; daughters, Joann Obara and husband, Bernie of Taos and Anita Mitchell and companion, George Vallejos of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Zack Taylor Wright and wife, Barbara; great-grandchildren, Jeremiah Ortiz, Kailey Wright and Shila Wright; brother, George Smith and wife, Lorraine; and sisters, Helen Eby and husband, Ed, Dolly Aliminda and husband, Karl and Betty Rowe. Mr. Mitchell was in the Merchant Marines for one year in 1943 and went around the world. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII, and retired in 1962 as Sergeant Major. He attended and ushered at the Redstone Arsenal Chapel in Alabama. Services will be held Thursday, 12:00 noon, at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 853-6333 ABQ Journal Wed June 18, 2003 Mitchell, Joyce Pratt Joyce Pratt Mitchell was born in Chicago, IL on March 15, 1928 to Inga Ross Pratt and Bruce Pratt. The family lived in Chicago, IL, Little Rock, AR, and Pampa, TX. Joyce graduated from Pampa High School in 1946. She attended Kansas State University, graduating with a Home Economics degree in 1950. Joyce married Bruce C. Detter, Jr. in January 1950 (divorcing in 1973). They lived in Independence, MO, Nickerson, KS, and Taos, NM. Joyce owned the Old Jail Gallery in Taos before moving to Albuquerque in 1974. She married Joe W. Mitchell on August 14, 1977. In Albuquerque, Joyce worked at the NM Juvenile Diagnostic Center for Girls, Dr. William Marietta's dental office as office manager and dental assistant, Church of the Good Shepard United Church of Christ as secretary, and part time secretary for 2nd Presbyterian Church. She retired at the age of 75. Joyce was a longtime member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. She was an avid sports fan, especially baseball and football. She enjoyed playing bridge, square dancing and church activities (especially the reader's theater group.) Joyce died October 18, 2005. She was preceded in death by her sister, Jean Pratt Losher and parents, Bruce and Inga Ross Pratt. She is survived by her husband, Joe Mitchell; her children: Bruce Clements Detter, III and wife, Diane; Betsy Dee Detter Miller and husband, Mike; Jere Dean Detter and wife, Kathy, Denise Lynn Detter Whittington and husband, Steve; grandchildren: Bruce Detter, IV; Colleen and Micah Miller; Hillary and Aaron Detter; and Sydney "Bree" and Travis Whittington; brother-in-law, Don Losher; and nephews, "Jay" and "Lee" Losher; plus a large extended family and many friends. A Memorial Service is to be held Saturday, October 29, 2005 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at 1:00 p.m. Memorials to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5601 Ponderosa NE 87110. REFLECTIONS Funerals & Life Celebrations 2400 Washington Street NE 884-5777 ABQ Journal Sun October 23, 2005 Mondragon, Alfirio A. Alfirio A.Mondragon age 49, Resident of Llano Quemado, NM. died in Canjillion (Rio Arriba County) NM. July 4,1968 when he was struck by lightning "Victima de una Centella." He is survived by his parents Mr. & Mrs. Jose Maria Mondragon; Daughter Ancelma Mondragon; Brother Pacomio Mondragon; Sisters Mrs. Ursula Quintana and Mrs. Eliza Trujillo. Taos News July 18,1968 B 2. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mondragon, Anthony Anthony Mondragon, 38, of Llano Quemado passed away on August 01, 2006. He worked as a service manger at Taos Cycle Works. He is preceded in death by his mother, Tomasita Mondragon and father in law, Roy Alaniz. Anthony is survived by his wife, Debra Mondragon and sons, Anthony and Thomas Mondragon, father, Tony Mondragon, brother, Elmo Mondragon, sisters, Geraldine Lubkman and Shamira Quassam, mother in law, Stella Alaniz, godchildren, Samantha Salazar, Danny Martinez and Aaron Alaniz and many other relatives. Rosary was recited on August 04, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on August 05, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Interment followed at New Llano Quemado Cemetery. Mondragon, Antonio A. Antonio A. Mondragon age 79 from Alamosa, Colo. died 10 August 1909 at his residence. He was born in Arroyo Hondo, NM in 1830. In 1865 he was elected as a representative to the territorial legislature. He was also elected and served as Justice of the Peace from Arroyo Hondo, NM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mondragon, Ben Ben Mondragon, age 94, of Albuquerque, passed away Friday, July 24, 2009. Ben was born in Taos, NM. In 1953, he and his family moved to San Diego, CA. He retired from Ryan Aeronautical after 25 years of service. He returned to New Mexico after Ruby, his wife of 68 years passed away. Ben is survived by daughters, Barbara Post and husband LeRoy, Connie Barnett and husband Kerry, Benita Coover, Rebecca Mondragon; son, Ruben Mondragon; sister, Cora Romero; sister-in-law, Louisita Duran and husband Edward; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. There will be no local services. Please visit our online guest book for Ben at RememberTheirStory.com French 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (505) 897-0300 ABQ Journal July 26, 2009 Mondragon, Carlos Carlos "Charlie" Mondragon, 67, of Llano Quemado passed away on October 28, 2006. He loved driving his trucks and eating his munchies and milk. He is preceded in death by his parents, Max and Faye Mondragon, brothers, Bonifacio and Daniel Mondragon. He is survived by his children, Lupita Mondragon of Fresno, CA, Patsy Torres (Jessie), Joy Mondragon, Gene Mondragon, Valorie Mondragon (David) and Carlos Mondragon Jr. all of Llano Quemado, sisters, Maxine Baca (Martin), Barbara Mondragon, Roberta Romero (Daniel), 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Rosary was recited on October 31, 2006. Funeral mass was held on November 01, 2006. Both services were held at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Interment was held at the New Llano Quemado Cemetery. www.riverafuneralhome.com Mondragon, Cipriano Edward Cipriano "Mano Cippy" Edward Mondragon, 101, of Cordillera passed away on January 29, 2006. He is preceded in death by his wife, Soledad Mondragon and son, Edward Martin Mondragon. He is survived by his daughter, Sofia Dickerson of Virginia, grandchildren, Linda L. Hodges (Flick) of Denver, CO, Suezette Steinhardt (Alan) of Virginia, Lonny Dickerson, Martin A. and Anthony Mondragon (Cara), 14 great grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, many nephews, nieces and other relatives from the Taos area. Rosary was recited on February 02, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held February 03, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Church, interment followed at Los Cordovas Cemetery. Mondragon, Clorinda D. MONDRAGON, Clorinda D.; 63; Ranchos de Taos; died August 6, 1998; Albuquerque Journal North, Saturday, August 7, 1998, page 2 Mondragon, Eduardo J. Eduardo J. Mondragon age 64. Native of Taos. NM. Was employed by The White Acorn Sheep Co. Rock Springs, Wyo. Was found dead at his place of employment May 20,1968. Surviving him is his Father Manuel V. Mondragon; Wife Juanita Mondragon; Sons Dan and Gus Mondragon; Daughter Mrs, Olmedo (Flora) Mondragon, Mrs. Adolfo (Alice) Candelario; Brothers Robert, Frank and Levi Mondragon. Sister Mrs. Abram (Petra) Ortega. Taos News June 27,1968 B 4. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mondragon, Gloria Gloria Mondragon age 9 Years old of Taos died July 13,1968 in surgery at St. Joseph Hospital Albuq, NM. After being struck on the right side of the head with a rock.She is survived by her parents Mr. & Mrs. Joe P. Mondragon; Brothers Joe Jr., George and Gabriel Mondragon; Great Aunt Simona Olivas and grandparents Mrs. Odelia Mondragon and Mr. & Mrs. Maurilio Martinez. Taos News July 18,1968 A 5 & July 25, 1968 A 7. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Mondragon, Josephine P. March 20, 2001, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, JOSEPHINE P. MONDRAGON, Age 85, passed away March 18, 2001 in Santa Fe. She was born August 15, 1915 in Casa Blanca, NM and was married to Mr. Jerry Mondragon, Sr. of Taos Pueblo who preceded her in death, as well as her sons, Robert and Harry. Her eldest son, Jerry Mondragon, Jr. as well as relatives from Laguna and Taos Pueblos survive her. She worked in Santa Fe as an LPN at St. Vincent Hospital and as a Guidance Counselor at the Santa Fe Indian School. Visitations will be held beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 at Berardinelli Funeral Chapel where a rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2001 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Rosario Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa, 984-8600. Mondragon, Lydia Q. October 5, 2005 Lydia Q. Mondragon, 89, of Llano Quemado passed away on October 05, 2005. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jose Levi Mondragon, son in law, George Pacheco and sister, Elba Quinto. She is survived by her children, Leo F. Mondragon (Frances), daughter, Corine Pacheco, grandchildren, David Mondragon (Valorie), Louise Conway (Wayne), Richard Pacheco (Eileen), Albert Pacheco (Debra) and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters and brothers, Amy Oakeley, Molly Rivera, Loyola Gonzales, Nicki Trujillo (Eddie), Nash Quinto (Lee), Toby Quinto and Ray Quinto (Patsy). Rosary was recited October 07, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Ranchos de Taos. Funeral mass washeld on October 08, 2005 at 10 AM at San Francisco de Asis Church interment followed at the new Llano Quemado Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Mondragï¿½n, Manuel J. Manuel J. Mondragï¿½n, 69, born in ranchos de Taos and a resident of Albuquerque for 48 years. He died on Sept. 25, 2006 at Loveless Hospital following an illness. He is survived by his wife, Lupe of Alb., three daughters, Lisa Herrera (Rubï¿½n) of Alb., Diane Chï¿½vez (Joseph) of Los Lunas, Lorraine Campbell of Alb. Three sons, Michael Mondragï¿½n, Ricky Mondragï¿½n (Theresa) and Richard Campbell and 10 grandchildren all of Alb. His mother Lucille Mondragï¿½n of Ranchos de Taos, sisters Frances Cruz and Susan Blea (Ray) of Alb. three brothers, Pat Mondragï¿½n (Martha), Fred Mondragï¿½n (Patricia) and Arturo Mondragon all from Ranchos de Taos and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by Father, Encarnacion Mondragon and grandson, Johnny Mondragon. Rosary was held on Sept. 27 at Strongthorne Mortuary. Mass was held on Sept. 28 at St. Charles Catholic Church following burial at Fairview memorial Cemetery. Mondragon, Manuelita C. ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, March 18, 1998, Manuelita"Mannie" C. Mondragon, 59, a resident of Ranchos de Taos went home to be with Our Lord, March 14, 1998, following a brief illness. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Bennie Mondragon; two sons, Ronnie and wife, Anna, James and wife, Monica; grandchildren, Roxanne, Samantha, Tamara, Jamie and Jarred; mother, Siria Mondragon; mother-in-law, Manuelita Mondragon; sister, Lorraine Martinez and many other relatives and friends. She lived a wonderful life, and was especially devoted to her family. As a mother, she was very proud of her two sons, especially when they blessed her with the grandchildren who filled her heart with laughter and joy. Mannie, also known as"Melle" to her friends in Taos, loved to sew and work on arts and crafts projects for every holiday. Perhaps her favorite pastime was shopping for her family and herself. She also loved the trips to Las Vegas, Nev. she would take frequently with her beloved husband Bennie. Even when they didn't win money, Mannie came home happy and ready to plan the next trip. She also served the Village of Taos as County Treasurer three terms, and was an employee of the Taos treasury for 25 years. For the last 14 years, she was also a part-time employee at Taos Wal-Mart, where she made many friends. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially her family. Rosary was recited Monday night at Rivera's Funeral Home in Taos. Tuesday night rosary will be recited at St. Francis de Assisi Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Assisi, burial to follow. Mondragon, Max January 11, 2006 Max Mondragon, 84, of Llano Quemado passed away on January 11, 2006. He is preceded in death by his son, Elmer Joe Mondragon, brothers, Frank, Fernando. Levi and sister, Viola. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice Mondragon, grandchildren, Dawn RaNae Mondragon of Taos, Amy Veronica Mondragon of Las Vegas, NV, Antonio Max Mondragon of Vail, CO, daughter-in-law, Jeannie Mondragon Emerick (Rob) of Las Vegas, NV, brothers, William Mondragon (Della) of Tooele, Utah and Tito Mondragon (Maria) of Denver, CO and many other relatives. Rosary was recited on Friday, January 13, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 14, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Interment was held at the old Llano Quemado Cemetery. Mondragon, Maximiano V. June 21, 2006 Maximiano V. Mondragon, 89, of Llano Quemado passed away on June 21, 2006. He is preceded in death by his wife, Felonis Maria Mondragon, sons, Daniel & Bonifacio Mondragon, parents, Juan Bautista & Silveria Mondragon. He is survived by his children, Charlie Mondragon, Maxine Baca (Martin), Barbara Mondragon, Roberta Romero (Daniel) all from Llano Quemado. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and many other relatives. Rosary was recited on Sunday, June 25, 2006. Funeral mass was held on Monday, June 26, 2006. Both services were held at San Francisco de Asis Church. Interment was held at New Llano Quemado Cemetery. Mondragon, Robert David Robert David Mondragon, age 49, of Santa Fe, died July 4, 1998. He was preceded in death by his brother, Harry S. Mondragon. Robert was born on March 31, 1950 in Santa Fe. He received a BA in Education from the University of Colorado, then received three Masters in Education, Business Administration, and Planning from Columbia University. Robert was a PH.D. candidate in Education from Harvard University. He loved teaching English and Math at the Santa Fe Indian School and at the Public Schools in New York City. Robert was an avid reader, he enjoyed history and politics, as well as loved traveling. His fraternal memberships included the Eagles. Robert is survived by his parents, Jerry Sr. and Josephine Mondragon of Santa Fe; his brother, Jerry Mondragon Jr. of Santa Fe; his nephew, Robert Parks of Santa Fe; his uncles, John Rainer and wife, Wynema, Tony Reyna, Del Reyna, and Raphael Reyna, all of Taos Pueblo; his aunts, Lorraine Mondragon and husband, Joe of Taos Pueblo, and Pauline Lewis of Laguna Pueblo; his cousins, Wally Begay and Del Begay, both of Laguna Pueblo and Lillian Davis of Zuni Pueblo; his sister-in-law, Diane Mondragon; and many other relatives and close friends. Visitation will be at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 1998 at the Berardinelli Family Funeral Chapel, where a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 9, 1998, 11:00 a.m., at St. John's the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Rosario Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa, Santa Fe, 984-8600. ABQ Journal Tue July 07, 1998 Mondragon, Rose Marie October 6, 2005 Rose Marie Mondragon, of Ranchos de Taos, passed away on October 6, 2005. She is preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Flor Mondragon, son and daughter-in-law, Ruben and Edna Miera, sister, Eligia Garcia, granddaughter Ruby Miera and grandson, Eric Tollardo. She is survived by her son, Michael Mondragon, grandchildren, Edward Miera, Anthony Miera, Dolores Miera, Florence Miera, Dennis Blake and many other friends and relatives. Rosary was recited on Monday, October 10, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Ranchos de Taos. Funeral mass was held on Monday, October 10, 2005 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Interment was held at San Francisco de Asis Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Mondragon, Rose T. May 22, 2006 Rose T. Mondragon, 94, of Taos passed away on May 22, 2006. She was born on Aug. 30, 1911 in Chico, NM to Tobias Tafoya and Pacifica Barela. She was a loving and dedicated mother and grandmother. She is preceded in death by the father of her children, Eloy J. Mondragon and daughter, Ada Mondragon Rael. She is survived by her children, Elmira Martinez (Luz), Marbella Trujillo (Jerry), Eloy Mondragon (Barbara), Doris Cordova (Jesus), Clarence Mondragon (Celina), Corelia Ulibbari (Lawrence), Tony Remington, Toby Mondragon (Diane), Ricardo Mondragon (Erminia) and Wilma Kimlicka. She is also survived by 32 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren and many other relatives. Rosary was held on May 24, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on May 25, 2006 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment followed at Nuestra Senora de Dolores Cemetery in Canon. Montaner, Teresa Grine de Teresa Grine de Montaner from Barcelona Spain died as a result of a heart attack.She died at her residence 4 March 1909. She was the mother of Jose Montaner the editor and owner of this news paper "La Revista De Taos". La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montano, Bilia Bilia Montano age 1 year and 8 months of Arroyo Seco, NM. died 2 Jan 1914 at 9:00 AM. Daughter of Leocadio Montano and wife. Name not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montano, Jerold G. Jerold G. Montano, 41, died suddenly from a massive heart attack, Friday, May 25, 2007. Jerold was born in Taos, NM on April 5, 1966 to Joe and Betsy Montano. He is survived by his son, Trevor Joseph Montano of Oak Park, CA. Mr. Montano lived in California until a year ago so he could be near his son growing up. He is also survived by his parents and his brothers, Richard Montano and wife, Pam and Chuck Montano and wife, Martha; and his nephews and nieces, Ava Grace Montano, Bryce Montano, Micalene Cleavinger, Tori Montano and Seth. Special acknowledgement to Joshua Montano and Jessica Montano, his nephew and niece, who did everything they could to keep him with us, Thank you! Also surviving him are many aunts, uncles, cousins special people to Jerold all of them. Many friends from Sandia High School, where he graduated in 1984 as a student athlete and graduated in 1989 from Menlo College, with a degree in business and marketing and a great love for football. Our family has enormous gratitude for the staff at UNM Hospital most especially the staff of MICU. Memorial rosary will be recited on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, 7:00 p.m., at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 5311 Phoenix NE. Memorial mass to be celebrated Wednesday, May 30, 2007, 10:00 a.m., also at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Cremation has taken place after Jerold, in his generosity, donated organs to those he could help. Private interment will take place at a later date. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 www.frenchmortuary. ABQ Journal Sun May 27, 2007 Montano, Joe January 02, 2000, The Santa Fe New Mexican, Page: B-2, JOE "SLUGGO" MONTANO. Sluggo was born on August 19, 1932 in Roswell, NM, and passed away suddenly in Santa Fe on December 29, 1999. Sluggo was preceded in death by his wife Mariquita Montano; parents Jose and Macedonia Montano; and a brother, Richard Montano. He is survived by his sons, Ricky, Ronnie, and Michael Montano, all of Taos; grandchildren, Zena Rac, and Tierra and Ariel Montano, all of Taos; brothers, Benny and wife Adelina Montano, Rudy and wife Yvonne Montano of Santa Fe, and Louie Montano of Albuquerque; sisters, Rosie and husband Pete Valdez of Albuquerque, Margaret and husband J.M. Roybal of Pojoaque, Jane and husband Dick Frank of Espanola, Mercy and husband Joe Sekot of Blackfoot, ID, Mary Jo and husband Benny Sanchez, and Frances and Felipe Carrillo of Las Vegas, NV; and many other relatives. Sluggo was a veteran, serving in three branches of the military: the National Guard, USN, and USMC. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 1, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2951, and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2811. Sluggo was a bartender at various establishments in the Santa Fe area for any years. Sluggo was known to all of his peers as a happy individual and loved by all who knew him. He will be missed immensely. A rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 3, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2000; both to be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Santa Fe Funeral Options 417 E. Rodeo Rd. 989-7032 Monteleone, Phillip Rev. Phillip Monteleone age 64 died at Holy Cross Hospital Oct 25,1968. Rev. Padre cura era parroco in Costilla, NM. He is survived by his brother Givoanni Monteleone from Rome, Italy; Sisters Mrs. Camela (Renato) Rondini and Mrs. Maria (Italo) Maffei, de Romas. Sister (Nun) Coleta, de citta de Castello, en la provincia de Assisi, Italy. Taos News Dec 5,1968 A 1. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montgomery, Dalton E. Dalton E. Montgomery, retired building contractor, passed away at his home in Taos on February 10, 2009. He was born in Eureka, Colorado, December 12, 1917. In the 1930's, the family moved to Taos, where his father completed the original Holy Cross Hospital and later established the E. Montgomery Construction Company. Dalton graduated from Taos High Schoool with honors, at 15 and worked in the family business until retirement. One of his first assignments was remodeling the church at the Taos Pueblo. He built several residences in Taos, including two homes for his own family. His project included many schools and public spaces, notably the addition to the New Mexico Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, the First Presbyterian Church in Taos, and the La Fonda Hotel, also in Taos. Dalton was married to Olivia Perralut in 1939. Together they raised five children. She preceded him in death in 2000. Also preceding him in death were his parents, Elmer and Maude Montgomery, his brother, Gene, his twin sister, Eva, who died in infancy, his grandson Kevin Montgomery, and granddaughter, Karen Pettine Martï¿½nez. Dalton pursued many hobbies. For a time he piloted his own plane. He played golf, hunted and fished, painted in oils, and made furniture and violins. During his lifetime, he received many awards and honors. He was most proud of his Boone and Crockett record big game kills of Polar and Kodiak bears, and his inclusion in the Strad Directory of the world's finest luthiers (makers of violins, cellos, etc.) He loved children and had many "kid friends". He loved hunting dogs and during his lifetime owned several. He is survived by his children, Dalton Montgomery Jr., of Cortez, Colorado, Donna Pettine of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Yvonne Montgomery-Weber, Pat Montgomery and Mark Montgomery of Taos, and Connie Archuleta of Fort Garland, Colorado. Surviving grandchildren are Blaine Montgomery of Cortez, Colorado, Wade Montgomery and wife Sundae of Grand Junction, Colorado, Kelly P. Farley and husband Bo, Kristian Pettine of Albuquerque, Averie M. Diener and husband Matthew, Rachel Weber of Santa Fe, Renee Weber, Regan Weber, Veronica Ramï¿½rez, and Ronnie Archuleta, Jr. of Taos. Also surviving him are eight great grandchildren. Pallbearers: Chad Padilla, Jim Oakeley, Woody Crumbo, Joseph Concha, Bo Farley and Gil John Tafoya. Honorary Pallbearers: Albino Chacï¿½n, Chet Mitchell and Blaine Montgomery. Rosary was recited on February 12, 2009. Funeral mass was held on February 13, 2009. Both were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment followed at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera Family Mortuaries. Montoya, Angela Maria Suazo February 19, 2006 Angela Maria Suazo Montoya, 85, of El Prado passed away on February 19, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Atilano. She is survived by two brothers, Nazario Suazo Jr. and Augustine Suazo. She is survived by her children, Roberto Montoya, Benito E. Montoya and wife Peggy, Viola Macias and husband, Lawrence, Yolanda Sandoval and husband, Ernesto, Atilano Augustin Montoya and wife, Margaret, Delayne Perry and husband, Keith She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, and numerous great and great great grandchildren. Rosaries will be recited on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 7 PM at Rivera Chapel and on Friday, February 24, 2006 at 7 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 10 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with interment to follow at Dolores Cemetery. Montoya, Angelina Albinita Angelina "Angie" Albinita Montoya, 72, a resident of Albuquerque, and a long-time resident of Questa and Taos, NM, died on Sunday, April 2, 2006. She is survived by sons, Ernesto Gutierrez and Richard Gutierrez, both of Albuquerque; daughters, Melinda Gutierrez of San Bernardino, CA and Beatrice Herrera and husband, Juan J. of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Christina Holguin, Priscilla Gutierrez, Louis Holguin, Louie Baca, Anthony Baca, Jazmine Herrera, Anthony and Jerricka Gutierrez; one great-grandchild, Elijah King; three sisters, Erma Arellano, Annabelle Archuleta, and Romaine Zamora; three brothers, Dennis Ortega, Tomas Ortega, and Elizardo Ortega. Angie was preceded in death by her husband, Mel E. Montoya; and brothers, Roy Ortega and Eladio Ortega. Angie was a vibrant lady, full of love and laughter. She enjoyed bowling, Lakers basketball, and was especially fond of playing bingo. We will always remember her kindness and love for her entire family. Services will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2006 10:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. Entombment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery Chapel. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333 ï¿½ABQ Journal Tue April 04, 2006 Montoya, Ben Ben Montoya, born March 17, 1920 in Taos, NM, to Jose Vidal and Zoraida Vigil Montoya. Our loving husband, father and grandfather passed away March 16, 2007 at Laurel Heights, age 86, one day short of his 87th birthday. He was preceded in death by son Benjamin Montoya; sisters Lydia, Celia and Claudina; brothers Ernesto, Eli, Jose and Rudolpho; and step-daughter Jeanene Cottrill. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mary E. O'Kelley Montoya; son Ruben Montoya and wife Patty; two daughters Dorothy Sisneros and husband Arthur, and Rita Montoya; granddaughter/daughter Kelsie Cottrill. Only surviving brother Horacio Montoya and wife Loyola. Former wife Rumalda Montoya, mother of his children, residing in Arlington, TX. And last, but not least, his K9 friend, Pearl. Surviving grandchildren are Jeffery Avila and wife Rose, Christopher Avila, Robert M. Montoya and Angela M. Montoya. Surviving great grandchildren are Dilon and Mikel Avila. Surviving step grandchildren and great-grandchildren are Nathan Banac and wife Elizabeth, PFC Michael Cottrill Jr., currently on active duty US Army in Iraq, wife Jamie, Christopher Cottrill, Aaron, Ethan, Miranda, Ashley and Whitney. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and brother, and sister-in-laws. His military service included the 200th CA mobilized for active duty on January 6, 1941 and 200th CA unit landed in Philippine Islands on September 20, 1941 and fought until captured during the fall of Bataan with his brother Horacio, also an ex-POW. His military decorations and citations include Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Defense Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Liberation of Philippines (awarded by the Philippine Army) and the American Ex-Prisoners of War Medal. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, followed by a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, March 21, at 10:00 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, Edith and Lomas, with Rev. Robert B. Woodruff officiating. Pallbearers will be Victor Montoya, Adrian Montoya, Jeffery Avila, Christopher Avila, Robert M. Montoya, and Arthur Sisneros. Interment will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to Second Presbyterian Church, 812 Lomas Blvd., NE, Albq., NM 87102. Special thanks to the staff of Laurel Heights Healthcare and Amber Care Hospice for their devoted care to Ben. French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 275-3500 ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun March 18, 2007 Montoya, Cornella A. de Cornella A. de Montoya age 45 of Taos NM. died in her residence 26 Dec 1906. She is survived by her husband Eulogio Montoya; 4 sons and 3 daughters Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Donaciano Captain Donaciano Montoya of Taos, NM. Civil war veteran died at home Last saturday.No date listed. He died of Hidropesia (Dropsy now known as Edema). La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Eli D. Eli D. Montoya, born April 3, 1918 in Taos, NM to Jose Vidal and Zoraida Montoya, passed away June 7, 1999 in a local hospital. He had been a resident of Albuquerque since 1949. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ruth Montoya; his son, Benito Montoya and wife, Francine Sprick; one granddaughter, Anita Montoya Tyrolie and husband, Wayne; and two great-granddaughters, Giovanna C de Baca and Alyssa Tyrolie, all of Albuquerque; his sister, Claudina Flores and husband, Nat, El Paso, TX; three brothers, Horacio Montoya and wife, Loyola, Ben Montoya and wife, Mary, all of Albuquerque and Joe Montoya and wife, Joan of Taos, NM; three sisters-in-law, Nora Sanchez, late husband, Maurico, Eloisa Mondragon, husband, Leopoldo, Laramie, WY, and Orlinda Keers, husband, Robert, Albuquerque. He was a member of 2nd Presbyterian Church. He lived by the Golden Rule and raised his son to follow those same principals. He was a very considerate, sincere and friendly man. He folloABQ Journalhis brothers into the Armed services during WWII. He served in the First Army Medical Corps as a PFC in England, Normandy, Northern France and the European Theater. He was awarded the Victory Medal and Bronze Medal. Brothers, Ben and Horacio were survivors of the Bataan POW camps in the Philippines, brother, Joe was a US Navy seaman on board a Carrier in the North Atlantic. Brother, Rudy served on board the Merchant Marine in the Mediterranean Theater. Eli was a life member of the VFW. Eli loved music and he and brother, Ben, as young troubadours, with their guitars, accompanied their brother, Ernesto, himself a professional Taos musician, in music and song. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ernesto and Rudy. Visitation will be held Wednesday, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., in Palm Chapel of Strong-Thorne Mortuary, 1100 Coal SE. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at 2nd Presbyterian Church, Edith and Lomas, with Rev. Anthony Chavez officiating. Interment will be in Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Strong-Thorne, 1100 Coal SE, in charge of arrangements. ABQ Journal June 09, 1999 Montoya, Eloy Eloy Montoya, 77, of Des Montes died Thursday November 27, 2003. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel Montoya; parents, Jose B. Montoya and Augustina Ortega; sisters, Teresita Archuleta and Antonia Ulibarri, and Helen Gonzales; and brother, Max Montoya. He is survived by his wife, Frances Montoya; children, Elsie L. Chavez and husband Jimmy of Des Montes, Gloria L. Montoya of Des Montes, Grace Olivarez and husband Danny of Ft. Collins, Colo., Rebecca Montoya of Taos, Rachel Montoya of Des Montes, Mary Louise Nuanez of Taos, Elias Montoya (Martha) of Des Montes, Lydia Montoya of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Frances Celestino and husband Firmo Jr. of Questa; 20 grandchildren; and sister, Annie Montoya and husband Joe of Las Vegas. A service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Taos Assembly Church on Burch Street with another service at 9 a.m. Monday at the same church. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, Journal North November 29, 2003. Montoya, Horacio Horacio Montoya, born April 16, 1916 in Taos, New Mexico to Jose Vidal and Zoraida Vigil Montoya. Our loving husband, father and grandfather passed away October 27, 2009 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lydia, Celia, and Claudina, and his brothers, Ernesto, Eli, Jose, Rudolpho, and Ben. Horacio is survived by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Loyola Montoya; children, Carlos Montoya and wife Dolores, Victor Montoya and wife Carolyn, Michaela Montoya, Loretta Robledo and husband Miguel, and Adrian Montoya and fiancee, Rita Felter; grandchildren, Stephanie, Rachel, Alejandro, Gabriel and his fiancee, Jessica, Andres, Veronica, Michael, Adrian, Lucas and Alana; great-grandson, Alex, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. His military service included the 200th Coast Artillery mobilized for active duty from the Taos Armory on January 6, 1941. The 200th Coast Artillery unit landed in the Philippine Islands on September 20, 1941 and fought until their capture at the fall of Bataan with his brother, Ben Montoya. Horacio was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and 3 1/2 years of Japanese POW incarceration. His military decorations include the Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Defense Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze stars, Liberation of Philippines (awarded by the Philippine Army) and the American Ex-Prisoners of War Medal. Horacio recently completed and published his war time memoirs in a book entitled Rising Sun Over Bataan. Friends may visit with the Montoya family at French Mortuary, Lomas location, on Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Church, Lomas and Tennessee, on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Pallbearers will be Gabriel Montoya, Alejandro Montoya, Andres Montoya, Adrian Montoya, Lucas Montoya, and Reuben Montoya. Interment will follow church service at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Please visit our online guestbook for Horacio at www.RememberTheirStory.com French 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 ABQ Journal Thu October 29, 2009 Montoya, Jesus Jesus Montoya age 85 of Taos, N.M. died in his residence Tuesday 17 Nov 1907. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Joe F. Joe F. Montoya, 72, a resident of Albuquerque for 40 years, died Tuesday, June 27, 2000. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ursula Montoya of the family home; daughters, Vivian Gonzales and husband, Robert and Beatrice Conner, all of Albuquerque; granddaughters, Marlena Gonzales, Christina Jo Gonzales, and Samantha Conner; grandson, Michael Joe Conner; sister, Estella Peï¿½a of Springer, NM; brothers, Ruben Vigil and wife, Crusita; Gilbert Montoya, and Fred Montoya and wife, Delores, all of Taos, NM; sisters-in-law, Cedilia Montoya, Priscilla Montoya, and Pauline Wilson, who he thought of like a daughter. Mr. Montoya was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church. He loved to fish and was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by all who knew him. Memorial service and rosary will be held Saturday, July 1, 2000, 1:00 p.m., at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, with Deacon James Baca officiating. ï¿½ ABQ Journal June 30, 2000 Montoya, Jose F. Jose F. "Kiko" Montoya, 77, of Ranchos de Taos died Monday October 20, 2003. He is preceded in death by his wife, Molly Montoya; parents, Feliberto and Eufrocina Montoya; brothers and sisters, Lucy, Cecilia, Edwardo, Augustine and Eloy. He is survived by his daughter, Yolanda L. Montoya and husband John; three grandchildren, all of Ranchos de Taos; sisters, Molly Mondragon and husband Pat of Ranchos de Taos, Odie Martinez and husband Phil of El Prado, Isabelle Trujillo and husband George, Esther Miera and husband Felimon and Lydia Salazar, all of Taos. Mass will celebrated 10 a.m. today at San Francisco de Asis Church with 3 p.m. interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. October 22, 2003 Montoya, Jonathan Adam Jonathan Adam Montoya, infant son of Roberta Gï¿½mez, Ranchos de Taos and Manuel Montoya, Questa was born into the hands of the Lord on Sept. 1, 2006, Baby Jonathan is survived by brothers, Joshua and Aaron, grandparents, Irene and Jake Montoya, Christine Vargas and Virgil Gomez, Godparents, Erica Martï¿½nez and Jake Montoya Jr., auntie, Valorie (Patrick) greatgrandmother and many aunts, uncles and cousins and friends. We all love and miss you but know that you are in God's loving care, dear precious baby. Montoya, Juan Isidro El Crepusculo, Thurs., Jan 12, 1950 Juan Isidro Montoya, 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Isidro Montoya, passed away Sunday after an extended illness. Survivors include his parents and four sisters; Mrs. Elfido Romero of Ranchos de Taos, Mrs. Gilbert Roybal and Loyola and Louides Montoya of Taos. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:30. Montoya, Juanita D. March 25, 2006 Juanita D. Montoya, 94, of Los Cordovas passed away on March 25, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Tito Montoya and daughter, Patsy Dazhan. She is survived by her children, Gloria Sanchez, Geraldine Gutierrez (Tony), Darlene Gutierrez (Arturo Casias), grandchildren she raised, Alyce Sanchez (Flavio) and Joseph Sanchez. She is also survived by five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Rosary was recited on March 29, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church. Funeral mass was held on March 30, 2006 at San Francisco de Asis Church. Interment followed at Los Cordovas Cemetery. Montoya, Juanita M. February 17, 2006 Juanita M. Montoya, 101, of El Prado, passed away on February 17, 2006. She is preceded in death by her husband, Juan Jose "J J" Montoya, daughter, Alice Lorraine Montoya and her parents, Samuel and Aurelia Lavadie and 7 brothers. She is survived by her children, Jose Arturo Montoya (Eufracia), Cora M. Garcia (Rumaldo), Ernesto M. Montoya (Dolores M.), Lillian M. Martinez (Robert L), her brother, Cristobal Lavadie, her 9 grandchildren, Michell Kosel, Dennise Montoya, Isabelle Garcia Herman (Dave), Francisco L. Garica (Sandy), Loretta Duran Martinez, Julian A. Montoya, Ronnie Martinez (Sue), Lawrence Martine (Marilyn) and Jerry Martinez (Melissa), 10 great-grandchildren, Nicholas Kosel, Jose Pancho Garcia, John Michael Duran, Stephanie Duran, Cherie Montoya, Lorenzo Martinez, Alonzo Martinez, Daimen Martinez, Abren Martinez, Marco Martinez, and numerous nieces and nephews. Rosary was recited February 19, 2006. Funeral mass was held February 20, 2006. Both services were held at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Interment was held at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Services by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Montoya, Loyola Loyola Montoya, loving mother and grandmother, born February 26, 1926 in Rancho De Taos, New Mexico to Fidel and Elvira Torres, passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at her home. She is survived by her children, Carlos Montoya and wife Dolores, Victor Montoya and wife Carolyn, Michaela Montoya, Loretta Robledo and husband Miguel, and Adrian Montoya and fiancee, Rita Felter; grandchildren, Stephanie, Rachel, Alejandro, Gabriel and wife, Jessica, Andres, Veronica, Michael, Adrian, Lucas and Alana; great-grandson, Alex, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Rosary will be recited Sunday, July 11, 2010, 3:00 p.m. at French, Lomas Chapel. Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 12, 2010, 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lomas at Tennessee NE. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery, at 1:30 p.m. Please visit our online guestbook for Loyola at RememberTheirStory.com French 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 ï¿½ABQ Journal Fri July 09, 2010 Montoya, Luisita Luisita Montoya age 80 from Ranchos de Taos, NM died 10:00 AM 24 April 1907 at her residence. She is survived by two sons Ramon and David Martinez and a daughter (name not listed) Wife of Lorenzo Lobato. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Manuel Manuel Montoya of Pueblo, Colorado died at home 6 Aug 1909. He was born and raised in Ranchos de Taos, NM. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Margarita S. de Margarita S. de Montoya age 52 years, 9 months, 17 days died at home in Questa, NM. Survived by her husband Narciso Montoya, sons Francisco G. and Juan Santos Montoya. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Maria Juanita Maria Juanita Montoya Lopez from Trampas, NM. died--(date of death notice 7 Sept 1909. Date of death not listed). Wife of Fernando Lopez, whom survives her, also several children. Names not listed. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Maria Loyola Maria Loyola Montoya passed away after an extended illness on Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Loyola was born in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico on February 26, 1926 to Fidel and Elvira Torres. She was the third born member of a family of 11 that included six brothers and four sisters. Loyola was a dedicated homemaker, loving wife and caring mother. "Dolly" as she was known to everyone was always willing to open her heart and home to any family member or friend in need. Her passions included politics, sports, exercise, dancing and attending Lobo Basketball games. She is loved and will be forever missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Horacio H. Montoya, who passed away on October 27, 2009. She is survived by her children, Carlos Montoya and wife Dolores, Victor Montoya and wife Carolyn, Michaela Montoya, Loretta Robledo and husband Miguel, and Adrian Montoya and fiancee, Rita Felter; grandchildren, Stephanie, Rachel, Alejandro, Gabriel and wife, Jessica, Andres, Veronica, Michael, Adrian, Lucas and Alana; great-grandson, Alex, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Rosary will be recited Sunday, July 11, 2010, 3:00 p.m. at French, Lomas Chapel. Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 12, 2010, 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lomas at Tennessee NE. Interment will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery, at 1:30 p.m. Please visit our online guestbook for Loyola at RememberTheirStory.com French 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 ï¿½ABQ Journal Sun July 11, 2010 Montoya, Pedro Serafin Pedro Serafin Montoya age 49, Resident of El Prado, NM died March 29,1968 when he was struck by a vehicle. He is survived by his mother Mrs. Juanita Montoya; Daughter Mrs. Pat Mondragon; Sons Andres, Ernest and Leroy Montoya; Sisters Mrs. Felix Miera, Mrs. Eluira Martinez, Mrs. Teresa Echavaria; Brothers-in-law Levi Montoya and Eusebio Montoya. Taos News. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Reyes Reyes Montoya age 86 mother of the above mentioned Antonia de Espinosa died 10 Dec 1909. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Montoya, Rudolph Arthur Albuquerque Journal, August 10, 1998 Rudolph Arthur "Rudy" Montoya, 72, died Saturday, August 8, 1998 at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. Rudy is survived by one sister, Claudina Flores and husband, Nat of El Paso, TX; four brothers, Horacio Montoya and wife, Loyola, Eli Montoya and wife, Ruth, Ben Montoya and wife, Mary all of Albuquerque, and Jose Montoya and wife, Joan of Taos, NM; and several nieces and nephews. Rudy was born on October 21, 1925 in Taos, NM to Jose Vidal and Zoraida Vigil Montoya. He was the youngest of six boys in the family, and five of the six were in combat during World War II. Rudolph enlisted as an apprentice seaman in May 1942 in Santa Fe, NM, and from there he was assigned for training at the U.S. Naval Training Station in San Diego, CA. He then went on to begin training as an Armed Guard on war ships. Rudolph also had training at the Submarine Chaser Training Center Base in Miami, FL. After going through the training phase, he was assigned to a Merchant Marine ship, which was sunk by German submarines, and Rudolph was one of the few remaining survivors on that ship. He was first hospitalized in Jacksonville, FL and was later sent to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD. Rudolph was finally sent to the V.A. Facility at Fort Lyons, CO. He was a life member of D.A.V., Albuquerque Cutting Garcia 3 Chapter. Rudolph will be buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Wednesday, August 12, 1998 where a graveside ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., with pastor Jeff Padgett officiating. Friends may visit French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, Tuesday, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Martineztown House of Neighborly Service, 808 Edith Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102. French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE. Montoya, Rufino Pablo July 21, 2005 Rufino Pablo Montoya, 77, of Valdez passed away on July 12, 2005. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Cornelio and Presentacion Montoya, sister, Eleanor M. Vigil and nephew, Elias Clovis Herrera. He is survived by his sister, Teresita DeHerrera, niece, Nora Sillas (Roberto Gonzales) and family all of Valdez. Visitation was on Thursday, July 14, 2005 9 AM to 4 PM at Rivera Chapel in Taos. Rosary was recited on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 7 PM at San Antonio Catholic Church in Valdez. Funeral mass was held on Friday, July 15, 2005 at 9 AM at San Antonio Church with interment to follow at 2 PM at Valdez Cemetery. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Montoya, Rumalda Elvira Rumalda "Rumie" Elvira Montoya, 84 years young, left this world to join Our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Rumalda was born in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, on August, 28, 1924, the daughter of Fidel and Elvira Torres. After graduation from Taos High School, Rumalda relocated to San Francisco, California during WWII to aid in the war effort by working for a U.S. defense contractor in the naval shipyards. She subsequently moved back to New Mexico and met her husband of 31 years, Ben Montoya. Rumalda and Ben raised their family of four children in Albuquerque, NM and Austin, TX until 1971 when they moved to Arlington, Texas. Rumalda and Ben divorced in 1975 and she continued to reside in Arlington for the last 34 years. She recently returned to Albuquerque to live with her two daughters and extended family members. Known for her exuberant approach to life she surrounded herself with the love of close friends and family, all of whom appreciated and reveled in her joy of life. Of all those who knew and cared for her, Rumalda will be especially missed by her children whom she loved with a tireless energy and spirit. Rumalda is survived by daughter, Dorothy Sisneros and husband, Art Sisneros; son, Ruben Montoya and wife, Patty Montoya; and daughter, Rita Montoya; grandchildren, Jeff Avila, Christopher Avila, Robert Montoya, and Angela Montoya; great-grandchildren, Dilon Avila, Mikel Avila, and Eva Christine Avila; brothers, Fidel Torres and wife Virginia, Gilbert Torres, Frank Torres and wife, Cecelia, Carpio Torres and wife Becky, Joseph Torres and wife, Priscilla, John Torres; sisters, Loyola Montoya and husband, Horacio H. Montoya and Anita Montoya and husband, Arthur Montoya. Rumalda was preceded in death by her son, Benny Montoya, sister Lourdes Maes, sister Barbara Merhege and her former husband Ben Montoya. Rumalda worked as a very successful Insurance Agent for Metropolitan Insurance Co until she retired in 1990. After retirement, Rumalda spent her time gardening, painting, spending time with friends and was a devoted Dallas Cowboy fan. Rosary will be held Sunday, July 12, 2009, 4:00 p.m., at French, Lomas Blvd. Chapel. Mass will be held Monday, July 13, 2009, 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lomas at Tennessee NE. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The family would like to thank their family and friends for their love and support. Please visit our online guestbook for Rumie at RememberTheirStory.com French 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 ï¿½ABQ Journal Sat July 11, 2009 Montoya, Silveria Santistevan July 6, 2006 Silveria Santistevan Montoya, 85, of Questa passed away on July 6, 2006. She is preceded in death by her sons, Gasper Arellano and David Montoya. She is survived by her children, Albert Arellano (Doris), Sara Perez (Lawrence), Orlando Arellano, Willie Montoya, Tonita Montoya, Eric Montoya (Martha) and Maryann Montoya. She is also survived by her grandchildren and many other relatives. Graveside services will be held in Costilla. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Moody, Mark Stephen Mark Stephen Moody, passed away of a heart condition Saturday, January 29, 2006. He was born in Eunice, NM and lived there until high school. His parents moved to Tripoli, Libya where he attended and graduated from Wheelus Air Force Base high school. He then returned to attend the University of New Mexico until he entered the U.S. Navy, during the Vietnam War. After his discharge he again entered UNM until transferring to college in Houston where he graduated a Registered Respiratory Therapist. He was on the staff of Socorro Presbyterian Hospital. He also was an accomplished musician, playing guitar, singing, and teaching. He was the son of Charles E. (Bill) Moody and Wanda Moody of Taos and spent much time there. He was the father of Stephen Charles Moody plus stepfather of Rogelio, Roque, and Yesenia and was married to Luz Aragon-Moody. He is also survived by his brother, Ronnie C. Moody and wife, Merita of Irving, TX. Services will be held Thursday, 12:00 noon, at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at Sandia Memory Gardens. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333 ABQ Journal Thu February 02, 2006 Moody, Wanda E. Wanda E. Moody, 80, resident of Albuquerque, passed away Thursday, August 14, 2008. She is survived by her grandson, Stephen Moody of Albuquerque; brothers, Thomas R. Wortham and James D. Wortham; step-son, Ronald Moody; and the Aragon and Herrera families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Moody; and son, Mark S. Moody. Wanda was born in Shamrock, TX and traveled the world with her husband before settling in Albuquerque in 1985. She managed many art galleries in Taos and Albuquerque and enjoyed painting. Services will be held Saturday, August 16, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at French Mortuary, Wyoming Chapel. Interment will follow immediately follow at Sandia Memory Gardens. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333 ABQ Journal August 15, 2008 Moore, Curtis Lyle Curtis Lyle Moore, beloved son of Ione Jane Davis and Curtis Lafayette Moore, brother to William Davis Moore and Frances Moore Giles of Ft. Gaines, GA and Father of Michael Mitcham Moore, born of Sibyl and Curtis, grandparents of Mickey, John and Mary Moore and great-grandparents of Dylan and Braden. Also of Georgia are niece Elaine and nephew Jamie Giles, born to Mrs. Frances Moore Giles and Jim Giles of Ft. Gaines. Curtis Lyle was uncle Si to Ron William, Pat Curtis, Martha Jan Moore, and Gail Moore Manning, sons and daughters of his brother William Davis and JoAnn Curtis Moore of Tijeras Canyon. Si is grand uncle to Corinna and Mariah Williamson Moore, born of Sylvia Williamson and Ron; grandparents of Corrina's sons Cassius and Kenai Moore Hall of Santa Fe, Taos and Espanola. With grand nieces Michelle, Alia Spring and Gaia Manning born to Gail and Bob Manning of Tijeras and Albuquerque. All uncle Si's New Mexican Relations extend Most Affectionate Love and Respect for Helen Clark Moore and Aunt Tina Sanford whom are well at rest in peace. In spirit with consideration and regards to dear friends and extended family members in attendance to uncle Curtis Lyle's Passage; special thanks to Chris and Rush Dudley and families: Katie and Tom Price for Tender Love and Caretaking and Arelia and Mike Brenning's Good Neighborly Support. For especially these years in the wake of great aunt Tina's passage from Si's lifetime. We friends and family of Curtis Lyle Moore wish to express heartfelt appreciation and sincerest thanks to the doctors, nurses, techs and supporting staff of Veterans Hospital for attending uncle Si's entry through the emergency room and his departure from 4 D's hospice suite. As well worthy of note are the Veteran Administrators whom, at long last, afforded Master Sergeant C. L. Moore of the U. S. Air-Army Corps, his just recognition and recovery of full military honors and assist for the past seven years and last seven days of Si's valorous lifetime. For uncle Si served from before and during WWII as a Master Sergeant wing and tail gunner volunteer of the 1st Order of Bomber Escorts from bases in England; shot down, but not out of WWII. He kept on and went back up in the old Army Air Corps Fighting Fortresses, time and time again. For all in US, Si survived the historical first crash landing of the last and only one of thirteen lost volunteer Bomber Escort Crews who made it back to England. He survived to be shot down again. Si endured the Hell frozen long wintry march from Stalag XVII, as the allies advanced. He arrived after too many fell out and froze to death in the POW's forced march through a deep cold dark forest into Stalag XVII B in Austria. Where uncle Si among other survivors arrived on Christmas Eve, to endure and be liberated from whence he returned for a time. Yet he was born in spirit to be a protector and warrior among us. Uncle Si back up at em through the Korean Campaign. Onwards in to top secret Missions, for example he escorted President Harry Truman on time to relieve General MacArthur of duty. Onwards into post war covert op's (on and off military records) to his last known military posting, with a pass from Nellis AFB (nowadays Area 51) in Nevada, where for some as yet, and maybe never to be known reasoning, C. L. Moore had his memory erased. For what? We can only imagine. Uncle Si was electro shocked and cast out of service to fend for himself alone? Uncle Si arrived somehow to his Oasis family hillside as an unknown soldier and stranger to himself, with fragmented recollection to time served, with bits and pieces of falling's out from war all the time and busted family ties in relation to all that was past. As a Master Mechanic and Jack of seemingly all hands on trades, uncle Si began the 49 year process of rediscovery with skills and capabilities. Eventfully, he managed by ways and means to survive in an old 1950 bread truck on a high desert hillside with extended family support, in a seemingly estranged yet welcome way, he became uncle Si, the Candy Man in his remodeled bread van where he took to a talent for actually cooking up chocolate delights for a lot of toddling, long haired hippy kids and their parents with family assistance. He added on to his residence a room he built with a fireplace where he'd whip up enchiladas on occasions. It was room enough for uncle Si to entertain and set up easels for oil on canvas. From whence he found artistic means and ways of painting himself out from the 70's daze, eventually. As well into middle age and prone to especially cold feet through long deep snow bound wintry spells. He found a soul mate in great aunt Tina, whom needed help moving a mobile home onto a lot in a trailer park on downtown's edge of the city county line. He painted a sign for an address to hang on the fence he built and was greatly appreciated and welcomed by aunt Tina. Uncle Si had his own bedroom with indoor plumbing and heat with all the homesteading comforts and friendships with other outstanding characters, akin to Mr. Greenbaum, a refugee of Brooklyn and lower east side of Manhattan, whom would become a dear family friend, known and honored 'unto death' and beyonder by the kids of uncle Si and great aunt Tina's as "Grandfather David". Good years and gatherings we shared on the blue sky's mesa where the balloons took a launch and land in wide open space in relative peace and safety. On through the 80's and part in the 90's of a century ago, there was a sense of weller being and freedom before the developer sprawl of over built and too highly mortgaged security gated complexes cut Sandia Crest from view as the hi power lines and corpo national driven interest to greed fuel'd by fear and hate mongering pol's of principality's drove Si in to witnessin cultural wars all the time from top to bottom on a wide color tv screen from the CNN left to Fox networks right. As if surrounded and captured back into Stalag Xvii, as if all that was of the American dreams gone to hell without even a gondoliers safe landing or handbasket. So maybe uncle Si and all haven't won war all the time, yet. His human kindness and never ending trust in God and country with family and friends did attend our dearly beloved Curtis Lyle Moore through a long struggling few days and his last week in atonement to have won the peace and gone up as a beautiful balloon from Hospice, on Yom Kippour, Hasta La Siempre. Now, as uncle Si said it best before settling down gently to rest, "It's a Miracle"!? All are warmly welcome and invited to attend Curtis Lyle Moore's 89th birthday and Memorial Service at 9:15 am on Thursday, October 30, 2008 for his Military Honor Guard, 21 Gun Salute with Tap's and Old Glory's full flying colors, folded and presented by family and friends to his son, Michael Mitcham Moore of Georgia, from the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. Thanks be to God in Jesus Name!!!! French Mortuary, Inc. 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500 ABQ Journal October 19, 2008 Moran, Rufina Rufina Moran of Valdez,NM. died Thursay of this week (23 May 1907) at her residence. Wife of Juan Emilio Herrera. La Revista De Taos newspaper. Contributed by Alberto Vidaurre. Morris, N.V. The Taos Valley News. Vol.II NO.52 Taos, New Mexico June 23,1938. Headlines says "San Cristobal Man Found Dead." The body of the story reads "N.V. Morris, resident of San Cristobal for the past three years, was found dead in a field last sunday. A Coroners Jury gave a verdict of death from natural causes, but an autopsy performed later by Dr. Onstine proved a heart attack to be the cause of death. Mr.Morris kept bees and sold honey, he was about 70 years old." Morrison, William Eugene William Eugene (Gene) Morrison, 79, a longtime resident of Albuquerque, NM, currently residing in Houston, TX with his daughter and son-in-law, passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside on Sunday, July 23, 2006. He joined his parents, John Calvin Morrison and Mildred Morrison; parents-in-law, Rev. L.M. Walker and Gladys Walker; son, Ricky Morrison; sister, Patricia Haulman; and brother, Jack Morrison who have all gone before him to be with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Aileen Morrison, married now this past February for 60 years; his sister; Rachel Kelsey; his brother-in-law and wife, Rev. Larry and Carmen Walker; his daughter, Cathy Jean Bonner; son-in-law, Arthur Lee Bonner; and his three grandchildren, Waylon Gene Bonner, Arthur Wayne Bonner, and Cheyenne Jean Bonner; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and countless friends. Gene was born in Parsons, KS on August 28, 1926. He moved with his family to New Mexico in 1940 and was a graduate of Albuquerque High School where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He was a member of Fruit Avenue Baptist Church where he met the love of his life, "Ruthie". After serving in the United States Air Force in WWII, they were married on February 3, 1946 at Fruit Avenue Baptist Church by Ruth's father, Rev. L.M. Walker. Gene received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education from the University of New Mexico where he also played baseball. He later worked on his Doctoral degree in Austin at the University of Texas. In Gene's 32 year career at Albuquerque Public Schools as teacher, counselor, coach, principal, and administrator, he also enjoyed working as a Western Athletic Conference college football official for over 20 years. After his retirement in 1981, he was ordained as a minister at Hoffmantown Baptist Church, where he had been a member for many years. He served at Hoffmantown Baptist Church, Northwest Mesa Baptist Church, Grace Brethren Church and Christian School in Taos, and Hope Christian Schools in Albuquerque. During his career, he made many life long friendships. Gene was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be remembered best by his dedication to his wife and family, golfing, bowling, and playing softball with his friends, countless fishing trips to his cabin in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, and his unshakable faith in God. Gene was involved with many social, civic, and professional organizations including the National Education Association, Rotary Club, Elks Club, Juvenile Probation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, American Association of Christian Counselors, Association For Religious and Value Issues in Counseling, Association of Christian Marriage Counselors, American Association for School Administrators, National Association of Pupil-Personnel Administrators, and American Personnel and Guidance Association. He was elected to Phi Delta Kappa, National Education Honors Fraternity, and received the Outstanding Leadership Award by Albuquerque Public School Principals. The family thanks everyone for their love, support, and tender care during Gene's 79 years of life. He loved life, and valued his wife, son and daughter, family, and friends as wonderful gifts from God. Services will be held Saturday, 2:00 p.m., July 29, 2006, at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE. Friends may visit French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel on Friday, July 28, 2006, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400 ABQ Journal July 27, 2006 Moss, Shirley Wood Shirley Wood Moss, age 80 of Polson, passed away following a six year struggle with ovarian cancer on Friday, August 29, 2008 at The Retreat Assisted Living. Shirley was born on January 8, 1928 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania to Raymond and Ella Holgate Wood. She graduated with the class of 1946 from Honesdale High School, Honesdale, PA. Following graduation she moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island where she worked for the Fram Corporation. In 1951, she moved to Los Alamos, NM where her sister Muriel was living. There she worked for the National Laboratories in the business office. She met her husband, James Moss, in Los Alamos and they were married August 29, 1954 in Taos, NM. Following retirement in 1983, they moved to Ute Park, NM. They spent their winters in Lake Havasu City, AZ. During their retirement years, Jim and Shirley traveled extensively with many visits to family and friends. Shirley moved to Polson in 2002 to be near her sister Barbara following the death of her beloved husband, Jim. Barbara was a devoted companion and caregiver to Shirley during the last six years. Shirley had a special place in her heart for children and animals. She enjoyed all the wildlife that would pass by their home in Ute Park - especially the wild turkeys. She was a wonderful aunt to her many nieces and nephews and we will all miss her dearly. Shirley was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Polson and was involved in United Methodist Women throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her parents; sister, Muriel Osborn; and brother, Leslie Wood. Shirley is survived by her sisters, Lorna Decker of Honesdale, PA, Barbara and husband, Harry Medland of Polson, MT, Betty and husband, John Chippee of Dover, DE, Patricia and husband, Don Avery of Bath, PA along with many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Polson with Rev. Mark Calhoun officiating. A reception will follow the services in the church hall. Inurnment will follow at a later date. The family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church, 301 16th Ave E, Polson, MT 59860. ï¿½ABQ Journal Wed September 03, 2008 Moya, Maria Alcaria January 12, 1928 - October 2, 2006 Maria Alcaria Moya ï¿½ Age 78 a resident of Chama passed away on Monday, October 2, 2006. She was born to Ramon and Vicentita Martinez in Caï¿½ada de Los Alamos, New Mexico on January 12, 1928. She married Onofre Moya on January 13, 1944 in Santa Fe, NM. Alcaria was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; and one son. May their souls rest in peace. Alcaria is survived by her husband, Onofre; 6 daughters and 8 sons: Ramona Jacquez of Fruita, CO, Robert Moya of Blue Springs, Missouri, Flora Sanchez of Fruita, CO, Willie Moya of Chama, Erlinda Moya of Chama, Joe Moya of Farmington, Geneva Loya of Clifton, CO, Jessie Maez of Pagosa Springs, CO, Pauline Moya, Michael Moya, Steven Moya, Candido Moya, Vince Moya, and Ray Moya all of Chama; 35 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; one brother and three sisters: Emilio Martinez of Fillmore, Utah, Placida Montoya of Las Vegas, NM, Ricarda Lucero of Caï¿½ada de Los Alamos, NM, Socorro Oglesby of Maringouin, Louisiana; and numerous other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited on Thursday, October 5th, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Chama. Celebration of the Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, October 6th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Chama with Father Clement officiating. Burial will follow at the Chama Community Cemetery with her grandsons serving as pallbearers: Rick Jacquez, Mikey Moya, Santitos Sanchez, Paul Medlin, David Loya and Richard Moya. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be: Mariano Gonzales, Antonio Blea and Channing Moya. The family of Maria Alcaria Moya has placed their trust in the Rivera family of Block-Salazar Mortuary.Telephone 505-753-2288 or Toll Free 1-800-443-4854.Rosary7:00 p.m. Thursday October 5th, 2006 St. Patrick's Catholic Church Chama, New Mexico Mass of the Resurrection 10:00 a.m.~Friday October 6th, 2006St. Patrick's Catholic Church Chama, New Mexico Interment Chama Communityemeteryhama,NewMexico Block-SalazarMortuary305 Calle Salazar ~ Espaï¿½ola, NM 87532 Mudd, Horace December 26, 2006 Horace Mudd was born 18 January 1911 in Greenville TX to Atha N. and Martha Crockett Mudd. The eldest of five boys, he and his family moved to Chelsea, OK in 1925 where he was educated in the Chelsea public schools and NE Oklahoma A&M College. He died peacefully on 26 December 2006 at Plaza de Retiro, his home since 1982. Horace's early work included blacksmithing in the army, tool and die work for Douglas Aircraft and owning his own propane delivery and shop. He was raised a master mason in 1947 in Chelsea Lodge 84 and was a member of Bent Lodge 42 of Taos, NM. Horace changed careers in 1950 when he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church of Oklahoma. He took great pride that 8 of his 10 church appointments included successful building or remodeling. He built and dedicated the Fairland and Welch churches and consecrated the Church of Laverne. He also served churches at Foyl, Weletka, Konawa, Pawnee, Okemah, Boise City and Mooreland. He was preceded in death by son, Ronal and daughter, Etta Jewel, in addition to his wife Lorena and later wife Esther. Surviving are his brother Edd, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on December 28, 2006 at Plaza de Retiro in Taos, NM. His cremains will be buried in the family plot in the Chelsea Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, he requested donations be made to El Pueblito United Methodist Church 6481 NDCBU, Taos, NM 87571. Muniz, Catherine Mae Catalina Catherine Mae Catalina Muniz, age 45, of Santa Fe, NM, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2003, following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents: Candido Muniz and Carolina Martinez. Catherine was born May 1, 1958 in Embudo, New Mexico. She married Dan Moore in 1998. Ms. Muniz attended New Mexico State and UNM. She was employed as a Rural Environmental Specialist in northern New Mexico. She worked to improve water distribution and establish pollution controls by helping communities receive federal and state grants. Catherine was always concerned about environmental issues and Hispanic/Chicano cultural issues She was a parishioner of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM and was active in a Catholic Charismatic group. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in her name of Catalina Muniz to the Taos Community Foundation, 229 A. Camino de La Placita, P.O. Box 1925, Taos, New Mexico 87571. She is survived by her husband, Dan Moore; daughter, Sarah Marie Muniz and fiancï¿½ Daniel Martinez; grandson, Christopher Xavier Martinez; sisters: Anita Luera, Evelyn Martinez and husband Wilfred Rodriguez; brother, Candido Muniz and wife Violanda Lopez; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. A rosary will be recited on Friday, August 22, 2003, 7:00 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Chapel. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 23, 2003, 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 11401 Indian School Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, 984-8600. ABQ Journal August 21, 2003 Muniz, Jose Jose Muniz, 90, of Rodarte died Thursday December 25, 2003. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edonilia Muniz and sister, Delia Sanchez. He is survived by his children, Priscilla Munoz of Albuquerque, Shirley Vigil of Grants, Victor Muniz of Albuquerque, Joe Muniz of Rodarte, Modesto Muniz and wife Mary of Ranchos de Taos, Betty Martinez of Rodarte, and Freddy Gonzales of Albuquerque; 21 grandchildren, and many other relatives. Services have been held with burial at Penasco Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Munoz, John John Munoz, 41, of Ranchos de Taos passed away on January 08, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Munoz, daughters, Leeandra and Amanda Munoz, mother, Shirley Mae Gutierrez of Hawaii, sisters, Gina Gurule of Taos, Vina Gutierrez of San Diego, CA, Nidia Gutierrez of Hawaii, grandmother, Mary Munoz of Aguilar, CO and uncle, John Gonzales. He is also survived by parents in law, Blas & Magdalena Romero, brother in law, Ben Romero, nephews and nieces, Jasmine and Javier Gurule, Mia Gutierrez, James and Ben Romero Jr., many other relatives and friends. Memorial service was held January 11, 2007 at Rivera Chapel. Murphy, Joe V. Joe V. Murphy, 88, of Taos passed away on September 28, 2006. Joe was born to Joe Virgil and Lora Murphy in Texas and spent many years in McAllen, Texas. He was a journalism student at the University of Texas Austin, Texas where he graduated. During World War II he served as a war correspondent in Bolivia. His parents purchased a home in Taos Canyon in the early 50s and they kept spending more and more time there so they retired and moved to Taos permanently, living at their home they named the Perdanales. Joe also moved with them and helped with the antique business they started there. He also worked in several of the galleries in Taos and loved to hang out at the Taos Inn where he lived for a while. Joe loved the arts and literature. He enjoyed telling tourists all the great things about Taos, his adopted home. His last years were spent at Taos Living Center where many of his friends came often to bring him books and visit, which he appreciated very much. Services were held on October 24, 2006 at St. James Episcopal Church in Taos. Burial will be in the family plot in Holland, Texas at a later date. The family appreciates all the kindness Joe's Taos friends bestowed him. Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home. Murry, Teresa Teresa "Terri" Murry, of Red River, NM, passed away in Santa Fe, NM. At St. Vincent's Hospital on September 6, 2006. She was born in Bon Carbo, CO, on March 4, 1937 to Napoleon "Paul" Shannon and Maria Andrea Shannon. For fortyfour years she lived and worked in Red River, NM. Teresa was preceded in death by her parents, Two brothers, and two sisters. Survivors are husband Jerry Murry, Red River, NM, one son James Allen Murry (Rhonda) Red River, two grandsons Ryan Murry, Red River, Justin Lee (Jenifer) of Roswell, NM, 2 sistersinlaw Pat (Pete) Kraintz, Mission Viejo, CA, Margie Shannon, Pueblo, CO, and three sisters Anna Marie (Ernest) Abeyta, Pueblo CO, Joan Pauline Shannon, Weston CO, Edna (Rudy) Jimï¿½nez, Santa Fe, NM, two brothers John Shannon, Bon Carbo, CO, Edward (Judy) Shannon, Bon Carbo, CO. She also has numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association. Services are pending. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service. 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505, 984-8600. Muste, John M. John M. Muste '49, of Taos, N.Mex.; Sept. 5, after a long illness. He was on the faculty at Ohio State from 1958 until 1986, when he retired as associate dean of the college of humanities. In Taos he was on the board of the Friends of the Library, serving two terms as president and two as vice president, and was on the board of the Taos Institute of Arts. A member of the Taos Archaeological Society, he taught a course in modern literature at the University of New Mexico at Taos. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and is survived by his wife, Jean, 414 Placitas Rd., #31, Taos 87571; two sons; two grandchildren; and a sister. Return to the Taos County Home page, or use your BACK button © 1997 - 2012 Karen Mitchell	i don't know
Which US president in office 1945-53, is said to have coined the phrase 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen' ?	The Greatest Quotes of all Time THE GREATEST QUOTES OF ALL TIME! This list contains the funniest and most profound thoughts from the greatest personalities of all time. While many were borrowed from from Peggy Anderson's book, Great Quotes from Great Leaders, many more have been collected from a great number of different sources. Several of them are popular sound-bites and cliche's today. It's interesting to know where they originated. Also, many quotes from contemporary leaders are really paraphrasings of older quotes. THE FUNNIEST QUOTES OF ALL TIME: David Mamet (1947-? Famous American playwright and director.) Old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance. Mae West (1930s movie star famous for her double entendres and pushing the limits of censorship.) I believe in censorship... I made a fortune out of it. When I'm good, I'm very good. When I'm bad I'm better. Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I haven't tried before. She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong. It's not the men in my life that count, it's the life in my men. When women go wrong, men go right after them. Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one home... I'm tired. Albert Einstein (Physicist, 1879 - 1955) The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it. Scott Adams (Cartoonist - paraphrased from a comment made in his April 11, 2010 Dilbert cartoon strip) The greatest injustice is using the law to keep justice at bay. General Douglas MacArthur ( American General, 1880 - 1964) Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword never encountered automatic weapons. Eugene McCarthy (American politician, 1916 - 2005): The only thing that saves us from bureaucracy is its inefficiency. Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), in response to a newspaper article in which he had been mistakenly reported to have died. In fact it was a relative of his. Many subtle variations of this quote are attributed to him. Some were the result of paraphrasing by publishers, others by Mr. Clemens himself. Over the years several famous actors have used this quote when their deaths have been erroneously supposed. I believe the most famous may have been when Clayton Moore, the TV Lone Ranger, sent it in a telegram to Johnny Carson after Mr. Carson mentioned on his late night show that he thought Mr. Moore had passed away. Oscar Wilde (British playwrite, 1854-1900): A man can't be too careful in his choice of enemies. Youth is wasted on the young. (Some sources credit this to George Bernard Shaw). Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable we have to alter it every six months. I can resiste everything but temptation. Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. Thomas Edison (Considered that greatest inventor of all time, 1846 - 1931): I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Ludwig Feuerbach: (1804-1872; German philosopher, theologian and author.) Man created God in his own image. Charles De Gaulle (French general and statesman, 1890 - 1979): The graveyards are full of indispensable men. Children today are tyrants. They contradict thier parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers. Socrates (Greek [Athenian] philosopher, 470-399 B.C.) Come quickly! I am tasting stars! Dom Perignon (French benadictine monk, 1638-1715) at the moment of his discovering champagne. Winston Churchill (British politician, 1874-1965): He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. George Carlin (Popular American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor, and author, 1937 - 2008): Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. The popular, but short-lived, Maverick television series of the early sixties often had Bret Maverick (James Garner) quoting pieces of sage advice from his "Old Pappy." The best of these was: "If you don't git while the gittin's good, you're gunna get got." Lazarus Long (Longest lived human science fiction character, 1912 - ? {ranges from 2125 to 4000}, (From the author Robert Heinlein): Never appeal to a man's better nature - he might not have one. Invoking his self interest gives you more leverage. Delusions are often functional. A mother's opinions about her children's beauty, goodness, et cetera ad nauseam, keeps her from drowning them at birth. A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits. An elephant: A mouse built to government specifications. A committee is a life form with six or more legs and no brain. "I came, I saw, SHE conquered." (The original Latin seems to have been garbled.) A skunk is better company than a person who prides himself on being "frank." Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss. Will Rogers (American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor and one of the best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s, 1879 - 1935): (The genius of his quotes are that they need to be read twice: the first time for their humor, a second to pick out the practical advice hidden behind the joke.) Don't squat with your spurs on. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back in. If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there. If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut. There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works. When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket. Never miss a good chance to shut up. And finally, a few of my own humble offerings: Wayne M. Schmidt: (Engineer, webmaster, 1951-?) Humanity's behavior suggests intelligence is an evolutionary dead end. A little abuse keeps the joints loose. When debating which is superior, dogs or cats, I believe their behavior suggests the following: Man domesticated dogs - cats domesticated man. Greed has a short memory. The inspiration for this quote came in 2015 as mortgage lenders and the government started making it easier for people to buy houses, the same policies that lead to the catastophic 2007 housing collapse. People don't own money any more... we just rent it from Walmart. It's not unreasonable to expect everyone to act with consideration for others, but sadly, it is unrealistic. An unfortunate side effect of human compassion is that it's enabled fools to propagate. NEW!!! THE GREATEST MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES OF ALL TIME: NEW!!! Horace Mann (American politician and educator, Prime advocate of universal, free education 1796-1859) Be ashamed to die until you have won some great victory for humanity. This quote resonates for me because I believe we all owe a debt to those who came before us and contributed to the world we enjoy. The only way to repay this debt is to pay it forward by giving back to society. Friedrich Nietzche (German philosopher, 1844 - 1900) That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Horace (Roman poet, 65 - 8 BC): Carpe Diem (Seize the day. (Opportunity)) Martin Luther King, Jr (American clergyman and political activist, 1929 - 1968): If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, "Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well." George S. Patton, Jr. (American general during WW II, 1885 - 1945): Always do more than is required of you. Booker T. Washington (African-American educator, author, orator and political leader, 1856 - 1915): I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed. You can't hold a man down without staying down with him. Howard Ruff (Financial advisor and writer, 1931 - ?): It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. Teddy Roosevelt (American president, 1858 - 1919): Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. No man is justified in doing evil on the grounds of expediency. John Wooden (Enormously successful American basketball coach, 1910 - 2010): Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Henry Ford (Founder of Ford Motor Co., 1863 - 1947): Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. John F. Kennedy (35th President of the US, 1917 - 1963): The time to repair a roof is when the sun is shining. Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979-1990, Sometimes referred to as an iron fist in a silk glove, 1925 - 2013): You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. Aristotle (Greek philosopher, student of Plato, teacher to Alexander the Great, 384 - 322 BC: We should behave to our friends as we would wish our friends to behave to us. (This was later paraphrased in Christian culture as the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.") Well begun is half done. Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd US President, held office during World War II, 1882 - 1945): When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Benjamin Franklin (Influencial Founding Father of the United States, leading author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, 1706 - 1790): There are no gains without pains. Thomas Jefferson (Third American president, horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, musician, inventor, considered my many as one of the most influencial of the Amercian founding fathers and one of the great minds of all time, 1743 - 1826): A mind always employed is always happy. Never trouble another for what you can do for yourself. Whenever you do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly. Albert Schweitzer (Franco-German (Alsatian) theologian, organist, philosopher, and physician, African missionary, 1875 - 1965): Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing. Vince Lombardi (Influencial American football coach, most famously for the Green Bay Packers, 1913 - 1970): The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. Abraham Lincoln (American president during the American civil war, 1809 - 1865): No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar. Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves. Norman Vincent Peale (American Protestant preacher and writer, 1898 - 1993): Believe that you are defeated, believe it long enough, and it is likely to become a fact. We tend to get what we expect. Ray Kroc (Businessman famous for making McDonald's so successful, 1902 - 1984): The quality of an individual is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. Albert Signorella DDS., or Franklin P. Jones (among possible others - I couldn't find a definitive source for this one, only suggested sources): You are what you eat. THE GREATEST PRACTICAL QUOTES OF ALL TIME: John F. Kennedy (35th President of the US, 1917 - 1963): Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. Howard Hawks (Famous 1940s and 1950s movie director.) A good movie has three good scenes and no bad scenes. Fortune favors the prepared. Edna Mode (Character in the Disney movie The Incredibles.) This is a paraphrase of Louis Pasteur's quote: "Chance favors the prepared mind." This quote has many variations that have been used for over half a century. Napolean Bonaparte (Military and politial leader of France and for a time ruler of much of Europe, 1769 - 1821): Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake. Stewart's Law of Retroaction from Murphy's Law, Book Two: It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. David T. Wolf (1943 - ?): Idealism is what precedes experience. This is the more popular truncated form of the original quote that was: Idealism is what precedes experience, cynicism is what follows. Ernest Hemmingway (Writer, 1889-1961): Never mistake motion for action. (This concept was pushed hard while I was an officer in the USAF, where the version used was "Being busy isn't the same as accomplishing something.") Winston Churchill (British politician, 1874-1965): The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes. Thomas Jefferson (Third American president, horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, musician, inventor, considered my many as one of the most influencial of the Amercian founding fathers and one of the great minds of all time, 1743 - 1826): The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it easier to do it a second time. Andrew Carnegie (Formed Carnegie Steel that went on to merge with other steel companies to form US Steel, Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur and a major philanthropist, 1835 - 1919): As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. There is no use whatsoever trying to help people who do not help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he is willing to climb himself. Benjamin Franklin (Influencial Founding Father of the United States, leading author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, 1706 - 1790): Love your neighbor - but don't pull down your hedge. The best way to see Faith is to shut the eye of Reason. Confucius (Chinese philosopher, 551 - 479 BC): Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. When prosperity comes, do not use all of it. George Washington (Dominant military and political leader in the formation of the United States of America, First American President, 1732 - 1799): Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Five-star general in the United States Army, top military leader during WW II and the 34th President of the United States, 1890 - 1969): Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field. Lazarus Long (Longest lived human science fiction character, 1912 - ? {ranges from 2125 to 4000}, (From the author Robert Heinlein): Natural laws have no pity. Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then go do it. Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Animals can be driven crazy by placing too many in too small a pen. Homo Sapiens is the only animal that voluntarily does this to himself. Formal courtesy between husband and wife is even more important than it is between strangers. Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark. In handling a stinging insect, move slowly. Anything free is worth what you pay for it. Rub her feet. Everybody lies about sex. When the need arises - and it does - you must be able to shoot your own dog. Don't try to have the last word. You might get it. Avoid making irrevocable decisions while tired or hungry. Do not handicap your children by making their lives too easy. Wayne M. Schmidt (1951-?): The tragedy of human discourse is that words can cause greater injury than words can heal. The price for having rights is the responisibility of exercising them with consideration for others. Desire is never tempered by practicality. One of humanity's great tragedies is that in its desperate need to prove itself unique, every new generation shuns 95-percent of what the previous generation produced. Countless great movies, books and songs have been lost for all time because of this. THE MOST FAMOUS QUOTES OF ALL TIME: Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873, British novelist, poet, playwright and polititian.) The pen is mightier than the sword. Jesus Christ (The Bible, Matthew 26:52) He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. (The exact wording varies with the translation referenced.) The road to hell is paved with good intentions. This is one of those ancient proverbs that's been around so long no one knows for certain who said it first. The earliest close account I could find was the French abbot Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153 AD) who said, "Hell is full of good wishes and desires." By 1670 this had evolved into "Hell is paved with good intentions" by John Ray (or Wray), an English naturalist (1627-1705.) There are two interpretations of the proverb. The first is that having an intention without acting on it leads to ruin. The second is that when attempting to do something good, many times bad things result unexpectedly. This second interpretation is more commonly popularized by the quote "No good deed shall go unpunished," usually attributed to the journalist, editor and playwright Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) although some claim it's from the novelist and playwright Oscar Wild (1854-1900.) The Bible, Ecclesiastes 1:9 (Sometimes attributed to Solomon, King of Israel, 10th century BC) There is nothing new under the sun. (This is an unusual quote because while all the others on this page obviously ring true, this one is blatantly false, as the rapid rate of change in our current world proves. But then it might have been a reference to man's nature, which does remain constant.) Isaac Newton (Physicist, 1643 - 1727) If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants. (This is a paraphrasing of a similar remark by philosopher Bernard of Chartres in 1159.) J. P. Morgan: (1837-1913, Orchestrated the creation of US Steel, the first billion-dollar company in the world.) If you have to ask how much something costs, you can't afford it. I found three different sources for the origin of this quote. 1. When J. P. Morgan saw a yacht he wanted, he was reported to say something like, "I'll take it." When the salesman asked if he wanted to know how much it cost before making a decision, Morgan uttered the famous saying. 2. When a friend mentioned he was thinking about buying a yacht and asked Mr. Morgan how much one cost to maintain, Morgan's response was the quote. 3. During a business meeting when a prospective customer inquired about the cost of something J. P. Morgan gave the quote as an answer. Karl Marx (German philosopher, economist, sociologist, 1818-1883, important figure in the creation of communism.): Religion is the opiate of the people. Lord Acton (1834-1902; British historian, politician and educator. Considered the most learned individual of his era, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his knowledge.): Power Corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sun-Tzu (400 BC; Chinese general and military strategist): Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Fred R. Barnard (Marketing expert - 1920s): A picture is worth a thousand words. Many references mistakenly attribute this quote to Confucius. In fact it was coined around 1921 by the advertising writer Fred Barnard to market a baking product. To give the saying more credence he had it translated into Chinese and presented as an ancient proverb. Over time it became attributed to Confusius. Francois Rabelas (French monk and satirist 1494-1553): Nature abhors a vacuum. Alexander Pope (English poet, 1680-1744): Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. A little learning is a dangerous thing. The sum of anecdotes is not data. Julius Caesar (Creator and ruler of the Roman Empire, 100 - 44BC): Divide and Conquer. Bo Diddley: (Famous musician instrumental in the creation of the early Rock and Roll sound, 1928 - 2008.) (Nick Pence emailed me the source for this quote. Thanks, Nick!) You can't tell a book by its cover. Correction: I've become skeptical about attributing this quote to Bo Diddley because Cary Grant uses it in the 1947 movie, The Bachelor and the Bobby-soxer. Since the movie would have been filmed in 1946, when Bo Diddley was only 18, it's doubtful he would have already established himself with such prominence to be quoted by the great and famous. I suspect that this is one of those universally used phrases that has been around so long that it would be impossible to discover who originated it. Murphy's Law: "If anything can go wrong, it will." In popular use for over half a century, controversy abounds as to the origins of this adage. The philosophy behind the phrase, if not this exact wording, has been around since before written history. These earlier forms are used referred to as Sod's Law or Finagle's Corollary. ("Sod" refers to any poor "sod.") Most experts attribute the modern Murphy's Law to USAF Captain Edward Murphy, a research engineer at Edwards Air Force Base in 1949. Upon learning that a rocket sled test failed because a technician wired the sensors wrong, Murphy is reported to have exclaimed, "If there is any way to do it wrong, he'll do it." For some reason the phrase caught on and began evolving. The press got a hold of it when during a press conference the man who eventually rode the sled commented that the reason he survived is that everyone on the project paid close attention to "Murphy's Law." When asked to explain he used the form we're familiar with today. The following is usually credited to Aesop, the Greek fabulist of around 600 B.C., but one source listed the Roman philosopher Apuleis (124-170 A.D.) as the originator: Familiarity breeds contempt. Benjamin Franklin (Influencial Founding Father of the United States, leading author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, 1706 - 1790): Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. (Note: this is actually a paraphrasing of an earlier quote by John Lyly (1554-1606) "After three days, fish and guests stink.") Confucius (Chinese philosopher, 551 - 479 BC): The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step. Harry S. Truman (33 President of the United States, 1884 - 1972): If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. The buck stops here. Winston Churchill (British politician, 1874-1965): It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried. Please click HERE to visit my main site and browse 200 other pages covering everything from the lost art of knitting Nancies to metal detecting.	Harry S. Truman
The 'cardinal points' are the four main points on what?	Harry S. Truman - Wikiquote Harry S. Truman Jump to: navigation , search I never gave anybody hell . I just told the truth and they think it's hell. Harry S. Truman ( May 8 , 1884 – December 26 , 1972 ) was the 33rd President of the United States (1945–53), an American politician of the Democratic Party . He served as a United States Senator from Missouri (1935–45) and briefly as Vice President (1945) before he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945 upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt . He was president during the final months of World War II , making the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki . Truman was elected in his own right in 1948 . He presided over an uncertain domestic scene as America sought its path after the war, and tensions with the Soviet Union increased, marking the start of the Cold War . Contents Quotes[ edit ] When a High Explosive shell bursts in fifteen feet and does you no damage, you can bet your sweet life you bear a charmed life and no mistake. At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life . The choice is too often not a free one. No government is perfect . One of the chief virtues of a democracy , however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected. All the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering , kissing , and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway. I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it. I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America ! It isn't important who is ahead at one time or another in either an election or horse race. It's the horse that comes in first at the finish line that counts. Now days battles are just sort of a "You shoot up my town and I'll shoot up yours." They say that Americans don't play fair. They shoot 'em up all the time. I hope so because I want to finish this job as soon as possible and begin making an honest living again... Have fired 500 rounds at the Germans, at my command, been shelled, didn't run away thank the Lord and never lost a man. Probably shouldn't have told you but you'll not worry any more if you know I'm in it than if you think I am. Have had the most strenuous work of my life, am very tired but otherwise absolutely in good condition physically mentally and morally... When a High Explosive shell bursts in fifteen feet and does you no damage, you can bet your sweet life you bear a charmed life and no mistake. I didn't have sense enough to know what was going on until the next day and then I was pretty scared. The men think I am not much afraid of shells but they don't know. I was too scared to run and that is pretty scared. Letter to Bess Wallace (8 September 1918) If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany, and that way let them kill as many as possible, although I don't want to see Hitler victorious under any circumstances. Neither of them thinks anything of their pledged word. As quoted in The New York Times (24 June 1941); also in TIME magazine (2 July 1951) ) People are very much wrought up about the Communist bugaboo. Letter to George H. Earle, former governor of Pennsylvania (received 28 February 1947); reported in The New York Times (3 April 1947), p. 17, quoting Earle. I am not worried about the Communist Party taking over the Government of the United States, but I am against a person, whose loyalty is not to the Government of the United States, holding a Government job. They are entirely different things. I am not worried about this country ever going Communist. We have too much sense for that. Responding to a question at his press conference (February 28, 1947); reported in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1947, p. 191 It is my deep conviction that we have reached a turning point in our country’s efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens. Recent events in the United States and abroad have made us realize that it is more important today than ever before to insure that all Americans enjoy these rights. When I say all Americans, I mean all Americans. Speech to the NAACP (29 June 1947). Some of my best friends never agree with me politically. Statement to a group of four congress freshmen (2 July 1947), as quoted in The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, p. 44 The Russians are like us, they look and act like us. They are fine people. They got along with our soldiers in Berlin very well. As far as I am concerned, they can have whatever they want just so they don't try to impose their system on others. Statement to a group of four congress freshmen (2 July 1947), as quoted in The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, p. 44 The Russians are liars – you can't trust them. At Potsdam they agreed to everything and broke their word. It's too bad the second world power is like this, but that's the way it is, and we must keep our strength. Statement to Richard Nixon and his wife Pat in 1969, as quoted in The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, p. 44 Tell him to go to hell; I'm for Jimmy Byrnes . Upon hearing that Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted him to be his vice presidential running mate (21 July 1944), as quoted in Choosing Truman : The Democratic Convention of 1944 (1994); also quoted in "Harry S. Truman : America's last great leader?" in USA Today magazine (January 1995) by the Society for the Advancement of Education Boys, if you ever pray, pray for me now. I don't know whether you fellows ever had a load of hay fall on you, but when they told me yesterday what had happened, I felt like the moon, the stars and all the planets had fallen on me. I've got the most terribly responsible job a man ever had. Comment to reporters on having become president the day before, after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt , (13 April 1945) as quoted in Conflict and Crisis : The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, 1945-1948 by Robert J. Donovan, p. 17; also quoted in "Thoughts Of A President, 1945" at Eyewitness to History , and TIME magazine (12 April1968) No nation on this globe should be more internationally minded than America because it was built by all nations. Harry Truman at Chicago, 17 March 1945, as recorded in Good Old Harry Mr. Luce , you've asked a fair question and I'll give you a fair answer. I've been in politics thirty-five years and everything that could be said about a human being has been said about me. But my wife has never been in politics. She has always conducted herself in a circumspect manner and no one has a right to make derogatory remarks about here. Now your wife has said many unkind and untrue things about Mrs. Truman. And as long as I am in residence here, she'll not be a guest in the White House. Letter to Henry Luce (1945); as quoted in Good Old Harry I sincerely wish that every member of Congress could visit the displaced person's camp in Germany and Austria and see just what is happening to 500,000 human beings through no fault of their own. Letter to Walter F. George (October 1946); as quoted in Great Jewish Quotations (1996) by Alfred J. Kolatch, p. 463 No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected. Speech to a joint session of the US Congress (12 March 1947) , outlining what became known as The Truman Doctrine At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio; fixed elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms. I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. Speech to a joint session of the US Congress (12 March 1947), outlining what became known as The Truman Doctrine Had ten minutes conversation with Henry Morgenthau about Jewish ship in Palistine. Told him I would talk to Gen[eral] Marshall about it. He'd no business, whatever to call me. The Jews have no sense of proportion nor do they have any judgement on world affairs. Henry brought a thousand Jews to New York on a supposedly temporary basis and they stayed. When the country went backward — and Republican in the election of 1946, this incident loomed large on the DP [Displaced Person] program. The Jews, I find are very, very selfish. They care not how many Estonians, Latvians, Finns, Poles, Yugoslavs or Greeks get murdered or mistreated as DP as long as the Jews get special treatment. Yet when they have power, physical, financial or political neither Hitler nor Stalin has anything on them for cruelty or mistreatment to the under dog. Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, Baptist he goes haywire. I've found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes. Look at the Congress[ional] attitude on DP — and they all come from DPs. Personal diary 6:00 P. M. Monday (21 July 1947) The people can never understand why the President does not use his powers to make them behave. Well all the president is, is a glorified public relations man who spends his time flattering, kissing, and kicking people to get them to do what they are supposed to do anyway. Letter to Mary Jane Truman (14 November 1947) On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the bottom — the old trickle-down theory . Harry Truman at the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Convention, Atlantic City (May 13, 1954), Good Old Harry Your old friend Congressman Hartley of the Taft Hartley team … has written a book … The title of this book is Our New National Labor Policy, the Taft-Hartley Act and the Next Steps. Get that: "The Next Steps" … They're going even further! … The Republicans favor a minimum wage — the smaller the minimum the better. Harry Truman at Akron (11 October 1948), Good Old Harry Senator Barkley and I will win this election and make these Republicans like it — don't forget that! We will do that because they are wrong and we are right, and I will prove it to you in just a few minutes. Address to the Democratic National Convention (15 July 1948) ; this has often been paraphrased as: "They are wrong and we are right and I'm going to prove it to you!" One of the difficulties with all our institutions is the fact that we've emphasized the reward instead of the service. Letter to Harold E. Moore (27 September 1949) All of you, I am sure, have heard many cries about Government interference with business and about "creeping socialism." I should like to remind the gentlemen who make these complaints that if events had been allowed to continue as they were going prior to March 4, 1933, most of them would have no businesses left for the Government or for anyone else to interfere with — and almost surely we would have socialism in this country, real socialism. Harry Truman in Detroit (14 May 1950), as recorded in Good Old Harry I was the only calm one in the house. You see I’ve been shot at by experts. Comment on his World War I experience after an assassination attempt on (1 November 1950) as quoted in Bess W. Truman (1986) by Margaret Truman I have read your lousy review of Margaret’s concert. I’ve come to the conclusion that you are an eight ulcer man on a four ulcer job … Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes and perhaps a supporter below. Letter to critic Paul Hume, as quoted in TIME magazine (18 December 1950) On the one hand, the Republicans are telling industrial workers that the high cost of food in the cities is due to this government's farm policy. On the other hand, the Republicans are telling the farmers that the high cost of manufactured goods on the farm is due to this government's labor policy. That's plain hokum. It's an old political trick: "If you can't convince 'em, confuse 'em." But this time it won't work. Address at the National Plowing Match (18 September 1948); as quoted in Miracle of '48: Harry Truman's Major Campaign Speeches and Selected Whistle-stops (2003); edited by Steve Neal. Truman's mention of an "old political trick" is often quoted alone as if it were a strategy he was advising rather than one he was criticizing. I've seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the fair Deal, and says he really doesn't believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don't want a phony Democrat. If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don't want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign. Address at the National Convention Banquet of the Americans for Democratic Action (17 May 1952) Of course, there are dangers in religious freedom and freedom of opinion. But to deny these rights is worse than dangerous, it is absolutely fatal to liberty. The external threat to liberty should not drive us into suppressing liberty at home. Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination. All freedom-loving nations, not the United States alone, are facing a stern challenge from the Communist tyranny. In the circumstances, alarm is justified. The man who isn't alarmed simply doesn't understand the situation — or he is crazy. But alarm is one thing, and hysteria is another. Hysteria impels people to destroy the very thing they are struggling to preserve. Invasion and conquest by Communist armies would be a horror beyond our capacity to imagine. But invasion and conquest by Communist ideas of right and wrong would be just as bad. For us to embrace the methods and morals of communism in order to defeat Communist aggression would be a moral disaster worse than any physical catastrophe. If that should come to pass, then the Constitution and the Declaration would be utterly dead and what we are doing today would be the gloomiest burial in the history of the world. Address at the National Archives dedicating a shrine for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights (15 December 1952) I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it. You know, the United States Government turns its Chief Executive out to grass. They're just allowed to starve . . . If I hadn't inherited some property that finally paid things through, I'd be on relief now. Interview with Edward R. Murrow on CBS Television (2 February 1958) It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours. Quoted in The Observer 13 April 1958 I don’t give a damn about “The Missouri Waltz” but I can’t say it out loud because it’s the song of Missouri. It’s as bad as “The Star-Spangled Banner” so far as music is concerned. As quoted in TIME magazine (10 February 1958) I'm proud that I'm a politician. A politician is a man who understands government, and it takes a politician to run a government. A statesman is a politician who's been dead 10 or 15 years. Impromptu remarks before the Reciprocity Club, Washington, D.C. (11 April 1958) As quoted in The New York World Telegram & Sun (12 April 1958) Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. Lecture at Columbia University (28 April 1959) They couldn't include me in it because I was the President, and I can be elected as often as I want to be. I'm going to run again when I'm ninety. I've announced that a time or two, and you know, some damn fool looked the situation over and said, "When you're ninety, it's an off year," so I can't even run then. I didn't know I was going to stir up all that trouble . . . On the 22nd Amendment limiting a president to two terms, in a lecture at Columbia University (28 April 1959) I don't believe in anti-anything. A man has to have a program; you have to be for something, otherwise you will never get anywhere. Lecture at Columbia University (28 April 1959) I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America! Third Radner Lecture, Columbia University, New York City (29 April 1959), as published in Truman Speaks : Lectures And Discussions Held At Columbia University On April 27, 28, And 29, 1959 (1960), p. 111 And as I say to you, whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court , he ceases to be your friend, you can be sure of that. Reported in Truman Speaks (1960), p. 59. Student: Some people suggest that you are getting mellowed and less militant. Is that so? Truman: Not in the slightest degree. They are trying to make an elder statesmen of me, but they will never succeed. Mr. Citizen, Harry Truman (1960) I do not believe in shooting anything that cannot shoot back. Mr. Citizen, Harry Truman (1960) My favorite animal is the mule. He has more sense than a horse. He knows when to stop eating — and when to stop working. Mr. Citizen, Harry Truman (1960) There are 14 or 15 million Americans who have the resources to have representatives in Washington to protect their interests, and that the interests of the great mass of the other people — the 150 or 160 million — is the responsibility of the president of the United States, and I propose to fulfill it. As quoted by John F. Kennedy in an address in Atlantic City at the Convention of the United Auto Workers (8 May 1962) As reported in the Ready Reference: John F. Kennedy Quotations of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. We are in a troublesome period, and some "nonsense" as you term it — but this is a great nation with a high purpose, and we shall come to our senses and resume our course. On problems during the Vietnam War, in a letter to Charles Kennedy (18 March 1970) My choice early in life was either to be a piano-player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth there's hardly any difference. As quoted in Esquire, Vol. 76 (1971), also in Truman's Crises : A Political Biography of Harry S. Truman (1980) by Harold Foote Gosnell, p. 9; sometimes paraphrased: Being a politician is like being a piano player in a whorehouse. The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know. As quoted in Plain Speaking : An Oral Biography of Harry S Truman (1974) by Merle Miller, p. 26 He’s one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides. On Richard Nixon , as quoted Plain Speaking : An Oral Biography of Harry S Truman (1974) by Merle Miller, p. 179 I fired him because he wouldn't respect the authority of the president. That's the answer to that. I didn't fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was, but that's not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail. On General Douglas MacArthur , as quoted in Plain Speaking : An Oral Biography of Harry S Truman (1974) by Merle Mille When you get to be President, there are all those things, the honors, the twenty-one gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency. As quoted in Plain Speaking : An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman (1974) by Merle Miller , p. 228 What do you mean "helped create"? I am Cyrus . I am Cyrus. Response to being described by his friend Eddie Jacobsen as "the man who helped create the state of Israel." (November 1953); as quoted in "With Eyes Toward Zion" (1977) by Moshe Davis Nothing but a damn bunch of bullshit! On General Douglas MacArthur 's "Old Soldiers Never Die" speech, as quoted in The Fifties (1993) by David Halberstam It isn't important who is ahead at one time or another in either an election or horse race. It's the horse that comes in first at the finish line that counts. As quoted in Bush's Brain : How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential (2003) by Wayne Slater and James Moore, p. 173 I never gave anybody hell. I just told the truth and they think it's hell. As quoted in My Fellow Americans : The Most Important Speeches of America's Presidents (2003) by Michael Waldman, p. 137 I sit here all day trying to persuade people to do the things they ought to have sense enough to do without my persuading them … that's all the powers of the President amount to. "Special Message to the Congress on the Threat to the Freedom of Europe," March 17, 1948. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Almost 3 years have elapsed since the end of the greatest of all wars, but peace and stability have not returned to the world. We were well aware that the end of the fighting would not automatically settle the problems arising out of the war. The establishment of peace after the fighting is over has always been a difficult task. And even if all the Allies of World War II were united in their desire to establish a just and honorable peace, there would still be great difficulties in the way of achieving that peace. The principles and the purposes expressed in the Charter of the United Nations continue to represent our hope for the eventual establishment of the rule of law in international affairs. The Charter constitutes the basic expression of the code of international ethics to which this country is dedicated. We cannot, however, close our eyes to the harsh fact that through obstruction and even defiance on the part of one nation, this great dream has not yet become a full reality. It is necessary, therefore, that we take additional measures to supplement the work of the United Nations and to support its aims. There are times in world history when it is far wiser to act than to hesitate. There is some risk involved in action — there always is. But there is far more risk in failure to act. For if we act wisely now, we shall strengthen the powerful forces for freedom, justice, and peace which are represented by the United Nations and the free nations of the world. I believe that we have learned the importance of maintaining military strength as a means of preventing war. We have found that a sound military system is necessary in time of peace if we are to remain at peace. Aggressors in the past, relying on our apparent lack of military force, have unwisely precipitated war. Although they have been led to destruction by their misconception of our strength, we have paid a terrible price for our unpreparedness. The recommendations I have made represent the most urgent steps toward securing the peace and preventing war. We must be ready to take every wise and necessary step to carry out this great purpose. This will require assistance to other nations. It will require an adequate and balanced military strength. We must be prepared to pay the price for peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war. We in the United States remain determined to seek peace by every possible means, a just and honorable basis for the settlement of international issues. The United States has a tremendous responsibility to act according to the measure of our power for good in the world. We have learned that we must earn the peace we seek just as we earned victory in the war, not by wishful thinking but by realistic effort. At no time in our history has unity among our people been so vital as it is at the present time. Unity of purpose, unity of effort, and unity of spirit are essential to accomplish the task before us. Executive Order 9981 (July 1948) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale. There shall be created in the National Military Establishment an advisory committee to be known as the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, which shall be composed of seven members to be designated by the President. The Committee is authorized on behalf of the President to examine into the rules, procedures and practices of the Armed Services in order to determine in what respect such rules, procedures and practices may be altered or improved with a view to carrying out the policy of this order. The Committee shall confer and advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force, and shall make such recommendations to the President and to said Secretaries as in the judgment of the Committee will effectuate the policy hereof. All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee in its work, and to furnish the Committee such information or the services of such persons as the Committee may require in the performance of its duties. When requested by the Committee to do so, persons in the armed services or in any of the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall testify before the Committee and shall make available for use of the Committee such documents and other information as the Committee may require. The Committee shall continue to exist until such time as the President shall terminate its existence by Executive order. Disputed[ edit ] Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it. Attributed without citation in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (1992) by Angela Partington, disputed in The Quote Verifier : Who Said What, Where, and When (2006) by Ralph Keyes, p. 224, as something Truman is not known to have said, nor was likely to have said.	i don't know
Which long-standing cartoon characters made their debut in 'Puss Gets The Boot' in February 1940, called originally Jasper and Jinx?	Puss Gets the Boot Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 28 December 2016 6:33 PM, PST NEWS 9 out of 10 people found the following review useful: The first Tom and Jerry cartoon from Tucson AZ 6 March 2001 This short, nominated for an Oscar it should have won in 1940, is the first Tom and Jerry, for all that the cat's name is "Jasper". The Tom and Jerry cartoons generally break down into one of four eras: the early ones, when Rudolf Ising was involved, then the ones that Hanna and Barbera did with Fred Quimby producing, then the ones Chuck Jones did and finally the Gene Deitch efforts. Each had a different look and feel to them that make them instantly recognizable and unmistakable as to who did them. But the most remarkable transformation in appearance and style was the change between the early ones and the ones in the later 1940s. In every way, it's quite a change. This is the best of the early ones. Most recommended. Was the above review useful to you? 8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: The One that Started It All! from Your Critic of Critics 12 November 2002 On the 20th of February in the year 1940 William Hanna and Joseph Barbera along side Rudolph Ising did a little short about a cat chasing a mouse who gets the tables turned around. The premise seemed simple enough considering the fact that most Warner Bros. Cartoons were like that. But with the talent of Hanna-Barbera simple premise was turned into gold and they soon had a successful short and an Oscar Nomination. Since at the time MGM cartoons were either stupid musicals or Barney Bear shorts. The short "Puss Gets the Boot" seemed like good competition for the Warner shorts. So soon after Hanna-Barbera found themselves working on the wonderful Tom and Jerry shorts which they would continue to make for the next 15 years! This cartoon itself is not the best but it's still funny and contains a lot of great gags. 4(**)out of 4()stars A Great Start for the Tom and Jerry shorts! Was the above review useful to you? 7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Okay, But Mainly For Historical Value from United States 24 July 2007 This is a historic cartoon in that it's the first ever Tom and Jerry. Actually, it's not even called that because Tom is "Jasper" in this one, and he looks different. His face is bigger and fuzzier. Actually, his whole body is furrier. When you are used to seeing these Looney Tunes cartoons from mostly the late '40s through the 1950s and then you see the beginning years, like in Bugs Bunny's case, it's strange to see how they look. We get comfortable and used to seeing our "friends" a certain way, so I always prefer that over these early renditions of a character. I've said the same about Bugs and Daffy Duck. Audio-wise, too, this is different in that Tom, when injured, makes screeching noises like an actual cat, which is not the norm for him. However, the joke in this cartoon is one that they would use over and over, no matter who was doing the writing or animating: the cat being told "if this happens one more time, you're outta here..." and Jerry hearing that and planning to make sure that happens. In this debut cartoon the threat by the maid and the threat is that if "Jasper" breaks one more object in the house, he's toast. For audiences in 1940, I'm sure this was very entertaining but for those of us who have seen at least 40-50 Tom and Jerry episodes, this is nothing we haven't seen done before and done much better. Overall: not bad but nothing special except for historical value. Was the above review useful to you? 2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: the greatest cartoon of them all followed by the cat and mouse duo from United States 1 September 2012 there was jasper the cat who tries to eat jerry, and chases him around the house, until jasper broke something, and mammy (originally lillian randolph, and the re-issued voice actor named thea vidale) warns jasper that if he breaks one more thing in this house, he is going out (o-u-w-t for lillian, and o-u-t for thea). this plot is absolutely excellent, and nothing can beat tom and jerry, droopy, spike and tyke, happy harmonies, and other mgm cartoons like the bear that wasn't (the 1960's in that year chuck jones version of T&J is created after gene deitch shorts). all of the tom and jerry shorts from puss gets the boot to the karate guard deserves an a++++ for the bestest picture (including background arts and character arts) and music scores in the Hollywood history. tom and jerry and their TV series and movies deserve the ultra ultimate champion awards for it's extremely best long running series although i am a fan of tom and jerry. Was the above review useful to you? 2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Interesting start from United Kingdom 2 March 2011 I do think Tom and Jerry have done better before, the story is rather routine and there are one or two sound effects that sounded a little strange, but this is a very interesting start for the dynamic duo. Here they are called Jasper and Jinx, but they are as likable as ever, Jerry/Jinx especially is very cute when he squeaks. The animation is quite good. Both Tom and Jerry look different but are well animated, while the backgrounds are very nice. The music is beautiful with a lot of energy, the sight gags and chases are funny and the pace is on the money. Overall, Puss Gets the Boot is not Tom and Jerry's best, but for a debuting cartoon it is a fun and interesting one. 8/10 Bethany Cox Was the above review useful to you? 2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Jasper?! Nahhhhhhhhhh! from Edinburgh, Scotland 29 June 2007 I bought this originally for my Dad, but after being disappointed by two Betty Boop shorts, I decided to watch two Tom & Jerry's. Or so I thought. In the very first short, I'm greeted by Jasper (!) and Jinx (although not named as such in the short). "Jasper" looks much different to the Tom in later shorts. Tom ends up being a lot more scruffier, and dare I say it, almost evil! He's positively timid looking in this. The story is basic Tom & Jerry/Jasper & Jinx, with Tom being threatened with being thrown out by his un-PC owner with the stripy socks (I remember those from childhood!) if he breaks another thing/makes a mess. So Jerry/Jinx get their revenge, and sets about throwing plates & glasses at the floor. It's mildly amusing, but predictable. Poor Tom/Jasper. Was the above review useful to you? 2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: The very first with Jasper and Jerry from The Hague, Netherlands 6 January 2004 In this first cartoon about the cat and the mouse the cat is called Jasper. Why he is called Tom in the other cartoons is kind of explained in this short. The cat is teasing the mouse and the mouse seeks his revenge. After the cat breaks something he gets a warning. One more thing and he must go out of the house. The mouse is very willing to help the cat leave by trying to break things. Very funny and some great moments this is a great start for a very popular series of cartoons. Was the above review useful to you? 3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: He gets the boot...and an Oscar nomination! from Thatcham, United Kingdom 8 August 2001 Jasper the cat breaks a vase when chasing the brown mouse (who would later be called Jerry -- according to Patrick Brion's 'Tom & Jerry: The Definitive Guide To Their Animated Adventures' he had no name at this time -- Tom and Jerry were apparently the results of an inter-company competition). The noise attracts the black maid of the house, who tells Jasper that if anything else got broken he would be out of the house ('O-U-W-T! Out!'). Guess what the mouse subsequently tries to do? This was the first of the Tom & Jerry cartoons, despite the difference in names. Although it seems a little slow-paced and long now, it did set the standard, and got further recognition of its brilliance when it was nominated for an Academy Award. It still has its charm, and is worth seeing if only to see the cartoon that started it all. Didn't Jasper/Tom look different back in 1940, eh? Was the above review useful to you? 1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: You have to start somewhere 3 April 2011 * This review may contain spoilers *** The first Tom & Jerry cartoon - even though the names have yet to be determined - established the basis of the pattern. There's nothing wrong with a simple repetitive formula - look at the Road Runner cartoons - and the basic cat vs mouse idea, set in the home of people you more or less never see, with the mouse having an edge by virtue of being a touch craftier, proved to have considerable longevity. This opener is, in truth, satisfactory but unexceptional. The caricature black housekeeper is seen these days as a racist stereotype: I suspect that he is actually a moderately accurate reflection of the time. Was the above review useful to you? 7 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Jasper and Jinx? from The Penumbra 21 May 2004 I prefer them to be called Tom and Jerry. This cartoon was made way back in 1940 and features the very first appearance of the troublesome twosome. Though they look rather different. I guess Hannah-Barbera didn't know, at the time, what a massive franchise they had in their hands. Puss gets the Boot almost seems like a one-off short. Granted, Tom and Jerry never really did anything else than chase, and that's exactly what they do here. It also features the Tom's owner (or owners slave), the highly racist and so un-PC black woman with the stripey socks. This would never be allowed today unless in satire. How glorious the early 20th century was. Was the above review useful to you? Page 1 of 2:	Tom and Jerry
Butoh, a ritualistic emotional dance involving extreme movement and stillness is from which country?	Tom and Jerry Tom and Jerry This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 24 December 2016. Tom and Jerry Tom and Jerry title card (1946–54) for the MGM Hanna-Barbera shorts. Created by Original release February 10, 1940 Tom and Jerry is an American animated series of short films created in 1940, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera . It centers on a rivalry between its two title characters, Tom and Jerry , and many recurring characters , based around slapstick comedy . In its original run, Hanna and Barbera produced 114 Tom and Jerry shorts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1940 to 1958. During this time, they won seven Academy Awards for Animated Short Film , tying for first place with Walt Disney ‘s Silly Symphonies with the most awards in the category. After the MGM cartoon studio closed in 1958, MGM revived the series with Gene Deitch directing an additional 13 Tom and Jerry shorts for Rembrandt Films from 1961 to 1962. Tom and Jerry then became the highest-grossing animated short film series of that time, overtaking Looney Tunes . Chuck Jones then produced another 34 shorts with Sib-Tower 12 Productions between 1963 and 1967. Three more shorts were produced, The Mansion Cat in 2001, The Karate Guard in 2005, and “A Fundraising Adventure” in 2014, making a total of 164 shorts . Various shorts have been released for home media since the 1990s. A number of spin-offs have been made, including the television series The Tom and Jerry Show (1975), The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980–82), Tom and Jerry Kids (1990–93), Tom and Jerry Tales (2006–08), and The Tom and Jerry Show (2014–present). The first feature-length film based on the series, Tom and Jerry: The Movie , was released in 1992, and 12 direct-to-video films have been produced since 2002. Numerous Tom and Jerry shorts have been subject to controversy, mainly over racial stereotypes which involves the portrayal of the recurring black character Mammy Two Shoes and characters appearing in blackface . Other controversial themes include cannibalism and the glamorization of smoking. Contents 14 Further reading Plot The series features comic fights between an iconic set of adversaries, a house cat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry). The plots of each short usually center on Tom’s numerous attempts to capture Jerry and the mayhem and destruction that follows. Tom rarely succeeds in catching Jerry, mainly because of Jerry’s cleverness, cunning abilities, and luck. However, there are also several instances within the cartoons where they display genuine friendship and concern for each other’s well-being. At other times, the pair set aside their rivalry in order to pursue a common goal, such as when a baby escaped the watch of a negligent babysitter, causing Tom and Jerry to pursue the baby and keep it away from danger. The cartoons are known for some of the most violent cartoon gags ever devised in theatrical animation such as Tom using everything from axes, hammers, firearms, firecrackers, explosives, traps and poison to kill Jerry. On the other hand, Jerry’s methods of retaliation are far more violent due to their frequent success, including slicing Tom in half, decapitating him, shutting his head or fingers in a window or a door, stuffing Tom’s tail in a waffle iron or a mangle , kicking him into a refrigerator, getting him electrocuted, pounding him with a mace , club or mallet , causing trees or electric poles to drive him into the ground, sticking matches into his feet and lighting them, tying him to a firework and setting it off, and so on. [1] Because of this, Tom and Jerry has often been criticized as excessively violent. Despite the frequent violence, there is no blood or gore in any scene. [2] :42 [3] :134 Music plays a very important part in the shorts, emphasizing the action, filling in for traditional sound effects, and lending emotion to the scenes. Musical director Scott Bradley created complex scores that combined elements of jazz , classical, and pop music; Bradley often reprised contemporary pop songs, as well as songs from MGM films, including The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me in St. Louis which both starred Judy Garland in a leading role. Generally, there is little dialogue as Tom and Jerry almost never speak; however, minor characters are not similarly limited, and the two lead characters are able to speak English on rare occasions and are thus not mute. For example, the character Mammy Two Shoes has lines in nearly every cartoon in which she appears. Most of the vocal effects used for Tom and Jerry are their high-pitched laughs and gasping screams. Production Before 1954, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in the standard Academy ratio and format; in 1954 and 1955, some of the output was dually produced in dual versions: one Academy-ratio negative composed for a flat widescreen (1.75:1) format and one shot in the CinemaScope process. From 1955 until the close of the MGM cartoon studio a year later, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in CinemaScope, some even had their soundtracks recorded in Perspecta directional audio . All of the Hanna and Barbera cartoons were shot as successive color exposure negatives in Technicolor ; the 1960s entries were done in Metrocolor . The 1960s entries also returned to the standard Academy ratio and format, too. The 2005 short The Karate Guard was also filmed in the standard Academy ratio and format. Characters Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse Tom (named “Jasper” in his debut appearance) is a grey and white domestic shorthair cat . (“Tom” is a generic name for a male cat.) He is usually but not always, portrayed as living a comfortable, or even pampered life, while Jerry (named “Jinx” in his debut appearance) is a small, brown, house mouse who always lives in close proximity to Tom. Despite being very energetic, determined and much larger, Tom is no match for Jerry’s wits. Jerry also possesses surprising strength for his size, approximately the equivalent of Tom’s, lifting items such as anvils with relative ease and withstanding considerable impacts. Although cats typically chase mice to consume them, it is quite rare for Tom to actually try to consume Jerry. Most of his attempts are just to torment or humiliate Jerry, sometimes in revenge, and sometimes to obtain a reward from a human for catching Jerry. By the final “fade-out” of each cartoon, Jerry usually emerges triumphant, while Tom is shown as the loser. However, other results may be reached. On rare occasions, Tom triumphs, usually when Jerry becomes the aggressor or when he pushes Tom a little too far. In The Million Dollar Cat Jerry learns that Tom will lose his newly acquired wealth if he harms any animal, “including a mouse;” he then torments Tom a little too much until he retaliates. In Timid Tabby Tom’s look-alike cousin pushes Jerry over the edge. Occasionally and usually ironically, they both lose, usually when Jerry’s final trap or attack on Tom backfires or Jerry overlooks something. In Chuck Jones’ Filet Meow , Jerry orders a shark from the pet store to scare Tom away from eating a goldfish, but finds himself entirely intimidated as well. Finally, they occasionally end up being friends, although within this set of stories, there is often a last minute event that ruins the truce. One story that has friendly ending is Snowbody Loves Me . Both characters display sadistic tendencies, in that they are equally likely to take pleasure in tormenting each other, although it is often in response to a triggering event. However, when one character appears to truly be in mortal danger from an unplanned situation or due to actions by a third party, the other will develop a conscience and save him. Occasionally, they bond over a mutual sentiment towards an unpleasant experience and their attacking each other is more play than serious attacks. Multiple shorts show the two getting along with minimal difficulty, and they are more than capable of working together when the situation calls for it, usually against a third party who manages to torture and humiliate them both. Sometimes this partnership is forgotten quickly when an unexpected event happens, or when one character feels that the other is no longer necessary. This is the case in Posse Cat , when they agree that Jerry will allow himself to be caught if Tom agrees to share his reward dinner, but Tom then reneges. Other times however, Tom does keep his promise to Jerry and the partnerships are not quickly dissolved after the problem is solved. Tom changes his love interest many times. The first love interest is Toots who appears in Puss n’ Toots , and calls him “Tommy” in The Mouse Comes to Dinner . He is also interested in a cat called Toots in The Zoot Cat although she has a different appearance to the original Toots. The most frequent love interest of Tom’s is Toodles Galore , who never has any dialogue in the cartoons. Despite five shorts ending with a depiction of Tom’s apparent death, his demise is never permanent; he even reads about his own death in a flashback in Jerry’s Diary . He appears to die in explosions in Mouse Trouble (after which he is seen in heaven ), Yankee Doodle Mouse and in Safety Second , while in The Two Mouseketeers he is guillotined offscreen. Tom and Jerry speaking Although many supporting and minor characters speak, Tom and Jerry rarely do so themselves. Tom, most famously, sings while wooing female cats; for example, Tom sings Louis Jordan ‘s “ Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby ” in the 1946 short Solid Serenade . In that one as well as Zoot Cat , Tom, when romancing a female cat, woos her in a French-accented voice similar to that of screen actor Charles Boyer . At the end of The Million Dollar Cat after beginning to antagonize Jerry he says, “Gee, I’m throwin’ away a million dollars… BUT I’M HAPPY!” In Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring , Jerry says, “No, no, no, no, no,” when choosing the shop to remove his ring. In The Mouse Comes to Dinner Tom speaks to his girlfriend Toots while inadvertently sitting on a stove: “Say, what’s cookin’?”, to which Toots replies “You are, stupid.”. Another instance of speech comes in Solid Serenade and The Framed Cat , where Tom directs Spike through a few dog tricks in a dog-trainer manner. Co-director William Hanna provided most of the squeaks, gasps, and other vocal effects for the pair, including the most famous sound effects from the series, Tom’s leather-lunged scream (created by recording Hanna’s scream and eliminating the beginning and ending of the recording, leaving only the strongest part of the scream on the soundtrack) and Jerry’s nervous gulp. The only other reasonably common vocalization is made by Tom when some external reference claims a certain scenario or eventuality to be impossible, which inevitably, ironically happens to thwart Tom’s plans – at which point, a bedraggled and battered Tom appears and says in a haunting, echoing voice “Don’t you believe it!”, a reference to the then-popular 1940s radio show Don’t You Believe It. [4] [5] In Mouse Trouble , Tom says “Don’t you believe it!” after being beaten up by Jerry (this also happens in The Missing Mouse ). In the 1946 short Trap Happy , Tom hires a cat disguised as a mouse exterminator who, after several failed attempts to dispatch Jerry, changes profession to Cat exterminator by crossing out the “Mouse” on his title and writing “Cat”, resulting in Tom spelling out the word out loud before reluctantly pointing at himself. One short, 1956′s Blue Cat Blues , is narrated by Jerry in voiceover (voiced by Paul Frees ) as they try to win back their ladyfriends. Both Tom and Jerry speak more than once in the 1943 short The Lonesome Mouse , while Jerry was voiced by Sara Berner during his appearance in the 1945 MGM musical Anchors Aweigh . Tom and Jerry: The Movie is the first (and so far only) installment of the series where the famous cat-and-mouse duo regularly speak. In that movie, Tom was voiced by Richard Kind , and Jerry was voiced by Dana Hill . Spike and Tyke In his attempts to catch Jerry, Tom often has to deal with Spike (known as “Killer” and “Butch” in some shorts), an angry, vicious but extremely unintelligent bulldog who tries to attack Tom for bothering him or his son Tyke while trying to get Jerry. Originally, Spike was unnamed and mute (aside from howls and biting noises) as well as attacking indiscriminately, not caring whether it was Tom or Jerry though usually attacking Tom. In later cartoons, Spike spoke often, using a voice and expressions (performed by Billy Bletcher and later Daws Butler ) modeled after comedian Jimmy Durante . Spike’s coat has altered throughout the years between grey and creamy tan. The addition of Spike’s son Tyke in the late 1940s led to both a slight softening of Spike’s character and a short-lived spin-off theatrical series ( Spike and Tyke ). Most cartoons with Spike in it have a system; usually Spike is trying to accomplish something (such as building a dog house or sleeping) when Tom and Jerry’s antics stop him from doing it. Spike then (presumably due to prejudice) singles out Tom as the culprit and threatens him that if it ever happens again, he will do “something horrible” to him (effectively forcing Tom to take the blame) while Jerry overhears; afterwards Jerry usually does anything he can to interrupt whatever Spike is doing while Tom barely manages to stop him (usually getting injured in the process). Usually Jerry does eventually wreck whatever Spike is doing in spectacular fashion and leaving Tom to take the blame, forcing him to flee from Spike and inevitably lose (usually due to the fact that Tom is usually framed by Jerry and that Spike just doesn’t like Tom). Off-screen, Spike does something to Tom and finally Tom is generally shown injured or in a bad situation while Jerry smugly cuddles up to Spike unscathed. Tom sometimes can get irritated with Spike on some occasions (example is in That’s My Pup! , when Spike forced Tom to run up a tree every time his son barked, causing Tom to hang Tyke on a flag pole). At least once however, Tom does something that benefits Spike, who promises not to interfere ever again; causing Jerry to frantically leave the house and run into the distance (in Hic-cup Pup ). Spike is well known for his famous “Listen pussycat!” catchphrase when he threatens Tom, his other famous catchphrase is “That’s my boy!” normally said when he supports or congratulates his son. Tyke is described as a cute, sweet looking, happy and a lovable puppy. He is Spike’s son, but unlike Spike, Tyke does not speak and only communicates (mostly towards his father) by barking, yapping, wagging his tail, whimpering and growling. Tyke’s father Spike would always go out of his way to care and comfort his son and make sure that he is safe from Tom. Tyke loves his father and Spike loves his son and they get along like friends, although most of time they would be taking a nap or Spike would teach Tyke the main facts of life of being a dog. Like Spike, Tyke’s appearance has altered throughout the years, from grey (with white paws) to creamy tan. When Tom and Jerry Kids first aired, this was the first time that viewers were able to hear Tyke speak. Butch and Toodles Galore Butch is a black cat who also wants to eat Jerry. He is the most frequent adversary of Tom. However, for most of the episodes he appears in, he is usually seen rivaling Tom over Toodles. Butch was also Tom’s pal or chum as in some cartoons, where Butch is leader of Tom’s alley cat buddies, who are mostly Lightning , Topsy , and Meathead . Butch talks more often than Tom or Jerry in most episodes. Both characters were originally introduced in Hugh Harman ‘s 1941 short The Alley Cat , but were integrated into Tom and Jerry rather than continuing in their own series. Nibbles Nibbles is a small grey mouse who often appears in episodes as Jerry’s nephew. He is a carefree individual who very rarely understands the danger of the situation, simply following instructions the best he can both to Jerry’s command and his own innocent understanding of the situation. This can lead to such results as “getting the cheese” by simply asking Tom to pick it up for him, rather than following Jerry’s example of outmaneuvering and sneaking around Tom. Many times Nibbles is an ally of Jerry in fights against Tom, including being the second Mouseketeer. He is given speaking roles in all his appearances as a Mouseketeer, often with a high-pitched French tone. However, during an episode to rescue Robin Hood, his voice was instead more masculine, gruff, and cockney accented. Mammy Two Shoes Mammy Two Shoes is a heavy-set middle-aged mammy who often has to deal with the mayhem generated by the lead characters. Voiced by character actress Lillian Randolph , she is often seen as the owner of Tom. Her face was only shown once, very briefly, in Saturday Evening Puss . Mammy’s appearances have often been edited out, dubbed, or re-animated as a slim white woman in later television showings, since her character is a mammy archetype now often regarded as racist . [6] She was mostly restored in the DVD releases of the cartoons, with an introduction by Whoopi Goldberg explaining the importance of African-American representation in the cartoon series, however stereotyped. History and evolution “Tom and Jerry” was a commonplace phrase for youngsters indulging in riotous behaviour in 19th-century London. The term comes from Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom (1823) by Pierce Egan . [7] However Brewer notes no more than an “unconscious” echo of the Regency era original in the naming of the cartoon. [8] Hanna-Barbera era (1940–58) William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were both part of the Rudolf Ising unit at the MGM cartoon studio in the late 1930s. After the financial disaster of a series of MGM cartoons based upon the Captain and the Kids comic strip characters, Barbera, a storyman and character designer, was paired (out of desperation) with Hanna, an experienced director, to start directing films for the Ising unit. In their first discussion for a cartoon, Barbera suggested a cat-and-mouse cartoon titled Puss Gets the Boot . “We knew we needed two characters. We thought we needed conflict, and chase and action. And a cat after a mouse seemed like a good, basic thought”, as he recalled in an interview. [9] Hanna and other employees complained that the idea wasn’t very original; nevertheless, the short was completed in late 1939, and released to theaters on February 10, 1940. Puss Gets The Boot centers on Jasper, a gray tabby cat trying to catch a mouse named Jinx (whose name is not mentioned within the cartoon itself), but after accidentally breaking a houseplant and its stand, the African American housemaid Mammy has threatened to throw Jasper out if he breaks one more thing in the house. Naturally, Jinx uses this to his advantage, and begins tossing any and everything fragile, so that Jasper will be thrown outside. Puss Gets The Boot was previewed and released without fanfare, and Hanna and Barbera went on to direct other non-cat-and-mouse related shorts such as Gallopin’ Gals (1940) and Officer Pooch (1941). “After all,” remarked many of the MGM staffers, “haven’t there been enough cat-and-mouse cartoons already?” The pessimistic attitude towards the cat and mouse duo changed when the cartoon became a favorite with theater owners and with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , which nominated the film for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons of 1941. It lost to another MGM cartoon, Rudolph Ising’s The Milky Way . Producer Fred Quimby , who ran the MGM animation studio, quickly pulled Hanna and Barbera off the other one-shot cartoons they were working on, and commissioned a series featuring the cat and mouse. Hanna and Barbera held an intra-studio contest to give the pair a new name by drawing suggested names out of a hat; animator John Carr won $50 with his suggestion of Tom and Jerry, at the time best known as the name of a Christmastime mixed drink . [10] The Tom and Jerry series went into production with The Midnight Snack in 1941, and Hanna and Barbera rarely directed anything but the cat-and-mouse cartoons for the rest of their tenure at MGM. Barbera would create the story for each short while Hanna would supervise production. Tom’s physical appearance evolved significantly over the years. During the early 1940s, Tom had an excess of detail—shaggy fur, numerous facial wrinkles , and multiple eyebrow markings, all of which were streamlined into a more workable form by the end of the 1940s. In addition, he also looked like a more realistic cat early on; evolving from his quadrupedal beginnings Tom to become increasingly and almost exclusively bipedal. By contrast, Jerry’s design remained essentially the same for the duration of the series. By the mid-1940s, the series had developed a quicker, more energetic and violent tone, due to the inspiration from the work of their colleague in the MGM cartoon studio, Tex Avery , who joined the studio in 1942. Even though the theme of each short is virtually the same – cat chases mouse – Hanna and Barbera found endless variations on that theme. Barbera’s storyboards and rough layouts and designs, combined with Hanna’s timing, resulted in MGM’s most popular and successful cartoon series. Thirteen entries in the Tom and Jerry series (including Puss Gets The Boot) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons; seven of them went on to win the Academy Award, breaking the Disney studio ‘s winning streak in that category. Tom and Jerry won more Academy Awards than any other character-based theatrical animated series. Tom and Jerry remained popular throughout their original theatrical run, even when the budgets began to tighten in the 1950s and the pace of the shorts slowed slightly. However, after television became popular in the 1950s, box office revenues decreased for theatrical films, and short subjects. At first, MGM combated this by going to all-CinemaScope production on the series. After MGM realized that their re-releases of the older cartoons brought in just as much money as the new cartoons did, the studio executives decided, much to the surprise of the staff, to close the animation studio. The MGM cartoon studio was shut down in 1958, and the last of the 114 Hanna-Barbera Tom and Jerry shorts, Tot Watchers , was released on August 1, 1958. Hanna and Barbera established their own television animation studio, Hanna-Barbera Productions , in 1957, which went on to produce hit TV shows, such as The Flintstones , Yogi Bear and The Smurfs . Gene Deitch era (1961–62) In 1961, MGM revived the Tom and Jerry franchise, and contracted European animation studio Rembrandt Films to produce thirteen Tom and Jerry shorts in Prague , Czechoslovakia . [11] [12] [13] [14] All thirteen shorts were directed by Gene Deitch and produced by William L. Snyder . [11] [14] Deitch himself wrote most of the cartoons, with occasional assistance from Larz Bourne and Eli Bauer . Stěpan Koniček provided the musical score for the Deitch shorts. Sound effects were produced by Tod Dockstader . The majority of vocal effects and voices in Deitch’s films were provided by Allen Swift . [15] Deitch states that, being a “ UPA man”, he was not a fan of the Tom and Jerry cartoons, thinking they were “needlessly violent.” [16] [17] However, after being assigned to work on the series, he quickly realized that “nobody took [the violence] seriously”, and it was merely “a parody of exaggerated human emotions.” [16] He also came to see what he perceived as the “biblical roots” in Tom and Jerry’s conflict, similar to David and Goliath , stating “That’s where we feel a connection to these cartoons: the little guy can win (or at least survive) to fight another day.” [16] Since the Deitch/Snyder team had seen only a handful of the original Tom and Jerry shorts, and since the team produced their cartoons on a tighter budget of $10,000, the resulting films were considered surrealist in nature, though this was not Deitch’s intention. [12] [17] The animation was limited and jerky in movement, compared to the more fluid Hanna-Barbera shorts. Background art was done in a more simplistic, angular, Art Deco -esque style. The soundtracks featured sparse and echoic electronic music , futuristic sound effects , heavy reverb , and dialogue that was mumbled rather than spoken. According to Jen Nessel of The New York Times , “The Czech style had nothing in common with these gag-driven cartoons.” [18] Whereas Hanna-Barbera’s shorts generally took place in and outside of a house, Deitch’s shorts opted for more exotic locations, such as a 19th-century whaling ship, the jungles of Nairobi , an Ancient Greek acropolis, or the Wild West. In addition, Mammy Two-Shoes was replaced as Tom’s owner by Clint Clobber, a bald, overweight, short-tempered, middle-aged white man who was also much more brutal and violent in punishing Tom’s actions as compared to previous owners, by beating and thrashing Tom repeatedly, stomping on his hand, searing his head with a grill, forcing him to drink an entire carbonated beverage, slamming his fingers with a lunchbox lid and even wrapping a shotgun over his head and firing it. To avoid being linked to Communism, Deitch romanized the Czech names of his crew in the opening credits of the shorts (e.g. Stêpan Koniček became “Steven Konichek” and Vaclav Lidl became “Victor Little”). In addition, these shorts are among the few Tom and Jerry cartoons not to carry the “Made In Hollywood, U.S.A.” phrase on the end title card; due to Deitch’s studio being behind the Iron Curtain , the production studio’s location is omitted entirely on it. [17] After the thirteen shorts were completed, Joe Vogel, the head of production, was fired from MGM. Vogel had approved of Deitch and his team’s work, but MGM decided not to renew their contract after Vogel’s departure. [17] The final of the thirteen shorts, Carmen Get It! , was released on December 21, 1962. [12] Deitch’s shorts were commercial successes. In 1961, the Tom and Jerry series became the highest-grossing animated short film series of that time, dethroning Looney Tunes which had held the position for sixteen years; this success was repeated once more in 1962. [14] However, unlike the Hanna-Barbera shorts, none of Deitch’s films were nominated for nor did they win an Academy Award . [14] In retrospect, these shorts are often considered the worst of the Tom and Jerry theatrical output. [16] Deitch stated that due to his team’s inexperience as well as their low budget, he “hardly had a chance to succeed”, and “well understand[s] the negative reactions” to his shorts. He believes “They could all have been better animated – truer to the characters – but our T&Js were produced in the early 1960s, near the beginning of my presence here, over a half-century ago as I write this!” [19] Despite the criticism, some fans wrote positive letters to Deitch, stating that his Tom and Jerry shorts were their personal favorites due to their quirky and surreal nature. [20] Chuck Jones era (1963–67) After the last of the Deitch cartoons were released, Chuck Jones , who had been fired from his thirty-plus year tenure at Warner Bros. Cartoons, started his own animation studio, Sib Tower 12 Productions (later renamed MGM Animation/Visual Arts), with partner Les Goldman. Beginning in 1963, Jones and Goldman went on to produce 34 more Tom and Jerry shorts , all of which carried Jones’ distinctive style (and a slight psychedelic influence). Jones had trouble adapting his style to Tom and Jerry’s brand of humor, and a number of the cartoons favored full animation, personality and style over storyline. The characters underwent a slight change of appearance: Tom was given thicker eyebrows (resembling Jones’ Grinch , Count Blood Count or Wile E Coyote ), a less complex look (including the color of his fur becoming gray), sharper ears, longer tail and furrier cheeks (resembling Jones’ Claude Cat or Sylvester), while Jerry was given larger eyes and ears, a lighter brown color, and a sweeter, Porky Pig -like expression. Some of Jones’ Tom and Jerry cartoons are reminiscent of his work with Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner , included the uses of blackout gags and gags involving characters falling from high places. Jones co-directed the majority of the shorts with layout artist Maurice Noble . The remaining shorts were directed by Abe Levitow and Ben Washam , with Tom Ray directing two shorts built around footage from earlier Tom and Jerry cartoons directed by Hanna and Barbera, and Jim Pabian directed a short with Maurice Noble. Various vocal characteristics were made by Mel Blanc and June Foray . These shorts contain a memorable opening theme, in which Tom first replaces the MGM lion, then is trapped inside the “O” of his name. [21] Though Jones’s shorts were generally considered an improvement over Deitch’s, they nevertheless had varying degrees of critical success. MGM ceased production of Tom and Jerry shorts in 1967, by which time Jones had moved on to television specials and the feature film The Phantom Tollbooth . [21] Tom and Jerry hit television Beginning in 1965, the Hanna and Barbera Tom and Jerry cartoons began to appear on television in heavily edited versions. The Jones team was required to take the cartoons featuring Mammy Two-Shoes and remove her by pasting over the scenes featuring her with new scenes. Most of the time, she was replaced with a similarly fat White Irish woman; occasionally, as in Saturday Evening Puss , a thin white teenager took her place instead, with both characters voiced by June Foray . Also, much of the violence was edited out. However, recent telecasts on Cartoon Network and Boomerang retain Mammy with new voiceover work performed by Thea Vidale to remove the stereotypical black jargon featured on the original cartoon soundtracks. Debuting on CBS ‘ Saturday morning schedule on September 25, 1965, Tom and Jerry moved to CBS Sundays two years later and remained there until September 17, 1972. Second Hanna-Barbera era: The Tom and Jerry Show (1975) In 1975, Tom and Jerry were reunited with Hanna and Barbera, who produced new Tom and Jerry cartoons for Saturday mornings. These 48 seven-minute short cartoons were paired with Grape Ape and Mumbly cartoons, to create The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape Show , The Tom and Jerry/Grape Ape/Mumbly Show , and The Tom and Jerry/Mumbly Show , all of which initially ran on ABC Saturday mornings between September 6, 1975 and September 3, 1977. In these cartoons, Tom and Jerry (now with a red bow tie), who had been enemies during their formative years, became nonviolent pals who went on adventures together, as Hanna-Barbera had to meet the stringent rules against violence for children’s TV. The Tom and Jerry Show is still airing on the Canadian channel, Teletoon , and its classical counterpart, Teletoon Retro . This 1975-styled format was no longer used in the newer Tom and Jerry entrees. [21] Filmation era (1980–82) Filmation Studios (in association with MGM Television ) also tried their hands at producing a Tom and Jerry TV series. Their version, The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show , debuted in 1980, and also featured new cartoons starring Droopy , Spike (from Tom & Jerry, and the same version also used in Droopy), Slick Wolf, and Barney Bear , not seen since the original MGM shorts. The Filmation Tom and Jerry cartoons were noticeably different from Hanna-Barbera’s efforts, as they returned Tom and Jerry to the original chase formula, with a somewhat more “ slapstick ” humor format. This incarnation, much like the 1975 version, was not as well received by audiences as the originals, and lasted on CBS Saturday mornings from September 6, 1980 to September 4, 1982. [21] Tom and Jerry’s new owners In 1986, MGM was purchased by WTBS founder Ted Turner . Turner sold the company a short while later, but retained MGM’s pre-1986 film library, thus Tom and Jerry became the property of Turner Entertainment (where the rights stand today via Warner Bros. ), and have in subsequent years appeared on Turner-run stations, such as TBS , TNT , Cartoon Network , The WB , Boomerang , and Turner Classic Movies . Third Hanna-Barbera era: Tom and Jerry Kids (1990–94) One of the biggest trends for Saturday morning television in the 1980s and 1990s was the “babyfication” of older, classic cartoon stars , and on March 2, 1990, Tom and Jerry Kids , co-produced by Turner Entertainment and Hanna-Barbera Productions (which would be sold to Turner in 1991) debuted on Fox Kids and for a few years, aired on British children’s block, CBBC . It featured a youthful version of the famous cat-and-mouse duo chasing each other. As with the 1975 H-B series, Jerry wears his red bowtie, while Tom now wears a red cap. Spike and his son Tyke (who now had talking dialogue) and Droopy and his son Dripple, appeared in back-up segments for the show, which ran until November 18, 1994. Tom and Jerry Kids was the last Tom and Jerry cartoon series produced in 4:3 (full screen) aspect ratio. One-off productions (2001; 2005) In 2001, a new television special titled Tom and Jerry: The Mansion Cat premiered on Boomerang . It featured Joe Barbera (who was also a creative consultant) as the voice of Tom’s owner, whose face is never seen. In this cartoon, Jerry, housed in a habitrail , is as much of a house pet as Tom is, and their owner has to remind Tom to not “blame everything on the mouse”. In 2005, a new Tom and Jerry theatrical short, titled The Karate Guard , which had been written and directed by Barbera and Spike Brandt, storyboarded by Joseph Barbera and Iwao Takamoto and produced by Joseph Barbera, Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone premiered in Los Angeles cinemas on September 27, 2005. As part of the celebration of Tom and Jerry’s sixty-fifth anniversary, this marked Barbera’s first return as a writer, director and storyboard artist on the series since his and Hanna’s original MGM cartoon shorts, though he would die shortly after production ended. Director/animator, Spike Brandt was nominated for an Annie award for best character animation. The short debuted on Cartoon Network on January 27, 2006. Warner Bros. era (2006–08) During the first half of 2006, a new series called Tom and Jerry Tales was produced at Warner Bros. Animation . Thirteen half-hour episodes (each consisting of three shorts, some of them—like The Karate Guard—were produced and completed in 2003 as part of a 30-plus theatrical cartoon schedule aborted after the financial disaster of Looney Tunes Back in Action ) were produced, with only markets outside of the United States and United Kingdom signed up. The show then came to the UK in February 2006 on Boomerang , and it went to the U.S. on Kids’ WB on The CW . [22] Tales is the first Tom and Jerry TV series that utilizes the original style of the classic shorts, along with the slapstick. The series was canceled in 2008, shortly before the Kids’ WB block shut down. In January 2012, the series returned and moved to Cartoon Network , but only reruns showed under the “new episodes” moniker. Tom and Jerry Tales was also the first Tom and Jerry cartoon series produced in 16:9 (widescreen) aspect ratio but cropped to 4:3 (full screen). Second Warner Bros. era (2014–present) Cartoon Network has announced a new series consisting of two 11-minute shorts per episode that will preserve the look, core characters and sensibility of the original theatrical shorts. Similar to other reboot works like Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and The Looney Tunes Show , the series will bring Tom and Jerry into a contemporary environment, telling new stories and relocating the characters to more fantastic worlds, from a medieval castle to a mad scientist’s lab. Titled The Tom and Jerry Show , the series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation , with Sam Register serving as executive producer in collaboration with Darrell Van Citters and Ashley Postelwaite at Renegade Animation . Originally slated for an undated 2013 Cartoon Network premiere [23] before being pushed back to April 9, 2014, this is the second Tom and Jerry production presented in 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. [24] In November 2014, a two-minute sketch was shown as part of the Children In Need Telethon in the United Kingdom, the sketch was produced as a collaboration with Warner Bros. [25] Outside the United States When shown on terrestrial television in the United Kingdom (from 1967 to 2000, usually on the BBC ) Tom and Jerry cartoons were not edited for violence, and Mammy was retained. As well as having regular slots (mainly after the evening BBC News with around 2 episodes shown every evening and occasionally shown on children’s network CBBC in the morning), Tom and Jerry served the BBC in another way. When faced with disruption to the schedules (such as those occurring when live broadcasts overrun), the BBC would invariably turn to Tom and Jerry to fill any gaps, confident that it would retain much of an audience that might otherwise channel hop. This proved particularly helpful in 1993, when Noel’s House Party had to be cancelled due to an IRA bomb scare at BBC Television Centre —Tom and Jerry was shown instead, bridging the gap until the next programme. In 2006, a mother complained to OFCOM of the smoking scenes shown in the cartoons, since Tom often attempts to impress love interests with the habit, resulting in reports that the smoking scenes in Tom and Jerry films may be subject to censorship. [26] Due to its lack of dialogue, Tom and Jerry was easily translated into various foreign languages. Tom and Jerry began broadcast in Japan in 1965. A 2005 nationwide survey taken in Japan by TV Asahi , sampling age groups from teenagers to adults in their sixties, ranked Tom and Jerry #85 in a list of the top 100 “ anime ” of all time; while their web poll taken after the airing of the list ranked it at #58 – the only non-Japanese animation on the list, and beating anime classics like Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle , A Little Princess Sara , and the ultra-classics Macross and Ghost in the Shell (it should be noted that in Japan, the word “anime” refers to all animation regardless of origin, not just Japanese animation). [27] Tom and Jerry also serve as long-time licensed mascots for Nagoya -based Juuroku Bank. Unlike some other Western cartoons such as Bob the Builder and Postman Pat , whose characters had to be doctored to have five fingers in each hand instead of the original four, [28] Tom and Jerry aired in Japan without such edits, as did other series starring non-human protagonists such as SpongeBob SquarePants . Tom and Jerry have long been popular in Germany . However, the cartoons are overdubbed with rhyming German language verse that describes what is happening onscreen, sometimes adding or revising information. The different episodes are usually complemented with key scenes from Jerry’s Diary (1949), in which Tom reads about past adventures. The show was aired in Mainland China by CCTV in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and was extremely popular at the time. Collections of the show are still a prominent feature in Chinese book stores. Even though Gene Deitch ‘s episodes were created in Czechoslovakia (1960–1962), the first official TV release of Tom and Jerry was in 1988. It was one of the few cartoons of western origin broadcast in Czechoslovakia (1988) and Romania (until 1989) before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989. The Pakistani ice cream brand OMORÉ has launched a chocolate bar ice cream based on the show. [29] Feature films Tom and Jerry’s first feature film appearance was in the 1945 MGM musical Anchors Aweigh , in which Jerry performs a dance number with Gene Kelly . In this scene, Tom also made a cameo as a servant. Filmmakers had wanted Mickey Mouse for the scene, but Roy Disney had rejected the deal, as the Disney studio was focusing on its own cartoons to help pay off its debts after World War II . [30] William Hanna and Joe Barbera supervised animation for the scene. On October 1, 1992, the first international release of Tom and Jerry: The Movie arrived when the film was released overseas to theatres in Europe [31] and then domestically by Miramax Films on July 30, 1993, [32] with future video and DVD releases that would be sold under Warner Bros. which, following Disney’s acquisition of Miramax and Turner’s subsequent merger with Time Warner , had acquired the film’s distribution rights. Barbera served as creative consultant for the picture, which was produced and directed by Phil Roman . A musical film with a structure similar to MGM’s blockbusters, The Wizard of Oz and Singin’ in the Rain . In 2001, Warner Bros. (which had, by then, merged with Turner and assumed its properties) released the duo’s first direct-to-video movie, Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring , in which Tom covets a ring which grants mystical powers to the wearer, and has become accidentally stuck on Jerry’s head. It would mark the last time Hanna and Barbera co-produced a Tom and Jerry cartoon together, as William Hanna died shortly after The Magic Ring was released. Four years later, Bill Kopp scripted and directed two more Tom and Jerry DTV features for the studio, Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars and Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry , the latter one based on a story by Barbera. Both were released on DVD in 2005, marking the celebration of Tom and Jerry’s 65th anniversary. In 2006, another direct-to-video film, Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers , tells the story about the pair having to work together to find the treasure. Joe came up with the storyline for the next film, Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale , as well as the initial idea of synchronizing the on-screen actions to music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite . This DTV film, directed by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone , would be Joe Barbera’s last Tom and Jerry project due to his death in December 2006. The holiday-set animated film was released on DVD in late 2007, and dedicated to Barbera. A new direct-to-video film, Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes , was released on August 24, 2010. It is the first made-for-video Tom and Jerry movie produced without any of the characters’ original creators. The next direct-to-video film, Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz , was released on August 23, 2011 and was the first made-for-video Tom and Jerry movie made for Blu-ray . It had a preview showing on Cartoon Network. Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 2, 2012. [33] Tom and Jerry’s Giant Adventure was released in 2013 on Blu-ray and DVD. [34] Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon was released on DVD on September 2, 2014. [35] Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest was released on DVD on June 23, 2015. [36] Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz was released on DVD on June 21, 2016. [37] In April 2015, it was reported that a new theatrical feature film is in development at Warner Bros. . It will be completely animated and will be “in the same vein” as the source material. Cate Adams and Jesse Ehrman will oversee the movie. [38] Controversy Screen capture from the episode The Truce Hurts . The characters in this shot have turned into black stereotypes after a passing car splashed mud on their faces. Scenes such as this are frequently highly edited or cut from modern broadcasts of Tom and Jerry Like a number of other animated cartoons from the 1930s to the early 1950s, Tom and Jerry featured racial stereotypes. [6] After explosions, for example, characters with blasted faces would resemble stereotypical blacks, with large lips and bow-tied hair. Perhaps the most controversial element of the show is the character Mammy Two Shoes, [39] a poor black maid who speaks in a stereotypical “black accent” and has a rodent problem. Joseph Barbera, who was responsible for these gags, claimed that the racial gags in Tom and Jerry did not reflect his racial opinion; they were just reflecting what was common in society and cartoons at the time and were meant to be humorous. [9] Nevertheless, such stereotypes are considered by some to be racist today, and the blackface gags are often censored when these shots are aired. Mammy Two-Shoes’ voice was redubbed by Turner in the mid-1990s to make the character sound less stereotypical; the resulting accent sounds more Irish. Three episodes in particular, His Mouse Friday , the depiction of cannibals, in Casanova Cat , a scene where the face of Jerry is blackened by Tom with cigar smoke and Mouse Cleaning where Tom is shown as blackface has been removed from the Blu-ray DVD edition. [40] In Tom and Jerry’s Spotlight Collection DVD, a disclaimer by Whoopi Goldberg warns viewers about the potentially offensive material in the cartoons and emphasizes that they were “wrong then and they are wrong today”, borrowing a phrase from the Warner Bros. Golden collection. This disclaimer is also used in the Tom and Jerry Golden Collection: Volume 1 on iTunes . Mammy Two Shoes in a scene from the Tom & Jerry short Saturday Evening Puss , in which her full face was shown for the first time. “ The cartoons you are about to see are products of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in the U.S. society. These depictions were wrong then and they are wrong today. While the following does not represent the Warner Bros. view of today’s society, these cartoons are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming that these prejudices never existed. ” — Disclaimer by Whoopi Goldberg [41] As of 2011, most shorts that feature Mammy Two Shoes, except “Part Time Pal”, are rarely seen on Cartoon Network and Boomerang . In 2006, the British version of the Boomerang channel made plans to edit Tom and Jerry cartoons being aired in the UK where the characters were seen to be smoking in a manner that was “condoned, acceptable or glamorized.” This followed a complaint from a viewer who thought that smoking was wrong and that the cartoons were not appropriate for younger viewers. [39] There was a subsequent investigation by UK media watchdog OFCOM . [26] It has also taken the U.S. approach by censoring blackface gags, though this seems to be random as not all scenes of this type are cut. In 2013, it was reported that Cartoon Network of Brazil censored 27 shorts on the grounds of being “politically incorrect”. [42] In an official release, the channel confirmed that it had censored only 2 shorts “by editorial issues and appropriateness of the content to the target audience—children of 7 to 11 years”. [43] Other formats Tom and Jerry began appearing in comic books in 1942, as one of the features in Our Gang Comics. In 1949, with MGM’s live-action Our Gang shorts having ceased production five years earlier, the series was renamed Tom and Jerry Comics. The pair continued to appear in various books for the rest of the 20th century. [44] The pair have also appeared in a number of video games as well, spanning titles for systems for the Sega Genesis plus also Sega Game Gear and the Sega Master System and their rival console around the 1990s, Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES and Nintendo 64 to more recent entries for PlayStation 2 , Xbox , and GameCube and also on the portable Nintendo consoles, Game Boy and Nintendo DS . Cultural influences Throughout the years, the term and title Tom and Jerry became practically synonymous with never-ending rivalry, as much as the related “cat and mouse fight” metaphor has. Yet in Tom and Jerry it was not the more powerful Tom who usually came out on top. Author Steven Millhauser wrote a short story called Cat ‘n’ Mouse which pits the duo against one another as antagonist and protagonist in literary form. Millhauser allows his reader access to the thoughts and emotions of the two characters in a way that wasn’t done in the cartoon. In January 2009, IGN named Tom and Jerry as the 66th best in the Top 100 Animated TV Shows. [45] In popular culture In 1945, Jerry made an appearance in the live-action MGM musical feature film Anchors Aweigh , in which, through the use of special effects, he performs a dance routine with Gene Kelly . This sequence was later lifted and reanimated frame-for-frame in the Family Guy episode “ Road to Rupert “, where Jerry was replaced with Stewie Griffin , although the reflection of Jerry can still be seen on the floor. Tom is briefly seen in Anchors Aweigh . He appears as a servant, offering King Jerry some food on a tray. Both Tom and Jerry appear with Esther Williams in a dream sequence in another big-screen musical, Dangerous When Wet (1953). In 1973, the magazine National Lampoon referenced Tom and Jerry in a violence-filled comic book parody, Kit ‘n’ Kaboodle. [46] [47] [48] In 1988, the duo were lined up to appear in the Oscar -winning Disney / Amblin film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit , a homage to classic American animation. However, when the executive producer Steven Spielberg went to acquire the rights in 1986, MGM’s pre-1986 library (which Tom and Jerry were a part of) was being purchased by Turner Entertainment which created a series of legal complications. Due to this Spielberg was unable to acquire the rights and Tom and Jerry’s inclusion in the film was scrapped. Despite Tom and Jerry’s absence from the film, Spike the Bulldog did make two cameos in the film. [49] In The Simpsons , The Itchy & Scratchy Show is a spoof of Tom and Jerry—a “cartoon within a cartoon.” [1] [50] [51] In an episode of the series titled “ Krusty Gets Kancelled “, Worker and Parasite, a replacement cartoon for Itchy & Scratchy, is a reference to Soviet-era animation . [52] In an interview found on the DVD releases, several MADtv cast members stated that Tom and Jerry is one of their biggest influences for slapstick comedy. Also in the Cartoon Network show MAD , Tom and Jerry appear in three segments “Celebrity Birthdays”, “Mickey Mouse Exterminator Service”, and “Tom and Jury”. Johnny Knoxville from Jackass has stated that watching Tom and Jerry inspired many of the stunts in the movies. [53] Home media MGM/UA released a series of Tom & Jerry laserdisc box sets in the 1990s. The Art of Tom & Jerry volumes 1 and 2, contain all the MGM shorts up to (but not including) the Deitch Era, including letterboxed versions of the shorts filmed in CinemaScope. The cartoons are all intact save for His Mouse Friday (dialogue has been wiped) and Saturday Evening Puss which is the re-drawn version with June Foray’s voice added. A third volume to The Art of Tom & Jerry was released and contains all of the Chuck Jones-era Tom and Jerry shorts. There have been several Tom and Jerry DVDs released in Region 1 (the United States and Canada), including a series of two-disc sets known as the Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection . There have been negative responses to Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, due to some of the cartoons included on each having cuts and redubbed Mammy Two-Shoes dialogue. A replacement program offering uncut versions of the shorts on DVD was later announced. There are also negative responses to Vol. 3, due to Mouse Cleaning and Casanova Cat being excluded from these sets and His Mouse Friday being edited for content with an extreme zooming-in towards the end to avoid showing a particularly race-based caricature. There have been two Tom and Jerry DVD sets in Region 2. In Western Europe, most of the Tom and Jerry shorts have been released (only two, The Million Dollar Cat and Busy Buddies , were not included) under the name Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection . Almost all of the shorts contain re-dubbed Mammy Two-Shoes tracks. Despite these cuts, His Mouse Friday, the only Tom and Jerry cartoon to be completely taken off the airwaves in some countries due to claims of racism, is included, unedited with the exception of zooming-in as on the North American set. These are regular TV prints sent from the U.S. in the 1990s. Shorts produced in CinemaScope are presented in pan and scan . Mouse Cleaning and Casanova Cat are presented uncut as part of these sets. Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection is available in 6 double-sided DVDs (issued in the United Kingdom) and 12 single-layer DVDs (issued throughout Western Europe). Another Tom and Jerry Region 2 DVD set is available in Japan. As with Tom and Jerry:Classic Collection in Western Europe, almost all of the shorts (including His Mouse Friday) contain cuts. Slicked-up Pup , Tom’s Photo Finish , Busy Buddies , The Egg and Jerry , Tops with Pops and Feedin’ the Kiddie are excluded from these sets. However, most of these cartoons are included in the UK version. Most shorts produced in CinemaScope are presented in pan and scan for showing on the 4:3 aspect ratio television screen. Prior to 2015, the Gene Deitch-era shorts saw limited home media release outside of Europe and Asia . In Japan , all thirteen shorts were released on the Tom and Jerry & Droopy laserdisc and VHS, as well as on the bonus DVD for those who have purchased all the ten titles of the DVD collection series at its initial release. In the United Kingdom , the shorts are available on the second side of the Tom and Jerry Classic Collection: Volume 5 DVD. In the United States, The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit , Down and Outing , and Carmen Get It! were included on the Paws for a Holiday VHS and DVD, [54] the Summer Holidays DVD, and the Musical Mayhem DVD, respectively. On June 2, 2015, Tom and Jerry: The Gene Deitch Collection DVD was released in the United States, with all thirteen shorts as well as special features. The Chuck Jones-era Tom and Jerry shorts were released in a two-disc set titled Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection on June 23, 2009. [55] On October 25, 2011, Warner Home Video released the first volume of the Tom and Jerry Golden Collection on DVD and Blu-ray. [56] This set featured newly remastered prints and bonus material never before seen. The sets were aimed at the collector in a way that the previous “ Spotlight ” DVD releases were not. [57] A second set was due for release at June 11, 2013. in February 2013, it was announced by TVShowsOnDVD.com that Mouse Cleaning was not part of the list of cartoons on this release, as well as the cartoon Casanova Cat that was also skipped over on the 2007 DVD release. Many collectors and fans have posted negative reviews of the product on Amazon and other various websites to make Warner put Mouse Cleaning and Casanova Cat on the release. [58] Filmography “Tom & Jerry Charlie & Chocolate Factory (2017)” . Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 13, 2016. Further reading Adams, T.R. (1991). Tom and Jerry: Fifty Years of Cat and Mouse. Crescent Books. ISBN 0-517-05688-7 [ Amazon-US \| Amazon-UK ]. Aravind, Aju. Mammy Two Shoes: Subversion and Reaffirmation of Racial Stereotypes in Tom and Jerry. The IUP Journal of History and Culture, Vol. V, No. 3, July 2011. Pp. 76–83. ISSN 0973-8517 . Barrier, Michael (1999). Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-503759-6 [ Amazon-US \| Amazon-UK ]. Brion, Patrick (1990) Tom & Jerry: The Definitive Guide to their Animated Adventures, New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 978-0-517-57351-8 [ Amazon-US \| Amazon-UK ]. Maltin, Leonard (1980, updated 1987). Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-452-25993-2 [ Amazon-US \| Amazon-UK ].	i don't know
The Law of Large Numbers is a principle which seeks to explain what, commonly considered inexplicable?	Jack Donnelly, HUMAN RIGHTS AND STATE SOVEREIGNTY Sovereignty and human rights typically are seen as fundamentally opposed:ï¿½ the rights of states pitted against the rights of individuals; 1648 (the Peace of Westphalia) versus 1948 (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).ï¿½ Sovereignty entitles states to non-interference in their internal affairs.ï¿½ There would seem to be few more purely internal matters than how a state treats its own nationals on its own territory.ï¿½ But that is precisely the focus of internationally recognized human rights.ï¿½ International human rights obligations thus are regularly seen as ï¿½ assaulting (Mills 1998: 10; Clapham 1999: 533; Cardenas 2002: 57), ï¿½ challenging (Aceves 2002; Butenhoff 2003: 215-216), ï¿½ besieging (Weiss and Chopra 1995), ï¿½ undermining (Schwab and Pollis 2000: 214), ï¿½ busting (Lutz 1997: 652), ï¿½ weakening (Jacobsen and Lawson 1999), ï¿½ chipping away at (Kearns 2001: 522), ï¿½ compromising (Krasner 1999: 125), ï¿½ contradicting (Forsythe 1989: 6) ï¿½ breaking down (Bettati 1996: 92), ï¿½ breaching (Lyons and Mayall 2003: 9), ï¿½ perforating (van Hoof 1998: 51), or ï¿½ eroding (Ayoob 2002: 93; Henkin 1999: 3-4; Lapidoth 1995) state sovereignty -- which is presented as giving way (Aceves 2002: 265), even surrendering (Lauterpacht 1968 [1950]: 304-311), to higher human rights norms that "provide legal and moral grounds for disregarding the sovereign rights of States." (Shen 2000: 435)ï¿½ "Human rights have revolutionized the international system and international law." (Henkin 1995: 43-44) I offer a substantially different reading.ï¿½ The reshaping of sovereignty by human rights has left states today no less sovereign than they were fifty, a hundred, or three hundred and fifty years ago.ï¿½ Contemporary human rights constraints on the freedom of action of states are completely compatible with "full" "Westphalian" sovereignty.ï¿½ Rather than 1948 challenging, let alone triumphing over, 1648, the society of states has made space for human rights within the practices of state sovereignty.ï¿½ï¿½ 1. Sovereignty Confusion over the term sovereignty is a common lament.ï¿½ "No once meaningful word has become more misunderstood and misused." (Best 1995: 778; ï¿½Compare James 1999: 457; Henkin 1999: 1; Brownlie 2003: 105-106; Crook 2001)ï¿½ At the core of most well established uses, however, is the idea of supreme authority.ï¿½ "Sovereign" comes from the Old French soverain, from the Latin superanus, from super, above.ï¿½ A sovereign is supreme or pre-eminent.ï¿½ The Oxford English Dictionary thus defines sovereign as "one who has supremacy or rank above, or authority over, others; a superior; a ruler, governor, lord, or master;" "the recognized supreme ruler of a people or country;" "of power, authority, etc.: supreme."ï¿½ Put more negatively, to be sovereign is to be subject to no higher authority.ï¿½ Alan James' account of sovereignty as constitutional independence (1986; 1999) nicely captures this central idea. International law replicates this ordinary understanding.ï¿½ ï¿½"Sovereignty is supreme authority." (Jennings and Watts 1992: 122)ï¿½ "Sovereignty is the supreme power by which any State is governed." (Wheaton 1866: 31) ï¿½"The sovereign is the person to whom the Nation has confided the supreme power and the duty of governing." (Vattel 1916 [1758]: Bk. II, Ch. IV)ï¿½ "Sovereignty. 1) Supreme dominion, authority, or rule. 2) The supreme political authority of an independent state. ï¿½ Supremacy, the right to demand obedience." (Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, 1999)ï¿½ A sovereign state "is not subject, within its territorial jurisdiction, to the governmental, executive, legislative, or judicial jurisdiction of a foreign State or to foreign law other than public international law." (Steinberger 2000: 512) My focus will be on external or international sovereignty, the rules by which sovereigns, actors who recognize no higher authority, interact.ï¿½ My focus is further limited to sovereignty practices of modern international society, not philosophical theories or the desirability of sovereignty.ï¿½ This section considers sovereignty in general.ï¿½ The following section examines the impact of human rights on state sovereignty (and vice versa). A. Authority, Capability, and Power Sovereignty is a matter of authority, the right to regulate or rule.ï¿½ It is often, however, confused with control over outcomes.ï¿½ ï¿½ "Current legal theory [holds] that countries are totally able to determine their own internal policies." (Brown and Alexander 1994)ï¿½ This is nonsense.ï¿½ Sovereignty is the right, not the ability, to determine one's policies.ï¿½ Like any right it may or may not be effectively enjoyed, infringed, violated, or ignored.ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ "Sovereignty ï¿½ has become ï¿½ steadily less absolute.ï¿½ Even for a so-called superpower ï¿½ internationalism is inescapable." (Howe 1995: 129)ï¿½ Unilateralism and internationalism, however, have nothing to do with sovereignty (supreme authority in one's own territory).ï¿½ They concern the costs and benefits of unilateral or collective action. ï¿½ "No sovereign state, and not all state sovereignties together, seem to be sovereign enough to solve the problems ï¿½ [of] our human society at the end of the twentieth century." (Henkin 1999: 6)ï¿½ Sovereign authority, however, is no guarantee of the capability to solve any particular problem. We need to capture both the clear distinction and the subtle interconnections between sovereignty and control.ï¿½ Raw power may over time become a source of authority.ï¿½ Authority usually is an important source of control.ï¿½ Conversely, if the link between authority and control is severed completely, authority may be undermined or lost.ï¿½ Nonetheless, capabilities and authority -- force and legitimacy -- are very different things. ï¿½Especially where they lie in different hands, we must avoid the pitfalls of both "legalism" (considering formal authority while ignoring the realities of power and control) and "realism" (considering raw, lawless power while ignoring the realities of right and authority). Figure 1 presents a simple typology.ï¿½ Figure 1:ï¿½ Authority, Capabilities, and Sovereign Powerï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Authority Supreme Actors with supreme authority are, by definition, sovereign.ï¿½ If they also have low capabilities they are weak but formally sovereign.ï¿½ We must resist the temptation to say "merely" formally, though, because sovereignty is essentially formal, a matter of rights and authority.ï¿½ Effective control adds something else to, rather than perfects, sovereignty.ï¿½ Actors with no authority but high capabilities exercise domination, which is not imperfect sovereignty but a different type of rule. B. The Sources of Sovereignty International lawyers regularly specify objective criteria of statehood -- typically, a government that exercises control over a territory and a population and participates in international law -- but these are neither necessary nor sufficient conditions.ï¿½ Not all sovereign states meet these criteria:ï¿½ consider "failed" states.ï¿½ And some entities that do, most notably Taiwan , are universally considered not to be sovereign.ï¿½ Sovereignty arises not from a pre-existing internal power or authority that imposes itself on other states but from the mutual recognition of exclusive jurisdictions. [1] ï¿½ Sovereigns are those whose sovereignty is recognized by (the society of) sovereignn states.ï¿½ International recognition creates rather than acknowledges rights.ï¿½ Even where recognition is caused by the power of a state or its allies, it has an essential constitutive dimension.ï¿½ What Chayes and Chayes (1995) call "the new sovereignty," the right to participate fully in international law and politics, is another way of formulating the constitutive character of sovereignty.ï¿½ But this has always been an essential part of modern sovereignty practices. When at Westphalia the parties agreed not to seek to impose a particular confession on one another, they created the resultant sovereign rights.ï¿½ The differences between the Gold Coast in 1950 and Ghana in 1960 were largely due to the (constitutive) granting of independence and its international recognition.ï¿½ The contrasting statuses of Slovenia Chechnya are more recent illustrations.ï¿½ Or consider what Robert Jackson (1990) calls "quasi-states."ï¿½ These extremely weak states (located at the bottom left of Figure 1) exist not because of their own power (or the power of allies) but because they have been internationally recognized.ï¿½ The pejorative "quasi" suggests that something is fundamentally wrong with these states.ï¿½ Their sovereignty, however, is in no way defective.ï¿½ Quite the contrary, internationally recognized sovereignty is the principal power resource of these states and the elites that control them. (Clapham 1999) In a world of power politics, the standard route to sovereignty is the capability to maintain one's independence, alone or with the help of allies.ï¿½ The existence of numerous "quasi-states" is evidence of a very different sovereignty regime, rooted in distinctive post-colonial conceptions of self-determination and sovereign equality.ï¿½ But the sovereignty of "Real-states" no less than that of "quasi-states" is constituted through mutual recognition within the society of states. C. The Subjects of Sovereignty Who are the subjects of sovereignty, the holders of supreme authority?ï¿½ States is the obvious answer today. ï¿½But this need not be the case.ï¿½ Most sovereigns in early modern Europe were real flesh and blood rulers -- "Kings, and Persons of Soveraigne authority," as Hobbes put it in Chapter 13 of Leviathan, published just three years after Westphalia .ï¿½ These sovereigns recognized each other, not abstract territorial entities.ï¿½ For example, the first article of the Peace of Westphalia speaks of a peace "between his Sacred Imperial Majesty, and his most Christian Majesty; as also, between all and each of the Allies, and Adherents of his said Imperial Majesty, the House of Austria, and its Heirs, and Successors; but chiefly between the Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire on the one side; and all and each of the Allies of his said Christian Majesty, and all their Heirs and Successors." Well into the Westphalian era "sovereignty meant proprietary kingship" in which the monarch "regarded and treated the state as the private patrimonial property of the reigning dynasty." (Teschke 2002: 9, 13; Compare van Creveld 1999: 170-175)ï¿½ Territory, rather than being a fixed and defining attribute of a polity, more or less came with the ruler.ï¿½ Sovereignty remained fundamentally dynastic (rather than territorial) well into the eighteenth century:ï¿½ consider the wars of the Spanish (1702-1713) and Austrian (1740-1748) successions.ï¿½ The Holy Alliance illustrates the persistence of the dynastic principle into the nineteenth century. Modern dynastic and territorial sovereignty share a unitary conception:ï¿½ one sovereign per polity.ï¿½ The Oxford English Dictionary, however, includes definitions that attribute sovereignty to mayors and to superiors of monasteries and convents.ï¿½ The medieval and early modern division of authority between Pope and Emperor and between the Emperor and other princes also suggests a decentralized or functional conception of divided sovereignty.ï¿½ As the leading British authority on international law notes, "sovereignty is divisible both as a matter of principle and as a matter or experience." (Brownlie 2003: 113) ï¿½ The idea of multiple sovereignties within a territory has few implications for contemporary international human rights.ï¿½ It does, however, point to the extremely relevant fact that sovereigns need not have supreme authority over all matters within a territory.ï¿½ D. The Rights of the Sovereign "The original meaning of the word is simply 'superiority', without any connotation of absoluteness or illimitability." (Brierly 1958: 19-20)ï¿½ In practice, modern sovereigns have never had total license or absolute authority over everything.ï¿½ As no less a realist than Georg Schwarzenberger put it, "State practice is unanimous in its affirmation of the existence of legal rules ï¿½ in the relations between sovereign States." (1951: 89)ï¿½ "Sovereignty is a legal status within but not above public international law. ï¿½ As a juridical status protected by international law, it is embedded within the normative order of this law ." (Steinberger 2000: 512, 518) ï¿½ From 1648 on sovereigns have been restricted in what they could legitimately do even to their own nationals in their own realms.ï¿½ The Treaty of Westphalia, while mandating religious non-interference, the foundation for a broader principle of non-intervention, imposed substantive restrictions on sovereigns.ï¿½ For example, Article 28 guarantees adherents of the Confession of Augsburg "the free Exercise of their Religion, as well in publick Churches at the appointed Hours, as in private in their own Houses."ï¿½ External sovereignty (with respect to religion) was established simultaneously with, and contingent upon, restrictions on sovereign prerogatives. The rights of the sovereign are not only limited but contingent and variable.ï¿½ "The status of statehood can be associated with various sets of rights and duties.ï¿½ It carries no given, determinate, normative implications." (Koskenniemi 1991: 408)ï¿½ The (international societal) constitution of sovereignty has changed substantially throughout the Westphalian era.ï¿½ New rights are recognized.ï¿½ Old rights are lost.ï¿½ But through it all, sovereigns have remained fully sovereign. ï¿½ The most striking example lies at the heart of realist high politics.ï¿½ In the nineteenth century a sovereign state was the sole judge of what was necessary for self-preservation.ï¿½ This was taken to imply a right to go to war when, where, and for whatever reason it chose. (e.g., Wheaton 1866: ï¿½290)ï¿½ "The prevailing view was that resort to war was an attribute of statehood and it was accepted that conquest produced title." (Brownlie 2003: 697)ï¿½ Today the legitimate use of force is restricted to self-defense.ï¿½ But we certainly would not say that the United States was less sovereign in 1990 than 1890 because it had no right to launch a war for national gain or territorial conquest. Or consider the "sovereign right" to control one's money supply.ï¿½ Under the classic gold standard states had no such right.ï¿½ Under the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates they did.ï¿½ Today the power of international financial markets and institutions has provoked concern over the loss of economic sovereignty. (e.g. Matthews 1997: 57; Chossudovsky 1998: 309)ï¿½ But such claims -- absurdly -- imply that Britain Germany were less economically sovereign in 1970 than in 1900.ï¿½ The growing permeability of borders is another frequently advanced example of eroding sovereignty. (e.g. Mills 1998: 1, 25-26, 122)ï¿½ States today, however, have at least as much authority to control trans-border population flows as they did in the early nineteenth century, before passports began to be widely used.ï¿½ And, turning from authority to capabilities, the borders of almost all states are less permeable to the flow of people today than they were a hundred years ago.ï¿½ To talk of a loss of sovereignty today would again require us to make ridiculous claims about the absence of sovereignty in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The variability of sovereignty extends even to sovereign equality, which with some justice has been described as "the essence of our understanding of the Westfalian [sic] system," (Rosas 1995: 63) a principle that "has attained an almost ontological status in the structure of the international legal system." (Kingsbury 1998: 600)ï¿½ Sovereign equality has meant very different things in the seventeenth century world of dynastic sovereignty, the nineteenth century world of Great Power politics, and the post-colonial world of the late twentieth century.ï¿½ And throughout the Westphalian era, sovereign equality has been understood to be fully compatible with different states possessing different rights. ï¿½ Honors, titles, and status differences were of considerable importance in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. (e.g., Vattel 1916 [1758]: Bk. II, Ch. III, esp. ï¿½ 37, 48, Bk. I, Ch. XV, ï¿½ 191, Bk. IV, Ch. VI,ï¿½ 79)ï¿½ Great Powers in the nineteenth century had special rights and responsibilities (Simpson 2004: esp. ch. 4) -- a practice that lingers today in the veto in the Security Council.ï¿½ Many states created in the nineteenth century (e.g. Belgium and Greece ) operated under treaty restrictions that limited the range of their rights.ï¿½ The League Minorities System imposed obligations on some states but not others.ï¿½ And so forth. Of course, not every change in rights would leave sovereignty undiminished.ï¿½ Were states to lose authority over a wide range of activities central to prevailing conceptions of the nature of politics we might be justified, even compelled, to talk of a loss of sovereignty.ï¿½ Nonetheless, the rights of sovereigns are and always have been variable.ï¿½ And sovereignty -- except perhaps the sovereignty of God -- never has been absolute and over everything.ï¿½ The rights of sovereigns are determined by the practices of the society of sovereign states, not by theoretical or conceptual logic.ï¿½ "It is widely accepted that no subject is irrevocably fixed within the reserved domain" of sovereign prerogative. (Brownlie 2003: 291)ï¿½ As the Permanent Court of International Justice authoritatively put it, "whether a certain matter is or is not solely within the jurisdiction of a state is essentially a relative question; it depends upon the development of international relations." [2] ï¿½ "Sovereignty is not merely a bundle of rights, but consists in a status (being sovereign) and in the use of this status to legitimize certain rights, duties and competences (the sovereign rights)." (Werner and De Wilde 2001: 297)ï¿½ The status of recognized supremacy defines sovereignty and has remained constant through variations in the details of sovereign rights. ï¿½The specific bundle of rights, which is contingent and variable, determines only the particular character of sovereignty.ï¿½ So long as states are not constitutionally subordinated to another actor they remain fully sovereign.ï¿½ So long as rights previously held are not transferred to a "higher" authority, no sovereignty (supremacy) has been lost. E. Sovereignty:ï¿½ Social Reality not Organized Hypocrisy To pull together many of the points made above and set up some of the discussion of human rights and sovereignty below, I will conclude this section by contrasting my analysis with that of Stephen Krasner.ï¿½ Krasner extensively documents the failure of state practice to correspond to what he calls "the Westphalian model" of complete and absolute state autonomy. [3] ï¿½ Despite this superficial similarity, Krasner offers a fundamentally opposed account of sovereignty rooted in an implausible and unhelpful analysis of its meaning and significance.ï¿½ Krasner repeatedly claims that any external "influence" on domestic political institutions violates sovereignty. (1999: 33, 121, 226; 1995: 116, 127)ï¿½ "Westphalian sovï¿½erï¿½eignty is violated when external actors influence or determine domestic authority structures." (1999: 20)ï¿½ Using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in lobbying one's own government, according to Krasner, infringes sovereignty. (1999: 32)ï¿½ If a treaty alters domestic views on an issue, sovereignty has been violated. (1995: 127)ï¿½ The influence of the Catholic church on beliefs about abortion and birth control is, for Krasner, a transgression of sovereignty. (1995: 116)ï¿½ He even considers the exclusive economic zones created under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea a violation of sovereignty (because they involve less than perfect rights of territorial sovereignty). (1999: 36; 1995: 116) ï¿½By creating new rights for themselves where they previously had none, Krasner would have us believe that states -- without knowing it; in fact, thinking that they are doing something quite different -- violated their own sovereignty!ï¿½ If we were to follow Krasner, most of foreign policy, to the extent it is successful, would have to be considered a violation of sovereignty, because it seeks to influence other states to act in particular ways.ï¿½ The same is true of international law, which aims to and often succeeds in influencing the decisions of states.ï¿½ This is clearly an untenable conception of sovereignty, a stipulative theoretical model with little connection to the realities of international law and politics. Krasner claims that his purpose is to "understand what sovereign statehood has meant in actual practice." (1999: 5) ï¿½This cannot be done by judging practice according to standards that contradict those of the participants.ï¿½ Krasner's absolutist "Westphalian model" is rejected by the practice and self-understandings of the society of states. [4] ï¿½ Particularly striking is his insistence that treaties (contracts and conventions) that restrict a state's autonomy violate sovereignty. (1999: 7, 26, 33-36, 40, 224, 226; 1995: 124-135)ï¿½ This view has been authoritatively rejected, repeatedly.ï¿½ "Restrictions on the exercise of sovereign rights accepted by treaty by the state concerned cannot be considered as an infringement of sovereignty." [5] ï¿½ "The Court declines to see in the conclusion of any Treaty by which a State undertakes to perform or refrain from performing a particular act an abandonment of its sovereignty." [6] However we define sovereignty, though, violations are frequent and often striking.ï¿½ This leads Krasner to label sovereignty "organized hypocrisy," which he defines as a situation in which "institutional norms are enduring but frequently ignored." (1999: 66)ï¿½ Almost all social norms, though, are frequently ignored.ï¿½ By Krasner's standard, most of social life is "organized hypocrisy." ï¿½Stop signs, marriage, property, courtesy, honesty among friends, taxation, and equal protection of the laws are "organized hypocrisy".ï¿½ For that matter, so is Realpolitik:ï¿½ the norm of pursuing power is frequently ignored in favor of legality, compassion, or furthering the interests of friends or campaign contributors.ï¿½ Krasner claims to be writing in opposition to "the failure to recognize that the norms and rules of any international institutional system, including the sovereign state system, will have limited influence and always be subject to challenge." (1999: 3)ï¿½ But who actually has ever failed to recognize this? -- or that sovereignty has not always "prevented the powerful from violating its precepts"? (1995: 149) ï¿½or that sovereign autonomy in practice "has never been universally honored"? (1999: 8)ï¿½ Despite emphasizing that Westphalian sovereignty is about authority rather than control, (1999: 10, 223) Krasner ultimately refuses to take seriously the fact that infringements of rights are a normal part of social and political life, nationally and internationally.ï¿½ If it really were true that "talk and action do not coincide" (Krasner 1999: 8) -- never, or even only rarely -- we would have organized hypocrisy in an interesting sense of that term.ï¿½ But all Krasner shows is that principle and practice often diverge.ï¿½ This is true of virtually all principles and practices, national no less than international.ï¿½ It is what makes principles principles and norms norms, rather than laws of nature.ï¿½ "In practice, the strong have been better able to enjoy their territorial integrity and autonomy than the weak." (1995: 147)ï¿½ The same is true of most rights, domestically as well as internationally.ï¿½ So long as "departures from the standard norm have not ï¿½ generated alternative logics of appropriateness" (1999: 8) -- and Krasner agrees that they have not -- this is simply a reminder that authority is no guarantee of effective control.ï¿½ Sovereignty is not a hard shell, an impermeable barrier at the borders of a territory.ï¿½ It does not guarantee the efficacy of the unfettered will of the state.ï¿½ Sovereignty is a complex social practice that allocates jurisdiction, rights, and obligations among sovereigns, actors that recognize no superior. [7] ï¿½ Like all social practices, sovereignty both persists and is transformed over time.ï¿½ But Krasner's work, for all the interesting historical material he presents, is fundamentally ahistorical, even anti-historical.ï¿½ Imposing a static stipulative theoretical model obscures the reality of sovereignty in practice.ï¿½ And a narrow focus on deviations from that model diverts our attention from changes in the pattern of practice over time.ï¿½ Krasner thus misses important transformations in sovereignty [8] -- including, I will argue, those produced by the development of the global human rights regime. 2. Human Rights and State Sovereignty Human rights, far from undermining or eroding state sovereignty, are embedded within sovereignty.ï¿½ Dominant understandings of sovereignty (and human rights) have indeed been significantly reshaped.ï¿½ But sovereignty remains robust and, at least with respect to human rights, largely unchallenged.ï¿½ A. National Implementation of Internationally Recognized Human Rights If human rights are universal rights held equally and inalienably by all individuals, how could they not be fundamentally opposed to the supreme authority of states?ï¿½ The simple answer is that actual legal and political practice has made human rights and state sovereignty fully compatible.ï¿½ The Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948), the International Human Rights Covenants (1966), and several single-issue treaties and declarations establish an impressive body of international legal obligations. [9] ï¿½ These instruments regularly use the language of universal rights:ï¿½ "No one shall be ï¿½," "Everyone has the right ï¿½"ï¿½ But universal human rights have been embedded in a statist system of national implementation.ï¿½ The international human rights obligations of states are solely to their own nationals (and others under their territorial jurisdiction).ï¿½ States have neither a right nor a responsibility to implement or enforce the human rights of foreigners on foreign territory.ï¿½ And international supervision of national human rights practices is extremely restricted.ï¿½ Considerable international monitoring takes place.ï¿½ Numerous human rights treaties require periodic reports to an international committee of experts.ï¿½ With the six principal international human rights treaties having an average of 161 parties, [10] this amounts to a not negligible quantity of formal international scrutiny.ï¿½ National and transnational NGOs assure a surprisingly free flow of information on human rights practices.ï¿½ Some states have made monitoring human rights an integral part of their foreign policy.ï¿½ But with very limited exceptions -- primarily weak and rarely used individual complaint mechanisms and a strong system of regional judicial enforcement in Europe -- implementation and enforcement are left to states in their own territories. [11] ï¿½ There is nothing particularly surprising about this sovereignty-respecting construction of international human rights.ï¿½ International society remains largely a society of sovereign states.ï¿½ Most international law is implemented and enforced nationally.ï¿½ Human rights have simply been incorporated into the established state-based system of international law and politics.ï¿½ How states treat their own nationals on their own territory has become a legitimate, and increasingly regular and important, topic in bilateral, multilateral, and transnational international politics.ï¿½ States and other international actors are free to use most ordinary policy instruments short of the threat of force to influence national human rights practices.ï¿½ ï¿½But the society of states has, with very few and extremely limited exceptions, no significant role in the enforcement of human rights.ï¿½ It simply is not true that "human rights claims no longer depend on geographic limitations, and may be as appropriately addressed to the broader international community as they are to a nation state's sovereign" (Stacy 2003: 2049) -- if those claims are for implementation, enforcement, or legal remedy, which remain the domain of states exercising their sovereign prerogatives within their own territories. Krasner thus is at best misleading when he claims that "human rights [is] an issue area in which conventional notions of sovereignty have been compromised." (1999: 125)ï¿½ States still retain final authority -- sovereignty -- over human rights within their territories.ï¿½ State authority to implement and enforce human rights has neither been lost nor, with the limited exception of Europe , transferred to another actor.ï¿½ In fact, "by establishing and consenting to human rights limitations on their own sovereignty, states actually define, delimit, and contain those rights, thereby domesticating their use and affirming the authority of the state as the source from which such rights spring." (Koskenniemi 1991: 406) B. Constancy and Change in Sovereignty and Human Rights "The struggle to establish international rules that compel leaders to treat their subjects in a certain way has been going on for a long time." (Krasner 2001: 22) ï¿½This is not untrue.ï¿½ ï¿½But as a commentary on the contemporary global human rights regime it obscures the important fact that the form and consequences of these efforts have changed substantially in the past half century.ï¿½ The contemporary global human rights regime is not without precursors.ï¿½ Largely effective international prohibition regimes were established for the slave trade and slavery. (Nadelman 1990: 491-498; Weissbrodt and Anti-Slavery International 2002)ï¿½ Minority rights issued were recurrently addressed and regulated in limited ways in new states. (Krasner 1999: ch. 3; Claude 1955; Thornberry 1991: pt. 1) ï¿½But such isolated, ad hoc and sporadic efforts were quantitatively and qualitatively different, in both substance and impact, from the activities of the past half century.ï¿½ There simply was nothing even vaguely like today's comprehensive and extensive international concern with human rights.ï¿½ Prior to World War II, even talking about human rights violations in other countries, except in very limited contexts, was considered an unjustified infringement of states' sovereign prerogatives.ï¿½ Human rights are not mentioned in the notoriously "idealist" Covenant of the League of Nations .ï¿½ There were no multilateral treaties, let alone multilateral institutions, devoted to human rights (as opposed to particular rights that we today consider human rights).ï¿½ No states regularly addressed human rights in their foreign policy.ï¿½ Transnational action was extremely limited in both quantity and impact.ï¿½ Much as the sovereign right of self-preservation left states at liberty to launch aggressive wars, the sovereign right of political independence left them at liberty to violate (what we today call) human rights.ï¿½ "Until the middle of the twentieth century, States had succeeded in juridically protecting their free will; or more precisely, their free willfulness.ï¿½ International law required no behavioral norms, and no obligation of tolerance, in regard to a State's own nationals." (Bettati 1996: 91)ï¿½ Today, however, states can no longer can claim sovereign rights to violate human rights.ï¿½ Authoritative international human rights norms require certain kinds of behavior and prohibit others. ï¿½We should neither underestimate nor overestimate the significance of this change.ï¿½ The considerable normative power of the global human rights regime has dramatically facilitated the work of human rights advocacy, both by altering domestic conceptions of legitimacy and by opening multiple avenues of international and transnational support.ï¿½ The spread of international human rights norms is even part of the explanation for the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire (Thomas 2001), the demise of military and civilian dictatorships in Latin America, and processes of political liberalization that are taking place in most of Africa and Asia.ï¿½ Normative strength, however, is matched by procedural weakness.ï¿½ The international community lacks the authority to stop even gross and systematic violations, except in the case of genocide (see below).ï¿½ Final authority -- sovereignty -- still resides with states.ï¿½ C. International Norms and State Sovereignty Authoritative international norms have always been part of modern international relations.ï¿½ International legal "obligations may, and frequently do, restrict a States' freedom of action and thereby the exercise of its sovereignty, but they do not diminish or deprive it of its sovereignty as a legal status." (Steinberger 2000: 512) During the first two centuries of the Westphalian era sovereigns were held to be under a variety of natural law obligations.ï¿½ This was not seen as in any way incompatible with sovereignty.ï¿½ Sovereigns remained supreme within their domains, subject -- answerable -- only to God. In the nineteenth century, the so-called standard of civilization set substantive requirements for fully equal participation in international relations. ï¿½But the prohibition of "barbarous" behavior was completely compatible with the "full sovereignty" of civilized states -- a status that was available to "barbarous" states that changed their practices to meet the standard, as Japan did in the 1890s.ï¿½ Again, despite normative restrictions on the range of legitimate action of states, there was no subordination to a higher (legal or political) authority.ï¿½ And any inequality that arose from the doctrine was a matter of some sovereign states not meeting "universal" substantive standards. There is nothing unusual in the idea that sovereigns have international obligations over which they have little or no direct control.ï¿½ Today, in addition to international human rights norms, states, largely irrespective of their will, are bound by the norms of customary international law, obligations erga omnes, and jus cogens. ï¿½So long as international obligations do not subordinate states to a higher authority -- and they clearly do not in the case of the global human rights regime -- they are completely compatible with full sovereignty.ï¿½ Supremacy means that one is subject to no higher authority, not that one's authority is absolute and unlimited. Sovereignty is always changing, as states, individually and collectively, grapple with new problems and opportunities, pursue new interests, elaborate new norms, and learn from their past practices.ï¿½ Transformations of sovereignty reflect a process of articulating new norms, and new understandings of old norms, into the framework of international law and politics.ï¿½ Over the past half century, human rights have been widely, and increasingly deeply, incorporated into the practices of international law and politics, and thus insinuated into our understanding of sovereignty.ï¿½ No less importantly, though, sovereignty has been insinuated into our understandings of internationally recognized human rights.ï¿½ Implementation lies ultimately with sovereign states.ï¿½ The politics of international human rights still is largely about influencing sovereign states. D. Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect Genocide is the principal, and recent, exception to the rule of national implementation.ï¿½ It is now generally accepted that multilateral armed intervention against genocide is permitted if authorized by the Security Council. [12] ï¿½ Genocide thus has been removed from the sphere of sovereign prerogative.ï¿½ To the extent that enforcement authority has been transferred to the society of states, we can even speak of a (tiny) loss of sovereignty. This does not, however, suggest more radical changes.ï¿½ The right of states to commit genocide has suffered the same fate as the right of states to wage aggressive war -- with no broader implications for sovereignty.ï¿½ International enforcement of even a substantial segment of internationally recognized human rights would indeed represent a fundamental transformation of our sovereignty practices.ï¿½ Removing such a wide range of politically central issues from the authority of states would represent a substantial loss of sovereignty.ï¿½ But there is no evidence of widespread acceptance in theory, let alone in practice, of a right to armed intervention for violations of other -- that is virtually all -- human rights.ï¿½ There is not even evidence in the past decade of significant strengthening of regional or global human rights institutions. [13] ï¿½ Genocide, for the next few decades at least, is almost certain to remain the exception that proves the rule of national implementation.ï¿½ It simply is not true that "a strong claim of sovereignty by a state that is committing human rights abuses will not be respected by the international community." (Stacy 2003: 2035)ï¿½ For all human rights other than genocide -- that is, to repeat, for virtually all human rights -- states still retain ultimate enforcement authority.ï¿½ They can and do advance strong claims of sovereignty.ï¿½ And those claims are accepted, however reluctantly, by other states and the international community.ï¿½ The narrow demarcation of the right to humanitarian intervention can even be seen as reaffirming the general principle of non-intervention, and thus state sovereignty.ï¿½ (Compare Malmvig 2001)ï¿½ It is not exactly the same sovereignty as before, but no less real and robust.ï¿½ We must be careful not to overstate the change.ï¿½ The increasingly popular language of the responsibility to protect [14] is prescriptive or predictive, not descriptive.ï¿½ There is perhaps growing acceptance of a certain moral responsibility, but no evidence of an emerging legal duty (responsibility) of humanitarian intervention.ï¿½ The international community has chosen instead to leave itself at liberty, legally and politically, to protect or not as it sees fit, guided by no agreed upon principles.ï¿½ Even this represents significant, if very limited, humanitarian progress.ï¿½ New "humanitarian space" (Weiss and Chopra 1995) has been created.ï¿½ But it has been created within rather than as an alternative to state sovereignty.ï¿½ E. Economic and Social Rights The relationship between sovereignty and economic and social rights in contemporary international relations is complex.ï¿½ Here I will consider globalization and structural adjustment, both of which are regularly seen as eroding sovereignty (e.g., Matthews 1997: 56; Buchanan 1998; Rondinelli 2002: 366-367) and threatening economic and social rights. [15] ï¿½ I will argue that the threats to human rights are very real but not connected to eroding sovereignty. The threats to economic and social rights posed by internationally-mandated programs of structural adjustment arise from weakness not lack of authority.ï¿½ States voluntarily accept loans and grants that impose economic and political conditions.ï¿½ They are free to refuse assistance under such terms, as a few states (e.g. Malaysia in the late 1990s) have.ï¿½ Yet many governments are so desperate that they feel as if they have no real choice.ï¿½ Let us grant, then, that there is a coercive aspect to most structural adjustment programs. Sovereign authority, however, is no guarantee that exercising that authority will be without costs.ï¿½ If A allies with B because it fears C, A's sovereignty has not been compromised, violated, or infringed.ï¿½ An inventor who gives a substantial share of the stock in her company to venture capitalists because she cannot get bank financing has not had her rights violated.ï¿½ And it is no more a violation of sovereign equality that only poor and weak states must accept conditional assistance than it is a violation of equal protection of the laws that wealthy private borrowers typically get better terms than ordinary borrowers, while the poor often must accept usurious rates, whether from banks or "informal" lenders.ï¿½ Coercion, whether it arises from internal desperation or external pressure, is, up to a point, compatible with voluntary choice.ï¿½ At some point, of course, it is not.ï¿½ But coercion per se no more violates sovereignty than offering positive inducements to behave in a particular way.ï¿½ Only external imposition -- particularly imposition through the threat or use of force -- violates sovereign autonomy.ï¿½ There is a clear qualitative difference between "Take it or leave it" and "Your money or your life!" Sovereignty is (only) the authority to decide, the right to choose among alternative courses of action the one that appears most beneficial or least harmful.ï¿½ So long as the compulsion under which states operate is a matter of choosing between alternatives -- even if all the options are unattractive -- sovereignty has not been infringed.ï¿½ If borrowers have a significant say in negotiating the terms of conditionality we might even say that their sovereignty has been actively respected.ï¿½ The IMF, for all its power, is not a global central bank.ï¿½ Nor is the Bank for Interï¿½national Settlements.ï¿½ National central banks still have the authority to set national monetary policy.ï¿½ Whether their decisions have negative externalities or will be swamped by those of international markets and institutions are questions of capaï¿½bilities not authority.ï¿½ The Group of 7/8 is a mechanism for leading sovereign states to coordinate policies, not an authoritative policy-making body.ï¿½ The Paris Club is an "informal" (that is, voluntary) mechanism for creditor countries to coordinate their relations with each other and common debtor countries.ï¿½ And so forth.ï¿½ Globalization presents a very similar picture.ï¿½ By reducing the ability of states to control and tax large firms and capital, globalization has restricted the ability of many states to implement economic and social rights.ï¿½ But this has nothing to do with eroding economic sovereignty. Firms have always had the right to operate globally.ï¿½ Recently they have begun to acquire the ability to take advantage of that right.ï¿½ States have always had the authority to regulate and tax businesses.ï¿½ Recently they have faced increasing difficulty in using that authority to extract resources sufficient to fund social programs at desired levels.ï¿½ The balance of power has shifted.ï¿½ But neither firms nor states have gained or lost rights/authority/sovereignty.ï¿½ The right/authority of states to regulate banks and businesses has not been renounced, transferred, or taken away.ï¿½ The threat to economic and social rights posed by globalization cannot be remedied by enhancing state sovereignty.ï¿½ States already have supreme and essentially unregulated authority.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Some analysts (e.g. Cox 1987; Panitch 1994; Pijl 1998; Robinson 2002) suggest that globalization is changing the character of the state -- or state-society complexes -- to a transnational or global state oriented towards protecting global (rather than national) capital and the interests of an emerging transnational capitalist class.ï¿½ The problem this poses for economic and social rights arises not from a loss of sovereignty but from the purposes for which states exercise their sovereignty.ï¿½ I do not mean to underestimate the impact of globalization.ï¿½ Quite the contrary, globalization seems to me by far the gravest threat to human rights to emerge over the past two decades, much more serious and widespread than ethnic conflict, which absorbed so much of our attention in the 1990s, let alone the recent hysteria over terrorism.ï¿½ But we must understand the nature of the problem if we are to confront it effectively.ï¿½ It concerns the capabilities or intentions of states, not their authority. The current system of national implementation of internationally recognized human rights leaves economic and social rights dependent on the capabilities of states to extract the resources needed to realize the rights of their citizens.ï¿½ Barring the creation of new institutions or duty-bearers, states and human rights advocates alike must grapple with developing effective strategies to use the authority and capabilities of states, individually and collectively, to assure that internationally recognized economic and social rights are effectively realized and enjoyed. This might be done in ways that put state sovereignty to productive use.ï¿½ For example, Third World states, with the support of many first world activists and transnational NGOs, blocked the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, which would have significantly restricted their authority to regulate certain forms of corporate activity.ï¿½ At Cancun a veto bloc of Third World states at least delayed efforts to further liberalize global trading rules, in an effort to achieve greater influence on the shaping of those rules. Sovereignty, however, may be more of a problem than a solution.ï¿½ One possible strategy for re-asserting control over firms would be for states to pool their authority in a regime of joint regulation or even transfer authority to a global regulatory body.ï¿½ In other words, giving up some sovereignty, to gain greater effective control, is one obvious (although politically problematic) way to deal with the threats to economic and social rights posed by globalization.ï¿½ï¿½ 3. Conclusion The preceding discussion suggests a (limited) decentering of the state.ï¿½ This might involve changes in or transfers of sovereignty.ï¿½ But states and their sovereignty might simply be bypassed or marginalized.ï¿½ This seems to have been happening in recent years, not just in the global economy but also with the rise of transnational NGOs and advocacy networks.ï¿½ Human rights advocates typically see the state as the problem -- which it often is.ï¿½ But the state is also the principal protector of human rights.ï¿½ Until we develop alternative mechanisms to deliver goods, services, opportunities, and protections to large numbers of people -- and it must be emphasized that no substantial progress seems likely in the next couple decades [16] -- states, for all their problems, are pretty much what we have in the way of legal and political institutions for implementing human rights.ï¿½ States per se are neither good nor bad for human rights.ï¿½ It depends on what particular states do in particular circumstances.ï¿½ Today, in part because of the growth of the global human rights regime, more states than ever before respect a wider range of human rights, and fewer states than ever before engage in the sort of gross and persistent human rights violations that were the statistical norm just a quarter century ago.ï¿½ Sovereignty per se is neither good nor bad for human rights.ï¿½ It depends on which particular sovereign rights states have and how they exercise them.ï¿½ The global human rights situation today, although by no means good, is significantly less bad than it has been, in some measure because of the way in which human rights have become incorporated into our understandings of state sovereignty.ï¿½ For all the (amply justified) complaints about the current system of national implementation of international human rights, only a small minority of citizens, and few if any states, are willing to transfer final authority to other actors over the wide range of important and sensitive issues covered by internationally recognized human rights.ï¿½ People, states, and the society of states increasingly value human rights.ï¿½ But they also value states and sovereignty.ï¿½ In the end, they seem satisfied to leave sovereignty tempered and modestly humanized by, but in no serious way subordinated to or eroded by, human rights.ï¿½ This has left human rights not a challenger to but deeply embedded within state sovereignty.ï¿½ Although my focus here has been analytical rather than normative, I want to close by suggesting that this is not, all things considered, such a bad thing.ï¿½ It is certainly preferable to the situation that prevailed before sovereignty was transformed by human rights.ï¿½ And until we develop alternative institutions capable of implementing internationally recognized human rights, the prudent course is to continue to insist on the combined rights and obligations of states to implement and enforce internationally recognized human rights; that is, on the particular coordination of human rights and state sovereignty represented by the global human rights regime. 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[1] Recall that our topic here is external or international sovereignty.ï¿½ Internal sovereignty, by contrast, has, within modern Western history, rested on grounds that include divine donation, prescription, legitimate succession, and (most recently) the will of the people.ï¿½ [2] Nationality Decrees Issued in Tunis	Coincidence
What is the substance made from petroleum used for road surfacing, whose name derives from Greek meaning 'of foreign origin'?	law facts, information, pictures \| Encyclopedia.com articles about law I THE SOCIOLOGY OF LAW The broad aim of legal sociology is the extension of knowledge regarding the foundations of a legal order, the pattern of legal change, and the contribution of law to the fulfillment of social needs and aspirations. The special interest of sociology in these matters rests on the basic assumption that law and legal institutions both affect and are affected by the social conditions that surround them. Within sociology, the study of law touches a number of well-established areas of inquiry. In criminology attention is given to the changing character of penal law, the assumptions upon which it rests, and the social dynamics of law enforcement and corrections. The sociology of law shares with political sociology a concern for the nature of legitimate authority and social control, the social bases of constitutionalism, the evolution of civic rights, and the relation of public and private spheres. The roots of legal sociology lie mainly in jurisprudence rather than in the autonomous work of sociologists. In legal theory a “sociological school” emerged out of the work of such jurists as Rudolf von Jhering, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Léon Duguit, Eugen Ehrlich, and Roscoe Pound, all of whom felt the need to look beyond the traditional confines of legal scholarship. The sociologists Émile Durkheim, Max Weber, E. A. Ross, and W. G. Sumner, among others, contributed to the development of a sociological orientation among students of jurisprudence, in some cases by direct influence on legal writers such as Duguit and Pound. Historical perspectives Four basic motifs have been prominent in the intellectual history of legal sociology: historicism, instrumentalism, antiformalism, and pluralism. Historicism Historicism emphasizes the tracing of legal ideas and institutions to their historical roots; patterns of legal evolution are seen as unplanned outcomes of the play of social forces. Important illustrations of this approach are Henry Maine’s Ancient Law, Oliver Wendell Holmes’s Common Law, and the treatments of legal typologies and evolution in Émile Durkheim’s Division of Labor in Society (1893) and various writings by Max Weber (see especially 1922a). The historicist emphasis has had two implicit objectives. First, historical study is a way of identifying legal anachronisms, especially in the reasoning behind a received rule or concept. Second, the analysis of an underlying historical trend (e.g., Maine’s thesis regarding the movement of “progressive societies” from status to contract) can provide an illuminating context for the interpretation of contemporary issues. Instrumentalism The instrumentalist approach, associated with the names of Jeremy Bentham and Rudolf von Jhering, among nineteenth-century writers, as well as Roscoe Pound, calls for the assessment of law according to defined social purposes. It thus invites close study of what the law is and does in fact. The chief significance of instrumentalism is that it encourages the incorporation of social knowledge into law. For if laws are instruments, they must be open to interpretation and revision in the light of changing circumstances. Moreover, law is seen as having more than one function; not only is it a vehicle for maintaining public order and settling disputes, but it also facilitates voluntary transactions and arrangements, confers political legitimacy, promotes education and civic participation, and helps to define social aspirations. Antiformalism Sociological jurisprudence has gained much of its vitality from attacks upon the “unrealistic” nature of legal rules and concepts. A jurisprudence that emphasizes the purity of law as a formal system is fallible on two counts. First, legal rules are necessarily abstract and general; there is always a considerable gap between a system of general rules and its implementation, if only because the rules are applied by human agencies that have their own interests and problems. Second, any view of the legal order as an isolated system wrongly detaches it from the environment in which it is implicated. Failure to take account of the historical and cultural forces impinging upon the law not only distorts reality but gives the legal order an excessive dignity, insulates it from criticism, and offers society inadequate leverage for change. In pressing its criticism of legal abstractions, the antiformalist approach leads readily to a derogation of the importance and effectiveness of legal norms. While antiformalism is congenial to an instrumentalist assessment of the legal tradition, it is out of sympathy with the more narrowly utilitarian image of man as an isolated, goal-seeking actor guided by a hedonic calculus. Instead, it encour-ages a fuller awareness of the nonrational springs of action, of human dependency on social support, and of the emergence of social systems that have a viability of their own. The antiformalist theme is prominent in the work of Eugen Ehrlich and of the American legal realists, but almost every analyst of the social or psychological foundations of law has struck the same note, albeit with varying emphasis. Pluralism In the history of legal sociology, “pluralism” refers to the view that law is located “in society“—that is, beyond the official agencies of government. Sociological skepticism of state law has led some legal scholars, notably Ehrlich, to deny that law is solely or even mainly made by government. Ehrlich held that law is endemic in custom and social organization; it is in the actual regularities of group life that we find the “living law.” In context, this approach is more than an appeal to bring law into closer relation with social practice; it is an assertion that authoritative legal materials are to be found in the realities of group life. In other words, it questions the claim of the state to be the sole receptacle of legal authority. The pluralist motif was further enhanced by the central place Ehrlich gave to the “inner order of associations” as a font of law; here his work recalls Otto von Gierke’s treatment of the law of associations. Gierke stressed the reality of the autonomous collectivity, and in doing so he criticized not only the atomistic view of society and legal order as based upon individual will but also the legal notion of the association as a juridical fiction. Related ideas are found in the writings of Maurice Hauriou, who sought a legal reality in “the institution”—that is, in the association or enterprise (private as well as public) that has its own established authority and appropriate procedures. The sociological approach These intellectual tendencies have helped open up the boundaries of the legal order. They have enlarged the relevance of nonlegal ideas and findings to law and legal reasoning. On the other hand, they have had the common outcome of downgrading formal legal systems as significant social realities. In an important sense, the sociological school has been anti-legal. It has sought to put law in its place by emphasizing the primacy of the social context and by seeking “the legal” outside of its conventional sphere. In so doing, the sociological perspective runs the risk of dissolving the concept of law into the broader concepts of social control and social order; the idea of a “living law,” encompassing all the regularities of group life, offers no touchstone for the distinctively legal. Whatever the merits of the sociological school in having called attention to the need for a more realistic jurisprudence, the failure to offer a theory of the distinctively legal has been its cardinal weakness. The distinctively legal According to Max Weber, the distinctively legal emerges when “there exists a ‘coercive apparatus’, i.e., that there are one or more persons whose special task it is to hold themselves ready to apply specially provided means of coercion (legal coercion) for the purpose of norm enforcement” ([1922a] 1954, p. 13). In other words, a legal norm is known by the probability that it will be enforced by a specialized staff. Thus Weber offers an operational definition of law that is meant to exclude all value judgments in the assessment of what is or is not law. Although he emphasizes coercion, Weber is careful to point out that the threat of physical force is not essential to legal action, for coercion may consist in the threat of public reprimand or boycott. Thus Weber’s definition does not limit law to the political community; it allows for “extrastate” law, such as ecclesiastical law or the law of any other corporate group that is binding on its own members. Weber’s approach does have a certain rough utility, and it has the special virtue of being general enough to encourage the study of law in private associations. However, he offers no satisfactory theoretical ground for identifying the requirements of a legal order as he does. The availability of a specialized staff for the enforcement of norms may be highly correlated with the existence of a legal order and thus may serve as a reliable indicator of norms that have been selected for special treatment. However, it does not follow that this is what basically distinguishes legal from nonlegal norms and institutions. Authoritative norms An adequate theory of law must identify the distinctive work done by law in society, the special resources of law, and the characteristic mechanisms that law brings into play. In the quest for such a theory, little is gained from formulas that place coercive enforcement of norms at the center of legal experience. The key word in the discussion of law is authority, not coercion. The fundamental problems of juris-prudence stem from the puzzles and ambiguities associated with identifying the sources of authoritative rules, the authoritative application of rules, and the nature of authoritative change in existing rules. Although the legal requirement of paying a tax certainly has some connection with the coercive consequences of refusal to pay, the character of the obligation is more decisive. A tax is illegal if it violates an authoritative order, and it is nonlegal if it lacks appropriate authority, regardless of whether the probability of coercion exists. Hence legality presumes the emergence of authoritative norms whose status as such is “guaranteed” by evidence of other, consensually validated, rules. H. L. A. Hart has argued that, in stepping “from the pre-legal to the legal world,” a society develops special rules for curing the defects of a social order based on unofficial norms (1961, p. 91). A regime of unofficial norms has a number of inherent limitations, including the difficulty of resolving uncertainties as to the existence or scope of a norm. No criterion or procedure is available for settling such issues. The distinctively legal emerges with the development of “secondary rules,” that is, rules of authoritative determination. These rules, selectively applied, raise up the unofficial norms and give them a legal status. The elementary legal act is this appeal from an asserted rule, however coercively enforced, to a justifying rule. This presumes at least a dim awareness that some reason lies behind the impulse to conform; furthermore this reason is founded not in conscience, habit, or fear alone but rather in the decision to uphold an authoritative order. The rule of legal recognition may be quite blunt and crude: The law is what the king or priest says it is. But this initial reference of a historically given social norm to a more general ground of obligation breeds the complex elaboration of authoritative rules that marks a developed legal order. Resources of legal institutions. The special work of law is to identify claims and obligations that merit official validation or enforcement. This may consist of nothing more than the establishment of a public record invested with a special claim upon the community’s respect as a guide to action. When institutions emerge that do this work we can speak of a legal order. These institutions need not be specialized, and they may have no resources for coercive enforcement; it is essential only that their determinations affecting rights and duties are accepted as authoritative. An authoritative act asserts a claim to obedience, and the reach of that claim determines whether and to what extent a legal system exists. Although a weak legal order rests on a narrow base of consent, it may be able to mobilize very large resources of intimidation and thus command wide, if grudging, submission. A strong legal order is the product of a more substantial consensus and summons more willing obedience; it is correspondingly less dependent on the machinery of coercion. There is thus an important difference between the strength of a regime and the strength of a legal order, although the sheer persistence of the former may greatly influence acceptance for its claim to speak with authority. Of course, coercion is an important and often indispensable resource for law, but so are education, symbolism, and the appeal to reason. Coercion does not make law, though it may indeed establish an order out of which law may emerge. In much of his work Max Weber saw quite clearly the intimate relation of the legal and the authoritative. For example, his theory of authority and legitimacy contrasts the charismatic, the traditional, and the “rational legal,” thus placing law in a context of evolving forms of authority (1922b, pp. 328 ff. in 1947 edition). In this analysis Weber views fully developed law as a system of governance by rules; he sees the distinctively legal obligation as a component of an impersonal order that exhibits a strain toward rationality. Thus when Weber actually used the concept of law, especially in his theory of bureaucracy, he greatly modified the significance of coercion. Social foundations of legality The view of law just sketched highlights the place of authority, consensus, and rationality in the legal order. In a developed legal order, authority transcends coercion, accepts the restraints of reason, and contributes to a public consensus regarding the foundations of civic obligation. To the extent that law is “the enterprise of subjecting human conduct to the governance of rules” (Fuller 1964, p. 106), it can be said that law aims at a moral achievement; the name of that achievement is legality or “the rule of law.” Its distinctive contribution is a progressive reduction of the arbitrary element in positive law and its administration. As an intellectual discipline, the sociology of law has a far broader compass than the study of “the requirements of justice which lawyers term principles of legality” (Hart 1961, p. 202). Not every society gives equal weight to the ideal of “control by rule” as against other ideals; and there is much else to be said about law in society. Still, law is so intimately associated with the realization of these special values that study of “the rule of law” must be a chief preoccupation of legal sociology. Indeed, a considerable amount of contemporary research, as we shall note below, falls within this topic. The sociological study of legality presumes that the potential of law for realizing values is at best unevenly fulfilled. Legal decision making is carried on by living men in living institutions, who are subject to all the external pressures and constraints and all the inner sources of recalcitrance that frustrate the embodiment of abstract ideals in action. At the same time, some patterns of group life are more congenial than others to the rule of law. To discover which social conditions are congenial to the rule of law and which undermine it, and in what ways, is the main task of scientific inquiry in this field. Four topics provide a framework in which research on legality can be pursued: the transition from legitimacy to legality; rational consensus and civic competence; institutionalized criticism; and institutionalized self-restraint. While these topics are suggested by the experience of the Western world, their relevance is universal. Legitimacy and legality The existence of legality presumes that the power exercised by public officials is “legitimate” power. This means that an appeal is made to some principle as a source of right—the right to dispose of community resources in a certain way and especially the right to issue orders and enforce them. Many different principles of legitimacy are possible—for example, divine will, democratic election, private property, hereditary succession, seniority, and special competence. What principle of legitimacy will be accepted depends on the nature of the group, its cultural heritage, and special historical circumstances. To trace the rise and decline of various principles of legitimacy is to touch on major themes of political and social history. Legitimate power tends to be restrained. It is inherent in legitimacy that the will of the ruler, including the majority will of a democratic assembly, is not completely free. Nevertheless, many regimes properly classified as legitimate retain a very large amount of arbitrary rule. Legitimacy is only a first step toward legality. It can begin in a quite primitive fashion, meaning little more than unconscious acceptance of another’s authority be-cause he is thought to have communication with the gods or special magical powers or because he belongs to a noble family. Authority is primitive when power is legitimated by no more than a historically given public sentiment supporting a claim to rightful rule. But legitimacy carries the lively seed of legality, implanted by the principle that the exercise of power must be justified. From this it is but a step to the view that reasons must be given to defend official acts. Reasons invite evaluation, and evaluation requires the development of public standards. At the same time, implicit in the fundamental norm that reasons should be given is the conclusion that where reasons are defective, authority is to that extent weakened and even invalidated. The transition from legitimacy to legality requires the recognition that official acts can be questioned and appraised. The test is not whether the ruler is wise or good but whether his acts are justified by an explicit or implied grant of power. Most important, legality goes beyond a gross justification of the right to hold office; it gains strength and focus in proportion as the criterion of legitimacy is used to decide whether particular acts meet public standards of validity. For example, if conservation of natural resources is the purported foundation of rule making by a government agency, then that publicly acknowledged objective becomes available as a basis for criticizing specific rules and decisions. Clearly some principles of legitimacy are more competent than others to sustain the ideal of legality. If power is justified on the basis of tradition, proprietorship, kinship, or hereditary succession, it is difficult to find the leverage for continuous, reasoned criticism. When prescriptive right gives way to an abstract principle, as in the case of justification by popular will, social utility, trusteeship, or even divine right, then the principle of legitimacy can be analyzed and acts assessed. The way is then open for an appeal to reason. Rational consensus and civic competence Legality requires that the principles of legitimacy be firmly established in the community’s habits of thought; hence the study of both the content and the quality of consensus has a special bearing on the social bases of the rule of law. Strictly speaking, there can be no purely rational consensus. However, it may be approximated under two related conditions: if the historically given, non-rational sentiments are themselves supportive of rational conduct, for example, when received modes of apprehending man and society encourage self-restraint and tolerance of ambiguity; and if there is broad opportunity for the emergence of a public opinion founded in the free play of interests and ideas. In other words, rational consensus presupposes a genuine public opinion rather than agreement based on manipulation, withholding of information, or unmitigated appeals to tradition. Whatever contributes to rational consensus provides social support for legality. Decision making in the light of legality requires the continuous exercise of discriminating judgment, especially in the balancing of values, the elaboration of defensible rules, and the application of abstract principles to changing circumstances. While this work is largely carried on by a relatively small group of professionals, the capacity of the professionals to sustain and extend the ideals of legality depends on a parallel development of the public mind. The legal profession itself is not immune to influences that may undermine its commitment to the rule of law. The consensus that sustains legality entails deepened public understanding of the complex meaning of freedom under law. This goes beyond passive belief or even commitment. It is an extension of civic competence—the competence to participate effectively in a legal order. This is manifested, for example, in an increased capacity to be patient with procedural niceties in the face of a desire to punish, to exercise impartial judgment, and to use principles of criticism against even the most favored leaders of government. In a vital legal order something more is wanted than submission to law. A military establishment places very great emphasis on obedience to lawful commands, yet such a setting is hardly a model of the development of legality. So, too, a conception of law as the manifestation of awesome authority encourages a posture of submission and is fully compatible with arbitrary rule. In a community that aspires to a high order of legality obedience to law is not submissive compliance. The obligation to obey the law should be closely tied to the defensibility of the rules themselves and of the official decisions that enforce them. Institutionalized criticism If the ideals of legality are to be fulfilled, the capacity to generate and sustain reasoned criticism of the rules and of official discretion must be built into the machinery of lawmaking and administration. To this end, the Anglo-American legal tradition has relied heavily upon the availability of counsel, upon the adversary concept of the legal process, and upon the freedom of the judiciary and other officials to adopt a critical stance toward received law, both statutory and judge-made. Sociological research in this area confronts the ideals of due process with the realities of institutional life. For example, the availability of counsel may be limited for large sectors of the population; the independence and objectivity of officials may be weakened by their social origins and commitments; and limitations of competence and resources may inhibit the judiciary from effective criticism of rule making in private and public agencies. The possibility of effective criticism may largely depend upon the availability of group resources. The lone individual seeking justice—especially if he is poor and if his claim is subject to routine processing—has little opportunity to press for new interpretations of law or of administrative regulations. Group-based counsel, on the other hand, can develop specialized expertise as well as work out a strategy for legal change. In the Anglo—American tradition, the adversary principle has a special place as a vehicle of institutionalized criticism. It lends legitimacy to partisan advocacy within the legal process, allowing and even encouraging the zealous pursuit of special interest by means of self-serving interpretations of law and evidence. The assumptions underlying the adversary principle have not been fully analyzed or tested, nor have variations or functional surrogates in other societies been adequately studied. Moreover, there is evidence that partisan advocacy is weakened by certain factors that are becoming increasingly common in “administered” societies. Among these are the commitment of tribunals to a positive outcome, as in family conciliation proceedings; reliance on experts and investigators who serve the court directly; the mandate to temper justice with treatment, as in juvenile hearings; and the routine handling of a large number of cases. No doubt these new problems and contexts will lessen reliance on the adversary principle in some areas; more important, however, will be the development of new forms of advocacy and critical dialogue. Administrative agencies, both criminal and civil, are increasingly recognized as active centers for making laws and dispensing justice, although the visibility of such decisions is often quite low. Sociological study of organizations can trace the actual course of decision making and can identify the opportunities available, within the social structure of the agency, for increasing the visibility of decisions and developing new forms of institutionalized criticism. Institutionalized self-restraint Every officer of the law—policeman, president, legislator, attorney, judge, licensing commissioner, draft board member—is in some degree a magistrate. He exercises discretion and thereby affects the rights of citizens. The rule of law requires that this discretion be restrained, yet it also asks for independent judgments in the assessment of fact, the assignment of moral culpability, and the application of legal rules to particular circumstances. To achieve restrained discretion, more is needed than criticism of authority and pressure upon it. The system depends heavily on seJf-restraint and thus on social mechanisms for building in appropriate values and rules of conduct. Historically, legal self-restraint has been supported by public consensus on the nature and limits of authority, professionalization of lawyers and other officials, and the evolution of clearly defined roles, such as that of the judge. But there is considerable variation in that achievement, and under modern conditions there is a need for more attention to the organizational sources of self-restraint as distinguished from mechanisms of socialization. Ethical conduct is mainly found in settings that nourish and sustain it, that is, where such conduct makes sense for the official in the light of the realistic problems he faces. To design such settings is properly the chief aim of the architect of legal institutions. As applied to the legal profession, this principle has been documented in a recent study of the New York City bar (Carlin 1966). Law and social change The preceding discussion of the social foundations of legality emphasizes the conditions that strengthen or weaken the rule of law. The same problem may be approached historically, placing the evolution of legality in a context of broad social change and relating it to the development of other social institutions, including culturally defined conceptions of authority and justice. Thus Max Weber was interested in the emergence of rationality as a principle of organization and decision making; he saw rationality as the key to modernization and traced its effects in many fields, including law. In modern Western society the extension of legality to new institutions and settings occurs mainly within government, encompassing wider circles of officials and agencies, subjecting more decisions to review, and raising the standard of what constitutes fair procedure. The Scandinavian ombudsman, an official to whom the citizen can appeal directly when he feels wronged by a government agency, is a symbol of the demand for new modes of redress against a large and opaque government apparatus. Also evident is a tentative movement toward legal restraint of arbitrary decision in nongovernmental institutions, especially those that serve a general public, such as colleges, trade unions, and large business firms. These developments, fostered in large measure by the work of associations formed to advance group interests, reflect a growing public sensitivity to legal rights. The legal profession itself, both by scholarship and by the official statements of its professional organizations, has contributed to the critical assessment of official procedures. Nor should it be overlooked that modern organizations, as part of their greater effectiveness and rationality, have an increased capacity to support the machinery of due process. There is, however, an underlying conflict between administration and legality. In the first place, procedural safeguards are costly in time, energy, and the risk that action will be inhibited. In the United States, for instance, the police must carry out their traditional tasks of surveillance and apprehension subject to many new legal rulings affecting search, arrest, and detention. Any organization that has a job to do, yet must meet standards of fairness, faces this tension. Second, an official who is preoccupied with the fair application of general rules—equal treatment under law—finds it difficult to deal with each problem or case on its merits, taking account of special circumstances and needs and adapting policies to desired outcomes. The modern quest, and one that requires much supportive research, is for variable standards of fairness, embodying basic principles of procedural justice with due regard for the distinctive needs of specialized institutions and programs. Incipient law The antiformalist posture of legal sociology has encouraged interest in the problem-solving practices and spontaneous orderings of business or family life. While this approach has tended to depreciate formal law, in principle it just as easily supports an emphasis on the emergence of formal law out of the realities of group life. Incipient law is implicit in the way in which public sentiment develops or in any increasingly stabilized pattern of organization; it refers to a compelling claim of right or a practice so viable and so important to a functioning institution as to make legal recognition in due course highly probable. Thus some of the private arrangements worked out in collective bargaining agreements, especially seniority rights and protection against arbitrary dismissal, may be seen as incipient law. However, the location of incipient law cannot rest solely on the prevalence of a practice or even the urgency of a claim; two parallel assessments are required. First, the social viability of the practice in question—its functional significance for group life and especially for new institutional forms—must be considered. Second, the contemporary evolution of relevant legal principles must be assessed to see whether the new norm can be absorbed within the received but changing legal tradition. A focus on incipient legal change bridges the concepts of law and social order without confounding the two; it assumes that law does indeed have its distinctive nature, however much it may rely on social support or be responsible to social change. On the other hand, some law is seen as latent in the evolving social and economic order. For example, the trend toward strict liability for harm caused by defects in manufactured goods (weakening or eliminating the need to prove negligence) reflects changing technology, both in manufacture and distribution, as well as the increased capacity of large firms to absorb the attendant costs either by increasing productivity or by passing them on to the general public. Similarly, the growing importance of large-scale organizations carries with it the likelihood that new claims of right will emerge, based upon a new perception of organizational membership as a protectable status. Law as a vehicle of social change For the most part, legal sociology has viewed law as a passive rather than active agent in social change. Law “responds” to new circumstances and pressures. However, especially in recent years the great social effects of legal change have been too obvious to ignore. The question is no longer whether law is a significant vehicle of social change but rather how it so functions and what special problems arise. One way of approaching these problems is to consider the relative significance for social change of legislation, administration, and common law. Each has its special competence, and each has been dominant as a mode of change at different periods and in different branches of the law. In this context “common law” is not restricted to the Anglo-American legal tradition. Rather, it refers to any pattern of legal decision and evolution that relies on judicial creativity. Although this form of legal development is most explicitly recognized in what are called the “common-law” jurisdictions, in fact such creativity is inherent in the judicial process and plays an important part in the “code” jurisdictions of continental Europe (Friedmann [1944] 1960, pp. 483‱486). The common-law approach relies heavily upon tradition and the authority of the tribunal as sources of legitimacy. Judicial elaboration of abstract ideas, including reasoning by analogy, fits new departures into a received system of concepts and rules. “Realist” criticism of common-law concepts has sometimes overlooked this social function of abstractions. Legal ideas are indeed often distant from the realities of social practice, but their very generality is useful for making new adaptations while preserving a sense of continuity and therefore of legitimacy. The common-law method of change is mainly piecemeal and gradual. It can safeguard a precarious consensus by avoiding radical or sweeping change and by relying on studied indirection rather than unambiguous confrontation. On the other hand, judges who have the authority to interpret a basic statute, such as a written constitution, can provide leadership in some branches of the law, as United States history has shown. In such a case, public commitment to the statute reinforces the legitimacy of judicial decision. The great weakness of common-law empiricism is the difficulty of working out comprehensive attacks on new problems, such as urban land use, industrial accidents, or labor-management relations. The common-law approach seems to work best when basic policy is settled and the need is for refinement of distinctions and adaptation of the policy to new settings. Legislation is the most obvious way of bringing political will to bear for the purpose of effecting social change through law. Unlike courts, which are tied to tradition, legislatures are commonly perceived as legitimate agencies for innovation; they can muster better means of inquiry, and they can create administrative agencies to execute and elaborate legislative policy. There are important continuities, as well as tensions, in the relation between legislation and common law. Where these continuities and tensions occur, jurisprudential problems of law and social change arise. For example, a series of statutes can be viewed as creating a new “field” of law (such as labor law or welfare law), with the result that authoritative concepts and doctrines emerge which go beyond the letter of the statutes and form starting points for legal reasoning. This work of interpretation and elaboration, using a common-law perspective, is carried on by administrative agencies as well as courts. Its effect is to institutionalize the statutory policy. Although politics and legislation are the basic sources of legal change in modern society, the administrative agency is a characteristic and potent vehicle of that change. It can summon material and human resources, including moral dedication and professional zeal, for turning legislative policy into social reality. An administrative agency can contribute to law by detailed rule making, its own adjudications, the patterned course of discretion it adopts, the practical effect it has on the social structure, and the initiative it may take in proposing statutory changes. However, agencies differ markedly in their capacity to influence law and society. Much depends on whether the agency conceives of itself as active or passive; this in turn reflects the nature of its special constituency, if any, as well as the newness and popular appeal of the program, the initial resources it is given, and the relations it may develop with other agencies. Some agencies are captives of their constituencies, including groups they are supposed to regulate, and contribute little to legal development. Perhaps the most basic resource of the law for fostering and guiding social change is the set of legal principles that can be invoked to justify action in their name. This is especially true of constitutional principles that contain ideals of civic right. Such ideals are usually only imperfectly embodied in the operative rules of a given time and place. For long periods the gap between the legal ideal and the legal reality may be accepted with passivity and even good will, but social change may bring with it new opportunities for more perfect embodiment of the ideal in practice and a quickened awareness of this possibility. The result is twofold: Energy for social change is enlarged by a sense of legitimacy, and those who attempt to defend the status quo are made vulnerable and placed on the defensive. Thus law both contributes to rising expectations and may, in due course, provide vehicles for their realization. Major trends. Several large-scale social changes have contributed to a vast increase in the tasks that must be assumed by a modern legal order. As kinship, fixed status, and community have declined as sources of social control, the drift has been toward a mass society marked by high rates of mobility, fragmented social experience, rising demands for short-run gratification, and more active participation by large numbers in hitherto insulated areas of social life. This trend has resulted in greatly increased pressure on formal agencies of regulation and service. A related development has been the emergence of the large organization as the representative institution of modern society; it depends upon, and also summons, mass participation in economic, political, and cultural life. A new “corporatism” brings with it many new problems for the law, including assessment of the social responsibilities of private associations, blurring of the distinction between private and public law, concern for the rights of association members, and regulation of competition and conflict when self-governing market mechanisms break down (Friedmann 1959). A third significant trend has been the ascendance of social interests over parochial interests. The increasing interdependence of existence in modern society and correlative changes in values have weakened the claims of private interests and stimulated the quest for criteria of social worth. This is the foundation of what has been called the “socialization of law.” As described by Pound (1959), the socialization of law is manifested in a growing tendency to impose limitations on the use and disposition of property, on freedom of contract, and on the power of creditors to exact satisfaction; in the movement toward liability without fault; and in many other legal rules and concepts. While this trend undermines the concept of the individual as a holder of abstract rights, it tends strongly to make the person an object of social and legal concern. This is reflected in much welfare legislation, which often begins as a way of solving a social problem and increasingly turns attention to the needs of persons. Social research Recent efforts to encourage the sociology of law have emphasized the need for empirical research and for a corresponding sense of relevance to con-temporary social problems. The newer work is less interested in showing the limitations of law relative to other forms of social control than in bringing the expertise of social science to bear on the analysis of specific problems. It is likely that in the future legal sociology will be characterized by an affirmation of law rather than by a downgrading of it. This is especially true of research on the administration of justice. Studies of tribunals and other legal agencies may be narrowly concerned with efficient use of scarce resources, but they also tend to compare the ideal and the reality. As the “morality of law” (Fuller 1964) becomes a subject for empirical research, there will be a natural tendency to stress the contribution law can make to a moral order. In line with this emphasis, much current research centers on social aspects of the administration of justice, as in studies of the jury (Kalven & Zeisel 1966; Simon 1967), patterns of law enforcement (Lindesmith 1965; Skolnick 1966), juvenile justice (Tappan 1947; Matza 1964), and the legal profession. Most of this work is normative as well as factual: It seeks out the conditions and processes that undermine or support procedural fairness and the recognition of basic rights. There is an implicit demand for fulfillment of legal ideals. A more ambiguous attitude toward the moral significance of law is found in the sociology of deviance. Here the recent emphasis is on the law’s role in creating deviance (Becker 1963). This occurs in two ways. First, the definition of what is “criminal” is a social process; and in borderline crimes, where consensus is weak, large numbers of people may find themselves classified as “criminals” as a result of political action by moralists. When this occurs, there is a strong tendency for illicit activity to continue, for that activity to take on more determinate criminal form, and for the quality of law enforcement to suffer. Second, a casual offender may be transformed into a committed deviant by the legal “processing” to which he is exposed, especially when he is systematically treated as a deviant and stigmatized as such. Under these circumstances law breeds illegality. The normative lesson is: To preserve the integrity of law it should be used with restraint in the control of personal conduct, especially where the specific harm is problematical and may be exceeded by the social costs of ineffective enforcement (Schur 1965). Other research includes studies of public opinion and law (Cohen et al. 1958), legal forms and economic realities (Berle 1959; Macaulay 1963), judicial values and perspectives (Schubert 1960), the extension of legal or quasi-legal rights to members of “private governments,” such as the large corporation (Eels 1962), and social history of legal ideas and institutions (Friedman 1965; Hall 1935; Hurst 1950; I960; 1964). The comparative study of law and society is being stimulated by scholarly interest in the “developing” nations (Anderson 1963; Lev 1965), by the assessment of changes in communist society (Berman 1950; Hazard 1953; 1960), and by a marked tendency among some students of comparative law to take fuller account of social and political contexts (Von Mehren 1963). The major problem of legal sociology remains the integration of jurisprudence and social research. 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Durkheim, ÉMILE (1950) 1958 Professional Ethics and Civic Morals. Glencoe, 111.: Free Press. → First published, posthumously, as Lecons de sociologie: Physique des moeurs et du droit. Eels, Richard 1962 The Government of Corporations. New York: Free Press. Ehrlich, Eugen (1913) 1936 Fundamental Principles of the Sociology of Law. Translated by Walter L. Moll with an introduction by Roscoe Pound. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Grundlegung der Soziologie des Rechts. Evan, William M. (editor) 1962 Law and Sociology: Exploratory Essays. New York: Free Press. Friedman, Lawrence M. 1965 Contract Law in America: A Social and Economic Case Study. Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press. Friedmann, Wolfgang (1944) 1960 Legal Theory. 4th ed. London: Stevens. Friedmann, Wolfgang 1959 Law in a Changing Society. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press. Fuller, Lon L. 1964 The Morality of Law. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. 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Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Kalven, Harry; and ZEISEL, HANS 1966 The American Jury. Boston: Little. Lev, Daniel S. 1965 The Lady and the Banyan Tree: Civil-law Change in Indonesia. American Journal of Comparative Law 14:282-307. Lindesmith, Alfred R. 1965 The Addict and the Law. Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press. Llewellyn, Karl N. (1928-1960) 1962 Jurisprudence: Realism in Theory and Practice. Univ. of Chicago Press. Llewellyn, Karl N. 1960 The Common Law Tradition: Deciding Appeals. Boston: Little. Macaulay, Stewart 1963 Non-contractual Relations in Business: A Preliminary Study. American Sociological Review 28:55-67. Mannheim, Hermann 1946 Criminal Justice and Social Reconstruction. London: Routledge. Matza, David 1964 Delinquency and Drift. New York: Wiley. Pound, Roscoe 1959 Jurisprudence. 5 vols. St. Paul, Minn.: West. → Volume 1: Jurisprudence: The End of Law. Volume 2: The Nature of Law. Volume 3: The Scope and Subject Matter of Law. Volume 4: Application and Enforcement of Law. Volume 5: The System of Law. Volume 1 reviews the main literature of sociological jurisprudence. Renner, Karl (1929) 1949 The Institutions of Private Law and Their Social Functions. London: Routledge. → First published as Die Rechtsinstitute des Privatrechts und ihre soziale Funktion: Ein Beitrag zur Kritik des biirgerlichen Rechts. Schubert, Glendon 1960 Quantitative Analysis of Judicial Behavior. Glencoe, 111.: Free Press. Schur, Edwin M. 1965 Crimes Without Victims. Engle-wood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Simon, Rita (JAMES) 1967 American Jury —The Defense of Insanity. Boston: Little. Simpson, Sidney P.; and Stone, Julius (editors) 1948–1949 Cases and Readings on Law and Society. 3 vols. St. Paul, Minn.: West. Skolnick, Jerome H. 1966 Justice Without Trial. New York: Wiley. Tappan, Paul W. 1947 Delinquent Girls in Court: A Study of the Wayward Minor Court of New York.New York: Columbia Univ. Press. Timasheff, Nicholas S. 1939 An Introduction to the Sociology of Law. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ., Committee on Research in the Social Sciences. Vinogradoff, Paul 1920-1922 Outlines of Historical Jurisprudence. 2 vols. Oxford Univ. Press. → Volume 1: Introduction; Tribal Law. Volume 2: The Jurisprudence of the Greek City. Von Mehren, Arthur T. (editor) 1963 Law in Japan: The Legal Order in a Changing Society. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Weber, Max (1922a) 1954 Max Weber on Law in Economy and Society. Edited, with an introduction and annotations by Max Rheinstein. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Chapter 7 of Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Weber, Max (1922b) 1957 The Theory of Social and Economic Organization. Edited by Talcott Parsons. Glencoe, 111.: Free Press. → First published as Part 1 of Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. II THE LEGAL SYSTEM The comparative analysis of the social structures of legal systems has its historical roots in the study of comparative law. It is possible to draw an analytical distinction between the two disciplines. Comparative structural analysis is a sociological endeavor. Its subject matter is the organization of legal activity and the variable character of the groups and social roles involved in the legal process; its primary goal is the discovery and explanation of regularities in institutional structure and development. Comparative law, on the other hand, is a jurisprudential study. Its practitioners are interested in the normative content of various systems of law and are often motivated by a desire to seek the fairest and most effective means of ordering the legal relations between men. Nevertheless, the intimate connection between the two fields should not be overlooked. In one branch of comparative law the sociological element is particularly strong: students of comparative legal history have generally accepted the proposition that legal concepts and modes of legal thought reflect an under-lying framework of social organization. Thus, legal historians have often viewed the normative content of law from a sociological perspective. ORIGINS OF THE STRUCTURAL APPROACH The sociological perspective is at least as old as the Enlightenment and Montesquieu’s classic,De I’esprit des lois(1748). Montesquieu found the sources of law in climate and geography and in the social institutions and national character of a people. The concept of national character pervades the work of Friedrich Karl Savigny, who is generally regarded as the founder of historical jurisprudence (Stone [1946] 1950, chapter 18). Savigny wrote in the context of a national debate regarding the proposed codification of German law. He argued that codification would destroy the peculiarly Germanic character of German law and that the loss of national distinctiveness would be disastrous because any system of law must truly reflect the spirit and genius of the institutions of a people. To document his views, he produced a series of scholarly volumes on Roman and German law that were de-signed to demonstrate the close correspondence between social and legal development in those nations. From here it is but a short, logical step to our contemporary interest in the relation between the “positive” norms of the law of the state and the de facto norms which emerge from the institutions of the larger society. In American sociology this concern has independent roots in William Graham Sumner’s interest in the mores, the folkways, and the stateways (1906), and in E. A. Ross’s emphasis on social control (1901; see also F. J. Davis et al. 1962, chapters 1, 2). On a global scale, however, the dominant transitional figure was the Austrian jurist Eugen Ehrlich (1913). The proposition that laws ought to reflect the peculiar character of a nation’s social institutions is easily transformed into the closely related view that such a correspondence is desirable but has not been achieved. Ehrlich became disturbed by the failure of the conceptual apparatus of positive law to adequately reflect the “living law.” For Ehrlich the living law is the de facto normative pattern that develops as competing social interests are resolved within the many groups and institutions constituting the “inner order” of a society. In the English-speaking world the works of Sir Henry Sumner Maine (1861) had a profound impact on jurists and social scientists alike, since Maine attempted to trace both the evolutionary development of legal concepts and the social developments that produced them. Maine’s posthumous influence extended to the Continent, where it played a role in shaping the thought of scholars within the emerging discipline of sociology. Weber’s comparative studies . Among those Con tinental scholars, Max Weber (1922) formulated the most comprehensive accounts of comparative legal structure. Weber’s investigations were carried out as a part of his inquiries into the causes and consequences of the “rationalization” of the Western world. “Rationalization” in this context refers to the process by which aninstitution becomes systematically and logically elaborated according to general, analytical, and calculable principles. Weber developed one of his characteristic ideal typologies for distinguishing the various types of legal thought found in the history of juristic development. He then elaborated one of Maine’s fundamental ideas by showing that each type of legal thought is associated with a given form of legal organization and particularly with the structural location of legal specialists. Thus, for example, the logical rationality of Continental European conceptual jurisprudence is attributable to the influence of university-based professors who turned their philosophically trained intellects to the task of expounding the Roman law as alogically closed, abstract system. Weber also examined the impact of variation in the structure of both governmental institutions and power relations among elite groups. He pointed out that the forms of legal development fostered by the university-based Romanists appealed to the interests of monarchs and bureaucrats in systematic administration and to the concerns of the rising capitalist class with the predictable protection of private rights. Weber’s account of comparative legal structure must also be seen in the context of his general interest in the rise and development of capitalist economic structure. His analysis of the role of law in capitalist development is effectively summarized in his treatment of the change in the concept of “special law.” We may speak of special law when legal obligations apply differentially to different groups of people. According to Weber, special law originated in the differentiation of society into various status groups each with its traditional code and a degree of feudal independence from regulation by agents of the larger society. By contrast, the modern law of the centralized, bureaucratic state permits the different units of society to enter into legally binding contracts with each other. Thus, the power of the state is made to support bodies of special law created de novo by capitalists with interdependent interests. Durkheim’s theory of sanctions . Weber’s theory converges with the ideas of the French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1893), who, following in a direct line of influence from Maine, was interested in the transition to a social order based upon contract. Durkheim speculated that differences in legal structure so closely reflect underlying differences in social structure as to constitute indices of types of societies. In primitive societies the bonds of cohesion are formed by the global, undifferentiated norms of the “common conscience.” In such a so ciety, law is repressive; it operates through sanctions designed to obliterate offenses to the common conscience and heal its wounds. Over time, as social solidarity comes to depend more and more upon the interdependence of specialized units, the legal order also becomes differentiated. Bodies of specialized norms develop, which are backed by restitutive sanctions designed to restore the balance of interests between competing but interdependent social groups. The new type of law permits private groups to negotiate within the context of general normative limitations and to contractually create for themselves viable systems of enforceable legal obligations. Thus, Durkheim and Weber converged in a common recognition of an important dimension of structural variation in legal systems, namely, the extent of reliance on private action to create legal obligation. At the same time, both recognized the critical importance of the problem of the articulation of the authority of the larger society with private legal obligations. PROBLEMS OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS Given Western legal values, one problem area stands out as the central concern of comparative structural analysis: What are the various ways that legal systems relate to their social environment and, in particular, what are the structural correlates of legal independence? DEFINING THE SYSTEM The first problem is to establish an analytical boundary between the legal system and its environment by defining the term “legal system.” This is a notoriously difficult problem. Not the least of the difficulties stems from the fact that definitions that are adequate to the task of defining law in modern states fail to include the law of societies in which legal relations are inextricably entangled in other institutional contexts. One solution is to define the legal system functionally, so that its existence is not made to depend upon a structurally distinct set of roles or upon groups such as courts or police. Many functional definitions rely upon the concept of social control (F. J. Davis et al. 1962, chapter 2). Law is defined as a type of social control that relies on a particular form of enforcement, usually enforcement through the legitimate use of force. Parsons (1962) and others would rather treat enforcement as a political function, external to the legal system. The advantage of this strategy is that it focuses attention on the variable structural arrangements through which legal systems come to have access to sources of coercive power. In this view, the peculiar province of law is interpretation. Social integration is often attributed to normative controls. However, social norms are not sufficiently specific to provide authoritative guides to conduct. Further, consensus about norms is often accompanied by dispute about the facts to which norms are to be applied. Accordingly, procedures develop for issuing authoritative versions of ambiguous situations of conflict and for propounding binding rules tailored to the particularities of these situations. Enforcement, on the other hand, isa political problem, a problem of mobilizing sufficient power to implement legal decisions. Those who insist on including enforcement within the legal system can reply that interpretation is a necessary component of any act of enforcement. Interpretation could never be isolated in any single differentiated institution. A viable research strategy must guard against the fallacy of neglecting the fact that consequential interpretive decisions are continually being made at many points in the social structure. SYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENT However the boundaries of the legal system are drawn, the problem of conceptualizing relations with the environment remains. There are a variety of ways of viewing this problem, but in Western thought one approach has dominated analysis. The problem has been defined as one of accounting for the independence of the legal system. Western political philosophy has accorded a high place to the “rule of law.” From a sociological perspective, the rule of law refers to a society with a differentiated legal system, free from domination by any other institutional complex. Where the rule of law prevails, the legal process is subordinate only to established, known, and universalistic rules. Given this value concern, the task of comparative sociology is to account for the social basis of the rule of law. To this end, we may distinguish four types of relations between the legal system and its social environment. First, the legal system may be undifferentiated, that is, it may have no differentiated structural home. Thus, legal functions are performed only as a by-product of activity within other institutions. For example, among the Eskimos socially enforceable interpretations are implicitly made in the context of public curing ceremonies and popular assemblies and in ritualized combat of various sorts, but there are no specialized procedures for formally proclaiming enforceable decisions (Hoebel 1954, chapter 5). Second, a system may be subordinate. In this case specialized formal procedures, involving specially designated personnel, are present but legal activities are controlled by other institutions. For example, justice may be dispensed by the king’s ministers, as in ancient Egypt, or by priests subject to sacerdotal discipline, as in Sumer and Babylonia. Third, a system may be autonomous. The legal practitioners may become so insulated from external controls as to become unresponsive to demands from other quarters. In these circumstances a legal system will develop according to an inner dynamic reflecting the dominant concerns of the practitioner group. Thus, for example, religious scholars may treat the law as a logical elaboration of theological concepts. The outstanding example of this is the development of the Semitic legal tradition. The fourth category is the most complicated, as well as the most highly prized, in legal philosophy. Legal systems may be called partially independent when they are sufficiently insulated to permit independence in some spheres but not so protected as to prevent adaptive responses to the needs of other sectors of the society. The “ideal” form of partial independence is procedural independence. In this case, insulating mechanisms protect the day-to-day operation of the legal system and the interpretive process but do not make the system unresponsive to social interests, as formulated into general policies by legislatures and organized public opinion. The concept of procedural independence must not be confused with the discredited idea that the judicial process can be purely mechanical or logical. American political science and legal realism have effectively shown that legal decisions necessarily involve choices between alternative policies. The difference between autonomy and procedural independence is that in the latter case adjudicators are responsive to policy premises originating outside the legal system. Procedural independence is not only highly valued; it is also a crucially important case for sociological theory. Theorists as divergent as Weber (1922) and Engels (Marx & Engels 1848-1898, pp. 447–448 in 1949 edition) have stressed that procedural independence may contribute to the interests of particular social classes or institutions. An independent legal system, operating through the universalistic interpretation of established rules, is an efficient vehicle for legitimizing political domination. Further, such a system provides a set of stable expectations that facilitate economic calculation. A degree of procedural independence may emerge as a response to the conditions of stable economic relations, even in the face of considerable political domination of the legal process. For instance, contractual arbitration in the Soviet Union became subject to the rule of law in order to foster accountability and stability in the relations between economic units (Berman 1950). LAW AS SOCIAL INSTITUTION The demand for stabilization of economic rights is only one of the forces supporting procedural in-dependence. It is the task of comparative analysis to explicate the various structures and mechanisms that either insulate legal systems or make them vulnerable to external demands. Many protective devices are quite familiar; judicial tenure, judicial review, constitutional limitation, and judicial control over enforcement officials are obvious sources of judicial power. But from a sociological point of view the important question is, How are these mechanisms institutionalized? that is, How are they supported by concrete social arrangements? A number of components of social structure are involved in the patterning of the relations between legal systems and other social institutions, but one factor has seemed especially important to sociologists. Comparative analysts have been particularly interested in the impact of the structure of professional specialization. LEGAL SPECIALISTS The significance of the structural location and internal organization of professional groups is implicit in what has already been stated. Undifferendated legal systems, having no specialized legal procedures, lack persons with special legal functions. Once a differentiated legal system develops, its character is profoundly affected by the social characteristics of its associated professionals. Indeed, one of the central propositions of comparative legal sociology is that autonomous and independent legal systems are supported by tightly organized professional groups, with an independent power base, whereas subordinate legal systems reflect the dependency and weakness of legal specialists. Apart from this general proposition, it may also be asserted that specific characteristics of legal systems may be derived from attributes of professional groups. To take an obvious example, when adjudication is controlled by religious functionaries, then law is likely to have religious overtones. Four major categories of legal specialists can be distinguished for present purposes. The first group may be broadly designated adjudicators and includes judges, magistrates, arbitrators, referees, hearing examiners, and similar functionaries. The second group consists of professional advocates of legal causes. The third group consists of legal advisers, such as the familiar English solicitor. No taries, conveyancers, and other draftsmen, also, belong in this category, and their significance should not be underestimated. As Weber ([1922] 1954, pp. 72–201, 210) has shown, where private elements are strong in the legal system, these “auxiliary” jurists assume special importance. When the state assures the bindingness of private agreements, the drafters of legal documents may become legal innovators who play an important role in shaping legal development. The fourth group consists of the legal scholars —the teachers, writers, historians, and commentators whose contributions have been very important in both the Roman and civil law and in many non-Western traditions as well. The four categories of legal specialists may or may not be differentiated from each other in practice, and the type and degree of internal differentiation is one of the important structural features of a legal system. Another of Weber’s hypotheses is that the intensely practical and empirical character of the common law reflects the fact that it developed at a time when teaching was not differentiated from legal practice; there were no specialized scholars to impart an abstract ideological content to the law. Professional organization. The internal differentiation of the legal profession is only one organizational element among many within the profession. Patterns of professional recruitment and advancement, the organization of professional training, and the organization and control of professional practice may have important consequences for the operation of the legal system. The explana-tory potential of these variables is illustrated in Ulf Torgersen’s study of the small and declining political role of the Norwegian Supreme Court (1963). The relative insignificance of judicial re-view is attributable to the patterns of recruitment to the court, which has been increasingly dominated by career bureaucrats rather than private attorneys. Tight professional control over recruitment, training, advancement, and practice, founded upon a monopoly of access to technical legal knowledge and a monopoly of the right to legal advocacy, is one major source of independence and autonomy. However, there are other sources of legal power. The independence of legal specialists may be supported by the sponsorship of representatives of other powerful groups. Thus, adjudicators may be insulated from the domination of economic interests by the sponsorship of governmental power, or vice versa. Symbolic factors are often especially powerful in the legal sector. Legal specialists have rivaled religious functionaries in their capacity to assert successfully claims of special access to the sources of truth and right. Such claims have been supported by a variety of symbolic paraphernalia, ranging from magic and ritual to the more subtle trappings of modern judicial dignity. Ritualistic practices should not be discounted, but in modern liberal democracies the most important bulwark of legal independence has been the capture of the right to symbolically represent the limitation of governmental power. In this sense, the rule of law has supported itself; the independent professionals, who provide its social foundation, derive their influence in part from their symbolic embodiment of the normative regulation of power. THE LEGAL PROCESS Another approach to the articulation of the legal system and its social environment would eschew the abstract analysis of the structural location and internal organization of legal specialists in order to concentrate on the con-crete transactions between legal specialists and representatives of other spheres. These transactions include such processes as litigation, professional consultation, judicial enforcement, appointment or election to adjudicative office, and complaint to legal authorities. According to this view, the proper strategy for comparative analysis is to study the structural arrangements that pattern interaction between legal specialists and others. The structural framework of legal transactions shapes their content and often provides leverage for either the legal system or its potential adversaries. For example, one of the functions of formal legal procedure is to compel the parties to legal disputes to mold their concrete conflicts into issues subject to normative settlement. In so doing, the parties are forced to isolate normative issues and eliminate extraneous power factors. Power factors come to be defined as being outside of the scope of inquiry, and the adjudicator thus gains leverage on his clients. On the other hand, the process of litigation is structured by the characteristics of cases that are preshaped by social organization before they come to the attention of legal authorities. Social structure generates a variety of types of conflict. Some conflict situations are channeled to the legal system; others are resolved in other contexts. Ready access to the legal system may depend upon a preferred position in the social order. Further, even among those who have ready access to the legal system, litigation is a strategic alternative to a variety of other modes of pressing interests. In consequence, legal officials are not always in a position to control the types of issues that come before them or the structural context within which issues are presented. Thus, litigation can be conceived of as a series of transactions between the legal system and other social components, which are structured in part by the legal system and in part by external factors. Other transactions are subject to similar analysis. EVOLUTION OF LEGAL SYSTEMS A third approach to comparative analysis may be described as evolutionary: How, and in what sequence of steps, have differentiated legal systems emerged? In this respect, Durkheim’s thought runs counter to Weber. Weber was concerned with the emergence of the modern state from its feudal predecessors, and in this context he stressed the lack of centralized machinery of enforcement in many preindustrial societies. Durkheim, in his insistence on the importance of repressive sanctions in primitive society, seems to assume that the existence of societal enforcement mechanisms is not problematical. The anthropologists and historians who are students of legal evolution cannot agree with him. They continually search for the analogues to the legal process in “stateless” societies and trace the development of differentiated legal systems based upon a state monopoly of legitimate enforcement power. The gradual development of central legal machinery in Europe has been known to legal historians for some time (F. J. Davis et al. 1962, chapter 2; Wigmore 1928). Scholarly interest in the evolution of legal procedure has been reawakened recently, in part because of concern for the problems of world legal order. The sequence of development from primitive self-help to central enforcement of norms through a universalistic, normatively regulated procedure has intrigued those who are interested in the possibility of a similar development at the world level [see Inter-national law]. R. D. Schwartz and J. C. Miller (1964), in a cross-cultural study of 51 societies, have shown that three structural attributes of legal procedure combine in a systematic pattern that can be described as a cumulative scale. The representation of interests by third parties is found only in societies with both special police forces and third-party mediation of disputes. Police and mediation sometimes occur in the absence of representation, and sometimes mediation is found in the absence of any police to carry out the orders of mediating agencies. In some societies none of these procedural devices is present. The authors also found that the elaboration of legal procedure as measured by position on the cumulative scale is associated with measures of societal complexity, suggesting an evolutionary sequence of development. The sequence suggested is consistent with Western legal development as it has been pieced together by juristic scholars. The earliest legal systems are barely legal. The closest approximations to legal institutions are the rules governing kin-organized feuding and the sets of traditional compensations for wrongs. Later, regular procedures for submitting feuds to arbitration develop, but even then the parties may need to resort to self-help for enforcement. With the monopolization of legitimate force in the hands of the state, the legal system may rely on a specialized police force for enforcement of adjudicative orders. Finally, given a forum for binding and enforceable arbitration, the stage is set for the full development of professional advocacy. GROWTH OF LEGAL PLURALISM Historians have paid particular attention to the first two steps in the process. Law is said to appear in fully differentiated form once there is centralized enforcement of binding adjudication. From the perspective of comparative structural analysis the third step, also, is crucial, for with the appearance of institutionalized representation comes powerful support for procedural independence. For the first time there exists a set of legal specialists whose interests are not identical with the interests of mediators. It is possible that the new representer group will be captured by a particular set of interests, but theoretically the requisite social supports are present for the introduction of pluralism into the structure of the legal system. Professional representation can bring to the day-to-day administration of justice effective legal advocacy of the full range of interests present in society. One step to pluralism is the creation of a market for professional services, so that legal representation can be purchased without regard to the content of the claims one wishes to advance. This requires either a high degree of professional neutrality or heterogeneity in the backgrounds and interests of recruits to professional service. The establishment of a market for legal services is not a sufficient condition for pluralism, since the professional market will reflect the imperfections and inequalities of the economic structure of society. Since the inequalities of the marketplace may be overcome byvarious procedural devices and by effective organization for legal advocacy, the variable organization of access to representation is one of the most important elements in the comparative study of modern legal systems. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW In many instances ready access to the legal system has been promoted through the creation of administrative remedies, which permit rights to be secured by direct application to administrative agencies of government. Traditional courts and their sometimes cumbersome procedures are bypassed. At the same time, in their judicial activities the administrative agencies operate in at least a quasi-judicial fashion, preserving many of the forms of law and subjecting themselves to the rule of law. Administrative procedure tends to be more informal than traditional legal procedure, and is less likely to involve formal adversaries. It can therefore permit the adjudicator a relatively free hand to shape solutions that take into account the particularities of a given case. Yet, administrative procedure is normatively regulated, and the standards of impartiality and decision according to law apply. The tremendous burgeoning of administrative law in the twentieth century is the most recent chapter in legal evolution. On this count, Durkheim’s sense of evolutionary development fared well, for he successfully foretold the growth and elaboration of administrative law. For Durkheim administrative law was an integral part of the restitutive approach to law; the moral order, as represented by the common conscience, seemed to him less important than effective administration of a complicated network of obligations. From this perspective, the growth of administrative law should be interpreted as consisting in the legalization of administration. It is simply an aspect of the process of bureaucratization that accompanies economic development. The increasing involvement of government in large-scale economic and welfare projects has been a world-wide phenomenon. The requirements of efficient administration and the interests of bureaucratic officials have combined to create pressure for the stabilization of rights and obligations. Important as it is, the legalization of administration does not entirely account for the increasing domination of administrative law, for there has been a corresponding and converging development on the legal side. Many administrative tribunals have been created to operate in areas that have been exclusively within the jurisdiction of courts. Numerous boards, commissions, and authorities have sprung up to deal with various criminal actions and tort claims. Again one may invoke the argument of efficiency. The administrative tribunal has numerous practical advantages: it is less costly to litigants; it permits a high volume of litigation; it permits adjudication by specialists who are both technically skilled in particular areas and well acquainted with the concrete, practical problems of administration; it permits individualized treatment of complicated situations. But efficiency is not a sufficient explanation, unless one can show that particular groups have an interest in efficient administration. In this context, the growth of democracy is crucial (Evan 1962). Populist governments are responsive to demands for efficient administration of programs designed to produce public wel-fare and economic development. In the United States, for example, the growth of administrative law has been stimulated by a tendency for social welfare legislation to become bogged down in courts and by a movement to temper all legal administration by the application of a philosophy of social welfare. Despite its humanitarian credentials, the growth of administrative law is often viewed with alarm in countries with a strong legal tradition. It is not surprising that administrative law should be sur-rounded by controversy, for its emergence is a classic case of a process that is usually associated with social strain. Whenever a group claims that special expertise or special familiarity with problems gives it a right to perform functions that were traditionally handled at other social locations, conflict ensues. Conflict is heightened when the technical specialist claims that his expertise frees him from some of the normative restraints that have governed performance of the function in the past. Yet this is exactly the claim of emergent administrative systems. The very differentiation of the legal function appears threatened as legal systems lose functions to substantively specialized but multifunctional enforcement agencies. All these processes have still to be adequately studied by students of contemporary social organization. Leon H. Mayhew [Directly related are the entriesAdministrative law;Criminal law;Legal systems;Police;Punishment;Social control.Other relevant material may be found in Jurisprudence;Legal reasoning;and in the biographies of Beccaria;BlackStone;Coke;Durkheim;Ehrlich;Hauriou;Maine;Montesquieu;Savigny;Weber,Max.] BIBLIOGRAPHY Berman, Harold J. (1950) 1963 Justice in the U.S.S.R.: An Interpretation of Soviet Law. Rev. & enl. ed. Cam-bridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Justice in Russia: An Interpretation of Soviet Law. Davis, E. Eugene 1962 Legal Structures in a Changing Society. Pages 196–226 in F. James Davis et al., Society and the Law: New Meanings for an Old Profession. New York: Free Press. → Summarizes, from a lawyer’s point of view, the administrative problems of the contemporary United States court system. Davis, F. JAMES et al. 1962 Society and the Law: New Meanings for an Old Profession. New York: Free Press. → A symposium in which sociologists collabo-rated with lawyers. Chapter 1, “The Sociological Study of Law,” is especially useful for its summary of sociological interest in law in the United States since 1900. Durkheim, ÉMILE (1893) 1960 The Division of Labor in Society. 2d ed. Glencoe, 111.: Free Press. → First published as De la division du travail social. Ehrlich, Eugen (1913) 1936 Fundamental Principles of the Sociology of Law. Translated by Walter L. Moll with an introduction by Roscoe Pound. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Grundlegung der Soziologie des Rechts. Evan, William M. (editor) 1962 Law and Sociology:Exploratory Essays. New York: Free Press. → See especially “Public and Private Legal Systems,” pages 165–184. Argues that the modern democratic state contains a plurality of legal orders. Hoebel, E. Adamson 1954 The Law of Primitive Man:A Study in Comparative Legal Dynamics. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Maine, Henry J. S. (1861) 1960 Ancient Law: Its Connection With the Early History of Society, and Its Relations to Modern Ideas. Rev. ed. New York: Dutton; London and Toronto: Dent. → A paperback edition was published in 1963 by Beacon. Marx, Karl; and ENGELS, FRIEDRICH (1848-1898) 1962 Selected Works. Volume 2. Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House. Montesquieu (1748) 1962 The Spirit of the Laws. 2 vols. New York: Hafner. → First published as De I’esprit des lois. Parsons, Talcott 1962 The Law and Social Control. Pages 56–72 in William M. Evan (editor),Law and Sociology: Exploratory Essays. New York: Free Press. Ross, Edward A. 1901 Social Control: A Survey of the Foundations of Order. New York and London: Macmillan. Schwartz, Richard D.; and MILLER, JAMES C. 1964 Legal Evolution and Societal Complexity.American Journal of Sociology 70:159–169. Stone, Julius (1946) 1950 The Province and Function of Law: Law as Logic, Justice, and Social Control; a Study in Jurisprudence. Sydney: Associated General Publications; Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. SUMNER, WILLIAM G. (1906) 1959 Folkways: A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals. New York: Dover. → A paperback edition was published in 1960 by the New American Library. Torgersen, Ulf 1963 The Role of the Supreme Court in the Norwegian Political System. Pages 221–244 in Glendon A. Schubert (editor),Judicial Decision-making. New York: Free Press. Weber, Max (1922) 1954 Max Weber on Law in Economy and Society. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Chapter 7 of Max Weber’s Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, published posthumously; Weber died in 1920. His earliest contributions to the sociology of law date from the 1890s, and the topic was rarely absent from his subsequent writings. Wigmore, John H. (1928) 1936 A Panorama of the World’s Legal Systems. 3 vols. Washington: Washington Law Book. → A historical survey of 16 legal systems. III THE LEGAL PROFESSION The legal profession encompasses all those who in view of their special competence in matters of law assume a distinctive responsibility in the administration of a legal order. The nature and extent of this responsibility may vary, and its locus may be found in one or in several social roles: judges, advocates, counselors, draftsmen, teachers, scholars. Because of special issues connected with it, the topic of the judiciary is treated more extensively under other headings [see Judicial PROCESS]. The legal profession attracts the interest of both students of the professions and students of law and government. Political scientists, legal scholars, historians, and political sociologists are mainly concerned with the role of lawyers in politics and in the administration of justice. Recent sociological writings approach the bar from the perspective of the study of professions, focusing on such problems as professional independence, ethics, careers, recruitment, and relations with clients. The sociology of law draws on all these approaches. A">The profession and the law Whatever approach one takes to the study of the legal profession, it cannot be fully understood unless it is seen in the light of the special functions it performs for law and legal institutions. Indeed, the development and character of a legal profession are closely related to the growth and orientations of the legal order which it serves and within which it operates. Where law is simply an expedient for the settlement of disputes or the accommodation of conflicting interests, the work of the lawyer involves little more than mastery of some techniques of social adjustment. The legal profession develops most fully when law is viewed as an embodiment of values. Society then requires specialized group energies for the protection of its legal heritage and may find them in that occupation whose interests are identified with the preservation of legal skills and values. In this process, the legal craftsmen are transformed into a legal elite and assume the critical mission of maintaining the legal order and determining its subsequent development. Although values are at stake, a legal elite may not be necessarily called for when, as in ancient Greece or in imperial China, the values of law are not seen as distinct from the morality of the polity. In Athens the legal tasks of counsel and judge were performed by experienced citizens in the absence of any specialized legal profession. But the more the distinctiveness of law is emphasized and the more society aspires to legality, the greater is the need for an autonomous profession. The profession will require more or less independence and authority, depending upon the relative strength of community commitment to legal values. While its role is partly fashioned in response to social needs, the legal profession carries much autonomous power over the orientations of the legal and social order. It may shape many features of a legal tradition. The growth of Roman law can thus be traced to the way in which pontifices and, later, praetors declared the law in private cases: by developing and extending formulas to be used as bases for actions at law, they created a system that allowed a continuing and highly pragmatic elaboration of legal ideas. The legal profession may also succeed in imprinting the value of law upon the community, as American arbitrators have done in the relations between labor and industry. It may even give a color of legality to moral norms and religious doctrines as did the rabbis in the Talmudic period and, in a different way, the canonists in the Roman Catholic church. Similarly, the inner weaknesses of the profession may breed corresponding weaknesses in the quality and authority of the legal order. This occurs when the profession becomes captured by the special interests it serves or when it so insulates itself as to weaken its participation in and responsibility for the solution of social problems. How competent the profession is to perform its role and what institutional means secure this capability are critical issues in the assessment of the legal profession. Thus, the more developed a legal order, the more demands and responsibilities are placed upon its legal profession. The lawyer is called to bring a set of distinctive skills to his task. His special competence may be defined as an expertise in the assessment of authoritativeness; this follows from the special character of law as an authoritative order. Whatever kind of activity he may be involved in, the lawyer’s distinctive contribution lies in his ability to formulate or criticize the reasons upon which the authority of claims, decisions, policies, or actions rests. This ability is not confined to the evaluation of lawfulness; it includes a capacity to unravel issues, to scrutinize the rationale of policies, and to explore the firmness and test the relevance of evidence and inferences. The true lawyer is a generalist: he conveys this quality in his very posture of self-confidence and in the forthrightness of his style (Riesman 1954). To what extent such skills can be developed, of course, always remains problematic. This will vary partly with the richness of the resources a legal tradition makes available in its techniques of reasoning and criticism and partly with the capacity of the profession itself to instill this competence in some, if only a few, of its members. But some expertise of that nature is essential if the lawyer is to perform his task: that is, to add to social and legal institutions this strain toward the rational and the justified, which is the source of growth and strength of the legal order (Radish 1961). Typical legal roles The legal profession is historically associated with the performance of some typical roles involving particular applications of this general expertise. The adjudicator is responsible for making authoritative decisions on issues of right and responsibility in the light of legal principles. As the normative dimensions of adjudication rather than the mere settlement of disputes become more salient, there tends to be more pressure to reserve access to, and control of, this role to the legal profession. The advocate, as a legal representative, carries out the task of pressing for the official recognition of claims of right. This role is closely tied to the adjudicative process, especially when the latter rests upon the adversary presentation of claims, as in the Anglo–American tradition. The significance of advocacy may however extend beyond the sphere of adjudication, especially when the law assumes a positive role in the fulfillment of human aspirations. The advocate may then acquire more direct functions in the formation of law; as a result new forms of advocacy will tend to develop in new institutional settings. The role of advocate is marked by conflict between the lawyer’s responsibilities as an officer of the law and his commitment to the interests of his client. This is a source of strains not only for the lawyer, who may cope with them in a variety of ways, but also for the legal system as a whole. Different systems vary in the way they balance these conflicting duties, as well as in the degree to which they tolerate this ambivalence and allow for the free development of advocacy. Whereas partisanship has been a cornerstone of common-law procedure, Soviet Russian law has until recently tended to restrict the right to counsel, and to insist on the advocate’s primary loyalty to the courts and the public interest (Hazard 1960). The counselor or draftsman has the special burden of assisting in the solution of social and human problems, while at the same time preserving the ideals of the legal order. The more emphasis that is placed on law as a creator of opportunities, the more this role is likely to develop. Thus, the notaries of northern Italy became pioneers in the fashioning of the law merchant, or commercial law, and the creation of negotiable instruments; their influence can be compared to that of modern lawyers in the growth of corporate enterprise. This development has been particularly significant in the United States, where business counseling became a primary focus of law practice to a much greater extent than in any European country. The jurist or legal scholar is in charge of the systematic analysis and criticism of legal doctrine. One characteristic of law, as compared with other systems of norms, is that it contains its own builtin principles of criticism; the extension and refinement of these principles is a major task of the jurist. He may also share with the practitioners the role of training future lawyers. Jurists provide the profession with an instrument of self-scrutiny. The authority of their opinions varies, being generally higher in continental European than in Anglo–American law. One of the most important sources of law in imperial Rome lay in the responsa prudentium, that is, opinions in which famous scholars answered difficult questions of law. Under Hellenic influence, these jurists founded a tradition of formal legal analysis and teaching, which contributed to the progressive systematization and codification of Roman law; the Valentinian Law of Citations in A.D. 426 conferred legal authority on their writings. The revival and reception of Roman law in the Middle Ages was also the work of a school of jurists, the glossators of northern Italy, later followed by the scholastic postglossators in France and Italy. The German school of usus modernus pandectarum continued this tradition and, until the end of the nineteenth century, adapted the Roman doctrines to provide Germany with a workable common law; much of this work was incorporated in the German civil code of 1900. Jurisprudence also attempts to clarify the ideals and perspectives of the legal order, a function that may be more effectively performed when jurists are not too closely bound to the practicing profession. There is, however, no clear evidence on this point, although the case of American law schools may be suggestive. Because of weak ties to universities and a tendency to recruit teachers from the ranks of practitioners, American law schools have generally been oriented to the practical interests of the profession, with little concern for jurisprudence and broader issues pertaining to the quality and needs of the legal order. Lawyers have also been called to assume many other roles, such as mediators, managers in private business, politicians, and public administrators. How extensively they participate in such roles, especially in government, may both affect and reflect the authority of the law. Of special importance is the character of their participation. Their only contribution may lie in the ability to accommodate interests and manipulate social structures, a kind of activity in which they would not significantly differ from any trained politician (Eulau & Sprague 1964). Or they may bring to public life some of their own distinctive commitments and competence and help evolve, in both private and public government, an orientation to orderly procedure and the ideals of legality. Structure of the profession To analyze the structure of the legal profession is to ask how the social organization of the profession affects the role it performs in the legal order. The focus here is on internal and external sources of weakness or strength. Legal education By controlling access to the profession and the training of future lawyers, legal education has an important bearing on the character of the profession and the orientations of the law. Whether the law becomes the property of a privileged class or of the whole polity depends to some extent upon criteria of access to the profession. When admission is limited to a narrow segment of society, the services of the profession may be oriented primarily to this clan. The more the legal career is viewed as an avenue to political power and social status, the more efforts will be made to keep access open, especially where there is strong antipathy toward the establishment of governmental elites. This has been evident in the United States (Hurst 1950). Although wide accessibility may make the law responsive to a larger range of interests, it may also create problems for the profession in its endeavor to preserve standards of quality. American attempts to raise educational standards of admission to the bar have met only limited success: the shift from apprenticeship to academic training has been accompanied by the development of a highly stratified system of education, with only relatively few high-standard university law schools at the top. The bottom consists of a large number of low quality, part-time schools that have weak or no university ties and seek merely to prepare the student for the bar examination. Methods of legal training affect the skills and perspectives lawyers bring to their practice and thereby shape many features of the law. Max Weber has noted the relation between apprenticeship and the pragmatic responsiveness of the common law, as contrasted with the more intellectual and formalistic treatment of the law arising from university education in Europe (1922). Orientations to law are thus created, which confer on the legal order more or less rigidity or flexibility. Some can better preserve the “open texture” of the law, allowing law to incorporate social change while retaining its continuity; the Anglo–American system has been remarkable in this respect. Other orientations are apt to freeze the structure of legal rules and to paralyze processes of legal change; the academism of legal education in Europe—a tradition that dates back to the glossators—tends to promote this rigidity. Social reforms are then more likely to be sought by means outside the law, thus arousing critical problems for the stability of both the legal and the political order. This tendency can be observed in some civillaw countries, especially in South America. In a more direct way, legal education may become a source of law. In the very act of ordering legal materials for pedagogical purposes, law is divided into branches, and these are organized around governing concepts. The institutes of Roman law were originally purely pedagogical instruments; however, by systematizing the principles of Roman law, they started a movement toward codification and became an authoritative source of the Corpus juris civilis. In the process of being taught, law is thus given a structure which reflects the changing emphases of positive law and the needs of the practitioners. But this structure also provides ideas and perspectives which may affect the capacity of the law to cope with social change. Thus, the disappearance of the law of persons as a separate branch of legal study tends to impoverish the resources of American law for recognizing new forms of status. Even more significant for the legal order is the role of legal education in providing lawyers with distinctive modes of analysis and reasoning. The case method, as practiced in American law schools, may be peculiarly competent to impart these skills. It may also tend, however, to create a perspective in which law appears as an outcome of controversies rather than a way of implementing values. More importantly, by identifying the main locus of law in appellate decisions, it may promote a restricted conception of the legal. Attention is diverted from the variety of ways and settings in which law can emerge and be administered. Even in its empirical focus on decisions, the case method overstresses the role of the judiciary, neglecting legislation and administrative decision making. It may thus limit the capacities of legal education to prepare lawyers for a period such as the present, when the role of law is being extended beyond its traditional confines. Professional autonomy The integrity of the law depends in part upon its ability to respond to political demands while maintaining its commitment to reason and impartiality. A continuing problem for the practicing lawyer is to remain sensitive to social needs and interests without becoming their captive and to preserve his autonomy without withdrawing himself from practical concerns. Captivity may, of course, take a crude form, as when a political regime seizes control over the profession in order to neutralize a potential source of criticism (Kirchheimer 1961). It can, however, develop in more subtle forms where the profession is otherwise left free to serve. The lawyer can become the captive of his clients’ interests: an insecure practice, for example, makes it harder for him to resist pressures from clients for fear of losing them to competitors. This condition arises when the demand for legal services remains weak and intermittent, as it is among the lower classes, or when there is intense competition from other lawyers or from such groups as realtors and accountants, who encroach upon areas of practice requiring only low level and standardized skills (Carlin 1962). Captivity can also result from too intimate involvement in the affairs of particular clients. Lawyers may thus tie themselves to a small number of institutional clients who demand extensive and continuing services, or as “house counsel” (members of a legal department) they may become too closely identified with or too submissive toward the enterprise or agency which employs them. Professional integrity may also be undermined in the lawyer’s dealings with courts and government agencies. The lower the standards of these institutions or the more open they are to outside political influences, as lower courts often are, the more they create opportunities and pressures which may attenuate norms of professional conduct. Continual practice before an agency may also lead the lawyer to share the perspectives of its administrators. A common consequence of captivity is to deprive the lawyer of his special identity: he is transformed into a manipulator of social and economic structures who is no longer committed to the use of distinctively legal methods or resources. In this process, he tends to become indistinguishable from the politician or the business operator. Law is then made to appear as simply an expedient for the promotion of special interests, and the distinction between law and politics is lost. The lawyer can resist pressures by avoiding involvement or insecurity, but such avoidance entails its own difficulties. A too rigid insistence upon independence and distinctiveness may divorce the lawyer from his clients’ problems and needs, thus weakening the contribution law might make to their solution. The lawyer may then find himself confined to the passive role of providing technical help in the event of legal trouble. Under such conditions, law tends to evolve into legalism. A special view of law is conveyed which stresses the formalism of the legal order and the obstacles it creates to effective problem solving. Law may thus be emptied of its moral and political significance and reduced to its purely technical and positivistic aspects. Paradoxically, in seeking to protect his autonomy the lawyer may so insulate himself as to weaken both his own authority and the authority of the law, perhaps eventually becoming a docile servant of corporate or political power. The history of the legal profession in Nazi Germany illustrates this process. Organization of the bar The profession has evolved a number of structural arrangements which can be more or less successful in securing a viable autonomy. Apart from its effectiveness in this regard, the social organization of the bar may also influence patterns of development in the law. One organizational device is to create within the profession an elite specially charged with the protection of legal ideals. While this segment insulates itself from outside pressures, others in the profession are left free to respond to and accommodate the variety of demands that are made on the legal order. The British system has achieved this differentiation by developing a small and specialized class of barristers, who enjoy a monopoly of practice in the higher courts and deal with clients only through solicitors. The latter do most of the client counseling and take care of cases in the lower courts and government agencies (Jackson 1940). In the United States, the large law firms have developed a very high level of technical proficiency in legal work, have restricted their practice to the most stable and secure clientele, and have limited their contacts to the top levels of government and the judiciary (Smigel 1964). Special training institutions, such as the Inns of Court in Britain and the American Ivy League law schools, help to strengthen these elites, while sharing in their trusteeship for the legal order. The services of the elite bar tend to benefit those most competent to pursue their interests through use of the legal process. Thus, a critical issue is whether the elite can preserve its loyalty to legal institutions and its responsibility for the law as a whole, for it runs the risk of becoming so identified with the aims of a special clientele as to restrict its concerns to those areas of the law that best serve these aims. This encourages a highly selective development of the law and impairs recognition of legal demands arising from other segments of society. Large American law firms have thus been strongly criticized for their too exclusive services to corporate interests and their loss of concern for general legal values (Berle 1933). Moreover, in the United States the large metropolitan bar is highly stratified, with little mobility or communication between the upper and lower strata (Carlin 1966). The more the elite is cut off from the lower levels of the profession and of government, the more difficult it becomes to incorporate in the legal order the demands that are brought to these levels. Formal associations. The weaker the sense of common purpose is within the bar and the more threatening the conditions under which it operates, the more pressing is the need for instruments of self-scrutiny and control. The practicing profession has traditionally been organized into guildlike associations, such as the Inns of Court in Britain and the Ordre des Avocats in France, which have often been quite powerful in regulating the practice of law. In the United States, the organization of the bar used to consist exclusively of small local and voluntary associations with little cohesion and authority. It still remains today highly fragmented, and primarily concerned, even in the exercise of disciplinary control, with the protection of the profession against public intervention and lay encroachments. A movement of reform, starting in the 1870s, led to the establishment of state bar associations and later to the integration of some of these. In states which have an “integrated bar,” membership is compulsory for all practitioners in the state, and the association can thus enjoy greater security and larger resources. The American Bar Association was created in 1878 and progressively developed into a federation of state and local groups. It has assumed a prominent role in the bar as a whole, elaborating standards of admission and canons of ethics and recommending reforms in the law and the administration of justice. In legal reform it collaborates with two specialized organizations of the profession, the American Judicature Society and the American Law Institute. The latter under-took to codify American common law in a “Restatement of the Law.” This work is still in progress. Contributions of the Institute include the drafting of model acts and codes in various branches of the law. Types of practice The practice of law may take a variety of forms, some of which have already been mentioned. Lawyers may work on their own or associate in firms of various size. They may serve mainly discrete individuals or organizations and businesses; the role of family lawyers, such as attorneys in the field of probate and estate, tends to decline as the family loses its economic functions. Not all areas of legal practice allow the same quality of work. For instance, workmen’s compensation and, frequently, personal injury call mainly for mass production and standardized legal techniques. In other fields, such as criminal law and domestic relations, “marriage counseling” and political manipulation are often more salient than legal craftsmanship (O’Gorman 1963). The lawyer is then likely to feel frustrated and threatened in his professional identity. The character of the market for services may also affect professional integrity: lawyers can more easily preserve their dignity when they can count on a secure and regular clientele. Others, however, especially those with low-status clients, have to keep continually searching for business, establishing connections, and resorting to such expedients as “ambulance chasing,” through which potential clients are located and advantage is taken of whatever claims and speculations can be aroused. In this very process they become deprofessionalized (Carlin 1962). A new type of practice has begun to develop as organized groups, such as labor unions and trade associations, assume the function of providing to their members the services of their retained counsel. The special contribution of these groups lies in their ability to aggregate common interests and to articulate legal demands. Resources can then be mobilized to press these claims in a systematic way and thereby promote legal change. The practice of law has become more specialized: lawyers specialize according to the class of clients they serve, the agencies with which they deal, or the branch of the law they handle. In the United States, this trend has been facilitated by the expansion of law firms (Smigel 1964). Specialization is particularly significant for the growth of legal doctrine in undeveloped areas of the law and where special government institutions must be made accountable and sensitive to social demands. Specialized lawyers have thus played an important role in the development of administrative law and labor law and in the extension of constitutional rights in the United States. The explosion of advocacy Modern social transformations tend to place new demands on the legal order and the legal profession. Government—public and private—is asked to perform tasks and satisfy needs that were formerly taken care of in more informal settings. Thus, in contrast to a rather passive role in the past, law and legal institutions are being summoned to participate more positively in the task of fulfilling human aspirations and accomplishing social purposes. The effectiveness of law in this new role depends upon considerable expansion of social resources for legal criticism. Modern times may thus witness what has been termed an “explosion of advocacy,” with corresponding demands for critical changes in the services of the legal profession. The lawyer is called upon to relinquish his passive stance and assume an active role in the transformation of privileges into rights and in the development of rationality and competence in government institutions (Cahn & Cahn 1964). This enlarged responsibility will require greater initiative on the part of the profession in scrutinizing the variety of social settings where decisions are made affecting established or incipient rights. The traditional role of law schools and professional associations will need re-evaluation in this respect. More positive responsibilities may fall upon legal departments, in view of their growing role in public and private organizations. Special agencies, similar to the Scandinavian office of ombudsman, may also be designed to carry out this task of legal criticism. Wherever government relies upon self-help for the assertion of claims and interests, the viability of the system will ultimately depend upon the legal competence of the citizenry, that is, its capacity to make effective use of the legal machinery. To promote this competence is one of the major tasks of the legal profession. One requirement is that the provision of legal services be extended. Pressures on the profession to broaden its availability have been heightened by social demands for equality and political enfranchisement. It is unlikely, however, that the enlarged need for legal services can be fully met with existing institutions, such as legal aid and public defender offices. Serious limitations of available organized services can be seen in their dependence upon traditionally restricted sources of support, their routine treatment of cases, and their view of legal assistance as a form of public welfare (“The Availability of Counsel. . .”1965). As legal institutions become increasingly used and crowded, a new burden falls on the lawyer. The working of both law offices and tribunals comes to depend upon establishing standardized methods for the mass processing of cases. Thus the operation of rules and procedures tends to become a routine which escapes criticism and blocks adaptation to unusual cases and new experiences. Special efforts are then required of the lawyer in continually subjecting procedures to re-evaluation and in opening them to challenge and change. However, more than a simple extension of legal services may be needed. The traditional model of individual representation and counseling may prove inadequate to the task of developing legal competence. New types of legal services must be evolved. Thus, the older emphasis on serving individual clients may have to be supplemented and in part replaced by organizational advocacy: here legal services are provided to an organization representing the common interests of a group or they are made available to members of the group through intervention by the organization. This transformation has already taken place in American industry, where organized labor has secured the services of specialized labor lawyers to support the legal interests of its constituents. Group services will have to expand if legal assistance is to be made effectively available (“The Availablity of Counsel . . .” 1965). Experience has shown that persons who are insecure and lack social support for the assertion of their claims need a representative organization to lend them its strength and resources. Neighborhood law firms and defense organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union constitute a step in this direction. As these changes proceed, new specializations will develop within the legal profession, thus promoting the growth of new, still inchoate, fields of law. Together with the growth of group representation, there is a drift away from the passive acceptance of individual cases as they come. This traditional approach is consistent with an adversary system in which the presentation of legal issues depends upon the development of specific controversies between defined interests. This system tends to divert attention from structural sources of injustice. As individual demands become organized, strategic advocacy develops: the lawyer can select and possibly generate issues for the purpose of challenging practices and pressing recognition of new rights (Cahn & Cahn 1964). In this process, adjudication becomes less dependent upon disputes and can address itself more directly to issues of policy and the broader interests at stake. Adversariness is then used as a way of clarifying policy problems; at the same time, the role of the amicus curiae develops, and there is greater reliance upon forms of declaratory relief, where questions of law are clarified without the necessity of deciding on the outcome of a particular dispute. More importantly, the growth of the law tends to be less contingent upon the more or less random occurrence of cases and to proceed along lines of more systematic planning. Philippe Nonet AND Jerome E. Carlin [Directly related are the entries Judicial PROCESS; Judiciary; Legal SYSTEMS. Other relevant material may he found in Canon LAW; Jurisprudence; Legal REASONING; Legislation.] BIBLIOGRAPHY The Availability of Counsel and Group Legal Services: A Symposium. 1965 U.C.L.A. Law Review 12:279–463. → Contains a foreword and eight articles. Berle, A. A. JR. 1933 Modern Legal Profession. Volume 9, pages 340–346 in Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences. New York: Macmillan. Blaustein, Albert P.; and Porter, Charles O. 1954 The American Lawyer: A Summary of the Survey of the Legal Profession. Univ. of Chicago Press. → Valuable as a bibliographical source. Cahn, Edgar S.; and Cahn, Jean C. 1964 The War on Poverty: A Civilian Perspective. Yale Law Journal 73:1317–1352. Carlin, Jerome E. 1962 Lawyers on Their Own: A Study of Individual Practitioners in Chicago. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers Univ. Press. Carlin, Jerome E. 1966 Lawyers’ Ethics: A Survey of the New York City Bar. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. Eulau, Heinz; and Sprague, John D. 1964 Lawyers in Politics: A Study in Professional Convergence. Indianapolis, Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill. Hazard, John N. 1960 Settling Disputes in Soviet Society: The Formative Years of Legal Institutions. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. Hurst, James W. 1950 The Growth of American Law: The Law Makers. Boston: Little. Jackson, Richard M. (1940) 1964 The Machinery of Justice in England. 4th ed. Cambridge Univ. Press. Kadish, Sanford H. 1961 The Advocate and the Expert—Counsel in the Peno–Correctional Process. Minnesota Law Review 45:803–841. Kirchheimer, Otto 1961 Political Justice: The Use of Legal Procedure for Political Ends. Princeton Univ. Press. Lasswell, Harold D.; and Mcdougal, Myres S. 1943 Legal Education and Public Policy: Professional Training in the Public Interest. Yale Law Journal 52:203–295. O’Gorman, Hubert J. 1963 Lawyers and Matrimonial Cases: A Study of Informal Pressures in Private Professional Practice. New York: Free Press. Plucknett, Theodore F. T. (1929) 1956 A Concise History of the Common Law. 5th ed. London: Butter-worth. → See especially pages 79–289, “The Courts and Profession.” Pound, Roscoe 1953 The Lawyer From Antiquity to Modern Times: With Particular Reference to the Development of Bar Associations in the United States. St. Paul, Minn.: West. Riesman, David 1954 Individualism Reconsidered, andOther Essays. Glencoe, I11.: Free Press. → See especially pages 440–466, “Toward an Anthropological Science of Law and the Legal Profession.” Schacht, Joseph (1950) 1959 The Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence. Oxford: Clarendon. Smigel, Erwin O. 1964 The Wall Street Lawyer: Professional Organization Man. New York: Free Press. Weber, Max (1922) 1954 Max Weber on Law in Economy and Society. Edited, with an introduction and annotations by Max Rheinstein. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Chapter 7 of Max Weber’s Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. IV LAW AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS More scholarship has probably gone into defining and explaining the concept of “law” than into any other concept still in central use in the social sciences. Efforts to delimit the subject matter of law—like efforts to define it—usually fall into one of several traps that are more easily seen than avoided. The most naive beg the question and use “law” in what they believe to be its commonsense, dictionary definition—apparently without looking into a dictionary to discover that the word “law” has six entries in Webster’s second edition, of which the first alone has 13 separate meanings, followed by five columns of the word used in combinations. German and French have even more complex ambiguities, since their comparable words (Recht, droit) include some dimensions for which English uses other words. Sophisticated scholars, on the other hand, have been driven either to write treatises on the art and pitfalls of definition (Cohen & Hart 1955) or, like Stone (1964), to realize that in relation to a noetic unity like law, which is not represented by anything except man’s ideas about it, definition can mean no more than giving the reader a set of mnemonics to remind him what has been talked about. It was Kant who said, “The lawyers are still seeking a definition of their concept of law.” A century and a half later Stone stated that “‘law’ is necessarily an abstract term, and the definer is free to choose a level of abstraction; but by the same token, in these as in other choices, the choice must be such as to make sense and be significant in terms of the experience and present interest of those who are addressed “(1964, p. 177). Definitions of “law” Even if we agree with Hart (1954) that the searches for definition and the concomitant search for security that they represent became serious only in the time of Austin (and Kant’s remark would seem to belie this), it is apparent that schools of jurisprudence have risen, battled, and fallen on bastions erected on one meaning or another. Austin has permanently affected British jurisprudence by emphasizing the command aspect of a law and pointing out that the law is a command of the “sovereign” (itself an ambiguous concept). Since then lawyers have for generations and without signal success been arguing whether Austin’s stipulations applied only to developed systems of “municipal” law and whether he himself really gave the point of command such primacy. The American “realists” clustered around Oliver Wendell Homes’s dictum that law is a prediction of what a court will enforce. Continental scholars tended to be more concerned with the moralistic “right” and “ought” aspects of the rules of law and have gone deeply into moral philosophy. In the effort to define “law,” some modern scholars like Hart (1954) conclude that there are three “basic issues”: (1) How is law related to the maintenance of social order? (2) What is the relation between legal obligation and moral obligation?(3) What are rules and to what extent is law an affair of rules? Others (Stone 1966) describe several sets of attributes that are usually found associated with law. Accordingly, law is (1) a complex whole, (2) which always includes social norms that regulate human behavior. These norms are (3) social in character, and they form (4) a complex whole that is “orderly.” The order is(5) characteristically coercive and (6) institutionalized. Law has (7) a degree of effectiveness sufficient to maintain itself. Anthropological studies of law in the non-Western world have followed a similar course. To cite one of the most vivid and orderly presentations, Pospisil (1958) examined several attributes of the law—the attribute of authority, that of intention of universal application, that of obligatio (the right-obligation cluster), and that of sanction. In his view, the “legal “comprises a field in which custom, political decision, and the various attributes overlap, though each may be found extended outside that overlapping field, and there is no firm line, but rather a “zone of transition,” between that which is unquestion-ably legal and that which is not. It was Kantorowicz (1958) who pointed out that there are many subjects, including some of a nonlegal nature, that employ a concept of law. He perceived that each needs a different definition of “law” if it is to achieve its purposes. He then proceeded to a more questionable point: it is for “general jurisprudence” to provide a back-ground to make these differing definitions sensible—in short, it is the task of jurisprudence to elicit meaning from this cacophony of attempted definitions. Kantorowicz’s method in jurisprudence is very like Pospisil’s in anthropology. Instead of trying to find points for definition of law, Kantorowicz examined some characteristics of law that are vital to one or more of the specific definitions. Law is thus characterized by having a body of rules that prescribe external conduct (it makes little immediate difference to the law how one feels about it—the law deals in deeds). These rules must be stated in such a way that the courts or other adjudging bodies can deal with them. Each of the rules contains a moralizing or “ought” element—and Kantorowicz fully recognized that this “ought” element is culturally determined and may change from society to society and from era to era. Normative rules of this sort must, obviously, also be distinguished from the real uniformities by which men (sometimes with and sometimes without the help of courts and lawyers) govern their daily round of activity. Law is one of the de-vices by means of which men can reconcile their actual activities and behavior with the ideal principles that they have come to accept, and can do it in a way that is not too painful or revolting to their sensibilities and in a way which allows ordered (which is to say predictable) social life to continue. No act is wholly bad if it is “within the law” no law is wholly good if it condones “immoral” action. Rules Custom is a body of more or less overt rules which express “ought” aspects of relationships between human beings and which are actually followed in practice much of the time. Law has an additional characteristic: it must be what Kantorowicz calls “justiciable/’ by which he means that the rules must be capable of reinterpretation, and be actually reinterpreted, by one of the legal institutions of society so that the conflicts within nonlegal institutions can be adjusted by an outside “authority.” It is widely realized that many peoples of the world can state more or less precise “rules” which are, in fact, the ideals in accordance with which they think they ought to judge their conduct. In all societies there are allowable lapses from rules, and in most there are more or less precise rules (sometimes legal ones) for breaking rules. Legal institutions In order to make the distinction between law and other rules, it has been necessary to introduce furtively the word “institution.” We must now make an honest term of it. A social institution can be defined as a group of people who are united (and hence organized) for some purpose; who have the material and technical means of achieving that purpose or at least of making rational attempts at it; who support a value system, ethics, and beliefs validating that purpose; and who repeat more or less predictable activities and events in the carrying out of the purpose (Malinowski 1945). With this rubric, all human activity can be viewed either as institutionalized or as random (and the degree of random behavior may be the most diagnostic feature of any society). It need hardly be added that “institutionalized” does not necessarily mean “approved” by the people who participate in the institutions. With these ideas it is possible to distinguish legal institutions from nonlegal ones. A legal institution is one by means of which the people of a society settle disputes that arise between one another and counteract any gross and flagrant abuses of the rules of the other institutions of society. Every ongoing society has legal institutions in this sense, as well as a wide variety of nonlegal institutions. It can be pointed out that some nonlegal institutions—the priestly, the psychiatric, and the like —serve the function of settling disputes. To make the distinction between legal and nonlegal, social scientists generally invoke the doctrine of coercion and use of force. Such a settlement is sensible because the legal institutions with which modern Western lawyers deal are usually associated with a political unit of which the state is one type. A political organization ipso facto supplies theorists with a “sovereign” of Austinian type and the “enforcement” predicated by Holmes and others. From this point of view, then, legal institutions must have two defining criteria: (1) they must settle the disputes that arise in other (nonlegal) institutions, and (2) they must be associated with (or even constitute) some sort of political organization. Obviously, for some purposes—particularly in the study of less-developed legal systems—the second criterion can and must be dropped; for most pur-poses of Western jurisprudence, just as obviously, it is probably necessary to retain it. In carrying out the task of settling difficulties in the nonlegal institutions, legal institutions must have specific ways to (1) disengage the difficulties from the institutions of origin which they now threaten, (2) handle the difficulties within the framework of the legal institution, and (3) set the new solutions back within the processes of the nonlegal institutions from which they emerged. Indeed, the presence of such characteristics is a vivid index of the presence of a political organization. There are, thus, at least two aspects of legal institutions that are not shared with other institutions of society. First, legal institutions alone must have some regularized way to interfere in the malfunctioning (and, perhaps, the functioning as well) of the nonlegal institutions in order to disengage the trouble case. Second, there must be two kinds of rules in the legal institutions—those which govern the activities of the legal institution itself (called “adjectival law” by Austin and “procedure” by most modern lawyers) and those which are substitutes for, or modifications or re-statements of, the rules of the nonlegal institution that has been invaded (called “substantive law”). The above are only the minimal aspects that are shared by all known legal institutions. Seen in this light, the distinction between law and custom is fairly simple. Customs are rules (more or less strict and with greater or less support of moral, ethical, or even physical coercion) about the ways in which people must behave if social institutions are to perform their tasks and society is to endure. All institutions (including legal institutions) develop customs. Some customs in some societies are reinstitutionalized at another level: they are restated for the more precise purposes of legal institutions. When this happens, therefore, law may be regarded as a custom that has been restated in order to make it amenable to the activities of the legal institutions. In this sense one of the most characteristic attributes of legal institutions is that some of these “laws” are about the legal institutions themselves, although most are about the other institutions of society, such as the familial, economic, political, and ritual. Malinowski, by his little book Crime and Custom in Savage Society (1926), has widely influenced lawyers with a faulty mode of distinguishing law from nonlaw. His idea was a good one; he claimed that law is “a body of binding obligations regarded as right by one party and acknowledged as the duty by the other, kept in force by the specific mechanism of reciprocity and publicity inherent in the structure of ... society.” His error was in equating what he had defined with the law. It is not law that is “kept in force by ... reciprocity and publicity” ([1926] 1961, p. 58). It is custom as we have defined it here. Law is better thought of as “a body of binding obligations regarded as right by one party and acknowledged as the duty by the other”which has been reinstitutionalized within the legal institution so that society can continue to function in an orderly manner on the basis of rules so maintained. In short, reciprocity is the basis of custom; but the law rests on the basis of this double institutionalization. Rights One of the best ways to perceive the doubly institutionalized norms, or “laws,” is to examine the smaller components as they attach to persons (either human individuals or corporate groups) and so to work in terms of “rights” and their reciprocal “obligations.” In the framework of rights and duties, the relationships between law and custom, law and morals, law and anything else can be seen in a new light. Whether in the realm of kinship or contract, citizenship or property rights, the relationships between people can be reduced to a series of prescriptions with the obligations and the correlative rights which emanate from these prescriptions. In fact, thinking in terms of rights and obligations of persons (or role players) is a convenient and fruitful way of investi-gating much of the custom of many institutions. Legal rights are only those rights which attach to norms that have been doubly institutionalized; they provide a means for seeing the legal institutions from the standpoint of the persons engaged in them. The phenomenon of double institutionalization of norms and therefore of legal rights has been recognized for a long time, but analysis of it has been only partially successful. Legal rights have their material origins in the customs of nonlegal institutions but must be overtly restated for the specific purpose of enabling the legal institutions to perform their tasks. Sanctions Many scholars, in comparative studies, have focused attention on the sanction for purposes of determining what is to be included in the “legal” field. Use of the term “sanction” has the advantage of allowing the scholar to beg the question of the Austinian sovereign. Sanction is generally understood to mean what the law itself says will or may happen to one found guilty of having transgressed a legal rule. The word is often used in common parlance to mean “the teeth in the law.” When it is used as a verb, its true ambivalence becomes apparent. “To sanction” something is in ordinary usage not to interfere with some-one’s doing it; yet jurists also use it to mean “visit an evil on doing it,” and social scientists have ex-tended the word “sanction” far beyond its technical meaning for modern law. Radcliffe-Brown (1934a) described positive and negative sanctions for behavior, embracing not only penalization of non-conformity but also rewarding of conformity—and all this without specifying precisely who confers rewards or inflicts punishments. The problem of sanction would seem to be better summarized in terms of legal institutions which, in some situations, apply specific types of correction to adjudged breaches of law. That is, the “sanction” is the body of rules according to which legal institutions interpose themselves for the purpose of maintenance of a social system so that living in it can be comfortable and predictable. Law and social science It is apparent that we must examine two further factors. First, what sort of definitions of law may be needed by the social sciences? Second, and related to this, how can social scientists go about investigating the legal institutions and the legalization of rights in any specific culture or in any concatenation of cultures? The kernel of the social scientist’s concept of law must be found, I believe, in the phenomenon of double institutionalization of rights: once within customary institutions, then again within the legal institutions. Therefore he is required absolutely to study both the legal institutions and the social institutions on which they feed—and only in this way can he ever make any progress with the thorny problem of the relationship between law and society. The social scientist studying law is quite right when he considers the law a type of social superstructure to be judged by criteria or values of the social sciences. He is, however, quite wrong if he extends this position to mean that he need not consider what is known about the law on its own ground. The determining variables of the law may be considered as part of a social field; but equally so, the social field must be considered by jurisprudence. In short, what is required is a sort of stereoscopic vision, looking at data with the lens of jurisprudence in one eye and the lens of social science in the other. Seen thus stereoscopically, a legal right (and, with it, a law) is the restatement, for the purpose of maintaining peaceful and just operation of the institutions of society, of some but never all of the recognized claims of persons within those institutions; the restatement must be made in such a way that these claims can be more or less assured by the total community or its representatives. Only by so viewing legal rights can the moral, religious, political, and economic implications of law be fully explored. In fact, a primary problem of all legal studies may be the intersecting of the law and the other institutions of society. This relationship is no mere reflection of society in the law: it must be realized, rather, that the law is always out of phase with society, specifically because of the duality of the statement and restatement of rights. Indeed, the more highly developed the legal institutions, the greater the lack of phase, which not only results from the constant reorientation of the primary institutions but is magnified by the very dynamics of the legal institutions themselves (Stone 1964, chapter 1, sec. 1). Thus, it is the very nature of law and its capacity to “do something about” the primary social institutions that create the lack of phase. Moreover, even if one could assume perfect legal institutionalization, change within the primary institutions would soon jar the system out of phase again. What is less obvious is that if there were ever to be perfect phase between law and society, then society could never repair itself, grow and change, flourish or wane. It is the fertile dilemma of law that it must always be out of step with society but that people must always (because they work better with fewer contradictions, if for no other reason) attempt to reduce the lack of phase. Custom must either grow to fit the law or it must actively reject it; law must either grow to fit the custom or it must ignore or suppress it. It is in these interstices that social growth and social decay take place. Social catastrophe and social indignation and resultant changes in custom are sources of much new law. With technical and moral change new situations appear that must be “legalized.” This truth has particular and somewhat different applications to developed and to less highly developed legal systems. In developed municipal systems of law, in which means for institutionalizing behavior on a legal level are already traditionally concentrated in political decision-making groups such as legislatures, there is a tendency for the legal institution not to reflect custom so much as to shape it. As developed nations put more faith in their legislatures, nonlegal social institutions sometimes take a very long time to catch up with the law. On the other hand, in less-developed legal systems, it may be that little or no popular demand is made on the legal institutions, and therefore little real contact exists or can be made to exist between them and the primary institutions (Stone 1966, chapter 2, sec. 17). Law can become one of the major sources of innovation in society. The social scientist’s first task, then, is the analysis of the legal institutions to be found and their interrelationships with the nonlegal institutions of society. There may be courts as in some parts of indigenous Africa or indigenous Europe; there may be self-help, oracles, moots, town meetings, contests, and certain types of feuds (although most feuds do not correct the difficulty and feed the corrected situation back into the nonlegal institutions of society). The social scientist can examine the particular types of customs that are legalized in any particular society. He can begin the process of comparing the customs of mating and child rearing with the laws of marriage; the customs of trading with the laws of contract; the customs of interpersonal relations with the law of tort; the customs of approved behavior with criminal law. And what will he find? He will find that the practice of law is a force by itself, a force for preserving and molding society that both has its roots irrevocably in social institutions and must supersede any particular historicoethnographic phase of them. The social scientist’s next task is the reporting and comparison of legal institutions in the terms of the people who participate in those institutions and the subsequent comparison of those terms with the terms in which other people live in analogous or similar institutions. His third task is the exposition of what Hoebel (1954) has called the “postulates” of that people’s law: the assumptions held about the “natural” ways of the world, most often without even a possibility of overt statement, by the people who live by a custom and a law. These postulates lie behind the law as they lie behind every other aspect of that people’s activity. They are those “values,” or unquestioned premises, on which a people bases not merely its behavior (including law) but its moral evaluation of behavior (including ethics). The postulates behind a legal system are congruent with the postulates behind the accompanying economic or religious system. What may seem blatant discrepancies and contradictions and, indeed, hypocrisies (as between Sunday school and the market place) are in fact no more than inadequate analyses of the postulates. A postulate lying behind Anglo-American law is that the human body is inviolably private unless marriage or certain contracts have been entered into; a postulate behind Eskimo law is that life is hard and that kinship, amity, or love between individuals cannot be allowed to override the welfare of the society. The postulates underlying a people’s law also underlie the rest of its culture. Law cases provide one of the best mechanisms by which the ethnographer can capture these postulates and make them overt. Paul Bohannan BIBLIOGRAPHY Allen, Carleton K. (1927) 1958 Law in the Making. 6th ed. Oxford Univ. Press. Bohannan, Paul 1957 Justice and Judgment Among the Tiv. Published for the International African Institute. Oxford Univ. Press. Cohen, Jonathan; and Hart, H. L. A. 1955 Symposium: Theory and Definition in Jurisprudence. Pages 213–264 in Aristotelian Society,Proceedings, Supplementary Volume 29: Problems in Psychotherapy and Jurisprudence. London: Harrison. Cohen, Morris R. 1950 Reason and Law: Studies in Juristic Philosophy. Glencoe, I1L: Free Press. → A paperback edition was published in 1961 by Collier. Ehrlich, Eugen (1913) 1936 Fundamental Principles of the Sociology of Law. Translated by Walter L. Moll with an introduction by Roscoe Pound. Cam-bridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. → First published as Grundlegung der Soziologie des Rechts. Gluckman, Max 1955 The Judicial Process Among the Barotse of Northern Rhodesia. Manchester Univ. Press; Glencoe, 111.: Free Press. Haar, Barend ter (1939) 1948 Adat Law in Indonesia. Translated and edited with an introduction by E. Adamson Hoebel and A. Arthur Schiller. New York: Institute of Pacific Relations, International Secretariat. → First published as Beginselen en stelsel van het adatrecht. Hart, H. L. A. 1954 Definition and Theory in Jurisprudence.Law Quarterly Review 70:37–60. Hart, H. L. A. 1961 The Concept of Law. Oxford: Clarendon. Hoebel, E. Adamson 1954 The Law of Primitive Man: A Study in Comparative Legal Dynamics. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Jones, Harry W. 1962 Law and the Idea of Mankind. Columbia Law Review 62:753–772. Kantorowicz, Hermann 1958 Definition of Law. Edited by A. H. Campbell. Cambridge Univ. Press. → Published posthumously. Kantorowicz, Hermann; and Patterson, Edwin W. 1928 Legal Science: A Summary of Its Methodology.Columbia Law Review 28:679–707. Llewellyn, Karl N.; and Hoebel, E. Adamson 1941 The Cheyenne Way: Conflict and Case Law in Primi-tive Jurisprudence. Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press. Malinowski, Bronislaw (1926) 1961 Crime and Custom in Savage Society. London: Routledge. → A paperback edition was published in 1959 by Little-field. Malinowski, Bronislaw 1945 The Dynamics of Culture Change: An Inquiry Into Race Relations in Africa. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. → A paperback edition was published in 1961. Pospisil, Leopold 1958 Kapauku Papuans and Their Law. Yale University Publications in Anthropology, No. 54. New Haven: Yale Univ., Department of Anthropology. Radcliffe-Brown, A. R. 1934a Sanction, Social. Volume 13, pages 531–534 in Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences. New York: Macmillan. → Reprinted in the author’s Structure and Function in Primitive Society. Radcliffe-Brown, A. R. 1934b Law, Primitive. Volume 9, pages 202–206 in Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences. New York: Macmillan. Radin, Max 1940 Law as Logic and Experience. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press. Stone, Julius 1964 Legal System and Lawyers’ Reasonings. Stanford Univ. Press. Stone, Julius 1966 Social Dimensions of Law and Justice. Stanford Univ. Press. Timasheff, Nicholas S. 1939 Introduction to the Sociology of Law. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, Committee on Research in the Social Sciences. Williams, L. Glanville 1945 International Law and the Controversy Concerning the Word “Law.”British Year Book of International Law 22:146–163. Williams, L. Glanville 1945–1946 Language and the Law.Law Quarterly Review 61:71–86, 179–195, 293–303, 384–406; 62:387–406. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA BIBLIOGRAPHY The term law and order refers to a prominent theme of Richard Nixon ’s (1913–1994) successful 1968 campaign for the American presidency. Law and order became a potent campaign symbol for Nixon, and related themes have sometimes surfaced in later Republican presidential campaigns—especially in 1972 and 1988. The term law and order is a political symbol capturing public anxieties about civil unrest, urban riots, black militant groups (which, some charged, fomented violence), and rising crime rates. Later events, such as the violence in the Boston area in response to court-ordered busing, widely publicized crime sprees like the Son of Sam murders in New York City, and continued rising crime rates, stoked fears of societal breakdown during the 1970s and gave law-and-order appeals additional resonance. These developments, sometimes connected with subtle racial appeals, contributed to the erosion of the Democratic Party ’s dominant position in American politics after 1968. 1962 TO 1965: VIOLENT RESISTANCE TO CIVIL RIGHTS After a period of relative domestic tranquility in the 1950s, the 1960s came as a rude shock to many Americans. Between 1961 and 1964, violent actions by southern whites bent on defending racial segregation became commonplace. Demonstrators at sit-ins and freedom riders, black and white, faced actual or threatened violence and mass arrests on fabricated charges. More violence erupted as federal officials attempted to carry out court-ordered desegregation. When black student James Meredith sought to enroll at (and integrate) the University of Mississippi , thousands of segregationists rioted, resulting in two deaths and forcing President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) to mobilize thousands of troops to restore order. As the civil rights movement continued, it was met with more violence. Police in Birmingham, Alabama , deployed dogs and high-pressure water cannons against unarmed civil rights demonstrators in 1963. The murders of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) leader Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1963 and of three civil rights workers near Philadelphia, Mississippi, in 1964 fed fears of mounting social unrest. A 1963 bombing of a Birmingham black church killed four little girls, and Alabama state troopers attacked unarmed voting-rights marchers with dogs and electric cattle prods in March 1965. These cumulative shocks to the national consciousness were amplified by the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas , Texas . 1965 TO 1970: BLACK MILITANT GROUPS AND URBAN UNREST In response to white violence against civil rights activists, some black leaders adopted increasingly belligerent rhetoric. The rise of black radicalism was personified in militants like Stokely Carmichael (1941–1998) and H. Rap Brown. As political scientists Donald Kinder and Lynn Sanders noted, the new rhetoric frightened many whites. There was “less talk of nonviolence and more of self-defense; less yearning for integration and more for solidarity and black nationalism; ‘We Shall Overcome’ was replaced by Black Power and ‘burn, baby, burn’” (1996, p. 103). The image of neatly-dressed blacks pummeled by vicious white violence faded, replaced by images of blacks rampaging through city streets, torching cars and buildings and looting stores. The initial trigger for the changing imagery was the August 1965 Watts riot in Los Angeles . As Kinder and Sanders described the Watts riot: The violence raged unchecked for three days, and three days longer in sporadic eruptions. Blacks looted stores, set fires, burned cars, and shot at policemen and firemen. Before the violence was halted, 14,000 National Guard troops, 1,000 police officers and 700 sheriff’s deputies were pressed into service.… In the end, 1,000 buildings were damaged, burned, looted or completely destroyed; almost 4,000 people were arrested; more than 1,000 were injured seriously enough to require medical treatment; and 34 were dead, all but three of them black. (Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 103) Watts was only the beginning, as 1966, 1967, and 1968 each brought more unrest. In 1967, 250 serious uprisings occurred, including the Detroit riots, which killed forty-three people. More disturbances erupted in multiple cities after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr . in April 1968. As Kinder and Sanders observe: For one long, hot summer after another, Americans watched what appeared to be the coming apart of their own country. On the front page of their morning newspapers and on their television screens in the evening appeared dramatic and frightening pictures of devastation and ruin: cities on fire, mobs of blacks looting stores and hurling rocks at police, tanks rumbling down the avenues of American cities.… Discussion of the “race problem” in America … centered on the threat that inner-city blacks posed to social order and public safety. (Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 103) In 1968 the Kerner Commission released a report on the civil disturbances, warning that the United States was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” The urban violence and Kerner Commission report created an opening for Republicans to pounce on the law-and-order theme. Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon blasted the report for “blaming everybody for the riots except the perpetrators of violence,” promising “retaliation against the perpetrators” that would be “swift and sure.” As noted by journalists Thomas Edsall and Mary Edsall, Nixon’s running mate, hard-line Maryland governor Spiro Agnew (1918–1996), summoned black leaders in Baltimore to a stormy meeting where he accused them of cowardice for refusing to renounce black militant leaders like Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown. Speaking of the violence in Baltimore after the King assassination, Agnew charged: “The looting and rioting which has engulfed our city during the past several days did not occur by chance. It is no mere coincidence that a national disciple of violence, Mr. Stokely Carmichael, was observed meeting with local black power advocates and known criminals in Baltimore three days before the riots began” (quoted in Edsall and Edsall 1991, p. 85). The 1968 Democratic national convention met in Chicago following the June 1968 assassination of Democratic presidential candidate Robert Kennedy. Chaotic scenes of police beating demonstrators in Chicago’s streets and parks echoed the tumult within the convention hall, as party delegates splintered over the Vietnam War (1957–1975). By 1965 almost all American homes had televisions, bringing searing images of one dramatic (and sometimes horrifying) event after another into the public consciousness. The racial subtext to much of the unrest of the 1960s is unmistakable. As Kinder and Sanders note: The riots opened up a huge racial rift. Fear and revulsion against the violence were widespread among both white and black Americans, but whites were much more likely to condemn those who participated in the riots and more eager for the police and National Guard to retaliate against them. Where blacks saw the riots as expressions of legitimate grievances, whites were inclined to explain them as eruptions of black hatred and senseless criminality.… To many white Americans, then, the civil disorders of the 1960s amounted to an appalling collective mugging. (Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 104). Liberals, then, faced the unenviable task of explaining why, after leading the fight to pass major civil rights laws, blacks appeared to be responding not with gratitude, but with annual explosions of violence, looting, and destruction. As political analyst James Sundquist observes, the potency of law-and-order themes was evident as early as 1966, when Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) easily won the governorship of California after promising to “get tough” on welfare, crime, riots, and student unrest. In October 1966, the Republican Coordinating Committee charged that officials in the Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) administration had “condoned and encouraged disregard for law and order.” In an August 29, 1967, press conference, House Republican leader Gerald R. Ford (1913–2006) proclaimed: The war at home—the war against crime—is being lost. The Administration appears to be in full retreat. The homes and the streets of America are no longer safe for our people. This is a frightful situation.… The Republicans in Congress demand that the Administration take the action required to protect our people in their homes, on the streets, at their jobs.… There can be no further Administration excuse for indecision, delay or evasion. When a Rap Brown and a Stokely Carmichael are allowed to run loose, to threaten law-abiding Americans with injury and death, it’s time to slam the door on them and any like them—and slam it hard! (quoted in Sundquist 1983, p. 385) As Sundquist notes, Ford’s statement illustrates that “by 1967, the Republicans were pulling out all the stops” (on the law and order issue). In 1968 “the issue was propelled by so many events that it hardly needed partisan exploitation” (1983, p. 385). The cumulative effect of civil-rights violence, assassinations, urban rioting and unrest, the tumult at the 1968 Democratic convention, and the comparatively peaceful 1968 Republican convention in Miami was to create a climate unmistakably ripe for Republican law-and-order appeals. Many Americans were shell-shocked by the rising crime rates and domestic violence of the 1960s, amplified by the increasingly controversial Vietnam War, with antiwar demonstrators burning their draft cards and soldiers coming home, some in body bags, others maimed. In May 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on antiwar protesters at Kent State University, killing four students and injuring nine. Many Americans sympathized more with the shooting guardsmen than with the dead students—a sentiment captured in Neil Young’s protest song “ Ohio ” (written immediately after the Kent State shootings and performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young). The song characterized conservative sentiment as celebrating the shootings: “should’ve been done long ago.” LAW AND ORDER IN THE 1968 CAMPAIGN The political context in 1968 was clearly ripe for a campaign centering on law and order. The Nixon campaign eagerly seized the opening. Nixon’s selection of Agnew as his running mate sent an unmistakable signal that if elected president he would “crack down” hard on rioters, draft protesters, and others perceived as contributing to or fomenting social and urban unrest. At the 1968 Republican convention, Nixon began his acceptance speech: “As we look at America, we see cities enveloped in smoke and flame. We hear sirens in the night.” Nixon’s speech continued by attacking Democratic-sponsored government programs for the unemployed, the poor, and cities as “reaping an ugly harvest of frustration, violence, and failure across the land.” Nixon’s campaign advertisements, too, reinforced the law-and-order theme. As Kinder and Sanders note: Nixon’s television advertisements played upon Americans’ fear of crime. While voiceovers pointed to sharp increases in violent crime and blamed the Democrats , the television viewer witnessed scenes of riots and buildings in flames, montages of urban decay, a lonely policeman on the beat, a mugging, crowds taunting the police, faces of anxious and perplexed Americans, and a woman walking alone on a deserted city street as darkness fell. (Kinder and Sanders 1996, p. 226) After Nixon’s election victory in 1968, Agnew, as vice president, demonstrated a slashing, attack-dog speaking style that further expanded on law-and-order themes. As noted by Sundquist, Agnew toured the country to support Republican candidates, attacking and denouncing “permissivists,” “avowed anarchists and communists,” “misfits,” the “garbage” of society, “thieves, traitors and perverts,” and “radical liberals” (1983, p. 387). This rhetoric is anything but subtle in positioning the Republican Party as representing the masses of “middle America” that abide by society’s rules, are horrified by social violence, and support harsh crackdowns against it—a group that later would be targeted by the appeal of the 1972 Nixon campaign to the “silent majority.” By implication, Agnew sought to position Democrats as representing less savory elements: antiwar radicals, draft-card burners, urban rioters, black militants, hippies, and practitioners of recreational drug use and sexual activity. Agnew’s language, then, expanded the law-and-order theme to imply that Democrats sympathized not only with those who encouraged and practiced crime and violence (i.e., black militants, urban rioters, and draft-card burners), but also with groups that encouraged a more general social permissiveness and breakdown of traditional moral values—that is, permissivists, radical liberals, and perverts. These themes foreshadowed Nixon’s 1972 reelection campaign, which would successfully brand Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern as the candidate of “acid, amnesty, and abortion.” 1972 TO 2007: LAW-AND-ORDER THEMES RECYCLED Since 1972, explicit law-and-order themes have become less central issues in most campaigns. However, a major exception was the 1988 presidential campaign, when George H. W. Bush portrayed Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis as “soft” on violent crime in a campaign that critics charged appealed to racial prejudices. The campaign featured the story of William “Willie” Horton, a black convict who, released from prison on a weekend furlough (a controversial program supported by Massachusetts governor Dukakis), escaped to Maryland, where he attacked a couple in their home. Republican strategists openly exploited the Horton case. One television advertisement, sponsored by an independent pro-Bush group, showed a sinister and unruly-looking Horton in a mug shot, while an announcer recounted Horton’s crimes, emphasized by the words kidnapping, raping, and stabbing appearing in large print on the screen. Republican strategist Lee Atwater (1951–1991) promised that “by the time this election is over, Willie Horton will be a household name.” Later, he said “the Horton case is one of those gut issues that are value issues, particularly in the South, and if we hammer at these over and over, we are going to win.” As Kinder and Sanders note, Atwater joked to a Republican gathering, “There is a story about Willie Horton, who, for all I know may end up being Dukakis’ running mate.… Maybe [Dukakis] will put this Willie Horton on the ticket when all is said and done” (1996, p. 255). The 1988 campaign illustrates the political dangers for Democrats of not responding adequately to Republican efforts to brand them as “soft on crime.” Especially in the more conservative South, Democrats have responded by emphasizing crime-fighting credentials and support for the death penalty. Bill Clinton used this formula successfully in his 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns, and in 2005 Democrat Timothy Kaine won the governorship of Virginia, a conservative state. Kaine successfully fended off Republican attacks on his personal opposition to the death penalty by promising to uphold death sentences handed down by Virginia juries. The law-and-order campaign theme most clearly applies to the 1968 presidential campaign. However, it has spawned similar campaign themes, usually pursued by Republicans eager to portray Democrats as “soft on crime,” with varying degrees of success. LAW AND ORDER AND VIGILANTISM IN AMERICAN LIFE AND FILM Paradoxically, the appeal of law-and-order themes has potentially contributed to citizen vigilantism at times. American history offers numerous examples of citizens “taking the law into their own hands.” White southerners’ lynchings of blacks are but one example of vigilante actions defending a social order that is anything but admirable. In 1898, for instance, the majority-black port city of Wilmington, North Carolina , was consumed by a race riot in which an unknown number of blacks (probably dozens) were murdered and hundreds more banished by an armed white mob bent on establishing white supremacy in local and statewide politics. Historian Timothy Tyson described the actions and motives of riot instigators as follows: On Nov. 10, 1898, heavily armed columns of white men marched into the black neighborhoods of Wilmington. In the name of white supremacy, this well-ordered mob burned the offices of the local black newspaper, murdered perhaps dozens of black residents—the precise number isn’t known—and banished many successful black citizens and their so-called “white nigger” allies. A new social order was born in the blood and the flames, rooted in what News and Observer publisher Josephus Daniels, heralded as “permanent good government by the party of the White Man.” (Tyson 2006) Tyson added that the riot “marked the embrace of virulent Jim Crow racism” nationwide. The Red Shirts, a paramilitary arm of the then-white-supremacist Democratic Party, had rampaged across North Carolina before the 1898 election, disrupting black church services and Republican meetings, and attacking blacks, who leaned Republican. These violent, vigilante actions were justified as necessary to preserve a cherished social order, white supremacy, by any means necessary. That their actions were neither lawful nor orderly probably never crossed the minds of either the Red Shirts or the white participants in the Wilmington riot. Similarly, some anti-immigration activists along the U.S.-Mexican border have launched vigilante efforts to deter would-be undocumented immigrants from crossing from Mexico into the United States. Ranch Rescue is one such group, which styles itself as a defender of U.S. borders and private property rights against what it calls “criminal aliens” and “terrorists” out of a belief that law enforcement is unable or unwilling to act appropriately toward these ends. In 2005 Ranch Rescue founder Casey Nethercutt lost his southern Arizona ranch to satisfy a court judgment levied against him and other Ranch Rescue members for seizing and traumatizing two Mexican immigrants (Pollack 2005). The Wilmington riots and the Ranch Rescue case illustrate behaviors that are probably driven by the conviction that to restore law and order—or a cherished social goal—requires violating law and order at least temporarily. The vigilantism inherent in the actions of the Wilmington riot instigators and Ranch Rescue members is also reflected in some American films. In movies like the Death Wish series starring Charles Bronson (1921–2003) and The Punisher (1989 and 2004), vigilantism is celebrated, with a curious and unmistakable implicit message: exacting revenge sometimes requires violating law and order—even abandoning the rule of law altogether. Law and order, then, has morphed from an often-potent political symbol from the 1960s through the 1980s to a notion that some action films celebrate violating—but whose impact in real-world politics is largely blunted. SEE ALSO Law; Rule of Law BIBLIOGRAPHY Edsall, Thomas Byrne, and Mary D. Edsall. 1991. Chain Reaction: The Impact of Race, Rights, and Taxes on American Politics. New York: Norton. Kinder, Donald R., and Lynn M. Sanders. 1996. Divided by Color: Racial Politics and Democratic Ideals. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. [1968] 1988. The Kerner Report: The 1968 Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. New York: Pantheon. Pollack, Andrew. 2005. Two Illegal Immigrants Win Arizona Ranch in Court. New York Times, August 19. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/19/national/19ranch.htm . Sundquist, James L. 1983. Dynamics of the Party System: Alignment and Realignment of Political Parties in the United States. Rev. ed. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution. Tyson, Timothy B. 2006. The Ghosts of 1898: Wilmington’s Race Riot and the Rise of White Supremacy. Raleigh News & Observer, November 17. http://www.newsobserver.com/1370/story/511596.html. BIBLIOGRAPHY The importance of law is much more easily determined than its definition. Law is perhaps the most conspicuous arena wherein theory and practice meet. Law often acts as a catalyst in society, introducing ideas and solutions that might not otherwise take hold. Law can also act as a barrier to social progress and justice. The civil rights legislation of the 1960s, constructed in part to end desegregation in the U.S. South, is an example of law as a catalyst. The very laws overturned by the civil rights legislation illustrate how law can impede social change. Law also reacts to cultural and moral developments and can be understood as responding to a new social consensus or understanding. In this sense the same civil rights legislation that acted as a catalyst in one region of the United States can be said to have simultaneously reflected a growing national consensus; in this case, a national judgment that racial segregation in public schools was a gross violation of American ideals. But if law, and the study of law, is important because of its obvious connection to social problems and social change, what exactly is it? For a straightforward definition one need only consult Black’s Law Dictionary, which describes law as “a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state,” or more fully, a law is a “general rule of human action, taking cognizance only of external acts, enforced by a determinate authority, which authority is human, and among human authorities is that which is paramount in a political society.” These definitions are helpful in identifying some important features of the law and legal systems. Not surprisingly, however, such definitions cannot entirely capture other salient features of what is meant by the term law. A more comprehensive approach to the question of what law is involves taking a closer look at some of the most important components of law. Finally, some of the different types of law must be examined, as well as methods of approaching the study of law. ELEMENTS OF THE LAW In what remains one of the most elegant and insightful investigations into the nature of law, the English scholar H. L. A. Hart opens his 1961 book The Concept of Law by noting that law is a unique discipline. Chemists, professors of French literature, and medical doctors do not expend a great deal of intellectual energy on the question of what comprises chemistry, French literature, or medicine. Yet scholars who study law, also known in this context as jurisprudence or philosophy of law, have created a voluminous literature dedicated to the question of the essence of law. This seems rather odd, given that most of us would have no problem identifying examples of “the law.” Hart describes five features that we would expect to find in a legal system ([1961] 1994, p. 3). First, there are laws mandating some actions (e.g., wearing a seatbelt in a car) while prohibiting others (e.g., driving the car above a certain speed limit). If citizens run afoul of such laws, and are convicted as such, there are prescribed punishments. Second, there are rules that require citizens to repay those whom they have injured in some way. Third, there are laws that allow citizens to create legally recognized relationships that did not exist before; for example, marriage and contract laws. Fourth, there are courts created by law for the express purpose of determining when and how laws have been broken and what recompense is warranted. Finally, there is a special category of law that concerns how new laws are created. Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution is an example of this sort of law, as it specifies how Congress as the legislative branch can create new law. But note that these bare minimum characteristics describe a legal system, not necessarily the law itself. How might one understand the difference? Although there is some conceptual overlap between the two terms and they are often used interchangeably, generally, legal systems are concrete attempts to instantiate laws within a given political community. Some examples include the U.S. legal system, the British legal system, and the Chinese legal system. Social scientists can describe various legal systems with more precision than they can the more ambiguous concept of law itself. A legal system can be explained by reference to its constitution, legal traditions, and the actual practices of a government; a flow chart can show the defining governing bodies, powers, checks, and legal rights and responsibilities. However, defining and understanding various legal systems does not do away with the need to understand law as conceptually distinct from the various legal systems that attempt to instantiate and embody different understandings of law. One need only consider, as Hart notes, that the very constitutional conventions that establish modern legal systems have something to do with law, yet cannot themselves be understood as identical with the legal systems they create. Legal systems, however they may differ from nation to nation, are attempts to instantiate law. What, then, is the purpose of law? Law exists to secure social and public goods, which include such important political priorities as order, justice, equality, and liberty. In short, and paraphrasing legal scholar Ronald Dworkin’s introduction to his influential 1986 tome Law’s Empire, we “live in and by the law,” pursuing our goals and relationships, our identities and our livelihoods, within the framework created and maintained by a system of laws. But this does not capture all the essential elements of what law is or how law works in society. A system of law has by definition at least an element of coercion. Laws that proscribe or enjoin behaviors have attached to them penalties that must be enforced by some level of government. As Hart’s example of a marriage law illustrates, not every law has a punitive or coercive element to it, but given the impossibility of voluntary and unanimous adherence to laws, coercion and punishment are necessary components of a legal system. This notion of coercion leads naturally to the questions of authority and legitimacy and their relation to a society’s laws. By what authority are laws made, and who has the right to enforce them? One answer to this question is based purely on power: Whoever can impose laws and enforce them has authority. But this answer collapses any understanding of what is lawful into a mere description of who holds power. It undercuts a basic intuition that law serves a normative purpose and can be imposed by a legitimate governing body. Most liberal constitutional democracies, at a procedural minimum, understand a legitimate governing body to be one that enjoys the consent of those governed by its laws and is ultimately accountable for its representation of its citizens through fair and regular elections. Legitimacy itself is best understood as a normative or moral concept, and it highlights the link between law and morality. Scholars differ as to exactly how morality and law are related, and as to how morality should inform descriptions and theorizing about law, but there is some general agreement that describing law accurately entails some measure of understanding of what actors in the legal arena aim to do. Thus one is brought back to the social goals mentioned previously: justice, order, freedom, and the like. These are inherently normative concepts, the realization of which can be understood as making society somehow better. Traffic laws, for example, aim at providing an orderly and safe means of transportation. This in turn protects the value one’s society places on life, commerce, free movement, and so on. To be sure, there are often tensions between social goods, such as liberty and security, and laws are often inefficient means of promoting or securing such goods (indeed, laws themselves can be instruments of injustice). Moreover, the content of morality and law are not identical. Many citizens might consider a given behavior, for example gossiping, to be immoral without thinking that it should also be illegal. Nevertheless, there does seem to be a connection between law, its social function, and morality. It is difficult to persuasively describe what law is without making at least some reference to a society’s understanding of what law ought to be. TYPES OF LAW Legal emphases and specialties have proliferated to the point where categorizing all the different types of law is a Herculean task. In addition to traditional subject areas such as contract law, torts, criminal law, and constitutional law, prospective lawyers, social scientists, and interested laypersons can expect to find new avenues of research and study in environmental law, election law, intellectual property law, Internet law, and law pertaining to the rights of indigenous peoples, to name just a few. With that in mind, a few words are in order about some of the central areas of law: constitutional law, criminal law, and torts. Constitutional Law A constitution acts as the framing document of a given political entity. Often, constitutions will include an aspirational preamble, a declaration or bill of rights, explicit means whereby the constitution may be amended, and the basic framework of the government’s bodies in their executive, legislative, or judicial functions. Constitutions vary a great deal, not only in their allotment of political responsibility but also in their means of interpretation. In the British parliamentary system the executive and legislative functions are both found in Parliament, whereas the U.S. Constitution places legislative duties with Congress and executive duties with the president. In some European nations a court must review the constitutionality of every piece of legislation; in the United States the Supreme Court does not review the constitutionality of a law unless a citizen or state pursues the issue through the lower courts. Constitutional law, then, is the practice of law that concerns itself both with applying constitutional norms to contemporary issues and with arguments about the constitution itself. An example of the former is found in deciding how to apply constitutional provisions to new technologies or developments. For example, the framers of the U.S. Constitution forbade “unreasonable search and seizure” but could not have anticipated how to apply this norm to telephone technology and wiretapping. Constitutional law is also the purview of those who might want to change the constitution itself. Criminal Law One of the major areas addressed by constitutional law is criminal law. Criminal law addresses wrongs that are public in nature. District attorneys prosecute crimes in the name of the people of their particular state, province, or city. This is because some wrongs are seen as injuring not only the individual victim, but also the wider public. Criminal law includes prohibited and required actions as well as the safeguards in place to ensure fair trials and sentencing. Obviously this area is most closely identified with the coercive element of law. Torts Not all wrongs committed between citizens are considered public wrongs that would be tried in a criminal court. These other wrongs are called torts, or civil wrongs, and these sorts of cases are what is commonly meant when lawsuits are filed between citizens. One of the chief differences between civil and criminal trials is that in a civil trial the state acts as a facilitator in the attempt to resolve the conflict, whereas in a criminal trial the state, in its executive function, is itself a party in the dispute. Another key difference is that damages in a civil trial are usually monetary; in a criminal trial prison time in addition to monetary fines is a frequent punishment. Occasionally the same event can result in both a criminal and civil trial. One famous example of this is the 1994 murder of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. O. J. Simpson was found not guilty in the criminal case brought against him by the state of California in 1995, but the parents of Ron Goldman sued successfully for damages in civil court in 1997. TWO METHODOLOGICAL AIDS The topic of law can certainly seem overwhelming given the innumerable manifestations of law, debates over its essence and application, and differing social science approaches in how to describe law and its relation to politics and society. There are two methodological aids that may be helpful for anyone interested in pursuing the study of law regardless of discipline (i.e., law school, sociology of law, philosophy of law). The Central Case The “central case” method is useful for trying to determine what counts as law or a legal system, given that such descriptions are not always a clear matter of either-or categorization. For example, international law courts have many of the salient features of a legal system save one, coercion. There is as yet no authority superior to a nation-state to enforce international law. If coercion is a necessary feature of a legal system, should international law be categorized as law, or something else? The legal philosopher John Finnis in his 1981 book Natural Law and Natural Rights builds on insights from the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and contemporary legal philosopher Joseph Raz in presenting the central case as a useful tool (pp. 9–16). What the central case method allows one to do is articulate several key elements of a legal system and thus identify an authoritative definition of law without having to then dismiss every example that does not exhibit every single key element, or does not exhibit them to the same degree. For example, one might describe the central case of constitutional government as being one that includes the rule of law, regular and fair elections, separation of powers, and an independent judiciary. A political scientist working on comparative legal systems can identify nations whose legal systems fulfill these criteria, as well as nations that are missing one of these elements (e.g., an independent judiciary). We might describe such a nation’s legal system as being a somewhat watered-down version of the central case. The central case method is a useful tool that allows observers to describe legal and social phenomena with enough flexibility to allow for real-world conditions that are not always amenable to orderly categorizations. The Internal Point of View Another of H. L. A. Hart’s contributions to the study of law is the internal point of view (Hart [1961] 1994, pp. 89–91). The social scientist or observer who utilizes the internal point of view counts as worthwhile knowledge the self-understanding of the actors in any given system or social group. Consider for example U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’s famous definition of law in his 1897 “The Path of the Law” address, that law is the “prophecies of what the courts will do in fact” (1920, p. 173). Whatever merit this view of law might have, it does not take into account what judges and lawmakers understand themselves to be doing. Legislators who pass laws, and judges who interpret them, understand themselves to be doing more than merely guessing how judges will rule on various situations in the future. Hart’s point is not that one need adopt the viewpoint of the judge, or anyone else, as one’s own. Rather, his argument is that one cannot accurately describe social phenomena without taking the internal view into account, precisely because those internal views are themselves part of the social phenomena and they help explain actions taken by legal actors in the system. When faced with any study or explanation of legal behavior or phenomena, the notion of the internal point of view is helpful. Does a particular study of why judges decide cases the way they do take into account how judges understand their own role? If not, do the authors offer a persuasive explanation for their methodological choices? If nothing else, understanding Hart’s endorsement of taking into account the internal point of view encourages the student of law and legal phenomena to be aware of important questions regarding the objectivity and accuracy of legal theorists and social scientists. SEE ALSO Authority; Crime and Criminology; Government; Judiciary; Jurisprudence; Justice; Legal Systems; Litigation, Social Science Role in; Regulation; State, The Barber, Soterios A., Walter F. Murphy, James E. Fleming, and Stephen Macedo, eds. 2003. American Constitutional Interpretation. 3rd ed. New York: Foundation Press. Dworkin, Ronald. 1986. Law’s Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Finnis, John. 1981. Natural Law and Natural Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fuller, Lon. 1969. The Morality of Law. 2nd ed. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Gardner, Brian A., ed. 2004. Black’s Law Dictionary. 8th ed. St. Paul, MN: Thomson West. Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, John Jay, et al. 2003. The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, ed. David Wootten. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett. Hart, H. L. A. [1961] 1994. The Concept of Law. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Holmes, Oliver Wendell. 1920. Collected Legal Papers. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Howe. Raz, Joseph. 1979. The Authority of Law: Essays on Law and Morality. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Unger, Roberto Mangabeira. 1983. The Critical Legal Studies Movement. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Micah J. Watson	i don't know
The huge American springtime festival of film, music and technology SXSW is held where?	South by Southwest - Austin, Texas \| SXSW Interactive, Music, FIlm South by Southwest South by Southwest What SXSW means to Austin Most college towns calm down during Spring Break as students leave for party points beyond – but not Austin. After all, why would anyone leave when one of the biggest events in the music, interactive and film business happens right here? Every March since 1987, the South By Southwest (SXSW) Conferences and Festival takes over the Capital City. One of the world’s largest and most respected industry conferences, SXSW showcases two weeks of the best in new music, film, digital media and interactive arts – plus hundreds of industry-related seminars, discussions, workshops, interviews, meetings, and panels. The event is made up of three distinct industry conferences: SXSW Interactive; SXSW Film; and SXSW Music – a unique convergence of emerging technologies, independent films, and the best in original music. In their second year in 2012, both SXSW Eco – a conference with sessions from experts in the public, private and academic sectors who are “committed to finding solutions for a sustainable world” – and SXSW Edu – a conference focused on innovations in learning – enjoyed an increase in attendance. Bill Gates was the 2013 keynote speaker for SXSW Edu. In 2013, SXSW Eco had a presence at the March SXSW Conference, but is scheduled to have its own, separate conference in October. No matter what the industry, there’s no question that the festival has a huge impact on the city – economic and otherwise. Consider that in 2013 the Interactive attendance alone had 30,621 paying attendees. Downtown hotel revenue from the 2011 event was nearly $27 million, an increase of $5 million from the previous year. Music and more Whether it’s film, interactive, or music, it seems that more deals take place during SXSW than at the blackjack tables in Vegas. The New York Times, in a March 2006 article, reported that SXSW is “…a hub for operating outside the recording business...It could be finding a European distributor for a self-released album or the offer of a Midwestern college tour.” While SXSW is primarily an industry conference, there’s a distinct festival appeal to SXSW. It’s a chance for fans to discover new favorites and genres, hear new tunes from industry veterans, see great documentaries and feature films, and learn about the latest in digital and interactive media. What to Expect at SXSW The SXSW event starts with SXSW Interactive, overlaps slightly with SXSW Film, and is in full swing by the time the hipsters in their skinny jeans descend into town for SXSW Music, which wraps up the week. SXSW Interactive Technology buffs and regular Joes are equally at home during SXSW Interactive, which emphasizes cutting-edge, creative thinking in the wide world of websites, interactivity, gaming, new media, social networking, and all things technology. The convergence of technology and pop culture is evident with the registration numbers: In 2013, the interactive segment attracted 30,621 people, an all time high. This is where industry trends happen – and where the seeds germinate for what might appear on your computer screen, Twitter, Mashable, Tech Crunch, or Facebook feed in the future. In 2007, SXSWi helped boost Twitter usage. ScreenBurn is another aspect of SXSW Interactive – especially for emerging game designers and part open to the public with a fun family gaming showcase so you can check out the latest in gaming technologies. SXSW Film SXSW Film has grown into a major event on the international movie industry calendar over the last 20-plus years, and the festival has earned a reputation as a venue for launching emerging talents. Attendees and fans screen hundreds of feature films, documentaries, animated movies and shorts over 10 days during the SXSW Film Conference & Festival, with screenings taking place at local theaters and other venues all over the city – from the latest premieres to groundbreaking and often controversial independent films. Directors and stars often introduce their works and talk about them after the show – and offerings include everything from big-budget Hollywood studio productions to edgy, independent films made on a shoestring. SXSW also hosts the annual (and very popular) Texas High School Film Competition, which “supports and cultivate the state’s next generation of filmmakers.” Eligibility is limited to Texas students enrolled in the 9th through 12th grades for the full academic year. A panel of independent filmmakers and industry figures judge the submissions, with prizes – including SXSW Film registrations – awarded for first, second, and third place. All films chosen as finalists are shown in a special program as part of the regular SXSW Film Festival schedule. SXSW Music SXSW Music wraps up the conference, and there’s a clear distinction when film and interactive ends and when music begins. The annual Austin Music Awards kicks off the music portion of SXSW, and it’s a can’t-miss event. Get tickets when they go on sale, because it sells out every year. Each year features thousands of acts, in 2012 there were over 2,200 acts and 2013 was just as large. Industry speakers have included Grammy winning producer, composer and arranger, Quincy Jones in 2009, while rocker Bruce Springsteen was the keynote speaker in 2012 and rocker Dave Grohl of Nirvana fame was the keynote speaker in 2013. In past years, other SXSW speakers and performers have included Pete Townsend, Jeff Beck, David Byrne, Shawn Colvin, Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow, Billy Idol, Philip Glass, Wyclef Jean, Robert Plant, and Willie Nelson. Though SXSW is an industry conference, the opportunity to see bands from all over the world – especially up-and-coming artists – is far too tempting for many music fans, many of whom travel from around the country and the world just to check out the newest bands. Even if you’re a music lover short on cash, you’ll still see and hear great music. SXSW Music offers free shows three nights a week at Auditorium Shores during the festival with great artists – Elvis Costello, Alejandro Escovedo and The Strokes have all played free shows here. In 2013, the three major SXSW conferences, plus SXSW Edu had a total of more than 5,000 events. There are also tons of other musical events that happen outside the official festival. In particular, the shows on South Congress Avenue and South Lamar have grown into their own – including a fun, quirky festival of music known to locals as South By South Austin. Getting Access: Mixed Metals and Wristbands Now that you know all about the coolest party in town each March, how do you get in? It all depends how much you want to spend. For the 2013 event, prices ranged from $450 (early registration, film-only badge) to $1595 (walk-up registration badge), depending on which pieces of the festival you wanted to attend. The Platinum Badge gets you into all SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Events; the Music Badge covers all SXSW Music & Media Conference and Festival events; the Gold Badge offers access to all SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive events; the Film Badge gets you into all the SXSW Film Conference and Festival events; and the Interactive Badge is your ticket to all SXSW Interactive Festival and ScreenBurn events. Wristbands are also available, which are less expensive than badges. But keep in mind that the wristband doesn’t get you into the industry/conference part of the event, and that access to shows and films is on a first-come, first-serve basis because Platinum Badge holders and specific Film or Music Badge holders are admitted first. In 2014, SXSW is scheduled to be held from March 7th to March 16th, with the Interactive part being held from March 7th to the 11th, the Film part from March 7th to March 16th, and the Music part from March 11th to March 16th. Be sure to order your badges or wristbands early because they sellout quickly and they go up in price, over time. Remember to only trust the official SXSW site: www.sxsw.com. Registration opens in early August 2013. Keep checking the website for the exact date and other details. Be Prepared – and Have Fun! Best bet? No matter what you want to see at SXSW, be prepared and have a plan. Whether it’s a hot band, new film, or top technology speaker, it’s best to arrive as early as possible. SXSW involves a lot of standing in line, so be prepared for that, too. For music, the wristband covers the admission price, but if it’s a hot show, arrive early and keep your fingers crossed. Everything depends on space available after SXSW badge holders are admitted. SXSW underscores Austin’s undisputed position as a creative nexus of entertainment, and as Austinites, we’re proud to call it our own each March. Whatever you decide to attend, you are sure to enjoy it. So get a sitter, splurge for a badge or a wristband, and enjoy the benefits of the city’s creative status. SXSW Eco, which was held in March its first year, will be October 7-9 for 2013. For more information about SXSW and details about upcoming events, visit www.sxsw.com. Did you like what you read here? Order your FREE copy of Austin Relocation Guide!	Austin, Texas
Cheese is said to combat tooth erosion because it contains what?	SXSW: where music, interractives and film converge SXSW: where music, interractives and film converge Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar talk with USA TODAY tech reporter Mike Snider at SXSW. Post to Facebook SXSW: where music, interractives and film converge Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar talk with USA TODAY tech reporter Mike Snider at SXSW. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1plD5Ar CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 3 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs SXSW: where music, interractives and film converge None Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar talk with USA TODAY tech reporter Mike Snider at SXSW. Jasper Colt, USA TODAY None Steve Lamacq, a BBC disc jockey from London, studies the SXSW music schedule outside the club Barbarella. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP None Robert Plant, right, performs with Jimmie Vaughan at the Austin Music Awards. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP None David Teaspoon Hulett of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based band Chuckie Campbell and the Phaction, plays drums in the intersection of 6th and Red River streets. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP None Don Cheadle and Emayatzy Corinealdi attend the screening of 'Miles Ahead.' Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None Ryan Adams performs during SXSW. Christopher Polk, Getty Images None First lady Michelle Obama speaks onstage at the keynote session during the 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival in Austin. Neilson Barnard, Getty Images for SXSW None Actress Sophia Bush, left, and first lady Michelle Obama high-five. Rich Fury, Invision/AP Queen Latifah participates in the SXSW keynote with the first lady. Neilson Barnard, Getty Images for SXSW None First lady Michelle Obama connects with Missy Elliott. Drew Anthony Smith, Getty Images None Alert Logic's chief security officer Misha Govshteyn, right, Timshel managing partner Michael Slaby, and IBM global head of information security Charles Henderson listen to CNBC anchor and moderator Kayla Tausche during the 'It's not about an iPhone: Fixing the Encryption Mess' panel. Jack Plunkett, AP Twitter co-founder and Jelly Industries CEO Biz Stone discusses 'Accessing the Inaccessible: Evolving Search.' Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman via AP None Moderator Scott Mantz, left, sound editor Matthew Wood, VFX supervisor Roger Guyett, co-producer Michelle Rejwan and R2-D2 attend the screening of 'Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey.' Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None Miguel performs at The Spotify House. Anna Webber, Getty Images for Spotify None 'The Powerpuff Girls' parade and screening. Sarah Kerver, Getty Images for Cartoon Network None Matilda the dog has her photo taken with a stormtrooper in front of a to-scale 'Star Wars' TIE fighter. Disney set up the display to promote the screening of the documentary 'Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey.' Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP Director J.J. Abrams attends the screening of 'Secrets of The Force Awakens.' Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None Johnny Galecki experiences Samsung Gear VR. Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Samsung None Rick Kern, Getty Images for Samsung None Rich Fury, Invision/AP None Pepper the robot looks on as panelists discuss advances in robot technology at the SXSW Interactive Festival. Robots played a key role at this year's gathering. Rick Jervis None Hishori Ishiguro, left, explains the technology behind his android. The robot later held unassisted conversations with participants. Rick Jervis None New York-based artist Sougwen Chung draws with the robotic arm she's developed, named D.O.U.G. Chung gave a talk about her project at a site outside of SXSW Interactive. Sougwen Chung None 'Entertainment Weekly' writer Kevin Sullivan, left, Rami Malek, Sam Esmail and Christian Slater talk about the USA show 'Mr. Robot.' Rich Fury, Invision/AP None Director Ilya Naishuller, left, and Andrei Dementiev, wearing the GoPro setup used to film their new movie 'Hardcore Henry,' attend a screening of the film. Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP None Google provided a fleet of self-driving cars so that about a dozen mayors visiting Austin during SXSW could get a feel for autonomous driving. Marco della Cava, USA TODAY None Actor Nick Offerman attends The Samsung Studio. Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Samsung None Director Casey Neistat speaks during 'Breaking Barriers: How Content Will Accelerate VR and 360.' 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Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None Wyatt Russell and Sanne Hamers Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None Director Richard Linklater and Zoey Deutch Mike Windle, Getty Images for SXSW None 'Everybody Wants Some' cast member Tyler Hoechlin sits for a portrait at The Samsung Studio. Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Samsung None Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Samsung None Jonathan Leibson, Getty Images for Samsung None Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP None People line up inside the Austin Convention Center Larry W. Smith, EPA Casey Gerald speaks on stage during the opening Keynote. Neilson Barnard, Neilson Barnard, Getty Images for SXSW None Former NFL Player and ALS Advocate Steve Gleason, left, and former NFL player and producer Scott Fujita speak during a fireside chat with Steve Gleason. 'Gleason' the documentary, released in January 2016 is the story of how Steve Gleason decided to live life and help others with the ALS after receiving the news he had the disease at age 34. Sasha Haagensen, Getty Images for Microsoft None Musician Black Joe Lewis performs onstage during a fireside chat with Gleason. Sasha Haagensen, Getty Images for Microsoft None Jay Smith and Phil Strobel, right, attend a fireside chat with Gleason. Sasha Haagensen, Getty Images for Microsoft None Michel Varisco Gleason, Steve's wife, attends the fireside chat. Sasha Haagensen, Getty Images for Microsoft None Samsung Gear VR is on display at The Samsung Studio. Rick Kern, Getty Images for Samsung None 'Vice Principals' Danny McBride, left, and Walton Goggins. Jack Plunkett, Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP None Jack Plunkett, Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP None Kimberly Hebert Gregory and Danny McBride Jack Plunkett, Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP Like this topic? 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Name the UK's greatest Paralympic medal winner (as at 2011)?	Paralympics medals: National winners and losers at London 2012 - BBC Sport BBC Sport Paralympics medals: National winners and losers at London 2012 10 Sep 2012 From the section Disability Sport Share this page Read more about sharing. The Paralympics have been a huge success for Great Britain, and not only within the sporting arenas. The public have been out in force to support the events while Team GB have responded with a record haul of 120 medals. London v Beijing medal placings London USA 3 But leaving the hosts aside, who are the big winners and losers in the London 2012 medal table? China have continued their dominance, which began at their own home games in Beijing four years ago. But the biggest disappointment has come from traditional powerhouse the United States, who slid down the Paralympics medal table despite regaining their number one status at the Olympics. Elsewhere, Russia, Ukraine and Australia have all produced healthy medal hauls to cheer their nations. Here, BBC Sport assesses the achievements of a number of countries and how their relative success or failure has been perceived at home. CHINA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 95 golds, 71 silvers and 65 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 89 golds, 70 silvers and 52 bronzes PERCEPTION: The London Paralympics has been met with a lot of enthusiasm in China. The country has around 82 million disabled people so there is a big audience. Chinese state media sent out a 100-strong team of journalists to cover the London Games. And it is clear from Chinese social media that many young people have been eager to find out about Team China's progress. HOW'S IT GONE? China has triumphed again at the Paralympics, after topping the medal tables in both Athens and Beijing. Yang Yang, 15, won four swimming golds The country won the first gold medal of the London Games in rifle shooting and on Thursday celebrated its 300th Paralympic gold medal, won by Zhao Xu in the men's 100m-T46 final. Its team was smaller than in Beijing but highly successful across a range of sports nonetheless. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: China has so many Paralympic stars but one of the stand-out performances came from the youngest athlete in the team. Swimmer Yang Yang is only 15 years old but marked his Games debut by bagging four gold medals. He also broke the world record in the men's 50m backstroke S2 category. WHAT THEY SAID: Chinese coach Zhang Honggu (as quoted by Xinhua news agency): "China has developed fast in recent years and the government and people attach great importance to disabled people, which guarantees high-level systematic training for all the Paralympians. All our Paralympians train hard and they are eager to show their power in high-level competitions." UNITED STATES MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 31 golds, 29 silvers and 38 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 36 golds, 35 silvers and 28 bronzes PERCEPTION: The Paralympics have received scant attention in the US. The country was saturated with Olympic coverage last month, but amid the start of the American football season and the final few weeks of the baseball season, television viewers had other sport to watch. NBC, the official US broadcaster, did not air the opening ceremony and only showed about five-and-a-half hours of sport, none of it live. HOW'S IT GONE? The US finished sixth in the Paralympic medal count. Jessica Long won seven medals for the US If Americans were paying more attention, they might be disappointed to learn that rivals China won more than three times as many Paralympic gold medals. Most news coverage has focused not on results or the medal chase, but on human interest stories or curiosities, with headlines such as "Shark attack survivor wins bronze" - the tale about South African swimmer Achmat Hassiem. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Swimmer Jessica Long, 20, won five gold medals, two silvers and a bronze. Long, who was born in Siberia and raised in Baltimore, was born without most of the bones in her feet. WHAT THEY SAID: Josh George, US wheelchair racer, in the New York Times: "Even more amazing than the fact that Londoners have opened their arms and hearts to the Paralympics is the fact that they are interested in us for our athletic ability, not the fact that we don't spend every day in our rooms crying about the fact that we can't walk, or are missing a limb or two." RUSSIA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 36 golds, 38 silvers and 28 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 18 golds, 23 silvers and 22 bronzes PERCEPTION: Even though the Russian team performed well, there was only brief coverage in the Russian media. But attitudes are changing, something that Russia's strong performance in London will help. The Paralympic Games are gradually becoming a source of national pride, and the government are playing their part in that. Oxana Savchenko won gold in all five of her events For instance, the government will pay substantial cash prizes which are equal to those won by successful Olympians. HOW'S IT GONE? Russia's performance was perhaps the biggest surprise of the Paralympics as the nation climbed to second in the medals table. This was a huge improvement from Beijing, when Russia finished eighth with 63 medals, 18 of which were gold. In London, the number of golds doubled to 36, while the overall medals tally climbed to 102. Most of those medals came in athletics and swimming. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Without doubt, Russia's top Paralympian in London was Oxana Savchenko. The 21-year-old swimmer won gold in all five of her events, to add to the three she gained in Beijing four years ago. WHAT THEY SAID: Vladimir Lukin, the president of Russia's Paralympic committee: "Before the Paralympics, we didn't promise medals. After Beijing, we decided to try to get into the elite of the Paralympic sport - and we have done it." AUSTRALIA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 32 golds, 23 silvers and 30 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 23 golds, 29 silvers and 27 bronzes PERCEPTION: The Paralympics have received widespread coverage in Australian media, with multiple stories each day on the highs and lows of athletes' performances, and more than 100 hours of televised coverage. Considerable pride is being shown in Australia's Paralympic achievements and the way the country has invested in its sportsmen and women. Jacqueline Freney won eight golds in the pool HOW'S IT GONE? Australia surpassed its haul of 23 gold medals from Beijing with three days of competition remaining. It is something the Australian media was quick to highlight, and follows the country's strong showing at the last four Paralympic Games. The country's swimmers have shone, but gold medals have also come in sailing, cycling and on the track. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Two names have stood out - Jacqueline Freney, the 20-year-old swimmer who has become Australia's most successful Paralympian at a single Games. She ended with eight gold medals in the pool. The other is Matthew Cowdrey, another swimmer who has become the first Australian man to win the same event - the 100m freestyle S9 - at three different Games. WHAT THEY SAID: Jacqueline Freney, after winning her seventh of her eight gold medals: "It is just unbelievable how good this meet has been." UKRAINE MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 32 golds, 24 silvers and 28 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 24 golds, 18 silvers and 32 bronzes PERCEPTION: After Ukraine's incredible success in Beijing, the media started paying attention to the Paralympics but the level of coverage remains way below that enjoyed by the country's Olympians, even though they are less successful. Ukraine's main TV channel showed some of the action from London, though, mainly athletics and swimming, in which most of the country's medals came. Nataliia Prologaieva won her first golds at the age of 31 Slowly but surely, Ukraine's Paralympians are becoming the pride of the nation. The government has recognised this, paying substantial cash prizes to medallists. HOW'S IT GONE? After causing a surprise by finishing fourth in the medals table in Beijing, Ukraine cemented its status as one of the strongest contenders in Paralympic sport. A tally of 32 golds in London comfortably surpassed the total of four years ago, and suggests there is a strong base on which to build for Rio. Ukraine's Paralympians proved far more successful in London than their Olympic counterparts, who won only six golds. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: At the age of 31, swimmer Nataliia Prologaieva made a fantastic Paralympic debut. She got four medals - three gold and one silver - dedicating all of her wins to her two sons, who were supporting her back home in Ukraine. WHAT THEY SAID: Swimmer Oleksii Fedyna, who won a gold and a bronze in London: "The Ukrainian team is a lot stronger, and their results keep getting better. The spectator support was very good. Thank you England - London has been the best Games." WHAT ABOUT PARALYMPICSGB? London 2012 saw swimmer turned cyclist Sarah Storey ride into the record books, equalling the 11 career gold medals won by Britain's top modern-day Paralympians Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson and Dave Roberts. Sarah Storey has 11 Paralympic medals to her name Sprinter Jonnie Peacock, aged 19, beat three-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius to become the fastest amputee sprinter in the world. Peacock took the 100m T44 gold in a world-record time. Among a host of heroes, wheelchair athlete David Weir collected four golds - proving as adept in the 800m as in the marathon - while Ellie Simmonds was twice a Paralympic champion in the pool. Great Britain won a record 120 Paralympic medals in London, a rise from 102 in Beijing - although the number of golds fell from 42 to 34, and with it came a drop from second to third in the medals table. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, 11-time Paralympic champion: "The overall performance has been good, although I think the medal target was tough. "Great Britain won some unexpected medals, while some established athletes who were expected to win did not. "Tennis player Peter Norfolk and rower Tom Aggar did not do as well as they should have but equestrian pair Natasha Baker and Sophie Christiansen were both successful. "It was good to see the younger people come through. It makes me feel positive for Rio and beyond." Marc Woods, four-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist: "As a whole Great Britain have done pretty well, but there have been some disappointing performances. "There have been people who have come here and have not swum lifetime bests and I think if you come to a home Games and don't do that then that has to be a disappointment. "Whether it is because people have been unlucky with illness and injury or whether their focus and commitments have been elsewhere is difficult to say. "But I think there are at least four swimmers who did not deliver and could have made up the different between the gold medals won in Beijing and here in London." Share this page	Tanni Grey-Thompson
Who wrote the opera Aida?	Paralympics: GB gold medal winners of London 2012 - CBBC Newsround Paralympics: GB gold medal winners of London 2012 9 September 2012 Image copyright Reuters ParalympicsGB set a target of winning 103 medals in the 2012 games. They've smashed that target by winning 120 - made up of 43 bronze, 43 silver, and 34 gold. Here's the list of every Paralympics GB gold medal. SUNDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 34. DAVID WEIR - MEN'S T54 MARATHON Getting his fourth gold of the games, David Weir made it look easy as he raced through the streets of Central London. Crowds roared him on and afterwards he said the games had been "amazing the whole way through". SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 33. DAVID STONE - CYCLING MIXED T1-T2 ROAD RACE Stone held off Italy's Giorgio Farroni to take the chequered flag, with Czech David Vondracek finishing third. It was Stone's third Paralympic gold of his career after winning two in Beijing, as well as a mixed time-trial bronze in London. FRIDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 32. JOSIE PEARSON ATHLETICS - WOMEN'S DISCUS F51/52/53 Josie broke the world record not once but three times to win gold. Her longest throw was a mighty 6.58m beating the previous world record of 6.13m. But it's not just the discus that takes her fancy, she represented Great Britain at Wheelchair Rugby in the last Paralympic games at Beijing in 2008. THURSDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 31. JONNIE PEACOCK ATHLETICS - 100M T44 Teenage sprinter Jonnie Peacock powered past his hero Oscar Pistorius to grab gold in a hugely tense 100m T44 final. It was the event everyone was talking about and Peacock delivered - with a new Paralympic record of 10.90 seconds. Image copyright AP ATHLETICS - 800M T54 Wheelchair racing superstar David Weir made it three golds out of three at London 2012. The 'Weirwolf' was roared home by the crowd in the Olympic Stadium as he held off tough competition to win the 800m. He could make it four golds in Sunday's marathon! Image copyright ALLSPORT/GETTY IMAGES 29. HANNAH COCKROFT ATHLETICS - 200M T34 'Hurricane' Hannah Cockroft lived up to her nickname when she destroyed her rivals in the 200m T34 wheelchair sprint. She set a new Paralympic record of 31.90 seconds to win her second gold of London 2012, following her 100m victory. Image copyright ALLSPORT/GETTY IMAGES SWIMMING - 400M FREESTYLE S7 British schoolboy Josef Craig became a Paralympic champion at the age of 15! He broke the world record in his heat and then AGAIN in the final! The teenager, who has cerebral palsy, said it was the happiest day of his life. 27. SARAH STOREY CYCLING - WOMEN'S C4/5 INDIVIDUAL ROAD RACE The 34-year-old cyclist has now won four gold medals at London 2012. She's now got 11 golds in her collection, the same amount as British record holders Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and David Roberts. 26. HELENA LUCAS SAILING - 2.4MR CLASS Image copyright PA Lucas has won ParalympicsGB's first ever sailing gold. She was the only woman in the competition and finished nine points ahead of Germany's Heiko Kroger. WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER SWIMMING - SM8 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY Image copyright AP Winning Britain's sixth swimming gold, 17-year-old Hynd was more than four seconds behind France's Charles Rozoy after the first 50m, but overtook him, and took gold! 24. SARAH STOREY CYCLING - WOMEN'S ROAD TIME TRIAL C5 Storey has won her third gold of London 2012. She stormed to the finish line in the time trial, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of the rest of the athletes. TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER ATHLETICS - MEN'S 1500m T54 Image copyright AP Weir has scooped up his second gold of the Games. He managed to speed his way to victory on the track, defending the 1500m Paralympic title he won in Beijing. 22. SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE Grade Ia Sophie Christiansen won her third gold medal at the Games to take Great Britain to their best ever Paralympic equestrian medal haul of 11. 21. HEATHER FREDERIKSEN Frederiksen retained the title she already held from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. 20. DANIELLE BROWN ARCHERY - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL COMPOUND FINAL In an all-British final, Brown beat her team-mate Mel Clarke. Clarke could have won if she'd got a 10 with her final arrow but she could only manage a seven, allowing World and European champion Brown to claim victory. 19. MICKEY BUSHELL ATHLETICS - MEN'S 100m T53 Image copyright PA Mickey crossed the finishing line with his competitors far behind. Mickey's dad was brought to tears by his son's win. "Despite the nerves, once out on track he said he knew it was just time to get on with it," he said. MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBER SWIMMING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY 200M SM6 Image copyright Getty Images Taking her second gold of a possible four, she showed her delight by saying: "To do another personal best, I am chuffed.... it is amazing to do this in front of this home crowd." 17. NATASHA BAKER EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE TEST GRADE II Image copyright PA Natasha Baker has won her second gold of the Games. She and her horse Cabral rode to a Paralympic record score of 82.8% in the freestyle test, two days after winning the championship test. SUNDAY 2 SEPTEMBER ATHLETICS - T54 5,000M Image copyright Allsport/getty images Wheelchair racer David Weir rounded off a golden Sunday for ParalympicsGB when he stormed to victory in the T54 5,000m. It's his seventh Paralympic medal. He won two golds at the last Paralympics in Beijing - in 800m and 1,500m. 15. JESSICA-JANE APPLEGATE SWIMMING - 200M FREESTYLE S14 Image copyright Allsport/getty images Sixteen-year-old Jessica-Jane Applegate, who has Asperger's syndrome, set a new Paralympic record of 2:12.63 to take gold in the pool. 14. LEE PEARSON, SOPHIE WELLS, DEBORAH CRIDDLE, SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN EQUESTRIAN - MIXED TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP Image copyright PA The foursome won Great Britain's fifth team title in a row. GB are unbeaten in the equestrian team event ever since it was introduced to the Paralympics in 1996. It gave Lee Pearson his 10th Paralympic gold medal! 13. SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL DRESSAGE Image copyright PA Sophie Christiansen was first out in the individual dressage. She and her horse Janeiro 6 scored a whopping 82.75% - and no one came close to challenging that! 12. ANTHONY KAPPES AND CRAIG MACLEAN (PILOT) CYCLING - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL B SPRINT Image copyright Reuters Partially-sighted Anthony Kappes and his pilot Craig MacLean beat their GB teammates Neil Fachie and pilot Barney Storey to first place in the tandem sprint. The good news came a day after they disappointingly failed to finish in the 1km time trial. 11. ALED DAVIES ATHLETICS - DISCUS F42 Image copyright Getty Images Welshman Aled Davies won gold with a massive throw of 46.14m, a new British record, in the discus F42 final. It's his second medal having won a bronze in the shot put. 10. DAVID SMITH, JAMES ROE, NAOMI RICHES, PAM RELPH AND LILY VAN DEN BROECKE (COX) ROWING - MIXED COXED FOUR Image copyright PA The British team beat their rivals Germany at Eton Dorney in a closely fought race to take GB's first rowing gold. It was good news after two fourth-placed finishes for other GB boats. SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER SWIMMING - 400M FREESTYLE S6 Image copyright AP Ellie Simmonds defended her 400m title in style by setting a new world record - finishing a whole second ahead of her US rival Victoria Arlen. 8. SARAH STOREY CYCLING - INDIVIDUAL C4-5 500M TIME TRIAL Image copyright Reuters Sarah Storey won her second gold of the Games with a time almost a second quicker than her nearest rival. 7. NATASHA BAKER EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEST GRADE II Image copyright PA Natasha Baker won Great Britain's first equestrian gold medal of the 2012 Paralympic Games. 6. RICHARD WHITEHEAD ATHLETICS - MEN'S 200M T42 Image copyright Allsport/getty images Double amputee Richard Whitehead set a new world record when he won gold in the 200m in the T42 category. There were almost no seats left in Olympic Stadium when he triumphed in front of a crowd of 80,000 people. 5. NEIL FACHIE AND BARNEY STOREY (PILOT) CYCLING - MEN'S B TANDEM 1KM TIME TRIAL Image copyright PA Partially-sighted Neil Fachie and his guide Barney Storey took gold in world record time for GB in the tandem 1km time trial. Barney matched his wife Sarah Storey's gold in the Velodrome! FRIDAY 31 AUGUST ATHLETICS - WOMEN'S 100M T34 Image copyright Getty Images Wheelchair racer 'Hurricane' Hannah Cockroft took the first athletics gold medal for Great Britain. She also holds the honour of being the first person to set a world record in the Olympic Stadium, which she achieved at a test event in May. She adds the Paralympic medal to her title of world champion and world record holder in this event. 3. MARK COLBOURNE CYCLING - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL C1 PURSUIT Image copyright Getty Images Mark Colbourne took gold in the 3km men's pursuit and set a new world record. He was also GB's first medallist of the Paralympic Games when he won a silver medal on Thursday. THURSDAY 30 AUGUST SWIMMING - MEN'S 100M BACKSTROKE S7 Image copyright PA Jonathan Fox had already stormed to the finish line in his qualifying heat and set a new world record time of 1:09.86. He didn't beat that in the final but was still speedy enough to come first. Gold number two for ParalympicsGB! 1. SARAH STOREY CYCLING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL C5 PURSUIT Image copyright PA Sarah Storey has managed to keep her Paralympic title from Beijing in the women's individual C5 pursuit. She won after beating Poland's Anna Harkowska in the final, ParalympicsGB's first gold of the Games!	i don't know
Name Garry Trudeau's army-related cartoon strip?	SINATRA SEEKS LIST OF PAPERS PRINTING 'DOONESBURY' COMIC - NYTimes.com SINATRA SEEKS LIST OF PAPERS PRINTING 'DOONESBURY' COMIC By ALEX S. JONES Published: June 21, 1985 Lawyers representing Frank Sinatra have demanded a list of the names of newspapers that published a ''Doonesbury'' cartoon strip satirizing Mr. Sinatra from the distributor of the comic so they can seek retractions. The strip, by Garry Trudeau, was published June 13. It contained an exchange between Mr. Sinatra, who was out of the picture, and a casino blackjack dealer. Mr. Sinatra's dialogue threatens to have the dealer dismissed if she shuffles the cards before dealing. The strip, using parentheses, had Mr. Sinatra saying, ''Get me your (obscene gerund) boss, you little (anatomically explicit epithet)!'' In December 1984, Mr. Sinatra and Dean Martin were involved in an incident in Atlantic City after which a New Jersey casino commissioner, Joel Jacobson, said in hearings that they had intimidated a dealer into dealing from her hand, which is illegal in New Jersey, rather than from a plastic box. According to the comic's distributor, Universal Press Syndicate, Mr. Sinatra's lawyers said that the June 13 ''Doonesbury'' was ''false and violative of Mr. Sinatra's rights,'' and that they would take ''all appropriate steps.'' Mr. Sinatra has refused any further comment beyond the contents of the letter. Susan Reynolds, Mr. Sinatra's spokesman, said that neither Mr. Sinatra nor his lawyers would comment on what ''appropriate steps'' might be taken or on any other aspect of the situation. Mr. Trudeau was also unavailable for comment. Lee Salem, editorial director of the syndicate, said that the syndicate denied that the cartoon violated Mr. Sinatra's rights and that the syndicate had refused to provide a list of the 835 papers subscribing to ''Doonesbury.'' ''I can understand why he's upset by being lampooned, but we look at this as fair satire,'' Mr. Salem said. According to Floyd Abrams, a lawyer specializing in First Amendment issues, Mr. Sinatra would have little chance to win a libel suit because of broad protection for expression of opinion. ''Garry Trudeau is entitled to no less expression of his views than is George Will,'' Mr. Abrams said, referring to the conservative political columnist. Mr. Sinatra was the subject of six ''Doonesbury'' installments from June 10-15 that raised hackles, which Mr. Trudeau's cartoons have been doing since national distribution began in 1970. Two of the strips included reproductions of what Universal says are photographs of Mr. Sinatra with people including Aniello Dellacroce, who was charged and acquitted in the killing of an associate of the late Carlo Gambino, who had a reputation as kingpin of organized crime in New York. The strip did not mention the acquittal. On the day the first cartoon appeared, Mr. Sinatra issued a statement saying Mr. Trudeau's work was created ''without regard to fairness or decency.'' According to Mr. Salem, 30 newspapers did not print part or all of that series, and two papers canceled the strip altogether. But Mr. Salem said that the Sinatra series had not proved so controversial as a series in 1976 that showed two unmarried characters in bed together. Several newspapers did not publish a strip this spring that included a tangle of male and female students in a Florida motel room. More recently, Universal declined to distribute a series satirizing the antiabortion film ''The Silent Scream.'' The strips were published by The New Republic.	Doonesbury
In the 2001 official UK national census what religion did 390,000 people incredibly claim to be?	THIS JUST IN: ‘Doonesbury’ to go on sabbatical as Amazon Studios officially picks up Trudeau’s Capitol Hill comedy, ‘Alpha House’ - The Washington Post THIS JUST IN: ‘Doonesbury’ to go on sabbatical as Amazon Studios officially picks up Trudeau’s Capitol Hill comedy, ‘Alpha House’ The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! By Michael Cavna By Michael Cavna May 29, 2013 Follow @comicriffs THIS SUMMER, Garry Trudeau will be working on a new way to skewer Washington. The cartoonist-screenwriter will put his Pulitzer-winning comic strip, “Doonesbury,” on the shelf this summer as he works on his new live-action Capitol Hill comedy, “Alpha House,” which has just been officially picked up by Amazon Studios, reports Variety. The strip’s syndicate, Universal Uclick, says that Michael Doonesbury and the rest of Trudeau’s troupe will go on sabbatical from June 10 to Labor Day. (“Doonesbury Flashbacks” will run during those weeks.) Trudeau will spend that time working on “Alpha House,” one of five series that Amazon Studios has just greenlighted as it moves into the world of original scripted programming. The other four series are the comedy “Betas” and the childrens’ shows “Annebots,” “Creative Galaxy” and “Tumbleaf,” reports Variety. “Alpha House,” which stars John Goodman and Clark Johnson, centers on the lives of four Republican senators who share a residence. The Beltway-savvy satire was inspired by the true-life living arrangements of four prominent Democrats — after Trudeau read a news story in 2007 about “Real World”-esque roomies Rep. George Miller, Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Sen. Charles E. Schumer and Rep. Bill Delahunt, who were sharing a two-bedroom house in the shadow of the Capitol Dome. The series pilot, which Amazon made available for viewing last month, also featured Matt Malloy and Mark Consuelos, and featured a performance by Bill Murray and a cameo by Stephen Colbert.	i don't know
Name the US soldier arrested and imprisoned in 2010 in relation to Wikileaks' publication of thousands of secret US Defense documents, and subject to humanitarian protests about his treatment?	Wikileaks Reader: Pushback part 2 - Shadowproof Wikileaks Reader: Pushback part 2 fiver2011 2011-03-29 Special Report: STD fears sparked case against WikiLeaks boss by Mark Hosenball (12/7/10) The two Swedish women who accuse WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of sexual misconduct were at first not seeking to bring charges against him. They just wanted to track him down and persuade him to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, according to several people in contact with his entourage at the time. The women went to the police together after they failed to persuade Assange to go to a doctor after separate sexual encounters with him in August, according to these people, who include former close associates of Assange who have since fallen out with him. :: November 20 – An international arrest warrant for Assange is issued by Swedish police via Interpol. :: November 30 – Interpol issues a ”red notice” for Assange. :: December 8 – Assange presents himself to London police and appears at an extradition hearing where he is remanded in custody. :: December 14 – The world media and protesters besiege the road outside City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court where Assange is appearing on an extradition warrant. 10 days in Sweden: the full allegations against Julian Assange by Nick Davies (12/17/10) Stephens has repeatedly complained that Assange has not been allowed to see the full allegations against him, but it is understood his Swedish defence team have copies of all the documents seen by the Guardian. He maintains that other potentially exculpatory evidence has not been made available to his team and may not have been seen by the Guardian. The allegations centre on a 10-day period after Assange flew into Stockholm on Wednesday 11 August. One of the women, named in court as Miss A, told police that she had arranged Assange’s trip to Sweden, and let him stay in her flat because she was due to be away. She returned early, on Friday 13 August, after which the pair went for a meal and then returned to her flat. Her account to police, which Assange disputes, stated that he began stroking her leg as they drank tea, before he pulled off her clothes and snapped a necklace that she was wearing. According to her statement she “tried to put on some articles of clothing as it was going too quickly and uncomfortably but Assange ripped them off again”. Miss A told police that she didn’t want to go any further “but that it was too late to stop Assange as she had gone along with it so far”, and so she allowed him to undress her. Sex accusers boasted about their ‘conquest’ of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (12/9/10) Assange insists that the sex with both women was consensual. After the sexual encounters, neither woman seemed to harbour any resentment against Assange. One of Assange’s lawyers has been quoted as saying: “The exact content of Wilen’s mobile phone texts is not yet known but their bragging and exculpatory character has been confirmed by Swedish prosecutors. Neither Wilen’s nor Ardin’s texts complain of rape.” ‘Sex by Surprise’ at Heart of Assange Criminal Probe by Dana Kennedy (12/2/10) Assange’s London attorney, Mark Stephens, told AOL News today that Swedish prosecutors told him that Assange is wanted not for allegations of rape, as previously reported, but for something called “sex by surprise,” which he said involves a fine of 5,000 kronor or about $715. Assange is the subject of an international manhunt, as a result of Interpol issuing a “red notice,” a warrant indicating the person should be arrested with a view to extradition. Assange’s Lawyer: He’s Upbeat, Surprised By Cyber-Attacks by Marcus Baram (12/11/10) In a wide-ranging telephone interview with The Huffington Post on Friday, Assange’s lawyer Mark Stephens described his jailhouse visit with his client, claimed that the U.S. State Department may be prepared to work out a deal with Swedish prosecutors amid reports of a grand jury meeting in Virginia to consider charges against Assange and expressed his fears that his own family is being intimidated by unknown security personnel. And Stephens said he has not discussed the allegations of rape and sexual molestation made by two women with Assange yet, though he criticized the Swedish prosecutors for resurrecting the charges after they were initially dropped by the country’s chief prosecutor. The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been granted bail in London on conditions including cash guarantees of £240,000. But he will remain in prison pending an appeal against the bail decision lodged by Swedish prosecutors. Mr Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden, where he is accused of sexually assaulting two women earlier this year. He denies the charges, which he says are politically motivated and designed to discredit him. His lawyer Mark Stephens said the case was turning into a “show trial”. Why I’m Posting Bail Money for Julian Assange by Michael Moore (12/14/10) Yesterday, in the Westminster Magistrates Court in London, the lawyers for WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange presented to the judge a document from me stating that I have put up $20,000 of my own money to help bail Mr. Assange out of jail. Furthermore, I am publicly offering the assistance of my website, my servers, my domain names and anything else I can do to keep WikiLeaks alive and thriving as it continues its work to expose the crimes that were concocted in secret and carried out in our name and with our tax dollars. Julian Assange released, vows Wikileaks to fight on by Peter Wilson (12/17/10) JULIAN Assange strode to freedom on the steps of the High Court in London and vowed his WikiLeaks website would fight on. The 39-year-old Australian was released after nine days in the Victorian-era Wandsworth prison when the High Court said he should be granted bail while he resists extradition to Sweden on sex abuse allegations that he claims are a crude attempt to silence him. After a day of uncertainty about his fate, Mr Assange and his legal team walked outside the court yesterday into a light snow storm on The Strand to address about 200 journalists from around the world. “It’s great to smell the fresh air of London again,” he said. Julian Assange plea after extradition defeat: ‘Make this case bigger than me’ by Esther Addley (2/24/11) Assange, who has been fighting extradition since being arrested in Britain in December, must face interrogation in Sweden on the sex assault claims, ruled chief magistrate Howard Riddle, rejecting arguments that the prosecutor seeking his extradition had behaved illegally and was unqualified to issue a warrant, and that he would not receive a fair trial. But if the judgment had been widely anticipated by both sides, the Australian’s decision to appeal against the ruling was, he told reporters afterwards, never in question. “What we saw today was a rubber-stamping process. It came as no surprise, but is nonetheless wrong. Of course, we always knew we would appeal.” What U.S. “justice” signifies around the world by Glenn Greenwald (1/11/11) In London this morning, a British court held a procedural hearing regarding Sweden’s attempt to extradite Julian Assange in order to question him about sex crimes accusations. Afterward, Assange’s lawyers released an outline of the arguments they intend to make in opposition to extradition. Most of them centered around the impermissibility of extraditing someone who has not been charged with a crime — i.e., merely to interrogate them — but one of the featured arguments focused on the danger that if Assange were sent to Sweden, that country would then extradite him to the U.S., where Assange would be subjected to grave injustices: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, could be at “real risk” of the death penalty or detention in Guantanamo Bay if he is extradited to Sweden on accusations of rape and sexual assault, his lawyers claim. In a skeleton summary of their defence against attempts by the Swedish director of public prosecutions to extradite him, released today, Assange’s legal team argue that there is a similar likelihood that the US would subsequently seek his extradition “and/or illegal rendition”, “where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere”. Reacting to leak, Swiss officials accuse US of illegal spying operations by Stephen Webster (1/17/11) The Swiss ministry said that US contacts asked for permission in 2007 to conduct an intelligence operation, but were denied “due to a lack of legal basis.” However, a recently leaked US State Department cable showed that intelligence gathering had been afoot in Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Switzerland without those governments’ permissions. Swiss officials said Monday that they were seeking information on such a program being operated out of the US embassy in Geneva, citing a report by Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten that showed US surveillance in the country as early as Oct. 2005. US criticises court that may decide on Julian Assange extradition, WikiLeaks cables show by Afua Hirsch (12/17/10) US officials regard European human rights standards as an “irritant”, secret cables show, and have strongly objected to the safeguards which could protect WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from extradition. In a confidential cable from the US embassy in Strasbourg, US consul general Vincent Carver criticised the Council of Europe, the most authoritative human-rights body for European countries, for its stance against extraditions to America, as well as secret renditions and prisons used to hold terrorist suspects. He blamed the council for creating anti-US sentiment and hampering the US war on terror. “The Council of Europe (COE) likes to portray itself as a bastion of democracy, a promoter of human rights, and the last best hope for defending the rule of law in Europe – and beyond,” Carver said. “[But] it is an organisation with an inferiority complex and, simultaneously, an overambitious agenda. An Exclusive Interview with Julian Assange on the Eve of His Arrest by Natalia Viana (12/7/10) Viana: What is the difference between what WikiLeaks does and espionage? Assange: WikiLeaks receives material from whistleblowers (persons who denounce wrongdoing in the organizations in which they work) and journalists and makes it public. Espionage would require us to actively take material and give it deliberately to a foreign power. Accused Soldier in Brig as WikiLeaks Link Is Sought by Scott Shane (1/14/11) Meanwhile, the young soldier accused of leaking the secret documents that brought WikiLeaks and Mr. Assange to fame and notoriety is locked in a tiny cell at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. The soldier, Pfc. Bradley Manning, who turned 23 last month in the military prison, is accused of the biggest leak of classified documents in American history. He awaits trial on charges that could put him in prison for 52 years, according to the Army. Even as members of Congress denounce both men’s actions as criminal, the Justice Department is still looking for a charge it can press against Mr. Assange, demanding from Twitter the account records, credit card numbers and bank account information of several of his associates. Legal experts say there are many obstacles to a prosecution of the WikiLeaks founder, but one approach under consideration is to link the two men in a conspiracy to disclose classified material. Accusations from supporters that Private Manning is being mistreated, perhaps to pressure him to testify against Mr. Assange, have rallied many on the political left to his defense. The assertions have even drawn the attention of the United Nations’ special rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Mendez, who said he had submitted a formal inquiry about the soldier’s treatment to the State Department. Espionage Act: How the Government Can Engage in Serious Aggression Against the People of the United States by Naomi Wolf (12/10/10) The Espionage Act was crafted in 1917 — because President Woodrow Wilson wanted a war and, faced with the troublesome First Amendment, wished to criminalize speech critical of his war. In the run-up to World War One, there were many ordinary citizens — educators, journalists, publishers, civil rights leaders, union activists — who were speaking out against US involvement in the war. The Espionage Act was used to round these citizens by the thousands for the newly minted ‘crime’ of their exercising their First Amendment Rights. Assange grand jury report “purely speculation” by Justin Elliott (12/14/10) One of Julian Assange’s attorneys tells Salon that the possibility that a secret grand jury is meeting in Virginia to consider charges against the WikiLeaks founder is “purely speculation” that has not been substantiated by his legal team. “We haven’t heard anything specific. It’s only rumors,” said Attorney Jennifer Robinson of the London firm Finers Stephens Innocent. “We do not have any concrete information about that.” Swedish Prosecutor Raises Possible Extradition of WikiLeaks Founder to U.S. by Robert Mackey (12/14/10) Perhaps prompted by speculation that Mr. Assange might be indicted by a grand jury meeting in secret in the United States to consider charges against him related to the publication of leaked American military and diplomatic documents, one section of the Swedish prosecutor’s statement, under the heading, “Facts About Extradition of a Person Who Has Been Surrendered,” reads: Due to general agreements in the European Arrest Warrant Act, Sweden cannot extradite a person who has been surrendered to Sweden from another country without certain considerations. Concerning surrender to another country within the European Union, the Act states that the executing country under certain circumstances must approve a further surrender. On the other hand, if the extradition concerns a country outside the European Union the authorities in the executing country (the country that surrendered the person) must consent such extradition. Sweden cannot, without such consent extradite a person, for example to the U.S.A. In other words, the prosecutor said that Britain would have to agree to allow Sweden to send Mr. Assange to the United States even if he ends up in Swedish custody. Assange denies having any contact with Bradley by David Edwards (12/17/10) US inching closer to conspiracy or espionage indictment Julian Assange, founder of secrets outlet WikiLeaks, insisted during a Friday morning interview that he’s never met or even spoken to Pvt. Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of sending his site troves of secret files. This comes as lawyers presented the House Judiciary Committee with evidence Thursday that could lead to charges against Assange. Paul Rosenzweig, a former deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security, told the British newspaper Guardian that there was an 80 percent chance that Assange would be indicted. Constitutional law expert Floyd Abrams put those chances at better than 50 percent. Abrams is known for defending The New York Times before the Supreme Court after the publication of the Pentagon Papers in the 1970s. John Pilger interviews Julian Assange on Murdoch, Manning and the threat from China (1/12/11) On Bradley Manning, the US soldier accused of leaking diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks, Assange says: “I’d never heard his name before it was published in the press.” He argues that the US is trying to use Manning – currently stuck in solitary confinement in the US – to build a case against the WikiLeaks founder: “Cracking Bradley Manning is the first step,” says the Australian hacker. “The aim clearly is to break him and force a confession that he somehow conspired with me to harm the national security of the United States.” Insidious attack on free speech by Peter Gordon (12/11/10) Lawyers are used to seeing all manner of calumny disclosed in documents produced under compulsion to the court. Because of restrictive rules, most never see the light of day, whatever the legitimate public interest. Likewise in the parliamentary arena. It’s time to challenge this war on information, and call it what it is – a growing and insidious attack on free speech. We should re-examine the way the law treats claims to privilege and confidentiality and the way governments can suppress information. It’s become too hard and too expensive to access and legitimately use information in this country. Governments and their public services play freedom-of-information laws like a board game. PEN international Statement on Wikileaks (12/10/10) PEN International champions the essential role played by freedom of expression in healthy societies and the rights of citizens to transparency, information and knowledge. The Wikileaks issue marks a significant turning point in the evolution of the media and the sometimes conflicting principles of freedom of expression and privacy and security concerns. The culture of increasing secrecy in governments and the rise of new technology will inevitably lead to an increasing number of transparency issues of this sort. PEN International believes it is important to acknowledge that while the leaking of government documents is a crime under U.S laws, the publication of documents by Wikileaks is not a crime. Wikileaks is doing what the media has historically done. PEN International urges those voicing opinions regarding the Wikileaks debate to adopt a responsible tone, and not to play to the more extreme sections of society. In a world where journalists are regularly physically attacked, imprisoned and killed with impunity, calling for the death of a journalist is irresponsible and deplorable. Faculty speaks out against WikiLeaks prosecution by Columbia Journalism School (1/4/11) But while we hold varying opinions of Wikileaks’ methods and decisions, we all believe that in publishing diplomatic cables Wikileaks is engaging in journalistic activity protected by the First Amendment. Any prosecution of Wikileaks’ staff for receiving, possessing or publishing classified materials will set a dangerous precedent for reporters in any publication or medium, potentially chilling investigative journalism and other First Amendment-protected activity. As a historical matter, government overreaction to publication of leaked material in the press has always been more damaging to American democracy than the leaks themselves. I.F. Stone and Wikileaks by Meteor Blades (12/13/10) I.F. Stone, who never had the greatest eyesight, made it worse by spending much of his working life reading tiny-print federal documents to dig out tidbits and revelations missed, ignored or concealed by the megamedia of his time. I first encountered him in the fall of 1964 at the house of an assistant professor who subscribed to I.F. Stone’s Weekly, a newsletter that never exceeded 70,000 circulation but exposed more government chicanery than hoary publications reaching far more readers. That fall, as I was trying to wrap my head around the meaning of the growing war in Vietnam, Stone exposed the lie of the Gulf of Tonkin incident when no other journalist delved or dared. After that, I read every issue of the Weekly I could. Twenty-five years later, I was fortunate to obtain a signed copy of his The Trial of Socrates just months before his death. Stone’s newsletter came about in great part because he was blacklisted from regular journalism at the height of McCarthyist hysteria. And thank goodness for it. When he died two decades ago, he came under attack from right-wingers determined to smear him and his legacy. Australian Media’s Finest Defend Wikileaks (12/13/10) The letter was initiated by the Walkley Foundation and signed by the ten members of the Walkley Advisory Board as well as editors of major Australian newspapers and news websites and the news directors of the country’s three commercial TV networks and two public broadcasters. “In essence, WikiLeaks, an organisation that aims to expose official secrets, is doing what the media have always done: bringing to light material that governments would prefer to keep secret. The full letter sent to Prime Minister Julia Gillard can be viewed here . Puncturing the Balloon of “State Secrets” by Patrick Cockburn (1/3/11) My father, Claud Cockburn, discovered this in 1933 when he left The Times and set up a radical newsletter called The Week. His calculation was that there was plenty of information freely circulating in political and diplomatic circles that was hidden from the general public. In 2003 I became interested in how far the authorities had monitored my father’s activities, and I wrote to the director of MI5 asking for his files to be declassified. A year or so later, presumably because of my request, 26 bulky folders containing thousands of pages of reports by MI5 officers, policemen and informers about Claud were placed in the National Archives in Kew. He had been under continuous state surveillance from 1934 to 1954, with sporadic scrutiny before and after that span… The official security apparatus mobilized to monitor him was impressive. His mail was intercepted, phone calls transcribed, friends interviewed and Special Branch watched his movements assiduously. On one day, 30 March 1940, for instance, a Special Branch officer who called himself “the Watcher” sent in a report about how he had tirelessly followed my father and mother around Tring, Hertfordshire, recording the name of every pub they drank in and the precise times they entered and left. US: Don’t Prosecute WikiLeaks Founder by Human Rights Watch (12/15/10) The US government should not prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for releasing classified US State Department cables as this would imperil media freedom everywhere, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today to President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder. Human Rights Watch urged the US government to reject overbroad interpretations of national security that clash with the freedom of expression guarantees of the US Constitution and international law. “This is a signature moment for freedom of expression and information in both the US and abroad,” said Dinah PoKempner, general counsel at Human Rights Watch. “Prosecuting WikiLeaks for publishing leaked documents would set a terrible precedent that will be eagerly grasped by other governments, particularly those with a record of trying to muzzle legitimate political reporting.” Julian Assange, My Parents and the Espionage Act of 1917 (12/23/10) Rumors are swirling that the United States is preparing to indict Wikileaks leader Julian Assange for conspiring to violate the Espionage Act of 1917. The modern version of that act states among many, many other things that: “Whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense with intent or reason to believe that the information is to be used to the injury of the United States” causes the disclosure or publication of this material, could be subject to massive criminal penalties. It also states that: “If two or more persons conspire to violate any of the foregoing provisions … each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be subject to the punishment provided for the offense which is the object of such conspiracy.” (18 U.S. Code, Chapter 37, Section 793.) I view the Espionage Act of 1917 as a lifelong nemesis. My parents were charged, tried and ultimately executed after being indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Espionage under that act. The 1917 Act has a notorious history. It originally served to squelch opposition to World War I. It criminalized criticism of the war effort, and sent hundreds of dissenters to jail just for voicing their opinions. It transformed dissent into treason. UN, international officials in support of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange (12/9/10) Ms Pillay said: “I am concerned about reports of pressure exerted on private companies including banks, credit card companies and Internet service providers to close down credit lines for donations to Wikileaks, as well as to stop hosting the website.” “This can be interpreted as at attempt to censor the publication of information, and potentially constitutes a violation of WikiLeaks’ right to freedom of expression,” she said, according to Le Monde . Will WikiLeaks escape Justice? by Josh Gerstien “They’re not going to be able to threaten or touch Julian Assange,” said Gabriel Schoenfeld of the Hudson Institute and author of “Necessary Secrets.” Besides problems extraditing him, he added, “there’s the inherent First Amendment problems in the Espionage Act.” Assange, an Australian national, is thought to be living in Europe, but his exact whereabouts are unknown. Lawyers say most European governments would be either unwilling or legally unable to turn him over to the U.S. for publishing classified information. And there have been no successful prosecutions in U.S. courts for those who published classified leaks; only those who leaked have been punished. Why Julian Assange is a journalist by Scott Gant (12/20/10) Julian Assange may not be Time’s Man of the Year, but he almost certainly is a journalist — at least as far as the First Amendment is concerned. The Constitution’s First Amendment forbids Congress from making any law abridging either freedom of speech or freedom of the press. Some commentators and government officials have confidently asserted that Assange is not a journalist — perhaps intending to imply that he does not enjoy the protections afforded by the First Amendment. But they are almost certainly incorrect. Let us next dispense with the canard that Assange does not enjoy First Amendment protection because he is not objective, has a point of view, or is seeking to achieve a particular political outcome. As a historical matter, it is clear that objectivity has never been an indispensable characteristic of journalism. The ideology of journalistic objectivity emerged at the end of the 19th century as part of a broader cultural and intellectual movement. But for at least half of the history of American journalism, newspapers freely acknowledged that their judgments about news were influenced by partisan considerations. And today many established news organizations no longer even pretend to be neutral about the issues of the day. Others cling to a veneer of objectivity by presenting “both sides” of an issue while nevertheless presenting a clear point of view. More important than this history, however, is that grafting an “objectivity” requirement onto the First Amendment would subject freedom of expression to the subjective judgments of prosecutors and judges about whether a given journalist is sufficiently objective, thereby threatening to cripple press liberty. From Judith Miller to Julian Assange by Jay Rosen (12/9/10) In its look back the Times declared itself insufficiently skeptical, especially about Iraqi defectors. True enough. But the look back was itself insufficiently skeptical. Radical doubt, which is basic to understanding what drives Julian Assange, was impermissible then. One of the consequences of that is the appeal of radical transparency today. Simon Jenkins got at some of this in a Guardian column on Wikileaks: “Accountability can only default to disclosure. As Jefferson remarked, the press is the last best hope when democratic oversight fails.” But at the nadir the last best hope failed, too. When that happens accountability defaults to extreme disclosure, which is where we are today. The institutional press isn’t driving it; the wilds of the Internet are. To understand Julian Assange and the weird reactions to him in the American press we need to tell a story that starts with Judy Miller and ends with Wikileaks. One more time by Antemedius (12/9/10) Mary Ann Wright is a former United States Army colonel and retired official of the U.S. State Department, known for her outspoken opposition to the Iraq War. She is most noted for having been one of three State Department officials to publicly resign in direct protest of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. “We were told as diplomats, ‘Don’t ever put anything in a cable you wouldn’t want on the front page of a newspaper.’ It shows that they’re a lot of arrogant people, that the system itself wasn’t checking itself,” says Wright of the latest documents released from WikiLeaks. Meanwhile, several of the diplomatic cables released depict possibly illegal actions by the U.S. government, and Wright notes that the chances of anyone being held accountable are slim. What is Julian Assange up to? by Robert Baird (12/6/10) Aaron Bady won the internet last week with his explication of a pair of essays Julian Assange wrote in 2006. Paddling against a vomit-tide of epithets and empty speculations that threatened to bury Assange under a flood of banalities, Bady proposed and executed a fairly shocking procedure: he sat down and read ten pages of what Assange had actually written about the motivations and strategy behind Wikileaks. In his essays Assange makes no bones about wanting to “radically shift regime behavior,” and this claim to radicalism marks one difference between Wikileaks and, say, the New York Times. As Bady notes, however, by far the more important distinction lies in the way Assange wants to use transparency to cause change. The traditional argument for transparency is that more information will allow a populace to better influence its government. In this scheme, freedom of the press, sunshine laws, and journalistic competition are all useful for prizing loose information that government actors don’t want us to see, but none of them are ends in themselves. The information they reveal is ever only propaedeutic: it needs advocacy, elections, armed uprisings, or some other activity to make real political change. WikiLeaks: The Three Faces of Uncle Sam by Michael Brenner (12/7/10) Know thy Enemy is the famed dictum of the renown Chinese military thinker Sun Tzu. He took for granted something even more crucial: know thyself. Yet, Americans routinely ignore that latter counsel — at our growing peril. That uncomfortable truth becomes abundantly clear when immersing oneself in the dense cable traffic revealed to us by Wikileaks. Their exposure of the mindset and outlook of the country’s policy-makers and diplomats is more telling than any of the details. For it reveals who we are, who we think we are, and how that self conception is out of line with both world realities and others’ perception of us. Most striking is the unstated but pervasive belief that the United States is wiser, more skillful and dedicated than anybody else. Therefore, it is natural that America rules the roost. Our serial failures of judgment and action, at home as well as abroad, have left not a trace of modesty on our conduct. That hubris has a number of practical meanings: One is the conviction that Washington should set the policy direction for allies and friends, jerk them back into line when they show a tendency to stray or are unresponsive to American leads, and cultivate a corps of informers and helpmates from among the native elites. US orders Twitter to divulge personal info on Icelandic MP with ties to WikiLeaks by Muriel Kane (1/7/11) “Today, the existence of a secret US government grand jury espionage investigation into Wikileaks was confirmed for the first time as a subpoena was brought into the public domain,” WikiLeaks said in a statement. WikiLeaks said legal action taken by micro-blogging website Twitter “revealed that the US State Department has requested the private messages, contact information, IP addresses, and personal details of Julian Assange and three other individuals associated with WikiLeaks, in addition to WikiLeaks? own account, which has 634,071 followers”. What the Government Might Be After with Its Twitter Subpoena by Marcy Wheeler (1/8/11) The subpoena was first submitted to Twitter on December 14, and asked for account information for six people as well as any account associated with Wikileaks, going back to November 1,2009. Of particular note, they ask for: records of user activity for any connections made to or from the Account, including the date, time, length, and method of connections, data transfer volume, user name, and source and destination Internet Protocol address(es). non-content information associated with the contents of any communication or file stored by or for the account(s), such as the source and destination email addresses and IP addresses. DOJ subpoenas Twitter records of several WikiLeaks volunteers by Glenn Greenwald (1/7/11) UPDATE II: It’s worth recalling — and I hope journalists writing about this story remind themselves — that all of this extraordinary probing and “criminal” investigating is stemming from WikiLeaks’ doing nothing more than publishing classified information showing what the U.S. Government is doing: something investigative journalists, by definition, do all the time. And the key question now is this: did other Internet and social network companies (Google, Facebook, etc.) receive similar Orders and then quietly comply? It’s difficult to imagine why the DOJ would want information only from Twitter; if anything, given the limited information it has about users, Twitter would seem one of the least fruitful avenues to pursue. But if other companies did receive and quietly comply with these orders, it will be a long time before we know, if we ever do, given the prohibition in these orders on disclosing even its existence to anyone. WikiLeaks demands Google and Facebook unseal US subpoenas : WikiLeaks has demanded that Google and Facebook reveal the contents of any US subpoenas they may have received after it emerged that a court in Virginia had ordered Twitter to secretly hand over details of accounts on the micro-blogging site by five figures associated with the group, including Julian Assange. “Today, the existence of a secret US government grand jury espionage investigation into WikiLeaks was confirmed for the first time as a subpoena was brought into the public domain,” WikiLeaks said in a statement. WikiLeaks activists may seek to quash demand for docs by Mark Hosenball (1/11/11) Two prominent WikiLeaks supporters in the Netherlands and Iceland are consulting U.S. lawyers about ways to stop the Justice Department getting their Twitter records in a probe into the leak of secret documents. Rop Gonggrijp, a Dutch Internet activist who worked with WikiLeaks last year, said he and Birgitta Jonsdottir, a member of Iceland’s Parliament, want to quash a December 14 U.S. court order requiring Twitter to turn over their account records to U.S. prosecutors. U.S. authorities are investigating the publication last year of thousands of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks website set up by Australian Julian Assange. Some of Jacob Appelbaum’s tweets : It’s interesting to note that some media initially reported that I had no trouble because I said nothing at all. Irony abounds. It’s very frustrating that I have to put so much consideration into talking about the kind of harassment that I am subjected to in airports. I was detained, searched, and CPB did attempt to question me about the nature of my vacation upon landing in Seattle. The CPB specifically wanted laptops and cell phones and were visibly unhappy when they discovered nothing of the sort. I did however have a few USB thumb drives with a copy of the Bill of Rights encoded into the block device. They were unable to copy it. The forensic specialist (who was friendly) explained that EnCase and FTK, with a write-blocker inline were unable to see the Bill of Rights. I requested access my lawyer and was again denied. They stated I was I wasn’t under arrest and so I was not able to contact my lawyer. The CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) agent was waiting for me at the exit gate. Remember when it was our family and loved ones? Anonymous responds to Twitter subpoena : Society finds itself at a crossroads. In our increasingly connected world, many seem to think that our constitutional rights are fit for reevaluation. As was demonstrated by Jessica Yellin’s performance on CNN, even some journalists seem to think that is now a crime to publish confidential information, ignorant not only of the important role that documents such as the Pentagon Papers have had in shaping modern government, but also of the First Amendment. The Department of Justice’s subpoena (http://goo.gl/L1sCp) is but the latest in a series of assaults on our free society. The salient point is that Twitter was not used as a platform to distribute confidential information, nor was it used to broadcase hateful messages. The only crime that the users of the accounts named committed was to voice their opinion. For the DOJ to seek access to the personal details, network addresses, and session information of those users is not just unconstitutional, but quite frankly terrifying. 32 The WikiLeaks Subpoena, Twitter and Standing by Cynthia Kouril (1/8/11) By now, you have probably heard that USDOJ has issued a subpoena to Twitter asking for various types of information from the Twitter accounts of Julian Assange, Bradley Manning, Rop Gongrijp[sic], and Birgitta Jonsdottir. Here is the subpoena. It was originally issued under seal, which means that Twitter could not tell anyone that it had received this subpoena. Twitter could have simply complied with the sealed subpoena and none of the people listed above even would have known about it. Instead, Twitter apparently made a motion to unseal the subpoena. It had standing to do this because the sealing of the subpoena infringed upon its own ability to interact with its customers/subscribers as it sees fit. The motion to unseal was successful and Twitter notified its users about the subpoena. It is now up to the users to move to quash the subpoena itself. Thoughts on the DOJ wikileaks/twitter court order by Christopher Soghoian (1/9/11) Amateur Hour. The 2703(d) order misspelled the names of one of the targets, Rop Gonggrijp. It also requested credit card and bank account numbers of several Twitter users, even though Twitter is a free service and so doesn’t have such information (presumably someone at DOJ knows a little about Twitter, since the agency has 350,000 followers of its official Twitter account). Department of Justice Subpoenaing Icelandic Legislator’s Wikileaks Tweets? by Adrian Chen: Icelandic legislator Brigitta Jonsdottir said today that she has been notified by Twitter that the Department of Justice is seeking access to her Twitter account. She tweeted: “just got this: Twitter has received legal process requesting information regarding your Twitter account in (relation to wikileaks).” Jonsdottir says the DOJ is looking for all Wikileaks-related tweets and other “personal information” dating back to November 2009. She now has 10 days to try to block the subpoena before Twitter turns over the information. (According to Twitter’s terms of service, the company notifies users if it receives a subpoena for their information.) Jonsdottir, a member of the Icelandic Parliament, was closely involved in Wikileaks’ release last year of a video which showed a U.S. military helicopter gunning down two Reuters reporters in Iraq. She appeared in the New Yorker’s profile of Julian Assange as a close confidant of the Wikileaks leader (even cutting his hair) but recently distanced herself from the group among tensions with Assange. The WikiLeaks advised parliamentary resolution proposal to build an international “new media haven” in Iceland, with the world’s strongest press and whistleblower protection laws, and a “Nobel” prize for Freedom of Expression. 50 votes were cast in favor, zero against, one abstained. Twelve members of parliament were not present. Social Media and Law Enforcement: Who Gets What Data and When? by Jennifer Lynch (1/20/11) This month, we were reminded how important it is that social media companies do what they can to protect the sensitive data they hold from the prying eyes of the government. As many news outlets have reported, the US Department of Justice recently obtained a court order for records from Twitter on several of its users related to the WikiLeaks disclosures. Instead of just turning over this information, Twitter “beta-tested a spine” and notified its users of the court order, thus giving them the opportunity to challenge it in court. We have been investigating how the government seeks information from social networking sites such as Twitter and how the sites respond to these requests in our ongoing social networking Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed with the help of UC Berkeley’s Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic. As part of our request to the Department of Justice and other federal agencies, we asked for copies of the guides the sites themselves send out to law enforcement explaining how agents can obtain information about a site’s users and what kinds of information are available. The information we got back enabled us to make an unprecedented comparison of these critical documents, as most of the information was not available publicly before now. US request for Twitter account details ‘outrageous’ (2/14/11) Washington’s efforts to get Twitter to hand over information on the accounts of people connected to WikiLeaks is “outrageous,” WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Monday. “This is an outrageous attack by the Obama administration on the privacy and free speech rights of Twitter’s customers — many of them American citizens,” Assange said in a statement, a day before a US hearing in the case. The US government’s attempts to get Twitter to hand over information about the Twitter accounts of three WikiLeaks supporters, is “more shocking, at this time, (as) it amounts to an attack on the right to freedom of association, a freedom that the people of Tunisia and Egypt, for example, spurred on by the information released by WikiLeaks, have found so valuable,” he added. Bank of America: Banking on a Reputation Crisis? by Andy Beal (1/3/11) According to Oxford Metrica, during the next five years, 83 percent of companies will face a crisis that will negatively impact its share price by 20 to 30 percent. For Bank of America, that could happen in the next five weeks! And, based on a report by The New York Times, the Charlotte, NC based bank is acting as if it could happen in the next five days! Why? Back on November 29th, Wikileaks’ Julian Assange threatened to “take down” a major American bank and, with rumors swirling that Wikileaks holds a 5GB hard drive once owned by a BoA executive, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Bank of America is the likely target. Wikileaks Could Sink These Stocks by Alex Lomax (1/5/11) If you’ve been ignoring the ongoing controversy around document-disclosing website Wikileaks, you might be making a big mistake. More and more companies now find themselves exposed in Wikileaks’ revelations of behind-the-scenes dirty dealings, and the results aren’t pretty. Shareholders invested in honest, ethical companies have little to fear from Wikileaks’ push toward true transparency. Everybody else had better watch their portfolios. For all the outrage voiced by folks in positions of power over the releases of classified U.S. diplomatic cables, there’s a very good argument that in other respects, Wikileaks is picking up where old-fashioned investigative journalism left off. WikiLeaks–The 21st Century Washington Post by Douglas McIntrye (1/18/11) There is another round of outrage among businesses and banks because WikiLeaks has gotten hold of private documents from bank Julius Baer from one of its former executives. Reuters reports that the data was transferred digitally. “The two yellow and blue discs contain information on 2,000 banking clients who have parked money offshore.” There is panic among some of these clients and the bank itself. The concern certainly spreads to other Swiss banks and perhaps their counterparts in other countries. Julius Baer accounts may have been used to cheat on taxes. Many wealthy people could face penalties or prosecution if that is so. The light is about to turn to the financial community. There have been rumors for months that a number of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) records will be released. Depending on the nature of these, the bank could be embarrassed or the information could be actionable. The confidential data may be damning to Bank of America and some of its business practices. Swiss whistleblower Rudolf Elmer plans to hand over offshore banking secrets of the rich and famous to WikiLeaks by Ed Vulliamy (1/16/11) The offshore bank account details of 2,000 “high net worth individuals” and corporations – detailing massive potential tax evasion – will be handed over to the WikiLeaks organisation in London tomorrow by the most important and boldest whistleblower in Swiss banking history, Rudolf Elmer, two days before he goes on trial in his native Switzerland. British and American individuals and companies are among the offshore clients whose details will be contained on CDs presented to WikiLeaks at the Frontline Club in London. Those involved include, Elmer tells the Observer, “approximately 40 politicians”. Elmer says he is releasing the information “in order to educate society”. The list includes “high net worth individuals”, multinational conglomerates and financial institutions – hedge funds”. They are said to be “using secrecy as a screen to hide behind in order to avoid paying tax”. Swiss re-arrest ex-banker for giving data to WikiLeaks by Catherine Bosley (1/19/11) Swiss police on Wednesday arrested former banker Rudolf Elmer on fresh charges of breaching Swiss bank secrecy law for giving data to WikiLeaks, hours after he was found guilty of another secrecy offense. “The state prosecutor’s office is checking to see whether Rudolf Elmer has violated Swiss banking law by handing the CD over to WikiLeaks,” the Zurich cantonal (state) police and state prosecutor said in a joint statement. An Interview With WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange by Andy Greenberg (11/29/10) Admire him or revile him, WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange is the prophet of a coming age of involuntary transparency, the leader of an organization devoted to divulging the world’s secrets using technology unimagined a generation ago. Over the last year his information insurgency has dumped 76,000 secret Afghan war documents and another trove of 392,000 files from the Iraq war into the public domain–the largest classified military security breaches in history. Sunday, WikiLeaks made the first of 250,000 classified U.S. State Department cables public, offering an unprecedented view of how America’s top diplomats view enemies and friends alike. In a rare, two-hour interview conducted in London on November 11, Assange said that he’s still sitting on a trove of secret documents, about half of which relate to the private sector. And WikiLeaks’ next target will be a major American bank. “It will give a true and representative insight into how banks behave at the executive level in a way that will stimulate investigations and reforms, I presume,” he said, adding: “For this, there’s only one similar example. It’s like the Enron emails.” Here Come The WikiLeaks Copycats: IndoLeaks, BrusselsLeaks And BalkanLeaks by Andy Greenberg (12/13/10) Last Thursday, a group of former European Union officials and journalists launched a site they’ve called BrusselsLeaks, focused on obtaining and publishing leaked internal information about the backroom dealings and secrets of the E.U. The Bulgarian newspaper The Sofia Echo reported on Saturday that a Bulgarian expat in Paris has set up BalkanLeaks, a WikiLeaks-modeled site that declares that “the Balkans are not keeping secrets anymore.” WikiLeaks itself pointed on Sunday in its Twitter feed to IndoLeaks.org, a whistle-blowing site that has already published revealing documents from the country’s Suharto administration, though it seems to have since been brought down temporarily by technical glitches. WikiLeaks: An End of Bureaucracy As We Know It? by Richard Levic (12/15/10) Julian Assange isn’t the type of guy you expect to be subtly understated. Yet, even as he warned in a Forbes interview that WikiLeaks knock-offs are “very dangerous” – that such sites are “not easy to do right” while some have “no reputation you can trust” – he acknowledged that the sheer volume of important available leaks makes it “helpful” to have “more people in this industry.” Granting Anonymity by Virginia Heffernan (12/19/10) Transparency is secretive business. WikiLeaks, the swashbuckling new-media organization whose motto is “We open governments,” relies on a technology of extreme reticence called Tor Hidden Services — a part of the Tor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated not to light and clarity but to shadows and opacity, to the increasingly difficult art of keeping secrets online. A deliberately byzantine system of virtual tunnels that conceal the origins and destinations of data, and thus the identity of clients, Tor has been around since 2001, when programmers from M.I.T. and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory introduced it at a California security conference. In the past year, supported by grants from the U.S. government and other funders, the Tor Project has prolifically expanded its networks. The software has been downloaded more than 36 million times this year, and thousands of nameless volunteers — many of them Tor clients — now help to relay mind-bogglingly diverse Tor data in nearly every country on earth. Peaceniks and human rights groups use Tor, as do journalists, private citizens and the military, and the heterogeneity and farflungness of its users — together with its elegant source code — keep it unbreachable. When a communication arrives from Tor, you can never know where or whom it’s from. Tor is by design not a media project or a human rights one or (anymore) a military one. OpenLeaks: the Wikileaks of 2011? by Joshua Norman (1/20/11) In an interview with CBS News correspondent Shira Lazar, OpenLeaks co-founder Herbert Snorrason said OpenLeaks is much more than just a visible disagreement with Assange’s way of doing things. They will not only provide a “technical infrastructure” for leaking materials anonymously that protects all parties involved, but the site will represent a growing online effort proclaiming to fight the corrupt, powerful entities of the world by spilling their secrets. OpenLeaks will be used to support that movement in a very simple but direct way, Snorasson said. Instead of receiving, editing and carefully distributing leaked documents like WikiLeaks, the new website will just directly link leakers with media, non-profit groups or other organizations that might help or use the material. Announcing ScienceLeaks (1/1/11) This venture was triggered by the many people complaining that they couldn’t evaluate the ‘arseniclife’ paper because the journal Science only allowed access to its abstract, not to the full paper or its supplementary online materials. In response, Science temporarily opened access to people wiling to register at their site, but when the month ends the barrier will go right back up. This access problem applies to the great majority of scientific papers. The public pays for the research, but the results are locked behind journal-subscription paywalls, accessible only to people with personal subscriptions or affiliated with major research libraries, or to those willing to pay $20-$40 for access to individual articles. Most researchers agree that this legacy of the pre-internet days is morally wrong and unfair to everyone. Those of us who can afford it pay thousands of dollars to the journals to make our own articles open access. And many of us post PDFs of our own papers on our personal web sites. But these aren’t easy to find, especially for people not working in the field. So I’ve set up a web site called Science Leaks (actually a Blogger blog) to serve as a clearing house, providing links to the papers people want to read. Anyone who’s looking for access to a paper can simply post the paper’s information as a comment, and anyone who knows where a pdf is available can then post the link. (Once a link is posted I’ll remove the request comment, to keep things tidy.) Unileaks Aims To Leak Universities’ Secrets (2/24/11) Forget WikiLeaks. Unileaks is a new website devoted to providing “a place to post information on public interest matters relating to higher education.” The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the site was launched earlier this month by Australian activists and targets postsecondary institutions in Australia and the United Kingdom, but ultimately hopes to host the secrets of American colleges and universities as well. The site’s anonymous administrator, a former student at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, told the Chronicle that although the site has not yet generated Wikileak-level hype, he has received an “overwhelming “amount of information from the UK — including an “entire e-mail repository” of one “large prominent university in the United Kingdom.” No Secrets by Raffi Khatchadourian (6/7/10) Assange is an international trafficker, of sorts. He and his colleagues collect documents and imagery that governments and other institutions regard as confidential and publish them on a Web site called WikiLeaks.org. Since it went online, three and a half years ago, the site has published an extensive catalogue of secret material, ranging from the Standard Operating Procedures at Camp Delta, in Guantánamo Bay, and the “Climategate” e-mails from the University of East Anglia, in England, to the contents of Sarah Palin’s private Yahoo account. The catalogue is especially remarkable because WikiLeaks is not quite an organization; it is better described as a media insurgency. It has no paid staff, no copiers, no desks, no office. Assange does not even have a home. He travels from country to country, staying with supporters, or friends of friends—as he once put it to me, “I’m living in airports these days.” He is the operation’s prime mover, and it is fair to say that WikiLeaks exists wherever he does. At the same time, hundreds of volunteers from around the world help maintain the Web site’s complicated infrastructure; many participate in small ways, and between three and five people dedicate themselves to it full time. The Newest WikiLeaks Problem: Unredacted Cables by Neal Ungerleider (1/14/11) In an interview with NPR’s Terry Gross, The New York Times’ David Sanger described a process in which his newspaper and its lawyers weighed both the ramifications of publishing national security information before reproducing some of the cables and the need to put information in context for readers. Other media outlets presumably go through similar processes as well. According to Harvard University’s Jonathan Zittrain, “WikiLeaks is currently relying on the expertise of the five news organizations [who have access to the cables] to redact the cables as they are released, and is following their redactions as it releases the documents on its website.” China Trying to Plug Wikileak? by Josh Chin (11/29/10) Can the world’s most elaborate censorship system put the clamps on the Internet’s most prolific source of confidential information? A day after WikiLeaks began to release a quarter-million diplomatic cables sent from U.S. embassies, propaganda authorities in Beijing appear to be trying to control how much of the content of those cables leaks through to the Chinese public. As of Monday evening in Beijing, the WikiLeaks “Cablegate” page was blocked by China’s Great Firewall—a rudimentary first-step on China’s censorship checklist. Kill Switch’ Internet bill alarms privacy experts by Jon Swartz (2/15/11) The ominously nicknamed Kill Switch bill is sure to be a flashpoint of discussion at the RSA Conference, the nation’s largest gathering of computer-security experts that takes place here this week. The bill — crafted by Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Tom Carper, D-Del. — aims to defend the economic infrastructure from a cyberterrorist attack. But it has free-speech advocates and privacy experts howling over the prospect of a government agency quelling the communication of hundreds of millions of people. “This is all about control, an attempt to control every aspect of our existence,” says Christopher Feudo, a cybersecurity expert who is chairman of SecurityFusion Solutions. “I consider it an attack on our personal right of free speech. Look what recently occurred in Egypt.” U.S. Military Beta-Tests Internet Kill-Switch on Japanese Relief Pretext by Mark Preston and Adam Levine (3/16/11) The U.S. military has blocked access to a range of popular commercial websites in order to free up bandwidth for use in Japan recovery efforts, according to an e-mail obtained by CNN and confirmed by a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command. The sites — including YouTube, ESPN, Amazon, eBay and MTV — were chosen not because of the content but because their popularity among users of military computers account for significant bandwidth, according to Strategic Command spokesman Rodney Ellison. Pentagon Sees a Threat From Online Muckrakers (3/17/10) “It did not point to anything that has actually happened as a result of the release,” Mr. Assange said. “It contains the analyst’s best guesses as to how the information could be used to harm the Army but no concrete examples of any real harm being done.” Governments, including those of North Korea and Thailand, also have tried to prevent access to the site and complained about its release of materials critical of their governments and policies. The Army’s interest in WikiLeaks appears to have been spurred by, among other things, its publication and analysis of classified and unclassified Army documents containing information about military equipment, units, operations and “nearly the entire order of battle” for American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan in April 2007. Amid Digital Blackout, Anonymous Mass-Faxes WikiLeaks Cables To Egypt by Andy Greenberg (1/28/11) Egypt has dropped a digital iron curtain over its Internet. So WikiLeaks’ fans are using an analog tool to smuggle the secret-spilling site’s latest scandals into the country: fax machines. On Friday afternoon, the loose hacker group Anonymous began a campaign to fax thousands of copies of WikiLeaks’ latest missives–a series of State Department cables revealing human rights abuses under Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and tacit U.S. backing for his administration–to Egyptian numbers. Vodafone confirms role in Egypt’s cellular, Internet blackout by Stephen Webster (1/28/11) An executive at London-based Vodafone Group PLC explained Friday morning that it did indeed have a role in the phone and Internet blackout affecting Egypt since Thursday night, confirming speculation that the firm had cooperated with the regime to close off protesters’ communications. Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao said that because the order by Egyptian authorities appeared to be in line with the nation’s laws, the company was “obligated” to comply. Libya’s Gaddaffi pained by Tunisian revolt, blames WikiLeaks (1/16/11) Libyan President Moammar Gaddaffi said he was pained by events in Tunisia surrounding the overthrow of former president Zine al-Abedine ben Ali, Libyan television reported Sunday. ‘I am concerned for the people of Tunisia, whose sons are dying each day,’ Gaddafi said overnight in a televised statement addressing people in neighbouring Tunisia. ‘And for what? In order for someone to become president instead of Ben Ali?’ he added. ‘I do not know these new people, but we all knew Ben Ali and the transformation that was achieved in Tunisia. Why are you destroying all of that?’ he asked. Gaddafi warned Tunisians against being tricked by ‘WikiLeaks which publishes information written by lying ambassadors in order to create chaos.’ Last month, WikiLeaks released a cable sent by the US embassy in Tunis in which Ben Ali’s family was described as a ‘quasi mafia’ due to its ‘organised corruption.’ The cable described abuse, corruption, and lack of political freedom in Tunisia under Ben Ali. The WikiLeaks Revolt by Michael Hirsh (1/28/11) And although the democratic uprising in Tunisia was mostly generated by 20 years of brutality and corruption under the rule of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, it appears very likely that last year’s WikiLeaks cable dump helped to light the spark. The Tunisian protests began among largely college-educated students who had heard about the details of ostentatious high living revealed in disapproving cables from U.S. Ambassador Robert Godec; he had written that “corruption in the inner circle is growing” and that Ben Ali “and his regime have lost touch with the Tunisian people.” According to on-the-ground accounts from the Associated Press and other new organizations, many Tunisians felt vindicated by the details revealed in the leaked cables, which social networks helped to spread. Other U.S. diplomatic cables have exposed double-dealing by Yemen’s leader, who now faces his own revolt. On Egypt by Robyn Creswell (1/28/11) Another remote cause, however limited and difficult to assess, is the release of WikiLeaks documents. A cache of diplomatic cables relating to the Middle East was published in early December by the independent newspaper al-Akhbar, and the leaks have been intensively discussed by Arab bloggers and political activists. Few subjects anger Egyptians more than their regime’s cooperation with Israel, and several leaked documents suggest just how closely the two countries’ diplomats and security forces work together. The cable sent in June 2009 from the US embassy in Tel Aviv, which reveals that Egyptian officials were consulted about Israeli air and land assaults on Gaza the previous winter, must have been especially galling. A more local cause for resentment is the parliamentary election conducted in Egypt in early December. Candidates of the ruling National Democratic Party won 93 percent of the seats in the national assembly, up from 75 percent in 2005, in an election that was baldly rigged even by Egyptian standards. (Here you can watch poll workers in Bilbays, a town in the Eastern Delta, calmly filling out a few dozen ballots.) The scheduled presidential election of 2011 is not expected to be any more fair or transparent. “If Mubarak is still alive,” writes US Ambassador Margaret Scobey in one of the WikiLeaks cables, “it is likely he will run again, and, inevitably, win.” What U.S. Diplomacy Can Learn from Tunisia by Martin Varsavsky (1/15/11) The U.S. spends hundreds of billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of human lives are lost in a bloody military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq with very little success in establishing grassroots change. And instead, U.S. diplomats telling a detailed story about corruption in Tunisia and a group of determined journalists at Wikileaks and Bradley Manning help accomplish what a decade of military intervention in the Middle East could not: a popular uprising against corruption and dictatorship. Yes, the realities of Afghanistan, Iraq and Tunisia are different and most credit goes to the Tunisian people themselves. Yet, as this New York Times article explains, many in the Arab/Muslim world are watching Tunisia and wondering how long will they put up with their own “Ben Alis”. Especially in nearby Egypt. It is interesting though that it took a combination of angry Tunisians, Wikileaks, U.S. diplomacy, a dissident soldier and social media to ignite the rebellion. Most likely if it had been Hillary Clinton alone telling the Tunisian people how corrupt Ben Ali was, it would have backfired. What US fails to see is that change is possible but the most USA can do is move the needle, not “build nations”. I think the State Department should learn a lot from Tunisia and rethink Wikileaks, cellular networks, social networks, and the power of the raw truth when dictators lose control of the popular message. WikiLeaks Vindicates Those Behind Unfolding Revolutions by kgosztola (2/15/11) For those in countries that are working to topple brutal and oppressive regimes, there is a power that WikiLeaks cables have, one that can be tremendously beneficial. Cables from Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Algeria, Bahrain, Libya, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia all illuminate why the people of those countries would rise up against their governments. They compel people to acknowledge the magnitude of abuses and suffering that the people have been experiencing under autocratic regimes. WikiLeaks “no threat,” top German official says by Jeff Stein (12/21/10) Germany’s top security official said Monday that WikiLeaks is “irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat.” De Maiziere, Merkel’s former chief of staff, also questioned how “intelligent” the U.S. government is for allowing so many people access to classified documents. Kremlin suggests WikiLeaks founder for Nobel Prize (12/8/10) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be nominated for a Nobel prize, a source in the Kremlin told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. “Non-governmental and governmental organizations should think of ways to help him. Perhaps he could be awarded a Nobel prize,” the source said. Swiss bank investigated after freezing WikiLeaks account (12/12/10) Swiss authorities are investigating if the banking arm of Swiss Post violated secrecy rules by divulging that it had closed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s account, media reported on Sunday. “We are investigating if, in relation to the Postfinance press statement, there has been punishable action,” Hermann Wenger, examining magistrate of the Bern-Mittelland region, told SonntagsZeitung. Iceland may ban MasterCard, Visa over WikiLeaks censorship (12/13/10) Credit card companies that prevented card-holders from donating money to the secrets outlet WikiLeaks could have their operating licenses taken away in Iceland, according to members of the Icelandic Parliamentary General Committee. Representatives from Mastercard and Visa were called before the committee Sunday to discuss their refusal to process donations to the website, reports Reykjavik Grapevine. “People wanted to know on what legal grounds the ban was taken, but no one could answer it,” Robert Marshall, the chairman of the committee, said. “They said this decision was taken by foreign sources.” The committee is seeking additional information from the credit card companies for proof that there was legal grounds for blocking the donations. Marshall said the committee would seriously review the operating licenses of Visa and Mastercard in Iceland. Amazon cuts off WikiLeaks by Lance Whitney (12/2/10) WikiLeaks no longer has a home at Amazon. The controversial site, which has roused the ire of the U.S. government for leaking classified information, is no longer being hosted by Amazon’s Web servers as of yesterday. No proof WikiLeaks breaking law, inquiry finds (1/26/11) A company asked by Visa to investigate WikiLeaks’ finances found no proof the group’s fundraising arm is breaking the law in its home base of Iceland, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press. But Visa Europe Ltd. said Wednesday it would continue blocking donations to the secret-spilling site until it completes its own investigation. Company spokeswoman Amanda Kamin said she couldn’t say when Visa’s inquiry, now stretching into its eighth week, would be finished. “Our lawyers have now completed their work and have found no indications that Sunshine Press … acted in contravention of Visa’s rules or Icelandic legislation,” Teller’s chief executive Peter Wiren said late last month in a letter obtained by the AP. Swiss bank Freezes Wikileaks founders legal defense fund by Stephen Webster (12/6/10) Over €31,000 set aside for the legal defense of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been frozen by the Swiss bank PostFinance, which said that Assange had given false information in creating the account. “Assange cannot provide proof of residence in Switzerland and thus does not meet the criteria for a customer relationship with PostFinance,” the bank said. “For this reason, PostFinance is entitled to close his account.” Bank Of America Will Stop Processing WikiLeaks Payments, WikiLeaks Responds On Twitter by Ryan McCarthy (12/18/10) Bank of America announced it will stop handling transactions for WikiLeaks, the controversial non-profit group that has published secret government data and communications. In a tense response posted on Twitter late last night WikiLeaks urged customers to stop doing business with the bank and suggested the consumers could find safer places to put their money. Banks and WikiLeaks by the New York Times (12/25/10) The whistle-blowing Web site WikiLeaks has not been convicted of a crime. The Justice Department has not even pressed charges over its disclosure of confidential State Department communications. Nonetheless, the financial industry is trying to shut it down. Visa, MasterCard and PayPal announced in the past few weeks that they would not process any transaction intended for WikiLeaks. Earlier this month, Bank of America decided to join the group, arguing that WikiLeaks may be doing things that are “inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments.” But a bank’s ability to block payments to a legal entity raises a troubling prospect. A handful of big banks could potentially bar any organization they disliked from the payments system, essentially cutting them off from the world economy. FBI serves 40 warrants in search of WikiLeaks ‘hacktivists’ by Mark Seibel (1/27/11) The FBI said Thursday that it had served more than 40 search warrants throughout the United States as part of an investigation into computer attacks on websites of businesses that stopped providing services in December to WikiLeaks. The FBI statement announcing the search warrants was the first indication that the U.S. intends to prosecute the so-called “hacktivists” for their actions in support of WikiLeaks. The search warrants were executed on the same day authorities in Great Britain announced that they had arrested five people in connection with the attacks, which temporarily crippled the websites of Amazon.com, PaylPal, MasterCard, Visa, the Swiss bank PostFinance and others. Project Vigilant and the government/corporate destruction of privacy by Glenn Greenwald (8/2/10) In terms of what they mean for the Manning case, those revelations require a lot more analysis, but I want to focus on the much more important aspect of these revelations: namely, what Project Vigilant does as well as the booming private domestic espionage industry of which they are a part. There’s very little public information about this organization, but what they essentially are is some sort of vigilante group that collects vast amount of private data about the Internet activities of millions of citizens, processes that data into usable form, and then literally turns it over to the U.S. Government, claiming its motive is to help the Government detect Terrorists and other criminals. From the Forbes report: According to Uber, one of Project Vigilant’s manifold methods for gathering intelligence includes collecting information from a dozen regional U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs). Uber declined to name those ISPs, but said that because the companies included a provision allowing them to share users’ Internet activities with third parties in their end user license agreements (EULAs), Vigilant was able to legally gather data from those Internet carriers and use it to craft reports for federal agencies. A Vigilant press release says that the organization tracks more than 250 million IP addresses a day and can “develop portfolios on any name, screen name or IP address.” Police arrest five over Anonymous WikiLeaks attacks by Josh Halliday (1/28/11) Five people were arrested yesterday in connection with a spate of online attacks last month in support of WikiLeaks. Police said the five males, aged 15, 16, 19, 20 and 26, were arrested in a series of raids at 7am in the West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and London. All five are being held in custody at local police stations. The five were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the group of “hacktivists” known as Anonymous, who temporarily crippled the websites of MasterCard, Visa and PayPal after those companies cut off financial services to WikiLeaks. The attacks followed the whistleblowing site’s release of US diplomatic cables. Anonymous and the global correction by Anonymous (2/16/11) In this case, the idea that a loose network of people with shared values and varying skill sets can provide substantial help to a population abroad is seen as quixotic – or even unseemly – by many of those who have failed to understand the past ten years, as well as those whose first instinct is to attack a popular revolt rather than to assist it. Elsewhere, a number of US pundits decided to criticise the revolution as possibly destabilising the region; many of whom once demanded the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan – and greeted every Arab revolt as the work of President Bush – but now see nothing for themselves in the cause of Arab liberty. Some have even portrayed the movement as the work of radical Islamists – yet most cannot find Tunisia on a map. Suffice to say that the results of our efforts are already on display and will become more evident as Tunisians use our tools and resources to achieve their greatest triumph. Those who wish to assist and are competent to do so can find us easily enough; the Tunisians had little trouble in doing so. Although we have made great progress in convincing individuals from across the world to join our efforts in Tunisia, other campaigns, such as those taking place in Algeria and Egypt – both of which have seen government websites taken down and/or replaced by Anonymous, more must be done before the movement takes the next step towards a worldwide network capable of perpetual engagement against those who are comfortable with tyranny. Anonymous Press Release responding to the UK Government (1/27/11) Dear UK government, We are Anonymous. It has come to our attention that you deemed it necessary to arrest five of our fellow anons for their participation in the DDoS attacks against PayPal, Mastercard, and others, that have been carried out in our name in retaliation for those organisations’ actions against WikiLeaks. We understand you are planning to charge these fellow anons with offences under the 1990 Computer Misuse Act, which prohibits impairing the operation of a computer or the readability of data. Anonymous believes, however, that pursuing this direction is a sad mistake on your behalf. Not only does it reveal the fact that you do not seem to understand the present-day political and technological reality, we also take this as a serious declaration of war from yourself, the UK government, to us, Anonymous, the people. First and foremost, it is important to realize what a DDoS attack exactly is and what it means in the contemporary political context. As traditional means of protest (peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, the blocking of a crossroads or the picketing of a factory fence) have slowly turned into nothing but an empty, ritualised gesture of discontent over the course of the last century, people have been anxiously searching for new ways to pressure politicians and give voice to public demands in a manner that might actually be able to change things for the better. Anonymous has, for now, found this new way of voicing civil protest in the form of the DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service, attack. Just as is the case with traditional forms of protest, we block access to our opponents infrastructure to get our message across. Whether or not this infrastructure is located in the real world or in cyberspace, seems completely irrelevant to us. Read Wikileaks and you are out of a job by Daniel Tencer (12/5/10) Graduate students at US universities are being warned not to read or post links to WikiLeaks documents, or they could be denied work with the US government. Several news reports suggest the State Department has been warning university departments that students could fail security screening if they are seen to discuss or post links to WikiLeaks documents on social networking sites. The US government considers the leaked material to be classified, even after public release. Is the Federal Government Asking Its Agencies to Treat Employees Like Potential Spies? by E.B. Boyd (1/6/11) In December, experts told Fast Company that one of the things companies could do to protect themselves against WikiLeaks-style disclosures was to monitor employee sentiment. After all, one of the most likely ways an outside organization like WikiLeaks would get a hold of massive amounts of confidential information–like the hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables purportedly leaked by an Army private–would be if a disgruntled employee walked out the door with them on a thumb drive. (Private Bradley Manning reportedly used a disk disguised to look like a Lady Gaga CD.) A new set of directives released by the federal government this week appear to be going overboard in this direction. A 14-page memo released by the Office of Management and Budget seems to suggest that departments and agencies should set up “insider threat programs,” complete with post-foreign travel debriefings and psychiatric assessments to identify potentially untrustworthy employees.	Chelsea Manning
Mixing blue, red, and green light produces what colour/color?	Project MUSE - Chronology: July 16, 2010 - October 15, 2010 July 16, 2010 - October 15, 2010 Abbreviations RFE-RL, Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty RNW, Radio Netherlands Worldwide See also Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey July 21: The Middle East Quartet released a statement signed by special envoy Tony Blair commending the Bank of Israel's transfer of $13 million into the Gaza Strip and the exchange of $8.2 million of spoiled currency for new bills. The move came as the blockade eased and the approach of Ramadan created more demand for cash. The Palestinian Monetary Authority had requested a $62 million transfer earlier in 2010. [YNET, 7/28] July 28: Israeli police in East Jerusalem helped Jewish settlers move into a house occupied by a Palestinian family. The Qirrishes returned from a wedding ceremony to discover the eviction and were barred from entering the property or collecting their personal effects. The settlement group Ateret Cohanim and the Palestinian inhabitants had been in dispute over the building since the 1970s. [LAT, 7/30] Aug. 2: Fayez Karam, former head of the Lebanese counter-terrorism and counterespionage units, was arrested and charged with spying for Israel. He allegedly relayed information relating to Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement. His was the latest in a string of espionage arrests since Lebanon launched an investigation into Israeli spy rings in 2009. Karam was the first politician to be charged. [MEO, 8/8, BBC, 8/10] Aug. 3: Four people were killed in the worst clash along the Israel-Lebanon border since the 2006 war. The violence erupted when, for strategic purposes, Israeli troops attempted to clear a tree near the site of a 2006 month-long rocket exchange. The following day the UN confirmed that Israel had not crossed its border while cutting down the tree. [LAT, WP, 8/4] Aug. 5: Israel released the Mavi Marmara and two other Turkish ships from the May 30 flotilla. The vessels were bound for Turkey. The Israeli government kept possession of three non-Turkish vessels and the Rachel Corrie, which had sailed for Gaza a few days after the Turkish flotilla. [BBC, 8/4, Al-Jazeera, 8/7] Aug. 9: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu testified for an Israeli state-sponsored inquiry into the flotilla incident. He defended Israel's actions, saying that it had not broken international law. He also said that his and Turkey's governments had been in negotiations for weeks to prevent conflict, but Ankara was not keen to take the case seriously. [The Guardian, 8/9] Aug. 10: Ehud Barak testified in the Israeli flotilla inquiry, stating that he [End Page 103] took responsibility for the nine deaths on the flotilla in a broad sense, but blamed the military for bungling the raid. He accused the Turkish flotilla of intentionally provoking the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). [The Guardian, 8/10, BBC, 8/10] Amidst generally friendly relations and following a series of violent border skirmishes, the IDF announced that it had changed its policy toward the Lebanese Army. According to the new rules, IDF soldiers would increase the intensity with which they responded to Lebanese aggression fourfold. Israel considered the Lebanese Army to be working toward regional stability along with the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon. [YNET, LAT, 8/10] Aug. 11: Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, Israel's top military chief, testified for the Israeli flotilla inquiry that the activists had fired first on IDF soldiers. He defended the use of lethal force, but said that greater precautions should have been taken to neutralize resistance before boarding the flotilla. [NYT, BBC, 8/11] Aug. 17: The Yesha Council and the Israeli Sheli movement ran two seminars on editing Wikipedia with language and information more sympathetic to Israel. Wikipedia had long been a battleground for informational disputes, such as whether to call Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Wikipedia had banned similar attempts to alter content by Camera, a Zionist group, in 2008. [The Guardian, Haaretz, 8/18] After years of debate, the Lebanese Parliament unanimously passed a new energy law allowing for the exploration of oil and natural gas fields in Lebanese waters. The legislation was revived by Israel's announcement that it would begin drilling its own marine oil fields. Lebanon feared that these movements would unfairly impinge upon their waters and resources, especially since Lebanon and Israel had no official maritime borders. [Al-Jazeera, 8/17] Sept. 2: The first face-to-face peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in over 20 months began in Washington, DC. US President Barack Obama hoped that the issues of borders and refugees could be resolved within a 12-month period. However, the murder of four Israelis by Hamas militants the night before the opening banquet cast a shadow over the talks. [The Guardian, 8/31, 9/2, 9/13, 9/15] Sept. 3: In drive-by shootings in the West Bank, Hamas killed three, breaking a two-year calm after a crackdown by Israeli and Palestinian Authority security services. [WP, 9/3, The Guardian, 9/15] Sept. 12: Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that while construction would not be accelerated, he would not renew the freeze on settlement building. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud 'Abbas maintained that Palestine would withdraw from talks if the settlement-building continued. US President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urged Netanyahu to extend the freeze, set to expire September 26. [The Guardian, 9/13] Sept. 15: Israeli forces bombed tunnels between Gaza and Egypt following a rocket attack from Gaza on the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Violence continued on the ground as Gazans fired mortars into Israel during the opening days of the peace negotiations. [BBC, The Guardian, 9/15] Sept. 22: The UN probe into the flotilla incident led by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched on August 10 ruled that Israel had broken international law during its raid on the Turkish flotilla. The charges included violating right to life and freedom of expression, and improper handling of captives. Israel dismissed the report, which carried no legal force. [BBC, 9/22, The Guardian, 8/10, 9/23] Sept. 23: In a speech at the UN General Assembly, US President Obama pleaded for support in Middle East peace talks. He directly appealed to Israel to halt the settlement process in the West Bank, while also exhorting supporters of Palestine to [End Page 104] stop "trying to tear Israel down." He also emphasized that a Palestinian state was the only route to stable Israeli security. [The Guardian, AP, 9/23, Al-Jazeera, 9/24] Sept. 26: Despite a call for restraint from Netanyahu, settlers in Kiryat Netarim, a settlement on the West Bank, declared an end to the 10-month building freeze by laying the cornerstone for a new kindergarten. Defense Minister Ehud Barak had not approved the construction plans. [YNET, 9/26] Sept. 28: In the first attempt since the Mavi Marmara flotilla, a boat carrying Jewish activists, along with an assortment of toys, medical supplies, books, and outboard motors, set out from Cyprus to break the Gaza blockade. IDF soldiers boarded and diverted the yacht two days later, bringing it to the nearby port of Ashdod. [Al-Jazeera, AP, 9/26, The Guardian, 9/28] Oct. 4: Unknown arsonists attacked a mosque near Hebron in Al-Fajjar, scrawling "Revenge" and "A mosque must be burned" in Hebrew on the wall. The attack was thought to be part of the "price tag" policy, in which retaliation attacks were carried out against Palestinian targets whenever the Israeli state attempted to curb settlement efforts. Ehud Barak called the attack an act of terrorism. [NYT, 10/4] Central Asia and the Caucasus See also Afghanistan July 19: Kazakh website owner Valery Khlyupin and online journalist Asror Muminov were accused by Kyrgyz officials of inciting ethnic hatred amidst ethnic violence in June 2010. Kyrgyz prosecutors requested that Kazakhstan charge Khlyupin and Muminov, author of an article entitled "Kyrgyz Kill Uzbeks Even in Mosques." Khlyupin claimed that 90% of the information in the article was provided by sources within Kyrgyzstan and that he was prepared to apologize if any of it was false. [RFE/RL, 7/19] July 21: Tajikistan opened a US-funded customs post along the Afghan border, demonstrating a greater joint commitment to drug trafficking. The US committed $12 million to the project, which provided the latest technological equipment and created a large complex of administrative and customs offices, a restaurant, and a hotel. [RFE/RL,7/23] July 22: Azerbaijan confirmed that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev presented Armenia and Azerbaijan with a new plan to end the Nagorno-Karbakh conflict. The confirmation came after Azerbaijani officials had previously denied that new plans had been presented. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian expressed frustration that Azerbaijan must accept Russia's proposals "as a basis for negotiations" or the conflict would remain deadlocked. [RFE/RL, 7/23] July 26: Over 2,000 people gathered in Kyrgyzstan's two largest cities, protesting the government's decision to accept the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) proposal to send a policy advisory unit of 52 members into southern Kyrgyzstan. Opponents of the OSCE force said that local authorities were able to cope with the unrest in southern Kyrgyzstan, but President Roza Otunbaeva stated that the international force would monitor the human rights situation and assist Kyrgyz police. [RFE/RL, 7/26] Aug. 1: Tajik authorities detained religious leader Mavlavi Abduqahor and students at his madrasa in the Rudaki district of Tajikistan. Abduqahor was arrested primarily for teaching without a license and for teaching children under the age of seven. The arrests were carried out by Operation Madrasah, which aimed to ban all illegal religious schools in the country. Some Tajik analysts said that officials were trying to control all religious schools in order to prevent the rise of radical Islam. [RFE/RL, 8/2] Aug. 2: A Kyrgyz government commission began investigating the causes of the deadly June 2010 clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. Members of the National Commission met with locals in predominantly ethnic [End Page 105] Uzbek villages in Osh who had both been victims of and witnessed the violence. The Commission was charged with finding out whether the violence could have been stopped earlier or prevented. [RFE/RL, 8/2] Aug. 10: The Muslim call to prayer through loudspeakers was banned in northern Tajikistan, just as Muslims were preparing for the holy month of Ramadan. Authorities in the northern Sughd province implemented the ban because they said it caused confusion and disturbed the peace. Tajikistan is a predominantly Muslim country. [RFE/RL, 8/10] Aug. 19: Turkmen authorities allowed some university students to return to Kyrgyzstan to continue their studies after they had been evacuated during the June 2010 clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. Authorities agreed to let the students return as long as parents signed a statement assuming responsibility for their child's well-being while in Kyrgyzstan. Diplomas earned by students in Kyrgyzstan would not be recognized in Turkmenistan. [RFE/RL, 8/19] Aug. 20: Azerbaijan's Supreme Court upheld a 2009 sentence given to jailed bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada. The men were sentenced to two and two and a half years, respectively, in prison on hooliganism charges. Lawyers and Hajizada's father called the charges politically motivated, as Milli and Hajizada had often criticized and satirized government policies. [RFE/RL, 8/20] Aug. 25: Georgia accused Russia of deploying S-300 missile-defense systems in the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia. Earlier in the month, Moscow announced the placement of S-300s in the breakaway Abkhazia region, but denied that S-300s had also been deployed in South Ossetia. Georgia and much of the international community insisted that Abkhazia and South Ossetia were integral parts of Georgian history and were opposed to their recognition by Russia as independent states. [RFE/RL, 8/25] Aug. 26: Uzbek authorities burned 497 kilograms of confiscated Afghan heroin worth an estimated $150 million. The heroin and more than 700 kilograms of other illegal drugs were burned outside of Tashkent before an audience of diplomats and journalists. The destroyed drugs were used as evidence in trials against drug traffickers and represented just part of almost 2.5 tons of drugs seized from smugglers leaving Afghanistan since early 2010. [RFE/RL, 8/26] Sept. 6: As part of an exchange of border officials between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Uzbek authorities released a Kyrgyz border guard. A day earlier Kyrgyz authorities released three Uzbek customs officers and Uzbekistan released three Kyrgyz border guards. This release was delayed by additional negotiations over unknown border issues. [RFE/RL, 9/6] Sept. 15: Kyrgyzstan courts sentenced well-known ethnic Uzbek human rights activist Azimjan Askarov to life in prison. Askarov, along with seven other ethnic Uzbeks, were found guilty of murdering a Kyrgyz police officer during the violent clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in June 2010. A Kyrgyz official called the verdict politically motivated and said that his office had investigated further and would have held Askarov not guilty. [RFE/RL, 9/15] Sept. 16: Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian announced that Armenia and Iran would soon begin building two shared major hydroelectric power stations on their border. Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said that the power stations would give Armenian-Iranian commercial ties a significant boost. The project was estimated to cost $323 million. [RFE/RL, 9/17] An adviser to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev stated that the President would seek a fresh term in office in 2012. Nazarbaev was the country's only leader in its post-Soviet history. Parliament ruled in 2007 that he should be able to run for president as many times as he liked. As "leader of the nation," Parliament also gave Nazarbaev immunity from prosecution. [RFE/RL, 9/16] [End Page 106] Sept. 20: Kyrgyzstan closed its border with Tajikistan after deadly clashes between an armed extremist group and Tajik military forces in Tajikistan's Rasht province. Cholponbek Turusbekov, Kyrgyz Border Guard Service Deputy Chairman, stated that Kyrgyz security forces were deployed to the area to control the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. Tajik authorities said armed militants killed about 23 servicemen near the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. [RFE/RL, 9/20] Sept. 21: Five supporters of former opposition commander Mirzokhuja Ahmadov, a leader of the former United Tajik Opposition (UTO), were killed in a counterterrorist operation in the Rasht district. Ahmadov's house was also attacked by rockets. His fate was unknown. After learning of the attack on the commander's home, another former opposition leader, Shoh Iskandarov, reportedly joined the militants. UTO fought in the Tajik civil war of 1992-1997 against President Emomali Rahmon's administration. [RFE/RL, 9/22] Sept. 23: Abkhaz Vice President Aleksandr Ankvab suffered minor shrapnel wounds when his home was attacked with a grenade launcher. The attacker's identity was unknown and the attempt was the fourth on Ankvab's life in the past five years. Motive for the attack remained unclear but a potential reason was that Ankvab was perceived as being capable of forcing the resignation of Abkhaz de facto President Sergei Bagapsh. [RFE/RL, 9/23] Oct. 5: An Armenian citizen, Manvel Saribekian, who was detained in Azerbaijan in September 2010, was found dead in his prison cell. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry and Military Prosecutor's Office claimed that Saribekian hanged himself, but circumstances surrounding Saribekian's death remained unclear. Azerbaijani authorities stated that Saribekian was part of an armed group intending to carry out armed "provocations." Armenian authorities fiercely refuted that claim. [RFE/RL, 10/5] Oct. 7: Azerbaijan refuted Armenia's claims that it killed an Armenian captive. Officials in Azerbaijan insisted that the captive, Manvel Saribekian, was an Armenian intelligence operative who committed suicide in custody, which Armenia also refuted. Saribekian was taken into custody in Azerbaijan on September 11. [RFE/RL, 10/7] Oct. 12: Kyrgyz voters took to the polls to elect a new Parliament as part of the referendum voted upon after the ousting of former President Bakiyev. Though the election was deemed free and fair, none of the top five finishers in the election won a large percentage of the vote, leaving many Kyrgyz voters to be represented by parties they did not vote for. Many analysts believed that the new government would have a very pro-Russian foreign policy. [RFE/RL, 10/12] Officials captured 14 suspected terrorists and confiscated an unknown quantity of guns during a special operation in the normally peaceful Istaravshan district in northern Tajikistan. The men detained were suspected of being involved in a suicide bombing in the northern town of Khujand which killed four police officers and injured 28 people. The detainment was the first time a group so large had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism in Istaravshan. [RFE/RL, 10/14] Oct. 13: A Vienna-based Turkmen human rights group's website was hacked and inaccessible for days. Farid Tukhbatullin, head of the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR), left Turkmenistan and received refugee status in 2003. The group's website was hacked directly after President Gurbanguli Berdymukhammedov called on the National Security Ministry to crack down against those disseminating slanderous information about Turkmenistan. Since the hacking, Tukhbatullin was also warned of a possible threat to his personal security. [RFE/RL, 10/13] Oct. 15: Georgia's Parliament approved a controversial amendment to the constitution that shifted the country's primary political powers from the president to the prime minister. The amendment was designed to introduce more checks and balances by strengthening the role of the prime minister and Parliament while curbing presidential [End Page 107] power. Critics were wary as they believed that the shift would allow President Mikheil Saakashvili to prolong his position of power by seeking the seat of prime minister after his term ended. [RFE/RL, 10/15] Palestinian Affairs July 17: Gaza's first shopping center opened in a ceremony attended by Hamas party officials and officers. The complex — approximately one-quarter acre — drew crowds hoping to browse the Western and Israeli products, enjoy the air-conditioning, or shop in the new supermarket. [YNET, 7/20, NYT, 8/22] July 18: Engineering students at Hebron University designed and built a completely solar-powered car from scratch as part of an effort to promote environmentally friendly power alternatives in Palestine. The car, celebrated as a victory for the students, could not exceed 19 miles per hour. [The Guardian, 7/18] July 20: Brazilian Presient Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a bill granting $14 million in aid to the reconstruction of Gaza. The gift came after the UN called on the international community to help the region. [AP, ANBA, 7/21] Aug. 10: The Palestinian Authority reported that Arab countries had cut aid to the Palestinian territories, although the US and Europe had already donated their annual contributions. Arab officials from other countries declined to comment, though some Palestinians speculated that the cut was calculated to force Hamas and Fatah to reach an accord. [Reuters, 8/10] Aug. 25: Dozens of protesters, carrying President Mahmud 'Abbas' picture and chanting his name, broke up a conference in Ramallah held to oppose direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. The organizers of the conference, believing the interruption to be the work of Fatah and Palestinian security forces, immediately began their own protest in the streets of the city, but were soon stopped by the police for not holding the necessary protest permit. [LAT, 8/25] Sept. 19: The Crazy Water Park, one of the few affordable family destinations in Gaza, was attacked for the second time in a month by arsonists. The owner claimed that Hamas ignored threats to the park. The resort competed with Hamas' commercial enterprises and conservatives often criticized it for what they perceived as immoral activities, including hosting mixed-gender parties. [The Guardian, 9/24] Sept. 20: Israel lifted a ban on car imports to the Gaza Strip for the first time in over three years, allowing the importation of oil, engine parts, and about 20 cars. Restrictions on Gaza had been gradually easing since the May 30 raid on the Mavi Marmara. [NYT, 9/20] Sept. 22: Hamas leader Khalid Mish'al hosted Fatah representative 'Azzam al-Ahmad in Damascus in one of a series of reconciliation attempts between the conflicting parties. The two men released a joint statement announcing an initial agreement concerning the path to compromise, and outlined plans to meet in Cairo and finalize a peace agreement. [Al-Jazeera, 9/25] Afghanistan July 19: NATO forces intercepted a five-point directive from Mullah 'Umar, the spiritual leader of the Afghan Taliban, in which he called on members to fight foreign troops, obtain heavy weapons, and kill civilians collaborating with coalition forces. If genuine, the directive marked a turnaround for Umar who in 2009 urged Taliban members to avoid killing civilians. [Al-Jazeera, 7/19] July 26: The US government condemned the leak of more than 90,000 classified military documents on the war in Afghanistan, including details on Afghan civilian deaths, special forces units targeting high-level Taliban members, and concerns that the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI was helping the Taliban. The documents were released by the online whistleblower WikiLeaks and covered the period January 2004 through December 2009. [Al-Jazeera, 7/26] [End Page 108] July 23: A NATO rocket attack on an Afghan village killed up to 52 civilians. Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered the National Security Council to investigate the incident. Witnesses said that civilians were fired upon by helicopters while they sought cover after being warned of an impending firefight between Taliban militants and NATO troops. [Al-Jazeera, 7/27] July 27: The US Department of Defense launched an investigation into the leak of thousands of classified documents on the war in Afghanistan to whistleblower website WikiLeaks. Officials said that the person who leaked the classified documents appeared to have security clearance and access to sensitive documents. Bradley Manning, an army intelligence analyst, was charged earlier in July over the leak of a classified video to WikiLeaks. [Al-Jazeera, 7/27] Aug. 13: BBC News reported that a routine Afghan National Army (ANA) operation conducted by a 300-man battalion turned into a major confrontation when Taliban militants ambushed army personnel in Bad Pakh valley in northeast Afghanistan. Seven Afghan soldiers were killed and 14 were injured. ANA Commanders and NATO leaders said that the ANA, with over 130,000 soldiers, was increasingly able to operate militarily without support from coalition forces. [BBC, 8/13] Aug. 15: The Afghan Ministry of Mines announced that an oilfield with an estimated 1.8 billion barrels of oil was discovered in north Afghanistan. An oil ministry spokesman indicated that these reserves and other mineral deposits would be offered up for development in the months that followed. [BBC, 8/16] NATO forces in Afghanistan killed an al-Qa'ida cell leader as he attacked a police post in Kunduz province. He was also a Taliban commander. [Al-Arabiya, 8/16] Aug. 24: Afghan and international forces killed about 40 Taliban insurgents and captured eight Taliban leaders east of Kabul as part of an operation to provide security for the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held in the region in September 2010. A large amount of explosive ordinances and weapons were destroyed. One International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldier was killed in the fighting. [AP, 8/24] Aug. 28: Taliban gunmen killed parliamentary candidate Haji Abdul Manan as he walked from his home to a mosque. Also in anticipation of the forthcoming parliamentary election, at least ten campaign workers of Fawzia Gilani, a female candidate in the elections, were kidnapped by armed men three days previously. The motive of the kidnappers was unclear. Both incidents occurred in Herat province. [Al-Jazeera, 8/26, Reuters, 8/29] Aug. 29: Exposure to poison gas, confirmed as containing toxic but non-fatal levels of organophosphates, hospitalized 45 students and four teachers from the Zabihullah Esmati High School in the Kart-e-Naw area of Kabul. The method of the poison gas' release was unknown. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid reached via phone said "We have not and will never take such action against innocent girls." A similar attack by unknown assailants was carried out on August 25 at another Kabul high school. [NYT, 8/31] Bullet-riddled bodies of five campaign workers of female parliamentary candidate Fawzia Gilani were found in the Adraskan district of Herat. It was unclear who killed them. Five other campaign workers were found unharmed. [Reuters, 8/29] Aug. 30: A car bomb killed the district chief of Lal Pur in the eastern province of Nangarhar as he drove into the provincial headquarters for a provincial security meeting with political leaders. Three to five others were wounded in the explosion. [AP, 8/30] Sept. 6: The Taliban assassinated district chief Rahmad Sror Joshan Pool from Baghlan Province along the Kunduz-Baghlan highway in northern Afghanistan. Pool's bodyguard and one militant were also killed and two militants were wounded in the ensuing firefight. [NYT, 9/7] [End Page 109] Prominent Afghan journalist and deputy head of Afghanistan's National Journalists' Association Said Hamid Noori was found stabbed to death outside of his home. The motive and responsible party remained unknown. President Hamid Karzai issued a statement ordering authorities to spare no effort in bringing the killers to justice. [AP, 9/6] Sept. 9: At least 20 Islamist militants, including Taliban members and one border guard, were killed in a firefight along the Tajik-Afghan border. The militants were attempting to cross the border into Tajikistan when Tajik border guards engaged them. The firefight lasted nearly 24 hours, during which most of the militant group was killed. [Dawn, 9/11] Sept. 12: Two people died and four others were wounded as Afghans continued to protest the proposed but cancelled burning of Qur'ans by a US pastor. The previous day, more than 10,000 Afghans shouted anti-US slogans, set fire to tires, and blocked a highway in protest against the American church's plan. Smaller protests were held throughout Afghanistan since September 9. [AP, 9/11, 9/12] Sept. 13: ISAF soldiers were attacked multiple times during a patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand Province and responded with airstrikes, mortars, rockets, and machine gun fire, killing up to 23 insurgents. ISAF stopped firing when they observed women and children entering the compound from which the insurgent gunfire originated. [AP, 9/14] Sept. 17: The Taliban kidnapped 19 government officials on the eve of the Afghan elections, including Wolesi Jirga (the lower house of Parliament) candidate Abdul Rahman Hayat. The Taliban threatened to target polling centers, election workers, and security forces on election day and warned that voters who tried to cast ballots "will get hurt." Tens of thousands of Afghan security forces were on high alert. [AFP, 9/17] Sept. 18: Voting concluded for Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga elections at over 5,000 polling stations. Hundreds of polling stations were closed due to security concerns. Despite the 115,000 Afghan security forces sent to protect the polls, a total of 93 attacks killed at least 21 voters and wounded 45 others around the country. [AFP, Al-Jazeera, 9/18, WP, 9/20] Sept. 21: Nine American NATO troops were killed and one Afghan national security force member wounded in a helicopter crash in the Zabul province of southern Afghanistan, where ISAF increased pressure on Taliban insurgents. While the Taliban claimed responsibility for the crash, NATO denied that the helicopter reported hostile fire. [FOX, 9/21] A NATO and Afghan army outpost in the Spera district of Khost province in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border was attacked by insurgents. The skirmish killed 25-30 insurgents. No NATO or Afghan troop casualties were reported. [AP, 9/22] Sept. 24: More than 30 insurgents were killed in an ISAF and Afghan air assault in the Laghman province. The assault was conducted by more than 250 ISAF and Afghan police and security forces. [CNN, 9/25] Oct. 3: The Afghan government formally banned eight foreign and domestic private security firms. Among those banned was XE, the company formally known as Blackwater. Weapons and ammunition owned by the companies were also confiscated. President Karzai issued a decree in September to disband all private security firms in the country within four months in order to reduce corruption, security irregularities, and misuse of military weapons which caused tragic incidents throughout the country. [CNN, 10/3] Oct. 6: It was reported that Taliban representatives authorized to speak for the Quetta Shurra and members of the Karzai government were holding secret peace talks. Sources stressed that the talks were only preliminary. A Karzai spokesman did not confirm or deny the government's participation in such discussions. [Reuters, 10/6] Oct. 7: A US Senate Armed Services Committee inquiry revealed a number of [End Page 110] problems in US military contracts to private security organizations. The report cited poor training, a lack of oversight by Defense Department contract managers, and evidence that some funds eventually fell into the hands of Afghan warlords. The report also claimed that some contractors even engaged in activities opposed to coalition efforts. [Reuters, 10/7] Oct. 8: At least 20 people were killed and 35 wounded in a bomb explosion at the Shirkat mosque in Takhar province. The attack occurred during Friday prayers. Kunduz province governor Muhammad 'Umar, a Takhar native, was among the dead. He was suspected of being the bomb's target, having survived two previous assassination attempts. [AP, RFE/RL, 10/8] Oct. 11: British Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that Linda Norgrove, a British hostage and aid worker killed during a US-led rescue operation on October 8, may not have been killed by her captors as previously reported by the British Foreign Office. Cameron, who authorized the rescue, said that US General David Petraeus reported that a review of the incident suggested that Norgrove could have been killed by the troops attempting to save her, specifically from a grenade explosion rather than bombs on a vest worn by one of the kidnappers. [Reuters, 10/11] Algeria July 25: Aziz Abdul Naji, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who was transferred to his native Algeria on July 18, was indicted and placed under judicial supervision. Naji was captured in Pakistan in 2002 and held in Guantanamo until his release. He fought against his repatriation and said that he feared mistreatment or even death in his homeland. [KT, 7/27] Aug. 6: Idir Muhamad, Mayor of Baghlia, was assassinated by Algerian Islamist militants. Baghlia was a town located east of Algiers in a region thought to be a stronghold of al-Qa'ida's North African wing. The mayor belonged to the National Liberation Front party, Algeria's largest political party. [Reuters, 8/7] Aug. 28: Algerian forces killed eight gunmen suspected of belonging to al-Qa'ida during a special operation in the Kabylie region, east of Algiers. The mountainous Kabylie area was considered to be a safe refuge for al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb. Residents in the region alerted authorities after insurgents sought food there. [AP, 8/29] Oct. 3: A remote-controlled bombing of a military convoy by Islamist militants killed five soldiers and injured ten others. The soldiers were on a mission targeting insurgents in the volatile Kabylie region. [AP, 10/3] Oct. 5: Two recently converted Christian men on trial in Algeria for eating during daylight hours in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan were acquitted. Algerian law considered it an "offense to the principles of Islam" to eat during the day during Ramadan. Two similar cases in the courts were pending. [AP, Reuters, 10/5] Bahrain Aug. 13: 'Abdul Jalil Al Singace, spokesman for the Haq Movement for Liberties and Democracy, a large Shi'a opposition group, was arrested as he returned to Manama from a London seminar for terrorist acts and inciting violence. Singace, who had been arrested on terrorism charges in 2009, was accused of spreading fabricated information about the government and judicial system in order to stir unrest. [GN, 8/15] Aug. 26: Public prosecutor 'Ali al-Bu'aynayn issued a gag order on all coverage of the alleged terrorist plot against Bahraini national security. Violation of the order in any medium entailed a fine or a jail sentence of up to one year. The only exception included statements from Bu'aynayn himself. [GN, 8/28] Sept. 4: Officials arrested and charged 23 people for conspiring to overthrow the Sunni government in a violent coup. Most of the accused were Shi'a opposition leaders who had been charged with similar offenses in 2009 and subsequently pardoned. The [End Page 111] majority of the more than 160 arrested under anti-terrorism laws since August 2009 were part of the Shi'a majority opposition or human rights groups. [NYT, 9/5] Sept. 6: After only four months in office, Salman Kamaluddin, head of the National Human Rights Commission in Bahrain, resigned for unknown reasons. During his tenure he had openly disagreed with the government on the role of politics in human rights. [GN, 9/6] Sept. 19: Bahraini officials stripped Shi'a Ayatollah Husayn Mirza Nijati of his citizenship and reportedly banned Shi'a Shaykh 'Abdul Jalil al-Miqdad from delivering sermons for two weeks. Human rights activists were already preparing for the apparent crackdown on Shi'a opposition leaders, accusing the Sunni government of using torture and intimidation to ensure control in the run-up to the October parliamentary elections. [BBC, 9/20] Egypt July 18: President Husni Mubarak hosted Palestinian President Mahmud 'Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and US Peace Envoy George Mitchell in Cairo. None of the visitors spoke with each other, but instead had back-to-back appointments with Mubarak to discuss the possibility of future direct talks regarding a two-state solution. [Reuters, 7/18] An Egyptian court freed National Democratic Party member Hani Surur who had been jailed for selling defective blood bags to state hospitals. The decision voided a November ruling that sentenced Surur to three years in prison. The court also overturned the three-year prison sentences of Surur's sister and two senior health officials, and acquitted three others who had been sentenced to six months in prison for the same crime. [Reuters, 7/18] Sixteen Bedouin tribesmen, including Yahya Abu Nasira, an activist who helped to found the opposition party Karama, were freed from jail. The government sought to reduce tension with the Bedouin, who complained of mistreatment and clashed with security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian authorities accused the Bedouin of being involved in weapons and drug smuggling to the Gaza Strip. [Reuters, 7/18] July 22: President Mubarak addressed Egyptians in a televised speech to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Egypt's July Revolution. He appeared healthy during the speech only days after Information Minister Anas al-Fekki denied a Washington Times report that Western intelligence agencies thought Mubarak to be suffering from terminal stomach and pancreatic cancer. [Reuters, 7/22] Aug. 5: In a television interview, an anonymous Egyptian woman accused two police officers of raping her on a deserted rural road north of Cairo. The police opened an investigation into the incident after it was reported. The interview attracted tens-of-thousands of viewers on YouTube as it was unusual for women in Egypt to make public accusations of rape. [BBC, 8/5] Aug. 11: Drought in Russia led to a major wheat shortage in Egypt. Egypt, which imported an estimated 60,000 tons of wheat from Russia each month, had to find another supply as Russia halted its exports. [RFE/RL, 8/11] Aug. 12: The Egyptian government announced a controversial plan to unify the Islamic call to prayer in Cairo. One muezzin's recitation of the call to prayer would be transmitted by radio to thousands of mosques to be played simultaneously in order to avoid discrepancies about prayer times and end overlapping prayer calls. Many muezzins worried about no longer being able to perform the call to prayer. Some religious scholars called the move an undue government interference. [Al-Jazeera, 8/12] Aug. 14: Four African migrants were shot dead by smugglers and two more were killed [End Page 112] by Egyptian police near Egypt's border with Israel. Smugglers had been holding about 50 Ethiopians and Eritreans for ransom and shot at them when one migrant seized a gun from a guard to free his fellow captives. Egyptian police shot two migrants when they refused orders to stop as they tried to cross barbed wire at the Israeli border. [Reuters, 8/14] Aug. 18: Crowds protested power outages that left many residents without air conditioning during the hot month of Ramadan, blocking a major highway in Fayoum with burning tires. The electricity cuts affected residents from the Nile Delta in the north to Luxor in the south. Residents of Shubra el-Kheima on Cairo's outskirts signed petitions calling for the Minister of Electricity to resign. [AP, 8/18] Aug. 23: Deputy Culture Minister Mohsan Shalaan and four security guards from the Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo were detained on accusations of neglect and professional delinquency after a Vincent van Gogh painting was stolen on August 21 in broad daylight. The same painting was stolen in 1978, found in Kuwait two years later, and returned to Egypt. [AP, 8/23] Aug. 25: A presidential spokesman announced that Egypt would build its first nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast of el-Dabaa which it hoped would be linked into the national grid by 2019. Head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano said that the agency was ready to assist Egypt in its nuclear efforts. Egypt signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1981. [AFP, 8/25] Sept. 6: Opposition leader Muhammad ElBaradei urged the nation to boycott the November 28 parliamentary election. ElBaradei said that the elections were bound to be rigged and that it was wrong to legitimize the regime by participating in its elections. [AP, 9/6] Sept. 11: Approximately 100 tons of oil leaked into the Nile River in the Aswan region after an oil barge began sinking while unloading its cargo. Three Egyptian provinces declared a state of emergency to contain the spill and prevent it from spreading and contaminating water purification facilities. [AP, 9/11] Sept. 19: A high-ranking Hamas official, Mohammed Dababish, was arrested at the Cairo International Airport for using falsified travel documents. Dababish was a top official in Hamas' internal security unit overseeing intelligence matters in Gaza. [AP, 9/19] Sept. 21: Egyptian police beat and arrested activists demonstrating in downtown Cairo against the possible succession of Gamal Mubarak to the presidency following his father. Close to 300 demonstrators chanted antigovernment slogans, waved flags, and burned pictures of Gamal Mubarak. Police detained more than 30 activists for trying to reach the demonstration and confiscated videotapes from BBC and Al-Jazeera news crews attempting to cover the event. [AP, 9/21] Sept. 28: Egyptian real-estate tycoon and former member of the upper house of parliament Hisham Talaat Mustafa was sentenced to 15 years in prison for paying former Egyptian police officer Mohsen al-Sukkari $2 million to murder Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim. Mustafa was originally sentenced to death in May 2009. His retrial began on April 26, 2010. AlSukkari was also retried and had his death sentence reduced to life in prison. [AP, 9/28] Oct. 12: Eleven Culture Ministry employees were sentenced to three years in prison for gross negligence regarding the Van Gogh painting that was stolen from a Cairo museum on August 23. The painting was worth $55 million. [Reuters, 10/12] New restrictions were imposed by Egypt's telecommunications regulators on mobile text messages, forcing companies that send out texts en masse to acquire licenses. Only registered political parties were able to apply to use mass text messages for the November 28 parliamentary elections. As a banned political party, the [End Page 113] Muslim Brotherhood, the largest opposition party, was not allowed to apply for a license, thereby limiting their ability to mobilize voters. [Al-Jazeera, 10/13] Oct. 13: Egypt's telecommunications regulators imposed new requirements effectively placing all live broadcasts, including TV talk shows and news bulletins, under the control of state television. The licenses of all private companies that provided live broadcast services in Egypt were canceled, requiring them to obtain new licenses under the regulations. [AP, 10/13] Iran See also Pakistan, Syria July 16: Two suicide bombers killed 27 people when they attacked the Jamia mosque, a Shi'a mosque in the city of Zahedan in southeastern Iran. Jundallah, a Sunni rebel group, claimed that they had carried out the attack as revenge for the hanging of its leader in June. Iran's clerical leadership accused the US of backing Jundallah in order to create unrest, but the US denied these allegations and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the "horrific attacks." [BBC, 7/16] July 24: Iran's Oil Ministry released a statement saying that it signed a $1.3 billion deal with Turkey to build a pipeline to ship gas to Turkey. The Turkish government denied that it was part of the deal, but Som Petrol, Turkey's largest energy company, said it had partnered with Iran. Javad Oji, head of the National Iranian Natural Gas Export Company said that the pipeline would export 50-60 million meters of gas each day and would be constructed within three years. [Al-Jazeera, 7/24] July 28: President Mahmud Ahmadinejad launched a new policy to pay couples that have children. Each newborn child would receive $950 plus $95 each year until they turned 18, which could be spent on education, health, marriage, or housing. Ahmadinejad condemned contraceptives and vasectomies as policies from the "secular world" and not appropriate for Iran. [BBC, 7/28] Aug. 4: Ahmadinejad was unharmed after an attacker threw a homemade explosive device at his motorcade during a visit to Hamadan. The bomb hit a car carrying journalists and presidential staff. One person was arrested, but Iranian state media denied that an attack had occurred. [Reuters, BBC, 8/4] Aug. 16: The head of Iran's Atomic Organization, 'Ali Akbar Salehi, announced that Iran would continue to expand its uranium enrichment capacity despite international sanctions. He said that Iran had identified ten new locations for enrichment plants and construction would start as early as March 2011. [Reuters, 8/16] Aug. 18: Iran banned the well-known economic newspaper, Asia, for "publishing pictures against public chastity," and "promoting wastefulness and extravagance." Ahmad Alavi, an Iranian lecturer at Stockholm University, stated that Asia was likely shut down because it published information about the poor economic state of Iran and the inefficiency of the government. [RFE/RL, 8/19] Aug. 21: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Iranian Basij members were being trained to control the virtual world as Iranian officials became increasingly concerned about the dangers of the Internet. Officials saw the internet as a dangerous breeding ground for the "soft war" that they believed the enemy (US, Israel, etc.) was waging against Iran. The government had launched pro-government sites and banned opposition networks and sites. [RFE/RL, 8/21] Aug. 22: President Ahmadinejad appointed four special envoys for foreign affairs. They were seen by some as direct challenges to Ayatollah Khamenei. The Supreme Leader usually approved appointment decisions relating to foreign policy, but experts believed that Ahmadinejad was trying to exert greater control over Iranian foreign policy. [RFE/RL, 9/8] Aug. 26: The Iranian government announced new restrictions on the number of students admitted to humanities programs in the [End Page 114] country's universities. In 2009, Ayatollah Khamenei commented that humanities promoted doubt in religious beliefs and principles and that it was worrisome that about two-thirds of university students were seeking humanities degrees in Iran. University professors had also been replaced with those more committed to the Supreme Leader and the Islamic ideology. [RFE/RL, 8/26] Sept. 14: Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers accused by Iran of spying, was freed. Shourd was reportedly granted bail for health reasons, specifically a possible breast cancer diagnosis. Iran posted Shourd's bail at $500,000, a sum that the US government denied paying. It was unknown who posted Shourd's bail; US officials stated that Swiss or Omani officials may have been involved. [RFE/RL, 9/14] Sept. 11: Iranian diplomat Hossein Alizadeh resigned to join the opposition Green Movement. He criticized the Ahmadinejad administration for "damaging Iran's prestige and honor." Prior to his defection, Alizadeh was second in command at Iran's embassy in Finland. Alizadeh was the third diplomat in Europe to step down and join the opposition in 2010. [RFE/RL, 9/14] Sept. 16: Mir Hossein Moussavi's office was raided by security forces who seized the office's computers and possibly confiscated other property. Fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi was also targeted in September. Security forces were building a case against both men, but no details were provided about the charges. [NYT, 9/16] Six people were kidnapped in Sistan-Baluchistan province. Five of them were soldiers but officials insisted that none were high-ranking military officials. In Shi'ite dominant Iran, Sistan-Baluchistan had been the hotspot for the Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundullah. While Iran insisted that Jundullah had ties to al-Qa'ida, Jundullah denied any association with the group. [Reuters, 9/18] Sept. 17: After the September 16 raid on Moussavi's office, Iranian security forces surrounded his office, effectively shutting it down. Correspondents in Iran stated that the crackdown was part of growing pressure on the opposition as opposition leaders continued to maintain that Ahmadinejad's re-election was fraudulent. [BBC, 9/17] Sept. 18: Six hostages seized in the Sistan-Baluchistan province were freed by Iranian police after two days of fighting. Police worked with forces from the Quds Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to seal off the area and ambush the militants. Fars News Agency reported that one hostage and one gunman were killed, while two hostages were wounded. Fars also reported that the Sunni militant group Jundullah claimed responsibility on their website, but other sources rejected that claim. [CNN, 9/18] Shiva Nazar Ahari, a human rights activist and founder of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Tehran, was sentenced to six years in prison on antigovernment activity charges. Ahari was arrested in December 2009 on her way to the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein 'Ali Montazeri. Convicted of plotting against the state, among other charges, Ahari was to pay a fine of $400 in addition to her six-year term as an alternative to receiving 74 lashes as punishment. [RFE/RL, 9/18] Sept. 20: Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini announced the creation of a five-person board that would approve content of all books prior to publication in Iran. Members would be appointed by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Since President Ahmadinejad came to power in 2005, censorship in Iran had intensified. [RFE/RL, 9/22] Sept. 22: A bomb exploded during a military parade in Mahabad in northwestern Iran, killing 12 people and wounding at least 35 others. A provincial governor blamed "counter-revolutionary groups" for the bombing, which took place on the 30th anniversary of the start of the Iran-Iraq war. No group claimed responsibility for the [End Page 115] attack but militants had long been active in the area, which was home to a large Kurdish population. [BBC, 9/22] Sept. 25: Iran's Atomic Energy Organization reported that its engineers were trying to protect various facilities from a sophisticated computer worm. The worm, named Stuxnet, had infected industrial plants across the country. It was unclear if the worm had infected any of Iran's nuclear facilities, including Natanz which was the target of covert American and Israeli programs. Stuxnet's origins were unclear. [NYT, 9/25] In a rare admission, IRGC forces crossed into Iraq and killed 30 Kurdish fighters from a group it said was involved in the September 22 bombing of a military parade in Mahabad. General Abdolrasoul Mahmoudabadi of the IRGC admitted to a "beyond the border" clash in which "terrorists" were killed. IRGC forces were still in pursuit of two men who escaped. Iraqi officials previously complained about Iranian artillery shelling in Iraq's northern mountainous region where Kurdish armed opposition groups had taken refuge. [BBC, 9/26, AA, 9/27] Sept. 28: A prominent Iranian blogger, Hossein Derakhshan, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after being convicted for anti-state activities such as cooperation with hostile countries, spreading propaganda against the ruling government, promoting counterrevolutionary groups, and insulting religious figures and Islamic thoughts. Derakhshan, dubbed Iran's "Blogfather" had been in custody since he was arrested in 2008 after returning to Iran after living in Britain and Canada. [RFE/RL, 9/28] Oct. 4: An Iranian opposition website, daneshjoonews.com, published the names of over 73 students jailed in Iranian prisons and stated that this number was the highest it had been in decades. Amir Rashidi, an opposition student leader in Iran, said that the regime had stopped trying to control students and instead was using military tactics to stop collective student political activity. [RFE/RL, 10/4] Oct. 9: Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi acknowledged that personnel at some of the country's nuclear facilities had been promised money by Western states in return for passing along Iranian secrets. The Islamic Republic insisted that increased security had stopped Western spying, making clear Iran's struggle with nuclear espionage. [NYT, 10/9] Oct. 13: Eighteen IRGC members were killed and 14 were wounded in a remote area of southwestern Iran in an explosion on a base near the city of Khorramabad. The IRGC reported that the blast occurred when fire spread to an ammunition storeroom. The city was close to Iran's Kurdistan region, where several attacks on the IRGC had taken place in recent months. [NYT, 10/13] Iraq See also Iran July 16: A hotel fire in northern Iraq killed 30 people, including 14 foreigners, and injured 40. There was no evidence that the incident was terror-related. [BBC, 7/16] July 18: A suicide bomber killed 43 people and wounded 41 at an army office west of Baghdad where anti-al-Qa'ida fighters had gathered to receive their paychecks. The bomber struck a group of Sahwa militiamen, Sunni fighters who, until 2006, sided with al-Qa'ida in Iraq. In the past six months, many Sahwa fighters and family members were killed in revenge attacks. [Al-Arabiya, 7/18] July 25: Iraqi authorities arrested three senior Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) leaders, including two brothers suspected of masterminding major offensives in Diyala in central Iraq. Authorities also arrested Saleem Khalid al-Zawbayi, the Minister of Defense for ISI, a Sunni Islamist insurgent group affiliated with Al-Qa'ida in Iraq. [Al-Arabiya, 7/25] July 26: Two car bombs exploded on the road between Karbala and Najaf, killing 20 mostly Shi'ite pilgrims and injuring 54 others. A separate bombing killed four and injured ten outside the offices of Al-Arabiya. [Al-Arabiya, 7/26] [End Page 116] July 29: Al-Qa'ida in Iraq claimed responsibility for a July 26 suicide bombing at the Baghdad office of satellite news network Al-Arabiya. Al-Qa'ida warned of further strikes on media targets. [Reuters, 7/29] Aug. 12: Iraq's top army officer Lieutenant General Babaker Zebari criticized the US plan to remove US troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 and argued that the Iraqi Army would not be able to secure the country until 2020. Violence in Iraq had fallen from its peak in 2006-2007, but civilian deaths rose sharply in July 2010. The White House said US President Barack Obama was satisfied with the progress made by Iraqi security forces. [BBC, 8/12] Aug. 17: A suicide bomber killed 59 people and injured more than 100 at an army recruitment center in Baghdad. The recruitment center took in on average 250 recruits each week as Iraqi authorities tried to boost their armed forces. [BBC, 8/17] Aug. 19: The last US combat brigade in Iraq left the country seven years after the US-led invasion. About 50,000 US troops would remain in Iraq until the end of 2011 to support Iraqi security forces and protect US interests. The US State Department said its presence in Iraq would be less intrusive and more focused on civilian matters. [BBC, 8/19] The new US Ambassador to Iraq, James Jeffrey, arrived in Baghdad. Jeffrey, a veteran diplomat with experience in Iraq, Kuwait, and Turkey, replaced outgoing Ambassador Christopher Hill. [KT, 8/19] Aug. 25: More than a dozen apparently coordinated attacks against Iraqi police and civilians killed 52 people and injured around 250. Ten Iraqi cities and towns were affected, including Kut, where a car bomb detonated at a passport office killing 20 people, including 15 police officers. [MEO, 8/25] Sept. 2: Iraq signed an agreement with the US to settle abuse claims and pay out $400 million to Americans detained, tortured, starved, used as human shields, and otherwise mistreated under Saddam Husayn's regime during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. The agreement was also a step forward in removing UN sanctions imposed on Iraq following the invasion of Kuwait. [Reuters, 9/11] Sept. 12: An Amnesty International (AI) report claimed that 30,000 people were being held in Iraqi prisons. The report also said that AI had evidence that some prisoners were tortured, abused, or died in custody. Many were allegedly held without being charged or put on trial. [AFP, 9/13] Sept. 19: Multiple attacks occurred throughout Iraq, including two large car bomb explosions in Baghdad and one in Fallujah. Three mortar rounds that landed in the fortified Green Zone left at least 36 dead and over 128 wounded. Sticky bombs killed two in a minibus and an officer from the Interior Ministry in his car. [CNN, 9/19] Sept. 28: Iraq's cabinet approved a $733 million deal to build a new oil export terminal in Basra. Leighton Offshore Private Ltd. was awarded the deal. The floating terminal was expected to increase Iraq's oil export capacity to 3 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 1.6 million bpd. [Dow Jones, 9/28] Oct. 1: Iraqi politicians broke the record for time taken to form a new government. The previous record was held by the Dutch, who took 208 days to create a coalition in 1977. [CNN, 10/1] According to official government figures, the death toll from violence in September was the lowest since January 2010. These records showed that 273 people, including civilians, police, and military, were casualties of violence. [AFP, 10/1] Oct. 4: The US Department of Commerce made its first trade mission to Iraq since the US pull-out of combat troops in August 2010. Fifteen companies participated, including General Motors and Boeing Corp. Only one, Wamar Engineering, was an energy company. A Commerce Department official said that jobs would be created for both Americans and Iraqis. [CNN, 9/30] [End Page 117] Iraqi Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani announced that Iraq's extractable oil reserves rose 24% to 143.1 billion barrels. This increase was largely due to oil field development by international companies. If accurate, this would mean that Iraq had larger reserves than Iran. [BBC, 10/4] Oct. 10: Citing a lack of evidence, a Baghdad court acquitted two Iraqis of the 2003 murders of six British Royal Military Police soldiers in Iraq. The six were killed in the southern city of Majar al-Kabir by a mob. Six others were taken into custody in February 2010 but the charges against them were dropped. [BBC, 10/10] Israel July 21: Six Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed when a CH-53 helicopter crashed in central Romania during a joint military exercise. After identification, the remains were returned to Jerusalem. Israeli authorities announced there would be no changes to IDF training exercises in the region. [CNN, 7/27, Jerusalem Post, 7/29] Aug. 17: A Palestinian man later identified as Nadim Injaz barricaded himself in the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv with two hostages, demanding asylum and claiming to have been persecuted by Israeli intelligence agents. He was successfully apprehended after he released the hostages unharmed. In 2006, he carried out a similar attack on the British Embassy in Tel Aviv. [The Guardian, BBC, 8/17] Aug. 24: Failed Grade, a report issued by Israeli rights group the Association of Civil Rights in Israel and Ir Amin, found that the government was not providing enough funding for public education in East Jerusalem. Palestinian schools suffered low academic performance and higher drop-out rates, 50% compared to the 11.8% for Jewish schools, which was linked to poor conditions and lack of spending for Arab schools. The report estimated that, on average, the Israeli government was spending about four times more per student in Jewish schools than in Arab schools. [The Guardian, 8/24] Sept. 5: The Education Ministry transferred most of the funding for high school civics classes to support courses in Jewish studies. Civics, the only subject in Israeli high schools to cover highly sensitive issues such as equality, personal rights, and the Arab and Druze minorities, would be dropped from several curricula. Increased focus on Jewish studies was one of Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar's stated goals. [Haaretz, 9/5] Sept. 6: In a study conducted by Professor Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University, 64% of 500 Israeli high school students polled said that Arab Israelis did not have equal rights. 96% wished Israel to be a Jewish democratic state, and 41% supported stripping citizenship from those who objected to this principle. The poll also revealed bias against gay and special-needs students. [Haaretz, 9/6] Oct. 1: In remembrance of the October 2000 killing of 12 Arab Israelis, protesters gathered in Kafr Kanna in Galilee. About 200 protesters, including Knesset members, Arab Israeli politicians, and families of the victims, waved Palestinian flags and hurled stones at Israeli vehicles. Protesters called for the prosecution of the police and security forces responsible for the killings and deplored what they called the growing racism of the Israeli state over the previous decade. [YNET, 10/1] Oct. 3: An Israeli military court convicted two Israeli soldiers of reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming for using a nine-year-old Palestinian boy as a human shield while checking for booby traps in Gaza in January 2009. The boy was unharmed in the incident. This was reportedly the first such conviction. The use of civilians as human shields was banned in Israel. [BBC, 10/3] Oct. 10: The Israeli government approved an amendment to the Citizenship Act requiring all new citizens to pledge allegiance to the "Jewish and democratic state" of Israel. Labor Chairman Ehud Barak withdrew support for the bill at the last minute, saying he feared that the new legislation would be used as a "racist tool." [YNET, 10/10] [End Page 118] Oct. 11: The Spanish and French Prime Ministers accused Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of violating diplomatic etiquette by revealing the events of a meeting between the three an hour after its end. Netanyahu adopted a hostile and defensive tone during the meeting, telling the two leaders to solve the problems of their home countries before offering advice to Israel. [GN, 10/11] Oct. 15: A study conducted by the Dahaf polling agency showed that 69% of Israeli Jews supported the recent amendment to the Citizenship Act, while 36% supported revoking non-Jewish citizens' right to vote. 80% said that they supported democratic values absolutely. [YNET, 10/15] Thousands of Druze protesters marched on Berekhat Ram, or Ram Pool, in the Golan Heights. The pool, which had once measured 3,280 feet across, had almost completely disappeared due to Israeli draining for irrigation, handicapping Golani farmers and fishermen. Merokot, Israel's national water authority, said that it had always cooperated with the Water Authority regulations in its handling of Ram Pool. [YNET, 10/15] Jordan Sept. 10: Jordan and Japan signed a nuclear cooperation deal, providing for cooperation on the exploration and exploitation of Jordan's uranium resources, as well as the design, construction, and operation of a reactor. A French and Japanese consortium was also bidding for the right to build Jordan's nuclear power plant, an effort which some thought was boosted by the cooperation agreement. [JP, 9/10] Kuwait Aug. 23: Al-Bawaba News reported that in February 2010, the Kuwaiti Parliament approved an ambitious four-year development plan in order to counteract slowed economic growth in recent years. The plan's many projects would support various sectors of the economy as Kuwait tried to reduce dependence on oil. It also touted the importance of the private sector in leading economic growth. Discussions were taking place on how to finance the plan. [Al-Bawaba, 8/23] Lebanon See also Iran, Syria July 27: Lebanese newspapers reported the fourth in a series of arrests on charges of slandering President Michel Sulayman. Lebanese journalists and representatives of Human Rights Watch called the move a step backward and a troublesome attack on freedom of expression in Lebanon. [DS, 7/28, LAT, 7/29] Aug. 2: The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs put a hold on $100 million of military aid to the Lebanese Army, citing what Chairman Howard Berman called the increasing influence of Hizbullah. The State Department expressed its support for the aid continuation. The US had already given more than $700 million of assistance to the Lebanese Army over the previous five years. [YNET, 8/10, Al-Jazeera, 8/12, WP, 8/13] Aug. 15: After a three-year search, the Lebanese Army found and killed 'Abdul Rahman Awwad, the suspected head of Fatah al-Islam, a terrorist group which was suspected to have ties to al-Qa'ida and had fought against the Lebanese Army at the Nahr al-Barid refugee camp in 2007. Awwad was also accused of inciting rebels to violence in the 2008 attacks in Tripoli, which resulted in 21 deaths. [Al-Jazeera, 8/15] Aug. 17: The UN tribunal investigating former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's assassination asked Hizbullah to submit all relevant evidence. The request followed a series of press conferences in which Hasan Nasrallah had revealed surveillance footage and unidentified documents that he called irrefutable proof of Israel's guilt. Most analysts agreed that the materials were inconclusive. [LAT, 8/9, Al-Jazeera, 8/11, MEO, 8/17] [End Page 119] The Lebanese Parliament passed into law a bill affording Palestinian refugees greater workers' rights, including access to new professions and social security benefits. Designating Palestinians as foreign workers, the law still barred refugees from more esteemed professions, such as law and engineering, and did nothing to provide other rights such as property ownership, public education, and health insurance benefits. There were an estimated 425,000 registered Palestinians living in 12 refugee camps across Lebanon. [Al-Jazeera, NYT, 8/17] Sept. 6: In an interview published in the London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'd Hariri called his 2005 accusation that Syria was responsible for the death of his father, Rafiq Hariri, "a mistake." The shift marked a step in the ongoing rapprochement between Syria and Lebanon. [The Guardian, 9/6, 9/14] Sept. 17: Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri visited Damascus for the third time since assuming the premiership. He and President Bashar al-Asad signed 17 cooperation accords dealing with justice, tourism, education, and agriculture. Hariri told a press conference that the two countries had formed a "friendly relationship" over the course of the recent meetings. [MEO, 9/17] Sept. 25: Three civilian were injured in clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police at the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut. Two hundred people demonstrated against Egypt's proposed construction of a subterranean metal wall along the Gaza-Egypt border. [Haaretz, 10/1] Oct. 6: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that the probe into the Hariri assassination would continue despite the potential for an outbreak of violence. Many expected that the anticipated accusation against Hizbullah would throw the country into dangerous instability. [Al-Jazeera, 10/7] Libya Aug. 31: Libya released 37 Islamists from Tripoli's Abu Salim prison after completing a rehabilitation program aimed at causing them to renounce violence and integrate back into Libyan society. The released included a former driver of Usama bin Ladin, at least one former Guantanamo Bay detainee, and several members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), which had been accused of aiming to overthrow Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi. [AFP, 8/31] Sept. 12: Libya apologized for an incident in which a naval patrol boat, originally one of six vessels given to Libya by Italy, fired upon an Italian fishing boat approximately 30 miles from Libya's coast. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gave the vessels to Libya to curb the number of illegal immigrants traveling by boat to the Sicilian islands. [Reuters, 9/14] Sept. 23: A Canadian, Douglas Oriali, who was detained by Libyan authorities for approximately one week under suspicion of working for US intelligence in order to sabotage an oil drilling project off the coast of Libya, was allowed to return to Canada. Suspicions were aroused after "contacts with a US diplomat suspected of being an intelligence agent," according to a Libyan official. [AFP, 9/20, 9/23] Oct. 3: Libya released two South Koreans who had been detained for several months on accusations of proselytizing. The pastor was arrested when he was found with Christian books and other materials for missionary work and the businessman a month later because of his financial support of the pastor's efforts. Negotiations over their release took place amid tense relations between the two countries regarding allegations that surfaced in June 2010 that a South Korean diplomat was collecting information on the President and other senior staff. [AP, 10/3] Mauritania July 18: Retired general Muhammad Ould 'Abd al-'Aziz won 52% of the vote in the presidential election. The election was supposed to restore democratic order after al-'Aziz [End Page 120] seized power in a military coup in 2009. Opponents called the election fraudulent and asked for an international investigation. Al-'Aziz denied these allegations and promised to use his power to fight terrorism and poverty in the country. [AP, 9/19] July 23: The French Ministry of Defense disclosed that it had given technical and logistical support to Mauritania in attacks against al-Qa'ida, which had been holding French citizen Michel Germaneau hostage since April 2010. The Ministry said that the raid had effectively subdued the terrorist group and prevented attacks on Mauritanian targets, but Spanish media sources reported that the raid had actually been a failed attempt to rescue Germaneau. [BBC, 7/23] Sept. 19: A dozen al-Qa'ida militants and five Mauritanian soldiers died in a border clash between Mali and Mauritania in Raz-el-Ma. Mali and Mauritania had an agreement that Mauritania would patrol the border region, home to al-Qa'ida forces. France said that none of its troops had been involved and that the kidnapping of several foreigners in Niger earlier that week had no connection with the fighting. [BBC, 9/19] Morocco July 29: The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy announced that it would accept bids from investors willing to fund a $9 billion solar power project. The proposed power complex would be near the southern town of Ouarzazate and would have a capacity of 500 megawatts - enough to power about 90,000 homes. The project would be part of a plan to build five solar power stations by 2020. [Reuters, 7/29] Aug. 11: The Interior Ministry released a statement saying that Moroccan security forces broke up an Islamist cell that was planning attacks in Morocco, including on foreign targets. They did not specify which foreign countries' interests were threatened by the cell. [Reuters, 8/11] Aug. 17: Morocco's state power company, l'Office National de l'Electricité, announced that Nareva, the energy arm of the country's biggest conglomerate, would lead construction of a 200 megawatt wind farm outside the southern town of Tarfaya as part of a plan to reduce reliance on imported fuel and build five wind farms in Morocco by 2020. Industry sources stated that the wind farm would cost around 2.7 billion dirhams ($313.3 million) and would be funded by state and private capital, including foreign investments. [Reuters, 8/17] Oct. 8: Moroccan authorities arrested three Sahwari activists after their visit to Algerian refugee camps. The Sahwari government in Western Sahara was run by the Polisaro Front which publicly expressed their support for the self-determination of Western Sahara. Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975 and had refused to grant its independence since, despite the UN mission in the region. Human rights groups called for the release of the Polisario activists who were charged with "undermining internal security." [UPI, 10/14] Oman July 17: Five Gulf countries, including Oman, launched a cooperative turtle-tracking study and conservation effort. Turtles, threatened worldwide, were endangered most acutely in the Gulf region due to massive construction on their beach habitats. Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar also participated. [Al-Jazeera, 7/17, GN, 7/26] July 28: A Japanese tanker carrying crude oil was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz off the Omani coast. Though the damage was originally attributed to a freak wave, UAE officials later found evidence of explosives on the ship and concluded that the incident had been a terrorist attack. An al-Qa'ida-linked group claimed responsibility for the incident. [The Guardian, 7/28, BBC, 8/6] A Royal Decree announced harsher penalties, including possible imprisonment, for foreign workers living in the country [End Page 121] illegally and for citizens who allowed them to do so. The deadline to regularize residency and employment or leave the country with immunity had been extended twice through July 31, after which the new laws were to come into effect. The Manpower Ministry estimated that 40,000 workers had shown a willingness to leave under amnesty, but refused to grant any more extensions. [GN, 7/28] Pakistan See also Afghanistan July 17: Militants ambushed a convoy escorted by security forces, killing 16 Shi'ite civilians. The convoy was attacked on its way from the Kurram tribal district to Peshawar. [BBC, 7/17] July 24: Missiles fired from a US drone aircraft struck a compound used by militants in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 16 militants. The compound was located in Dwasarak village in South Waziristan, a hideout for al-Qa'ida and Taliban militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan. [BBC, 7/24] July 26: Pakistan strongly denied claims recently disclosed in leaked US documents that its intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), supported the Taliban in the war in Afghanistan. WikiLeaks, a whistle-blower website, leaked more than 90,000 classified US military documents, revealing NATO concerns that Pakistan and Iran were helping the Taliban. [BBC, 7/26] July 28: A commercial airliner crashed near Islamabad on its way from Karachi to the Pakistani capital, killing all 152 people on board. The cause of the crash, the largest air disaster in Pakistani history, was unknown. [BBC, 7/28] July 30: The worst monsoon floods since 1929 hit northwest Pakistan, killing 800 and affecting one million. The government declared a state of emergency after Pakistan's meteorological department announced that 12 inches of rain had fallen over the previous 36 hours in the northwest region. Charsadda, Nowshera, and Swat were the worst affected regions; thousands were marooned in flooded villages and required immediate evacuation. [Dawn, BBC, 7/31] Aug. 6: The National Disaster Management Authority announced that 12 million people had been affected by floods in Khyber, Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab provinces where 650,000 houses were destroyed. Along a 750-mile stretch of the Indus River in Sindh province, the Pakistani government evacuated one million people and planned to evacuate another 500,000. [BBC, 8/6] Aug. 19: The UN said that the number of Pakistanis in need of urgent humanitarian relief rose from six million to eight million, and that the number of people made homeless by devastating floods that started July 30 rose from two million to over four million. Aid agencies were pushing for more money from donors for food, shelter, and supplies for disease prevention and treatment. [Dawn, 8/19] Aug. 20: The UN's Financial Tracking Service showed that $490 million had been raised in response to the UN's appeal for aid for flood-hit Pakistan. In this appeal, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon characterized the floods as a "slow-motion tsunami." The largest donations came from the US, Saudi Arabia, and Great Britain. An additional $325 million was promised. [Dawn, 8/21] Aug. 24: The UN released estimates suggesting that roughly 800,000 people were almost completely cut off due to massive and widespread flooding. These people could only be reached by air support, prompting the UN to request 40 additional helicopters for rescue and aid operations. [Dawn, 8/24] Sept. 1: At least 25 people were killed in Lahore when three suicide bombers attacked a procession of Shi'ite Muslim worshipers. Over 200 people were wounded in the attack. As rescue workers reached the scene, demonstrations had broken out to protest against the Taliban, whom many demonstrators blamed for the attack, and also the police, who [End Page 122] were blamed for failing to prevent the suicide bombing. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. [NYT, 9/1] Sept. 3: A suicide bomber killed at least 53 people and injured 197 at a Shi'a rally in Quetta. Chaos followed as fires were set and gunfire continued. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The rally was organized to mark international Al-Quds Day. [Dawn, 9/3] Sept. 16: Well-known leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Dr. Imran Farooq was killed in London near his home. The assassination sparked tension in Karachi, as a shop and two buses were set ablaze. Schools, public transportation, and other services were shut down in an effort to prevent political violence as news of Farooq's death spread. [Dawn, 9/17] Sept. 21: Army, paramilitary, and police forces killed at least 30 militants in northwest Pakistan. The campaign targeted militants that attacked local peace committee officials and were involved in "kidnap-for-ransom" operations. Three police officers were also killed. [Dawn, 9/21] Sept. 23: Protests arose in Karachi after a US judge sentenced Pakistani Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to 86 years in prison. Siddiqui was convicted of trying to kill US agents and military officers in Afghanistan in 2008. In court, Siddiqui urged her supporters to remain calm and tried to convince them that she was not being tortured in New York where she was being held. [Dawn, 9/24] Sept. 27: The US Central Intelligence Agency increased its bombing campaign in the mountains of Pakistan in an effort to cripple the Taliban. The US had increased attacks using armed drone aircraft to strike at the Taliban as the US believed that Pakistan's government was not aggressive enough in dislodging Taliban militants from bases in the Western mountains. Despite protests from the Pakistani government about drone and helicopter attacks, the campaign had increased under the US President Barack Obama's administration. [NYT, 9/27] Pakistan took over as the chair of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Pakistan was suspected of playing a role in continued nuclear proliferation and was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Pakistan assumed this post after being nominated by a group of Middle Eastern and South Asian member states. [RFE/RL, 9/27] Sept. 30: Pakistani officials reported that a NATO helicopter strike killed three Pakistani soldiers at a border post following a series of similar cross-border actions. NATO denied that it crossed into Pakistani airspace. [Reuters, 9/30] Oct. 1: Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his return to politics with the launch of a new political party. Musharraf stated that his decision to join politics was based on his realization that Pakistan's political alternatives showed no signs of being able to improve the country's problems. Part of Musharraf's platform for his political party was to promote an increased role for the Pakistani military in the government. Musharraf was in self-exile in London but stated that he planned to return to Pakistan before the next election. [RFE/RL, 10/1] Oct. 6: For the first time, the US apologized to Pakistan for the September 30 incident that killed three Pakistani border soldiers, leading to the closure of the nearby border crossing. NATO claimed that the strike was in response to an enemy attack. The apology came amidst attacks at the Pakistani border on more than 50 oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were in response to the September 30 incident. [NYT, 10/6, Dawn, 10/7] Oct. 7: Two suicide bombers attacked the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine in Karachi, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 60. The Sufi shrine to the 8th century saint was very close to one of President Asif 'Ali Zardari's residences. The [End Page 123] attack prompted the government to take the unprecedented action of sealing all of the city's shrines. [Dawn, RFE/RL, 10/8] Oct. 9: President Zardari appointed retired Justice Deedar Hussain as Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau. Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery challenged the appointment in the Lahore High Court, citing that the opposition was not properly consulted. Critics complained that he was too closely affiliated with the President's Pakistan People's Party. [Dawn, 10/9] Oct. 10: Pakistan reopened the border crossing that was closed in response to a deadly NATO cross-border strike on September 30. Crews began clearing hundreds of NATO oil tankers that had been destroyed as they waited to cross. Militants vowed to continue tanker attacks until the US ended drone strikes in Pakistan's border regions. [RFE/RL, 10/10] Oct. 12: The World Economic Forum's 2010 Global Gender Gap Report, which measured the status of women, ranked Pakistan 132nd on a list of 134 countries. The Report measured economic opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival. Iran was also ranked toward the bottom of the list at 123rd. [RFE/RL, 10/12] Oct. 13: New reports from the Asian Development Bank and The World Bank estimated recent flood damage to total between $9.5 and $9.7 billion. This included damage to infrastructure, farms, and homes. The floods were thought to have affected 20 million people, including leaving ten million people homeless. [Reuters, RFE/RL, 10/13] Qatar July 18: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs launched an online registration program for Muslims planning to perform the Hajj. Applicants submitting requests were required to be based in Qatar for at least three years and must not have performed the Hajj in the past five years. Chip cards would be given to pilgrims as part of a new tracking system. Registration would end on September 8. [GN, 7/18] Oct. 3: Officials from the Coasts and Borders Security Department (CBSD) stated that Qatari authorities were investigating six pirates after they were caught in Qatari waters. Authorities also seized two boats that were used to attack Qatari fishing vessels. CBSD had recently foiled numerous attempts by pirates to infiltrate Qatari waters. [GN, 10/3] Saudi Arabia July 24: Shaykh Aed al-Qarni declared that Muslim women visiting France, where the niqab was recently banned, would be exempt from wearing the veil during their stay in the country. Despite this expression of tolerance, al-Qarni criticized the French government for its decision, claiming that the ban violated the freedom of religion guaranteed by secular states. [MEO, 7/25] Sept. 27: Interior Minister Prince Naif bin 'Abd al-'Aziz announced that the Kingdom's security forces prevented nearly 240 planned terrorist attacks in recent years. Only ten terror attacks were actually carried out by extremists. [Al-Bawaba, 9/27] Sept. 28: Approximately 200 deportees escaped from a Jidda prison. Most of them were from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen. [GN, 9/29] Sudan July 21: The Sudanese rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed an agreement to allow UN officials to check its bases to determine whether children were being recruited as soldiers. JEM leaders maintained that they had no child soldiers but agreed to the deal as a sign of goodwill. An estimated 6,000 children had been involved in fighting in Darfur. [BBC, 7/21] July 22: The government of Chad refused to arrest Sudanese President 'Umar al-Bashir when he visited Chad to improve relations. [End Page 124] Chad recognized the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir on counts of war crimes and genocide, but claimed its own sovereignty overruled the injunctions of international organizations like the ICC. Al-Bashir's visit to Chad marked the first time that he visited an ICC state since 2009 when he was first indicted. [BBC, 7/22] July 29: President al-Bashir said the upcoming referendum that would decide whether South Sudan would secede could not take place until border disputes were resolved. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which controlled the semi-autonomous region of South Sudan, insisted that the referendum be held on time. The SPLM fought the mainly Muslim and Arabic-speaking north for 20 years before a 2005 peace deal. [BBC, 7/29] July 31: A spokesman for the Sudanese government said that the UN and African Union had failed to keep the peace in western Sudan and were now responsible for informing the government of their movements on roads in rural and urban areas. The local authorities in south Darfur also asked members of the African Union/ UN peacekeeping venture (UNAMID) to coordinate their movements with Sudanese security forces. The UN Security Council extended its mandate in war-torn Darfur for a year on July 30. [BBC, 7/31] Aug. 2: Talks between officials from North and South Sudan stalled over a referendum in the disputed Abyei region. The referendum, which would occur alongside the January vote that would decide whether South Sudan would declare independence, would decide whether the oil-producing Abyei region would belong to the North or South. The northern National Congress Party and the southern SPLM could not agree who was eligible to vote. [Al-Jazeera, 8/2] Aug. 6: Southern Sudanese authorities asked musicians and songwriters to compose a national anthem. The South Sudan National Anthem Committee said that the anthem contest did not mean it supported separation from the north. A spokesman for former rebel group Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said that the title of the song would be "Land of Cush," a biblical reference to a kingdom in modern-day southern Sudan. [BBC, 8/6] A South Sudanese army spokesman said that South Sudan had collected 30,000 guns from civilians since the end of the civil war in 2005. South Sudan was still recovering from decades of civil war with the north. The UN estimated that more than 700 people were killed in tribal violence in South Sudan since January 2010. [MEO, 8/6] Aug. 11: Gunmen killed 23 people in an ambush in Unity, an important oil-producing state in South Sudan. There was strong suspicion that the attackers could be followers of militia leader Galwak Gai, a rogue colonel who launched a rebellion after alleging fraud in national elections in April 2010. [MEO, 8/11] Aug. 24: South Sudan made plans to repatriate 1.5 million southerners living in North Sudan and in Egypt. The emergency repatriation program proposed a budget of $25 million and used the slogan "Come Home to Choose." Under referendum laws, southerners living in the north or abroad could vote only if they were officially registered after proving their southern origins. [MEO, 8/24] Aug. 27: Despite arrest warrants issued by the ICC for genocide and war crimes and crimes against humanity, President al-Bashir of Sudan traveled to Kenya. Al-Bashir's trip enabled him to participate in an inaugural ceremony for Kenya's new constitution. While warrants issued by the ICC could be enforced by any of its member countries, Kenya allowed al-Bashir into the country without arrest. [NYT, 8/27] Aug. 31: As the SPLA attempted to transition into a normal army, South Sudan vowed that, with UN help, it would end its dependence on child soldiers by the end of 2010. While many former SPLA child fighters had returned to civilian life, UNICEF maintained that almost 900 [End Page 125] children remained members. [MEO, 8/31] Sept. 14: The insurgent Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) accused the Sudanese Army of attacking settlements in North Darfur. UNAMID forces confirmed reports that men on horses and camels rode into the settlement and opened fire on a crowd. It was reported that 54 people were killed and 172 others injured, mostly civilians. UNAMID sent a battalian of Rwandan soldiers to the scene of the attack but SLA refused to let them enter. [Reuters, 9/14] Sept. 26: Sudanese Information Minister Kamal Obeid reported that South Sudanese would no longer be citizens in the north if they chose independence in next year's referendum. Obeid stated that Southerners would "not enjoy citizenship rights, jobs or benefits," including the ability to buy or sell in the Khartoum market or be treated in hospitals. Some thought that Obeid's comments would heighten southerners fears of what would happen following the independence referendum scheduled for January 9, 2011. [MEO, 9/26] Oct. 1: Thousands of South Sudanese rallied on the streets in the southern capital to support the referendum on independence scheduled for January 2011. Crowds welcomed southern President Salva Kiir back to Juba after his trip to address world leaders in New York. Amidst fears that there would not be enough time to finalize the logistics for a credible referendum vote, Kiir assured crowds that there was enough time to hold the vote and that it needed to be done in peace. [MEO, 10/1] Oct. 3: President al-Bashir lifted a ban on an influential newspaper that was critical of authorities in South Sudan. The Arabic-language newspaper, Al-Intibaha [Vigilance], was closed three months earlier and would resume publishing on October 6, 2010. [MEO, 10/3] Oct. 10: Foreign Minister Ali Karti told UN ambassadors that his government did not want to go to war over the independence vote in the south, but that they would not accept the result if there were "interference." Karti warned that though the Sudanese government was committed to holding the referendum, there were still final details that had to be agreed on, such as the status of the disputed oil district Abyei. Karti insisted that non-interference was the government's only condition for accepting the result of the referendum. [MEO, 10/10] Syria See also Lebanon, Turkey July 18: The Syrian government issued a ban on the niqab, the Islamic veil that reveals only the eyes, in both private and public universities. The new law affected more than 1,000 women working in universities and elementary schools; most women were transferred to administrative positions. The new ordinance was seen as a stand against the growing influence of conservative Islamism, which ran counter to the nominally secular government. [The Guardian, 7/20] July 30: For the first time since the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad visited Beirut. The visit, which also included King 'Abdullah bin 'Abd al-'Aziz of Saudi Arabia, was part of Syria's reemergence as an important power in the region. Lebanese Prime Minsiter Sa'd Hariri and the two leaders discussed, among other topics, the UN tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. [The Guardian, 7/30] Aug. 3: A secret survey of 1,046 Syrians led by Angela Hawken of Pepperdine University revealed local discontent due to the country's poor political and economic situation. Researchers said that the main significance of the study was the successful administration of a nongovernmental survey, which was technically illegal in Syria. Hawken voiced her hope that similar but wider-reaching studies might be conducted in Syria in the near future. [LAT, 8/18] Sept. 16: Almost 700 inhabitants of the Golan Heights were permitted to pass into [End Page 126] Syria through the Qunaytra crossing, though their visit was restricted to a period of five days. Some of the travelers had not set foot in Syria for 40 years. At the time, there were 18,000 Syrian inhabitants left in the Golan Heights, most of them Druze who had refused to take Israeli citizenship. [MEO, 9/17] Sept. 18: Within a two-day period, both Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell visited President Bashar al-Asad in Damascus. During their respective meetings, Mitchell discussed the possibility of Syrian-Israeli peace talks, while Ahmadinejad said that US plans in the Middle East would be disrupted. Both countries had increasingly been courting Syria's allegiance in the region. [LAT, 9/17, AP, 9/18] Oct. 7: Israeli authorities claimed that satellite images on Google Earth showed five long-range Scud missiles in the Adra military camp about 15 miles north of Damascus. Israel accused Syria of arming Hizbullah militants with Scuds and suggested that Damascus was training the militants within Syrian borders. A former UN security adviser questioned the findings, saying that the resolution of the images was too low to show any such missiles. [DS, 10/7] Turkey July 19: A Turkish court indicted 196 people for plotting to topple the government in a military coup. The charged, which included 30 serving or retired military officers, allegedly had tried to start a military coup in 2003 as part of "Operation Sledgehammer." Some saw the move as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the military, which had unseated the government four times since 1960. [AP, 7/19] Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mish'al in Damascus. The leaders reportedly discussed cooperation between Fatah and Hamas as well as the Gaza Blockade. The meeting caused further tension in the recently strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Davutoglu also met with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. [BBC, Haaretz, 7/20] July 20: Six Turkish soldiers were killed near the Iraqi border in an overnight attack by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) soldiers. This was one of the worst clashes in a flair-up of violence corresponding with the collapse of proposed peace talks between Istanbul and the PKK. As early as May 2010, Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan had called talks with the government hopeless. [BBC, 7/20] July 21: In an interview with the BBC, PKK leader Murat Karayilan offered for the first time a deal in which the PKK would disarm if the Turkish government agreed to grant Turkish Kurds certain rights. He also said that if these requests were not met, the PKK would declare a constitutional democracy independent from Ankara. He previously told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that the PKK would lay down their weapons if granted autonomy similar to the status enjoyed by Spanish Catalonia. The Turkish government refused to comment on the new proposals. [BBC, 7/21, 9/16] July 22: Parliament passed an amendment to a 2006 anti-terrorism law that had allowed for the imprisonment of youth, known in the country as "stone-throwing children," for participating in PKK rallies. Under the amendment, minors charged with terrorism would be tried in juvenile court and receive shorter sentences than before. Hundreds of Kurdish children had already been imprisoned for years under the 2006 law. [Hurriyet, 7/22, NYT, 7/29] July 23: A Turkish court ordered the arrest of 102 military officers of the 196 indicted July 19 for participating in "Operation Sledgehammer." Three of the detained were retired military commanders. [BBC, 7/23] Aug. 5: The annual Arab Opinion Poll, published by the Brookings Institute in conjunction with Zogby International, showed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip [End Page 127] Erdogan to be the most popular world leader among 4,000 people polled in six Arab countries. The jump in popularity was due in part to Turkey's harsh criticism of the May 30 Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara flotilla. [Al-Jazeera, 8/11] Aug. 7: Days after the military said it would not promote any of the officers associated with the alleged "Sledgehammer" coup attempt, the government annulled the arrest warrants issued on July 23 against 102 military officers for participation in the plot. The next day the government and military announced a compromise in which the government, not the army, chose two officers for promotion to top positions. [BBC, 8/7, 8/9, Al-Jazeera, 8/9] Aug. 8: Three people were killed and eight injured at a wedding in southeastern Gaziantep province when the groom lost control of an AK-47 that he was firing into the air. Shooting in the air on festive occasions, a common practice in certain parts of Turkey, was a frequent cause of serious injuries, despite government efforts to curb the practice. [BBC, 8/8] Aug. 10: A pipeline between Iraq and Turkey exploded in Sirnak province, killing two and wounding a third. The PKK, which had attacked the same pipe the previous month, was suspected of setting off the explosion with a remote-controlled mine. The oil line was cut off while the blaze was extinguished. [BBC, 8/10] Aug. 11: A US court of appeals in Massachusetts denied a suit filed by the Turkish American Association in 2005 to allow for teaching materials questioning whether the mass killing of Turkish Armenians in 1915 was in fact genocide. Massachusetts had the largest population of Armenians of any American state. [Al-Jazeera, 8/11] Aug. 13: PKK spokesperson Bouzan Teken declared a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan, adding that the PKK would extend the ceasefire past the September 20 end date if the Turkish government agreed to certain conditions: beginning negotiations, releasing the 1,700 Kurdish politicians in jail, and ending military operations against the group. The Turkish government called the conditions unacceptable. [Al-Jazeera, 8/13] Aug. 17: US President Barack Obama's administration denied a London Financial Times report that he had offered Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan an ultimatum to either change its stance toward Iran and Israel or be denied American weapons deals. Turkey was at the time seeking weapons to fight the PKK. [Al-Jazeera, 8/17] Aug. 26: Rains in the Black Sea province of Rize triggered massive landslides that killed at least 12 people and engulfed houses and cars. One person was reported missing. The landslides began as families were breaking the Ramadan fast. [BBC, 8/27] Aug. 28: Turkish authorities identified the body of Yuri Ivanov, a top Russian spy whose remains washed ashore in the Hatay province on August 16. The official report attributed his death to a swimming accident, though the circumstances of the drowning were suspicious. Ivanov had last been stationed in Syria. [The Guardian, 9/1] Sept. 12: With a 58% majority, Turkish citizens passed 26 constitutional reforms in a national referendum. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which backed the amendments, called the vote a step toward creating a constitution compatible with EU membership requirements, among other things. The reforms allowed military personnel to be tried in civilian courts, increased the number of judges on Turkey's highest court, guaranteed certain civil rights, and introduced some measures to guarantee positive discrimination for women and children. The opposition called the changes a move away from secularism and pointed critically to the lack of attention in the amendments to Kurdish rights, human rights, or religious education in public schools, among other contentious issues. [The Guardian, BBC, 9/12] Sept. 14: The European Court for Human [End Page 128] Rights ruled that Turkey had not done enough to prevent the death of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was murdered in 2008 near the Istanbul office of his newspaper, Agos. Dink had been a voice for the Armenian-Turkish minority, and his death divided the country, as had his 2005 prison sentence for insulting "Turkishness." The court also found that Turkey had not done enough to protect Dink's freedom of speech. [BBC, 9/14] Sept. 16: Ten people were killed and three wounded in a minibus explosion, thought to be the work of the PKK, near the Iranian and Iraqi borders. The attack, though similar to previous PKK offenses, was singular in that it did not target the military. The ceasefire declared by the Kurdish resistance group in August was still in effect. [Reuters, BBC, Al-Jazeera, 9/16] Sept. 19: For the first time in 95 years, a service was held by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul at the Armenian Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross in Lake Van. Hundreds of Armenians from Turkey and the diaspora attended, but the numbers were not as great as hoped for, partly because of the lasting Armenian mistrust of the Turkish government. Bad feelings were aggravated when Turkish authorities prevented a cross from being placed on top of the historic church. [BBC, 9/19] Sept. 29: Turkish authorities seized the Savarona, the state yacht used by Kemal Atatürk before his death in 1938, after reports broke that it was being used for prostitution. The luxury vessel had been leased to a local businessman. A member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) party called the incident an outrageous offense to the memory of the revered leader. [The Guardian, 9/29] Sept. 30: PKK leaders extended for another month the ceasefire declared on August 13, but did not back down from any of their previous conditions, namely that the Turkish government release imprisoned Kurdish politicians and cease military operations against the group both inside and outside the country. The decision to extend the ceasefire reportedly came from imprisoned leader Ocalan himself. [LAT, 10/1] Sept. 31: President Abdullah Gül declined to meet Shimon Peres at the UN general assembly in New York. The Turkish President said that he was too busy for the meeting, but many suspected that there was a political motivation, especially after he made time in his schedule to meet with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. The two leaders had not met since the Turkish flotilla incident on May 30. [Al-Jazeera, 9/31] Oct. 1: Hundreds of Muslim nationalists gathered in the ruins of a holy Armenian cathedral in Ani, the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom in eastern Turkey, where they prayed in honor of Alp Arslan, a Turkish Muslim who had conquered the city in the 11th century. The gathering was seen as a reaction to events during the Armenian mass in the church in Lake Van on September 19. [BBC, 10/1] Oct. 11: A prominent German politician called for the end of Turkish and Arab immigration into Germany and for stricter laws regarding the foreign workers already in the country. At the time, two million Turks were living in Germany. Prime Minister Angela Merkel had recently called the policy of German multiculturalism a failure. [The Guardian, 10/11] Tunisia July 22: Tunisia amended its penal code to prohibit any spanking of children. Under the new law, adults could be prosecuted for using corporal punishment against children. [AFP, 7/22] United Arab Emirates Sept. 7: The UAE's central bank froze four Iranian bank accounts cited in the UN Security Council's June 2010 resolution in the fourth round of sanctions against the UAE's key trade partner. By September 2010, most [End Page 129] UAE banks had stopped all transactions, including bank transfers, with Iranian banks due to increased regulations on accounts with Iranian entities. [Reuters, 9/7, AFP, 9/5] Sept. 10: The UAE donated $42 million to the Palestinian Authority to support Mahmud 'Abbas' government budget and peace talks with Israel. Financial support from Arab countries was in decline as the Palestinian Authority sought to increase its government functions. The UAE gave $173.9 million in 2009. [Reuters, 9/10] Oct. 7: The UAE reached an agreement with BlackBerry Canadian-based smartphone maker Research In Motion Limited (RIM). The UAE canceled a ban on its devices and services scheduled to be implemented October 11. RIM did not have the ability to monitor the encrypted system, thus hindering regulatory abilities of governments. [AFP, 9/21, 10/9] Yemen July 24: Huthi rebels and the pro-government Ibn Aziz tribe in northern Yemen brokered a truce to end fighting which killed as many as 70 people during the previous week. These clashes were the bloodiest in the north since a truce was established between the rebels and the Yemeni government in February 2010. [Reuters, 7/25] July 29: Opposition leader 'Abd al-Raqib al-Qirshi died from gunshot wounds sustained upon his return to Yemen after 32 years in exile. Al-Qirshi had returned to participate in renewed national political dialogue. This dialogue, as well as asylum to political opponents, was announced in a May 2010 speech by President 'Ali 'Abdullah Salih. [Reuters, 7/30] Aug. 1: Mediator and tribal chief Shaykh Hasan bin 'Abdullah al-Ahmar confirmed that Huthi rebels released 100 Yemeni soldiers in the 'Amran province. This was in addition to 200 soldiers freed days earlier. [AFP, 8/2] Aug. 15: Yemeni security officials announced that local al-Qa'ida leader Jamaan Safian surrendered to them. They did not disclose the time of or reason for his surrender. Safian was accused of sheltering non-Yemeni al-Qa'ida members. [AFP, 8/15] Aug. 20: Gunmen in the southern city of Lawdar in Abyan governorate killed at least 14 people, including Yemeni soldiers and civilians. Seven gunmen were killed in the clash. This attack followed August 19 fighting in Lawdar that initially drew the Army's presence after two soldiers were killed and two civilians were wounded in Lawdar's marketplace. [AFP, 8/20, 8/22] Aug. 26: The Yemeni government and Huthi rebels signed a new peace deal in Qatar to support the truce brokered in February 2010. The deal's 22 points sought to support implementation of the previous agreement. [Reuters, 8/27] Sept. 4: Yemeni police arrested 14 suspected al-Qa'ida members in Lawdar where they had been searching for al-Qa'ida hideouts in the previous weeks. Some of those arrested were caught in a raid while others were apprehended at security checkpoints that surrounded the district. [AP, 9/5] Sept. 6: Thousands protested in the streets, vandalized property, threw stones at police, and set fire to tires in Aden after power was cut to all eight districts on a day when temperatures reached 101 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius). Tensions between the north and south had flared because of previous intermittent and shorter power outages in the region. Residents in the south often complained of discrimination by the government in Sana'a [AFP, 9/6] Sept. 20: According to the Red Crescent in Yemen, as many as 12,000 civilians fled the town of Hawta in the southern Yemeni province of Shabwa, where security forces laid siege to al-Qa'ida militants in the area with tanks, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters. The Yemeni government considered Hawta an al-Qa'ida hideout, where approximately 120 al-Qa'ida militants took refuge. The radical Muslim cleric Anwar [End Page 130] al-Awlaki allegedly called Shabwa "home" and used it as a hiding place. US authorities targeted Al-Awlaki, a US-Yemeni citizen, for his ties to al-Qa'ida. [Reuters, AP, 9/20] Sept. 29: The governor of Shabwa, the Yemeni military's deputy chief of staff, and various other provincial and army officials survived an ambush against their convoy in the Sa'id district south of Ataq, the capital of Shabwa. The ambush killed three of the governor's guards and wounded several others. [AFP, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 9/29] Sept. 30: Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi acknowleged that the US had launched attacks against al-Qa'ida in Yemen. This was the first confirmation from Yemen regarding the US military's role in Yemen. Amnesty International reported in June 2010 about suspected US involvement in a December missile attack in Al-Majalah in the Abyan province which killed 55 people, mostly civilians. [AFP, 9/30] Oct. 6: The vehicle of the deputy chief of the British mission was attacked by a rocket-propelled grenade in Sana'a, resulting in minor injuries to one British Embassy diplomat and three Yemeni bystanders. The deputy chief was not wounded in the attack. Al-Qa'ida claimed responsibility for the attack and accused the British envoy of leading a war on Muslims. [Reuters, 10/6] A Yemeni guard opened fire, killing a Frenchman and seriously wounding a UK man inside the compound of Austria-owned oil and gas group OMV in Haddah, near Sana'a. Yemeni security forces eventually surrounded and disarmed the compound guard. The attack occurred two days after Yemeni officials warned of a potential al-Qa'ida strike. [BBC, 10/6] Oct. 10: Two attackers on a motorbike shot and killed criminal investigations officer Ghazi al-Samawi in Zinjibar. One man drove while the other fired his weapon yelling "Allahu Akbar" ["God is greatest"]. The gunmen escaped unscathed. The officer was on an al-Qa'ida hit list of policeman to be killed. [AFP, 10/11] Oct. 12: Qasim al-Rimi, military chief of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula who had reportedly been killed in a Yemeni airstirke in January 2010, announced in an Internet audio recording the creation of an "Aden-Abyan Army" to rid the country of "crusaders and their apostate agents." The recording also threatened President Salih and warned of the new army's aims to overthrow him. No details on the size of the army were given, but al-Rimi claimed that they were so overwhelmed with volunteers from Yemen and abroad that they could not accept them all. [Reuters, 10/1, AFP, AP, 10/12] [End Page 131] Copyright © 2011 Middle East Institute This article is for personal research only and may not be copied or distributed in any form without the permission of The Middle East Journal.	i don't know
Nate Dogg who died age 41 in 2011 found fame in what performance genre?	Rapper Nate Dogg dies at 41 - today > entertainment - Music - TODAY.com Rapper Nate Dogg dies at 41 Snoop Dogg calls hip-hop star 'one of my best friends and a brother to me' Below: Advertise Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Nate Dogg collaborated with such hip-hop superstars as Eminem and Dr. Dre and was a founding member of the group 213 with Snoop Dogg and Warren G. updated 3/16/2011 3:55:45 PM ET 2011-03-16T19:55:45 + - LOS ANGELES — Singer Nate Dogg, whose near monotone crooning anchored some of rap's most seminal songs and helped define the sound of West coast hip-hop, has died at age 41. Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel D. Hale, died Tuesday of complications from multiple strokes, said Attorney Mark Geragos. Nate Dogg wasn't a rapper, but he was an integral figure in the genre: His deep voice wasn't particularly melodic, but its tone — at times menacing, at times playful, yet always charming — provided just the right touch on hits including Warren G's "Regulate," 50 Cent's "21 Questions," Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode" and countless others. Grio.com: Original 'gangsta crooner' gone too soon While Nate Dogg provided hooks for rappers from coast to coast, the Long Beach, Calif., native is best known for his contributions to the West Coast soundtrack provided by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound and more. Nate Dogg was even part of a "supergroup" featuring Snoop Dogg and Warren G, called 213. Nate Dogg, who had suffered at least two strokes since 2008, also put out his own solo projects but was best known for his collaborations with others. Last year, Warren G said Nate Dogg was in therapy but needed help. Advertise "Everybody just gotta keep him in their prayers, 'cause he had two strokes and that's real dangerous. And a lot of people don't come back from that," he said in an interview to HipHollywood. "'Cause the game needs him, I need him." After word of his death spread, tributes poured in on Twitter. "We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," Snoop Dogg tweeted Tuesday night. Like Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg got his start on Death Row when he was signed to the groundbreaking label by Dr. Dre. Nate Dogg got his start singing in the local church choir. He dropped out of high school to join the Marines but after three years was dishonorably discharged. He briefly got involved with the drug trade before forming a musical group with Snoop and Warren G. It was Warren G who was credited with giving their music to Dr. Dre. Nate Dogg made his debut on Dr. Dre's classic album "The Chronic," and immediately distinguished himself with a trademarked sound: a low, steady croon that came across as intimidating as the rap verses. His vocals made him one of the most sought after collaborators for rap songs. Fifty Cent, who tapped Nate Dogg for his 2003 love song "21 Questions," tweeted Tuesday: "I wrote the chorus to 21 questions I needed nate to sing it for me. He had a way of making everything feel hard." On Twitter? Follow us there! Nate Dogg could be heard on songs ranging from Ludacris' "Area Codes" to Tupac Shakur's "All About U" to Eminem's "Shake That." Even as times changed, and rappers came and went, he didn't fall out of fashion. He faced several legal problems. In 1996, he was acquitted of an armed robbery charge; a jury deadlocked on another and he was not retried. In 2000, Nate Dogg was accused of trying to kidnap an ex-girlfriend, but those charges were dismissed. He pleaded no contest to gun possession and was sentenced to probation. In January of 2008, he suffered a debilitating stroke but a few months later was arrested for stalking and threatening his estranged wife. He appeared in court in a wheelchair. The charge was dropped a year later. Nate Dogg spent the last years of his life trying to rebound from his medical problems. "All dogs go to heaven ... RIP NATE DOGG," tweeted Snoop Dogg. © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Photos: Men of hip-hop Related slideshows 50 Cent Best known for his albums, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and "The Massacre," Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, grew up in Queens, the son of a cocaine dealer, who was murdered in 1983. He followed his mom into the drug trade. In 2000, Jackson was shot nine times in front of his grandmother's home. Eminem heard his independently released album, "Guess Who's Back" and introduced Jackson to Dr. Dre, who signed him. Jackson also has an acting career in movies such as "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," "Home of the Brave" and "Righteous Kill." (Scott Gries / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Common Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., Grammy-winning artist Common rose to fame with the albums "Like Water for Chocolate" and "Be." Common is sometimes considered an alternative rapper, because he tends to avoid degrading depictions of women and doesn't focus on material possessions. Common also has a successful acting career in films like "Smokin' Aces," "American Gangster" and "Wanted." He will next appear in "Terminator Salvation." (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Sean 'Diddy' Combs Grammy-winning rapper Sean Combs, aka Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and finally just Diddy, grew up in the public housing projects of Harlem, N.Y. In 1993, he started Bad Boy Records, with the Notorious B.I.G. as his primary artist. In 1997, he took to the mike with his debut album "No Way Out." Combs also has a clothing line, Sean John. Combs starred in "Raisin in the Sun" on Broadway and has appeared in the films "Monster's Ball" and "Made." His MTV show, "Making the Band," continues to flourish, and he even dipped into politic with his 2004 "Vote or Die" campaign. (Charley Gallay / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise DMX Earl Simmons, aka DMX, is best known for albums like "And Then There Was X" and "The Grand Champ" and his roles in films like "Romeo Must Die" and "Cradle 2 The Grave." The rapper has had multiple arrests for violent behavior, animal cruelty, reckless driving, drug possession and more. The rapper has five children with former wife Tashera Simmons. (Toby Canham / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Snoop Dogg Born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., Snoop Dogg is one of the West Coast's most famous MCs. Dr. Dre discovered Snoop, signing him to Death Row Records in 1992. "Doggystyle" was released in 1993, the same year that Snoop was arrested in the connection of Phillip Woldermarian's death. He was acquitted but found a kindred spirit in Tupac Shakur, who was dealing with his own criminal prosecution. He's faced a number of charges since, including drug possession and assault. Snoop Dogg also has an acting career, appearing in films such as "Starsky and Hutch" and "Soul Plane." ) (Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Eminem Grammy-winning rapper Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III and is best known for his albums "The Slim Shady LP" and "The Marshall Mathers LP." He's been married and divorced to Kimberley Anne Scott twice and share a daughter, Hailie Jade Scott. Eminem wrote the song "Kim" about Scott's alleged suicide attempt and she sued him for defamation. He's also faced legal woes from his mother, who sued him for slander for the lyrics about her on "The Slim Shady LP." He starred in the semi-autobiographical film, "8 Mile." (Andrew Medichyini / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Flo Rida Flo Rida, who was born Tramar Dilard, is known for his best-selling album, "R.O.O.T.S." As a teenager, he toured with Florida rap group, 2 Live Crew. In 2007, he signed with Poe Boy Entertainment, which features other Florida rappers such as Rick Ross, Trina and Trick Daddy. Flo Rida's hit singles include "Low," "Elevator," "In the Ayer" and "Right Round." (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Jay-Z Born Shawn Corey Carter, Jay-Z is best known for his successful albums, "Reasonable Doubt," "Kingdom Come" and "The Black Album," as well as being one of the owners and founders of Roc-A-Fella, which includes Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc-La-Familia, Roc-A-Fella Films and his clothing line, Rocawear. In 1999, Jay-Z was accused of stabbing record executive Lance "Un" Rivera. He pleaded not guilty but did take a misdemeanor charge. He married Beyonce Knowles on April 4, 2008. Though, he's threatened to retire a few times, so far it hasn't stuck. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Ludacris Chris "Ludcris" Bridges is the highest-selling Southern hip-hop artist of all time. He's known for albums such as "Chicken-n-Beer," "The Red Light District" and "Release Therapy." Bridges also has a successful acting career with films such as "Crash," "Hustle & Flow," "RocknRolla" and "Max Payne." He also co-founded Def Jam's southern label, Disturbing the Peace. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Plies Born Algernod Lanier Washington, prolific rapper Plies is best known for his albums "The Real Testament," "Definition of Real" and "Da REAList," all of which were released in 2007 and 2008. In 2006, he was charged with illegal possession of a concealed weapon, while members of his entourage were charged with attempted murder in a shooting that injured five people. His next, as yet untitled, album is already on its way -- scheduled for release in May 2009. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Soulja Boy ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Recording artist Soulja Boy during the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards Rehearsals Day 3 at The Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 18, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images For BET) (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation T.I. Born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., rapper T.I. is best known for albums such as "I’m Serious," "Urban Legend" and "T.I. vs. T.I.P." In 2007, T.I. was charged with possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencers and possessions of firearms by a convicted felon. In March 2009, he began a one-year jail sentence. In preparation for jail, T.I. did 1,000 hours of community service and taped the MTV reality show, "Road to Redemption." He’s also found some time for acting, starring in "ATL," and appearing in "American Gangster." (Theo Wargo / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise T-Pain T-Pain, born Faheem Rasheed Najm, is best known for his albums "Rappa Ternt Sanga," "Epiphany" and "Thr33 Ringz." He's known for the use of the now ubiquitous auto-tune, an audio processer that can change pitch and deliberately distort the voice. It can also disguise vocal "mistakes." T-Pain began composing music at the age of 10. (Michael Caulfield / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Lil Wayne Born Michael Carter, Jr., rapper Lil Wayne is best known for his albums, "Tha Carter," "Tha Carter II" and "Tha Carter III." He was nominated for eight Grammy awards for "Tha Carter III" and took home four. Lil Wayne was arrested for marijuana possession in 2007 and again in 2008. He once told Katie Couric, "I will stand up for marijuana any day ... I'm a rapper. That's who I am, Miss Katie, and I am a gangster and I do what I want. And I love to smoke. And I smoke." (Jeff Gentner / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Kanye West Kanye West is known for his best-selling albums "The College Dropout," "Late Registration," "Graduation" and "808s & Heartbreak." West first caused controversy when he appeared on a 2006 issue of Rolling Stone magazine wearing a Jesus-like crown of thorns. He also stirred things up when he appeared alongside Mike Myers during NBC's "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," and said, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." West's mother Donda West died due to complications from cosmetic surgery. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Young Jeezy Born Jay Jenkins, rapper Young Jeezy is known for his albums "The Inspiration" and "The Recession." After Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his home to victims. In 2006, he was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm, but was acquitted. He was arrested again in 2008 for driving under the influence. In Jan. 2009, he created controversy, when during a concert he proclaimed, "I wanna thank the mother---ers overseas that threw two shoes at George Bush." (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.	Rapping
What is the main cereal component of UK flapjacks, known as Hudson Bay Bars in the USA?	Rapper Nate Dogg Dies At 41 Rapper Nate Dogg Dies At 41 Rapper Nate Dogg seen in June 2006 -- Getty Premium More Rapper Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel D. Hale, died on Tuesday. He was 41. Attorney Mark Geragos confirmed the rapper's death to Access Hollywood . PLAY IT NOW: Jay-Z Shares His Life Stories: From Drug Dealer To Superstar "I can confirm that he has passed from complications from multiple strokes," Geragos told Access . The musician's family first announced his passing to The Long Beach Press-Telegram , a newspaper based in Long Beach, Calif., where he was born and grew up. The musician reportedly suffered two strokes in recent years, first in 2007 and then in 2008. The rapper first rose to fame when he was featured on Warren G's 1994 hit single, "Regulate." He was nominated for four Grammy Awards during his career and worked with a slew of rap's biggest stars over the years including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ludacris, the late Tupac and Eminem. His most recent album, "Nate Dogg," was released in 2008. VIEW THE PHOTOS: Sudden Endings: Stars Who Died Too Soon On Wednesday, many of his contemporaries took to Twitter to remember the rapper. "We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," Snoop Dogg wrote. "all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!!... RIP NATE DOGG." VIEW THE PHOTOS: We’re Gonna Let You Finish… After You Look At These Hot Shots Of Kanye West! Ludacris Tweeted, "There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together." Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Reblog	i don't know
What nation ended conscription to its Bundeswehr in 2011?	Germany Ends Military Conscription, and an Era - The New York Times The New York Times Europe \|The Draft Ends in Germany, but Questions of Identity Endure Search Continue reading the main story BERLIN — Germany formally discontinued the draft at midnight on Thursday to make way for a smaller, tighter army that will draw people like Johannes Beckert and Steven Stadler, both volunteers signing up for duty at a sprawling, suburban recruitment center that once housed the East German military’s overseas espionage agency. The two men are part of a military evolution spanning more than half a century, from rearmament in the divided Germany of the 1950s through the cold war, which placed hundreds of thousands of young German soldiers on either side of the Iron Curtain, and on to a reunification that was not just geographic and political but also created a single army bonded by conscription. They are part, too, of a long-running German quest for antidotes to its Nazi past, ensuring that its military is subservient to the will of a democratic Parliament. About 5,000 German soldiers are part of the NATO-led campaign in Afghanistan, and even though 52 German soldiers have died there in the past nine years, Mr. Stadler said, “It is an honor to serve your country and help people abroad.” Fear, he said as he prepared for a psychological aptitude test, would be the wrong word to describe his attitude to deployment in hostile terrain. Continue reading the main story “Respect is better,” said Mr. Stadler, who is 20. For his part, Mr. Beckert, 18, said that being a soldier would be a new and risky experience. “You have a lot of thoughts, but I think it’s worthwhile to do it,” he said while preparing for a physical. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The latest military changes have also raised broader questions that cut to the core of Germany’s enduring identity crisis: will Germany’s new force draw disproportionately on recruits from the former Communist east; will young Germans — men and women — be prepared to overcome postwar Germany’s deep aversion to militarism; and will the end of the draft create an army with fewer inhibitions about deployment alongside its NATO allies to the world’s trouble spots. West Germany introduced compulsory military service in 1957 for periods that varied between a maximum of 18 months and, toward the end, of only six months, said Lt. Col. Kai Schlolaut, a Defense Ministry spokesman. From the beginning, conscription was seen as a constitutional means of averting the militarism of the past by creating “citizens in uniform” to bind the armed forces to the rest of society. Everyone had to serve. Indeed, Colonel Schlolaut said, some 8.4 million Germans served, either as conscripts in the Bundeswehr, as the armed forces are called, or in alternative civilian service, as helpers in old age-homes or charitable institutions. Then last year, the former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg unveiled plans to reform the military, cutting it from its current levels — 220,000, along with 76,000 civilian support officials — to a maximum of 185,000 in uniform supported by 55,000 civilians. “We want a more flexible, more professional armed forces,” Colonel Schlolaut said. Germany is making the change years after its major allies have taken the same step, including the United States, which ended the draft in 1973. The draft was technically suspended as of July 1 — under German law, to abolish it would have required rewriting the Constitution. The last draftees began six months of compulsory service in January, and some left their barracks for good on Thursday. The change to an all-volunteer army brought a shift of pace for Marion Krauskopf, the civilian director of Berlin’s recruitment center at the former military espionage base at Treptow-Köpenick in the southeast of the city, which once processed up to 150 draftees a day. Now, Ms. Krauskopf said in an interview, the figure is 20 or 30. In the past, women were excluded from conscription, although in recent years they have been able to volunteer for the military in other categories of service. So far, though, only a handful of the 171 soldiers recruited at Treptow-Köpenick for induction in July as volunteers are women, she said. Photo Johannes Beckert, 18, a recruit for Germany's newly all-volunteer army, during his medical examination with Dr. Margit Braband. Germany kept conscription much longer than its allies. Credit Gordon Welters for The New York Times But gender seems to be less of an issue in the German debate than the origin of those who do volunteer. In a recent study, two experts said that while only 16 percent of the German population of 82 million lives in the former East Germany, easterners make up 30 percent of military personnel. Advertisement Continue reading the main story At the same time, said Michael Wolffsohn, a professor at the German Institute for International Security Affairs, and Maximilian Beenisch, a social scientist, easterners with higher educational qualifications were drawn to the military because of a lack of alternative opportunities in eastern Germany, where unemployment is higher than in the west. “In the final analysis, these figures touch the soul of the reunified Germany and evoke the problem of the fair distribution of opportunities and burdens,” they said. The imbalance could also mean that, proportionately, more easterners than westerners face the risk of being killed in action, their study concluded. “For inner-German matters, this risk, based on geographic origins, could be explosive.” For Germany’s allies, the shift to an all-volunteer force is unlikely to have an immediate impact on Berlin’s uneven record of readiness to deploy soldiers abroad. For years Germany has been reluctant to embark on overseas military adventures that might conjure historical ghosts of Hitler’s divisions in World War II. Although German troops are stationed in northern Afghanistan, Berlin abstained in the United Nations Security Council vote in March that authorized the air campaign in Libya. More recently, Germany indicated that it was prepared to supply some unspecified munitions for the NATO effort. But, said Christian Mölling a research fellow with the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik private research group, “there has never been the argument that we should not go into an operation because of conscription. We are talking about a much more deeply rooted thing. The abolition of conscription doesn’t change the mindset.” For this year, Germany military planners say they have already reached their target of about 10,000 volunteers who will begin reporting to their units on Monday. Half of them are former conscripts who chose to stay on. Others are new recruits like Mr. Stadler, who is to begin his service in the official government honor guard in October. But the future is more opaque. While defense planners believe there will be a guaranteed flow of recruits for officer training, “the primary problem is to get the volunteers for the ranks of normal soldiers,” Dr. Mölling said. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Such concerns find an echo in some NATO capitals. Germany’s military reforms are “more a rationalization than a revolution in the German psyche,” said Alastair Cameron, a European security specialist at the RUSI private policy institute in London. “It’s a culture change that hasn’t happened.” A version of this article appears in print on July 1, 2011, on Page A6 of the New York edition with the headline: The Draft Ends in Germany, but Questions of Identity Endure. Order Reprints \| Today's Paper \| Subscribe	Germany
Recep Tayyip Erdogan took office in 2003 (2011 serves still) as prime minister of which country, connecting Europe and Asia?	Retooling the German Military Retooling the German Military By Samuel C. Baxter As Berlin grows into a central role in global politics, its military is carefully following suit. Is this a welcome change? Want to visit the most popular nation on Earth? A longtime center of art and music? A place to take your children to see actual storybook castles? Cities with a mix of the medieval and ultramodern? Look no further than Germany. A BBC World Service poll found that Deutschland is the most favorably viewed nation in the world. Of 26,000 people surveyed across 25 countries, 59 percent felt that the European nation has a constructive influence upon the globe. For perspective, Canada and the United Kingdom held the number two and three slots, each with 55 percent. Iran trailed the pack with only 15 percent responding that it had a “mostly positive” impact on the world. BBC summarized the findings for Germany: “Who can doubt that there’ll be a little more spring in the step of Chancellor [Angela] Merkel because of what the poll reveals about attitudes to Germany? “After a year when she has been depicted offensively on placards in a Nazi uniform, in protests from Athens to Madrid, it turns out that many admire the country. “And in surprising places. In Spain, the recipient of a bailout with tight German strings attached, 68% said they felt Germany had ‘a mainly positive influence in the world.’ “In Britain, it was even higher at 78%. In France 81%—the poll indicates that four in every five French people look over the border with approval! “Only Greece maintains its Germanophobia, with 52% giving a negative rating.” Yet positive sentiments toward Berlin exist outside of Europe as well. BBC continued: “Ghanaians, for example, have a very favourable attitude toward Germany, with 84% approving. Germany has a very active trade presence in Ghana.” This research is yet another feather in the cap for Deutschland. While most world economies foundered in 2010, it grew at its fastest pace since reunification in 1990. Its stalwart manufacturing presence and penchant for frugality has made Berlin virtually the only voice that matters for European Union debt issues. The title of a Montreal Gazette article summed up the situation: “Germany in Driver’s Seat Handling Europe Debt Crisis.” This newfound power is a source of unease for some Germans. Der Spiegel translated the center-left paper Suddeutsche Zeitung: “Germany stands where it never wanted to stand again after 1945: as the dominant power in the middle of Europe. Its attempts to achieve this with cannons and tanks in the 20th century ended in apocalypses of blood and fire, but that’s precisely why that Germany no longer exists.” But Berlin’s political clout has naturally led to a greater need for a modernized German military. The New York Times quoted Germany’s defense minister Thomas de Maiziere: “For decades, we Germans have benefited from the fact that our partners gave us the feeling of reliable security…Now we are in a position and have the duty, even, to make our impact felt.” Yet there is a nagging question: Is there really a way to rev up the nation’s military machine without raising the specter of the past? Redefining “Bundeswehr” After 1945, West Germany did everything in its power to squelch any possibility of repeating the mistakes of World War II. The nation’s post-war constitution included provisions to limit the number of troops in the standing defense force. Also, Bundeswehr, the nation’s federal defense force, could not be used inside of Germany’s borders or anywhere Adolf Hitler’s Wehrmacht had previously occupied. The New York Times described what these stipulations meant: “This translates into a de facto exclusion zone ranging from the Atlantic to Moscow and from Northern Norway to Northern Africa. Add to this Germany’s delicate relationship with Israel and its colonial past and you end up excluding the Middle East and most of Africa as well.” Slowly, these strict constitutional laws have been softened. Yet, by the 2000s, the lack of actual combat experience—as well as costly and unfruitful weapons research programs, a labyrinth of bureaucratic red tape, and unrealistic rules of engagement—made the need for substantial military reform a necessity. Changes began in 2011, when the Bundeswehr moved from conscription, where eligible 18-year-old males were required to serve, to solely volunteer forces. Deutsche Welle described the overall plan: “The goal of the restructuring is that the Bundeswehr will remain to get the soldiers prepared for their new array of challenges. That includes aid in areas of catastrophe, fighting international terrorists, evacuation of German citizens and international employment as part of EU or UN missions—a new focus that requires a restructuring of the troops into smaller, more flexible and better trained units.” Notably, the changes mean a significant shift from being solely defensive to an intervention force. German brass wants a Bundeswehr capable of handling two concurrent missions abroad. “Thorn of War” While constitutional changes mean Germany’s armed forces can more readily be deployed, another substantial hurdle stands in the way of its citizens backing a fully active military: psychological scars. The horrors of Auschwitz and Dachau still play out in the minds of many Germans each time its troops take up arms. This fact becomes abundantly clear when one visits the Bundeswehr Military History Museum in Dresden. Der Spiegel described the underlying architectural message of the structure: “There is a wedge sticking out of the building, one as brutal as the thorn of war in the German psyche. The gigantic wedge, made of steel and glass, passes through the sandstone facade of the old arsenal building in Dresden, like a projectile that has penetrated a soldier’s chest, or like the phalanx of British bombers that laid waste to Dresden on Feb. 13, 1945.” Germany’s “thorn of war” makes this museum unique in the world. The magazine continued: “In other countries, military museums showcase superior technology and heroic victories, as if to say: Look at what heroes we are! But how can Germany recount its military history, a history it’s ashamed of? It’s about defeat and guilt. ‘We are not trying to make sense of it,’ says Colonel Matthias Rogg, the director of the Dresden museum. ‘Instead, we ask questions.’” Dresden’s official website further describes the museum: “Distancing itself from the usual presentations of military history, the new museum concept turns instead to the causes and consequences of war and violence. The focus is placed on the human component, on all the fears, hopes, passion, memories and aspirations, and on factors such as courage, reason and aggression, because it is only possible to understand war if its depiction can be based on human nature.” Berlin’s stomach for military campaigns has both ebbed and flowed in recent years. Der Spiegel continued: “Bosnia marked the beginning of a long path to normalization that Germany has followed since the end of the Cold War. Today, the Bundeswehr is involved in 11 missions that have been approved by the parliament. Some 6,540 soldiers are currently deployed on foreign missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. ‘The mentality of Germans has changed when it comes to the use of military force,’ says Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere. ‘We’ve come a long way in this respect.’” Even when the Bundeswehr is deployed, it is often criticized by Western nations for its inactivity. German troops in Afghanistan mostly stay in the north (away from the heat of the battle) and have taken an advisory role in Mali, allowing the French to take the lead. What’s in a Name? In an effort to distance itself from the Wehrmacht, the Bundeswehr traces its roots back to the Prussian military reformers of the early 1800s. Yet leapfrogging two world wars to draw military inspiration does not whitewash the severe side of its national character. Tracing back through the centuries reveals a continuous pattern: periods of artistic, intellectual and economic advancement followed by a sudden shift to warfare and strife. This Jekyll-and-Hyde act has perplexed both Germans and non-Germans alike. German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “I have often felt a bitter pain at the thought that the German people, so honourable as individuals, should be so miserable as a whole” (The Life and Works of Goethe). Another native, biographer Emil Ludwig, said in The Germans: Double History of a Nation: “The Romans no more than the Franks or the Italians—indeed, not a single neighbor of the Germans—could ever trust the Germans to remain peaceable. No matter how happy their condition, their restless passion would urge them on to ever more extreme demands.” British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger mused on the dual nature of Germans in their 1943 film “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.” One character, seeing WWI German officers in a prisoner-of-war camp quietly listening to orchestral music, observed: “I was thinking, how odd they are, queer. For years and years they are writing and dreaming of beautiful music and beautiful poetry. All of a sudden they start a war: they sink undefended ships, shoot innocent hostages, and bomb and destroy whole streets in London, killing little children. And then they sit down in the same butcher’s uniform and listen to Mendelssohn and Schubert.” For the ingenious and congenial Germans, the thorn of war seems forever buried in its national psyche. In fact, war has been a defining characteristic for this people throughout history. Julius Caesar was the first to label the disunited tribes north of Italy “Germani.” Many etymology dictionaries trace the word “Germani” to Gaulish origins, claiming it means “neighbor” or “to cry” as in, “one who shouts in battle.” Others note that the most used weapon of these peoples was the spear, and attest that the term comes from the Old High German word for spear, “ger,” which put together means “spear-man.” The book Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary promotes the idea that Germani is probably from the Old High German heri-man, which literally means “army-man.” Put together, these definitions paint a picture of Germany: a neighboring nation who shouts in battle and wields spears. It is a country filled with army-men—or, more simply, war-men. None of these northern tribes used “Germani” to describe themselves. Instead they preferred either Teuton or Deutsch, which both generally mean “people.” While these tribes—such as the Vandals, Heruli and Ostrogoths—did not want to be known as war-men, the name proved apropos. The Heruli were the ones who sacked Rome and brought the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476. Today, the dual names remain. Many still use a modernized version of Germani to describe the European nation, yet it refers to itself as Deutschland. Distant Past With war being a chief characteristic of the Teutonic peoples during the Roman Empire, how far back can this defining trait be traced? British lexicographer Sir William Smith (1813-1893) described the early Germans “as a people of high stature and of great bodily strength, with fair complexions, blue eyes, and yellow or red hair [the Celts were likely living among them at the time]…their chief offensive weapon was the framea, a long spear with a narrow iron point…” He continues, “Their men found their chief delight in the perils and excitement of war. In peace they passed their lives in listless indolence, only varied by deep gaming and excessive drinking.” Most historians believe the Germans originated in Europe along the Baltic Sea but are unclear as to where the people derive their ancient roots. Smith reveals a clue to their origin: “The Germans regarded themselves as indigenous in the country; but there can be no doubt that they were a branch of the great Indo-Germanic race, who, along with the Celts, migrated into Europe from the Caucasus and the countries around the Black and Caspian seas [modern-day Turkey], at a period long anterior to historical records.” Anthropologist Sir Leonard Woolley records in his book The Sumerians a strikingly similar tribe living in the same region: “To the north and east of them, in the Zagros hills and across the plain to the Tigris, there lived a people of very different stock, fair-haired and speaking a ‘Caucasian’ tongue, a hill-people akin to the Guti…” (Some historians equate the Guti with the Goths.) Woolley continues by stating that after an attempt to take over the Tigris River valley, they “remained in what was afterwards Assyria…” British ethnologist James Cowl Prichard found that the Greek historian Strabo recorded the same people living south of the Black Sea, whom he labeled the Cappadocians. “‘The Cappadocians,’ [Strabo] says, ‘of both nations,’ meaning the people dwelling on Mount Taurus under that name, as well as the Cappadocians near Pontus, ‘are termed to the present day Leuco-Syri, or White Syrians, by which term they are distinguished from other Syrians, who are of swarthy complexion [darker skin], dwelling to the southward of Mount Taurus.’” Greek historian Apollonius called these people Assyrians, saying that they lived near the Halys River (modern-day Kizilirmak River), just south of the Black Sea. Recognizable Pattern Many refuse to consider the Assyria-German connection. Instead, they choose to associate this label with different peoples who inhabited the same areas, but in different time periods. Yet comparing ancient Assyria with the modern Germans reveals numerous and uncanny similarities. The Assyrians were skilled musicians. Carl Engel’s The Music of the Most Ancient Nations points out that their music “appears to have attained to a degree of perfection which it could have reached only after a long period of cultivation.” Who better epitomizes perfection in music than the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms? They excelled at engineering. The Dictionary of the Ancient Near East states, “Assyrians excelled in road construction and maintenance. Their provincial system was built on good communication, and good roads enabled the Assyrian high command to send infantry and cavalry over long distances to promote stability or conquer new territories.” Among innumerable examples, Germany’s world-famous Autobahn is an engineering marvel. They were a hearty and obstinate people. The book Ancient Mesopotamia: Portrait of a Dead Civilization reveals, “In Assyria there was a strong sense of participating in a common and native way of life which repeatedly proved persistent enough to survive military defeats and foreign domination.” Germany’s accelerated recoveries after both world wars illustrate this connection. The chief similarity between Assyria and modern Teutonic peoples, however, is an excellence in war: The 1911 edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica states: “The Assyrian forces became a standing army, which, by successive improvements and careful discipline, was moulded into an irresistible fighting machine, and Assyrian policy was directed towards the definite object of reducing the whole civilized world into a single empire and thereby throwing its trade and wealth into Assyrian hands.” Note the phrase “irresistible fighting machine” aimed at “reducing the whole civilized world into a single empire.” James McCabe’s The Pictorial History of the World thoroughly describes the Assyrians, revealing more similarities to the modern Germans. They were “a fierce, treacherous race, delighting in the dangers of the chase in war. The Assyrian troops were notably among the most formidable of ancient warriors…” “They never kept faith when it was to their interest to break treaties, and were regarded with suspicion by their neighbors in consequence of this characteristic” (ibid.). In 1939, Nazi Germany entered into a non-aggression treaty with Soviet Russia—WWII began a month later. Also, Poland had a similar pact with Germany when it was invaded by Hitler’s army. “In the organization and equipment of their troops, and in their system of attack and defence and their method of reducing fortified places, the Assyrians manifested a superiority to the nations by which they were surrounded” (ibid.). The design and engineering of German tanks and aircraft surpassed the allied troops in WWII. They pioneered rockets and the jet engine. Today, they continue to be on the front edge of weapons technology. In the book The Course of Civilization Volume I, Joseph Strayer describes Assyria: “They enforced their rule by a deliberate policy of frightfulness, enslaving and deporting whole peoples, and torturing and killing thousands of captives.” This statement could have easily been written about Germany in the early 1940s. With such a deep-seated military culture, is modern Germany truly doomed to forever carry with them the scourge of war? “He Means Not So” Further history of the Assyrian people can be found in the Bible. The book of Genesis records Asshur, father of the Assyrians, in the list of Noah’s descendants ( Gen. 10:22 ). Throughout the Old Testament, the Assyrians repeatedly clashed with Israel. (For example, read I Kings 15:29 , II Kings 15:19-20 , I Chronicles 5:6 , and II Chronicles 33:11 .) Yet the Bible also addresses the dual nature of the Germanic peoples. In the book of Isaiah, the Assyrian national psyche is laid bare. Chapter 10 states: “For he [the Assyrian nation] says, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent” ( vs. 13 ). Assyria and Germany have a long list of successes and accomplishments, which has led to an ingrained nationalistic pride. (Interestingly, the Hebrew root word for “Asshur” means success.) Look at Germany today: it is strong enough to carry Europe, and other nations come to it for answers because of its financial prudence. The account in Isaiah 10 reveals the nation’s love for war and tendency to conquer surrounding lands: “…I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand has found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth…” ( vs. 13-14 ). When an average German is asked, however, this definition is far from what he thinks of himself. Notice verse 7 : “Howbeit he means not so, neither does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.” Despite a lengthy historical track record written in blood, Germany “means not so, neither does [its] heart think so.” But the Bible ultimately does not condemn the nation. Actually, far from it! A New Start Imagine if Germany could finally overcome its thorn of war. No more would conflict hamper the talents or ingenuity of its people. No more would the nation have to rebuild after each conflict. Its scientists, inventors, thinkers and artists could solely focus on peaceful endeavors. Yes, war has produced useful commodities. World War II created the jet engine used in air travel today. Also, the men who designed the Nazi’s terror-inducing V2 rocket later were instrumental in putting an American on the moon. But imagine the far greater achievements possible without war! With the Bundeswehr speeding toward a place among other world-class militaries, however, that time is not now. Before Germany can shake its warlike nature, it must first learn some hard lessons. It must lay aside its deeply ingrained pride and stubbornness. To finally be at peace, it must go through one last cycle of wartime ramp-up followed by a humbling setback ( Zech. 10:11 ). A great message of the Bible regards God ruling all nations of Earth and abolishing warfare. This means all nations will be able to focus solely on constructive and productive projects. Notice: “And He [God] shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” ( Isa. 2:4 ). While Germany enjoys a fleeting popularity now, it will soon hold a place as one of the world’s foremost nations. Isaiah 19:24-25 states: “In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria”—one of the three most prominent nations!—“even a blessing in the midst of the land: whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” At that time, the thorn of war will be forever removed from Germany! For more on what the Bible says about the end to global conflict, read David C. Pack’s astonishing booklet How World Peace Will Come! More on this Subject:	i don't know
In what 'royal' village was Princess Diana born?	Royal princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana - BBC News BBC News Royal princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana 4 May 2015 Image copyright PA Image caption The princess follows a long line of royals named Charlotte The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace has said. The fourth in line to the throne will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. She was born on Saturday in the Lindo Wing of London's St Mary's Hospital weighing 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg). The Queen and other senior royals were told of the baby's name before the announcement was made public. The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that a Kensington Palace official, when asked about the couple's choice of name, said: "We'll let the names speak for themselves." Why Charlotte? Image copyright PA Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, has a long royal pedigree and became popular in the 18th Century when it was the name of George III's queen. The King bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family home close to St James's Palace - it became known as the Queen's House and is now Buckingham Palace. Charles is the name of two former kings and of the Prince of Wales, the princess's grandfather. Charlotte also has more recent connections for the royal couple. On the duchess's side, it is the middle name of her sister Pippa Middleton and on the duke's it is the name of his cousin Charlotte Spencer, Earl Spencer's youngest daughter. The earl tweeted: "Perfect names. My 2-year old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly name-sharing." According to figures from the Office for National Statistics , Charlotte is the 21st most popular girl's name in England and Wales with 2,242 babies being given it in 2013. Elizabeth is 39th in the list but Diana is not in the top 100. Image copyright EPA Image caption The couple took their daughter home after spending just over 12 hours at the hospital The duke and duchess and their daughter have been at home in Kensington Palace since leaving hospital on Saturday evening. It is understood they will remain there for the time being before travelling to their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Queen's Sandringham estate, in Norfolk. Media captionPeople outside Kensington Palace give their opinion on the choice of the baby's name Royal historian Hugo Vickers said the choice of Charlotte as a name seemed to be based on taste rather than history. "I don't think she is burdened by any history associated with it and to be honest I think they just chose the name because they liked it, which is what they do and what we respect about them. "We historians can always find someone called Charlotte but I think basically they just liked the name." Historian Dr Judith Rowbotham, of the University of Plymouth, said: "None of the Charlottes in the history of the British royal family have been lacking in character and personality, so one hopes that this one lives up to that name." A family name By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent Hard facts and royal pregnancies, labours and births are not natural bedfellows. They represent a moment where the very personal, a couple celebrating the arrival of a daughter, collide with the very public - the father is a future king. So, we don't know why William and Kate chose Charlotte as the first name of the fourth in line to the throne. It conveniently has links to the Middletons, the present Windsors and past royals. Elizabeth and Diana are more obvious choices. Prince William has spoken of how, as he becomes older, his grandmother has become an even more important part of his life. And it was inevitable that he would honour his mother and inevitable that he wouldn't "burden" his daughter with Diana as a first name. As William said when he gave his fiancee his mother's engagement ring, it's a way of keeping her "close to it all". Read more from Peter Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated the duke and duchess on their new arrival and said he had "always liked the name Charlotte". "It's a lovely name, and it must be such a precious time for this young couple," he said. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery mark the arrival of the princess with a 41-round gun salute Earlier in the day gun salutes took place in London to mark the birth. Soldiers from The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery rode out in a procession from Wellington Barracks, near Buckingham Palace, to sound 41 shots in Hyde Park . At the same time, the Honourable Artillery Company left their Armoury House barracks in the City of London to fire a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London. A Kensington Palace spokesman said on Sunday: "The duke and duchess are hugely grateful for the messages of congratulations they have received from people all over the world. "It means a great deal to them that so many people have celebrated the arrival of their new daughter." Image copyright PA,AP Image caption The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Catherine's parents and sister visited on Sunday The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall spent more than an hour with their new granddaughter. The duchess's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and sister Pippa also met the princess. Prince Harry, who narrowly missed the princess's birth after returning to Australia to finish his secondment to the country's military, said his new niece was "absolutely beautiful" and he could not wait to meet her.	Sandringham
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president in 2005 of which war-torn African country, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d'Ivoire?	7 Surprising Facts about Royal Births - History Lists History Lists July 12, 2013 By Elizabeth Nix Share From the largest to the smallest, monarchies across the globe celebrate royal weddings in grand style. Share this: 7 Surprising Facts about Royal Births Author 7 Surprising Facts about Royal Births URL Google This week, royal watchers around the world await the imminent arrival of the first child of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, duchess of Cambridge. The couple wed in a pomp-and-circumstance-filled ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, and the duchess’s pregnancy was publicly announced on December 3, 2012. Find out how the newest heir to the throne’s debut will be steeped in—and could break with--ancient traditions, and get the facts on other royal bundles of joy. William and Kate’s firstborn will be third in the line for the throne, regardless of its gender. Until recently, centuries-old laws of succession gave male heirs priority and required that the crown be passed to a monarch’s sons, in order of birth; a daughter could only inherit the throne if she had no male siblings. However, in 2011, leaders of the 16 Commonwealth nations of which the current queen, Elizabeth II, is head of state agreed to revise the rules so that a monarch’s male and female offspring have an equal right to the throne, and a younger boy could not jump ahead of his older sister in the line of succession. The new rules also will allow a future heir to the throne to marry a Roman Catholic, something that hasn’t been permitted in the past. However, the ban preventing a Catholic from becoming monarch won’t be lifted, as loyalty to the pope could conflict with the monarch’s role as supreme governor of the Church of England. William is the first direct heir to the British throne who was born in a hospital. The son of Prince Charles (who was born at Buckingham Palace in 1948) and the late Princess Diana (born in 1961 at a home leased by her aristocratic parents in the English village of Sandringham), William was delivered at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital on June 21, 1982. His arrival was announced with a proclamation signed by his doctors and placed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The same easel will be used to inform the public about William and Kate’s baby, who also is expected to be born at St. Mary’s, in a private wing. Additionally, for the first time in royal history, an official announcement about the baby’s entrance into the world will be made via social media. It is anticipated that the little prince or princess eventually will be baptized with water from the River Jordan (where, according to Christianity, Jesus was baptized), like a long line of royals before him or her. Prior to Prince Charles’ arrival in 1948, it was customary for the British home secretary (a high-ranking government official) to attend royal births. In one notable instance, Home Secretary John Robert Clynes traveled to Scotland in 1930 to witness the birth of Princess Margaret at Glamis Castle. Margaret, the daughter of the future King George VI and sister of Elizabeth, the future queen, was born two weeks after her due date but Clynes had to remain in Scotland on alert until she made her debut. William and Kate’s baby will be the third great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth II (1926-), whose reign is currently the second-longest of any British monarch. The queen’s first two great-grandchildren are the offspring of Peter Phillips, the son of Princess Anne (1950-), the second of Elizabeth’s four children. Peter and his wife Autumn have two daughters: Savannah Anne Kathleen, who will turn 3 in December, and Isla Elizabeth, who turned 1 in March. Queen Elizabeth’s third and fourth children, Prince Andrew (1960-) and Prince Edward (1964-), were the only babies born to a reigning queen since Queen Victoria delivered her last child, Beatrice, in 1857. Andrew and Edward were born at Buckingham Palace, like their older brother Charles. Anne and Charles arrived when Elizabeth still was a princess; she ascended to the throne in 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria (1819-1901) had nine living children but hated pregnancy and childbirth. Victoria’s road to motherhood got off to a rocky start in 1840, when, four months into her first pregnancy, an unemployed Londoner named Edward Oxford attempted to assassinate her while she was riding in a horse-drawn carriage with her husband Prince Albert. (Victoria escaped unharmed and Oxford, the first of at least seven people who tried to attack or murder the queen, later was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental institution.) Victoria went on to become the first monarch to give birth under the influence of chloroform, whose anesthetic effects were discovered in the late 1840s and which her physician administered when Victoria delivered her eighth and ninth children, Prince Leopold, born in 1853, and Princess Beatrice, born in 1857. The queen’s experiences helped popularize the use of anesthesia among London’s upper classes. However, Victoria maintained a sour attitude toward pregnancy, which she derided as an “occupational hazard” of being a wife, and labeled her own babies ugly and frog-like and refused to breastfeed them. Royal babies have been a source of public fascination for centuries. In one historic example, James Francis Edward, prince of Wales, was a topic of controversy from the time of his birth in 1688. Until James’ delivery, his mother, Mary of Modena, the Catholic second wife of King James II, had suffered a number of miscarriages and was childless. Following James’ arrival, rumors circulated widely that Mary was never pregnant to begin with (or had experienced another miscarriage) and snuck an imposter baby into her bed via warming pan, in an effort to produce a Catholic male heir, an alarming prospect to England’s Protestants. That same year, James II was ousted and Mary fled the country with their son. As an adult, the prince (whose royal blood proved legitimate, despite the conspiracy theories) tried unsuccessfully to reclaim the British crown and was dubbed the Old Pretender. England’s King Henry VIII (1491-1547) famously married six different women, in part due to his quest to produce a son who could succeed him. Although Henry fathered three legitimate children who survived—daughters from his wives Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, and a son, Edward, by Jane Seymour (who died shortly after the boy’s birth), Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn also experienced multiple miscarriages and stillbirths, leading experts to believe Henry was the source of the fertility troubles. Syphilis once was speculated to be a factor in the king’s reproductive issues; however, this theory has been discounted and more recent research suggests a blood group incompatibility (involving the Kell antigen) between Henry and his wives might have been at the root of his problems. Tags	i don't know
What city, named after a month of the year, claims in recent tradition to host the largest street carnival in the world?	Carnival \| Article about Carnival by The Free Dictionary Carnival \| Article about Carnival by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Carnival Related to Carnival: cruises carnival, communal celebration, especially the religious celebration in Catholic countries that takes place just before Lent Lent [Old Eng. lencten,=spring], Latin Quadragesima (meaning 40; thus the 40 days of Lent). In Christianity, Lent is a time of penance, prayer, preparation for or recollection of baptism, and preparation for the celebration of Easter. ..... Click the link for more information. . Since early times carnivals have been accompanied by parades, masquerades, pageants, and other forms of revelry that had their origins in pre-Christian pagan rites, particularly fertility rites that were connected with the coming of spring and the rebirth of vegetation. One of the first recorded instances of an annual spring festival is the festival of Osiris in Egypt; it commemorated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile. In Athens, during the 6th cent. B.C., a yearly celebration in honor of the god Dionysus was the first recorded instance of the use of a float. It was during the Roman Empire that carnivals reached an unparalleled peak of civil disorder and licentiousness. The major Roman carnivals were the Bacchanalia, the Saturnalia, and the Lupercalia. In Europe the tradition of spring fertility celebrations persisted well into Christian times, where carnivals reached their peak during the 14th and 15th cent. Because carnivals are deeply rooted in pagan superstitions and the folklore of Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was unable to stamp them out and finally accepted many of them as part of church activity. The immediate consequence of church influence may be seen in the medieval Feast of Fools, which included a mock Mass and a blasphemous impersonation of church officials. Eventually, however, the power of the church made itself felt, and the carnival was stripped of its most offending elements. The church succeeded in dominating the activities of the carnivals, and eventually they became directly related to the coming of Lent. The major celebrations are generally on Shrove Tuesday (see Mardi Gras Mardi Gras , last day before the fasting season of Lent. It is the French name for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, the term means "fat Tuesday" and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for merrymaking and excessive indulgence in food and drink before ..... Click the link for more information. ); however, in Germany the carnival season, or Fasching, begins on the Epiphany (Jan. 6) in Bavaria and on Nov. 11 in the Rhineland. In recent times, the term carnival has also been loosely applied to include local festivals, traveling circuses, bazaars, and other celebrations of a joyous nature, regardless of their purpose or their season. carnival historical and continuing forms of social ritual which allow temporary reversals of the social order in which social rules (e.g. sexual mores) are transgressed and mockery made of the rich and powerful. See also LIMINALITY , BAKHTIN , ROLE REVERSAL . Carnival Cheese Week, Mardi Gras, Maslenitsa, Packzi Day, Pancake Day, Shrovetide Carnival is a holiday that developed in response to a religious observance, namely the six-week season of Lent. In the Middle Ages Christians endured many trying religious disciplines during Lent. As a result they celebrated the week before Lent began, enjoying one last fling before beginning these hardships. Carnival celebrations last from several days to over a week and take place in early spring. Many festivals begin in earnest on the Saturday or Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. The Thursday before Ash Wednesday, sometimes called "Fat Thursday," also once served as a traditional starting date for Carnival. The date of Carnival changes from year to year, as its timing depends on that of Easter (see also Easter, Date of). The festival reaches its peak on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In some countries people call this day "Fat Tuesday." Indeed Carnival began as a means of using up rich foods and indulging in lively behavior before the start of Lent with its accompanying fast and other religious disciplines. Symbols and Customs Although Carnival celebrations vary from country to country and region to region, they usually include some or all of the following customs and symbols. Most Carnivals offer participants various opportunities to take to the streets in costumes or masks. As people temporarily take on the identity represented by the costume or mask, they engage in a spontaneous kind of play-acting with other costumed participants and onlookers. The fool or clown plays an important role in many Carnival festivals and symbolizes the topsy-turvy nature of the holiday. Many celebrations also feature a mock king and queen, who rule over the kingdom of Carnival during the few days of its duration. Some festivals schedule a symbolic funeral at the end of the week's festivities. A dummy, or some insignificant item, such as a sardine, is "killed" and buried, and this burial represents the death and laying to rest of Carnival for another year. Often people throw things at one another during Carnival celebrations, whether it be water, flowers, candy, oranges, or party favors, such as confetti or beads. Finally, Carnival customs often encourage people to eat and drink heartily, and may also include some loosening of the usual rules of social conduct. Origins of the Word "Carnival" Researchers disagree about the roots of the word "Carnival." Some say it comes from the Latin phrase caro levare, which means to lift or remove meat. During the Middle Ages this phrase became carne levare, and eventually, carne vale. It passed into English as "Carnival." In some of the Romance languages that evolved from Latin, the word took on a similar form. In Spanish it's carnaval, in Italian carnavale, and in Portuguese carnaval. The French call it Mardi Gras, which means "Fat Tuesday." Other researchers have drawn different conclusions about the origin of the word Carnival. They say it comes from carrus navalis, a boat-shaped cart drawn through the city streets during the ancient Roman winter festival of Saturnalia. Masked and costumed men and women rode in the cart, singing coarse songs. Origins Where did Carnival come from? Most researchers agree that it began as a celebration of the last few days before the beginning of Lent. During the Middle Ages, people observed Lent by fasting, refraining from marital relations, reflecting mournfully on their shortcomings, and in some cases performing penance for serious misdeeds (for more on penance, see Repentance; see also Sin). No marriages could be performed during this somber time. Therefore, people celebrated the week before they began this strict regimen by indulging in rich foods, gaiety, and outrageous behavior, in other words, by enjoying all that was soon to be forbidden. While Carnival as we know it today began in Europe in the Middle Ages, some writers believe that its origins lie in various celebrations that took place in the ancient Mediterranean world. They point to a variety of festivals observed in ancient times which resemble Carnival in certain ways. For example, during Saturnalia people feasted, drank, and reveled in the streets, often in costume. Moreover, social rank temporarily disappeared, as those of high rank served those of low rank, slaves enjoyed a temporary holiday, and people engaged in madcap behavior of all kinds. The Babylonian and Mesopotamian New Year festivals, rowdy celebrations that took place in mid-spring, also featured street masquerades (for more on a related modern festival, see No Ruz). In biblical times the Jewish people created a spring holiday called Purim. During this holiday, still celebrated today, people hid their identities behind masks, men and women wore each other's clothing, and people engaged in wild behavior normally considered inappropriate. Another Roman holiday, Lupercalia, which took place in early spring, offered certain young men an opportunity to dress in animal skins and run wild through the streets, flailing whips at young women who crossed their path. According to Roman folk belief, the strokes of these whips bestowed fertility. Finally, Roman devotees of the goddess Cybele observed a joyous spring festival called Hilaria. Other writers disagree with the argument that Carnival evolved from these ancient celebrations. They point out that, with the exclusion of Purim, the last of these ancient festivals disappeared about five hundred years before 965 A.D., when the first mention of European Carnival celebrations appears in an historical document. This fact leads this group of researchers to conclude that, although Carnival shares some customs with ancient festivals, medieval Europeans invented the observance on their own as a means of letting off steam before beginning the hardships of Lent. Medieval and Renaissance Carnivals The earliest mentions of European Carnival celebrations in historical documents call it carnelevare, literally "lift up meat" or "take away meat." Indeed, judging by these documents, eating meat seems to be the primary custom connected with the season. Carnival rooted itself in the European folk calendar between the years 1000 and 1300 with celebrations focused around feasting in preparation for the fasting soon to come. The full range of customs that came to characterize European Carnival celebrations developed in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. During these centuries, which coincided with a period of social and intellectual change that historians have dubbed the Renaissance, people adopted new ways of looking at the world. These new perspectives included humanism, a philosophy that emphasized the need to place human interests above other concerns, and naturalism, a doctrine that denied the existence of anything beyond the natural world. These philosophies influenced Carnival celebrations by increasing the value people placed on lighthearted foolishness as a means of counterbalancing the artificial social demands and seriousness required of people in everyday life. During this era Carnival celebrations came to include a greater emphasis on clowns, fools, and social satire, that is, making fun of society and its rules. The famous Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel (c.1525-1530 to 1569) left us a visual description of the Carnival celebrations of this era in his 1559 painting entitled "The Battle of Carnival and Lent." By the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries those populations in which Carnival had taken root observed the festive season with masquerades, rich foods, drink, and rowdy revelry, especially antics that made fun of human folly or reversed social roles and ranks. Custom encouraged people to play pranks on one another, especially to throw water, flour, beans, dirt, or other substances at each other. Criticism of Carnival In the mid-fifteenth century Church authorities began to criticize Carnival celebrations for encouraging various kinds of excesses and creating public disorder. These criticisms often compared Carnival to pagan Roman festivals, suggesting that they indeed represented a survival of paganism and therefore should be suppressed. Active repression of Carnival celebrations began in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the year 1748 Pope Benedict XIV instituted a new custom in the Roman Catholic Church. This custom, called the "forty hours of Carnival," required Roman Catholic churches to hold special services on the evenings of the last three days of Carnival. Churches also left their doors open during these forty hours so that people could enter at any time to seek God's forgiveness for sins committed during the festival. Carnival in the Modern Era In the sixteenth century well-to-do Italians began to host costume balls in celebration of Carnival. This trend eventually spread to other parts of Europe, giving rise to a courtly Carnival. This same trend led to the introduction of elegant floats and magnificent parades, which encouraged a more civil and structured celebration. In spite of official opposition and unease, Carnival celebrations proved impossible to stamp out in much of southern Europe. In northern Europe, however, Carnival celebrations faded away in some regions where they had once been popular. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries people began to beautify the festival in response to new perspectives introduced by the Romantic movement, which tended to idealize old traditions and folkways. Over time many Europeans discarded some of the dirtier and more aggressive customs associated with the holiday, such as throwing water or oranges at one another, and replaced them with gentler gestures, like tossing confetti and flowers. It became fashionable in some cities to ride in flowercovered carriages, construct elaborate parade floats, and host elegant masked balls. As the parades grew in importance the nature of the festival changed. Previously everyone had participated in the masked hijinks. Now a division grew up between participants and spectators. In the past the spirit of Carnival swept over the entire town. Now it was concentrated along a specific parade route. From Europe to the Americas While some of these changes were felt in Spain and Portugal, their rural Carnival celebrations continued in the same rowdy spirit of ages past. People in the street threw oranges, lemons, eggs, flour, mud, straw, corncobs, beans or lupines (a type of flower) at one another, and people on balconies poured dirty water, glue or other obnoxious substances on the crowds below. Those in the streets battled one another with brooms or wooden spoons. Indoors people feasted on rich foods, to which they also treated guests. The wealthier homes might even toss cakes and pastries out windows to passersby. Colonists from these countries exported this version of Carnival, called Entrudo in Portuguese, and Antroido or Entroido in the Galician language of northwestern Spain, to Latin America. Latin American Carnival celebrations blend European Carnival customs with African and Native American traditions of celebration. African-influenced music and dance, for example, play an especially important role in Carnival celebrations in Brazil and Trinidad (see also Brazil, Carnival in; Trinidad, Carnival in). Meanwhile the French succeeded in transferring their Carnival celebrations to certain of their colonies in North America, namely those centered around the cities of New Orleans and Mobile. These celebrations, known as Mardi Gras, survive today, a regional American expression of an old European seasonal festival. For more on Carnival, see Brazil, Carnival in; Cheese Week; Germany, Carnival in; Italy, Carnival in; Mardi Gras; Maslenitsa; Paczki Day; Pancake Day; Shrovetide; Switzerland, Carnival in; and Trinidad, Carnival in Further Reading Blackburn, Bonnie, and Leofranc Holford-Strevens. The Oxford Companion to the Year. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1999. Goldwasser, Maria Julia. "Carnival." In Mircea Eliade, ed. The Encyclopedia of Religion. Volume 3. New York: Macmillan, 1987. Griffin, Robert H., and Ann H. Shurgin, eds. Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Holidays. Volume 1. Detroit, MI: UXL, 2000. Kinser, Samuel. Carnival American Style. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990. Lau, Alfred. Carneval International. Bielefeld, Germany: Univers-Verlag, n.d. Orloff, Alexander. Carnival: Myth and Cult. Wörgl, Austria: Perlinger, 1981. Carnival (Mardi Gras) Type of Holiday: Religious (Christian) Date of Observation: Dates vary, between Epiphany and Shrove Tuesday (Ash Wednesday Eve) Where Celebrated: Central America, Europe, South America, United States, Caribbean Islands, and throughout the Christian world Symbols and Customs: Carnival King, Forty Hours' Devotion, Fried Dough, King Cakes, Krewes, Ox Colors: Purple, green, and gold (see KING CAKES ) Related Holidays: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Maslenitsa, Shrove Tuesday ORIGINS Carnival is a time when Christians celebrate before the start of LENT. The word Christian refers to a follower of Christ, a title derived from the Greek word meaning Messiah or Anointed One. The Christ of Christianity is Jesus of Nazareth, a man born between 7 and 4 B . C . E . in the region of Palestine. According to Christian teaching, Jesus was killed by Roman authorities using a form of execution called crucifixion (a term meaning he was nailed to a cross and hung from it until he died) in about the year 30 C . E . After his death, he rose back to life. His death and resurrection provide a way by which people can be reconciled with God. In remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection, the cross serves as a fundamental symbol in Christianity. With nearly two billion believers in countries around the globe, Christianity is the largest of the world's religions. There is no one central authority for all of Christianity. The pope (the bishop of Rome) is the authority for the Roman Catholic Church, but other sects look to other authorities. Orthodox communities look to patriarchs and emphasize doctrinal agreement and traditional practice. Protestant communities focus on individual conscience. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches are often referred to as the Western Church, while the Orthodox churches may also be called the Eastern Church. All three main branches of Christianity acknowledge the authority of Christian scriptures, a compilation of writings assembled into a document called the Bible. Methods of biblical interpretation vary among the different Christian sects. The season known to Christians as Carnival actually extends all the way from EPIPHANY (January 6) to SHROVE TUESDAY, or the day before LENT. The Latin carne vale means "farewell to meat," but it could also be a broader reference to the pleasures that are forbidden during the forty days of Lent. Carnival in general is a time for feasting and self-indulgence, with the most intense period of celebration usually taking place the last three days before ASH WEDNESDAY and particularly on Shrove Tuesday. It features masked balls, lavish costume parades, torchlight processions, dancing, fireworks, and of course feasting on all the foods that will have to be given up for Lent. It is interesting to note that processions, feasting, and masquerades were also popular activities among the pagans during their spring festivals, which were designed to ensure the health and growth of their crops. Most of the features of the modern Carnival celebration are firmly rooted in a tradition that can be traced back to the fourteenth century. One of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The parades, pageants, and costume balls go on for four days, but the highlight of the festival is the parade of the samba schools, which takes place on the Sunday and Monday preceding Ash Wednesday. The competition among Carnival these neighborhood groups is fierce, and people spend months beforehand making costumes and learning special dances for the parade. The most flamboyant Carnival celebration in the United States takes place during the two weeks preceding Ash Wednesday in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was known among New Orleans' early French settlers as Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday") because the day before the start of Lent was traditionally a time to use up all the milk, butter, eggs, and animal fat left in the kitchen. This grand celebration culminates in a series of parades organized by groups known as KREWES . With marching jazz bands and elaborately decorated floats, the parades attract over a million spectators every year. New Orleans' Mardi Gras has been cancelled only a few times in its 150 year history-during a 1979 police strike, the Civil War, and two World Wars. But it came very close to being cancelled again in February 2006. The previous year, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, damaging many critical levees, leaving eighty percent of the city underwater, claiming more than 1,600 lives, and decimating city infrastructure, schools, hospitals and libraries. Many residents of New Orleans, still mourning the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, felt it was too soon and too painful to celebrate Mardi Gras. Others thought the city needed to proceed with its cherished tradition in order to demonstrate its resilience, provide a needed distraction, and to promote psychological healing and financial recovery. Ultimately, the 2006 Mardi Gras did take place with over half of New Orleans' pre-Katrina residents still missing from the city, a diminished crowd of visitors, fewer krewes, and parades shortened and re-routed to circumvent the most severely damaged sections of the city. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Carnival King Carnival is an especially important season for Roman Catholics. In Italy, Spain, France, and other European countries where the influence of Rome has been the strongest, a popular feature of Carnival celebrations is a burlesque figure, often made out of straw and known as the Carnival King. When his brief reign over the Carnival festivities is over, the king is usually shot in public, burned, drowned, or otherwise destroyed while the onlookers cheer openly. This may be a symbolic act designed to rid the spectators of their folly and sinfulness. One theory about the origin of the Carnival King is that he is a direct descendant of the old King of the SATURNALIA, the ancient Roman festival held in December. This pagan king was a man chosen to impersonate the Roman agricultural god Saturn for the duration of the celebration; but at the end, he suffered a real death rather than a make-believe one. The brutal custom of putting a mock king to death eventually faded, but the idea of appointing someone to reign over the festivities appears to have survived in the figure of the Carnival King. Forty Hours' Devotion To encourage good Christians to compensate for the excessive behavior exhibited at Carnival time, Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 instituted a special devotion for the three days preceding Lent. Called the "Forty Hours of Carnival," it is still held in many American and European churches where carnival celebrations are a longstanding tradition. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day Monday and Tuesday, and devotions are held in the evening. Fried Dough Most Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the world include the preparation of some form of fried dough. In New Orleans, for example, the beignet is a square doughnut without a hole, similar to a fritter. In some areas of Germany, where Carnival is called Fastnacht, fried dough is served in the form of Fast- nachtkuchen. This raised doughnut was brought to the United States by the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania, and such fried cakes can still be found in other German-settled areas of the country. Since it was customary on Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," to use up all the animal fat in the house before the start of Lent, food was often fried so the fat wouldn't go to waste. King Cakes The round or oval cakes known as King Cakes are one of the primary foods associated with the Carnival season. They are frosted with alternating bands of sugar in the three colors that have become associated with Mardi Gras: purple, symbolizing justice; green, symbolizing faith; and gold, symbolizing power. There are tiny dolls-or sometimes a bean-hidden in the cakes, and whoever is served the piece containing the doll or bean is crowned king for a day. In New Orleans, where the Carnival season begins with the Bal du Roi (King's Ball), a Parisian tradition, the person who gets the doll has to hold the next ball. These balls continue throughout the season, with the final one being held on Mardi Gras. Krewes The private clubs known as "krewes" that give parties, parades, and balls during the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans can be traced back to 1831 in Mobile, Carnival Alabama. A man named Michael Krafft had been out celebrating New Year's Eve with his friends when they decided to break into a hardware store. They stole some cowbells and rakes, and paraded through the streets making as much noise as possible. This incident led to the establishment of the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, which organized a rowdy costume parade the following year featuring tableaux and dancing. In 1857, six men from Mobile who had been members of the society and who now lived in New Orleans decided to introduce a similar organization there, which they called the Mystick Krewe of Comus-a reference both to the masque (a dramatic entertainment featuring elaborate costumes, scenery, music, and dancing) Comus, written by English poet John Milton, and to the Greek and Roman god of revelry, feasting, and nocturnal entertainment. The word "krewe" is supposed to have come from the Anglo-Saxon spelling of "crew." By 1988, there were approximately sixty other krewes in New Orleans, and today they parade through the streets for nearly three weeks before Mardi Gras. Comus remains the most traditional krewe, producing floats for the parade similar to those seen a hundred years ago. The other krewes-with names like Rex, Zulu, Proteus, and Momus-are also private clubs, often linked to old-line Protestant or Catholic social networks. In addition, there are "maverick" krewes whose membership is open to anyone who can pay the required fee. The floats designed by the krewes range from the most traditional-small, delicate floats with a great deal of ornamental sculpture and extensive use of gold and silver foil-to considerably less formal processions of decorated vans and trucks. Some think that the krewes and their parades go back to the reynages of medieval France-make-believe kingdoms established as part of the Carnival celebration. It is also possible that the floats seen in today's Mardi Gras parades were derived from religious tableaux originally performed in churches but moved outside when they became too rowdy. Ox One theory regarding the origin of "Fat Tuesday" or Mardi Gras is that it was named after the practice of leading a fattened ox through the village streets before Lent. Afterward, it was slaughtered to provide the final meal before Lenten restrictions on meat and dairy products went into effect. In many Carnival celebrations held in France today, a fattened ox plays a central role in the festivities. A child known as the "king of butchers" usually rides in a decorated car behind the ox, and people throw confetti or blow horns as the ox and the butcher pass by. In New Orleans, the Krewe of Rex (see KREWES ) is credited with reintroducing the fattened ox to the Mardi Gras celebration by using it as the theme for a giant float. FURTHER READING Bellenir, Karen. Religious Holidays and Calendars. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2004. Dobler, Lavinia G. Customs and Holidays Around the World. New York: Fleet Pub. Corp., 1962. Frazer, Sir James G. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion. New York: Macmillan, 1931. Gulevich, Tanya. Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival, and Lent. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2002. Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Purdy, Susan. Festivals for You to Celebrate. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1969. Santino, Jack. All Around the Year: Holidays and Celebrations in American Life. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. Urlin, Ethel L. Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days. 1915. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1992. Weiser, Franz Xaver. Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1958. WEB SITES	Rio de Janeiro
US traitor Iva Toguri d'Aquino was better known by what name?	Carnival \| Article about Carnival by The Free Dictionary Carnival \| Article about Carnival by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Carnival Related to Carnival: cruises carnival, communal celebration, especially the religious celebration in Catholic countries that takes place just before Lent Lent [Old Eng. lencten,=spring], Latin Quadragesima (meaning 40; thus the 40 days of Lent). In Christianity, Lent is a time of penance, prayer, preparation for or recollection of baptism, and preparation for the celebration of Easter. ..... Click the link for more information. . Since early times carnivals have been accompanied by parades, masquerades, pageants, and other forms of revelry that had their origins in pre-Christian pagan rites, particularly fertility rites that were connected with the coming of spring and the rebirth of vegetation. One of the first recorded instances of an annual spring festival is the festival of Osiris in Egypt; it commemorated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile. In Athens, during the 6th cent. B.C., a yearly celebration in honor of the god Dionysus was the first recorded instance of the use of a float. It was during the Roman Empire that carnivals reached an unparalleled peak of civil disorder and licentiousness. The major Roman carnivals were the Bacchanalia, the Saturnalia, and the Lupercalia. In Europe the tradition of spring fertility celebrations persisted well into Christian times, where carnivals reached their peak during the 14th and 15th cent. Because carnivals are deeply rooted in pagan superstitions and the folklore of Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was unable to stamp them out and finally accepted many of them as part of church activity. The immediate consequence of church influence may be seen in the medieval Feast of Fools, which included a mock Mass and a blasphemous impersonation of church officials. Eventually, however, the power of the church made itself felt, and the carnival was stripped of its most offending elements. The church succeeded in dominating the activities of the carnivals, and eventually they became directly related to the coming of Lent. The major celebrations are generally on Shrove Tuesday (see Mardi Gras Mardi Gras , last day before the fasting season of Lent. It is the French name for Shrove Tuesday. Literally translated, the term means "fat Tuesday" and was so called because it represented the last opportunity for merrymaking and excessive indulgence in food and drink before ..... Click the link for more information. ); however, in Germany the carnival season, or Fasching, begins on the Epiphany (Jan. 6) in Bavaria and on Nov. 11 in the Rhineland. In recent times, the term carnival has also been loosely applied to include local festivals, traveling circuses, bazaars, and other celebrations of a joyous nature, regardless of their purpose or their season. carnival historical and continuing forms of social ritual which allow temporary reversals of the social order in which social rules (e.g. sexual mores) are transgressed and mockery made of the rich and powerful. See also LIMINALITY , BAKHTIN , ROLE REVERSAL . Carnival Cheese Week, Mardi Gras, Maslenitsa, Packzi Day, Pancake Day, Shrovetide Carnival is a holiday that developed in response to a religious observance, namely the six-week season of Lent. In the Middle Ages Christians endured many trying religious disciplines during Lent. As a result they celebrated the week before Lent began, enjoying one last fling before beginning these hardships. Carnival celebrations last from several days to over a week and take place in early spring. Many festivals begin in earnest on the Saturday or Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. The Thursday before Ash Wednesday, sometimes called "Fat Thursday," also once served as a traditional starting date for Carnival. The date of Carnival changes from year to year, as its timing depends on that of Easter (see also Easter, Date of). The festival reaches its peak on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In some countries people call this day "Fat Tuesday." Indeed Carnival began as a means of using up rich foods and indulging in lively behavior before the start of Lent with its accompanying fast and other religious disciplines. Symbols and Customs Although Carnival celebrations vary from country to country and region to region, they usually include some or all of the following customs and symbols. Most Carnivals offer participants various opportunities to take to the streets in costumes or masks. As people temporarily take on the identity represented by the costume or mask, they engage in a spontaneous kind of play-acting with other costumed participants and onlookers. The fool or clown plays an important role in many Carnival festivals and symbolizes the topsy-turvy nature of the holiday. Many celebrations also feature a mock king and queen, who rule over the kingdom of Carnival during the few days of its duration. Some festivals schedule a symbolic funeral at the end of the week's festivities. A dummy, or some insignificant item, such as a sardine, is "killed" and buried, and this burial represents the death and laying to rest of Carnival for another year. Often people throw things at one another during Carnival celebrations, whether it be water, flowers, candy, oranges, or party favors, such as confetti or beads. Finally, Carnival customs often encourage people to eat and drink heartily, and may also include some loosening of the usual rules of social conduct. Origins of the Word "Carnival" Researchers disagree about the roots of the word "Carnival." Some say it comes from the Latin phrase caro levare, which means to lift or remove meat. During the Middle Ages this phrase became carne levare, and eventually, carne vale. It passed into English as "Carnival." In some of the Romance languages that evolved from Latin, the word took on a similar form. In Spanish it's carnaval, in Italian carnavale, and in Portuguese carnaval. The French call it Mardi Gras, which means "Fat Tuesday." Other researchers have drawn different conclusions about the origin of the word Carnival. They say it comes from carrus navalis, a boat-shaped cart drawn through the city streets during the ancient Roman winter festival of Saturnalia. Masked and costumed men and women rode in the cart, singing coarse songs. Origins Where did Carnival come from? Most researchers agree that it began as a celebration of the last few days before the beginning of Lent. During the Middle Ages, people observed Lent by fasting, refraining from marital relations, reflecting mournfully on their shortcomings, and in some cases performing penance for serious misdeeds (for more on penance, see Repentance; see also Sin). No marriages could be performed during this somber time. Therefore, people celebrated the week before they began this strict regimen by indulging in rich foods, gaiety, and outrageous behavior, in other words, by enjoying all that was soon to be forbidden. While Carnival as we know it today began in Europe in the Middle Ages, some writers believe that its origins lie in various celebrations that took place in the ancient Mediterranean world. They point to a variety of festivals observed in ancient times which resemble Carnival in certain ways. For example, during Saturnalia people feasted, drank, and reveled in the streets, often in costume. Moreover, social rank temporarily disappeared, as those of high rank served those of low rank, slaves enjoyed a temporary holiday, and people engaged in madcap behavior of all kinds. The Babylonian and Mesopotamian New Year festivals, rowdy celebrations that took place in mid-spring, also featured street masquerades (for more on a related modern festival, see No Ruz). In biblical times the Jewish people created a spring holiday called Purim. During this holiday, still celebrated today, people hid their identities behind masks, men and women wore each other's clothing, and people engaged in wild behavior normally considered inappropriate. Another Roman holiday, Lupercalia, which took place in early spring, offered certain young men an opportunity to dress in animal skins and run wild through the streets, flailing whips at young women who crossed their path. According to Roman folk belief, the strokes of these whips bestowed fertility. Finally, Roman devotees of the goddess Cybele observed a joyous spring festival called Hilaria. Other writers disagree with the argument that Carnival evolved from these ancient celebrations. They point out that, with the exclusion of Purim, the last of these ancient festivals disappeared about five hundred years before 965 A.D., when the first mention of European Carnival celebrations appears in an historical document. This fact leads this group of researchers to conclude that, although Carnival shares some customs with ancient festivals, medieval Europeans invented the observance on their own as a means of letting off steam before beginning the hardships of Lent. Medieval and Renaissance Carnivals The earliest mentions of European Carnival celebrations in historical documents call it carnelevare, literally "lift up meat" or "take away meat." Indeed, judging by these documents, eating meat seems to be the primary custom connected with the season. Carnival rooted itself in the European folk calendar between the years 1000 and 1300 with celebrations focused around feasting in preparation for the fasting soon to come. The full range of customs that came to characterize European Carnival celebrations developed in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. During these centuries, which coincided with a period of social and intellectual change that historians have dubbed the Renaissance, people adopted new ways of looking at the world. These new perspectives included humanism, a philosophy that emphasized the need to place human interests above other concerns, and naturalism, a doctrine that denied the existence of anything beyond the natural world. These philosophies influenced Carnival celebrations by increasing the value people placed on lighthearted foolishness as a means of counterbalancing the artificial social demands and seriousness required of people in everyday life. During this era Carnival celebrations came to include a greater emphasis on clowns, fools, and social satire, that is, making fun of society and its rules. The famous Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel (c.1525-1530 to 1569) left us a visual description of the Carnival celebrations of this era in his 1559 painting entitled "The Battle of Carnival and Lent." By the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries those populations in which Carnival had taken root observed the festive season with masquerades, rich foods, drink, and rowdy revelry, especially antics that made fun of human folly or reversed social roles and ranks. Custom encouraged people to play pranks on one another, especially to throw water, flour, beans, dirt, or other substances at each other. Criticism of Carnival In the mid-fifteenth century Church authorities began to criticize Carnival celebrations for encouraging various kinds of excesses and creating public disorder. These criticisms often compared Carnival to pagan Roman festivals, suggesting that they indeed represented a survival of paganism and therefore should be suppressed. Active repression of Carnival celebrations began in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the year 1748 Pope Benedict XIV instituted a new custom in the Roman Catholic Church. This custom, called the "forty hours of Carnival," required Roman Catholic churches to hold special services on the evenings of the last three days of Carnival. Churches also left their doors open during these forty hours so that people could enter at any time to seek God's forgiveness for sins committed during the festival. Carnival in the Modern Era In the sixteenth century well-to-do Italians began to host costume balls in celebration of Carnival. This trend eventually spread to other parts of Europe, giving rise to a courtly Carnival. This same trend led to the introduction of elegant floats and magnificent parades, which encouraged a more civil and structured celebration. In spite of official opposition and unease, Carnival celebrations proved impossible to stamp out in much of southern Europe. In northern Europe, however, Carnival celebrations faded away in some regions where they had once been popular. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries people began to beautify the festival in response to new perspectives introduced by the Romantic movement, which tended to idealize old traditions and folkways. Over time many Europeans discarded some of the dirtier and more aggressive customs associated with the holiday, such as throwing water or oranges at one another, and replaced them with gentler gestures, like tossing confetti and flowers. It became fashionable in some cities to ride in flowercovered carriages, construct elaborate parade floats, and host elegant masked balls. As the parades grew in importance the nature of the festival changed. Previously everyone had participated in the masked hijinks. Now a division grew up between participants and spectators. In the past the spirit of Carnival swept over the entire town. Now it was concentrated along a specific parade route. From Europe to the Americas While some of these changes were felt in Spain and Portugal, their rural Carnival celebrations continued in the same rowdy spirit of ages past. People in the street threw oranges, lemons, eggs, flour, mud, straw, corncobs, beans or lupines (a type of flower) at one another, and people on balconies poured dirty water, glue or other obnoxious substances on the crowds below. Those in the streets battled one another with brooms or wooden spoons. Indoors people feasted on rich foods, to which they also treated guests. The wealthier homes might even toss cakes and pastries out windows to passersby. Colonists from these countries exported this version of Carnival, called Entrudo in Portuguese, and Antroido or Entroido in the Galician language of northwestern Spain, to Latin America. Latin American Carnival celebrations blend European Carnival customs with African and Native American traditions of celebration. African-influenced music and dance, for example, play an especially important role in Carnival celebrations in Brazil and Trinidad (see also Brazil, Carnival in; Trinidad, Carnival in). Meanwhile the French succeeded in transferring their Carnival celebrations to certain of their colonies in North America, namely those centered around the cities of New Orleans and Mobile. These celebrations, known as Mardi Gras, survive today, a regional American expression of an old European seasonal festival. For more on Carnival, see Brazil, Carnival in; Cheese Week; Germany, Carnival in; Italy, Carnival in; Mardi Gras; Maslenitsa; Paczki Day; Pancake Day; Shrovetide; Switzerland, Carnival in; and Trinidad, Carnival in Further Reading Blackburn, Bonnie, and Leofranc Holford-Strevens. The Oxford Companion to the Year. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1999. Goldwasser, Maria Julia. "Carnival." In Mircea Eliade, ed. The Encyclopedia of Religion. Volume 3. New York: Macmillan, 1987. Griffin, Robert H., and Ann H. Shurgin, eds. Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Holidays. Volume 1. Detroit, MI: UXL, 2000. Kinser, Samuel. Carnival American Style. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990. Lau, Alfred. Carneval International. Bielefeld, Germany: Univers-Verlag, n.d. Orloff, Alexander. Carnival: Myth and Cult. Wörgl, Austria: Perlinger, 1981. Carnival (Mardi Gras) Type of Holiday: Religious (Christian) Date of Observation: Dates vary, between Epiphany and Shrove Tuesday (Ash Wednesday Eve) Where Celebrated: Central America, Europe, South America, United States, Caribbean Islands, and throughout the Christian world Symbols and Customs: Carnival King, Forty Hours' Devotion, Fried Dough, King Cakes, Krewes, Ox Colors: Purple, green, and gold (see KING CAKES ) Related Holidays: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Maslenitsa, Shrove Tuesday ORIGINS Carnival is a time when Christians celebrate before the start of LENT. The word Christian refers to a follower of Christ, a title derived from the Greek word meaning Messiah or Anointed One. The Christ of Christianity is Jesus of Nazareth, a man born between 7 and 4 B . C . E . in the region of Palestine. According to Christian teaching, Jesus was killed by Roman authorities using a form of execution called crucifixion (a term meaning he was nailed to a cross and hung from it until he died) in about the year 30 C . E . After his death, he rose back to life. His death and resurrection provide a way by which people can be reconciled with God. In remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection, the cross serves as a fundamental symbol in Christianity. With nearly two billion believers in countries around the globe, Christianity is the largest of the world's religions. There is no one central authority for all of Christianity. The pope (the bishop of Rome) is the authority for the Roman Catholic Church, but other sects look to other authorities. Orthodox communities look to patriarchs and emphasize doctrinal agreement and traditional practice. Protestant communities focus on individual conscience. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches are often referred to as the Western Church, while the Orthodox churches may also be called the Eastern Church. All three main branches of Christianity acknowledge the authority of Christian scriptures, a compilation of writings assembled into a document called the Bible. Methods of biblical interpretation vary among the different Christian sects. The season known to Christians as Carnival actually extends all the way from EPIPHANY (January 6) to SHROVE TUESDAY, or the day before LENT. The Latin carne vale means "farewell to meat," but it could also be a broader reference to the pleasures that are forbidden during the forty days of Lent. Carnival in general is a time for feasting and self-indulgence, with the most intense period of celebration usually taking place the last three days before ASH WEDNESDAY and particularly on Shrove Tuesday. It features masked balls, lavish costume parades, torchlight processions, dancing, fireworks, and of course feasting on all the foods that will have to be given up for Lent. It is interesting to note that processions, feasting, and masquerades were also popular activities among the pagans during their spring festivals, which were designed to ensure the health and growth of their crops. Most of the features of the modern Carnival celebration are firmly rooted in a tradition that can be traced back to the fourteenth century. One of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The parades, pageants, and costume balls go on for four days, but the highlight of the festival is the parade of the samba schools, which takes place on the Sunday and Monday preceding Ash Wednesday. The competition among Carnival these neighborhood groups is fierce, and people spend months beforehand making costumes and learning special dances for the parade. The most flamboyant Carnival celebration in the United States takes place during the two weeks preceding Ash Wednesday in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was known among New Orleans' early French settlers as Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday") because the day before the start of Lent was traditionally a time to use up all the milk, butter, eggs, and animal fat left in the kitchen. This grand celebration culminates in a series of parades organized by groups known as KREWES . With marching jazz bands and elaborately decorated floats, the parades attract over a million spectators every year. New Orleans' Mardi Gras has been cancelled only a few times in its 150 year history-during a 1979 police strike, the Civil War, and two World Wars. But it came very close to being cancelled again in February 2006. The previous year, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, damaging many critical levees, leaving eighty percent of the city underwater, claiming more than 1,600 lives, and decimating city infrastructure, schools, hospitals and libraries. Many residents of New Orleans, still mourning the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, felt it was too soon and too painful to celebrate Mardi Gras. Others thought the city needed to proceed with its cherished tradition in order to demonstrate its resilience, provide a needed distraction, and to promote psychological healing and financial recovery. Ultimately, the 2006 Mardi Gras did take place with over half of New Orleans' pre-Katrina residents still missing from the city, a diminished crowd of visitors, fewer krewes, and parades shortened and re-routed to circumvent the most severely damaged sections of the city. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Carnival King Carnival is an especially important season for Roman Catholics. In Italy, Spain, France, and other European countries where the influence of Rome has been the strongest, a popular feature of Carnival celebrations is a burlesque figure, often made out of straw and known as the Carnival King. When his brief reign over the Carnival festivities is over, the king is usually shot in public, burned, drowned, or otherwise destroyed while the onlookers cheer openly. This may be a symbolic act designed to rid the spectators of their folly and sinfulness. One theory about the origin of the Carnival King is that he is a direct descendant of the old King of the SATURNALIA, the ancient Roman festival held in December. This pagan king was a man chosen to impersonate the Roman agricultural god Saturn for the duration of the celebration; but at the end, he suffered a real death rather than a make-believe one. The brutal custom of putting a mock king to death eventually faded, but the idea of appointing someone to reign over the festivities appears to have survived in the figure of the Carnival King. Forty Hours' Devotion To encourage good Christians to compensate for the excessive behavior exhibited at Carnival time, Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 instituted a special devotion for the three days preceding Lent. Called the "Forty Hours of Carnival," it is still held in many American and European churches where carnival celebrations are a longstanding tradition. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day Monday and Tuesday, and devotions are held in the evening. Fried Dough Most Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the world include the preparation of some form of fried dough. In New Orleans, for example, the beignet is a square doughnut without a hole, similar to a fritter. In some areas of Germany, where Carnival is called Fastnacht, fried dough is served in the form of Fast- nachtkuchen. This raised doughnut was brought to the United States by the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania, and such fried cakes can still be found in other German-settled areas of the country. Since it was customary on Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," to use up all the animal fat in the house before the start of Lent, food was often fried so the fat wouldn't go to waste. King Cakes The round or oval cakes known as King Cakes are one of the primary foods associated with the Carnival season. They are frosted with alternating bands of sugar in the three colors that have become associated with Mardi Gras: purple, symbolizing justice; green, symbolizing faith; and gold, symbolizing power. There are tiny dolls-or sometimes a bean-hidden in the cakes, and whoever is served the piece containing the doll or bean is crowned king for a day. In New Orleans, where the Carnival season begins with the Bal du Roi (King's Ball), a Parisian tradition, the person who gets the doll has to hold the next ball. These balls continue throughout the season, with the final one being held on Mardi Gras. Krewes The private clubs known as "krewes" that give parties, parades, and balls during the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans can be traced back to 1831 in Mobile, Carnival Alabama. A man named Michael Krafft had been out celebrating New Year's Eve with his friends when they decided to break into a hardware store. They stole some cowbells and rakes, and paraded through the streets making as much noise as possible. This incident led to the establishment of the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, which organized a rowdy costume parade the following year featuring tableaux and dancing. In 1857, six men from Mobile who had been members of the society and who now lived in New Orleans decided to introduce a similar organization there, which they called the Mystick Krewe of Comus-a reference both to the masque (a dramatic entertainment featuring elaborate costumes, scenery, music, and dancing) Comus, written by English poet John Milton, and to the Greek and Roman god of revelry, feasting, and nocturnal entertainment. The word "krewe" is supposed to have come from the Anglo-Saxon spelling of "crew." By 1988, there were approximately sixty other krewes in New Orleans, and today they parade through the streets for nearly three weeks before Mardi Gras. Comus remains the most traditional krewe, producing floats for the parade similar to those seen a hundred years ago. The other krewes-with names like Rex, Zulu, Proteus, and Momus-are also private clubs, often linked to old-line Protestant or Catholic social networks. In addition, there are "maverick" krewes whose membership is open to anyone who can pay the required fee. The floats designed by the krewes range from the most traditional-small, delicate floats with a great deal of ornamental sculpture and extensive use of gold and silver foil-to considerably less formal processions of decorated vans and trucks. Some think that the krewes and their parades go back to the reynages of medieval France-make-believe kingdoms established as part of the Carnival celebration. It is also possible that the floats seen in today's Mardi Gras parades were derived from religious tableaux originally performed in churches but moved outside when they became too rowdy. Ox One theory regarding the origin of "Fat Tuesday" or Mardi Gras is that it was named after the practice of leading a fattened ox through the village streets before Lent. Afterward, it was slaughtered to provide the final meal before Lenten restrictions on meat and dairy products went into effect. In many Carnival celebrations held in France today, a fattened ox plays a central role in the festivities. A child known as the "king of butchers" usually rides in a decorated car behind the ox, and people throw confetti or blow horns as the ox and the butcher pass by. In New Orleans, the Krewe of Rex (see KREWES ) is credited with reintroducing the fattened ox to the Mardi Gras celebration by using it as the theme for a giant float. FURTHER READING Bellenir, Karen. Religious Holidays and Calendars. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2004. Dobler, Lavinia G. Customs and Holidays Around the World. New York: Fleet Pub. Corp., 1962. Frazer, Sir James G. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion. New York: Macmillan, 1931. Gulevich, Tanya. Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival, and Lent. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2002. Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Purdy, Susan. Festivals for You to Celebrate. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1969. Santino, Jack. All Around the Year: Holidays and Celebrations in American Life. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994. Urlin, Ethel L. Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints' Days. 1915. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1992. Weiser, Franz Xaver. Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1958. WEB SITES	i don't know
What is the subtitle of Shakespeare's play 'Twelfth Night'?	SparkNotes: Twelfth Night: Context Twelfth Night Table of Contents Plot Overview The most influential writer in all of English literature, William Shakespeare was born in 1564 to a -successful middle-class glove-maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Shakespeare attended grammar school, but his formal education proceeded no further. In 1582 he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her. Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Public and critical acclaim quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603) and James I (ruled 1603–1625), and he was a favorite of both monarchs. Indeed, James granted his company the greatest possible compliment by bestowing upon its members the title of King’s Men. Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died in 1616 at age fifty-two. At the time of his death, literary luminaries such as Ben Jonson hailed his works as timeless. Shakespeare’s works were collected and printed in various editions in the century following his death, and by the early eighteenth century his reputation as the greatest poet ever to write in English was well established. The unprecedented admiration garnered by his works led to a fierce curiosity about Shakespeare’s life, but the dearth of biographical information has left many details of Shakespeare’s personal history shrouded in mystery. Some people have concluded from this fact and from Shakespeare’s modest education that Shakespeare’s plays were actually written by someone else—Francis Bacon and the Earl of Oxford are the two most popular candidates—but the support for this claim is overwhelmingly circumstantial, and the theory is not taken seriously by many scholars. In the absence of credible evidence to the contrary, Shakespeare must be viewed as the author of the thirty-seven plays and 154 sonnets that bear his name. The legacy of this body of work is immense. A number of Shakespeare’s plays seem to have transcended even the category of brilliance, becoming so influential as to affect profoundly the course of Western literature and culture ever after. Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night near the middle of his career, probably in the year 1601. Most critics consider it one of his greatest comedies, along with plays such as As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Twelfth Night is about illusion, deception, disguises, madness, and the extraordinary things that love will cause us to do—and to see. Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare’s plays to have an alternative title: the play is actually called Twelfth Night, or What You Will. Critics are divided over what the two titles mean, but “Twelfth Night” is usually considered to be a reference to Epiphany, or the twelfth night of the Christmas celebration (January 6). In Shakespeare’s day, this holiday was celebrated as a festival in which everything was turned upside down—much like the upside-down, chaotic world of Illyria in the play. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s so-called transvestite comedies, a category that also includes As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice. These plays feature female protagonists who, for one reason or another, have to disguise themselves as young men. It is important to remember that in Shakespeare’s day, all of the parts were played by men, so Viola would actually have been a male pretending to be a female pretending to be a male. Contemporary critics have found a great deal of interest in the homoerotic implications of these plays. As is the case with most of Shakespeare’s plays, the story of Twelfth Night is derived from other sources. In particular, Shakespeare seems to have consulted an Italian play from the 1530s entitled Gl’Ingannati, which features twins who are mistaken for each other and contains a version of the Viola-Olivia-Orsino love triangle in Twelfth Night. He also seems to have used a 1581 English story entitled “Apollonius and Silla,” by Barnabe Riche, which mirrors the plot of Twelfth Night up to a point, with a shipwreck, a pair of twins, and a woman disguised as a man. A number of sources have been suggested for the Malvolio subplot, but none of them is very convincing. Sir Toby, Maria, and the luckless steward seem to have sprung largely from Shakespeare’s own imagination. More Help	What You Will
The Hubbard Medal, whose past winners include Sir Ernest Shackleton, Charles Lindbergh, and the Apollo 11 crew, is awarded by which society?	TWELFTH NIGHT TWELFTH NIGHT Important Topics As a Comedy Music and love, drinking and dancing, friendship and relationships.. All come together to create a humorous confusion of the hearts. Shakespeare has created an exceptional play that allows the reader to look at deeper concepts of individuality and society through the light hearted humor in the lives of the characters literarism.blogspot.com Writing Style and Plot Construction Critics like to say that Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most poetical and musical plays. A number of songs and poetry have been beautifully incorporated in the play to create a masterpiece of the centuries. The Title The key to the meaning of Twelfth Night is in the title. Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare's plays to have an alternative title: the play is actually called 'Twelfth Night, or What You Will'. Critics are divided over what the two titles mean, but 'Twelfth Night' is usually considered to be a reference to Epiphany, or the twelfth night of the Christmas celebration (January 6), as in the popular song "Twelve Days of Christmas". It marks the Feast of the Epiphany, a culmination of the Christmas period, a holiday in Western Christian theology that celebrates the day that the magi (a.k.a. the three wise men) presented gifts to the newborn Jesus. It represents the manifestation of Light, or Truth, to those who have enough understanding to perceive it. This revelation of Light, or Truth, is the subject of the play, with Viola eventually revealing her true identity as a woman. Critics argue about whether or not the play was written specifically for the Twelfth Night. Leslie Hotson argues that Twelfth Night was performed for Queen Elizabeth and her guest, Count Don Virginio Orsino, on January 6, 1601 (Orsino, of course, is Viola's love interest in the play). Some argue that the play was written later, but even those who refute Hotson's argument acknowledge that the world of the play celebrates the spirit of Twelfth Night festivities. Twelfth Night, in Shakespeare's day, was a holiday celebrated by a festival in which everything was turned upside down. Elizabethan communities often appointed young boys as "Lords of Misrule"; it was a chance to play king for a day - much like the upside-down, chaotic world of Illyria. This rebellious spirit is reflected in figures like Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, alongside Feste's singing and comedy. Some theorize that the second part of the title was an afterthought: when someone asked the playwright "the name of the play, Shakespeare replied, "Urm, Twelfth Night, or what you will" (as in, "I don't know - whatever"). The second title seems to invite the audience to make "what [we] will" of the play - what it means, and why it matters (if it matters at all) - it is entirely subjective. Some directors of the play have taken the title literally, paying close attention to the Elizabethan rituals related to Twelfth Night; others have disregarded it entirely, and set the play in the sunny Mediterranean, where the historical "Illyria" is located or, as we have done, in 1920s England. -Source:www.pscompanyoffools.weebly.com Major Themes Love and Suffering Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy, and romantic love is the play’s main focus. Despite the fact that the play offers a happy ending, in which the various lovers find one another and achieve wedded bliss, Shakespeare shows that love can cause pain. Many of the characters seem to view love as a kind of curse, a feeling that attacks its victims suddenly and disruptively’’ licheng47.blogspot.com Gender Roles Gender is one of the most obvious and much-discussed topics in the play. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s transvestite comedies, in which a female character—in this case, Viola—disguises herself as a man. This leads to the play growing into a pedestal for confusion and sexual anxiety. Critics have argued that Shakespeare, through his light-hearted play raises the more important burning questions of Gender Construct and why and how society molds ‘roles’ for people depending on their gender. Disguise Shakespeare uses the concept of disguise extensively throughout the course of the play. Through these disguises, the play raises questions about what makes us who we are, compelling the audience to wonder if things like gender and class are set in stone, or if they can be altered with a change of clothing. Madness The main type of madness is love. Love is intertwined in the story line and causes confusion and chaos. Each character seems to be involved with this one feeling – love. No character is actually mad in the play, but a number of them are accused of it. This gives the play its humorous twist, the much-likeable fun to the misery that we see in the lives of Orsino, Viola and Olivia. Identity ‘’ The instances of mistaken identity are related to the prevalence of disguises in the play, as Viola’s male clothing leads to her being mistaken for her brother, Sebastian, and vice versa. Sebastian is mistaken for Viola (or rather, Cesario) by Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, and then by Olivia, who promptly marries him. Meanwhile, Antonio mistakes Viola for Sebastian, and thinks that his friend has betrayed him when Viola claims to not know him. These cases of mistaken identity, common in Shakespeare’s comedies, create the tangled situation that can be resolved only when Viola and Sebastian appear together, helping everyone to understand what has happened.’’ Twelfth Night and the Modern World Relevance What makes this comedy so appealing to people of the generations? For some it is the purity of its characters, for others it is the deepness of its themes. In either case, the play continues to win hearts, decade after decade. Surely everyone experiences the pain of loving someone who - for whatever reason - they cannot tell. Again, it is not the situations themselves but their emotional implications that are universal. One more: think about Malvolio. He's serious, self-important, pompous, malicious and enjoys nothing more than stopping people's fun. Everyone knows someone like that (I bet you've just thought of one). And moreover, everyone takes some delight in the idea of them being humiliated; exactly as the yellow stockings plot does to Malvolio. So - in short - you can find analogues in your own life of the situations and emotional relationships in Shakespeare's play which should help to explain why it is that Twelfth Night is still one of hte world's most popular plays after 400 years. -Source:www.enotes.com Appeal Be it the overload of humour, or the deeper questions of gender roles, or the embedded levels of human emotions, the play has connected with audiences for decades, and continues to do so. Disguise is the source of theatrical appeal in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Discuss the validity of this statement. Michael Pennington describes Twelfth Night as a typical Romantic Comedy with a sublime sense of inconcsequentiality amidst the lyrical nature that plagues its environment. Therefore it is none other than that of a romantic comedy, and by definition, seeks the usage of a most humourous yet vital factor that shapes the events that are to occur; Disguise. Disguise indeed gives rise to theatrical appeal and as Graham atkin identifies, poses a most poignant question of human identity in relation to outward realist appearance. Nonetheless, there is a diversity of opinion as to whether disguise is the primary source for such a comedic sequence of events to unravel as the play goes on. In fact, there are other elements that facilitate the foundation upon which disguise is rooted that creates and shapes what is in fact Twelfth Night; plot, character, dialogue, theme, music and speactacle. Freytag's theory delineates that a play is sibject to 5 acts upon which the 1st Act, the exposition, establishes the plot and enlightens the audience on what is to be expected.. All characters give rise to their functions and roles in this act. However, revelation of the characters are not confined to the first act alone. Such a contradiction is concretized in Act 2 scene 1 when the audience is acquainted with Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, alive from the shipwreck and destined to enter voyage of "mere extravagancy". To an Elizabethan audience, this is indeed most intriguing for Shakespeare to disclose another subplot in the second Act. Such an event that occurs gives rise in essence to dramatic effect, stuning the audience and fuelling their plight to know what will come again. Furthermore, the fact that it is a comedy, also know as "What You will' unveils a deeper meaning. History notes that Twelfth Niight was written in 1601 for pure entertainment, at Christmas... -Source:www.studymode.com	i don't know
According to the Bible, how old was Methuselah when he fathered Lamech?	Methuselah in the Bible - Oldest Man Who Ever Lived By Jack Zavada Methuselah has fascinated Bible readers for centuries as the oldest man who ever lived. According to Genesis 5:27, Methuselah was 969 years old when he died. Three possible meanings have been suggested for his name: "man of the spear (or dart)," "his death shall bring...," and "worshiper of Selah." The second meaning may imply that when Methuselah died, judgment would come, in the form of the Flood . Methuselah was a descendant of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve . Methuselah's father was Enoch , his son was Lamech, and his grandson was Noah , who built the ark and rescued his family from the great Flood. Before the Flood, people lived extremely long lives: Adam, 930; Seth, 912; Enosh, 905; Lamech, 777; and Noah, 950. Enoch, Methuselah's father, was "translated" to heaven at age 365. Bible scholars offer a number of theories as to why Methuselah lived so long. One is that the pre-Flood patriarchs were only a few generations removed from Adam and Eve, a genetically perfect couple. They would have had unusually strong immunity from disease and life-threatening conditions. Another theory suggests that early in humanity's history, people lived longer to populate the earth. As sin increased in the world, however, God planned to bring judgment through the Flood: Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3, NIV ) Although several people lived to be over 400 years old after the Flood ( Genesis 11:10-24 ), gradually the maximum human lifespan went down to about 120 years. The Fall of Man and the subsequent sin it introduced into the world corrupted every aspect of the planet. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV ) Paul was speaking about both physical and spiritual death. The Bible does not indicate that Methuselah's character had anything to do with his long life. Certainly he would have been influenced by the example of his righteous father Enoch, who pleased God so much he escaped death by being "taken up" to heaven. Methuselah died in the year of the Flood . Whether he perished before the Flood or was killed by it, we are not told. Accomplishments of Methuselah: He lived to be 969 years old. Methuselah was grandfather of Noah, a "righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:9, NIV ) Hometown: Ancient Mesopotamia, exact location not given. References to Methuselah in the Bible: Genesis 5:21-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3; Luke 3:37. Occupation: Children: Lamech and unnamed siblings. Grandson: Noah Descendant: Joseph , earthly father of Jesus Christ Key Verse: Genesis 5:25-27 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. ( NIV ) (Sources: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Trent C. Butler, general editor; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, general editor; gotquestions.org ) New Testament People of the Bible (Index) Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page .	one hundred and eighty seven
The World Heritage city of Kandy is on which Asian island, whose name means in Sanskrit 'venerable island', and whose previous colonial name is strongly associated with tea?	Old as Methuselah - The Omega Letter Old as Methuselah Monday, August 19, 2013 Wendy Wippel ''Adam lived 130 years, and begot a son in his own likeness… and named him Seth. Seth lived 105 years, and begot Enosh. Enosh lived 90 years, and begot Cainan. Canain lived...zzzzzzzzz.'' Jesus said every yod and tittle is important. Ever wonder what all those genealogies are there for? Proverbs gives us a hint on how to find out: "if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:3-5) NKJV In other words, if we seek insight, if we're willing to dig a little, if we approach the Bible as if it is a treasure trove; there are lots of nuggets of truth and insight waiting to be found. This passage is a great example: "Adam begot Seth, and Seth begot Enosh. Enosh begot Cainan, and Cainan begot Mahalalel. Mahalalel begot Jared, and Jared begot Enoch." This is where it gets really interesting. Enoch, if you remember, was a righteous dude. The Bible records that he "walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." The Bible doesn't say where, but Jewish tradition confirms what's implied: to heaven. One Jewish tradition says that he was the last righteous man of his time, and God took him to prevent he too from being corrupted. But before God took him, apparently he wrote a book. The Book of Enoch. A book that is not part of the Bible, but one that is quoted by Jude. And Jude's quote from the book of Enoch gives us some insight into this otherwise boring genealogy: "Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 14, 15) Jude is discussing God's final judgment on those who refuse to acknowledge God, but then says that Enoch prophesied about them also. Implying that Enoch prophesied about another judgment before. And that's exactly what many ancient historians recorded. Enoch was given a prophecy of the flood to come, and he relayed that prophecy to the people of the time. And not only did he relay it himself, he left a permanent warning behind in the name of his grandson, Methuselah. Methuselah, a combination of the two Hebrew syllables "Mewth", meaning "death" and "selah", meaning "to come". A name that meant, essentially, "With my death, it will come". And (ostensibly), after Enoch's preaching, everyone knew what was coming. Here’s where you should be thinking, let's dig deeper. . . From the genealogy provided, we can figure out whether Enoch's prophecy was actually fulfilled: "After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah." (Genesis 5:18-30) What did we learn from these verses? This passage tells us that Methuselah was born 187 years before he fathered Lamech, and Lamech had Noah when he was 182. Do the math and we know that Methuselah was 369 years old when Noah was born. But you have to skip ahead to chapter 7 to find the clincher: "Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth." Do the math again, and whaddaya know, Methuselah was 969 years old when the floodwaters came upon the earth. With Methuselah's death, the flood came. Just as Enoch predicted. But wait, there's more! (Treasure to be troved, that is.) Enoch was taken by God, ahead of the judgment. Noah and his sons were saved through it, and the rest of the world perished. Like Jude said, Enoch prophesied two judgments, one past (the flood) and one future. So it would seem that Enoch, Noah and sons, and those who perish foreshadow similar groups in the judgment to come. (I'll leave that to you to figure out!) And I saved the best for last. Most of us learned in Sunday school that Methuselah at 969 years, was the oldest human ever. And his death brought judgment. Which is nothing but another testament to the God we served, the God who is, "not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) The God who; "does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him". (2 Samuel 14:14) The God that will leave the 99 sheep to go after the one that is lost. (Luke 15:4) And I, for one, am thankful that one of those wretched lost sheep that the Good Shepherd went after was named Wendy.	i don't know
What is Ananas Comosus, defined as as 'multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries'?	Family: Bromeliaceae Genre: Ananas The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with edible multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries, also called pineapples, and the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae family. Ananas is a plant genus of the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae), native to South America and Central America which includes the species Ananas comosus, the pineapple. The word "pineapple" in English was first recorded to describe the reproductive organs of conifer trees (now termed pine cones). When European explorers discovered this tropical fruit in the Americas, they called them "pineapples". The tough leaves grow in large rosettes, arising basally from a crown. These leaves are long and lanceolate with a serrate or thorny margin. The flowers, arising from the heart of the rosette, each have their own sepals. They grow into a compact head on a short, robust stalk. The sepals become fleshy and juicy and develop into the well-known complex form of the pseudocarp fruit, crowned by a rosette of leaves. Pineapples may be cultivated from a crown cutting of the fruit, possibly flowering in 20–24 months and fruiting in the following six months. Pineapple does not ripen significantly post-harvest. The pineapple is a herbaceous perennial, which grows to 1.0 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 ft) tall, although sometimes it can be taller. In appearance, the plant has a short, stocky stem with tough, waxy leaves. When creating its fruit, it usually produces up to 200 flowers, although some large-fruited cultivars can exceed this. Once it flowers, the individual fruits of the flowers join together to create what is commonly referred to as a pineapple. After the first fruit is produced, side shoots (called 'suckers' by commercial growers) are produced in the leaf axils of the main stem. These may be removed for propagation, or left to produce additional fruits on the original plant. Commercially, suckers that appear around the base are cultivated. It has 30 or more long, narrow, fleshy, trough-shaped leaves with sharp spines along the margins that are 30 to 100 centimeters (1.0 to 3.3 ft) long, surrounding a thick stem. In the first year of growth, the axis lengthens and thickens, bearing numerous leaves in close spirals. After 12 to 20 months, the stem grows into a spike-like inflorescence up to 15 cm (6 in) long with over 100 spirally arranged, trimerous flowers, each subtended by a bract. Flower colors vary, depending on variety, from lavender, through light purple to red. The ovaries develop into berries, which coalesce into a large, compact, multiple accessory fruit. The fruit of a pineapple is arranged in two interlocking helices, eight in one direction, thirteen in the other. Seed formation needs pollination, but the presence of seeds harms the quality of the fruit. In Hawaii, where pineapple is cultivated on an agricultural scale, importation of hummingbirds is prohibited for this reason. Certainbat-pollinated wild pineapples open their flowers only at night. RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS	Pineapple
The D H Lawrence novel The Plumed Serpent is set in which country, bordered on the south-east by Guatemala, Belize and the Caribbean Sea?	10 Health Benefits of Pineapple for Treating Worms and skin (Ananas comosusMerr) - VegetaFruit 10 Health Benefits of Pineapple for Treating Worms and skin (Ananas comosusMerr) 10 Health Benefits of Pineapple for Treating Worms and skin (Ananas comosusMerr) The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with edible multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries, and the most economically significant plant in the Bromeliaceae family. The content of nutrients and phytonutrients : Sugar in the form of dextrose and sacharosa. Vitamin C, vitamin B, folic acid, and thiamine. Minerals iron, potassium / potash, potassium, and magnesium. And peroxidase enzyme bromelain. Here are some The benefits of pineapple : 1 Treating Worms 3 sprains, bruises due to hit 4. burns, itching and sores 5. Treat Sore throat 7 Inflammation in the skin (dermatitis) 8 Treating Constipation 9 Eliminate Dandruff 10 Lose weight thus I created this article to provide information on the "10 Health Benefits of Pineapple for Treating Worms and skin (Ananas comosusMerr)" may be able to give a good knowledge for the readers. If this article is pleased and feel good, would you to share this article via Facebook, Twitter (@D_Vegetarian) so your friends know this information.	i don't know
Which publishing firm did Carmen Callil found in 1973, whose name means a domineering woman?	Has Virago changed the publishing world's attitudes towards women? \| Books \| The Guardian Virago Has Virago changed the publishing world's attitudes towards women? It's 40 years since Virago Books was set up to celebrate the work of female writers. So how successful has it been in opening up the way for more women authors? The key team at Virago Books in 1988 (from left): Harriet Spicer, Ursula Owen, Lennie Goodings, Alexandra Pringle and Carmen Callil. Photograph: Susan Greenhill Thursday 14 March 2013 04.00 EDT First published on Thursday 14 March 2013 04.00 EDT Share on Messenger Close In 1973, Carmen Callil started a publishing company with one key aim: to make women's writing central. Callil had grown up in Melbourne in Australia, then spent her 20s in London, part of a generation who felt the world was their oyster, she tells me, as we sit in her colourful living room, her border terrier snoring softly at our feet. She worked on the underground press, providing publicity for Ink magazine (company motto: "anything outrageous suitably publicised") and became friends with Marsha Rowe and Rosie Boycott, who started the feminist magazine Spare Rib in 1972. That title gave Callil the idea of doing the same thing for books. A new publishing company began at her kitchen table, and its name was coined, she says, when she and Boycott, "were sitting on the floor of my flat, going through a book of goddesses. Rosie came across Virago: 'a war-like woman', and I said: 'That's fine! I love it.'" Ursula Owen and Harriet Spicer helped found the company, and it quickly became successful – in 1978, it launched the hugely influential Modern Classics series, with their distinctive green spines, celebrating and reviving the work of hundreds of female writers. It still thrives today, headed by Lennie Goodings, as an imprint of Little, Brown and last weekend celebrated the upcoming launch of Fifty Shades of Feminism , an anthology featuring essays from writers including Tahmima Anam, Xinran, Ahdaf Soueif and Bidisha. Virago wasn't the only feminist publishing house to start in that era. It was part of a movement that began tentatively in the 1960s and burgeoned over the next two decades. Ambitions varied from publisher to publisher, but included a conviction that women's writing should be taken as seriously as men's, and, as a result, should have the same chance of remaining in print and becoming part of the canon. There was a strong interest in promoting the work of women who might otherwise be ignored; those marginalised by race, class, sexuality and disability, as well as sex. In the UK, Onlywomen Press specialised in lesbian writing, and Sheba showcased black, working-class and lesbian writers. There was an obvious drive to publish feminist nonfiction too, whether polemic or memoir, books that could explore and define the female experience. Philippa Brewster , now a literary agent at Capel & Land, came up with the idea for feminist imprint Pandora Press and one of its first books was written by the women of Greenham Common . "That seemed to fulfill what we really wanted to do," she says. "We were all part of the women's movement. We represented it, but we also informed it." By 1988 there were 11 feminist publishing houses in the UK. Many of those have now either scaled back operations or closed, but the publishing landscape looks very different to when they first started. As Callil points out, although there have always been many women in publishing, it is only more recently that they have tended to head companies and wield serious power. The question is whether the movement succeeded beyond that. Forty years since it first started, are female writers taken as seriously in the literary world as their male counterparts and given an equal shot at longevity? There have been some recent signs it succeeded royally, not least from a glance at UK literary prizes. This year alone, Sharon Olds has won the TS Eliot prize for poetry and women won in all five categories of the Costa prize , with Hilary Mantel as the overall winner – following her second Booker win late last year. Twenty years ago, an all-female shortlist for a literary prize was pretty much unheard of; in fact, it was an all-male Booker shortlist in 1991 that launched a lively conversation among publishers and writers and led to the 1996 formation of the Orange prize . That award is now known as the Women's Prize for Fiction (the Orange sponsorship has ended), and yesterday announced a strong longlist for 2013 , including Zadie Smith, Elif Shafak, Barbara Kingsolver, Gillian Flynn, Kate Atkinson and, inevitably, Mantel. The prize's co-founder Kate Mosse says she sees the current era as a good one for female writers. It's important for the prize to continue, to retain the territory it has won, she says, but "in this country I think the issue at the moment is to do with access to publishing from other voices. So we see the library service being chiselled away, a complete lack of understanding of what that means to communities where there isn't an immediate access to books … those spaces where anybody, whoever they are, might discover reading, discover the ability to write. I think those are much bigger issues at the moment than whether you're a man or a woman." Hilary Mantel… leading the current surge of strong women writers. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian There is certainly strong evidence that publishing remains dominated by a narrow, privileged few. Last year, for instance, the US writer Roxane Gay highlighted the problem of access for black writers by analysing the books reviewed in the New York Times over the course of 2011. Of 742 books, 655 (nearly 90%) were written by white authors. "That is not even remotely reflective of the racial make up of [the US], where 72% of the population, according to the 2010 census, is white," she noted. Gay's survey followed the work of the group Vida: Women in Literary Arts , which has been publishing an annual count of women's representation in literary journals for three years. Its most recent count came out last week – not one of the literary publications it analysed reviewed more books by female authors than male authors. The Boston Review came very close to equality, with 52% by male authors, 48% by female authors, but in most other cases there was a gaping disparity. In Harper's Magazine, 83% of the books reviewed were by male authors, 17% by female authors; in the London Review of Books, 73% by men, 27% by women; in The New York Review of Books 78% by men, 22% by women; and in the TLS, 75% by men and 25% by women. It has been suggested this disparity might be because women publish fewer works of serious fiction and nonfiction than men. The numbers regarding authorship are difficult to pin down, because publishing includes such a mix of genres and styles, commercial and literary. But a small US survey by the writer Ruth Franklin , who looked at 13 publishers – focusing on the books that might plausibly be reviewed – did find female authors represented far less often. Only the Penguin imprint Riverhead approached parity, with 55% of its books by men and 45% by women. For Verso and Dalkey Archive Press, only 11% and 10% of their books were by women, respectively. This shortfall seems relatively baffling when you consider women's interest in literature. When Debbie Taylor was setting up the women's writing magazine Mslexia in the late 90s, she uncovered figures that showed women were much more highly represented on writing courses than men, more likely to rate reading as important, and both bought and read double the number of books than men did each year. There's no reason to suspect those figures have changed considerably, but male disinterest in women's writing could provide one clue to low representation of women, both on literary shelves and review pages. In 2005-6, UK academics Lisa Jardine and Annie Watkins asked men and women about the books they had found formative; the women's top 20 included six male authors. The men's top 20 included one female author, Harper Lee, leading Jardine and Watkins to remark: "Is it churlish of us to suspect that some men did not realise that Harper was a woman?" They also asked men and women about the last novel they had read; four out of five men said it had been by a male author, whereas women were nearly as likely to have read a book by a male author as a female one. If women are interested in literary fiction by men and women, and men only in literary fiction by men, then perhaps it's not surprising that more male authors might be reviewed and published. Taylor suspects that women still feel that the literary world, if not exactly hostile, is unwelcoming – not surprising, given women's low representation. The fewer women whose work is being published and celebrated, the fewer are likely to feel their work will be valued. She has spoken to publishers and agents who say they receive far fewer submissions from women; one of the aims of Mslexia is to provide a place where women feel confident submitting their work. A recent novel competition they ran had 2,000 entries, and of the 100 that were shortlisted – all accomplished pieces of work, says Taylor – 39 had never been submitted anywhere else. There is a way for female writers to be taken more seriously. Taylor points out that of the last 10 books to win the Booker prize, eight had male protagonists, one a female protagonist, and one both male and female protagonists. If a woman adopts a male perspective, it seems their story is still more likely to be respected, and read as universal. The author Naomi Alderman is well aware of this bias, and notes that the women who have won the Booker include: "Hilary Mantel writing about a strong man [Thomas Cromwell]. Pat Barker writing about the first world war and men's experiences. AS Byatt , yes there's a woman in it, but actually a lot of Possession is first-person writing as a man. Let's look at their names: Hilary, Pat and AS. These are names a man can read on the train and you don't necessarily immediately know that they're reading [a book by] a woman." Erin Belieu , a poet and co-founder of Vida, says that among her writer friends, "it's amazing how much women fret over their subjects. The most anxiety-producing – the worst – being whether or not you mention children." There's a fear that this would be career suicide, she says. Frost in May by Antonia White – one of the early Virago Modern Classics. Photograph: . Taylor has written about the idea that a masculine aesthetic, developed over centuries, continues to define excellence in literature. "Historically men have been in charge of publishing and reviewing," she says, "and so that gets into people's psyche. If it's good it has to be emotionally distant, technically sophisticated and factually informative. But also, crucially, with a male gaze, a male point of view." The trouble is, even when female authors adopt a male perspective, along with subject matter that strictly accords to the masculine aesthetic, there is a fair chance they will be packaged frothily, the content of their work undermined by its cover. Alderman writes about this in her essay in Fifty Shades of Feminism . "Not having decided early on to call myself NA Alderman," she writes, "I have to have girly jackets featuring women gazing wistfully at summer meadows. Even when the novel in question is mostly concerned with a relationship between two gay men." This was illustrated by the recent furore over the cover of a new edition of The Bell Jar , which illustrates Sylvia Plath's fictional study of depression with a woman re-touching her makeup. In her essay, Alderman writes powerfully about how it is easier for her, in some ways, to operate in the world of video games, where she also works as a writer and where women are in such a minority that once they have muscled their way in, they are treated as honorary men. In publishing, where women have gained a certain amount of power, they are now in the "special girls' holding pen", she writes, easily marginalised as a group, while waiting for full equality. That is not just true for female authors, of course. And the digital era has brought new issues, especially for young women. One of the areas that women's publishing houses particularly championed, feminist nonfiction, is thriving and seems to be tapping directly into this mood of uncertainty. Some of the strong, serious polemic of the 70s is gone, replaced by books aimed at young women, often funny and featuring nods to self-help. They include Caitlin Moran's How To Be a Woman, the upcoming book from Lena Dunham (apparently based loosely on Helen Gurley Brown's 80s self-help tome, Having It All) and Sheila Heti's How Should A Person Be? – a novel with shades of nonfiction that explores whether a woman can be a genius, and has just been longlisted for the Women's Prize. The imprint Square Peg is due to publish a book by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett and Holly Baxter, the young writers who run the feminist website The Vagenda . There are also new waves of feminist work coming to the fore globally. Brewster runs a list at the publisher IB Tauris, and says she is excited by the writing emerging from the Middle East, India and Africa, which blends ideas from feminist activism and academe. The influence of the feminist publishing movement can be seen far and wide. It's there in the enormous power of women in publishing today and in the ongoing insistence that women's voices should be taken seriously, that if literature is important – if it both shapes and reflects our lives – it should represent something beyond a narrow corner of the world. And it is there in every story where women's lives are central, in mediums well beyond the book world. For instance, Callil says, she is madly in love with the Danish TV show Borgen, which centres on a female prime minister. "Borgen is a Virago modern classic times 500," she says. "It's human life, and it's wonderful."	Virago
Roman Emperor Claudius was said to have been poisoned by a dish of what?	DACA - History British Depth Study by Darwen Aldridge Community Academy - issuu OCR British Depth Study 1939–1975 ROSEMARY REES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author and Publishers would like to thank Rob Bircher and Dan Lyndon for their contributions. Photo credits Cover l London Transport Museum, c Michael Webb/Getty Images, r Terrence Spencer/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; p.4 Vicky/Evening Standard, 19 May 1959/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.8 Roger-Viollet/ Topfoto – TopFoto.co.uk; p.12 Reg Speller/Getty Images; p.15 Solo Syndiction/Associated Newspapers Ltd/By permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/The National Library of Wales; p.17 Popperfoto/Getty Images; p.19 Harry Thompson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images; p.21 tl National Motor Museum/HIP/TopFoto, tc, tr, bl, bc & br Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.23 l Popperfoto/Getty Images, r David Cairns/Stringer/Getty Images; p.25 Clive Limpkin/Stringer/Getty Images; p.26 Cummings/Express Syndication/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.27 b Jon/Daily Mail August 1968/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk, t Illingworth/Daily Mail April 1964/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.28 Jurgen Schadeberg/Getty Images; p.30 l The National Archives/HIP/ TopFoto, c & r Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.33 Roger-Viollet/Topfoto; p.34 Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.35 Evening Standard/Getty Images; p.39 Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.40 Topham Picturepoint, TopFoto.co.uk; p.43 Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.51 Topfoto; p.57 Mirrorpix; p.59 Topfoto; p.63 t Mirrorpix, b Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS; p.64 l Cummings/Express Syndication/ British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk, r Topham Picturepoint; p.69 t Solo Syndiction/Associated Newspapers Ltd/By permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/The National Library of Wales, bl Evening Standard/Getty Images, br Jon/Daily Mail, 24 April 1968/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.73 Mac/Daily Mail, 16 January 1974/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.74 Giles/Express Syndication/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons. ac.uk; p.76 tl Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives, br Harold Chapman/Topfoto; p.78 l Imperial War Museum/Knight, Laura Dame RA, r Topham Picturepoint; p.79 Mirrorpix; p.81 Solo Syndicatin/Associated Newspapers Ltd.; p.82 t The National Archives/HIP/TopFoto, bl © TfL from the London Transport Museum collection, br Terrence Spencer/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images; p.84 Reproduced With Permission of Punch Ltd, www.punch.co.uk; p.87 British Cartoon Archive; p.88 l SSPL via Getty Images, r Mary Evans/Classic Stock/Cameriq; p.91 Image courtesy of The Advertising Archives; p.92 Trog/Daily Mail, 17 May 1968/British Cartoon Archive, University of Kent, www.cartoons.ac.uk; p.93 Norman Potter/Hulton Archive/Getty Images. 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Typeset in 11/12pt Bodoni Book by Phoenix Photosetting, Chatham, Kent Artwork by Barking Dog and Dylan Gibson Printed and bound in Italy A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library ISBN 978 0 340 99140 4 Contents Acknowledgements 1 Did the National Health Service help or hinder women? 74 2 Back to home and duty? 78 3 Great Britain: land of opportunity for Caribbean immigrants? 81 4 Was the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 really necessary? 84 5 Did everyone benefit from the prosperity of the 1950s? 87 6 Why did young people in Britain get political in the 1960s? 91 Index 94 Part 1 Exam advice Task The exam questions will usually focus on just one of the three themes but, because they overlap in time, you will find that your knowledge about one topic may help with your understanding of another. To help you to see and use these connections, make your own timeline from 1939 to 1975. Make a separate row for each theme: young people, women, immigration. Add events to your timeline as you work through each period. How to approach the British Depth Study examination This depth study examines how Britain changed in the years 1939–1975. It focuses on three main themes: • young people • women • immigration. There is also one focus point about the National Health Service that crosses over these three themes. The exam will test how well you can understand, evaluate and use sources, but to do that well and to get top marks you will need background knowledge as well. So this book helps you with both aspects of the exam. • Part 2 (pages 8–73) covers what you need to know about each theme. • Part 3 (pages 74–93) then gives you practice source investigations. What types of sources? In the exam you might come across three types of sources: • written sources such as memoirs, newspaper articles, extracts from history books, interviews • pictorial sources such as posters, cartoons, photographs or paintings • statistical sources such as tables or graphs. What types of questions? Every exam is a little different but you will usually meet questions about: • the content of a source – for example ‘what can you find out about X from Source Y?’ • the purpose or message of a source • the reliability of a source (whether you trust it) • the usefulness of a source for answering a particular question. You will also have to use: • cross-referencing skills (comparing two or more sources to see if they agree or disagree) • evaluation skills. And finally you will have to reach a judgement taking a whole range of sources into account. You can see plenty of sample questions in the source investigations on pages 74–93. 2 HOW TO APPROACH THE BRITISH DEPTH STUDY EXAMINATION H A N D Y H I N T S 1 ● 9 ● 10 ● Read through all the sources before you start writing anything. Make sure you also read • the background information at the start of the paper, and • the source captions. This helps you to understand the sources and answer the questions. All the questions in the exam will be about sources – make sure you use them in all your answers. Never write an answer that makes no use of the sources. Do not write too much in answer to the earlier questions. If a question is worth 6 marks, you will never score more than 6 marks even if you write 19 pages! Answer the question, then move on. Do not try to impress the examiner by writing everything you know about the topic.What they want is an answer to the question. When you are using evidence from sources always make clear to the examiner which source you are using. Always support your answer with examples and explanations. Never try to reach a judgement about a source based simply on what type of source it is. Knowing that a source is an eyewitness account, a photograph or from a memoir does not, in itself, tell you if the source is useful or reliable. • Do not say it is reliable because it is a photograph. • Do not say it is unreliable because it was written much later. • Do not say it is reliable because the person saw what happened. Remember – there are no ‘right’ answers. The examiner is looking for intelligent answers that are supported by the sources and by your knowledge. Lots of different answers will all be given top marks because they are intelligent answers. Examiners are keen to see original ideas and thinking. So trust your instincts. If you can make a point that is supported by the sources, express it, even if it has not come up in class. Sometimes it will be a good idea to use sources in your answer which are not mentioned in the question. Only do this if it helps you write a better answer. For example, if a question asks you how reliable a source is, one of the other sources in the paper might throw some light on this by contradicting the first source. How do you use your knowledge of the topic? This is a tricky one. The golden rule is only use knowledge if it helps you say something better about the sources mentioned in the question. Your knowledge could be used to help you: • explain the meaning of a source or the possible purpose of a source • decide if a source is accurate: check it against what you know about the events • comment on authorship: you might know something about the author which will help you decide if you trust the source. The final question on the paper will ask you to reach a conclusion about the issue under investigation. Make sure you base your answer on the sources. Remember, the sources will always support two different viewpoints. Make sure you explain how some sources support one viewpoint, then show how other sources support the other viewpoint. Also, say something about how reliable some of the sources are – this will help you reach a conclusion about which viewpoint the sources support the most. 3 PART 1 EXAM ADVICE Answering questions about the message or the purpose of a source One common type of question will ask you about the message or the purpose of a source. For example: 1 Why was this cartoon published in September 1958? ● SOURCE A Step 1: Study the source The first thing to do is look carefully at the cartoon to work out the message. Ask yourself what is happening? Use your knowledge. Then ask yourself: ‘Does the cartoonist approve or disapprove of these teddy boys?’ What are the clues that help you decide? The notes in the boxes below will give you some guidance. The label ‘Notting Hill’ and the date shows that this relates to the racial attacks that took place in Notting Hill, London, in September 1958. There are three teddy boys slouching and holding knives in a dark alley. Even though they are holding knives they don’t look threatening. They look ridiculous. A cartoon from the Daily Mail, 3 September 1958. In a cartoon the words of the caption are nearly always important. This caption is ironic. The teddy boys are claiming to be civilised but their actions show they are not. Step 2: Answer the question – Why was this cartoon published in September 1958? The cartoon was clearly published to discredit the people who did the attacks. You now need to use your background knowledge and the details in the source to develop your answer to say why the cartoon was published at that particular time. Tasks Look at the answer below. 1 What are its strengths? 2 How could it be improved? This cartoon was published to discredit the people who had attacked immigrants in Notting Hill. In September 1958 there had been three days of fighting and houses were petrol bombed. The attacks were done by teddy boys who had been stirred up by people such as Oswald Mosley. They told them that immigrants were inferior people and should not be allowed to live in Britain. The cartoonist wants us to think that the people who carried out the attack were stupid. 4 Are you surprised by …? Another way of asking a ‘purpose’ question is, ‘Are you surprised by Source X?’ It may not look like it but the question is still asking you to use your background knowledge to explain why the source was published or written at a given time or date. It is your background knowledge that helps you to work out whether a source is typical (so not surprising) or untypical (and therefore surprising). HOW TO APPROACH THE BRITISH DEPTH STUDY EXAMINATION Answering questions about reliability There will be questions that ask you to comment on the reliability of a source or a pair of sources. Sometimes the question will use the word ‘reliable’. At other times it will ask you if you trust a source or whether you think it is accurate. For example: 2 Which source gives more reliable evidence about the causes of racial violence in Notting Hill in 1958, Source A or Source B? ● SOURCE B Ernest: Most of the white people I talked to seemed annoyed by coloured people keeping brothels in the district. They also agreed that only a tiny minority of people did this but their annoyance seemed quite genuine. They also felt that most of the coloured people in the country were honest people doing an honest job of work but they were very embittered about prostitution in the district. Reginald: I think that Ernest would agree with me that we have still not really found out what caused this week’s riots. Coloured people were very reluctant to come before the camera but all of them I spoke to before the camera or away from it seemed honestly bewildered as to why the riots had happened and also denied that coloured people in the area were any worse than anyone else. What really concerns all of us now is whether these riots are going to reoccur. From the BBC television news broadcast about the causes of the Notting Hill riots in 1958. Two reporters went to interview residents after the riots. A black reporter, Ernest Ickle, interviewed the white people; white reporter Reginald Bosanquet interviewed the black people. How not to answer! a) Don’t make unsupported comments based on who wrote or made the source. For example: ‘Source B is more reliable because you can trust the BBC to tell you the truth’; ‘Source A is less reliable because cartoons are not meant to be accurate.’ These would not get many marks. b) Don’t only use the content of the source. It would be wrong to say ‘Source B is more reliable because it mentions some causes of the riots’. A source is not more reliable because it contains more information. How to answer Step 1: Examine what the sources say. Look for agreement or disagreement between the sources Source A blames ignorant and prejudiced teddy boys while Source B mentions some deep grievances about prostitution. Step 2: Read the caption and consider the provenance and the purpose of the source Source A was trying to get a point across about the rioters – and particularly about the racist attitudes of the teddy boys – it was not directly addressing the causes of the violence; Source B on the other hand was specifically trying to find out about what caused the riots. Source B is probably more trustworthy – you are told about the methods the interviewers used and who they spoke to. They are also very honest about the fact that they did not really get an answer to their question. Step 3: Compare what the source is claiming with your own knowledge When you come to your exam you will know quite a lot about topics like the Notting Hill Riots. This means you can check the sources against what you know. This will tell you that the violence was started by teddy boys, some of whom were stirred up by people such as racist leader Oswald Mosley to attack black people. There are no right answers to this ‘reliability’ question – and you don’t have to favour one or the other source. You might conclude they are both equally reliable or unreliable. The important thing is that you support your answer with evidence from the source and from your background knowledge. 5 PART 1 EXAM ADVICE Answering questions about usefulness Another common type of exam question asks you about usefulness. Remember, sources can never be useful or useless in their own right – it all depends on what they are being used for, so read the whole question: useful for … what? A poster recruiting immigrant workers to come to Britain might be useless for telling you what living or working conditions were actually like for immigrants to Britain but it would be very useful for telling you why immigrant workers were attracted to come to Britain. 3 Read Sources C and D. Which source is more reliable in investigating the experiences of immigrants to Britain? ● SOURCE C Chandra Lal listened to the tales of high wages earned in the factories of Britain. His own uncle regularly sent home money and wrote of life in the industrial Midlands, where the shops were full and nobody went hungry. So, Chandra left his village in India and went to Britain. It was winter when he arrived and the cold wind bit through his thin cotton clothing. Chandra shivered, but found no work because he was not skilled. He went on shivering for four months and at last found a labouring job in Bradford. But Chandra is one of the lucky ones, for there are thousands of other Indians and Pakistanis without work. They think longingly of their villages and the wives and children they left behind. Extract from a British government leaflet published in India in 1958. ● SOURCE D Our first house was at 65 Westbourne Street. Around 9 or 10 people used to live in the same house. All the white people were really friendly. There was little discrimination but this changed a little when more Asian people started to come over from Africa. I remember that white people used to live in the same way as us, they used to work hard, wear simple clothes, and they were good people. Settling in wasn’t difficult as we had other family members already here. If they hadn’t been here then it may have been more difficult. I worked in a laundry. I used to get £6 a week. Most people who came in were Gujarati but white people owned it. The memories of Rambhaben N. Parmar, an Asian woman who came to Leicester from East Africa in 1970 when she was 36. She wrote about her experiences for the web archive ‘Moving Here’, which gathers the memories of immigrants to Britain. So how do you approach a ‘usefulness’ question? It is the same three steps as for reliability. Step 1: Read or study the content of the source The exam will not ask trick questions. The sources will always be useful to some degree. You will immediately see that both sources are full of interesting comments on the experiences of the immigrants but just listing their reactions will not earn you top marks. 6 HOW TO APPROACH THE BRITISH DEPTH STUDY EXAMINATION Step 2: Consider the provenance of the source One thing to avoid is what the examiners calls ‘stock evaluation’ (things that could be said about any source), for example, ‘Source D is not useful because it is only the view of one person.’ That is where your background knowledge helps. You will know from your background knowledge how typical a source is. For Sources C and D the provenance is all important. One of these is a first hand testimony. The other, although it reads like it is a real experience, is actually government propaganda discouraging people from coming to Britain. It reads like a story. Step 3: Use your background knowledge to put the source and its information in context Once you have studied this course your background knowledge will tell you why the government wanted to dissuade people from coming to Britain in 1958. You will know that at that time the economy entered a recession and concerns about too much immigration began to surface. Remember that in a question like this you don’t have to choose between the two sources. However in this case, for this question, you might conclude that Source D is very useful but that Source C is fairly useless for understanding the actual experiences. Always make sure you support your answer with details or inferences from the sources. Cross referencing Many questions will ask you to use two or more sources. Remember to: • use all the sources you have been asked to use; don’t ignore any of them • compare the content, detail and provenance to see what they agree or disagree about • use sentences like these in your answer to help you cross refer: Both Source A and Source B say that … Source C goes even further than Source D by saying … Source G contradicts Source H by … Answering the big conclusion question The final question on a source investigation paper is a conclusion question. Our advice on dealing with this kind of question is on page 77. 7 Part 2 What happened 1939–1975? 1 The changing lives of young people This book covers a tumultuous period of British history. The six-year trauma of the Second World War was followed by a time of rebuilding and recovery, which led to major social changes. You are going to examine three overlapping themes but first you are going to look at these events through the experiences of young people: what it was like for the wartime generation, the children who endured the hardships of war and its aftermath; and what it was like for the peacetime generation, their children, born into the relative prosperity of the 1950s and 1960s. What were the experiences of children during the Second World War? ● SOURCE 1 The Blitz The Second World War was both a terrifying and exciting time to be a child. From 1940 onwards, the Nazi air force bombed many British cities, London most of all. The aim of the bombing, which was known as the Blitz, was to knock out key industrial centres and also to make ordinary British people suffer so much that they could no longer bear to continue the war. The Blitz ended in 1941. By that time, over 40,000 British people had been killed, including over 5,000 children, and 1.4 million people had lost their homes. ● SOURCE 2 This photograph shows children from London sitting outside what had been their home, destroyed in the Blitz. The photo was taken in September 1940. We went up on the moor because we were scared stiff, and we used to snuggle down among the hedges. I’d get my little sister to snuggle into me on one side, my brother on the other side, and the bombs would start dropping. Then you could see the sky starting to light up, and you’d think: ‘What part of town is it this time?’ Account by Sid Newham of his experiences of the bombing of Plymouth in 1941. 8 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 3 ● SOURCE 5 Dear Rescue Men, Just a few lines thanking you for what you did for us on July 14 ... How you helped to get my mother out, and to get my two brothers which was dead, how you help me to get to shelter when I hadn’t any shoes on my feet. Building fell on a group of men and women. Screams, groans, sudden rush back of people followed immediately by a rush forward. Women fainted, mass hysteria, man threw a fit. Men, women and children crying and sobbing. Frantic parents searching for their young. Pub nearby full of casualties. Dead and dying on the pavements. Someone sick. Letter from a schoolgirl from Hull, 1943. A Mass Observation report on one of the first air raids on London in September 1940. These notes were made by Nina Masel, who was only 16 when the war began. ● SOURCE 4 Most children were remarkably unaffected by raids. One Scotswoman recalls that after the heavy blitz on Clydebank ‘my son was thrilled to find bits of shrapnel in the garden and went round picking them up’. ... A Kingston woman remembers singing ‘in a very quavery voice’ to her small son as they lay beneath her Morrison [a type of indoor air-raid shelter], until he complained, ‘Mummy, stop singing, I can’t hear the bombs!’ From How We Lived Then: A History of Everyday Life During the Second World War by Norman Longmate, published in 1971. The Nazis hoped the Blitz would break the spirit of the British public. In response, the British government promoted the idea that the bombing made the British people all the more united and more determined to resist Hitler. This idea was known as the ‘Blitz Spirit’. Although the Blitz did bring people together, and although people did get more used to living under the threat of air raids, the ‘Blitz Spirit’ was government propaganda: an area where historians need to treat sources very carefully! Certainly, from the start of the war adults were generally very frightened of what was going to happen. For many children it might have been the first time they had seen their parents scared, panicked, crying. A particular fear was that the Nazis would use gas on civilians. Although this never happened, gas masks were issued to everyone and they were a big part of children’s lives in the early years of the war. A time of fear Most British children were never bombed so did not experience the Blitz first-hand, although they all shared the fear of bombing – no one knew when or where the next air raid might happen. Likewise, although Britain was never invaded by the Nazis, everyone in the UK lived in fear that it would happen: in the first years of the war it seemed almost inevitable that it would. These fears had a massive impact on children at the time, and for many people their wartime experiences had a big influence on them for the rest of their lives. Tasks 1 2 3 Study Source 4. Are you surprised that children sometimes reacted to air raids in this way? Which of the sources from 1 to 5 do you think is most useful for understanding children’s experiences of the Blitz? Explain why. What impact do you think the war had on relationships between children and their parents? 9 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Healthy diets Britain knew from its experiences in the First World War that the Nazis would destroy boats carrying supplies to Britain. Britain imported a lot of food at the start of the Second World War and this needed to change. The more food that could be grown at home, the more space there would be in merchant ships to bring in vital military supplies. So the government encouraged everyone to grow vegetables. Every scrap of land was planted with crops (even golf courses and playing fields), and everyone tried to make the most of the food they had. At the same time, some types of food were rationed. The government calculated fair rations for available foods and advised people on how to use them to make healthy meals. What was provided on rations changed from month to month as different foods became available. People had to eat food they wouldn’t normally have eaten (like offal or whale meat, for example), there were often shortages of essential foods like sugar, pepper or eggs, and ration amounts were usually pretty small. Not surprisingly, what children most remembered about the war was being hungry! ● SOURCE 6 It [the war] makes a lot of difference to me because we have to carry gas masks with us. And the sirens get on my nerves, but the ration of food is terrible. Nearly everything has gone up to an awful lot of money. In one part of the country they have no soap. Vera, aged 8. Taken from a Mass Observation teaching booklet called ‘Children at War’. The booklet was published in 1987 but all the extracts are from interviews with children during the war. 10 1 shilling to two shillings and a pennyworth Tea Dried Milk The weekly ration allowed during the war per adult. Rations of particular foods changed from month to month, depending on the supplies available. Although children were often hungry, rationing actually made their diet much healthier than it had been before the war. They were eating a lot more vegetables, and not many sweets! 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE Part-time schools So, six years of war with only a tiny sweet ration sounds pretty bad, but on the other hand, there was a lot less time at school! A lot of city schools were shut down at the start of the war, when it was expected that most children would be evacuated to the countryside. In fact, only about 50 per cent of town and city children were evacuated, which left large numbers of youngsters, generally from poorer areas, with little to do. At the start of 1940, a third of city children were getting no education at all, and 30 per cent of all children were only going to school for half the day. As the war progressed, the government realised the impact of the disruption to schooling and reopened some of the schools in the industrial towns. However, they then faced a shortage of teachers: many teachers had been conscripted into the armed forces or other areas of war work. Class sizes increased from an average of around 30 per class to 40, 50 or even 60 children in a class. When lessons took place, they were often interrupted by air raids. There were very few materials for science experiments or for cookery or sewing classes. Instead of sports, children sometimes did work for farmers. Playground games became dominated by war games (boys often pretended to be Spitfires). ● SOURCE 8 All things considered, and especially in view of the fact that, despite all handicaps and interruptions, the academic and examination results ... have been even better that in pre-1939 sessions, the War has done the boys good. I believe that it has made them face up boldly to genuine facts and problems, it has brought them closer together (even the increase in midday school lunches from 40 to 220 [pupils] is not without significance in this respect), it has emphasised duties rather than privileges, and it has given them a wider outlook on their own future responsibilities. As one boy remarked to me some weeks ago, ‘We have finished with “Safety First”. We’ve got to live dangerously ... and don’t we know it!’ Report by a headmaster to Mass Observation in March 1943. ● SOURCE 9 There never ought to be wars if we were governed properly. There’s always old people in power and the young people are called up and expected to give their lives when they’ve [the old people] have messed things up. No wonder every generation of young people grow up more restless. I’ve been to so many different schools since the war’s been on that I can’t settle down, and then I’m blamed because I don’t work well. It’s a terrible thing war, such a waste of life and energy, and my opinion is that the country will suffer for years and years. Interview with Doris, aged 13, by Mass Observation. Tasks 1 2 How much of a change do you think rationing and food shortages made to children’s lives in the Second World War? Use evidence from Source 6 and Source 7 in your answer. Compare Sources 8 and 9. Which do you think gives the best picture of how the war affected schoolchildren? 11 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Evacuation ● SOURCE 10 This photo shows three evacuees: the photo isn’t dated and it isn’t clear where it was taken. Notice the luggage labels attached to the boys’ coats – evacuees were often labelled in this way. The smaller boxes the children are carrying contain their gas masks. As soon as the war began in September 1939 the government started evacuating children out of cities into areas less likely to be bombed. This was to try and keep children out of danger, but also so that their mothers would be free to work in industry. The government organised the evacuation of over 800,000 schoolchildren. It was a voluntary scheme – the children were not forced to go. Evacuated schoolchildren were sent to the countryside, usually to live with complete strangers. Often parents did not even know where their children were going when they waved goodbye to them. As you can imagine, this was often a difficult and confusing time for the children. Many children from the big cities lived in slum conditions and had never been to the countryside before. And many of the people who lived comfortable lives in the countryside had absolutely no idea that children still lived in such appalling conditions in Britain’s big cities. Many children had good experiences as evacuees, but many others did not. In the very worst cases, children were used as unpaid labour and had to work long hours in hard conditions on farms. There may also have been other kinds of abuse. The experience of evacuation had a lasting effect on most children as they grew up, most in a good way, but in a bad way for others. 12 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 11 ● SOURCE 14 The most difficult part of being evacuated is coming home again. It was the worst day of my whole life. When the time came I had completely forgotten my family and London. I was ten years old and suddenly I was to be taken away by this strange lady called Mother, from all these wonderful people I had grown up with and not only from them but the whole village that I knew and loved. I knew every path, track and lane for miles around, every house and cottage, every man, woman and child, every cat, dog, cow and chicken. It was a beautiful world and I had to leave it all behind. Girl evacuee tries to walk 100 miles Catherine Brundernell, 12, of Ealing, started to walk the 100 miles home from her billet in the country but was detected at Chippenham, Wilts, after having covered seven miles. Extract from newspaper story, possibly the Star, 1940. Tasks 1 Rene Wingwood, an evacuee from London. ● SOURCE 12 To some unlucky foster-parents it began to seem in those first, disillusioning weeks that life in the back streets of London and other large towns could hardly have changed since Dickensian times. It was, perhaps, the beginning of that great movement of opinion that was to gather momentum throughout the war. At the time, however, the predominant emotion was horror ... A small boy in Oxford astonished the two respectable elderly ladies who had taken him in by helpfully remarking after supper that he would put himself to bed, ‘so you two old geezers can get off to the boozer’. From How We Lived Then: A History of Everyday Life During the Second World War by Norman Longmate, published in 1971. ● SOURCE 13 The difficulty seems to be that many of the children have never learned the ordinary decencies of life. What can be done with a child who picks a newspaper and goes into a corner of the drawing room instead of going to the lavatory?... [Many] have never been used to sanitation, and foul the paths and gardens. One boy said he never went to sleep lying down, he perched himself by the bedpost and went to bed clinging with his head resting on it. There had never been room in the bed at home for him to lie down. Mrs Rowley, a school teacher in Chepstow, in a report to Mass Observation. 2 3 4 Using the sources on these pages and your own knowledge, list the reasons why evacuated children might have felt unhappy about their change of life. Now, using the same sources and your own knowledge again, list the reasons why evacuated children might have enjoyed their experiences. Which of the sources on these pages do you think is the most useful in understanding what evacuation must have been like for some innercity children? What do you think children in the countryside thought of the evacuees? Find sources yourself that give you some information on this. Key points What impact did the Second World War have on British children’s lives? • The Blitz was a very frightening experience for many children and parents. • Evacuation turned the lives of thousands of schoolchildren upside down. • Better-off families gained direct experience of how poor children lived and they were shocked by what they saw. • Rationing improved the diets of children but meant they grew up used to shortages. • People who were children in the Second World War never forgot the huge changes it made to their lives: both good and bad. 13 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? In what ways did the Second World War bring about the National Health Service? Concerns about poverty Despite the fact that evacuation lasted for only relatively short periods throughout the war, it had a big impact. People living comfortable middle-class lives in the countryside were shocked by the state of children from the big cities. They had not realised before just how bad conditions were for poor people. There was a huge expectation that after the war was over something should be done to help people living in poverty. ● SOURCE 15 ● SOURCE 16 I never knew such conditions existed, and I feel ashamed of having been so ignorant of my neighbours. For the rest of my life I mean to try and make amends by helping such people to live cleaner, healthier lives. The experience of evacuation has shattered complacency and has shown that previous standards of medical inspections for children were too low. Only education, better housing and higher wages will solve the problems of poverty and disease. Conservative politician Neville Chamberlain writing to his sister during the war. From The Medical Officer, a journal for health professionals, 1940. There was also a strong feeling throughout Britain that all the sacrifices of the war years should achieve something more than a return to how things had been in 1939. During the war, the state had taken control of most aspects of people’s lives. This meant that after the war, people trusted the state and believed that it could and should do more to create a fairer society. There was a general election in 1945, the year that the war ended in Europe, and the Labour Party won, beating Winston Churchill’s Conservative Party. Although Churchill had led the country through the war, many people wanted change from what had gone before the war. The Labour Party said the government needed to do far more to tackle poverty, illness, poor education and other social problems. And the people agreed. The Beveridge Report At the heart of the Labour Party’s programme for building a better Britain was a report written in 1942 by a civil servant, Sir William Beveridge. He had been asked to carry out a survey on how existing ways of looking after people (welfare systems) were working and how they could be improved. He identified some major problems. The Beveridge Report identified ‘Five Giants on the Road to Recovery’, which appeared in bold, capital letters in the report (‘want’ means poverty): WANT, DISEASE, IGNORANCE, SQUALOR and IDLENESS. Beveridge proposed to defeat these giants through full employment (all adults having a job) and a comprehensive welfare system, including a free National Health Service and child allowances (see Source 17). 14 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 17 Family allowances Cost met by the government What was really different about Beveridge’s ideas was that everyone should pay the same towards the welfare state so that everyone could get the same support back from it. This was a big change from previous schemes for helping poorer people, which were often based on the idea that people could get money once they’d passed certain tests – called means-testing. Reactions to the Beveridge Report Free healthcare Flat rate benefits for the unemployed and the sick National Insurance covering everyone from the cradle to the grave A summary of Beveridge’s proposals. ● SOURCE 18 Although some politicians within the wartime government thought the report was far too ambitious, there was a lot of public interest in the report and a huge level of support for its suggestions. When Churchill said that people would have to wait until after the war and see what money the country had left to pay for such a programme, people could see the sense of that. But in 1945 the country wanted the government to take action quickly and the Labour Party were the ones who promised to do what Beveridge had suggested if they were elected. Tasks 1 2 3 What evidence can you find from the sources here and on pages 12–13 to suggest that the condition of some evacuees opened people’s eyes to how some children were living in British cities? The cartoon in Source 18 shows Beveridge looking to Churchill for permission to light the fuse to his barrel of dynamite. What is the message of this cartoon? Use the source and your knowledge to explain your answer. Using the sources and your own knowledge, explain how the Second World War made people more confident that the state could organise social support in Britain. This cartoon was published in the Daily Mail in February 1943. The man about to light the fuse is Sir William Beveridge. 15 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? The creation and impact of the National Health Service When the Labour Party won its great victory in 1945, the new government set out to put Beveridge’s ideas into practice – and to go still further. It introduced a whole range of far-reaching measures. Date Measure Allowance of five shillings per week per child in any family. 1946 Benefits for any worker who was unemployed, injured or sick. 1946 The NHS was set up in 1948 and gave free healthcare to all. 1947 Town and Country Planning Act and New Towns Act Clearance of slums and bombdamaged housing and relocation of many of the poorest in Britain’s cities to new towns. 1948 Local authorities required to set up services for the protection of children. 1949 Housing Act A massive programme of building new housing to meet the latest specifications. The National Health Service was a central part of this programme and its creation had a huge and long-lasting impact on people’s lives. It wasn’t the case that there had been no healthcare for poorer families before the war: there had been many insurance schemes that gave them access to medical help. However, richer people could always get much better treatment than the poor. Because the state was providing the National Health Service, it meant that everyone had access to the same level of healthcare, paid for by everyone out of taxation. Before the war: • workers usually had free access to a doctor (GP), but their families didn’t • sometimes families paid a small amount each month into a local insurance scheme so they could afford to see a doctor if they needed it • it was quite common for doctors to charge rich patients a bit more so they could afford to charge poorer patients less • there was a complex patchwork of hospitals: municipal hospitals run by local councils, charity 16 hospitals, teaching hospitals – each hospital was different from the next. After 1948: • the state paid doctors to treat everyone free of charge: doctors could top up this salary by charging fees to private patients • hospitals came under state control so they could treat everyone equally, free of charge. The state paid hospital consultants, but they could also see private patients for a fee. ● SOURCE 19 The same services were available the day after the creation of the NHS as the day before, no new hospitals were built nor hundreds of new doctors employed. But poor people who often previously went without medical treatment now had access to services, instead of relying instead on dubious and sometimes dangerous home remedies or the charity of doctors who gave their services free to their poorest patients. ‘National Health Service History’ by Geoffrey Rivett, www.nhshistory.net/shorthistory.htm 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 20 ● SOURCE 23 There are many moving accounts of the queues of unwell and impoverished people surging forward for treatment in the early days of the NHS, arriving in hospitals and doctors’ waiting rooms for the first time not as beggars but as citizens with a sense of right. 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 ● SOURCE 21 From A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr, published in 2007. Year Infant mortality in Britain in the twentieth century. Tasks 1 2 3 This picture is from July 1948 and shows a nurse with mothers and children at a clinic for regular health checks. This service was provided free on the National Health Service. ● SOURCE 22 I was for the change [to the NHS] because I had done my training in Glasgow where there were very poor people, and mothers who had no antenatal care [care before giving birth]. There weren’t enough beds in the hospital, so most births were at home. Some of these women were afraid of the hospital, very much afraid. Often, the maternity deaths were in hospital, because the only people who came in were those who had complications, and that contributed to the fear of hospitals. Margaret Grieve: in 1948 she was a newlyqualified midwife working in a council-run maternity hospital in Dumfries. Interview with Margaret Grieve in ‘The birth of the NHS’ by Andy McSmith, The Independent, 28 June 2008. What are the strengths and limitations of Source 23 for explaining the impact that the creation of the NHS had on children’s health? How useful is Source 22 in explaining how the NHS improved care for new mothers and their babies? To what extent was the NHS something completely new? Which sources could you use to identify elements of continuity rather than change? Key points What was the impact of the National Health Service on people’s lives? • The experiences of the war meant that by 1948 most British people were prepared for the state to organise a National Health Service, paid for by everybody. • Before the NHS, poorer people could not always afford doctors’ fees. After the NHS, everyone had access to a good standard of healthcare. • The NHS had a big impact on the lives of women, for example women got much better care during childbirth. • With the NHS, parents could take children to the doctor, dentist or optician without worrying about how they would afford the cost of treatment. • With the NHS, hospitals were run centrally by the state so that people would get the same standard of care where they lived in the country and regardless of whether they were poor or better off. 17 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? What was it like growing up in the 1950s? The 1950s are often seen as a ‘transitional’ decade in British history: caught halfway between the war years of the 1940s and the great social changes of the 1960s. Britain’s economy was ruined by the Second World War and rationing had to continue into the 1950s. Tea was rationed until 1952, sugar and eggs until 1953 and cheese and meat stayed rationed until 1954. Bread did not start to be rationed until after the war had ended. Families who had enough money could buy difficult-to-find things through the illegal ‘black market’. Adults found the continuing tough times difficult to deal with – after all, weren’t things supposed to get better once the war had finished? But most people who were children in the 1950s remember it as being a wonderful time to grow up. These children generally had no memory of families being able to buy whatever food they wanted. And when people look back on their 1950s childhoods now, many stress the freedom that they had in comparison to the lives of children today. Teenagers In the early 1950s there wasn’t anything like the teenage culture of today. Young people didn’t have a separate sort of culture from adults: they wore the same sorts of clothes as their parents and had the same pastimes as their parents. Families ate together, watched TV together (there was only one channel to watch anyway) and listened to the radio together. They often went to the same schools their parents had done, and might well go on to work for the same companies as their parents did. ● SOURCE 24 I started school in 1951 and compared with what kids have today we had very little. We didn’t have a television, although I knew some families that did. It was a real badge of honour to have a television mast on your roof. We had enormous freedom: you could just say ‘I’m off for a cycle ride’ and off you’d go. It was an age of great innocence. I suppose, looking back on it, our demands were small but then we didn’t know any different. The great age of the teenager hadn’t really come in: we thought of ourselves as young and as not knowing as much as grownups – and they encouraged us in this view! As far as I know there weren’t teenage magazines, although we did have pin ups and fantasies – mine was the actor Laurence Olivier and my friend Mary Taylor’s was Peter May the cricketer: grown-up idols. We modelled ourselves on grown-up film stars. There was an advert that said ‘nine out of ten films stars use Lux soap’. I don’t remember any young teenage pin-ups until Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard at the end of the 1950s. Margaret Bircher, born in 1939. Through the 1950s, as Britain’s economy improved, there weren’t enough people for all the jobs on offer. Anyone who was fit for a job could get one; and employers had to push up wages to keep their staff from leaving and getting another job, or to attract the best people to new jobs. So in a short time families went from not having enough money (not that there was much to buy legally anyway), to there being both plenty of things to buy and enough money to spend on them. 18 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE These economic changes also meant the start of some important changes for teenagers: • it was easy to get a job when you left school • trade unions had made sure that most jobs had reasonable working hours. Most people worked just five days a week, instead of the long hours and six-day weeks of earlier decades • fathers usually earned enough money to keep the household, so teenagers could keep a lot of the money they earned for themselves. All this meant that teenagers could start to create a separate sort of identity from their parents. Teenagers had money, and companies started targeting them as consumers. Some teenagers started to dress differently, to listen to different music, to watch films that their parents might not approve of, to spend more time with other teenagers than with their families. A lot of the new trends came from America. It was easy for these trends to come to the UK because of the common language of English. The war had begun this process: thousands of American soldiers had been stationed in Britain during the war and had introduced local people to American fashion and youth culture; and the advent of television in the 1950s continued it. ● SOURCE 26 Police were called to cinemas in London and Liverpool last night to deal with disturbances among youthful audiences at showings of the film Rock Around the Clock ... Youths threw lighted cigarettes from the circle onto people sitting in the stalls. Others sprayed parts of the cinema with water from hose pipes. Girls in the audience struggled to get outside. Report from The Times newspaper, 11 September 1956. The film Rock Around the Clock was banned by some UK councils following other disturbances like those described here. © The Times and 11.09.1956/nisyndication.com Tasks 1 2 ● SOURCE 25 Write a Facebook-style page for a 13-year-old in the early 1950s, describing their lifestyle, favourite foods and what they like to do with their spare time. Then update it for the same teenager when they are 17, in the late 1950s. Use the sources, any further research and your own imagination! Do you think that all teenagers in the later 1950s dressed like the two in Source 25? To what extent is this picture a reliable representation of what it was like to grow up in the 1950s? Key points What was it like growing up in the 1950s? • The early years of the 1950s were a struggle: there was bomb damage everywhere, shortages of everything and rationing continued. • The later years of the 1950s saw full employment and prosperity. • Early in the 1950s teenagers acted like their parents: there wasn’t really a separate ‘youth culture’. • However, as teens got money of their own and more free time they started to create a separate identity. Sometimes this identity clashed with the older generation. Two British teenagers in 1959. 19 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Why were there changes in the lives of teenagers in the 1960s? Although the 1960s did bring in big changes in the ways teenagers lived their lives, in some ways the 1960s continued trends that had started in the later 1950s and built on them, making them stronger and more dramatic. In other ways, new trends did emerge in the 1960s, particularly as a result of teenagers becoming more political. There were many reasons for the changes, including: • Science and technology: for example, the development of the oral contraceptive pill, which started to become available in the UK in 1960 (see page 43); new fabrics made new fashions possible; space travel opened up new ways of thinking about the future. • Economic factors: teenagers continued to have plenty of money to spend and companies marketed products specifically for them. • Political factors: teenagers were increasingly influenced by radical politics, like feminism (see pages 42–45), environmentalism, communism, pacifism. • Cultural factors: the sixties were a time of great cultural experimentation, especially in music, lifestyle and fashion; Britain’s cities were also increasingly multicultural. • Individuals: some key individuals set the fashions of the 1960s – musicians, authors, poets, playwrights, designers, etc. However, although the 1960s did bring about many changes in the lives of teenagers, remember that the decade was not all about change. For most teenagers these changes didn’t really make much of an impact on their lives. Tasks 1 2 3 Study the sources opposite, which are all related to advertising aimed at young people in the 1960s. Decide which sources best match the following advertising messages: • Designed for young men • About innocent fun • Designed for young women • About glamorous lifestyles • About freedom • Contains links to political themes • About sexuality • Unlikely to appeal to older people • About celebrity Now link each source to a reason for change in teenagers’ lives in the 1960s: for example for Source 27, economic changes meant teenagers had more money to spend on items such as scooters; for Source 28, technological changes meant record players became more portable. Sources 27 and 30 are adverts. Are adverts automatically unreliable sources? Explain your answer. Key points Why were there changes in the lives of teenagers in the 1960s? • In some ways the 1960s just continued and intensified the trends of the 1950s: teens had money and free time to do their own thing. • In other ways the 1960s saw new changes in the lives of teenagers. The biggest were related to direct political challenges to authority. • The 1960s also saw big social changes generally: attitudes to sex and drugs were not as strict and this had an impact on young people’s lives. 20 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 27 A 1960s advert for a Lambretta scooter. What does the line ‘Let yourself go on a Lambretta’ mean? Is there more than one meaning? ● SOURCE 30 This advert for underwear in the 1960s includes the line: ‘give your tummy a thrilling taste of freedom’ (by wearing a Berlei girdle). ● SOURCE 28 This is the cover of an annual for teenage girls from 1968. ● SOURCE 29 A magazine cover from 1968. The pictures are all of UK and US pop stars. The magazine was named after a character in the TV show Thunderbirds. ● SOURCE 31 This music magazine cover features the Rolling Stones in their early days, 1963. ● SOURCE 32 This girls’ magazine is from 1967. In the tag-line ‘Young, gay and get-ahead’, the word ‘gay’ means carefree, happy. 21 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? How did teenagers and students behave in the 1960s and early 1970s? Teenagers as consumers: music and fashion In the early 1960s the five million teenagers in the UK spent about £800 million per year on themselves – mainly on clothes, cosmetics and entertainment. This was a big market and companies targeted teenagers with products specifically designed for them: this was the first time this had happened in the UK. At the same time, teenagers responded also to individuals doing their own thing, especially with music and fashion. There was a move away from the ‘manufactured’ pop groups of the 1950s in favour of groups that played songs they wrote themselves, like the Beatles. ● SOURCE 33 Teenage affluence was undoubtedly the single biggest factor in explaining the spectacular development of popular music between the mid-fifties and the early sixties ... In 1955 British listeners bought just over 4 million 45-rpm singles a year; by 1960, they were buying 52 million; and by 1963, 61 million. Record companies and retailers recognised that they would make more money if they emphasised styles that appealed to the young, rather than the romantic ballads and big-band music that appealed to their parents. From White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties by Dominic Sandbrook, published in 2006. ● SOURCE 34 ● SOURCE 35 Person A I had an almost total obsession with pop music. I would play records all the time. You’d go and buy a record – a little 45 rpm, maybe one a fortnight – and you’d just play it over and over. Person A The music was great. I can remember going with my brother Mike and all his friends to see Pink Floyd at Knebworth Festival ... I can remember returning with Mike, and us both agreeing that, while we didn’t believe in God, the nearest thing to God on this earth was definitely Pink Floyd. They understood us. Person B I went to the Beatles concert at the Wigan Ritz with Gene Pitney and Mary Wells also on the bill. I wore a pencil-slim skirt and I spent the whole time screaming. I have no idea what they sang, but I remember the camaraderie of everyone there. We were all so happy to be there, part of a huge party. Person C The sixties began for me when I discovered the Rolling Stones. I hated the teachers at school. I hated authority, so when the Rolling Stones appeared on the scene I was immediately attracted ... Three separate people remember being a teenager in the 1960s, quoted in Changing Times: Being Young in Britain in the ‘60s by Alison Pressley, published in 2000. 22 Person B I liked David Cassidy and Donny Osmond and David Essex. A friend of ours in class liked the Bay City Rollers and we looked down on her, we thought that was too awful. Person C When glam rock came in, you insisted on watching Top of the Pops on Thursday night mainly to enrage your father, because there’d be men with makeup on. If you got your dad and your granddad in the same room you got double score. They couldn’t understand what was going on at all. Three separate people remember being a teenager in the early 1970s, quoted in The Seventies: Good Times, Bad Taste by Alison Pressley, published in 2002. 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 36 ● SOURCE 37 This photo from 1967 shows shoppers examining the racks of clothes outside the boutique called ‘I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet’ on Portobello Road, London. A woman shopping in the trendy clothes shop ‘Top Gear’ on the King’s Road in Chelsea in 1965. Tasks 1 2 3 4 5 Sort the six different quotes in Sources 34 and 35 into the following two categories about why music mattered so much to young people in the 1960s and early 1970s: • related to identity – the music helps young people understand who they are and how they feel • related to differences – the music helps young people sort out who is like them and who they are not like. Source 33 puts forward the hypothesis that record companies continued to deliberately ‘design’ bands for the teenage and student market in the 1960s and early 1970s. To what extent do the other sources here support that view? Sources 36 and 37 both show very fashionable shops in 1960s London. What impressions do these photos give you about the sort of shops these were, and the sorts of people who might go into them? Source 36 shows a group of young men dressed up in similar military uniform-style clothes. What influences do you think might have convinced them this was a cool thing to do? Source 37 shows a young woman scrutinising Top Gear’s jackets. Outside the shop window an older woman, dressed in a 1950s style, is peering in. Assuming that the photographer (called David Cairns) deliberately captured this moment, what message do you think he was trying to convey? 23 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Rebellion and the development of a youth culture There’s a famous line in the 1953 film, The Wild One, when Marlon Brando’s character, Johnny, is asked ‘What are you rebelling against?’ Johnny replies ‘Watcha got?’ The character of Johnny set the mould for Hollywood teenage rebels, angry at everything. And those films connected with teenagers in Britain too, making rebellion part of a distinct youth culture in the 1950s and 1960s. Adolescents have always rebelled against their parents, but in the 1960s teens found specific ways to channel their feelings. Here are a few ideas about what teens might have been rebelling against: • the 1950s: ideas about duty, respectability, obeying orders, doing what other people did, buttoned-up (and often hypocritical) attitudes to sex and drugs • the war generation: teens in the 1960s had parents who had fought and suffered in the war – a hard act to follow. Imagine always being told, ‘I didn’t fight Hitler so you could ...’ • boredom: teens in the 1960s had money and leisure time but not always anything to do with it • political manipulation and deceit: the 1960s saw the first real challenges to the belief that politicians were trustworthy and always did the best for the country • social changes: for example, immigration (see pages 48–73) and changes in women’s role in society (see pages 30–47) • disappointment or frustration that Britain was not living up to their hopes or expectations • each other: teen culture immediately fragmented into different, competing groups, such as the Mods and the rockers. ● SOURCE 38 Inspector G. Brown said that the five youths, in motor cycling clothes, were walking peacefully along the sea wall, when a gang of Mods ‘descended on them like a pack of vultures, and started to put the boot in’. He said that he saw Mr Taylor [aged 17] leading the gang, and Mr Smith [aged 18] kicking at the youths. From The Times newspaper, 30 August 1967. © The Times and 30.08.1967/nisyndication.com ● SOURCE 39 As a sixteen-year-old, my parents forbade me to go out alone with a boy, to ride on the back of a motor scooter, to drink, to go to a club where the Rolling Stones played ... So one night I deliberately broke every one of their norms [rules of behaviour]. I went on the back of my boyfriend’s scooter to the club, listened to the Stones and got drunk, and [had sex] in his house before going home. It wasn’t just adolescent rebellion against being controlled, though that was part of it. There was something keener, fresher in the air. A sense that we were going to do things our way, and that there were a lot of us who rejected not just our individual parents but what their values represented socially. Recollections of interviewee Elisabeth Tailor about her life as a teenager in the 1960s, quoted in ‘Student Revolution in 1960s Britain: Myth or Reality?’, by Patrick H. J. Smith, 2007 (www.patricksmith.org.uk). 24 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 40 This is a scene from an anti-Vietnam war demonstration in June 1966 in Grosvenor Square, London. ● SOURCE 41 I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 vividly, genuinely thinking that the world was going to end. Every night the news would come on with a map, showing how far the Russian ships had got towards the American blockade. You could predict the number of days it would take them to reach it. I remember thinking, I ought to do things now, because if the world is blown up I won’t get the chance. Quoted in Changing Times: Being Young in Britain in the ‘60s by Alison Pressley, published in 2000. There were many ways in which young people in the 1960s were challenging authority, trying to get their voices heard, living their lives according to new ways of thinking. Youth culture defined itself as much by what it was against as what it was for – a counterculture. However, it is important, too, to keep rebellion against the older generation in context. Most teenagers did not ‘drop out’ of society. Only a tiny minority of teenagers fought each other on the beaches of the southern coast. Student protests in Britain were extremely law-abiding affairs when compared with the unrest in France and the USA in the late 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps what had changed most was not teenagers, but the way the media reacted to them. Task Study the sources on pages 24 and 25. What can each source tell us about why students in the 1960s and early 1970s were rebelling against authority? 25 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? The reactions of the authorities to changes in teenage and student behaviour Who were ‘the authorities’? This is a broad term that can cover everyone from the government down to parents: in the sixties and seventies young people often referred to ‘the Man’ – those who controlled power in society. The generation making up the authorities was the one that had fought in the Second World War, who had sacrificed and suffered so much to ensure their children grew up in a free society rather than a fascist dictatorship. So it is perhaps not surprising that the general reaction to the teenage counterculture was not always that positive! There are lots of sources describing the ways the authorities reacted to the great changes in youth behaviour, fashion, music and politics in the 1960s and early 1970s. As you can imagine, there were lots of newspaper articles, debates in parliament, research projects, academic papers, memoirs and letters written about teenage behaviour, as well as other types of sources. For these two pages, however, we are going to focus on political cartoons. You will need to know how to use a wide range of sources for this topic in your exam, but cartoons are a good source of information on reactions and they often require the trickiest source analysis skills, which is why we will practise using them here. ● SOURCE 42 The published caption for this 1960 cartoon from the Daily Express reads: ‘The poor darling! The medicine we’ve been giving him is much too nasty!’ As well as a gun, the teenager is carrying a flick knife and wearing ‘winkle picker’ shoes. Tasks 1 2 3 26 Look at Source 42. Describe what the teenage character is wearing and holding, and what message these carry for the cartoon’s audience. Make sure you always link a description with a significance. For example, the character is wearing a leather jacket and has a quiff hairstyle: this shows he is a ‘rocker’, a type of teenager linked by the authorities to violent clashes with Mods. What message does Source 42 give about why teenagers have turned out so badly, such a contrast from the ‘bonny child’ on the medicine bottle? The people shown holding the medicine bottle in Source 42 are well-meaning health professionals and educators who have concocted this ‘modern mixture’ for bringing up children. Using this information, explain the purpose of this cartoon. Who does the cartoonist blame for the problems of modern youth and why does he say things have gone wrong? 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 43 This cartoon is titled ‘Looking for trouble’. A policeman is looking round a corner at teenager rockers, ignoring all the sexual scandals, pornography, indecent behaviour and gambling with which adult society is obsessed. It was published in the Daily Mail in April 1964. ● SOURCE 44 Tasks 4 5 Source 43 suggests that much of the way the authorities reacted to changes in teenage and student behaviour was deeply hypocritical.The authorities were so critical about young people’s attitudes to sex, drugs, violence and politics, when there were just as many problems in the rest of society. Study the cartoon carefully and list the details included to get its message across. What message does Source 44 give about how the authorities might have viewed student protest? Explain how the cartoonist gets this message across. Key points How did teenagers and students behave in the 1960s and early 1970s? • Big companies targeted teens with products designed for them – this trend had started in the 1950s. • However, young people making their own music or fashion were also hugely popular and respected. • Teens and students identified strongly with the music, fashion and lifestyles that were created for them and by them. • Some young people rejected what older people said about how they should behave. There was a clash between the generations. A cartoon from the Daily Mail, August 1968. Cartoonists often enjoyed contrasting peace protestors with violent demonstrations. 27 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? How far did the lives of all teenagers change in the 1960s and early 1970s? A danger for historians is that the sixties seem so important to us today that we exaggerate the impact of changes in that period. Was there a revolution in the 1960s that affected everyone in society? Or were these changes slower to develop? Were they even long-term trends that had a starting point way before the 1960s? For example, the common view of the 1960s is that young people had more sex, with more people, earlier. The contraceptive pill is usually given as a major reason for this change: teenage girls did not need to worry so much about getting pregnant. There certainly were changes in sexual behaviour in the 1960s, but to what extent did these changes affect all teenagers? ● SOURCE 45 Teenagers in the sixties were the first generation since the war to decide that the mysteries of sex should be explored and discoveries made for the sheer fun of it. People had sex at the slightest excuse after meeting for only ten minutes. Sexual partners were snapped up and discarded without ceremony, provided that they had the newly available contraceptive pill in their pocket or handbag. An extract from The Swinging Sixties by Brian Masters, published in 1985. ● SOURCE 46 Percentage of all births 10 8 6 4 2 0 1945 This photo of a 1964 beach scene includes young couples canoodling (in the foreground). Other beach users are not obviously objecting – at least, not at the point that the photo was taken. 28 Births to mothers aged 15–19 as percentage of all births, 1945–1975. 1 THE CHANGING LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE ● SOURCE 48 [T]he belief that sexual activity among the unmarried young is more common than it used to be is based on impressions, because we have little detailed information about the past. Some believe that this behaviour only seems more common because it is now more obvious and more freely admitted. Tasks 1 ‘Sexual Promiscuity Among Students’, British Medical Journal, 25 March 1967. ● SOURCE 49 Throughout the investigation modern methods of random sampling and statistical analysis were applied and special care has been taken to avoid sources of potential error in earlier studies, in which groups such as students have been used as subjects because they were readily available, or older people have been asked to remember the sexual adventures of their youth. Particular care was taken to keep down the number of refusals to co-operate, which was in fact under 15%. From the present investigation it appeared that 11% of 478 boys aged 15 to 17 and 6% of 475 girls of the same age had had sexual intercourse at least once. The same admission was made by 30% of 456 older boys aged 17 to 19 and by 16% of 464 girls of the same age ... 3 4 Evaluate how reliable each source is as evidence of trends in young people’s sexual behaviour. Which of these sources do you think is the most and least reliable, and why? Source 49 includes information on how its data were collected. It identifies some problems with earlier studies: • using students as readily-available subjects • asking older people to remember sexual experiences when they were young • only including young people who are immediately ready to talk about sexual experiences. Why would each of these be a problem for source reliability? ‘Source 47 is the most useful source for this enquiry because its data clearly show a sharp rise in young people having sex in the 1960s.’ To what extent would you agree with this statement? (Consider whether births are a reliable indicator of all sexual activity.) How far do the sources on these pages support the view that the sex lives of most teenagers changed dramatically from the 1950s to the 1960s? From ‘Sexual Behaviour of Young People’ – a review of The Sexual Behaviour of Young People by Michael Schofield, 1965, in the British Medical Journal, 31 July 1965. Key points How far did the lives of all teenagers change in the 1960s and early 1970s? • The sixties have become famous for massive social changes: particularly in relation to moral standards – sex, drugs, hippy lifestyles, etc. • However, while teenagers did all have access to information on new ways of thinking and behaving, for most teens life went on much as before. • For the historian, changes in sexual behaviour are very difficult to measure because this is the most private area of people’s lives. 29 Part 2 What happened 1939–1975? 2 The changing role of women, 1939–1975 In 1973 Margaret Thatcher, who was then Education Secretary, said ‘I don’t think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime.’ She of course went on to become the first woman Prime Minister of Britain just six years later. It was a fitting conclusion to 30 years of great change in the role of women. This chapter investigates the main changes and the reasons for them. What impact did the Second World War have on women in the years to 1951? What did you do in the war, Mummy? Once war was declared, women flooded into the workplace. They were recruited by the Ministry of Labour and the National Service to fill the gaps left by men entering the armed services. Conscription for men had been introduced from the very start of the war in 1939 and, aware of the crucial part women had played in the previous world war, the government swung into immediate action. The economy of the country had to be kept going while men were away fighting. It had to be geared up to support an army, navy and air force that were at war, and it had to support a civilian population, too. What work was the government expecting women to do? Serving in the armed forces Almost one million women worked in the armed forces. Many women, once they had joined up, found themselves doing exactly the same tasks as they would have done in peacetime: cooking and serving meals, and general clerical work. However, for some there was more exciting, interesting and adventurous work. In the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) there were women who worked as radio operators and signallers; they operated barrage balloons and flew aircraft from factories where they were made to the airfields that needed them. In the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) they took weather readings and made forecasts, tested torpedoes and depth charges, repairing them if necessary. In the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) women worked as drivers of jeeps, lorries and cars, maintaining them as well as driving senior officers around. They also rode motorbikes as dispatch-riders, and worked as draughtswomen, accurately mapping the countryside. No woman was sent to a combat zone and so did not have to kill. Tasks These posters were produced by the government during the Second World War. 30 Look at Source 1. 1 How is the government trying to persuade women to go out to work? 2 Not every poster in the source is trying to encourage women to go out to work. One is trying to persuade women to do something else. What is that, and why? 3 What different techniques are the government using in these posters? 4 Which poster do you think is the most persuasive? Why? 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 Secrets and spies The most difficult service to get into was the Special Operations Executive (SOE) because you had to be specially invited to join. The SOE was set up to work with the French Resistance to create havoc behind enemy lines by doing things such as blowing up bridges, cutting telephone lines and sabotaging railway signals. SOE members often also worked as couriers and wireless operators sending crucial information back to Britain. The women, who had to be expert linguists, were given new identities and parachuted behind enemy lines. Altogether, about 3,000 women were recruited by the SOE, though they didn’t all work abroad. Those who stayed in Britain did important work behind the scenes, for example, de-coding messages, creating fake documents and disguises, and arranging secret journeys. 5,000 found places on farms. However, by 1943 the situation had reversed: thousands of women were working the land and there were not enough recruits to go round. Land girls did every kind of farm work: for example, tractor driving, ploughing, milking, fruit spraying and tree felling. Working in industry The government set up training schemes for women workers in a large range of different skills, from oxyacetylene welding to motor mechanics, and these women became skilled operatives in a huge number of factories and workshops. Women worked in the construction industry, in the chemical industry and in the transport industry. Women could be found plumbing, shovelling coal, operating cranes, delivering letters, driving buses and in a thousand and one other jobs that kept the economy going. Trouble ahead? Working on the land At the start of the war the government asked Lady Reading (a society lady known for her energy and determination to get things done) to begin the organisation of a Women’s Land Army. Unfortunately, she didn’t see the need to talk to, or even work with, the agricultural trade unions. This meant that farmers were initially reluctant to employ women workers, or land girls, so of the 17,000 volunteers who enrolled at the start of the war, only There was trouble ahead, however. As well as working, most women had families to look after, too. This had not been the case when men had been the main workers in industry – very few of them had to go home to wash nappies, mend clothes and cook a meal! Women began demanding help with their childcare, and were angry that nurseries were not readily available for all working mothers. They began asking, too, why they were not getting paid the same as men for doing the same work. ● SOURCE 2 1938 The percentage of women employees working in various industries in 1938 and in 1944. 31 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? 1945: back to normal? On 7 May 1945, German radio broadcast that their General Alfred Jodl would sign the official surrender of Nazi Germany the following day. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, immediately announced that 8 May 1945 would be celebrated as VE (Victory in Europe) Day. The war was over – in Europe, at least. The Second World War did not finally end until Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 – VJ Day. Housewife or employee? Many women who had worked either full- or part-time during the war years wanted to continue working and combine their work with family life. However, the government, which had been desperate to recruit women workers to keep the economy going during the dark days of the war, expected them to return to their homes now that the war was over and the men were back. Most employers and many men agreed. Not all women were so certain, however. ● SOURCE 3 I think that marriage is a full-time career, though not as exciting as one outside the home, perhaps; and a woman cannot give of her best to two careers. On the whole, I think that married women will be only too glad to make their home the centre of their life. Single woman, companion and home help, aged 56, Bristol, interviewed by Mass Observation in 1944. ● SOURCE 4 Where women have had careers, and where they are more suited to continue working than to spend time housekeeping and baby-minding, I think they should work. It is far better for a woman to continue with the job for which she is suited, and to pay the right kind of person to look after her home and children, than to become a drudge herself, if housework is drudgery to her. But I think a married woman should work no more than 40 hours a week, and she should always consider her family before her job. I am hoping for a development of Day Nurseries, all jobs open to married women and maternity grants. Married woman, no children, aged 28, working as an aerodynamicist in Winchester, Hampshire, interviewed Mass Observation in 1944. ● SOURCE 5 [In the spring of 1945] there were about twelve women welders in the shipyard. We were sent for one morning and the personnel officer sat there at his desk. He lifted his head and he said one word – ‘redundant’. That was a new word to our vocabulary. We really didn’t know exactly what it meant. There was no reason given. There was no explanation. There was plenty of work in the yard. Before the war Bella Keyzer had worked as a weaver in Dundee. Then she was sent by the government into shipbuilding where she was trained as a welder. She enjoyed the work but was forced to give it up in 1945. Here she recounts how her job came to an end. 32 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939â€“1975 â—? SOURCE 6 I am just beginning to appreciate some of the advantages that help to off-set the financial loss brought about by Marjorieâ€™s change over from office work to housewifery. I am able to have all my meals at home instead of going up to Motherâ€™s for breakfast and round to the British Restaurant for lunch, as well as no longer having to do any housework, such as washing, wiping-up, sweeping, dusting, firelighting etc etc. One certainly has a more comfortable time of it with a bustling wife around the house. Anthony Heap, a middle-aged local government officer living in London, clearly found his life more comfortable when his wife Marjorie became a full-time housewife again. We donâ€™t know what Marjorie thought! â—? SOURCE 7 Men hate their girls going out to work and impairing their own dignity as head of the house. A trade union leader in the north-east of England explains to the writer James Lansdale Hodson why men prefer women to stay at home. â—? SOURCE 8 â—? SOURCE 9 <RXU ÂłDIWHUWKHZDUÂ´ GUHDP LVFRPLQJWUXHÂŤZDUGXWLHV HQGHGÂŤ'DGÂżQLVKHGZLWK QLJKWVKLIWVÂŤIDPLO\UHXQLRQV 3HDFHWLPHLQWHUHVWVDQGQHZ FDUHV 1RZ\RXUVZLOOEHWKH UHVSRQVLELOLW\RIORRNLQJDIWHU WKHIDPLO\ÂśVKHDOWK:DUWLPH H[SHULHQFHKDVVKRZQ\RXWKH YDOXHRIÂľ0LONRI0DJQHVLDÂś VR\RXZRQÂśWIRUJHWWRNHHSWKLV DOZD\VLQWKHPHGLFLQHFDELQHW DVDVWDQGE\DJDLQVWWKHPLQRU XSVHWVRIWKHV\VWHP Tasks 1 â€˜MILK OF MAGNESIAâ€™ 2 Âľ0LONRI0DJQHVLDÂśLVWKHWUDGHPDUNRI 3KLOOLSVÂśSUHSDUDWLRQRIPDJQHVLD 3 An advertisement for Milk of Magnesia. A model demonstrates the â€˜New Lookâ€™ introduced by the fashion designer Dior in 1947. Read Sources 3 and 4. What different attitudes to married women working outside the home do these two women show? Read Sources 5, 6 and 7. What attitudes to women working outside the home are shown by the men in these sources? Study Sources 8 and 9. What are the â€˜messagesâ€™ here to working women? 33 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? What was life like for most women in the 1950s? ● SOURCE 10 Children growing up in the 1950s would find themselves surrounded by images of womanhood such as Source 10. Even school ‘reading schemes’ carried a similar message. The most popular reading scheme was called ‘Janet and John’ and invariably showed the mother doing chores around the house with Janet, her daughter, while the father and his son, John, did manly work like cleaning the car and making bonfires. Father went to work; mother stayed at home. Mother was always prettily dressed, father hard working and appreciative of home cooking and a clean house, and the children playing happily. This image of life was very much what many people wanted the 1950s to be. However, was this what it was really like? Was it like this for the women – and did they want it to be like this? What was the impact of the war on women’s work in the 1950s? A typical 1950s advertisement for a clothes dryer. Once the war was over and men took back ‘their’ jobs, thousands of women were forced back into ‘women’s jobs’ – domestic and hotel work, clerical work, nursing and shop work – or they returned to being full-time wives and mothers. All, however, had not been lost and some of the wartime gains carried over into peacetime. • Government training courses were opened up to women who had contributed to the war effort so that they could re-train for peacetime work. However, although the government paid people allowances when they were re-training, women were paid less than men. • More women workers joined trade unions, and most unions really did make an effort to safeguard their interests. • The ban on married women teaching and working in the civil service was lifted. • Medical schools were encouraged to admit women and were awarded government grants only if they admitted at least one woman for every five men. All hospital jobs were open to men and women. Scholarships were made available to women wanting a higher education in physics and chemistry, civil and electrical engineering, and aeronautical construction. • Although the system of day nurseries that had been set up for pre-school-age children was largely disbanded after 1945 because of lack of funding, some did manage to carry on. School meals were available for all children, which went some way towards making it easier for married women to continue working, at least part-time. 34 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 Part-time work for women continued to be popular after the war. Women liked it because it gave them the opportunity to combine limited independence and a little money with their housework. Employers liked it because, at a time of full employment, it provided them with a flexible workforce who were prepared to take on mindless, repetitive jobs for low pay. Indeed, the new electrical and engineering industries did not need the brute strength of the old manufacturing industries, and increasingly employed women. By 1951, 22 per cent of married women had jobs, compared with 10 per cent before the war. Equal pay, equal opportunities? ● SOURCE 11 There was, however, one major problem for women workers: that of equal pay for equal work. Women were generally regarded as people who dipped in and out of work as they fancied. Employers, the government and, to a large extent, women themselves, believed that a girl leaving school would have a job for just a few years until she married. Then it was the husband’s responsibility to look after her. Many people believed that a working wife shamed the husband, because it implied he couldn’t support her. Women were not expected to hold down a job for twenty or thirty years as a man would, and so it was not thought necessary to consider appropriate pay structures for them. However, not all women agreed! In 1951, women in teaching, the civil service and local government started a campaign for equal pay. They held marches and demonstrations, designed badges saying ‘Equal pay – when?’, lobbied MPs and organised petitions. Finally, in 1955, the government agreed to phase in pay increases in these three areas of work, eventually bringing women’s pay up to that of men. This did not happen in other areas of work, however; neither were women regarded as equal to men when it came to promotion. Equal opportunities were even trickier. Many people believe that equal opportunities begin at school, and with the choices you are able to make then. The 1944 Education Act established the principle of free education for all children in primary and secondary schools. Secondary schools were divided Women marching from Westminster to Trafalgar Square, London, in support of their campaign for equal pay in teaching, local government and the civil service. 35 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? into two types: grammar schools and secondary modern schools. In order to go to a grammar school, a child had to pass an examination: the 11-plus. However, the government thought that too many girls were passing the exam in comparison to boys, and in 1954 it decided to limit the number of girls who were allowed to go to grammar school. It is now estimated that, without these quotas, two-thirds of all the places in mixed grammar schools would have been occupied by girls. The quota system carried on in Birmingham and Northern Ireland until the 1980s, when it was declared illegal. ● SOURCE 12 The lives of my mother and grandmother remained unchanged. They continued to be devoted to their domestic responsibilities. But when my turn came they pushed and cajoled me through the education system and into a job market to which they believed I had every right. It never occurred to me, because of their encouragement, that I was anything other than an equal citizen. It was much later that I discovered that, even for a girl born in 1950, there was no equal access to education. Jenni Murray, the host of BBC’s Woman’s Hour, describes her experience of equal opportunities in the school system. ● SOURCE 13 I went to the editor and said, ‘Why am I not to go on doing this deputy editor’s job?’ He said, ‘Oh, Mary, there’s nothing wrong with your work, but we have to safeguard the succession and the successor has to be a man.’ End message. How can you go on doing something knowing there is no promotion, knowing that young men whom you have helped to train will inevitably jump over you? Mary Stott, working for the Manchester Evening News, was expecting promotion. She had been working as deputy editor every Saturday when she was suddenly dropped. This is the explanation she was given. To work or to stay at home? The economy was expanding rapidly in the 1950s, and there was plenty of work for those who wanted it. Single women without family responsibilities had no problems in finding a job, but they faced the problems of discrimination when it came to pay and promotion. Furthermore, married women with children faced additional problems, the most basic of which was public hostility to working mothers. In part, this arose from the following: • the government’s concern about the falling birth rate. It wanted young married women to stay at home and bring up a family. This was one of the reasons that Family Allowances had been introduced in 1947. These were payable to the mother but only for second and subsequent children • the work of paediatrician and psychiatrist John Bowlby, who argued that it was psychologically damaging for a child to be separated from its mother for any length of time. Although he was first of all writing about children in orphanages and other institutions, his theories were expanded and applied to children living in their own homes. His book Child Care and the Growth of Love became a bestseller and dominated many women’s thinking about how they should bring up their children. 36 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 The ‘happy housewife’ Women who chose, for whatever reasons, to stay at home after marriage faced a daunting task. The first Daily Mail Ideal Home exhibition after the war was held in Olympia, London, in 1947 and has been held every year since. Here, the housewives of the 1950s were faced with an amazing array of gadgets designed to help them create the ‘ideal’ home for their husbands and children. A huge range of goods such as dusters and feather flicks, bowls and buckets, toasters and frying pans were on show, as well as cookers and fridges, electric fires and oil heaters. Whole rooms were created for demonstration purposes, and people could see the latest in, for example, furniture, wallpaper and kitchen cabinets. Not everyone could afford these ‘marvellous’ gadgets and the modern approach to housework and homemaking. Washing was usually done by hand, unless there was a launderette close by. Cleaning was done with dusters and polish, mops, dustpans and brushes, carpet sweepers and carpet beaters. As the 1950s progressed, however, housework became easier. • Clean Air Acts had reduced the pollution in the atmosphere. • Technology produced the washing machine and vacuum cleaner, sponge mops, paper towels, detergents and a material called crimplene, which didn’t need ironing. • Mass production resulted in electrical goods becoming cheaper and, by the end of the 1950s, most homes had fridges, and many had vacuum cleaners and washing machines too. Advertisements often came with hidden warnings as to what would happen if women didn’t keep on top of their housework. In these, for example, a child was saved from bullying because his mother began washing his shirts in Surf washing powder, turning them from dirty grey to sparkling white; and a husband who had been tempted to stray happily returned home each night once his wife began using Zal disinfectant. Images of women wearing glamorous clothes, topped by a frilly apron, whisking through their housework wearing full make-up and with every hair in place, were common and were intended to persuade women that life spent at home was not drudgery. The reality, of course, was very different. Reality, too, meant food rationing, which continued after the end of the war. It wasn’t until 1954 that all food rationing finally came to an end. Tea, for example, did not come off ration until October 1952, sugar in 1953 and the last to go was meat and bacon on 4 July 1954. Even then there were still shortages and this created further stress for housewives, who often had to feed a growing family. It wasn’t until well into the 1950s that shoppers could be certain that the foodstuffs they wanted would be available. Tasks 1 2 Study Sources 10 and 12. How far does Source 12 challenge the view of 1950s home life shown in Source 10? Draw two columns in your file. Head them ‘Problems facing working women’ and ‘Problems facing women who stayed at home’. Work through this section and, using the information in the text and the sources, list the problems facing women in the 1950s. Which, in your view, was the most serious? 37 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? ‘… never had it so good’ In 1957, when Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told the British electorate that ‘most of our people have never had it so good’ (see Source 20), they believed him, though they knew he was trying to get their votes. • Unemployment had stayed low throughout the 1950s, helped by women’s flexible working, and at its worst it had never topped 400,000. • More and more women were going out to work, and so many families were earning enough to pay for cars, televisions, refrigerators, electric lawn mowers and all kinds of gadgets designed to make life easier and more fun. • Many more people than before the war began to buy their own homes. Of course, not everyone shared in this new affluence. Many of those who didn’t were often the new immigrants (see pages 48–73), who struggled to share in the material wealth enjoyed by so many. ● SOURCE 14 I wanted a rabbit, but I didn’t feel like paying the 10d return on the bus to get 2/- worth of meat. I’d Wellingtons, my WVS overcoat and hooded mac on, but the cold seemed to penetrate and everyone looked pinched and cold. I paid my grocery order and left one for Monday, and got last week’s and this week’s eggs – four. There was a really good display of meat in the window but no one was interested – tins of gammon ham about, I should think, 1lb were 9/6, and Danish and Dutch ‘minced pork in natural juices’ at 4/6 and 5/6 for quite a small tin. As one woman remarked ‘they don’t say anything about the thick layer of fat which, with the “natural juices”, made up more than half of the tin I got.’ Nella Last, a housewife living in Barrow in 1951, remembers what it was like trying to buy meat. ● SOURCE 15 I used to be up at 6.30, to get Alan and Anne-Marie ready for school. I used to take them to Mother’s and start work at 7.30. When I came in on a night, I used to start straightaway, before anything, with the dinner. I used to do all me housework, washing as well, if it was washing night, in the evenings. I did a bit each night. Mary Graham was married to a miner and took a part-time job in the late 1950s when her children started school. Her husband would not have expected to have to help with the housework, except in emergencies. ● SOURCE 16 Your home had to look absolutely scrubbed and clean and wonderful. Your children, your pram, your own appearance, every hair was sort of ironed and manicured into order because the content wasn’t important. It was only the appearance. Everything was ‘Ideal Home’. Whatever it was had to look nice. Everything was starched and ironed and the children had pure silk rompers. It wasn’t all tumble dry and put it in the machine as it is now. It was smocking and everything took ages to wash and iron. Carole Steyne, married in 1958, remembers what it was like to be a young housewife. 38 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 17 Woman’s Hour on the wireless was very different from what it is now. We used to be bombarded with household hints and recipes and how to do this and how to do that and we were always being sort of lectured. Housewives were always being told they must not become cabbages and bore their husbands. A housewife remembers what the BBC radio programme Woman’s Hour was like in the 1950s. ● SOURCE 18 ● SOURCE 19 By the end of the 1950s we were fairly well off. We had a fridge, a car and a television. I was the only person in my class to have all three. We had a fortnight’s holiday every year, usually in Cornwall where we stayed on a farm or sometimes in Frinton [Essex] where we rented a house. My mother didn’t work outside the house, and she had time to join the Townswomen’s Guild. She went to their classes and learned how to make silk lampshades and pewter teapot stands and jewellery. She did spend a lot of time washing, cooking and cleaning, although that wasn’t too bad because she had an upright vacuum cleaner – a Hoover Junior – and when my French penfriend came to stay in 1958, my father bought her a washing machine. It had a powered wringer and you had to be very careful not to get your fingers caught between the rubber rollers. All the time, too, she had a woman who came once a week to help her with the housework. We had quite a large garden, with a lawn, flower-beds, apple and pear trees, fruit bushes and a vegetable patch. My mother did most of the gardening, although my father always cut the grass. Rosemary Dawson remembers family life at the end of the 1950s. ● SOURCE 20 An advertisement published in the 1950s. Go around the country, go to the industrial towns, go to the farms and you will see a state of prosperity such as we have never had in my lifetime – nor, indeed, in the history of this country. Indeed, let us be frank about it – most of our people have never had it so good. From a speech made by Tory Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, in 1957. Tasks 1 2 Sources 14–17 are all memories of life in the 1950s. How reliable would they be to a historian trying to find out what life was like in the 1950s? How could a historian check what they say? How far do Sources 18 and 19 support what Harold Macmillan says in Source 20? 39 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Were women discriminated against in the 1960s and early 1970s? At first, it might seem that young women in the ‘Swinging Sixties’ had nothing to worry about. Called ‘dolly-birds’, they shocked their older relatives by their wild behaviour. Often living in bedsits or flat-shares, well away from parental control, these young women usually did secretarial work where they were chosen for the shortness of their skirts rather than their office skills. It was widely believed that, indeed, they ‘never had it so good’. ● SOURCE 21 British designer Mary Quant in 1967 advertising the shoes she had designed. But was it really like this for most women in the 1960s and early 1970s? What sort of freedom did they really have? How much discrimination was there against women? The battle for equal pay In the 1960s, women made up about one-third of the total workforce. However, although nearly half of all women aged between 20 and 64 were out working, they didn’t all work all the time. Peak employment for women was between the ages of 20 and 25, and between 45 and 50. This, of course, gave a lot of support to those people who argued that women shouldn’t be paid as much as men because they weren’t serious about having a long-term career. In the early 1960s, a group of industrialists, worried because women’s scientific and technical training was being underused by industry, asked the London School of Economics to find out why this was. As a result, in 1968, a Royal Commission published its report into the role of women in industry. They identified three main problems: • unequal pay: women were paid, on average, three-quarters of the salary paid to a man for doing the same job • lack of nurseries for women with children too young to go to school • a deeply held belief by many people that a woman’s job was marriage, homemaking and children, while a man’s job was to go out and earn money to keep them and look after them. This denied women the opportunity for further training. What was to be done? And who was to do it? • In 1968, 40 women workers at the Ford factory in Dagenham, Essex, went on strike over equal pay. After a three-week strike, they settled for 92 per cent of 40 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 • • • • the rate paid to male skilled workers. They then asked their union to set up a conference on discrimination against women. Various women’s rights organisations, such as the Fawcett Society, began lobbying MPs for equal opportunities. A rally held in 1969 was attended by 30,000 people. The Treaty of Rome, which Britain had to sign in order to enter the Common Market (now the European Union) said that men and women had to have equal opportunities and equal pay for equal work. The Labour government’s Secretary of State for Employment, Barbara Castle, began working towards an agreement between the government, trade unions and the CBI (Confederation of British Industry – a bosses’ organisation) for equal pay for women doing the same work as men. In 1970 Castle introduced an Equal Pay Act into the House of Commons that was approved by both Houses of Parliament and came into full effect in 1975. This five-year gap was to let industries adapt themselves to the higher costs this legislation would involve. Did attitudes to women’s work change? Achieving equal work for equal pay didn’t necessarily mean that people’s attitudes to working women, especially working married women, changed overnight. But change was coming. The opening of a whole wave of new universities in the 1960s enabled more young women to go on to higher education. This gave them more freedom and greater opportunities for following a range of different careers. No longer were women seen as simply filling in time before marriage and babies: they were beginning to be thought of as ‘career girls’. Older women, too, began reaching the heights of their chosen fields of work: in 1964 Dorothy Hodgkin won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for her research on vitamin B12, and the following year Dame Elizabeth Lane became the first woman High Court judge. It was not all plain sailing, of course, and prejudices against women continued in many other and different ways. Women found many ways of showing just how ridiculous these prejudices were. ● SOURCE 22 Task Does Source 22 prove that there was still discrimination against women, even at the end of the 1960s? Use your own knowledge as well as the source in your answer. In the BBC there was a strict dress code for women. In 1969 Susannah Simmons was one of that year’s intake of trainee studio managers. Her pride and joy was a white polo neck sweater, white trousers and a knee-length leather jerkin. She wore them to work – ignoring the order that women should only wear trousers while on the night shift or working in the Arab section within the BBC building. A senior executive pointed out her transgression while they were both in a BBC lift, so, there and then, she took her trousers off. The rules were soon changed. From Jenni Murray’s The Woman’s Hour, published in 1996 by the BBC. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 This Act established the Equal Opportunities Commission, whose main duties were to work towards the elimination of discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity between the sexes and to keep an eye on the workings of the Equal Pay Act of 1970. Of course, men could use this Act as well as women if they felt they were being discriminated against unfairly. 41 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? What was the impact of the Women’s Liberation Movement? The Women’s Liberation Movement, which began in the USA, wasn’t a single organisation with membership lists, neither was it a movement for women with the same political beliefs. It was more a loose collection of events and writings, marches and conferences, group meetings and magazines that had a common theme: that of ending discrimination against women. By the end of 1969, there were about 70 ‘women’s lib’ groups in Britain. What drove them and who supported them? • Prominent writers such as Doris Lessing, Iris Murdoch; actresses like Vanessa Redgrave; and politicians like Barbara Castle. • Lesser-known women, such as the fishermen’s wives in Hull who campaigned for safety at sea, and the London bus conductresses who demanded the right to train as bus drivers. The Women’s Liberation Movement really began to get under way in the 1970s. • In February 1970, the first National Women’s Conference was held at Ruskin College, Oxford, and was attended by more than 500 women. They demanded equal pay, free contraception, abortion on demand and 24-hour nurseries (to enable women to work nightshifts). Later demands included the need for financial and legal independence. • In October 1970, Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch was published. It examined the ways in which men had moulded woman’s psychology. • In November 1970, the Miss World contest, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, was disrupted by protestors shouting and throwing flour and smoke bombs. This, more than anything, brought the Women’s Liberation Movement to the attention of the public. While conferences, books and demonstrations kept women’s issues in the public eye, there was also a lot going on behind the scenes. Countless small groups worked to bring about change. Women joined consciousness groups where they discussed their position in society, they set up women’s refuges where women and their children were safe from abusive men, and they went out into their home towns campaigning for equal rights. So the impact of the Women’s Liberation Movement was at least two-fold. It generated a great deal of ridicule: many believed ‘women’s libbers’ were burning their bras and hated men. On the other hand, it did a great deal to keep the issue of women’s rights alive and at the forefront of people’s minds. ● SOURCE 23 It was very exciting. You thought, ‘This is the first time anyone’s noticed this and, by God, it’s going to be different tomorrow.’ Playwright Michelene Wandor, interviewed about the importance of the February 1970 National Women’s Conference. 42 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 24 ● SOURCE 25 I suppose I am either blamed or credited with having started the whole thing. In 1966, I and others in the US started the first Women’s Liberation groups because it wasn’t enough to say, ‘I want to be a person.’ We had to use our political power to re-structure society in a way so that women and men can move equally in the world outside the home, so that women can have a share in the decisions that affect our lives. And we must re-structure the home. Mother and father must take equal responsibility for the children. The home should no longer be a woman’s world and the world outside the home can no longer be a man’s world. Then there should be new social institutions like childcare centres where for some hours of the day the child can be cared for in the company of other children. Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, explains her viewpoint to Jenni Murray on the BBC programme Woman’s Hour in 1970. Task What did the Women’s Liberation Movement want? How did they set about getting it? The front cover of the feminist magazine Spare Rib, published in February 1973. A woman’s right to choose? The most intense and angry public debates towards the end of the 1960s and in the early 1970s were not about equal pay or childcare. They were about a woman’s right to choose whether or not to stay in a marriage, whether or not she was allowed to have an abortion and, combined with these, a woman’s right to use a reliable contraceptive and take control of her own fertility. These issues were to have a profound effect on women’s place in society: people were forced to consider how women were viewed and how women viewed themselves. The Pill Women, of course, are the ones who bear children, and it is this simple biological fact that has dominated a great deal of attitudes towards women and towards their work opportunities. It was argued that a reliable contraceptive, to be used by women, would enable them to take control over when, or even whether, they had children and thus give them equal access alongside men to the workplace, training and promotion. 43 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? The contraceptive pill, to be taken orally by women, was first tested in the USA in the mid-1950s, and first prescribed by British doctors in January 1961. How popular was it? • By the summer of 1962, about 150,000 women were taking the Pill, rising to roughly 480,000 in 1964. • A survey carried out in 1969 found that fewer than one in five women were using oral contraceptives. Why was this? The answer is simple: access to the Pill was tightly controlled. • In the early 1960s, most GPs would prescribe it only to married women, and the existing network of Family Planning Association clinics catered only for married couples. • There was nowhere for single women to go until the Brook clinics opened in 1964. These began giving advice to single women and to girls as young as 16. • It was only after the Family Planning Act of 1967 that the state really committed itself to family planning and even then it was up to local authorities to decide whether or not to open clinics. Most of the new clinics were run by the Family Planning Association, and only when they were threatened by the success of the Brook clinics did they relax their rules about seeing unmarried women. It was only in the late 1960s and the 1970s, therefore, that the Pill became widely available to both single and married women, and began to have an impact on the sort of choices they were able to make. ● SOURCE 26 I was at university in 1968 when campus health centres were handing out the Pill like sweets. We slept around and talked a lot to each other about the evolution we were part of. And then it began to dawn. It wasn’t really what we wanted, but it had become hard to say no. An anonymous interviewee on the BBC’s radio programme Woman’s Hour in 1970, from Jenni Murray’s The Woman’s Hour, published in 1996. The Abortion Act 1967 In the years before 1967, many women who found themselves with an unwanted pregnancy resorted to illegal abortion. • It is estimated that in the years before 1967, around 100,000 backstreet abortions and self-induced miscarriages took place in Britain each year. • Legal terminations were allowed in certain very limited circumstances. but the vast majority of abortions were illegal and both the pregnant woman and the person helping her could be jailed. • Between the years 1958 and 1960, 82 women died after undergoing an illegal abortion and thousands more were hospitalised or left permanently damaged. • In 1966, the year before the Abortion Act became law, 49 women died as the result of bungled backstreet abortions. 44 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 27 The freedom women were supposed to have in the Sixties largely boiled down to easy contraception and abortion: things to make life easier for men, in fact. Comment made by the journalist Julie Burchill in The Women’s Century by Mary Turner, published in 2003. This situation simply could not be allowed to continue indefinitely. The Abortion Law Reform Association had been set up in 1939 with a very radical agenda: one of its founder members, Stella Browne, advocated abortion on demand as a basic female right. Bills to legalise abortion were introduced in the House of Commons in 1953, 1961, 1965 and 1966. All failed. However, public opinion was changing: • the tragedy of deformed babies being born as a result of their mothers taking the drug thalidomide during pregnancy resulted in the Ministry of Health issuing directives in 1962 saying that ‘every possible effort’ should be taken to prevent such babies being born • in 1965, the Anglican Church Assembly’s Board for Social Responsibility declared that abortion could be justified if ‘there was a threat to the mother’s life or well-being’ • in 1967 the Liberal MP David Steel introduced the Abortion Bill that, with government support, became law at the end of the year. Abortion was possible up to the 28th week of pregnancy (later reduced to the 24th week) provided that two doctors were in agreement that it was medically or psychologically necessary. Private clinics that charged a fee for abortion rapidly appeared throughout the country, and it was also now possible to have a free termination on the NHS. But still some people were unhappy: this was not abortion on demand, as many women wanted; and the Catholic Church and many non-Catholics remained, and still do remain, implacably opposed to abortion under any circumstances. The Divorce Reform Act 1969 Before 1969, only the ‘innocent party’ in a marriage could sue for divorce. This meant, for example, that a wife could refuse her husband a divorce even though he had been gone for years, was living with another woman and had children by her. A few wives did this from spite but most acted because, before 1970, divorce was usually financially crippling for the divorced woman. The 1969 Divorce Reform Act did away with the idea of ‘innocence’ and a ‘guilty party’. The only grounds for divorce were the ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of the marriage. Furthermore, the Matrimonial Property Act of 1970 recognised that the wife’s work, even if it was carried out inside the home, contributed towards the marriage and had to be taken into account in any divorce settlement. In 1965 there had been just 2.8 divorces per 1,000 married adults in Britain; by 1990, twenty years after the Divorce Reform Act, the annual number of divorces lagged only slightly behind the annual number of marriages. Task To what extent do you agree with Julie Burchill (Source 27)? Use the information in this section in your answer. ● SOURCE 28 The reform of the divorce laws reflected the changing role of women and the transformation of marriage from an unequal contract into a romantic partnership based on affection and companionship. Divorce reform recognised women as equal partners in a marriage. From White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties by Dominic Sandbrook, published in 2006. 45 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? How much change had taken place for women by 1975? A great deal of change had taken place in the lives of women by 1975, as you will see from these conversations between mothers and their daughters in that year. Tasks 1 2 For each of these aspects of women’s lives Housework Childcare Pregnancy Work opportunities Earnings award a score on the scale of 1 (not much change) to 5 (lots of change). For your highest and lowest score write an explanation of your score making sure you support your answer with evidence from this chapter or your own wider research. I ran the home and looked after the children and your father went out and earned the money. We knew what was expected. In my day we were very afraid of getting pregnant before we were married, or of having babies at the wrong time after we were married. Men should have the important managerial jobs. Who would take orders from a woman? I wouldn’t feel comfortable telling a man what to do. 46 But I want a career as well as marriage and children. Why can’t I have both? My husband does. Reliable contraceptives and easy abortion make it much more difficult to say ‘No’. But we do have choices to make and those aren’t always easy ones. I am as capable of running a company as any man! And now the law says I can’t be discriminated against just because I am a woman. 2 THE CHANGING ROLE OF WOMEN, 1939–1975 We never expected to earn what the men earned, even for doing the same work. You see, they had families to provide for, and we were just earning a bit of extra money. What you do with what you earn isn’t the point. The point is that if you do the same work you should get the same money. We stayed at home and brought up our children ourselves. We didn’t hand them over to strangers. If I stayed at home with the kids I would miss out on my career prospects. What mothers need is reliable childcare. But why should this just be the mother’s problem? What about the fathers? Maybe nothing has changed! ● SOURCE 29 A girl of sixteen in 1970 was far more likely to remain in education than a similar sixteenyear-old in 1956. She was more likely to pursue her own intellectual and cultural interests for as long as she liked, to marry when and whom she wanted, to have children when and if she wanted, and, above all, to choose whether she remained at home as a housewife or pursued her own career. From White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties by Dominic Sandbrook, published in 2006. Change had come – and a great deal of very important changes had been made that affected the lives of women in the years to 1975. But change, as you will have seen from these conversations, didn’t always make women’s lives easier and often presented women with very difficult choices that their mothers didn’t have to make. Key points How much change had taken place for women by 1975? • Legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act and the Divorce Act had improved the legal status of women. • More women were in paid employment than in 1939 which gave them greater economic freedom but most still earned less than men. • Women had more control over whether and when to have babies due to effective contraception and the Abortion Act. 47 Part 2 What happened 1939–1975? 3 Causes and consequences of immigration to Britain, 1939–1975 Britain has always been shaped by migration. Through history peoples have come and gone and in the process changed the country. One of the most significant periods of migration was the period 1939–1975, which laid the foundations for today’s multicultural and multi-racial society in Britain. This chapter investigates this period in detail, and examines why immigrants came to Britain, what happened when they got here, and how these immigrants changed Britain. Who came to Britain – and why? Many people coming to live in Britain in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were refugees from persecution in their own countries. They came to Britain to be safe and to start a new life. But as the twentieth century progressed, people came for other reasons, too. People came to Britain in the years after 1939 in three main waves: • The first wave of immigration took place because of the Second World War and events leading up to it. • The second wave took place once the war was over. Britain urgently needed a large number of workers to help rebuild the war-damaged cities, to work in the factories in order to get the peacetime economy going again, and to run London Transport and the newly introduced National Health Service. The government set up recruiting agencies in Ireland, in refugee camps and, most importantly, in the West Indies. • The third wave came in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Immigration of Asian people, mainly from India and Pakistan, was the main feature of this wave. In this chapter you will study examples from the second and third waves. ● SOURCE 1 1 2 POLAND UKRAINE ITALY CYPRUS 1945–62 & 1974 BARBADOS TRINIDAD and TOBAGO GUYANA IND North-West Frontier Area - Pathans and others (Muslim) 1960s–1980s NEW ZEALAND Other countries/areas for migrants to Britain This map shows the parts of the world from which people came to Britain in the twentieth century. 48 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 Key Points Which immigrants were living in Britain in 1945? • Former prisoners of war, some in camps, others who chose to stay in Britain of their own free will. • Jews, Poles and other Europeans who had fled the chaos and persecution in wartime Europe. • Irish people, who formed the largest immigrant group in the UK throughout the twentieth century. Wave 2: post-war immigration in the 1940s and 1950s Following the end of the Second World War, immigration into Britain continued. • The Irish were still the biggest group of immigrants. Nearly a million Irish people were living in Britain in the post-war period. • Around 250,000 Caribbean people came to Britain between 1955 and 1962. • Through the 1950s these Caribbean immigrants were joined by smaller numbers from India and Pakistan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Cyprus and parts of Africa. After the war ended, Britain was in desperate need of labour, both skilled and unskilled. Houses, schools, factories, railway stations and churches needed rebuilding; new government bodies, such as the National Health Service, needed skilled workers; the whole transport system, particularly London Transport, needed rebuilding and staffing. The whole economy needed re-focusing on peacetime prosperity, rather than wartime targets. Where were these workers to come from? New arrivals came from all over Europe. These included the small number of German prisoners of war who stayed on in Britain and a larger number of refugees from the communist regimes in eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Some 130,000 Poles, for example, arrived immediately after the ending of the war and 14,000 Hungarians came after the Soviet Union clamped down on an uprising in 1956. There were also substantial numbers of Italian labourers and a wide variety of displaced persons from refugee camps throughout Europe. Hundreds of thousands of Irish labourers crossed the Irish Sea for what they saw as better opportunities in mainland UK. Throughout the post-war period, the Irish remained the largest immigrant community in Britain. But these European and Irish workers were still not enough to meet the demands of Britain’s postwar economy. 1948: the British Nationality Act The appeal for new workers was aimed primarily at white Europeans. However, the British Nationality Act of 1948 gave British citizenship (and therefore British passports) to the millions of citizens of British colonies, such as Hong Kong, and former colonies, such as India. This gave them the right to enter Britain and to stay for as long as they liked. The Royal Commission on Population reported in 1949 that immigrants ‘of good stock’ would be welcomed ‘without reserve’. Employers therefore looked beyond Europe in their recruitment drive, particularly to the Caribbean. Thus began a second major wave of immigration to Britain. Case study SS Empire Windrush The steamship SS Empire Windrush brought the first large group of migrant workers from the Caribbean to Britain in 1948. This event has acquired a huge symbolic significance as the first step towards the multicultural society in Britain that we now take for granted. Sources 2–7 tell you more about the people who travelled on SS Empire Windrush. Why did they leave their homes and lives in the Caribbean? Why did they want to come to Britain? 49 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? ● SOURCE 2 The Empire Windrush was not part of any recruitment plan by the British government. Transport was offered simply because the ship was travelling to Britain with a half-full load and the enterprising captain wanted to fill those empty spaces. He knew there were young Jamaicans who were keen to travel to Britain to find work. When the SS Empire Windrush left Jamaica on 24 May 1948, it had 300 passengers below decks and 192 above. They mostly came from the This advertisement appeared in The Daily Gleaner, British colonies of Jamaica and a Jamaican newspaper, on 13 April 1948. Trinidad. ● SOURCE 3 ● SOURCE 4 I came to England first in 1944 in the air force. I went back to Jamaica in 1946, but after spending two years there, it was too small for me. As a matter of fact, I had a reasonably good job in Jamaica and things were looking up. It was just a matter of the island being too small. You don’t realise how small until after you’ve travelled. The Windrush came in 1948 and I returned to England and to more freedom. I first came to England during the war, in the RAF. I was in the war for three years. When I went back home there was no work so I decided to come back. There was a boat coming back, by the name of Windrush, and it was only £28 so I paid my fare and came back. The opportunity for jobs in England was better than back home in Jamaica. Clinton Edwards explains why he returned to England after the war. Arthur Curling explains why he decided to come to Britain on SS Empire Windrush. 50 ● SOURCE 5 ● SOURCE 6 I came here in 1948 because my husband sent for me. He and his brother came over a year before. I reached here on 22 June. It was a lovely day, beautiful, and they were at the dock waiting for me. I think it was Tilbury. I was very excited. I was coming to meet my husband. I was very anxious to come and meet him because when he left we were just married. We got married and he left the following day. Jamaica in 1948 was all right to me. If my husband had not sent for me I would not have come at that point. Maybe later. I was born in Jamaica in 1926. The ‘mother country’ was at war with Nazi Germany and I did believe in the British Empire and as a young man I volunteered to contribute and fight Nazi Germany. A lot of people don’t realise that Britain stood alone for nearly two years against tyranny. We as part of the former British Empire volunteered and contributed and I am glad we did that. I have been here during the war fighting Nazi Germany and I came back to help build Britain. Lucile Harris explains why she was a passenger on the Windrush. Sam King explains why he wanted to go to Britain on the Windrush. 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 Settling in On their arrival in Britain, many like Lucile (Source 5) went to stay with friends or relatives. There were 236 passengers who had nowhere to live and these were temporarily housed in a shelter in south-west London that had previously been used for holding German and Italian prisoners of war. It was less than a mile from the nearest labour exchange in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and many Jamaicans went there to find out what jobs were available in the locality. Of those 236 passengers, 202 found jobs straightaway; many in the new National Health Service, but most with London Transport, helping to run the trains and the buses. The political debate While the SS Empire Windrush was on its way to Tilbury Docks in London, a furious debate was taking place in Parliament. Some MPs disapproved of the Nationality Act (see page 49). They said that the Windrush’s passengers had no right to come to live and work in Britain, and that they ought to be turned away on arrival. They feared that allowing the immigrants to disembark set a dangerous precedent – that with literally millions of people having the right to settle in Britain the country could be swamped with new arrivals. Others argued that many of the passengers were ex-servicemen who had fought for Britain during the Second World War and that therefore a debt of gratitude was owed to them. They argued that they were only likely to stay for a year, that the British economy needed all the workers it could find, and that as the passengers had British passports they couldn’t be turned away anyway. The ‘welcomers’ won the day, but this disagreement set the terms of the debate about immigration that would continue through the next two decades. The debate was not only about ‘immigration’, it was also about ‘race’. Did Britain want, and could it cope with, mass immigration from Asia and the Caribbean? ● SOURCE 7 Tasks 1 2 Passengers on board SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury docks, London, on 22 June 1948. An RAF recruiting officer is speaking to men who want to join the airforce. Historians talk about ‘push’ factors that make people want to leave somewhere, and ‘pull’ factors that attract people to a particular place. Make a list of the push and pull factors mentioned in the case study and sources. Read Sources 3–6. Are the ‘push’ or ‘pull’ factors more important in the decisions made by Arthur, Clinton, Lucile and Sam? 51 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Why did Caribbean immigration increase during the 1950s? Most Windrush immigrants did quickly and successfully settle in Britain. They had come to Britain to improve their prospects and that is what happened. They earned money and were able to send some home. For many employers, too, immigration was a perfect solution to their problems – they welcomed this supply of eager, hard-working young people. You might expect the success of the Windrush immigrants to have attracted a flood of further immigrants from the West Indies. At the time many British people expected that as well, particularly because they knew that life was very hard for many people in the British colonies. The British government investigated living conditions in the Caribbean and found that most people faced poor housing, poor wages, poor healthcare and a poor education system. The economy had been devastated by two bad hurricanes and the sugar trade (which was the main source of income) was very depressed. There was a long tradition of migrant work among young West Indians. However, the cost of sailing to the UK was still too high for most people in the Caribbean and in those days flying was even more expensive. They also had an alternative outlet much closer to home – young West Indians were much more likely to move to the USA to work. So in 1949 and 1950 there were only a few hundred arrivals from the Caribbean each year and these went largely unremarked. Two developments helped change this pattern: • in 1952 the USA put severe restrictions on immigration (from 65,000 down to only 800 a year), which reduced opportunities for workers from the Caribbean • in 1956 London Transport (who had been recruiting West Indians for some years) started a scheme in which they paid for the migrants’ boat fare and the workers paid it back gradually over the coming months out of their earnings. In the following years migration from the West Indies rose steadily, as you can see from Source 9. About a quarter of a million Caribbean people settled in Britain between 1955 and 1972. By the late 1950s money being sent by workers in Britain was the second largest source of income for the island of Jamaica. Having a family member in Britain was a source of pride. And the money sent home allowed families to buy luxuries such as a fridge or a flushing toilet. ● SOURCE 8 I lost my job late in 1952 and stayed unemployed for over a year. I thought and thought and could not invent anything else but to migrate. I was fatherless and at one time or other the only provider for my family. Migration to the UK seemed to me to be an urgent necessity. I could then support my mother and younger brothers. I could pay off her mortgage and everything would be all right. Wallace Collins, in his book Jamaican Migrant, published in 1965, explains his reasons for leaving Jamaica. 52 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 9 Period West Indies 13,700 83,700 Government estimates of the number of Commonwealth immigrants to the UK, 1948–62, and area of origin. Tasks 1 2 Which of the following statements are supported or challenged by the sources and text? Explain why. a) Immigration rose steadily through the 1950s. b) Caribbean migration always exceeded Asian migration in the 1950s. c) All young men were desperate to leave the West Indies. Which of Sources 8 and 9 do you think is the more useful for investigating why Caribbean immigration increased in the 1950s? Wave 3: immigration in the 1960s and 1970s The 1960s and ’70s saw some significant changes in terms of immigration. • In 1962 the government introduced a law that put severe limits on the number of Commonwealth immigrants allowed into Britain (see Source 9 on page 53). • The nature of immigration began to change. In the 1950s most immigrants had been single men coming to Britain who did not necessarily intend to settle. From the 1960s onwards immigrants were increasingly women and children joining family members already in this country. They intended to settle in Britain for good. • The other big difference in this period was that immigration from India and Pakistan outpaced immigration from the Caribbean. The steady stream of Asian migrants was boosted by two particular events which meant that 71,000 Asians living in Kenya and Uganda were forced to leave. The main influx of Kenyan Asians was in 1967 and of Ugandan Asians in 1972. • However, throughout this period more people left Britain than came. They were in search of what they thought would be a better life in countries such as Canada and Australia. These countries encouraged emigration of white people from Britain by offering inducements like cheap fares. 53 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Background: Asian migration in the 1950s The Nationality Act of 1948 gave the right to live and work in Britain to many millions of people in India. After India gained independence in 1948, the country was split in two: India and Pakistan. The partition led to extreme violence and many communities were badly affected. Some groups, particularly Sikhs from the Punjab region, took this opportunity to seek refuge in Britain. They headed largely for the West Midlands, and many came to work in engineering. Asian migration continued through the 1950s (see Source 9). Although often lumped together as ‘Indians’ by the white British, the Asian migrants were in fact from a wide variety of countries, backgrounds and religions. They spoke different languages and had different customs. There were, for example, Hindus from Gujarat, Sikhs from the Punjab and Muslims from Pakistan. Some Asian migrants were highly-educated professionals or enormously successful business people in their home countries. Others were rural labourers who had never been to a major city. For example, a large number of people were displaced during the period 1961–67 by the building of the Mirpur dam in Kashmir and spent their compensation money on a one-way ticket to Britain. This varied pattern continued in the 1960s. However, the two most significant waves of Asian immigration were not from the Indian subcontinent at all but from Africa. And in most cases they were definitely pushed rather than pulled! ● SOURCE 10 For everyone in India life was a struggle to earn his daily bread. Those who are employed by others sweat to earn 100 rupees or even 200 – seldom more. With that wage they have to keep their families for a whole month. On the other hand, I saw for myself those people who had been to England come back wearing brand new suits and loaded with money. And all those who had daughters to marry would rush to their doors. Those who had been to England to work could send money home each month and still afford to buy land or build a fine house in India on their return. Surely if they could do all this, I could do the same. From Rampal and his Family by Ursula Sharma, published in 1971. ● SOURCE 11 In 1962 I left Pakistan and went to Nottingham. I knew I wasn’t going to get any better job than being a British Railway cleaner. I had seen qualified people from my country who had been teachers and barristers and none of them got proper work. They were labourers, bus conductors and railway cleaners like me. Many times we could read and write much better than the people who were in charge of us. They knew I had been a Customs Inspector in Pakistan, but that didn’t matter. A Pakistani immigrant comments in the late 1980s about his experiences in the 1960s. 54 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 Why did Kenyan Asians come to Britain in 1967? Asians, mainly from India, had been migrating to East Africa since the midnineteenth century. Initially working on railway construction programmes, many stayed and over the years became central to their adopted country’s prosperity. They worked, for example, in business and industry and as bankers and insurers. Then things began to change. Kenya was a British colony. When it gained independence in 1963, over 100,000 Asians were living there. The new Kenyan government, led by their Prime Minister, Jomo Kenyatta, gave the Asians a choice. They could either become Kenyan or remain British but they could not be both: 95,000 of them decided to stay British and so kept their British passports. Asians in Kenya had long faced resentment. They were generally more successful and had higher incomes than most black Kenyans. This resentment grew and finally, in 1967, the government declared that all non-Kenyan Asians were foreigners and could only stay and work on a temporary basis. Fearing the worst, many fled. Since they had British passports they came to Britain. ● SOURCE 12 Immigration laws in Kenya are becoming increasingly severe. Foreigners can only hold a job until a Kenyan national can be found to replace them, and more and more cities, including Nairobi [the capital city] are demanding that the government bans non-Kenyans from owning a shop or trading in municipal markets. If the Kenyan government caves in to such demands, the result is likely to be chaos, as most shops are owned by foreigners, and not enough citizens have the capital or knowledge to run small businesses. Already the tens of thousands of Asians, who until now have dominated commerce, industry and most key jobs in the country, are finding their lives made impossible. They are now arriving [in Britain] at the rate of more than 1,000 a month to start a new life in the UK, a country which most have never seen. A BBC news broadcast, 4 February 1968. ● SOURCE 13 Only Kenyan citizens are being allowed work permits. I was forced to sell my fleet of lorries and come to Britain to look for a new life. Omar Sharmar explains why he left Kenya in 1968. He had a haulage business in Mombasa that he was forced to close when the government wouldn’t give him a licence. ● SOURCE 14 We did find some difficulty in filling the planes until last week. But in the last two or three days that has all changed, and there doesn’t seem to be any difficulty at all now. At the present rate I think this will continue for at least a year, if not more. An airline official in Nairobi, February 1968. This was one of the most high-profile immigrations to Britain. In 1967, 1,000 Kenyan Asians began to arrive in Britain every week and the TV cameras were there to greet them. In all, 20,000 Kenyans arrived until in 1968 the government put a limit on how many could come. This immigration was controversial and had political consequences (see pages 66–69). 55 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? What happened in Uganda? ● SOURCE 15 I will make you feel as if you are sitting on fire. Your main interest has been to exploit the economy for years and now I say to you all – GO! Part of a warning given by Idi Amin, President of Uganda, in August 1972 to the Asians living there. Four years later, a very similar scenario was played out in Uganda (see Source 15). What had happened to make the president of a country issue such a warning? As had been the case in Kenya, the Asian community had played a large part in building up Uganda’s economy. By the late 1960s Uganda was one of the most prosperous countries in Africa. However, as with Kenya, resentment was building up among Uganda’s black African population. Matters came to a head when Idi Amin asked Britain for financial help and was refused. In August 1972, Amin condemned the entire Asian population of Uganda as ‘bloodsuckers’ and issued a decree expelling them. All 60,000 of them had to be gone within 90 days. Amin believed Britain would have to take them in and many people saw this as a retaliatory action against Britain for not giving aid to Uganda. Amin then had a slight change of mind and issued a second decree. This second decree stated that all professionals (doctors, lawyers and teachers, for example) had to stay and that if any of them tried to leave, they would be committing treason. The British tried to negotiate a compromise deal, but failed. They then offered the Ugandan Asians a choice of an Indian or British passport. The majority chose British, believing Britain would offer greater stability and security if they had to leave. In the end, almost 27,000 Ugandan Asians flew into Britain with nothing more than what they could carry. ● SOURCE 16 [I,] my wife, two daughters and my sister had to buy our tickets out of the country, and were only allowed to leave with £54 in our pockets – there was no free exit. We could see soldiers all around our house. It was very frightening. We drove to Entebbe airport at night, and managed to avoid the police checkpoints because if they had discovered me leaving I would have been detained, as I was considered one of the professional classes. We left our car at the airport and boarded our British Caledonian flight at about 11 o’clock at night and it was only when we were flying over Kenyan airspace that we drew a sigh of relief. We were happy to leave, but sad to leave in such a way. Our pockets were all but empty, but we had an education and we were determined to re-start our lives. Sharm Karnik, who was a young headteacher in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, in 1972, remembers how he and his immediate family got out. ● SOURCE 17 On the way to the airport, the coach was stopped by troops seven times and we were all held at gunpoint. Kassem Osman, an Asian Ugandan, describes what happened to him and his brothers as they tried to get to the airport. ● SOURCE 18 I had a £250 gold watch taken off my wrist while I was on my way to Entebbe airport and every piece of Ugandan money stolen from my wallet. A retired government clerk from Kampala describes what happened to him on his way to the airport. 56 ● SOURCE 19 We know many of you didn’t really want to leave your homes and jobs in Uganda. You know we didn’t really want you to come before, because we have problems with homes and jobs here. But most of us believe that this is a country that can use your skills and energies ... You will find that we, like other countries, have our bullies and misfits. We are particularly sorry about those of our politicians who are trying to use your own troubles for their own ends. And we’re glad that your British passport means something again. The front page of the Economist magazine, 19 August 1972. 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 20 Tasks 1 2 Were the Asians expelled from Kenya and Uganda for the same reasons? Kenyan and Ugandan Asians faced enormous problems leaving Africa. To what extent were they the same problems? Use the sources in your answer. ‘Departheid’. A cartoon by Keith Waite for the Daily Mirror, published 19 December 1972. Key points Why did different groups migrate to Britain between 1948 and 1972? • Different groups came for different reasons. • The Nationality Act 1948 extended British citizenship to all people in the British Empire. • Economic hardship, political turmoil and natural disasters in their home country all served to make Britain an attractive place for migrants. • Governments and private companies recruited workers to help rebuild Britain. • In the early period immigrants were largely single men coming to make money to send home. In the later period immigrants were increasingly women and children coming to Britain to join their families. 57 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? What were the experiences of immigrants to Britain? A wide range of immigrant groups came to Britain and their experiences varied enormously. What life was like for immigrants depended on: • • • • where they lived when they came what their skills were what ethnic group they belonged to. The experience of West Indian immigrants in the 1950s Most Caribbean immigrants came to Britain with high expectations. They were coming to their mother country which they admired. Many were coming at the invitation of the British government or organisations who needed them. However, far from being welcomed, West Indian immigrants often quickly came face to face with racial discrimination and what at that time was called the ‘colour bar’. During the war black soldiers had been greeted warmly in many communities around Britain and people had prided themselves that black GIs were treated as equals here and that Britain was less racist than the USA. However in peacetime things were different. The underlying attitudes of racial superiority and suspicion of foreigners – particularly ‘coloured’ foreigners – that had existed in the British Empire for centuries re-emerged. The result for many immigrant people in Britain was an overwhelming feeling that they were not welcome. This affected three aspects of life in particular. 1. Housing It would be illegal nowadays, but in the 1950s it was common for boarding houses to put up a notice saying ‘No blacks’ or ‘No coloureds’. If asked, the landlord or landlady might say that they themselves were not prejudiced but that they had to ‘think of the neighbours’ or the other tenants who would not want to live alongside a black person. Most West Indian immigrants were intending to stay only a short time in Britain. They did not intend to buy property – and in any case banks and building societies would not give new immigrants loans or mortgages. They could not get council houses because you had to live in Britain for five years before you could even apply. So they had to take whatever rented accommodation they could get and this tended to be low-quality housing in inner-city areas that no one else wanted. Much of it was in areas still ruined from wartime bombing. New immigrants were often vulnerable to exploitation. For example, one unscrupulous property developer called Peter Rachman owned over 100 properties in West London. He got rid of the local white residents (sometimes with the threat of violence) then subdivided the houses into many units and packed them with young immigrants who had to pay inflated rents. Immigrants who arrive in a new country usually tend to choose to live with others from their own country; that is human nature. The difficulty in finding housing increased this tendency. As a result, West Indian communities were focused in particularly poverty-stricken areas of London – Jamaicans in Brixton, Trinidadians and Barbadians in Notting Hill and Paddington, Guyanese in Tottenham. Outside London, similar Caribbean communities grew up in Moss Side (Manchester), Handsworth (Birmingham) and Chapeltown (Leeds). 58 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 21 ● SOURCE 22 It was shocking, the accommodation ... You go along some part in Nottingham you would see signs put up, ‘Rooms for rent, no niggers need apply’, that’s not unusual ... I described the conditions of the houses ... they pack as much people as they can in these houses and charge them, at the time, very, very high rent. It was very, very bad. From an interview with Connie Mark, in the book Windrush written by Mike Phillips and Trevor Phillips, 1999. Black workers outside the employment exchange in London, 1948. The exchange was in a refitted air-raid shelter. 2. Jobs Most immigrants found it easy to find a job but they faced a number of problems in the workplace. • In many cases, the jobs they found were not suited to their skills. One survey found that half the West Indians in London in the late 1950s were overqualified for the job they were doing, though the pay was better than they could have got at home. • Many immigrants found that it was hard to get on in their careers. For example, black nurses in the NHS were discouraged from gaining qualifications that would have enabled them to be promoted. Also, many immigrants did not apply for jobs that they were qualified for because they knew they would not be seriously considered by employers. • Immigrant workers also faced opposition from trade unions and from white colleagues who viewed them as a threat. In 1955 transport workers in the West Midlands went on strike to protest about the ‘increasing numbers of coloured workers’ (in the case of West Bromwich, this actually meant one Indian bus conductor). The Transport and General Workers Union demanded that no more than five per cent of bus drivers could be black. In 1958 the Trades Union Congress passed a resolution calling for an end to all immigrant workers entering the country. • Finally, to make matters worse, opponents of immigration accused immigrants of coming to Britain to cash in on the benefit system. This was in spite of the fact that most immigrants were in employment and many had come to Britain in the first place at the government’s request because there was a shortage of British workers. 3. Leisure In the early 1950s, two-thirds of West Indian immigrants were single young men. They had a great deal of leisure time on their hands. As well as being attracted by the money, they had come to Britain for adventure and excitement. However, they found the ‘colour bar’ affected their leisure time as well. 59 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Tasks 1 2 The written sources on pages 59–61 describe different experiences of immigration. On your own or with others write a headline summing up the key point in each source. Make it as short as you can. For example, Source 23 could be headlined: ‘Please don’t come to this church again!’ Sources 25–28 could be interpreted in different ways: as examples of prejudice or examples of kindness and welcome. Choose one and explain how it could be used both ways. Some pubs banned black drinkers. Others gave such a frosty reception that immigrants would not dream of going there. Instead they would go to a (usually unlicensed) drinking club. This ‘solution’ then became part of another problem, as these clubs acquired a reputation for loud music, prostitution, gambling and fighting. In reality most were simply a place for young men who lived in overcrowded accommodation to meet with friends and relax, but in places like Notting Hill the clubs added to the tension between white and black residents. A sober church-going young man might find the ‘colour bar’ in operation even in the churches, although there were exceptions to this depressing rule. ● SOURCE 23 Biggest shock of all was, one, the cold, and two, having gone to church for the very first time – so delighted that I’m coming from an Anglican church back home, I went to join in the worship, and so I did – but after the service I was greeted by the vicar, who politely and nicely told me: ‘Thank you for coming. But I would be delighted if you didn’t come back ... My congregation is uncomfortable in the company of black people.’ That was the biggest shock. I was the only black person in that congregation that morning, and my disappointment, my despair went with me. I didn’t say anything to anyone about it for several months after that. Carmel Jones describes his experiences when he came to Britain in 1955. He went on to become a Pentecostal minister. Carmel Jones (Source 23) mentions his disappointment at the colour bar. Many West Indians had high hopes of Britain and had admired it from a distance. Yet for many it proved so much less impressive than they had expected. They put up with it for the sake of the weekly pay packet and the money to send home, but that was about all. ● SOURCE 24 It was a big shock. We were told all lies back home. We never realised it would be so different. The money’s quite good but nothing else. I was not expecting the hostility. We adored the royalty so much, you see. We thought we’d be treated nicely here. I never knew there was so much of a colour bar. I expected people to be nice – it’s like a slap in the face. I thought the people of Britain would be good and affectionate – now most of them are against us. I did not know I was coloured until the English told me so. These statements are drawn from interviews in the 1960s conducted by Daniel Lawrence, who asked West Indian immigrants about their experiences of Britain. 60 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 Of course, these negative experiences are not the whole story. They were widespread, yet there were other people who found a warm welcome and a positive experience. For most, the experience of coming to Britain was a combination of many different and complicated feelings, as summed up by Ivan Weekes in Source 25 below. ● SOURCE 25 ● SOURCE 26 I used to feel not only frightened but wondering what is going to happen next. I could get bumped off. And people would look at you, like spears, daggers. People would spit at you. Nobody spat at me personally but I know what happened. If you went to sit down beside somebody on a bus they’d shuffle up. But then somebody would look at you, see that you are frightened as hell and say, ‘Oh mate, take no notice of them, we’re not all the same.’ I think that’s so important to say. That was my experience: ‘Take no notice of them, we’re not all the same.’ And just those few words gave me two things: hope and comfort. People were not all the same. Jamaicans’ friend leaving Wolverhampton Rev Howard Belben, minister of Darlington Street Methodist Church in Wolverhampton, is moving to Sheffield. Mr Belben has taken great interest in Wolverhampton’s Jamaican population. He has married many Jamaican couples and has baptised several Jamaican babies. Untiring in his efforts to help Jamaicans he has been in regular contact with about 300 of them. An extract from the Wolverhampton Express and Star, 1957. Ivan Weekes, who came to Britain in 1955. ● SOURCE 27 ● SOURCE 28 I was in love with Britain and that love only grew when I came here from the Caribbean in the 1950s. I was employed by the National Health Service as a midwife. I loved the clean hospitals, the efficiency and order. I hated the disorder I had left behind. But my feelings of pride and love were beaten down again and again by racism, ignorance and abuse. There was such unfairness to us Christian people who had fought in the war with the best of them. People talk about a colour problem arising in Britain. How can there be a colour problem here? Even after all the immigration of the past few years, there are only 190,000 [coloured] people in our population of over 50 million – that is only four out of every 1,000. The real problem is not black skins but white prejudice. Comments made by a delegate at the TUC Conference in 1958. A West Indian woman being interviewed in the late 1990s. Key points What were the experiences of immigrants? • Racial discrimination was common and affected immigrants’ experience of housing, employment, and leisure activity. • Some immigrants had high expectations of Britain and were deeply disappointed by the reality. • Immigrants tended to live with others from their own country, which gave them much needed support. • Although the government had invited immigrants over to Britain to work, they were actually given less practical help to settle than even the German prisoners of war who settled here after the war. 61 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? 1958: summer of violence By 1958 there were over 200,000 people from the New Commonwealth living in Britain. This was still a tiny percentage of the British population. If you were a white Briton living in rural England you might never see a ‘coloured’ immigrant. You might not even be aware of immigration at all. But if you lived in Brixton or Notting Hill in London it might be all around you. It was these city areas that saw an outbreak of racial violence in 1958. The previous pages show that racial discrimination and prejudice was widespread in Britain but it had not usually spilled into violence. What had changed? • There was an economic downturn after years of growth so jobs were scarcer – some white people blamed the immigrants for ‘taking their jobs’. • A new gang culture was emerging among white youths, epitomised by the ‘Teddy Boys’ (see page 4). Nottingham There were a number of attacks on black people living in Nottingham, including a black miner who was beaten up as he came out of a cinema with his wife. Black people felt increasingly unsafe walking around the streets of Nottingham. Events came to a head on 23 August 1958 when fighting broke out for over an hour between groups of whites and blacks in the St Ann’s Well Road area. One response to this violence was that the MPs for Nottingham called for an end to black immigration to Britain. Notting Hill Notting Hill had one of the largest West Indian communities in Britain. The right-wing Union Movement, a fascist organisation led by Oswald Mosley, had been involved in racist attacks against Jewish immigrants in the 1930s. They tried to exploit the growing resentment against coloured immigrants and set up an office in Notting Hill producing leaflets calling for people to ‘Take Action Now ... Protect Your Jobs ... Stop Coloured Immigration ... Homes for White People’. The leaflets even featured pictures of black people with spears entering Britain. Then, in late August 1958, gangs of around 400 Teddy Boys and other white youths launched two nights of attacks on black people and their property. They petrol-bombed some houses. ● SOURCE 29 Within half an hour the mob ... had broken scores of windows and set upon two negroes who were lucky to escape with cuts and bruises. Women from top floor windows laughed as they called down to the thousand strong crowd, ‘Go on boys, get yourself some blacks’. From an interview with Ivan Weekes in the book Windrush written by Mike Phillips and Trevor Phillips, 1999. The black population received no protection from the police. However, on the third night they fought back and at that stage police intervened to stop the fighting. Many arrests were made. 62 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 30 ● SOURCE 31 You are a minute and insignificant section of the population who have filled the whole nation with horror, indignation and disgust. Everyone, irrespective of the colour of their skin, is entitled to walk through our streets in peace, with their heads held up and free from fear. Statement by the judge sentencing four white youths convicted of involvement in the Notting Hill violence of August 1958. Tasks 1 2 3 Study Source 31. Why was this cartoon published on 2 September 1958? What is the message of Source 31? How reliable is Source 31 as an indicator of what people in Britain thought of the racial violence of 1958? You can refer to other sources in your answer if you wish. Cartoon that appeared in the Daily Mirror on 2 September 1958. The murder of Kelso Cochrane ● SOURCE 32 In May 1959, Kelso Cochrane, a carpenter from Antigua, was stabbed to death in Notting Hill by six white youths on his way home from a hospital appointment in nearby Paddington. The police never arrested the killers and they were accused of not doing enough. Twelve hundred people turned up at Cochrane’s funeral (Source 32) to show their anger and sorrow at what had happened. Consequences The violence was widely condemned – see Sources 30 and 31 – and most British people were appalled by it. We need to remember that such violence was the exception rather than the norm. It was precisely because it was so shocking and unexpected that it caused such a stir. Remember too that there are many examples of local white people protecting their black neighbours, even during the violence in Notting Hill in August 1958. The funeral of Kelso Cochrane, 11 June 1959. 63 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? When BBC reporters spoke to the local population in Notting Hill, almost all the white and black people interviewed said positive things about their black or white neighbours. They blamed the violence on a tiny minority of black people, who gave the immigrants a bad name, and white people intent on stirring up hatred in order to reduce immigration. On the other hand the black community felt that the police had not protected them from violence. This distrust of the police among the Caribbean community persisted through the following decades. The violence affected the future of immigration and race-relations in Britain in two main ways. policies that limited New Commonwealth immigration (see page 66). • On the other hand, many people woke up to the fact that racism itself needed tackling. Some local communities took positive action to build better relationships between black and white communities. As a direct response to the violence, the St Pancras carnival was set up in 1959 and later moved onto the streets to become the Notting Hill Carnival (see Source 34). However it was another seven years before the government brought in laws to outlaw racial discrimination (see page 66). ● SOURCE 34 • Immigration became a national political issue and the heated debate was focused mostly around race. The question was not ‘Does Britain need immigrants?’ but ‘Does Britain want New Commonwealth (i.e. coloured) immigrants?’ Although politicians officially condemned the racist attitudes that stirred up the violence, from this point on all political parties developed ● SOURCE 33 Claudia Jones arriving at Southampton in 1955. Cartoon from the Daily Express, 24 August 1961. Labour leader Harold Wilson (left) is talking to Conservative leader Sir Alec Douglas-Home (right). 64 Claudia Jones came to London in 1955 after being deported from America for her activities in the Communist Party. Shortly after her arrival she set up the West Indian Gazette, the first newspaper for the West Indian community in Britain. After the Notting Hill riots in 1958, Jones and some of her colleagues on the newspaper decided that they wanted to provide a positive focus for the community and set up the first Carnival to celebrate West Indian dance, music and culture. In January 1959 the first indoor Carnival was held in St Pancras, London, attracting 7,000 people. The slogan was ‘A people’s art is the genesis of their freedom’. It moved to Notting Hill in later years and has become the biggest street party in Europe. 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 The Asian experience Asian immigrants settled particularly in the textile towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire. By 1971, for example, ten per cent of the population of Bradford was Pakistani. They also settled in the East and West Midlands and in areas of London such as Southall and Newham. One of the largest communities of all was in Leicester. Through the 1970s its Asian population quadrupled. By 1981 the city was officially the most ‘non-white’ city in Britain: nearly a quarter of the population came from Asian backgrounds. In many ways the Asian experience was similar to that of Caribbean migrants, described on pages 58–63. On the other hand, there were some important differences: • whereas Caribbean immigrants has mostly regarded themselves as British – and many idolised the mother country before they came to Britain – very few Asians did (see Source 35). Asians, it seems, had much lower expectations of Britain. Indeed many had been warned that Britain was a wicked place full of drunks and failed marriages. If they had low expectations they were less likely to be disappointed • there was often a language barrier that added to the racial barriers that already existed. Whereas nearly all West Indians spoke English, many Asians – particularly women – did not and some did not learn it even when they got to Britain • even when they had come to settle in Britain, many Asian immigrants did their utmost to keep their links to their home country. For many, the patterns of marriage and family life continued as it had in their country of origin and single men often went back home to find a bride • many Asians tended to keep themselves to themselves – a very British habit – which exposed them less to abuse or discrimination. Their lives and entertainment were focused around the home and the community or the religious place of worship • many Asians went into business – for example, owning their own shop or restaurant. They did not therefore suffer first-hand discrimination at work from their colleagues or employers, although Jamaicans Indians and Pakistanis many did from their customers Did you feel British Yes 87% Yes 2% • one of the most before you came to Britain? remarkable features of Asian immigration was the success of many migrants in business, although many Asian immigrants remained very poor. Is it fine with you if your children feel English? Yes 86% ● SOURCE 35 Findings from an investigation in Nottingham in the 1960s. 65 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? The political response to immigration Immigration was a tricky issue for politicians of all parties. They had to balance the interests of: • the economy – employers depended on immigrant labour • the voters – the politicians had to keep their voters happy and they knew that the majority of British people were anti-immigration • immigrants themselves – immigrant communities needed the protection of the law just as much as non-immigrant communities • the need to prevent racial tension in Britain’s cities. At different times policy was driven more by one or other of these demands. The table below summarises the government measures that were introduced. Government measures 1962–1976 Date Government measure Notes 1962 The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 introduced a voucher system. Only immigrants with a valuable skill or who could do a job where there was a shortage of workers could get a voucher. Although it did not specifically say so, the Act was aimed at restricting the influx of immigrants from Asia and the West Indies because a greater proportion of them tended to be unskilled. One effect of this Act was to increase immigration in the short term. In 1961 more than 130,000 people came to Britain in order to get in before the 1962 Act took effect. That was more than in the previous five years put together! The same pattern repeated itself over the next 15 years – each time a restriction was introduced, a large number of people rushed into Britain to beat it. 66 1965–66 The Race Relations Act 1965 made it illegal to discriminate against any person because of their colour or race. In 1966 the Race Relations Board was set up to handle complaints about discrimination. However, the Board had no powers to enforce its decisions. 1968 The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 reduced the number of work vouchers and introduced a ‘close connection’ qualification. It was no longer enough to have a British passport, you also had to be born in Britain, or have parents or grandparents who were born in Britain. This favoured immigrants from Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia or New Zealand. It was particularly aimed at preventing the entry of large numbers of Kenyan Asians (see page 56). 1968 The Race Relations Act 1968 made discrimination in areas such as housing and employment illegal. However, an employer could still discriminate indirectly – for example, by claiming that another candidate had more experience. 1976 The Race Relations Act 1976 made racially offensive music or publications illegal. It also set up tribunals so that any job applicant who felt he or she was suffering from discrimination could report the employer. In addition, it set up the Commission for Racial Equality to investigate and combat racism. 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 Integration and anti-discrimination In 1966 Roy Jenkins, the Home Secretary in the Labour government – the person most responsible for immigration policy – made an important speech to the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants (see Source 36). For the first time, he acknowledged that many of the immigrants who now lived in Britain had decided to make it their home, rather than seeing Britain as a place where they would stay for a few years before returning back to their country of origin. He argued that, as a consequence of this change, both the host society (the majority of people in Britain) and the immigrants and ethnic minorities had to work together to achieve a successful form of integration. In other words, it was a two-way process. At the same time organisations such as CARD were established to expose racial discrimination (see Source 37). ● SOURCE 36 Integration is perhaps a loose word. I do not regard it as meaning the loss, by immigrants, of their own characteristics and culture. I do not think we need in this country a ‘melting pot’, which will turn everybody out in a common mould, as one would a series of carbon copies of someone’s misplaced version of the stereotyped Englishness. I define integration, therefore, as not a flattening process of assimilation [everyone becoming the same] but equal opportunity accompanied by cultural diversity in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance. From a speech by Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary in the Labour government, 1966. ● SOURCE 37 No CARD member will need to be told that racial discrimination is widespread in Britain, especially in jobs, housing, insurance and credit [being able to borrow money] ... One of the most urgent tasks facing us in CARD therefore is to build a case by case exposure of discrimination, so that the Press and Parliament cannot pretend that it does not exist. If we are to campaign effectively against racial discrimination, we must publicise the evils which we are fighting. 1968: ‘Rivers of Blood!’ Ten years after the Notting Hill riots came an equally controversial moment in the story of postwar immigration. Despite government legislation, New Commonwealth immigration had continued to increase. It was changing too. Whereas immigration in the 1950s had been largely single people with no intention of staying in Britain, it was more commonly now people coming to settle, and in particular the wives and families of people already in Britain coming to join them. The biggest single non-white ethnic group were the Asians. The arrival of the Kenyan Asians in 1967 had focused media and political attention on immigration once again. A far-right political party called the National Front was founded in 1967 and was dedicated to ending immigration and repatriating (sending home) all immigrants. The National Front was an extremist party and it was easy to dismiss their views. However, it was less easy to ignore such views when they came from a respected and mainstream politician – enter Enoch Powell. Powell was a former Cabinet member who had been tipped as a possible future Prime Minister. He was also Conservative MP for Wolverhampton, one of the centres of the Caribbean and Asian populations. Powell had been the Health Secretary in 1960 and had led the drive to recruit 18,000 Indian doctors, which effectively made the NHS possible. Powell was a serious, respected and intelligent man. In April 1968, at a meeting of the Conservative Political Centre, he laid his career on the line. See what he had to say in Source 38, which contains extended extracts from his speech. It was an explosive speech. For Powell, it ended his political career. He was sacked from the shadow cabinet and never returned. Yet 300 of the 412 Conservative constituency associations hailed Powell as a ‘brave prophet’. In his own constituency of Wolverhampton 75 per cent said they agreed with what he had said. In London, dock workers stopped work and marched through London in support of him. From ‘How to Expose Discrimination’, a pamphlet produced by CARD (Campaign Against Racial Discrimination), which was formed in 1965. 67 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? ● SOURCE 38 (a) A week or two ago I fell into conversation with a constituent, a middle-aged, quite ordinary, working man employed in one of our nationalised industries. After a sentence or two about the weather, he suddenly said: ‘If I had the money to go, I wouldn’t stay in this country. I have three children, all of them been through grammar school and two of them married now, with family. I shan’t be satisfied till I have seen them all settled overseas. In this country in 15 or 20 years’ time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man.’ I can already hear the chorus of criticism. How dare I say such a horrible thing? How dare I stir up trouble and inflame feelings by repeating such a conversation? The answer is that I do not have the right not to do so. Here is a decent, ordinary fellow Englishman, who in broad daylight in my own town says to me, his Member of Parliament, that his country will not be worth living in for his children. (b) In 15 or 20 years, on present trends, there will be in this country three and a half million Commonwealth immigrants and their descendants. That is not my figure. That is the official figure given to Parliament by the spokesman of the Registrar General’s Office. Whole areas, towns and parts of towns across England will be occupied by sections of the immigrant and immigrant-descended population. The natural and rational first question with a nation confronted by such a prospect is to ask: ‘How can its dimensions be reduced?’ The answers to the simple and rational question are equally simple and rational: by stopping, or virtually stopping, further inflow, and by promoting the maximum outflow. (c) While, to the immigrant, entry to this country was admission to privileges and opportunities eagerly sought, the impact upon the existing population was very different. For reasons which they could not comprehend ... on which they were never consulted, they found themselves made strangers in their own country. They found their wives unable to obtain hospital beds in childbirth, their children unable to obtain school places, their homes and neighbourhoods changed beyond recognition, their plans and prospects for the future defeated; at work they found that employers hesitated to apply to the immigrant worker the standards of discipline and competence required of the native-born worker; they began to hear, as time went by, more and more voices which told them that they were now the unwanted. The sense of being a persecuted minority which is growing among ordinary English people in the areas of the country which are affected is something that those without direct experience can hardly imagine. (d) As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood. Extracts from Enoch Powell’s speech of 20 April 1968. The speech has become known as the ‘Rivers of Blood speech’. The Speech did just what Powell had hoped for the immigration debate – it caused a mighty stir. It galvanised opinion and action on either side. 68 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 39 ● SOURCE 40 I dismissed Mr Powell because I believed his speech was inflammatory and liable to damage race relations ... I don’t believe the great majority of the British people share Mr Powell’s way of putting his views in his speech. Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party, talking on Panorama, a BBC television programme, on 22 April 1968. Pow! Wham! A cartoon by Leslie Illingworth that appeared in the Daily Mail on 24 April 1968. ● SOURCE 41 A photograph published in the London Evening Standard, 1 May 1968. Tasks 1 2 3 Study Source 38. a) What is Enoch Powell’s main argument against immigration? b) What evidence is he using to back up his argument? c) What was the purpose of this speech? Look at Sources 39–42. Which sources do you find most useful in assessing the reaction to Enoch Powell’s speech? Look at Source 42. How far do you trust this source as an accurate representation of reaction to Powell’s speech? A cartoon published in the Daily Mail, 24 April 1968. 69 PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? How had immigrants contributed to British society by the early 1970s? We first need to remind ourselves what kind of place Britain was in the 1940s. Six years of war had left the British government deep in debt, with cities damaged by wartime bombing and a depleted workforce decimated by wartime casualties. Despite the victory in war, the country was in many ways on its knees. The story of Britain’s recovery from war is closely related to the story of post-war immigration. The National Health Service Without immigrant workers many public services simply could not have functioned. The National Health Service led the way in the 1940s. Thirty years later a vast number of the porters, cleaners, nurses, doctors, surgeons and consultants in the National Health Service were either immigrants or had immigrant roots. ● SOURCE 43 Industry Metal goods 518 Many industries were saved by immigrant workers. In Bradford, for example, textile mills were in trouble because the cost of making cloth was more than they could sell it for. The arrival of a large number of immigrants, mainly from Pakistan, who were prepared to work hard for low wages (by British standards) saved many of these mills. According to the 1971 census, over 100,000 workers were employed in the textiles and clothing industry (see Source 43). Even more were in engineering, largely in the West Midlands. The inner cities Chemicals, coal and petrol products 391 Immigrants went to live in some of the most rundown and damaged areas of Britain’s inner cities and Gas, water and electricity in the process they regenerated those areas. They 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (literally) rebuilt many homes. They also kept the Percentage of immigrant workers areas alive in other ways: the Asian corner shop The percentage of immigrant workers became a feature of almost all large towns and cities. in different sectors of the economy as By the 1960s many local stores were closing down revealed by the census in 1971. because of competition from department stores and supermarkets. Asian entrepreneurs revived this type of business, providing local communities – black, Asian and white – with a much needed service, as well as making successful businesses. In Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in the late 1960s all 37 off-licences were owned by Asian families. Mining, quarrying 362 0 1 Public transport The buses and trains in London and in other cities depended very heavily on immigrant workers. Culture The ethnic immigrant population of Britain had risen from 100,000 in 1951 to 1,200,000 by 1971, yet that still represented only two per cent of the population. 70 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 If you lived outside of the large cities or the textile towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire, it is likely that you would never meet any one with a differently coloured skin. However, in urban areas, post-war immigration had already had a significant impact on British culture. If you had been walking along the street in an English city in 1975 you would have seen, heard, touched and even tasted the influence of immigration. Food Music • Italian immigrants had introduced coffee bars and ice cream parlours to Britain. • Immigrants from Cyprus had brought the taverna and the kebab. • An astonishing 90 per cent of immigrants from Hong Kong had gone into the restaurant trade. By 1975 there was hardly a town or village in the United Kingdom without a Chinese takeaway or restaurant. • There were almost 2,000 Indian restaurants in Britain by 1976. The immigrants showed their business sense by adapting their cuisine to British tastes. For example, you won’t find Britain’s favourite dish, chicken tikka masala, in India – it was created for the British because they liked gravy! • From the early calypso sounds that were brought to Britain by singers such as ‘Lord Kitchener’ on the SS Empire Windrush (see page 81), to the reggae sounds of Bob Marley and the Wailers in the 1970s, West Indian music became part of the British music scene. • The Notting Hill Carnival introduced Britain to carnival: in the parade every August Bank Holiday floats, steel drum bands and sound systems blasted out the latest sounds of the Caribbean across West London. • One of the most successful British and international rock bands of the 1970s, Queen, was fronted by Farrokh Bulsara who was born in Zanzibar and educated in Bombay (and who changed his name to Freddie Mercury). Religion Popular culture • Immigrants from India and Pakistan brought Hindu and Muslim religions to the heart of British communities. • Immigrants from the Caribbean revitalised Christianity in British cities. It was a time when many in the white community were losing faith and churches were closing. Many were kept open by the influx of Christians from the Caribbean and their characteristic music – gospel – was spreading out into the mainstream music industry. • Former churches in Britain’s cities were converted into mosques, gurdwaras and temples as well as Pentecostal churches. • Trinidadian journalist Trevor Macdonald became the first black newsreader in 1973. • By the end of the 1970s black players had begun to break through into top flight professional football. The so-called ‘Three Degrees’ (Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson) played football for West Bromwich Albion – despite facing monkey chants from the terraces and having bananas thrown at them. • Popular television sitcoms ’Til Death Us Do Part and Love Thy Neighbour focused on attitudes to race and immigration. FM LOG PART 2 WHAT HAPPENED 1939–1975? Individuals Sir Anwar Pervez Sybil Phoenix, MBE Anwar Pervez came from a farming family in Pakistan in 1956. He drove buses in Bradford before opening a convenience store in Earls Court, London, in 1962. This grew into the Bestway chain with stores all over the country. Pervez became very wealthy. His Bestway Foundation helps to fund schools in needy areas. He was knighted in 1999. Sybil Phoenix arrived in Britain from Guyana in 1956. Her first room was in a leaking basement in London. (She cooked her first Christmas dinner in Britain under an umbrella!) As an orphan herself she was determined to help other orphans. She became a foster parent and gave a home to over 100 children. She opened a youth club called the Moonshot in Lewisham and helped to found the early race relations groups in the area. Even when arsonists burnt down her youth club, she did not give up her work. In 1971 Phoenix was awarded an MBE (Member of the (Order of the) British Empire) and in 1973 became mayoress of Lewisham. What was the situation by 1975? The period covered by this Depth Study is 1939– 1975. If you had asked for an ordinary Briton’s view on the state of their country in 1975, they would probably have given quite a depressing summary. In the 1970s Britain entered a major economic crisis. Unemployment soared. Inflation soared. There were strikes in almost all major industries. The government debt grew so much that Britain needed bailing out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At one stage the government ordered all industries to reduce to a three-day working week to conserve energy supplies, which had been hit by strikes. It was a very unsettled time. What’s more, it was also a time of increasing racial tension. With massive unemployment Britain no longer needed any more workers. Some people saw immigration as part of the problem rather than part of the solution to Britain’s economic problems. There remained those who still shared the fears of Enoch Powell. In 1972 Leicester City Council for example warned that ‘the entire fabric of our city is at risk’ because the immigrant population was beginning to outnumber the white population. (However, note that just ten years later the city was still standing and indeed had begun a festival of cultures to celebrate the different peoples in it.) 72 These are two big names. Millions of other ordinary immigrants of the post-war period were welcomed by some and rejected by others. Many had to overcome prejudice and discrimination in the workplace and on the streets. Some chose to ignore it and carry on as best as they could, while others chose to fight back. Either way, they settled into communities across the length and breadth of Britain and became part of the make-up of the country. The right wing, anti-immigration party, the National Front, was gaining supporters. In Leicester it gained 18 per cent of the vote in a local election. Day-to-day discrimination The ideal of ‘equal opportunity’ was not fully achieved by the 1970s. Laws had made discrimination in housing and employment illegal but they were often hard to enforce. Discrimination continued in more subtle ways: for example, schools tended to have lower expectations of black and Asian students so these students had lower expectations of themselves and thus gained fewer qualifications. Black and Asian communities faced higher unemployment rates than the UK average and those in work found it hard to get promoted. Racial violence In an echo of the 1958 Notting Hill riots, the latest version of youth gangs – the skinheads – became infamous for ‘Paki-bashing’. The particular focus of this was the Asian communities in the London areas of Bethnal Green, Newham and Southall. Girls were kicked on their way to school, stones were thrown at windows, and eggs and tomatoes were hurled at families who dared step outside. Following a murder in 1976, the leader of the National Front said in public ‘one down, a million to go’. 3 CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION TO BRITAIN, 1939–1975 ● SOURCE 44 Task 1 Study Source 44. Why was this source published in 1974? A cartoon from the Daily Mail, 16 January 1974. Tasks 2 3 4 It is very hard (and quite dangerous) to generalise about the experiences of immigrants. Every person is an individual with their own story. However historians still try. a) Which three sources or pieces of information would you choose for an ‘evidence file’ to show how awful life was for immigrants to Britain in the period 1950–1975? b) Which three sources or pieces of information would you choose for an ‘evidence file’ to show that life was good for immigrants in the period 1950–1975? You do not need to limit yourself to pages 58–73. You can research your own sources from elsewhere. Write a paragraph to explain your files. If you put your two files together, do you think they make an accurate picture of the experiences of immigrants? What does compiling your files teach you about handling evidence on immigration? Key points What contribution had immigrants made to British society by the early 1970s? • Immigrants formed much of the workforce in public service such as transport and the NHS. • Immigrants had broadened British music and diet, and had begun to change the culture of British cities. 73 Part 3 Source investigations SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 77. Did the National Health Service help or hinder women? The large numbers of civilian casualties during the Second World War led to the government becoming more involved in medical care. Gradually the idea developed that this involvement should continue after the war. In 1942 a leading civil servant, William Beveridge, put forward the idea that there should be a National Health Service that would provide medical care for every man, woman and child in the country. The important thing about this new service was that it would be free. In 1945 a new Labour government was elected, and the following year a bill to introduce the NHS was passed by parliament. On 5 July 1948 the new National Health Service swung into operation. It was intended to make life easier for everyone by taking some of the worry and strain away from being ill or having a family member in need of medical help. But did it? Did the NHS, in reality, make life easier or more difficult for women? ● SOURCE A A cartoon published in the Daily Express newspaper, 1949. ● SOURCE B I was an apprentice in 1948. I spent some time at the School of Pharmacy and some at the chemist’s shop. When I came in to the shop on the first day of the National Health Service, there were fifty prescriptions. In those days that was amazing. Before then the highest ever had been about twenty. People seemed to go mad. I knew lots of people who got two sets of false teeth. Why did you need two sets one day when you had none the day before? I heard stories about people taking sheets of surgical gauze and using them as net curtains! Frank Walsh, a Liverpool pharmacist, describes the early days of the NHS. 74 SI 1 DID THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HELP OR HINDER WOMEN? ● SOURCE C ● SOURCE E My mother used to sit in a misery of embarrassment on the edge of a chair in the consulting room on the rare and desperate days when one of us had to be taken to the doctor – opening and shutting her purse, waiting for the right moment to extract the careful, unspareable, half crown. She never knew whether just to slide it across the desk, which she said might make the doctor feel like a waiter, or to actually put it in his hand and make him feel as if he worked in a shop. Sometimes we dropped the money and that was the least dignified of all, especially if the fat doctor let my mother pick it up. And sometimes he would shout at my mother for not having come before, like the time we had to wait for my sister’s sore throat to turn unmistakably into diphtheria before she was pushed off in a pram to his surgery. ‘Good God, woman, why didn’t you bring this child days ago?’ The whole time I was pregnant with Mandy, I felt uneasy. For some reason I had a feeling that the baby might have Down’s Syndrome but my mother told me not to be silly. In those days – the early sixties – there wasn’t much you could do about it, anyway. There were no scans to pick up abnormalities and certainly no question of termination. I took the drug Thalidomide regularly during the pregnancy. My GP prescribed it on the NHS, not for morning sickness, but as a sedative because I was having trouble sleeping. We didn’t ask questions in those days, we just did exactly what our doctors told us to do. Towards the end of my pregnancy the GP told me to stop taking the drug, as there might be problems with it. But we didn’t know what. I went into natural labour and Mandy was born quickly. The doctors took her from me before I could even see her. I was terrified. Then a doctor came to tell me her arms were badly deformed and they wouldn’t allow me to see her until my husband Len arrived. The nurses brought this little baby in to us and she was beautiful. The fact that she had no arms didn’t bother us. After all that fuss we were just relieved she was alive and healthy. We brought Mandy home and, lying her on the floor, unwrapped all her clothes so that her four brothers and sisters could take a good look. From that moment on they just accepted her as one of them. A newspaper article published in 1964, in which the writer remembers healthcare in the 1930s. ● SOURCE D Medical treatment should be made available to rich and poor alike in accordance with medical need and no other criteria. Worry about money in a time of sickness is a serious hindrance to recovery, apart from its unnecessary cruelty. The records show that it is the mother in the average family who suffers most from the absence of a full health service. In trying to balance her budget, she puts her own needs last. No society can call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means. The essence of a satisfactory health service is that the rich and poor are treated alike, that poverty is not a disability and wealth is not advantaged. June Hornsby describes what it was like in 1962 when her daughter Mandy was born without arms because her NHS doctor had prescribed thalidomide while she was pregnant. From an article in the Mail Online in July 2008. Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, Minister of Health, in a speech in 1946. 75 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE F ● SOURCE G You could get the Pill on the NHS and easy abortion on the NHS. So it was very difficult to say ‘No’ to a boy who wanted to sleep with you. Sure, there was no fear of having an unwanted baby, but that fear was replaced by a whole lot of other decisions that could end up with you being labelled ‘frigid’ or ‘an easy lay’ by the gang you went around with. More girls’ reputations were ruined than ever before. Ann Walsh remembers growing up in the 1970s. An anti-smoking poster produced by the government’s Health Education Council in the 1960s. ● SOURCE H A photograph of young women running a petition in support of their defeat of the abortion amendment bill and campaign in defence of women’s right to abortion. 76 SI 1 DID THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HELP OR HINDER WOMEN? Questions 1 3 4 Study Source A. What point is the cartoonist making about the National Health Service? Use the source in your answer. 5 Study Source F. How useful is this source to a historian trying to find out how the National Health Service tried to keep young people healthy? Use the source and your own knowledge in your answer. [6] 6 Study Sources G and H. How far does Source H challenge the views expressed in Source G? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 7 Study all the sources and use your own knowledge. ‘The National Health Service hindered, rather than helped, women.’ Explain whether or not you agree with this view. [5] Study Sources A and B. How far does Source B agree with Source A about the early days of the National Health Service? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [6] Study Sources C and D. How likely do you think it would be that women, in particular, would benefit from the new National Health Service? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [7] Study Sources D and E. ‘Source E proves that the National Health Service didn’t help mothers.’ Do you agree with this statement? Use the sources and your own knowledge to explain your answer. [8] [10] How to tackle the conclusion question The final question in a source investigation can look quite daunting. It is worth most marks and you should spend the most time on it. Here is what to do: 1 ● Do you agree with the statement? The examiner wants you to make your mind up and use your knowledge and the sources to support your viewpoint. However, make sure you consider both sides of the statement. Even if you agree with it, make sure you consider the evidence that contradicts it too. 2 ● Write at least two paragraphs: one to cover the evidence against, the other looking at the evidence to support it. Then write a concluding paragraph. Your concluding paragraph should sum up your overall view. This is also the best place to make points about the reliability of sources. 3 ● 4 ● 5 ● You don’t need to mention every source in your answer. Just focus on one or two sources on each side – the strongest evidence. Include details or quotes from the sources in your answer. You should refer to a source by authorship or content not by letter. Don’t write ‘As Source B says ...’, write ‘As the pharmacist recalls in Source B ...’. 77 SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 80. Back to home and duty? During the Second World War (1939–45) women formed a vital part of the workforce. They were needed to keep the country going: to work in industry, transport and agriculture in order to support the armed forces overseas and to fill the gaps left by the men who had been called up to fight. However, once the war was over and the men returned, what happened to the women? Were they expected to go back to being wives and mothers? Was all that had been gained during the war now lost? ● SOURCE A ● SOURCE B Dame Laura Knight was an official war artist, appointed by the government to paint wartime scenes. In 1943, she painted this picture of Ruby Loftus working in a secret gun-making factory in Newport, South Wales. Ruby was a lathe operator, one of a handful of women who were able to perform such highly skilled work. Before the war she had worked as a shop assistant. Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. This was against the wishes of the British government and her parents, who were then King and Queen. ● SOURCE C Soon, many women took up the idea that if they were doing men’s jobs, then they should get men’s pay. Equal pay for women workers became a key debate that occupied the unions during the war and which led to several strikes, most famously at Hillington Rolls-Royce plant near Glasgow in 1943. When the workforce rejected an initial settlement to their pay claim, 16,000 women and men walked out. Initially, other local workers joined the strike despite the fact that the local and national press had labelled the strikers ‘traitors’. Eventually a settlement was reached whereby a rate was fixed for every machine in the factory, regardless of the sex of the operator. From The Women’s Army by Judith Orr, published in March 1995. 78 SI 2 BACK TO HOME AND DUTY? ● SOURCE D This cartoon was published in March 1954. ● SOURCE E Day-to-Day Plan for New Brides Clean the kitchen after week-end catering activities, check up on rations and shop for vegetables, canned food and breakfast cereals for a few days ahead. Tuesday Wash personal laundry, leaving the sheets and bath towels. Get all items dried and ironed during the day whenever possible. Wednesday Clean bedrooms and bathrooms thoroughly and use the early afternoon for cleaning the silver. Thursday Change bed linen, wash sheets, pillowcases and towels. While they dry, clean the lounge. Iron in the afternoon. Friday Plan meals for the weekend, remembering to have left-overs for Monday. Shop. Give the dining room a thorough clean and polish. Saturday Keep this free for the family as far as possible. Prepare vegetables for Sunday and manage some cooking in the morning. Relax. Sunday Belongs to you and those who share the home with you. Confine all essential cooking to the early part of the morning. Monday What you wear in the house for the working hours is important. Crisp easily removed, cheerful overalls, smocks, nylon or spongeable plastic aprons look attractive. Wear your hair as you would do for the man-of-the-house’s homecoming. From a brochure issued in 1947 by the furniture-makers James Broderick & Co., and used by thousands of housewives in the 1950s. ● SOURCE F Taken as a whole, the plan for social security puts a very high importance on marriage. In the next thirty years, housewives as mothers have vital work to do in ensuring the continuance of the British race and British ideals in the world. From Sir William Beveridge’s report, which laid down the foundations of the welfare state, published in 1942. 79 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE G I scanned through Bowlby [John Bowlby’s book ‘Child Care and the Growth of Love’] to see if it was all right to go out for half an hour and certainly, below the age of three, you were not really meant to leave the child at all. I had some of those feelings they call being depersonalised. I didn’t know who I was any more and I didn’t find myself enjoying anything very much. It was more a sort of endurance test getting through that time. I knew that the minute she went to proper school, it would be OK to go out to work and that is exactly what I did. Berry Myall, who had her first baby in the 1950s shortly after graduating from Cambridge University, explains how she felt about having to stay at home with her daughter. Questions 1 [6] 2 Study Sources A and B. Which source would be the more useful to a historian trying to find out about the work that women did in the Second World War? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 3 Study Sources C and D. How far does Source D challenge what Source C says about equal pay for women workers? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [9] 4 Study Source E. Does Source E prove that all women returned to being housewives after the war? Use the source and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 5 Study Sources F and G. Does Source F explain what was happening in Source G? 6 80 Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about the government’s attitude to women workers? Use the source in your answer. Use all the sources and your own knowledge. ‘Everything gained by women during the Second World War was lost in the 1950s.’ How far would you agree with this statement? [7] SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 83. Great Britain: land of opportunity for Caribbean immigrants? By 1965, about a quarter of a million Caribbean immigrants were living in Great Britain. They had come with high hopes of a better life and higher living standards. But how realistic were these expectations? Was Great Britain really the land of opportunity they had hoped for? ● SOURCE A What next? A cartoon by Sid Moon that appeared in the Sunday Dispatch, 28 February 1948. ● SOURCE B London is the place for me, London this lovely city, To live in London you are really comfortable, Because the English people are very much sociable, They take you here and they take you there, And they make you feel like a millionaire, London that’s the place for me. A song written by ‘Lord Kitchener’ (real name Aldwyn Roberts), who arrived in Britain on the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. 81 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE C Part of a page from the passenger list of SS Empire Windrush, which sailed on 24 May 1948 for Tilbury Docks in England. ● SOURCE D This photo was used as part of the recruitment campaign by London Transport to attract workers from the Caribbean. 82 A young Jamaican immigrant looking for accommodation in the late 1950s. SI 3 GREAT BRITAIN: LAND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANTS? ● SOURCE F ● SOURCE G NEW DANCE HALL: OWNERS TO BAN COLOURED FOLK The doors of a new dance hall in Wolverhampton are soon to be opened to the dancing public. But the sign is to go up: ‘No coloured dancers’ – neither will ‘Teddy Boys’ be admitted. The manager said the ban will be enforced for ‘business reasons’. He added there always seemed to be troubles of some kind when coloured dancers were admitted. Then he stated: ‘If it warrants it they can have their own night for dancing.’ Jamaicans’ friend leaving Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Methodists can be proud of the Rev Howard Belben [who is moving to Sheffield]. He takes the trouble to visit the homes of West Indian and other coloured worshippers and runs a monthly ‘international fellowship’, a kind of social-cum-prayer meeting. And he somehow manages to remember all [about 300] of his West Indians’ names (a fact which endears him to them). An extract from the Wolverhampton Express and Star, 1957. From the Wolverhampton Express and Star, 6 February 1955. Questions 1 Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about the cartoonist’s attitude to immigration? Use the source in your answer. [6] 2 Study Source C. One of the arguments made in parliament was that passengers from the Windrush were going to help rebuild Britain. How far does this source support that argument? Use the source and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 3 Study Sources B and D. How reliable are these sources as evidence about opportunities for immigrants in Britain? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [7] 4 Study Sources D and E. Does Source E challenge Source D about life in Britain for immigrants? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 5 Study Sources F and G. How far do these sources prove that a colour bar was developing in Britain? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [9] 6 Study all the sources and your own knowledge. ‘Great Britain was a land of opportunity for Caribbean immigrants.’ How far would you agree with this statement? [12] 83 SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 86. Was the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 really necessary? In 1975, parliament passed the Sex Discrimination Act. Its aim was to protect both men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex. It applied mainly to employment, training, education, harassment and the provision of goods and services. But was it really necessary? ● SOURCE A A cartoon published in the magazine Punch in the 1950s. ● SOURCE B Ask any man if he’d rather his wife worked or stayed at home and see what he says; he would rather she stayed at home and looked after his children, and was waiting for him with a decent meal and a sympathetic ear when he got home from work. You can’t have deep and safe happiness in marriage and the exciting independence of a career as well. Monica Dickens, an author, in the magazine Woman’s Own, 28 January 1961. ● SOURCE C I left my all-girls grammar school in 1964. The teachers encouraged us to believe that we could follow any career we wanted: electrical engineering, architecture, law, and business – it didn’t matter. All we had to do was work hard, get a good degree and the world was ours. Then we had a talk by a Miss Petty from the county careers office. She outlined everything we could do and was very enthusiastic when one of my friends said she wanted to be a social anthropologist. But Miss Petty ended her talk by saying that the best careers for women were teaching and nursing because they fitted in so well with family life. I bet she didn’t tell the boys that! Rosemary Dawson remembers the careers advice she was given in the 1960s. 84 SI 4 WAS THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975 REALLY NECESSARY? ● SOURCE D Something had to be done about the fact that women were earning about 70 per cent of what men were being paid for the same work. More significantly, something had to be done about the fact that very few women reached any kind of seniority within factories, that men were always the bosses and women always subservient. And so some of us became involved in a campaign to get equal pay for women. In 1970, just as we were about to go to university, the Equal Pay Act became law, and we thought that the issue which of all issues most concerned us, had been won. We should have known better. Men did not suddenly decide that they had been monstrously unfair to women, nor did the trades unions show any serious interest in fighting for women’s rights. From Whatever’s Happening to Women by Julia Neuberger, published in 1991. Julia Neuberger was a student at Cambridge University in 1970 when the Women’s Liberation Movement took a hold in England. She is now a rabbi, wife, mother, broadcaster and writer. ● SOURCE E After the Equal Pay Act I visited a shoe factory where they were making men’s shoes and women’s shoes. There were a lot of women putting heels on shoes. And there were a lot of men in another part of the factory putting heels on shoes. I said to the manager, ‘I suppose you have equal pay?’ And he said, ‘Oh yes, we have equal pay.’ So I asked him, ‘Do you mean to say that the women here running this machine and the men over there running the same machine, get the same pay?’ He said, ‘Oh no, heavens no! Those men are putting heels on men’s shoes. The women are putting heels on women’s shoes. It’s not the same work.’ There were six nails going into each shoe and they were using the same machines. But the women didn’t get the same pay. Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan, a campaigner for women’s rights, describes a visit she made to a shoe factory after the Equal Pay Act of 1970. ● SOURCE F TEACHING A GIRL ABOUT HERTZ IS TEACHING HER TO SAY YES Before every new Hertz girl meets her public, she has to learn to always say Yes to a customer. It’s easy when you work for Hertz because there’s no limit to what Hertz has to offer. In fact, it takes us six weeks to fill her pretty head with all the facts and figures. What we don’t spell out is what we know a Hertz girl can handle naturally. We choose her because she’s the kind of girl who enjoys solving all the little things that don’t seem little at the time. Yes, I’ll phone your wife to tell her you’ll be late. Yes, I’ll find the briefcase you left in the car. Yes, I’ll sew the button on your coat. The next time you want to rent a car, ask a Hertz girl. You’ll see how well she has learned her lessons. An advertisement published in The Times, 12 October 1972. Hertz was, and still is, a company that deals in rental cars. 85 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE G I was thirty-three and full of vim and vigour. I wanted to change the world. In 1972 most of the book publishing companies were run by men and most of the books I wanted to read were not published by them. Starting Virago was not difficult, except in obvious ways – there was no money. The banks were unfriendly and pompous. That was usual. In those days single women couldn’t get a mortgage, either. In the early days I spent a lot of time explaining to journalists that I did not hate men. I simply wanted women’s history, lives and literature to be placed in printed form alongside men’s published experience of the same. I suppose my greatest achievement while I was there was to lay down standards for excellence and competence, and in doing so, to make it possible for other women in business to do well. From an article by Carmen Callil, published in the Sunday Telegraph in June 1993. Carmen Callil founded the women’s publishing company Virago in 1972. It was highly successful. ● SOURCE H At the end of the sixties, women were involved in all major social trends of the period, from the increasingly flexible nature of work and the technological transformation of the household to the liberalisation of divorce and the legislation of abortion. By having smaller families, expanding into the workforce and asserting their equal status with men, women participated in British national life as never before. From White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties by Dominic Sandbrook, published in 2006. Questions 1 3 86 Study Source A. What point is the cartoonist making about working women? Use the source in your answer. 4 Study Source F. Are you surprised that an advertisement like this could appear in 1972? Use the source and your own knowledge in your answer. [9] 5 Study Sources G and H. How far does Source G support Source H in what it says about women’s participation in British national life? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [9] 6 Study all the sources and use your own knowledge. ‘The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 was completely unnecessary.’ Explain whether or not you agree with this view. [12] [5] Study Sources B and C. Which of these sources is the more useful to a historian enquiring into opportunities for women in the 1960s? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [7] Study Sources D and E. How far do these two sources prove that the Equal Pay Act of 1970 didn’t help end discrimination against women? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 5 SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 90. Did everyone benefit from the prosperity of the 1950s? In July 1957 the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, said that most people in Britain had ‘never had it so good’. After the economic problems of the 1930s and the suffering and sacrifices of the war years, an economic upturn in the world economy meant that British products were selling well around the world. Britain had full employment – everyone who was able to work could get a job: including teenagers when they left school. This growing prosperity (people being well off) is seen by many historians as creating the first teenage ‘youth culture’: when teens had enough money and free time to do their own thing instead of just acting like their parents. But did this change affect everyone in the same way? Did everyone growing up in the 1950s benefit from this prosperity? ● SOURCE A A cartoon published in the New Statesman on Boxing Day, 1959. The TV screen reads ‘I’m All Right Jack’, which means something like: ‘I’m busy looking after myself and I don’t have any time for you’. It was also the title of a hit British film in 1959. Note the Christian symbols of Christmas – the star and the stable. 87 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE B Possibly the most novel finding [of this report] is the extent of poverty among children. For over a decade it has been generally assumed that such poverty as exists is found overwhelmingly among the aged [the elderly] ... We have estimated that there were about two and a quarter million children in low income households in 1960. Thus qualitatively the problem of poverty among children is more than two-thirds of the size of poverty among the aged. This fact has not been given due emphasis in the policies of the political parties. It is also worth observing that there were substantially more children in poverty than adults of working age ... On the whole the data we have presented contradicts the commonly held view that a trend towards greater equality has accompanied the trend towards greater affluence. From Brian Abel-Smith and Peter Townsend, The Poor and the Poorest, published in 1965. ● SOURCE C ● SOURCE D A family watching television in the 1950s. Do you think this is a very well-off family or quite an ordinary family? A poster advertising holidays in North Yorkshire in 1953. 88 SI 5 DID EVERYONE BENEFIT FROM THE PROSPERITY OF THE 1950S? ● SOURCE E ... increased earnings come from the increasing production of most of our main industries – steel, coal, motor cars; a large part of the increase is going to exports or to investment. That is all to the good. Indeed, let us be frank about it: most of our people have never had it so good. Go around the country, go to the industrial towns, go to the farms, and you will see a state of prosperity such as we have never had in my lifetime – nor indeed ever in the history of this country. What is beginning to worry some of us is, is it too good to be true? – or perhaps I should say, is it too good to last? Harold Macmillan’s speech at Bedford, 20 July 1957 (reported in The Times, 22 July 1957). Although you’ll often read about the phrase ‘never had it so good’ in books and websites on the 1950s, notice that Macmillan’s overall message is quite cautious. ● SOURCE F First a young mother [said to the 1950s survey]: ‘Dad used to be very strict with us, we are different with our boy. We make more of a mate of him. When I was a kid Dad always had the best of everything. Now it’s the children who get the best of it. If there’s one pork chop left, the kiddie gets it’; and a young father: ‘There’s certainly been a change. I whack mine now, but not the beatings we used to have. When I was a boy most of us feared our fathers more than we liked them. I know I feared mine and I had plenty of reason to.’ From The Penguin Social History of Britain: British Society Since 1945 by Arthur Marwick, published in 1996. ● SOURCE G In 1960 the last call-up papers were sent out to just over 2000 young men. Until the 1960s every young man who left school knew that he would have to go into one of the three services, probably the army, and by the time National Service was finished, 5.3 million teenagers would have learned to stand straight with their shoulders back. Their hair would have been cut in the ‘short back and sides’ style. They would have learned to look after themselves, probably for the first time having to do their own laundry, washing and scrubbing three times a day ... When they returned from National Service the opportunity to make their own way from teenage to adulthood had been taken away. In the 1960s the first teenagers since 1938 crossed into adult life at their own pace and in their own style. From This Sceptred Isle: Twentieth Century by Christopher Lee, published in 1999. 89 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE H Percentage of adults in homes with consumer durables 100 ev is io se n t W m as ac hi hi ng ne R ef rig er at or Va cl cu ea u ne m La r w n m ow er El ec tri c iro n 0 From Britain in the Twentieth Century: A Documentary Reader Volume II: 1939–1970, edited by Lawrence Butler and Harriet Jones, published in 1995. Questions 1 Study Source A. What is the main point the cartoonist is making about the new prosperity of the 1950s? Use the source in your answer. [5] 2 Study Sources A and B. How far does Source B agree with Source A in its message about whether everyone – including children – ‘never had it so good’? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [6] 3 4 90 Study Sources C and D. How would having a TV and being able to go on holidays have made a difference to children’s lives in the 1950s? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [7] Study Source E. ‘Source E proves that Britain was enjoying unprecedented prosperity by the late 1950s.’ Do you agree? Use the source and your own knowledge to explain your answer. [8] 5 Study Sources F and G. Many commentators were concerned that young people were being treated too softly in the 1950s. How far do Sources G and F challenge or support this view? Use the sources and your own knowledge in your answer. [8] 6 Study Source H. How useful is this source to a historian trying to find out how far everyone growing up in the 1950s benefited from prosperity? Use the source and your own knowledge in your answer. [6] 7 Study all the sources and use your own knowledge. ‘Most people in the 1950s had “never had it so good”.’ Explain whether or not you agree with this view. [10] 6 SOURCE INVESTIGATION Read all the sources, then answer the questions on page 93. Why did young people in Britain get political in the 1960s? One of the big changes in the way young people behaved in the 1960s was to do with politics. Many young people felt very strongly about political issues such as free speech, civil rights, the rights of women and, most famously, America’s war in Vietnam. Many British students agreed with American student protestors that the war was completely wrong: the USA was bombing helpless Vietnamese people in a bloodthirsty campaign against communist North Vietnam. However, no British students were in danger of being sent to Vietnam, British students could not vote in US elections and most British people viewed Vietnam as somebody else’s war, a long way away. So why did British young people get so passionately involved with anti-Vietnam protests and what does that say about changes in the way young people behaved in the 1960s and early 1970s? ● SOURCE A This is the cover of Oz magazine from March 1968. Oz was a satirical underground magazine and was very popular with students who wanted to rebel against the values of mainstream society. This cover includes a famous photo of a South Vietnamese police chief executing a Vietcong fighter. The ‘Great Society’ was US President Johnson’s project for improving life for all in the USA, so the line on the cover – ‘Great Society blows another mind’ – is saying the USA was responsible for this killing. 91 PART 3 SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS ● SOURCE B ● SOURCE C There was ... the relentlessness of the bombing ... and I put a map of Vietnam on my wall. I think people now probably don’t understand that, but it was just terrible. Everything that was progress was being used to destroy. Every day you opened the paper there were unknown tonnages [of bombs] going thousands of miles to pulverise peasants. Politics never entered my head. There I was at school learning French, German, English and Latin, but I completely missed the Vietnam War. I didn’t know it was on, frankly. I can only recall hearing about them pulling out, and thinking, pulling out of where? Quoted in The Seventies: Good Times, Bad Taste by Alison Pressley, published in 2002. Anthony Barnett, a student at Leicester University in 1968, remembers how he felt about the Vietnam war, quoted in ‘The Viet Nam War and the British Student Left: A Study in Political Symbolism’ by Anthony O. Edmonds, published in 1994. ● SOURCE D This cartoon by ‘Trog’ (Wally Fawkes) was first published by the Daily Mail on 17 May 1968. The Paris Peace Talks were designed to end the war in Vietnam. In fact there was a breakdown in the peace talks and the war continued until 1973. ● SOURCE E Ev’rywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet, boy ‘Cause summer’s here and the time is right for fighting in the street, boy But what can a poor boy do Except to sing for a rock ‘n’ roll band ‘Cause in sleepy London town There’s just no place for a street fighting man No First verse of ‘Street Fighting Man’ by The Rolling Stones, from the album Beggars Banquet, released on Decca Records in 1968. Mick Jagger wrote this song after going on the anti-Vietnam demonstration in Grosvenor Square. The song was banned by a number of UK radio stations. 92 SI 6 WHY DID YOUNG PEOPLE IN BRITAIN GET POLITICAL IN THE 1960S? ● SOURCE F ● SOURCE G British police blocking off Grosvenor Square (site of the American Embassy) in London as rioting breaks out during an anti-Vietnam war demonstration in March 1968. Many people copied the style of American protest movements because they thought they were fashionable, and this explains why American practices, like calling authority figures ‘pigs’ and ‘fascists’, appeared in Britain in the late sixties. In the United States this kind of language reflected the genuine social tensions of the day and the fevered debate over the Vietnam War; in Britain, however, it sounded trite and incongruous. Sue Miles thought her contemporaries were ‘all copying American culture’, and admitted: ‘We were not pushed by any major issues. There was no draft, you could piss around in England quite a lot’... The peace movement was never likely to attract mass support for the simple reason that most people simply did not care enough about a war in which they were not directly involved. From White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties by Dominic Sandbrook, published in 2006. Questions 1	i don't know
What was the very Greek middle name of Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis?	Aristotle Onassis - Biography - IMDb Aristotle Onassis Jump to: Overview (4) \| Mini Bio (1) \| Spouse (2) \| Trivia (10) \| Personal Quotes (3) Overview (4) Ari Mini Bio (1) Aristole Onassis was an ethnic Greek born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire in what is now Turkey, who became a billionaire shipping tycoon when the number of billionaires could be counted on one hand. He is known to history as the second husband of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. He was the son of Socrates Onassis, a ship owner with a modest fleet of 10 ships manned by 40 sailors. The relative wealth of his father got the young Ari a good education, and he became fluent in English, Spanish and Turkish. In the aftermath of World War One, when the Ottoman Empire was broken up by the victorious Allies and modern Turkey was created by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , many ethnic Greeks were expelled from the new country. The Onassis family fled to Greece as refugees. Aristotle Onassis emigrated to Argentina in 1923 with 60 dollars (approximately $800 in 2011 dollars, when factored for inflation). He became an importer of Turkish tobacco and eventually became an owner of ships. Eventually, he held Argentine and Greek passports and dual citizenship. Onassis switched to transporting oil for the major petroleum companies, who could save money by not owning their own fleets. It was the introduction of the supertanker to transport Middle Eastern oil that made Onassis one of the richest men in the world. A supertanker could be paid for with one six-month lease, meaning that the majority of the 20-year life-span of a tanker could result in extraordinary profits. Onassis invested his vast fortune wisely, including in the petroleum industry itself, transportation, and other businesses. Outside of the business world, Aristole Onassis was little known, and if he was known at all, it was for his romance with the opera singer Maria Callas . However, his 1968 marriage to the widow of the late President John F. Kennedy made him a world-wide figure whose life was chronicled in newspapers around the globe. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood Spouse (2) ( 28 December 1946 - 1960) (divorced) (2 children) Trivia (10) After her divorce from Onassis, Athina married John Spencer-Churchill . After their divorce, she married her sister's widower - Onassis's arch shipping rival - Stavros Niarchos . She was the daughter of another Greek shipping magnate, Stavros Livanos. Children: Alexander Socrates (April 30, 1948 - January 23, 1973) and Christina Onassis . Ended his affair with opera diva Maria Callas to marry Jacqueline Kennedy . Founder (1956) of Olympic Airways of Greece. In 1954, the FBI investigated Onassis for Fraud Against the Government. He was charged with violating the citizenship provision of the shipping laws which requires that all ships displaying the American flag be owned by United States citizens. Onassis pled guilty and paid $7 million to the United States Government. According to "Greek Fire: The Story Of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis" by Nicholas Gage , Callas's and Onassis's child, a boy, was born and died on 30 March 1960. Portrayed by Frank Vincent , Raul Julia , Joss Ackland , Thom Christopher , Robert Lindsay , and Philip Baker Hall . Anthony Quinn played a character based on Onassis in The Greek Tycoon (1978). Partnered with Arthur G. Cohen to build Olympic Tower (1971), 51-story a residential/commercial building across from St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York City). Hergé 's Tintin book "Flight 714" depicts a tycoon named Laszlo Carreidas. In one scene, Carreidas is talking on the phone to an associate in New York who is attending an auction. When Carreidas hears that Onassis is trying to buy some paintings, he instantly orders the associate to buy the paintings, no matter the cost. Personal Quotes (3)	Socrates
What Russian word meaning 'restructuring' was a political movement in the 1980s?	Aristotle Onassis - Biography - IMDb Aristotle Onassis Jump to: Overview (4) \| Mini Bio (1) \| Spouse (2) \| Trivia (10) \| Personal Quotes (3) Overview (4) Ari Mini Bio (1) Aristole Onassis was an ethnic Greek born in Smyrna in the Ottoman Empire in what is now Turkey, who became a billionaire shipping tycoon when the number of billionaires could be counted on one hand. He is known to history as the second husband of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. He was the son of Socrates Onassis, a ship owner with a modest fleet of 10 ships manned by 40 sailors. The relative wealth of his father got the young Ari a good education, and he became fluent in English, Spanish and Turkish. In the aftermath of World War One, when the Ottoman Empire was broken up by the victorious Allies and modern Turkey was created by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , many ethnic Greeks were expelled from the new country. The Onassis family fled to Greece as refugees. Aristotle Onassis emigrated to Argentina in 1923 with 60 dollars (approximately $800 in 2011 dollars, when factored for inflation). He became an importer of Turkish tobacco and eventually became an owner of ships. Eventually, he held Argentine and Greek passports and dual citizenship. Onassis switched to transporting oil for the major petroleum companies, who could save money by not owning their own fleets. It was the introduction of the supertanker to transport Middle Eastern oil that made Onassis one of the richest men in the world. A supertanker could be paid for with one six-month lease, meaning that the majority of the 20-year life-span of a tanker could result in extraordinary profits. Onassis invested his vast fortune wisely, including in the petroleum industry itself, transportation, and other businesses. Outside of the business world, Aristole Onassis was little known, and if he was known at all, it was for his romance with the opera singer Maria Callas . However, his 1968 marriage to the widow of the late President John F. Kennedy made him a world-wide figure whose life was chronicled in newspapers around the globe. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood Spouse (2) ( 28 December 1946 - 1960) (divorced) (2 children) Trivia (10) After her divorce from Onassis, Athina married John Spencer-Churchill . After their divorce, she married her sister's widower - Onassis's arch shipping rival - Stavros Niarchos . She was the daughter of another Greek shipping magnate, Stavros Livanos. Children: Alexander Socrates (April 30, 1948 - January 23, 1973) and Christina Onassis . Ended his affair with opera diva Maria Callas to marry Jacqueline Kennedy . Founder (1956) of Olympic Airways of Greece. In 1954, the FBI investigated Onassis for Fraud Against the Government. He was charged with violating the citizenship provision of the shipping laws which requires that all ships displaying the American flag be owned by United States citizens. Onassis pled guilty and paid $7 million to the United States Government. According to "Greek Fire: The Story Of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis" by Nicholas Gage , Callas's and Onassis's child, a boy, was born and died on 30 March 1960. Portrayed by Frank Vincent , Raul Julia , Joss Ackland , Thom Christopher , Robert Lindsay , and Philip Baker Hall . Anthony Quinn played a character based on Onassis in The Greek Tycoon (1978). Partnered with Arthur G. Cohen to build Olympic Tower (1971), 51-story a residential/commercial building across from St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York City). Hergé 's Tintin book "Flight 714" depicts a tycoon named Laszlo Carreidas. In one scene, Carreidas is talking on the phone to an associate in New York who is attending an auction. When Carreidas hears that Onassis is trying to buy some paintings, he instantly orders the associate to buy the paintings, no matter the cost. Personal Quotes (3)	i don't know
What is an early sacrificial move in chess, usually of a pawn, to gain advantage, which has entered language with similar wider meaning?	Full text of "The Psychology of Chess and of Learning to Play It" See other formats STOP Early Journal Content on JSTOR, Free to Anyone in the World This article is one of nearly 500,000 scholarly works digitized and made freely available to everyone in the world byJSTOR. Known as the Early Journal Content, this set of works include research articles, news, letters, and other writings published in more than 200 of the oldest leading academic journals. The works date from the mid-seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. We encourage people to read and share the Early Journal Content openly and to tell others that this resource exists. People may post this content online or redistribute in any way for non-commercial purposes. Read more about Early Journal Content at http://about.istor.org/participate-istor/individuals/early- journal-content . JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. THE AMEEIOAK" Journal of Psychology Founded by G. Stanley Hai,i, in 1887. Vol,. XVIII. JULY, 1907. No. 3. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHESS AND OF LEARNING TO PLAY IT. By Alfred a. Clbveland. Outline. Introduction. Page I. The Psychology of the Game 270 1. Chess as a form of human play 270 Varieties of the game 270 Instinctive factors 271 2. General Features of Chess from a psychological point of view 273 The emotional effects of play 273 Personal and temperamental differences of players . 274 3. Attainments of players of average ability . . . 274 Ability to plan moves ahead 274 Visual imagination 275 Ability to take in large sections of the board . . 276 Reconstruction of the status of an unfinished game . 276 " Position sense " 277 Different grades of chess players 278 4. Attainments of the chess masters 278 Simultaneous play 279 Recapitulation of games and other feats of memory . 279 Announcement of mate in advance 281 Blindfold play 281 The relation of skill in play to general mental ability . 287 5. Special psychology of the game 287 Forms of mental activity required 187 The stages of the game and their logical types . . 288 The opening and end games 288 The middle game 289 Psychological restatement of the logical types . . 291 II. The Psychology of the Learning of the Game . . . 292 1. General description of the learning process in chess . 292 2. Discussion of the learning process 297 3. Aids to learning 303 III. General summary of psychological points .... 305 Appendix : On the Case of a Feeble-minded Chess Player 306 270 CLBVKLAND : In this study an attempt is made to sketch the psychology of the game of chess, to trace the stages in the development of a chess player, and to interpret this progress in psychological terms. That the task, owing to the complexity of the pro- cesses involved and the impossibility of applying anything like satisfactory objective tests, is a difficult one, is obvious, but it is one that seems to the writer worth attempting.' I. Thb Psychology of the Game. Chess is, as every one knows, a mimic battle fought upon a field of sixty-four squares with pieces moved according to an elaborate system and having powers suggestive of a variety of fighting units. The purpose of each player is to checkmate his opponent, that is, to hem in and threaten the latter's king in such a fashion that he is subject to capture at the next move. In our discussion of the psychology of the game it will be con- venient to consider it first as a form of human play and then to take up more particularly the mental powers involved. I. Chess as a Form of Human Play . Forms and Varieties of the Game. The game of chess has not been confined to any particular age, race, country, or class. It is without doubt one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of the intellectual pastimes, and it is the game of skill par excellence. Its origin is not definitely known and there have been many claimants for the honor of its invention." Especially in its later history the game has developed a num- ber of off-shoots in specialties which for many people share the interest of play across the board. The chief of these is the composition and solving of chess problems, which now has quite a literature and many devotees. Another is correspond- ence play, in which the strict rules of the typical game are somewhat relaxed on account of the peculiar conditions of play. Others, practiced as feats, but of especial psychological interest, are blindfold playing, to which Binet has devoted a special research,' and the playing of many games at once (either blind- folded or with sight of the board). To some of these special forms we shall return later. It is a pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to Professor E. C. Sauford for the suggestion of this topic of study, and for generous assistance in following it out ; to Dr. C. A. Drew and others at the Massachusetts State Farm for courtesies extended ; to those who in the capacity of assistants have contributed much to this study; and to all who have answered my questionnaire on chess or assisted in securing answers to it. ^ The history of chess may be followed in Porbes's History of Chess, and in Dr. Van der Linde's book on its history and literature. 'Binet, Alfred: Psychologie des grands Calculateurs at Jouenrs d' Echecs, Denxi^me Partie, Paris, 1894. THB PSYCHOLOGY OF CHESS. 27 1 Instinctive Factors in Chess Playing. Chess is, as we have said, a game of wide distribution and popularity. Dr. Kmanuel Lasker states that over one million English speaking people know the game, that there are in the United States, England and Canada between seven and eight hundred good sized chess clubs, many of which have over one hundred members each, and that the City of I/Ondon Club has over four hundred mem- bers;* and judging from the number of chess clubs, chess periodi- cals and players of high rank in Germany, France, Russia, Austria, and Poland chess is no less popular in those countries. If one were asked what class or classes of people play chess one might truthfully reply that all classes play it. The question then arises: Why has chess proved so widely popular at all times and in all places? How has it been possi- ble for a game making severe intellectual demands to hold a place historically and in geographical distribution beside such universal forms of human play as gambling, horse-racing, athletics, and hunting, and to claim devotees, if less numerous, at any rate as loyal as any of these? The answer is, of course, that, in common with a multitude of other games and sports, it appeals to the fundamental instinct of combat, in a way that is direct and at the same time exempt from the anti-social features that are inherent in actual physical combat. Here lies a large share of its attractiveness, and its capacity for stir- ing emotion. It takes hold upon tho.se suppressed survivals of savage impulse (if we are to credit the savage alone with a first hand liking for a contest) which in their modified exercise have been shown to be so large a factor in adult sport. ^ In this, however, it shows but the typical qualities of the genus to which it belongs — that it is one of the strongly com- petitive games.^ Its own specific attractiveness lies in the fact that it is a competitive game of skill, more particularly of in- tellectual skill as opposed to merely manual or bodily dexterity; it is a contest of scheme against scheme; it is a game of gen- eralship.^ Each particular situation appeals to the player, not only as an occasion for attack or defense, but also as a situation to be met by taking thought, a difiiculty to be seen through and overcome, a problem to be solved. There is, therefore, in chess playing all the challenge that lies in baffling but fas- cinating problems and much of that which lies in the solution of puzzles. That the interest in this aspect of chess is real and important is abundantly evidenced by the growth of the chess iJ^asker's Chess Magazine, Vol. I, No. i, Nov. 1904. p. 48. '^ Patrick : The Psychology of Football. Am. four. Psy., Vol. XIV, 1903. PP- 368-381. ^Groos: The Play of Man, New York, 1901. pp. 173 ff. Groos: op. cit., p. 190. 272 CLBVBLAND : "problem," of which we shall have more to say presently. I^indley in his "Study of Puzzles" holds it likely that in the puzzle solving passion we have a form of the preparatory play impulse to which Groos rightly attributes so much of both ani- mal and human play.* Still another factor of interest in chess is the pleasure of in- vention and origination, the pleasure of being a cause.' In the returns of my correspondents a decided preference is expressed for original plans of attack and defense.* Most say that they get away from the standard book plays as soon as possible after the first few moves. Some say that they play from book not from choice, but from necessity; but most say that while they follow the book openings for a few moves, they prefer to get away from them as soon as they possibly can without detri- ment to their game. They prefer their own game because it is more real, and is a better representative of their own ideas. As one player puts it, ' ' There is little satisfaction in catching your opponent on a line of play that you have simply memor- ized." There are, also, of course, various practical reasons for this preference. An original plan throws both players on their merits and removes the game at once, so far as possible, from a mere memory exercise, thus depriving a plajer of the advantage which a superior memory or a better knowledge of book games might give. There is an advantage to the player himself in an original plan in that his game is more likely to be a unit and consequently more consistently played than one partly remembered and partly originated. While the inability to remember particular lines of play is undoubtedly a determining factor in the choice between an original plan and what is known as book play, nevertheless, there is something attractive about a game which one feels to be his own, especially if it is suc- cessful. In summary we may say of chess as a form of human play that in the first place it is a contest, and, as such, it appeals to the fundamental fighting instinct, the instinct which in every normal individual impels him to measure his skill with that of 1 Ivindley : A Study of Puzzles, Am. Jour. Psy., VIII, 1897, pp. 431- 493, especially p. 437. 2 Groos : op. cit., pp. 369 ff. 'Groos : op. cit., p. 385. * In order to supplement my own observations and those of my assist- ants, a questionnaire was submitted to chess players of different grades of ability. The list of players answering is a fairly representative one and contains the names of some of the best amateurs of the United States and Canada. Some of the data from this source are specifically included in this study, but in many other cases the substance of the views expressed has been incorporated without more acknowledg- ment than is here made. About 100 knswers in all were obtained. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 273 Others. In the second place chess offers its devotees oppor- tunity to exercise their ingenuity in the solution of problems and puzzles, a form of pleasure that may well rest upon that general interest in the unknown which at one time must have had the greatest survival value. It would seem further, that intellectual activity is indulged in for the pleasure which such activity gives in itself, and sport of this kind is, perhaps, an expression of the general play instinct. "Intelligence," as Lindley holds, ' 'is no exception to the law of exercise. Just as those animals, which by fortunate variation were born with a tendency to indulge in preliminary exercise of those activities which were to serve the serious ends of adult life, were favored by natural selection, and were able to transmit such advantages in the form of general play instincts, so in a more special way those creatures, endowed with the strongest tendencies to ex- ploit the intelligence, may have perpetuated this superiority as a general intellectual play instinct. ' ' '■ Again, the chess strategy of an individual is largely the product of his own brain; it is his own, and merely as such is interesting to him. No matter where or how he got his knowledge of the game, if he is any- thing of a player, he has assimilated it and made it a part of his mental self, and his game, in turn, reflects something of his personality. There is also what might be termed a secondary, derived or aesthetic interest in chess, namely, in the finer and subtler points of the game, in what the chess world calls its "brilliancies." Appreciation of and consequent admiration for the skill of others is a contributory element in this pleasure. And finally it is, notwithstanding its own exacting demands, a means of mental relaxation and as such is attractive to the mental worker. 2. Gbnbrai< Features of Chess from a^Psychological Point of View. The Emotional Effects of Play. We have already alluded in- cidentally to the emotions which may be stirred by the chess combat. The desire to win is fundamentally connected with the fighting instinct.'' Young and ardent players especially find the elation of victory and the bitterness of defeat by no means small; they work hard at the game and feel the outcome in proportion to their efforts. The chess manuals and maga- iLindley: op. cit., p. 437. ^This instinct in man, we are told, is being gradually overcome or suppressed. It would be interesting to note, however, whether in the contests which still give opportunity for it, there is any lessening of the desire to win, and whether individuals change at all in this re- gard. The fact probably is that the instinct is changing its form with social pressure, but losing little of its native power. 274 CLBVEi<AND : zines repeat suggestions as to how one should wear his laurels or accept defeat, but in spite of this well intended advice every chess club has its members who invariably make excuses for every lost game. A good many players, however, have the sportsman's feeling strongly developed and are not unpleasantly affected if they are conscious of having played well. They do not enjoy winning if their victory is the result of a "fluke" on their own part or of a palpable oversight on the part of their opponent. Personal and Temperamental Differences of Players. The opinion is general among chess players that a man's tempera- ment enters into his play and determines its style. Many of my correspondents state that they have recognized and often utilized this factor in actual play by forcing an opponent to adopt a line of play for which he was unfitted by temperament. For example, a slow, careful game is played against the aggres- sive and daring player, who is often provoked by these Fabian tactics into recklessness and loss. Chess players are also very firm in the belief that one's game is an index of his character in a wider sense, and no one will be likely to deny that the fundamental traits of character are revealed in unimportant matters especially when one be- comes so deeply absorbed that he forgets all else. Chess ofiers just such an opportunity for deep absorption, and it is not un- reasonable to suppose that one's real rather than his conven- tional character will reveal itself 3. Attainments of Players of Average Experience. In order to form some conception of the skill and knowledge which a chess player of average experience possesses, let us consider (a) his ability to plan moves ahead and to anticipate those of his opponent; (b) to disentangle a complicated situa- tion; (c) to reconstruct the status of an unfinished game from memory; and lastly, (d) his "position sense." For informa- tion on these points I shall, of course, have to depend almost wholly on the replies of my correspondents. Ability to Plan Moves Ahead. It is evident from the variety of answers to the questions on these points and the qualifica- tions attached to many of them that the questions were inter- preted in a variety of ways. Some points seem clear, however. The number varies from position to position, is dependent upon the number and positions of the pieces and the player's physi- cal and mental condition at the time. Very few stated any definite number of moves which they thought they usually planned ahead, but allowed a considerable margin. The fol- lowing are typical of the answers received: — "five to ten," "two to six," "two to ten," "six to ten," "three to seven." THB PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 275 Very few state that they are unable to plan at least three moves ahead in a complicated situation. Four, five, and six are favor- ite numbers. Most state that they can anticipate as many of their oppo- nent's moves as they plan for themselves, and that they do so habitually. A few state, on the other hand, that they can anticipate only a much smaller number of their opponent's moves. Almost without exception my correspondents write that practice has greatly increased both numbers, but especially the number of the opponent's moves that can be foreseen. A few who have played a great many years or who seldom play now, say that the number has decreased. While with most players the increase in number has been considerable, the increase in accuracy has been the main gain. The beginner, owing to the great number of possibilities, is not able to plan far ahead and scarcely thinks of his opponent's plans at all. A little later he plans two, three, and four moves, but he overlooks so many possibilities that his plans are practically worthless. Progress in this regard consists first in the increasing ability to perceive the most likely and feasible continuations both on his own part and that of his opponent; second, in refusing to reconsider lines of play after going over them carefully once and discarding them; and third in increased ease, rapidity and accuracy in calculation. Visual Imagination. It was asked ' ' Can you imagine, pic- torially, what difference in the position a move would make, or are you absolutely without such an image, relying wholly on successive associations of one move with another?" The answers seem to indicate that there are three classes of players in this regard. There are, first, those who have a clear visual picture of the situation as it will appear after a series of moves; secondly, those who have some visual picture, but rely also on successive associations, in verbal or possibly motor terms, of one move with another, that is, they are unable to picture a resulting situation, but must build it up move by move by means of visual and other kinds of imagery. With these players the final term is probably held in verbal terms. The last class of players are those who are without a visual image of any sort. The first class is perhaps the smallest. The players in this group state that the presence of the pieces is not only not an aid in planning combinations, but that it is a positive hind- rance. They have difficulty in imagining a piece in a changed situation or on a square which is at that time occupied by another piece when the pieces are on the board before them." 1 Binet : op. cit., p. 236. 276 CLEVELAND : Binet quotes Selkirk approvingly as saying that in working out a plan one is obliged to represent to himself the position of the pieces after each supposed move and that the sight of the board only confuses. Dr. Tarrasch, the German master, holds that all games are played in part without sight of the board and that consequently visual imagery is an essential factor in planning moves ahead, especially in far reaching combinations.' This statement, it seems to the writer, is valid only for players of the first class mentioned above. The players of the second group have some picture but find the presence of the pieces in- dispensable; while those of the third group rely wholly on the presence of the pieces. In some cases this dependence on the pieces is largely a matter of habit, since the players state that while they rely almost exclusively on successive associations, nevertheless, they can often discover errors in their games when the board is not before them. Ability to take in Large Sections of the Board. Most of the players state that when getting ready to move they can readily take in the whole disposition of their men, or, in other words, they can comprehend the board as a whole. This ability to take in readily the whole disposition of the men is generally regarded as one of the signs of a considerable degree of chess skill. Ability in this regard varies with the physical and mental condition of the player and with the complexity of the situation. The explanation of the gain in skill of this sort seems to be that, as a player progresses in skill, the game takes on more and more meaning and that the individual moves become more and more a part of a definite series or of a number of series each with some particular end in view. The different moves and situations, also, as they are handled in larger masses, are dealt with in an increasingly symbolic manner. A more detailed consideration of this will be taken up in another sec- tion. Reconstruction of the Status of an Unfinished Game. Little or no trouble is experienced by most players in setting up an unfinished game from memory, provided the game itself was interesting and too great a time had not elapsed. The number of pieces on the board is also a factor, though it would appear that it is not of very great importance. A very few state that they can do this only when they are playing regularly. One player reports that he retains a position in correspondence play for a month without difficulty, and another that he is engaged at present in eleven correspondence games and that he retains the positions in all of them without reference to his record. Different methods are employed in the reconstruction, but all 1 Binet: ibid. THB PSYCHOLOGY OF CHESS. 277 are reducible to two types, namely, setting up the final position, and replaying the game from the start. Some are able to do either. There are different varieties of the first method. Some seem to have a mental picture of the whole board and to ar- range their pieces accordingly. They have photographed the situation as a whole and the eye tells them if anything is out of order or missing. Analogous to this in a small way is the ability to see a misspelled word in proof-reading. Others also reconstruct the final position as a whole, but do it by remem- bering crucial situations and building around them. This memory may be in terms of almost any sort of imagery, but it is most likely to be in visual terms. Verbal imagery also plays an important part. The plan of attack or a certain situation in that attack, is very often the central point from which the position is built up. This would mean that the steps which had been planned ahead were also factors in the recall. Some- times it is necessary to begin back of the final position at some important place and to build up to it. The second method, that of replaying the game from the beginning, means the run- ning over of a series of successive associations aided and guided by the critical points and by the general plan of the whole game which gives a meaning to the individual moves. The reconstruction from memory of a position involving any con- siderable number of pieces is not possible to most beginners. If they are of the photographic mental type they get lost in the mass of impressions which the situation involves, and if of the verbal or some other type the situation has not sufficient meaning to give definite place and order to so many pieces. ' 'Position Sense. ' ' Among chess players and writers on chess great stress is laid on what is called "position sense," that is, the knack of knowing in an intricate situation how to place the men to the best advantage. It is a common observation that many chess players are able to tell at a glance which player has the better position without being able to give off- hand any reason for the opinion. It is even stated that many players are able to give a correct judgment at times without being able to carry out the analysis necessary to prove its cor- rectness. Bird, the well known English player, used often, in consultation play, to point out the move with the remark that the others might analyze as much as they liked, but that he felt and knew that it was the right move, and it is said that he was generally right. With scarcely an exception all who an- swered the question stated that they have noted a considerable improvement in "position sense." Many state that improve- ment in the sense of position and chess improvement are one and the same thing. This latter statement is a little too sweep- ing, however, since it does not necessarily follow that the mere 278 CLEVELAND : knowledge of the strength or weakness of a position will en- able one to choose the best of the infinite possibilities which arise at every step. Experience is the blanket term which most use in the attempt to explain the development of "posi- tion sense." The player is said to "feel" the position or the proper move. Some interesting reasons are given, however, to account for the ability to judge a position at a glance. In brief they are somewhat as follows : The mind has been drilled to feel any deviation from principles ; it is due to a vague idea of similar situations leading to success or failure ; it is the recognition of several fundamental points of strength or weak- ness ; and lastly, it is a symbolic shortening, a dropping out of intermediate processes of inference. Perhaps we should not be wrong in saying that it is all of these. It is undoubtedly the product of experience and involves the same sorts of psy- chic processes that are employed in the formation of general ideas — abstraction and generalization. Players of equal expe- rience differ so widely in "position sense" that it seems rea- sonable to suppose that there is a difference in their native endowment in this capacity, just as, according to Professor James, people are differently endowed with the capacity for memorizing. "Position sense" is, however, not dependent on memory alone. Different Grades of Chess Players. Certain mental qualities are essential to the chess player who attains any degree of pro- ficiency whatever, and players differ both in their relative and their absolute endowment of these qualities. Master players combine to a marked degree an accurate and persistent chess memory, quickness of perception, strong constructive imagina- tion, power of accurate analysis and a far seeing power of com- bination. It is impossible to say j ust what the proper proportion of these qualities should be, and to be ideal it would have to be modified to meet each new opponent. When these various qualities are combined in something like the proper proportion we have what is generally designated as a separate quality, namely, "judgment." But when we say that a player has good judgment in chess do we mean more than that he com- bines in something like the proper proportions the qualities which make up the uniformly consistent and successful chess player? 4. Attainments of the Chess Masters. We have attempted to give some idea of the endowment of the chess player of fair ability and have avoided all reference to the remarkable achievements of the chess masters. The feats of some of these are certainly marvellous, and one is apt to think that genius alone can account for them. The chess ex- THB PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 279 pert displays his skill under one or all of four forms, namely, Simultaneous Play, in which several games are played at the same time against as many opponents; Blindfold Play ; Recapi- tulation of Games played by himself or others; and, in actual play, by the Announcement of the End of the Game several moves before that event. Simultaneous Play. In simultaneous play the lone player, of course, never plays against those of his own rank, but usually against strong local players who are able to take advantage of any oversight. As examples of what can be done, the follow- ing, recorded in the different chess magazines, may be cited: — Gunsberg played eighteen games simultaneously against as many opponents, winning fourteen, losing three and drawing one; Bird played nineteen, winning fifteen, losing one and drawing one; Herr Schallop in four and one-half hours played forty simultaneous games, winning thirty-three, losing five, and drawing two; Lasker played twenty-two games, winning nine- teen, losing two and drawing one. Since that time he has often played thirty games simultaneously. As an example of the rapidity of moves made in simultaneous play Napier's twenty- one games should be cited. During the first hour he made four hundred and fifty moves, an average of nearly eight per minute. Of the twenty-one games he won eighteen, lost two and drew one. Evidently simultaneous play requires the ability to focus the attention strongly on a single game, to banish for the time being every other game from the mind, to call up in- stantly at the sight of any board just what combinations it had been planned to carry out there, and finally to recognize and meet a situation promptly. In all such feats experience is an indispensable factor. The player who plays several games at the same time relies on his knowledge of position, gained through long practice, to give him a quick grasp of the essen- tial situations as he passes from board to board. ^ This factor and the power of concentration seem to account for the distinct- ive features of simultaneous play. Recapitulation of Games and Other Feats of Pure Memory. The recapitulation of games is a feat of memory pure and sim- ple. The player simply plays over, or dictates from memory games which he himself or which others have played. The games thus enumerated may consist of fifty or even more moves on each side making sometimes a total of one hundred or more individual moves. Morphy , the next morning after his blindfold contest against eight other players at Paris, dictated to his secretary all of the moves in each of the eight games. Morphy's 1 A player of perfect "position sense" could play any number of games ad hoc without recalling anything. 28o CLBVatAND : secretary, in his book entitled "Exploits and Triumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy," gives the following account of the performance: — ' 'Next morning Morphy actually awakened me at seven o'clock and told me if I would get up he would dictate to me the moves of yesterday's games. I never saw him in better spirits nor less fatigued than on that occasion, as he showed me for two long hours the hundreds of variations de- pending upon the play of the previous day, with such rapidity that I found it hard work to follow the thread of his combina- tions. " ^ In speaking of Morphy's knowledge of games played by Anderson, he writes: "With his astonishing memory he gave me battle after battle with different adversaries, variations and all."' And in another place, "What wonderment he has caused with his omnipotent memory. I have seen him sit for hours at the Divan or the Regents, playing over, not merely his own battles, but the contests of others, till the spectators could not believe their senses.'" Morphy himself made the statement that he had never forgotten a game that he had played after his chess powers were mature. Blackburne like- wise has a tenacious memory for his past games. In 1899 ^^ recalled any number of games which he had played in 1862, pointing out with the utmost precision the flaw or the beauty in each.* In regard to the recapitulation of games it should be noted that the player is recalling a number of known situations each the result of a well known series of moves, and that each game as a whole is constituted of, and characterized by, a number of situations joined together by distinctive features which may consist either of individual moves or of combinations of them. The case is similar to that of a remembered conversation; the one who recalls it does not recall each word separately but rather the meaning of each remark and its connection with what preceded or followed. Other Feats of Memory. Blackburne, without sight of the board, is able to give the moves known as the knight's tour, which consists in placing the knight on any designated square and making it strike in succession every square on the board. This is by no means an easy task with the board in sight, a fact of which any one may easily convince himself. Aside from chess Pillsbury performed some rather difficult memory feats. If any portion of a deck of playing cards was called off ' Edge, F. M. : Exploits and Triumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy, N. Y., 1859. p. 164. "^ Edge : op. cit., p. 187. ^ Edge : op. cit., p. 187. * Graham, P. Anderson: Mr. Blackburne's Games at Chess. I,ondon, 1899. p. 207. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 28 1 to him, he was able to name the cards remaining in the deck. On one occasion, after playing blindfold games for two and one half hours, during the intermission, a list of thirty words, num- bered from one to thirty, was read to him. He memorized the words in groups of five taking ten minutes in which to complete the task. Then he was able to give the word corresponding to any given number or the number corresponding to any given word and to repeat the whole list either forward or backward. ' He made use, of course, of some mnemonic device and the case is interesting only as showing what can be accomplished in that way. Announcement of Mate in Advance. The announcement of mate several moves ahead means, in case it is not merely a re- membered position, that the player has looked ahead of the actual play and is able to say the precise number of moves necessary to bring about the end of the game. It is a com- mon thing for players of the first rank to announce mate five or six moves in advance and their combinations in the middle game often reach beyond that number. Blackbume, in one of his blindfold performances, after the twentieth move, announced mate in six moves more and then called off seven variations which exhausted the position. * Marshall, in London, announced mate in eight moves and pro- ceeded to accomplish it in spite of all his opponent could do to prevent it. The longest mate ever announced in blindfold play was one by Blackbume in sixteen moves. ^ In some cases planning ahead, as was suggested above, is a simple act of memory. The player may merely recognize the situation as one previously seen and may remember the indi- vidual moves which followed and the result ; or he may pass directly from the first term, the situation, to the last term, the result, recalling at the same time the number of moves, but not the moves themselves. Where the player has never reached mate from the given situation, but is able to foresee it, he must possess the ability to work through mentally all the situations which come between the one given and the final one, which calls for good powers of analysis and memory as well as ex- perience. Blindfold Play. The feats which have caused most wonder and admiration are those of blindfold players. Playing with- out sight of the board is now one of the most common forms of exhibition chess, and it has been said that almost every good amateur can play at least one game sans voir. Paul Morphy, during his triumphal tour of Europe, created 1 British Chess Magazine, Vol. XX, p. 399. ^ Graham : op. cii., p. 209. ' Graham : op. cit., p. 211. 282 CLBVELAND : great astonishment by playing eight simultaneous games blind- folded. It is said by competent judges that some of his most brilliant games were those played in this way. Zukertort played twelve and fourteen games very frequently, but often remarked that the two additional ones made it much more diffi- cult. Blackburne is one of the strongest of the blindfold players, but the greatest of all thus far in this line was the American, Pillsbury, who played as many as twenty-two blindfold games simultaneously, winning most of them. With him the number of games seemed to be limited only by the length of time required to complete them and by his physical endurance.^ Pillsbury, in an exhibition given at Toledo, Ohio, played twelve games of chess and four of checkers without sight of the boards, and at the same time played duplicate whist. Such are the feats of blindfold play by the masters. What shall we say in explanation of them ? Memory certainly plays a very important r61e, but it may be chiefly of the short time variety, that is, the player holds the moves in mind only dur- ing the progress of the play and forgets them immediately afterward, much as the student or the lawyer does the facts he has crammed for a particular occasion. Pillsbury, in an article, said that he had to think rather hard to recall the opening in any given game of a series five minutes after the contest ended.^ Morphy, on the other hand, seemed to retain his games permanently. A blindfold player, playing a single game, must have in mind at every stage of the game the position of every piece on the board, and he must have some way of knowing or of calcu- lating the relation of each piece to every other, facts which are not necessarily involved in mere place memory. His knowl- edge of these positions and relations must be sufficiently clear to enable him to form combinations for attack and defense. In playing eight, ten, twelve, sixteen or twenty games simultan- eously without sight of the boards, the task is, of course, immensely more difficult, since the player has not only to re- member a proportionally greater number of moves (or positions) but has also to remember each move or set of moves in relation to the particular game in which it is made. The blindfold player, playing several games simultaneously, usually employes devices to make his task less difficult. Pills- 1 The physical endurance required for play in such contests is some- thing little realized by the uninitiated. Morphy, at Paris, played for ten consecutive hours without eating or drinking anything. Paulsen, who played as many as ten games blindfold, played twelve consecu- tive hours on one occasion with no refreshments of any kind except a little lemonade. 2 Pillsbury: The Chess Player's Mind. Independent, Vol. LII, p. 1104. THB PSYCHOLOGY OF CHESS. 283 bury grouped his games and used the same opening in all games Of a group. For instance, in playing sixteen games he grouped them as follows: group one contained boards i, 5, 9, 13; group two, boards 2, 6, 10, 14; group three, boards 3, 7, II, 15; and group four, boards 4, 8, 12, 16. It will be noticed that two groups contain odd and two even numbers, and that there is a difference of four between any number of a group and the one next to it — i, 5, 9, etc. The blindfold player usually has first move on all boards and can generally force his opponent into his system. If not, he may regroup the boards according as they do or do not fall into his system of play, or he may simply make a mental note of the boards on which eccentric replies to his opening moves have been made. Obviously, so long as the games in each group proceed without variation from the usual moves and re- plies, there is little chance for confusion, but very soon the game begins to vary. By the time this happens, however, the player has noted some distinctive feature by means of which to recall any game. Pillsbury put it in this way: "By the time twenty moves haye been made there has been some clearing of the board and a definite objective has been developed. When I turn to the new board I say — Ah! number nine. This is the board on which we have exchanged queens ; and the whole play comes back to me."' In other words, the variation itself, because it involves some distinctive feature, is the cue for the recall of all the moves that have preceded it and those which grew out of it. It will help us to understand this if we recall the fact that chess is, as Binet puts it, a contest between ideas, and that each move is but a part of a series all working together toward the same end, or in other words, each move is remembered because it is a necessary part of a plan.** He points out further that those who retain in mind a situa- tion or a series of moves have the faculty of giving to the situation or the series a precise significance. A person ignorant of chess could not, of course, do this and so would be unable to hold such things in memory. Mr. R. I<. Newman also, ex- perimenting upon checker players in the laboratory of the University of Indiana, found that a long series of moves in checkers, made in the presence of his subjects, was remem- bered only after some form of grouping was employed and that the series was learned quickest by those who understood the purpose of the different moves.' The purpose caused the indi- vidual moves to hang together, so to speak. * Pillsbury: op. dt. ^ Binet: op. cit., p. 264, p. 274. 2 Mr. Newman's article has not been published, but the manuscript was placed at the writer's disposal through the kindness of Prof. E. H. I/indley of the University of Indiana. 284 CLEVB1.AND : Binet ^ concludes with M. Goetz that the memory employed in games without sight is above all a memory of reason and calculation, or more concretely, that one does not remember that he has moved his king at such and such a time, but re- members a certain project of offence or defense in accord- ance with which he has moved his king. He qualifies this in part, however, by the statement that sometimes individual moves which make a deep impression on the mind and awaken astonishment are recalled individually. One retains a game of chess as he does a printed line or paragraph ; the meaning and not the individual letters or words are what is retained. Both Taine and Binet have studied the question of the vis- ual representation of the board by the blindfold player. Taine concluded that such a player sees the board and the pieces on it as in an "interior mirror." He quotes an unnamed Ameri- can to the effect that at the beginning of a game he sees clearly before his mental eye, the board and the exact appearance of each piece, and that after the announcement of each move he sees the pieces in the new arrangement, in exactly the same way.** The method of Dr. Tarrasch is thus described by Binet :' At the start he represents the board in its original condition. When he makes the first move he sees the board thus modified and keeps the new impression in his mind's eye, and so on through the game, his mental picture changing with each move. Binet's correspondents, with one exception, answered that they used visual memory in playing without sight. He concludes from their answers that there are two forms of visual memory u.sed in blindfold chess, which he designates as concrete visual memory and abstract visual memory. Players who make use of the former see the forms and the colors of the pieces and squares on the board exactly as they are. Abstract visual memory is described as follows : Most of the players see the board mentally. The mental image is localized before the player, but he apperceives at one time only the part of the board where the interesting features of the battle are taking place. The board does not ordinarily have a particular form. It is an abstract board composed of sixty-four squares. Very often the edges of the board are not seen. For some players certain diagonals, having particular importance for the game, are seen more clearly than others. Often the colors of the squares are not clearly seen, but become grayish, one color being a little brighter than the other. The form seems to be the element which is the most difScult to efface from the mental image. 1 Binet : op. cit., pp. 270 it. ^ Taine : On Intelligence. New York, 1899. pp, 38, 39. ' Binet: op. cit., pp. 276 ff. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 285 What Binet calls the geometrical notion often takes the place of color. Binet' s correspondents are unanimous in the opinion that they represent to themselves the positions of the pieces and their spatial relations and that no combination would be possible without such representation. Charcot gives the name "geometrical visual memory" to that kind of visual memory which simply conserves the positions and the movements of the pieces.* In agreement with Binet we may say that this kind of mem- ory is the work of abstraction and results from the direction which the player gives to his attention. Form and color are neglected because they are of little importance. This abstrac- tion, as Binet points out, is comparable to that in daily life where we gradually eliminate details and give attention only to essentials. It seems evident from Binet's study, and from the statements of many chess players, that visual imagery in varying degrees of clearness from the most perfect representation to the most shadowy, is a very important factor in playing chess without sight, and that most players make use of it ; but there is, on the other hand, data to warrant us in saying that it is not an absolutely indispensable factor. In other words, it is possible that a blindfold game could be carried on by a person entirely devoid of visual imagery. M. Goetz, in his paper published in Binet's book, says that visualization is almost entirely absent in his blindfold play and that his performance depends only on "reason and calculation." " For example, he knows from ex- perience that a pawn on the king's fourth attacks one on his opponent's queen's fourth, and that a knight or a bishop on a certain square controls certain other squares ; and this knowl- edge may be retained in verbal terms. Pillsbury, the greatest of all blindfold players, also asserted that he had little or no visual imagery and that he remembers each board and the posi- tions on it not as a picture, but as a record. Even in my own limited experience in blindfold play, I have found that visualization is an incidental and by no means es- sential factor. In my own case, in the beginning, visual images were entirely lacking, a little later they were present at times as the result of a conscious effort to call them up, and now when they are present they are so only in the most indefinite form. For instance, I have no mental picture of the board aside from its general outline, and the forms and colors of the pieces are never present, except when I have paid particular attention to them for experimental purposes. In the begin- ning, localization of the play was very indefinite and a replay- 1 Binet : op. cii., p. 311. * Binet : op. cit., pp. 340-351. JOURNAI, — 2 286 CLEVKI,AND : ing of the games with the board furnished many surprises both in this regard and in regard to the relative positions and dis- tances of the pieces. At the present time the movements of the pieces and the localization of the play are fairly definite. I seem to feel the movements of the pieces, especially my own, as if I were actually moving them. Particular positions in- volving two or three pieces are sometimes seen in so far as the relative positions of the pieces are concerned. Normally I am a fair visualizer, but in blindfold chess my thinking seems to be largely of other sorts, and especially in verbal terms. When not engaged in actual play I frequently call up a situation with a fair degree of clearness, but when playing, verbal imagery is the most prominent in consciousness. For example, my op- ponent announces knight to the king's fifth. Ordinarily I do not picture the resulting position, but calculate the radius of action of the piece thus : knight on king's fifth attacks queen's seventh, bishop's seventh, etc. If it is advanced to queen's seventh it checks king at knight's first, etc., etc. It would seem that there is a closer, association between the series of verbal images than between the visual images or the series composed of both verbal and visual images. My experiment- ing has not gone far enough, however, to furnish very much that is definite in regard to this aspect of the question. With- out visual imagery the blindfold player would have to rely on word, letter and number symbols, and would have, it would seem, a much more difficult task than the player with highly developed power of visualization. In actual play, verbal memory plays an important part even for strong visualizers, for it is often by this means that they recall the actual moves that have been made when they are in doubt as to the position of any piece. My companion in the attempts at blindfold play made considerable use of visual imagery of Binet's abstract type, but used other sorts to a certain extent. I am inclined to believe that with increasing experience both of us would have made more use of verbal and other symbols.* In order to determine whether it would be possible to play chess with no visual imagery whatever, the following experi- ment was tried. Games were played without the use of either board or chessmen. The records were kept in the German notation, but in such a way that each player could tell the number and the location of the pieces on either side. The moves and replies were thought out as far as possible with the aid of this record and in terms of the symbols used. For in- stance. Pas attacks any pawn or piece on b 6 ; Kt c 3 attacks ^ It may be conjectured that the necessary concentration of attention on the relations of the pieces rather than on the pieces themselves is partly responsible for the incomplete development of visual imagery. THE PSYCHOLOGY OP CHBSS. 287 b I, a 2, a 4, b 5, d 5, e 4, e 2, d I, etc. It was thus possible to calculate the relative positions of the different pieces and to attack and to defend any given position. The experiment was not long continued and visual imagery was never wholly ab- sent, especially where attempts were made to form combina- tions. Nevertheless, I am convinced that it would be possible for a person to learn to play chess by means of verbal and number symbols alone. The task would be a very long and difficult one, but by no means impossible. The Relation of Chess Skill to General Mental Ability. If chess is perhaps a tolerable index of temperament and charac- ter, is skill in chess also a reliable index of mental power in general? The reply must be qualified. Many able men are good chess players, but on the other hand there are those who live for chess, who think, talk, and dream chess, who confirm Edgar Allen Poe's observation that the best chess player may be only the best player at chess ; but this number is small com- pared to the vast majority who indulge in it only as a pastime. Even among chess masters are to be found many who have displayed considerable ability in other lines. Dr. Emanuel Lasker, the present world's champion at chess, has taken his doctorate in mathematics. Tschigorin is a Russian govern- ment employee, Maroczy is a professor of physics and mathe- matics at a Budapest college, Tarrasch is a German physician, Anderson, at one time champion of the world, was a professor of mathematics, and Staunton, another world's champion and one of the best known of the older chess writers, is well known also as a writer and as an editor of the classics. Rousseau, Voltaire, Napoleon, and John Stuart Mill are said to have been strong players, and the historian Buckle an excellent one. The list might be increased almost indefinitely, but enough has been said to indicate that skillful chess players represent all walks of life, and that skill at chess is not incompatible with success in other lines. The chess player is usually something more than a mere player of chess. At the same time the cases of idiots savants in various forms of mental activity, and among others in chess playing, prevent the inference that skill in chess is a universally valid index of high mental endowment.* 5. Special Psychology op Chess. Forms of Mental Activity Required. We have now followed sufficiently, perhaps, the general aspects of the game, and can turn with advantage to its more intimate psychology. The aim of each player is, as we have said, to checkmate his oppo- 1 See in the appendix to this study an account of a fair chess player of otherwise feeble intelligence. 288 CI<SVEIvAND : nent, that is, to bring his own pieces into such a position that the opposing king could inevitably be taken at the next move. Each player must therefore carry out a scheme of attack, over- coming obstacles and preventing the blocking.of his own plans, and at the same time guard himself from counter attack. The game in its most important portion presents in essence a succes- sion of situations each of which calls for special examination, with reference both to its present and its future import, and the selection or invention of an appropriate line of action. The player asks himself continually, in effect, at least, what is this present situation and what ought I to do to meet it? The game throughout may be regarded as a series of reasoned in- ferences, expressed by moves upon the board. The present section will be devoted to an exposition of the logical and psy- chological relations in question. The Stages of the Game and Their Logical Types, The game of chess proper is divided into three fairly well defined parts called the opening, middle, and end games. There are openings without number but all have been the subject of analysis for so long that one can obtain from the numerous books on the sub- ject information limited only by his capacity to retain it. The competent player knows at least the chief openings and enough of their theory to meet any unexpected variation from the usual moves and replies. The end game, in which the forces on either side are greatly reduced, has also received careful study at the hands of expert analysts, so that one may. learn from the books to recognize certain situations and to know their possibilities. Geometrical figures have often been employed to show the possibilities of situations. In the middle game, however, the player may no longer rely on definite directions, but is entirely dependent on his knowledge of general principles and his past experience. The former will be of service especially to the young player, but, owing to the infinite number of possibilities which may develop out of the different situations, experience in actual play is in- dispensable. Here the player must exercise all his ingenuity, must give rein to his creative imagination, and must follow out as far as he is able the effects of the different moves which suggest themselves. The chess player's skill is measured in terms of his ability to do all this successfully. Opening and End Games. In the opening game and in the end game the logical type of reasoning is usually that of the categorical syllogism. In case of a typical opening it may be formulated as follows: In all cases of the Evan's Gambit, pawn to the queen's knight's fourth is the fourth move. THS PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 289 This move is to be the fourth in an Evan's Gambit. Therefore, this move should be pawn to the queen's knight's fourth. Similarly in the end game the situation which develops re- calls the procedure to be followed. If White, for example, has a king and a rook against Black's king, he must drive the latter to the edge of the board, hold him there with his king and mate with his rook. White's procedure may again be reduced to the type of the categorical syllogism. All cases of king and rook against king are to be met by driving the latter to the edge of the board, etc. This is a case of king and rook against king. Therefore, this is a case to be met by driving the king to the edge of the board, etc. All habitual actions may be reduced to this type and Pro- fessor Charles Pierce has remarked the same about all reflex actions. The Middle Game. In the middle game, where general rules are only partially applicable, the logical procedure is mixed and will differ somewhat according to the grade of the player. In what follows immediately we shall assume the player's condition to be that of a not very skillful amateur; of the professional's condition we shall speak later. So far as general rules apply to the middle game, the play will be of the deductive type which we have just illustrated, but in the vast majority of cases it will be more complicated. The situation is not of the known sort that invites application of general rules, but of an unknown sort in which the essential features (or true meaning) must be disentangled from a mass of obscuring details, and when disentangled must be met by a move or a line of play es- pecially selected, or invented, for the purpose. The logical type is not now simply deductive, but really a series of logical steps resembling the sort of scientific procedure which Jevons, for example, calls the "Combined or Complex Method."^ An hypothesis is first formed, deductive inferences drawn from it, and these tested by experiment. The player finds before him a situation created by the last move of his opponent. His study of the situation gives it a certain character in his mind equivalent to the formation of an hypothesis with regard to it. He then reasons: This is a situation of such and such a sort and therefore to be met by such a move in reply. The move in reply is then tried in imagination. If it seems successful it is accepted and actually made; if it is seen to be unsatisfactory, it is rejected and a better one sought for the same purpose, or 1 Jevons : Lessons in Logic. New Ed. London and New York, 1905. p. 258. 290 CtEVBLAND : what is more likely, the hypothesis itself (the conceived charac- ter of the situation) has been changed by the evident unfitness of the move imagined. Skill is shown in the opening and end games by the readi- ness with which the player recognizes the common situation and draws from memory the appropriate response. Skill in the middle game is shown by the readiness with which he recog- nizes the essential features of a new situation, and, in his inner experimentation, hits upon a move that fits the case, i. e., proves by its appropriateness that his diagnosis of the situation was correct. This is the condition of the commonplace player. The case of a perfect player, one with chess omniscience, whose analysis was perfect, who could see the game to the end at any stage of it, would be quite different. Having a perfect plan of pro- cedure for every case, he would play throughout very much as the amateur plays the opening and the end games. Excellence in play ranges upward from the condition of the amateur toward that of the perfect player. To the chess master many of the situations that arise in the middle game are already familiar and the best means of meeting them known. Others will be unknown; and then the crucial point of his opponent's attack must be discovered and an appropriate response devised. His play is for the moment of essentially the same type as that of the amateur, except that he is both by nature and experience much more prompt in discovering the essential feature of the attack and much more resourceful in finding means of repel- ling it. Set us, however, return to the logical type employed by the commonplace player. The type followed in the opening and end games would correspond closely to the typical logical pro- cedure as described by James.' The type followed in the middle game differs from the formal sketch of James which has in view reasoning of the deductive type. Here the essential characteristic of the situation, even when discovered, does not suggest any well known group of similar cases to which it may be referred and for which a defi- nite mode of procedure has already been worked out. The es- sential characteristic can at the most suggest only a very gen- eral kind of procedure; it gives no inkling of just what should be done. The player knows that he must sacrifice the threat- ened piece, or withdraw it, or intercept the attack, or make a counter attack, but which of these is best must be thought out for each situation. His usual method is to try in imagination one move after another until he finds one that seems superior ^ James : Principles of Psychology, N. Y., 1899, Vol. II, pp. 330 ff. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 29 1 to all the rest. And often it is only during this experimental process that the full signification of the situation dawns upon him. Such reasoning is concrete and practical, not put into words, or only partially so, and allied to the reasoning of animals and children.^ But, as Morgan well shows, the logical reasoning of man is largely dependent on the need of communication and the use of language; '^ a chess game played is reasoned in particulars ; the same game explained and defended to a companion would be cast in verbal and syllogistic form. Psychological Restatement of the Logical Types. This last re- mark touches upon an essential point to which we must give yet a little further attention, namely, the difierence between the logical types of reasoning and the actual psychological pro- cesses which they symbolize. All processes of reasoning are, as psychological facts, sequences of mental states due to shift- ing of the focal point of attention and to processes of association dependent thereon. In the deductive portions of the game — the opening or end game, where the play is guided wholly by rule — the process is one of serial association running oflF under the general influence of the conception of the opening (or end game) which remains in the background of consciousness. Each move suggests the next in fixed sequence, as one might say the alphabet, having in the background of his conscious- ness the desire to say it. For the middle game let us take a concrete example. Let us say that it is Black's turn to move. He glances at the board and notices the queen and knight of his opponent in position to develop a double check upon his king. Association, under the guidance of his general knowledge of the purpose of the game, freely suggests the consequences, if he cannot in some way interfere. Attention then shifts to the response to be made and association again coming in suggests the readiest means of defense. In other words, the situation, regarded from the point of view of defense and held in the focus of at- tention, recalls by association a number of possible moves. These associations, following, of course, the readiest lines of habit, are not by any means at random, but operate strictly within the limits imposed by Black's knowledge of the general rules of play and his present intention. Each of the moves suggested is itself brought to the focus of attention, is tried in imagination, probably by incipient movements of eye or hand, ^ It is what Romanes calls reasoning in particulars. Romanes : Mental Bvolution in Animals. N. Y., 1900. p. 337. 2 Morgan : Introduction to Comparative Psychology. Iiondon and N. Y., 1902. pp. 293 ff. 292 CLEVELAND : and accepted or rejected as the case may be. If accepted, it is put into execution in the same manner as other voluntary movements. The mental action of the player in such a situation is analo- gous to that of the inventor. A half finished machine stands before him ; his problem is clear ; he must cause such and such movement in such and such parts in order to bring about a de- sired result. He runs over in his mind the varieties of pulleys, cranks, gearings, cams and the like with which he is familiar, and finally selects one or the other as the most likely to ac- complish what he wishes. A high grade of skill as an inventor or as a player of chess involves the utmost readiness in seeing just what needs to be done and in discovering the means of doing it. Experience helps immensely in both of these direc- tions ; and it brings many cases under fixed rules so that they are dealt with by simple associations and correspondingly re- duces the number of cases that must be treated as singular and without rule, and greatly enriches the fund of expedients that may be tried in such singular cases. When the case is so un- familiar that experience suggests nothing, the reasoner is re- duced to simple blind fumbling, on a level with that of the brutes, and rational procedure reduces to the "method of trial and error. ' ' The situation arouses an impulse to do something; there is a blundering attack; efforts that lead to unpleasant consequences are rejected; those with pleasant consequences are repeated. Man's more complex mechanism of apperception, his wider range of associations, and his power of imaginative action all combine to reduce the cases where blind fumbling is necessary, but when these powers are of no avail there is but one method, and that is the method of lucky hits. II. The Psychology of the Learning of the Game. I. General Description of the Learning Processes in Chess. ^ In the preceding sections have been set forth what I con- ceive to be the general outlines of the mental activities involved in chess playing. It is popularly believed that chess is a very hard game to learn, that it is difficult for every one and im- possible for many. To a certain extent this is true. Chess is a difficult game, but it is so because it requires a peculiar mental equipment, rather than because it calls for one of an especially high order. First and foremost is required a liking for chess. The man who finds it uninteresting may as well give it up at once. Next it requires powers of sustained attention and an 1 My sources of information here are my own introspective notes while learning to play, and those of four assistants, together with the replies of my correspondents. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 293 excellent memory;' and based on these, considerable powers of analysis, and visual imagination, or its equivalent in some other sense department. Increase in skill means increase in the knowledge of chess situations and how to meet them ; or, in more psychological terms, increasing "meaning" in certain arrangements of the pieces," and increased facility of association between these meaningful arrangements and certain other arrangements (moves to be made) imaginatively constructed ; or, in still other terms, more adequate apperception of the situations and richer and better organized associations connected therewith. These organized apperceptions and associations insure truer and prompter apprehension of the difficulty to be met and better and prompter selection of the means to meet it. Skill is largely, though not wholly, in proportion to knowledge, and knowledge in proportion to experience.' The player's progress may be divided roughly and for pur- poses of description into five stages. ( i ) The first step is to learn the names and movements of the pieces. The former is easily done, but the latter requires a trifle of practice before the pieces can be readily used in play. This is especially true in the case of the knight.* For successful play the moves must, in the end, become automatic, and this automatism is not reached, as the game is usually learned, in the first stage itself It depends for its perfecting on the practice obtained in succeeding ones. This probably is the natural method in all learning, the greater interest of the advanced stages floating the learner over the drudgery necessary for complete perfection of the automatisms of the earlier. When the moves have be- come automatic the men are no longer pieces of wood, jade or 1 These last may not seem absolutely essential in view of the case to be described in the appendix, bnt even from that case I shall hope to show that this statement is justified. 2 Stout : Manual of Psychology. N. Y., 1899. pp. 84 ff. ' I say "not wholly in proportion to knowledge," because skill rep- resents only that part of knowledge that can be readily and effectively applied. Our general problem in this section is, therefore, to describe, as far as we are able, the way in which experience becomes transmuted into skill. Our immediate concern is with chess skill, but if we are successful in our study of that, we shall be justified in certain infer- ences with regard to many other sorts of learning which, like it, are matters of mental as opposed to purely physical training. * Knowledge of checkers is at first a source of many interferences. The player is tempted to move his pawns diagonally, has a tendency to keep his pieces bunched so that his opponent cannot "jump" them, is on the lookout for vacant squares on which to plant his pieces, and has a tendency to clear the board as soon as possible. He also finds it difficult to remember that the pieces can retreat after having been once advanced. 294 CtEVBlAND : ivory, — static things — but forces capable of being exerted in definite directions. (2) The second stage may be characterized as the stage of individual moves of ofEence and defense during which the be- ginner plays with no definite aim other than to capture his opponent's pieces. Even this he blunders about, often over- looking for several moves a chance to capture a man that has been left en prise. My notes contain many entries showing two bishops, both unprotected, left facing each other for several moves, or a queen moved within range of a bishop or a knight. The player is able to attack one of his opponent's pieces and is able ordinarily to defend himself against direct attacks. Whichever he attempts to do he must give his whole attention to it, and even with this extreme of concentration he is able to see only the immediate consequences of the move. In general, however, his lack of conception of the aim of the game, causes him to play at random. His play lacks unity and the pieces are moved hither and thither, unsupported and unsupporting ; he has no conception of the game as a well planned sequence. Nevertheless he has hovering in the background of conscious- ness some idea of the ultimate object of the play, the hemming in of the adverse king, and is influenced somewhat by it. (3) The beginner is soon able to tell at a glance what any single piece can do, but no one piece, not even the queen, is very strong unless supported by others. Hence the task in the third stage of the beginner's progress becomes that of learning the strength, not of individual pieces, but of pieces in relation to each other. He has to learn the value of groups and the value of individual pieces as parts of particular groups. There are times when a bishop or a knight or even a pawn may be so situated that its direct infliuence is greater than that of a rook or a queen. Many of the most fascinating of the recorded games are those in which one player has actually given away one or more of his pieces, often his queen, in order to gain the advantage of the relative positions resulting from the move- ment of the pieces involved. About the time the beginner has passed beyond the first two stages of his learning and during the third, the idea of check- ing becomes the dominating one with him and his efforts tend to centre upon that exclusively. This, of course, leads to pre- mature attacks which usually result disastrously to the ag- gressor. He is also prone to fix his attention on his own plans and most likely on the particular part he is about to execute at the moment, to the neglect of all others. He suffers from in- ability to take in a number of details at the same time. They have no meaning except as details, and if he concentrates on one, others must, by that very fact, be neglected. He has THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHBSS. 295 ittle idea of the importance of developing his pieces, /. e., making them available for future offence and defense, and of the value of position. The attack of his opponent compels some defensive play, however, and no defense can, of course, be made without the co-operation of at least two pieces, so that he soon learns something of the use of pieces in combina- tion. He learns, for example, that often a piece may defend another and at the same time attack one of his opponent's pieces, that in some cases where two pieces are attacked simul- taneously one may be withdrawn and so placed as to protect the other, and that a counter attack is often the best defense. He has made considerable progress in this stage when he is able to give attention to the plans of his opponent beyond those that are immediately connected with his own, though in this particular, temperament plays a large r&le. That this is the usual experience, however, is testified by the fact that after a player is able to form a definite plan of his own involving some use of combination, he is often surprised by checkmate when he is within a single move of checkmating his opponent. He is unable to carry out his own plans and at the same time to give attention to anything else ; he is particularly weak in defense. In general we may say that the beginner at this stage is not able to play in proportion to his knowledge. He recognizes his errors when they are pointed out to him, but he is unable to avoid them. My records show many familiar blunders oc- curring over and over again. The beginner's material of knowledge is not organized and therefore not available in any situation except the most simple. (4) The player has entered upon the fourth stage when he begins consciously to plan the systematic development of his pieces. This necessarily involves some knowledge of the value of position, which knowledge we may call judgment of position. These judgments are generalizations and are the result of the player's own experience, or have come to him in the form of general principles from the experience of others. However they may come to the player their possession is absolutely es- sential to further progress. Now the player no longer has to puzzle himself by attempting to consider all the possibilities of the situation, a thing he is utterly unable to do, but he applies his principle. His principles, especially those he has formu- lated for himself, are usually only partially true and have to undergo constant modification as his knowledge and experience increase. He knows now a number of definite situations and his plans radiate from these and are more far reaching. He is also in a position to give more attention to the moves and, in- deed, to the general plans of his opponent. This is a consid- 296 CLEVBLAND : erable advance, for it means that the player's mental horizon has been extended very much and that he is able to disregard the non-essentials to a greater extent than before. Given posi- tions assume more and more importance and one of the great marks of improvement is the development of "position sense."* (5) As we have already pointed out, "position sense" is a result of experience, and as such is the product, we may almost say the culmination, of one's whole chess development. Never- theless, a fairly good knowledge of the value of different posi- tions marks such an advance over the player who is in what we have called the fourth stage that it may be taken as the fifth in the player's course of development. The stages mentioned above are somewhat arbitrary, and may not be followed exactly in individual cases, but they will at least give some indication of the course of the player's de- velopment, which may be summarized in brief as follows : First the names and moves of the pieces are learned. Then comes the period of blunders, of indefinite play, of premature attacks, and of concentration on single moves, particular situa- tions or, at best, on a plan imperfectly worked out. Later, one is able to see farther ahead, to foresee results more accurately, and to give some attention to the plans of his opponent. At the same time some typical forms of attack and defense and some general principles, or supposed principles are being learned, together with some knowledge of position. Along with all of this, though appearing consciously much later, goes an ever increasing power of analysis and improvement in "position sense." Some of the most common blunders or oversights of these early stages are leaving pieces en prise, i. e. , unprotected and in a position to be captured on the next move of the opponent ; allowing two pieces to be attacked simultaneously by one piece ; removing a guarding piece, resulting in the loss of the guarded one ; allowing a piece to be "pinned," i. e., leaving it in such a situation that either it cannot, under the rules, be moved at all, or only with loss of an important piece. Errors of a more general nature are overlooking the bearing and force of distant and far-reaching pieces, errors in pawn play, not correlating the pawns and pieces, blocking the radius of action of the men, forgetting the purpose which prompted the placing of a piece in a certain position and a consequent loss of time in replacing it, or a disorganization of forces, and finally, faulty combinations and unsound sacrifices. Many blunders arise at all stages of skill from haste, impatience, and impulsiveness, but they are especially numerous with beginners. 1 Vide, p. 277. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHESS. 297 2. Discussion of the Learning Process. We have now given an account of the stages of learning ; it remains to speak more particularly of the psychology of the learning process. Our problem is to explain the development of a beginner, who knows merely the names of the pieces and their powers, into the skillful player who makes use of these simple elements in intricate and purposeful combinations. We have to do with the growth of skill in strictly mental opera- tions within the limited field of chess play.' Obviously, memory is the sine qua non of learning, but although of prime importance it is only one of the factors involved. It must be such a memory as leads to the organiza- tion of the mental materials rather than to their mere retention. One could not be far wrong in saying that mental skill is in direct proportion to the degree of this organization. How or- ganization can best be brought abotjt is still an open question, and indeed its answer would involve the entire psychology of pedagogy. Its ultimate nature we do not know. To a great extent the material organizes itself, i. e., the organization is physiological and a matter of growth. This fact was clearly pointed out by Dr. Burnham, who holds in his study on "Re- troactive Amnesia" ^ that impressions require a certain time in which to fix themselves. The growth process, fixing the im- pression and strengthening the association tracts, is an indis- pensable factor in learning. A multiplicity of impressions might be made to follow so closely on one another that none of them could become fixed. In that case, of course, nothing would be learned. 1 Numerous studies have been made on memory, attention, and other complex mental processes and a considerable number on learn- ing, but these latter have been concerned chiefly with motor training. Bryan and Barter's study on the learning of the telegraphic language among the earlier studies, is the nearest approach to the present one, but it deals more especially with a sort of learning which is of a mixed motor and sensory type, whereas the skill here in question is almost wholly central. In that study learning on the sensory side consisted in the formation of fixed associations between complex sounds and the corresponding words; in our case the learning process involves the formation of complex groups rather than that of fixed associations of symbol and word. Nevertheless much of what Bryan and Barter discovered in reference to this latter sort of learning is strictly applicable to the form with which we are dealing, especially their chief generalization, namely, that advance in skill depends upon the formation of a "hierarchy of habits." Among the more recent studies, that of Swift, on Beginning a Language, in the Garman Com- memorative volume (Studies in Philosophy and Psychology by former students of Charles Edward Garman, Boston, 1906) may be mentioned as dealing like this with a form of mental skill. 2 Burnham: Retroactive Amnesia, Amer. Jour, of Psy.,\o\. XIV, I903> pp. 382-396. 298 CLEVELAND : Id this connection I may mention that the returns of my correspondents also indicate that short periods of rest from chess practice, varying with the individual from a few weeks to several months, may cause a noticeable increase in skill. Re- newed interest and consequent greater effort in beginning again after an interval of no play may account for this in part, and it may be also that in constant playing the details accumulate faster than the mind can assimilate them, so that they confuse rather than aid the player. This seems plausible when we re- member the difficulty the beginner has in applying known principles to a mass of details. Then, too, when the stress of new impressions ceases, an opportunity is given to take an in- ventory of the mental stock. This is not possible to any great extent when new impressions are crowding in, and the atten- tion is fully occupied with them. On the other hand, long periods of inactivity have a very different effect. Players make blunders in the openings, their combinations are not so far reaching, and a greater effort is required. Every part of the game that requires pure memory is affected and it is often necessary to do cousciously what had previously been auto- matic. This, however, has to do merely with the fixation of separate impressions and of ideas with their associates, and our problem is rather to account for the combination of these ele- ments into larger and larger complexes. On the physiological side little is known. The most that can be said is that in- creasing complexity of nervous function parallels increasing complexity of mental function. However that may be, our explanation, for the present at least, must be sought on the psychological side. If we omit the very earliest stages in the chess player's de- velopment, the first significant fact is the beginner's utter ina- bility to use in actual play what little chess knowledge he possesses. His blunders are recognized at once when they are pointed out to him, but in spite of his resolution to avoid them, he finds himself committing the same ones over and over again. It seems that the more he tries to avoid them the more blunders he makes. The intensity of his effort and the deep interest he takes in the game precludes mere carelessness. His difficulties are not due to lack of attention, but to the concentration of the attention on one feature of the game to the neglect of all the others. He sees this single thing and nothing more, because it, of all the mass of impressions, has some meaning for him. Were it possible to determine the span of one's chess attention during the different periods of his progress in learning, it would be possible to give objective evidence of the progressive fusion of the different elements into larger and larger complexes. The course of development would extend from the stage in which THB PSYCHOWGY OF CHBSS. 299 the player is unable to see in their completeness even the im- mediate consequences of a single move to that in which he is able to take in at a glance the disposition of all the pieces on the board. The building up of mental complexes in learning chess and those involved in other sorts of learning are not essen- tially different. There is a close analogy, for example, between the chess player learning the moves and blundering through his first few games, and the child learning to read, or the tele- grapher learning to send and to receive messages.* The letter, the telegraphic dot or dash, or the single move in chess is at first the unit of perception. Later the word, a series of dots and dashes, or the relation of two or more pieces to each other becomes the unit. The child learns later, possibly, to compre- hend at a glance the meaning of a phrase or a sentence; the telegrapher to receive by phrases; the chess player to take in a whole situation at a glance. Not only has the unit of perception become larger and larger but it has become more and more meaningful. Perhaps the anology is closer still between the chess expert and the mathematician who has merely to glance at a formula or at its first two or three terms in order to recognize its full im- port. Every situation in a game of chess which requires read- justment of the player's plans is a problem for him, and the quickness and the accuracy of his solution will depend upon his ability to seize upon the salient and essential features and to neglect those which have no meaning for that particular situation. Obviously the mathematician's skill, when con- fronted by a problem, will display itself in his ability to recog- nize the fundamental nature of the problem. Lindley found that an expert mathematician, among those who attempted to solve his puzzle, recognized at a glance the mathematical prin- ciple involved and solved it without difficulty.' He displayed what corresponds to "position sense" in chess. The chess player has this advantage. In any particular game he has built up or helped to build up his own problem and has a men- tal record of its progress. He has seen the possibilities ot certain lines of play eliminated one by one and is thus able to concentrate on the remaining ones. The expert chess player is not required to analyze each position as he comes to it, and, indeed, this would be impossible to any great extent. His mind grasps the situation as a whole and it has a definite meaning for him. He recognizes the salient features only and deals with them, the details having for the time being dropped out. He is in the position of the general who has to know not that in one part of the field he 1 Bryan and Harter : op.dt. 'Lindley: op.cit., p. 470. 300 CLEVBLAND : has a regiment of one thousand soldiers, divided into ten com- panies of one hundred men each, but that he has a force there sufficient to repel any ordinary attack. He has only to pay attention to the regiments and their condition when au emer- gency arises. The expert no longer deals with particular terms, but with general terms or concepts. These general terms have been built up step by step, their meaning changing with the ever increasing knowledge of the player, and are often repre- sented partially or symbolically by their initial moves or general trend. More concretely, a player learns at first that a certain move is a good one because it has certain definite ad- vantages, and this enables him to plan a little further ahead. I^ater he finds that this move has a great many other conse- quences, and perhaps this in turn modifies a general principle he may have based upon it, and this finally, may involve the modification of several other principles and result in a still more comprehensive principle embracing all of the others. Details can be organized into larger groups in proportion as they gather meaning as a group, but not before. The chess player groups his pieces and they acquire a meaning analogous to the potential meaning of the general term or the symbol in abstract thinking. Progress in chess like progress in abstract thinking of any other kind consists in the formation of an in- creasing symbolism which permits the manipulation of larger and larger complexes. We are in the habit of speaking of the automatic in the motor realm, meaning by it that certain movements or combina- tions of movements are carried on without conscious guidance. Is there such a thing as automatism in the realm of the purely intellectual? It seems to me that this question is to be an- swered in the affirmative. There is something in the purely intellectual life corresponding to motor automatism, which is shown in the ability to think symbolically or abstractly, and thus to handle large masses of detail with a minimum of con- scious effort. It involves the increasing ability to take in during a single pulse of attention a larger and larger group of details which means, of course, that the attention is no longer needed for each one. An apparent difference between motor and mental automa- tisms, lies, however, in the fact that in the intellectual realm increasing automatism seems to involve the dropping out of details, while in the motor realm increasing automatism often means a greater perfection of the details. Careful examination, however, will probably show that in both details are dropped from consciousness and that in both they are perfected in the externalized outcome. The great feature common to both is the releasing of the attention from the details. In the intel- THB PSYCHOI.OGY OF CHESS. 30I lectual sphere, as the processes become more and more com- plex, they are carried on by systems of symbols which tend to become more and more abstract or general. This is true of all abstract thinking, including that involved in expert chess playing. And, as in all other kinds of abstract thinking, it is essential in chess that no matter how symbolic the thinking may become the player must always have a thorough grasp of the details of the game. In other words, he must not only be able to construct his plans by the use of abstract symbols, but he must be able to translate them into the concrete and to carry them out move by move. This latter he does not neces- sarily do in his thinking. From one whole situation he passes directly to another whole situation. For instance in a definite situation, the first move of a long series suggests not the next move but the position after the whole series has been played. In other words, the first term does not necessarily call up the second one or the last, or some intermediate term, but the re- sult of all the moves. This final result may be present to the mind in the form of a visual image (a mental picture) or in verbal terms. For example, the first few moves of the Evans gambit already mentioned, may cause to arise in the mind of one player a visual image of the position as it will appear after a dozen moves have been made on each side, while in the case of another player a verbal judgment of the strength or weak- ness of the final position may take its place. To the latter player this opening calls to mind a verbal judgment of the final position based on past experience. The formulation of principles of play, which become increasingly general, is another expression of the increasing symbolism involved in learning to play chess, but in this case in verbal instead of visual form. The chess player's skill is measured largely in terms of his ability to use larger and larger units of thought. He has learned by means of many repetitions, a series of moves in regular sequence, later, as has already been pointed out, the first move or a given arrangement of the pieces on the board represents for him the position as it will be several moves further on. All the intermediate steps are for the moment ignored, or, in other words, "a short circuit" has been estab- lished and the association is between the first term and the last or the total result instead of each term being revived by the one immediately preceding it. In trying to explain this from the physiological side two alternatives present themselves. It may be that an entirely new brain tract, connecting the first term with the last, has been opened up. On the other hand it is just as conceivable that the nervous impulse may travel along the same path in all cases and that in the case of a "short circuit" only the first JOtJRNAI,— 3 302 CI,BVBLAND : and last terms rise into consciousness. Experiments on the learning of nonsense syllables, showing that repetitions not only strengthen the associative bonds between a syllable and the one immediately following it, but also between more re- mote ones,* seem to lend a certain support to the latter theory. This is, however, all rather speculative since neurology is able to tell us little or nothing about it. On the psychological side the "short circuiting" process seems to mean something like this. In the beginning the last term, the final result, is reached after passage through all the terms of the series. Now, ordi- narily, the series is of value, and therefore of interest, not for itself, but for its result, so that little attention is given to the intermediate links, but much to the getting through. The whole strain of attention is forward. As a result of this the image before the mind may be several steps in advance of the one actually being executed, or, in well practiced series, it may be the last step itself, or even the purpose for which the series is gone through. The result is that there is a tendency to the formation of immediate associations between the earlier and later steps of the series. This suggests that conscious effort plays an important part in the establishment of the "short circuit." Bryan and Harter, in their study of tele- graphic language, concluded that only by putting forth a supreme effort could one rise above the plateau of moderate attainment.^ Still it is by no means certain that the rise in the curve would not take place in time if effort were maintained at a moderate and uniform level. In that case the rise in the curve from the plateau would mean the completion of the growth processes under the guidance of ordinary selective attention. While chess is a type of purely intellectual learning, the fact should not be lost sight of that the emotional accompaniment is an important factor in the chess player's development as in all other sorts of acquisition, and that emotion is ope of the strongest influences in fixing impressions. Ideas which are associated with strong emotions are kept before the mind for a longer period than those which have little or no emotional coloring and thus have much more chance of becoming per- manently fixed. Numerous instances were noted in this study in which situations which had aroused strong emotions were continually before the mind and were so persistent as to banish sleep and to drive out all other thoughts. In this connection mention should be made of the effect of error on one's progress. If one continues to commit errors ^Ebbinghaus: Ueber das Gedachtniss. Leipzig, 1885. 'Bryan and Harter: op. cit., p. 50. THE PSYCHOI,OGY OF CHESS. 303 through ignorance of the fact that they are errors, he may re- tard his development by falling into fixed habits of unsound play; but if they are noted as errors, and especially if they arouse a strong emotion, they are eliminated. The importance of this becomes evident when we recall that a great part of the player's progress consists in the elimination of unprofitable moves. It is easy to see, also, that emotions, so far as they are expressive of temperament and affect one's habits of play, may exercise an important influence for good or bad upon one's ability to win, as already pointed out in any earlier section. 3. Aids to Learning. By study and practice the difficulties of the beginner are gradually overcome and his faults corrected, though the latter are apt for a long time to recur at unguarded moments, and some, especially the faults of temperament (errors and oversights due to impulsiveness, rashness and quick temper, for example), may never be wholly suppressed. It is probable, indeed, that most of the faults of the earlier stages are temporarily overcome many times before they can safely be given over to the realm of the automatic, i. e., they crop out from time to time when the attention is turned toward larger complexes of elements. Of all the aids to learning, so soon as one has mastered the bare rudiments of play, there is probably nothing like actual play over the board, provided that one is willing to play slowly, study out the causes of his misfortune and profit by them. The emotional stress attending both success and failure at such a time is a great aid to memory, as has already been suggested. The concrete criticism of a superior player is of the greatest assist- ance, but too many things must not be given at once, and what is given must be applied immediately in actual play in order to insure its retention. In order to get some idea of the sources from which chess players gain their knowledge of the game and the value which they attach to them, questions were asked of my correspondents in regard to the benefit derived from problem solution, the study of standard games, end games and openings, and board play under different conditions. Most, of course, had derived most of their knowledge from actual play over the board. The interest in problem solving is by no means universal. Many state that they have never attempted to solve problems; others, that they are not interested in them because they are artificial and me- chanical and do not help one's general play. The replies indicate, however, that problem solving is widespread among players. As to its helpfulness in general play, the variety of opinion is great, varying from the statement that it is a positive detriment to extravagant claims for its utility for mental development in general. With a number of players, the problem interest, if developed at all, was developed late, i. e., long after they had learned to play. It is interesting to note that few of these players think that problem solving has helped their play. Others took up problems with the beginning of play and say that they were greatly helped by their efforts to solve them. This suggests what is probably the fact that solving problems helps one in the early stages of his play, and this is in accord with my own experi- ence. The reason for this is not hard to find. The history of problem chess shows that in the beginning the problems were merely positions 304 CLBVELAND : taken from actual games and consequently involved all the elements of actual play. Much could then be derived from their solution which would be of general service. Since that time, however, problem com- position has changed very much, and the problems now are made to conform to certain fixed rules, which have, from the standpoint of many players, made them mechanical and artificial. They have lost most of their resemblance to positions met with in actual play. No doubt they are not of much benefit to players who have had consid- erable experience and who are familiar with the principles involved in their solution. With the beginner, on the other hand, the case is different. He may learn something of the manner of giving check, something of the powers of pieces in different combinations, and of the value of position. They may help his powers of analysis in so far as they involve general principles which are applicable to actual play, and they may aid in improving his judgment of position. At the best, however, they are far inferior to the study of end games and to actual practice over the board. This latter statement seems borne out in part by the fact that few, if any, great problem solvers or composers are also great players. Practically all agree that a knowledge of the openings is indispen- sable. The advantage is evident. It enables one to place his pieces in good positions relative to each other, to develop along sound lines, to avoid disaster in the early stages of the game, to take advantage of weak moves made by one's opponent, and what is also of great impor- tance, it enables him to play with a minimum of effort during the early stages of a game. It should be added that knowledge of the openings and variations helps one to force the play along lines with which he is most familiar. The easiest and quickest way to get this knowledge is from the books, but many good players possess it who have given little or no time to book study. They have gained it from actual experience, and base their opening plays on principles derived from this source. A few think that replaying standard games does not help one's play, and a still smaller number think it is a positive detriment, assigning as a reason that it destroys one's originality, and causes him to over- look advantages which slight variations from the known lines might give. There may be a real danger here, but it is more than offset by the advantages gained. Among the advantages are mentioned the op- portunity to examine positions at leisure, to study comprehensive plans of attack and defense involving particular combinations, to ap- preciate the value of time and position, and finally to become familiar with a number of oft-recurring situations. These situations, while seldom identical, are often similar. Standard games also teach prin- ciples and aid in the development of position judgment. It should be stated, however, that the value of such games varies with the indi- vidual, and up to a certain stage is in direct proportion to his chess knowledge. The mere beginner learns little from them ; the chess master also learns little from them. The one is unable to comprehend them ; the other finds little in them that is unknown to him. The games take on meaning in direct proportion to the amount of knowl- edge that one brings to them ; and their value to any individual de- pends on the number of new ideas he is able to carry away from them. Playing with a weaker player is not considered a good thing by most of my correspondents. They say it makes them careless, prone to recklessness, and leads them into all sorts of extravagancies of play. Several recommend never playing with a weaker player without giving sufficient odds to make the game even. A few recommend playing with a weaker player for the reason that, by lessening the amount of THE PSYCHOIvOGY OP CHESS. 305 attention ordinarily given to the opponent's plans, the stronger player is able to give freer play to his imagination than he would dare to do if playing with one of equal strength. Most say that playing with many different players has made their style more flexible. A few, however, maintain that style of play is individual and that nothing can change it. This contention, as was pointed out above, is undoubtedly true in so far as fundamental traits of character enter into the game. Those who answered that playing with a number of different players has made their style more flexible, appear to mean that to a certain extent it has enabled them to over- come some faults due to temperament and that they have learned a greater variety of methods of play. III. General Summary of the Psychological Points. Chess as a strongly competitive form of human play appeals to the fundamental fighting impulse, but it appeals also to the aesthetic and puzzle-solving interests ; and it affords the pleas- ure of "being a cause." Visual imagination is an important element in chess playing, especially in blindfold chess, but it is not indispensable. Motor, verbal, or auditory imagery may, and often does, occupy the -chief place in the player's consciousness. The mental qualities most utilized in chess playing are : a strong chess memory, power of accurate analysis, quickness of perception, strong constructive imagination and a power of far reaching combination. These are chess qualities, however, and skill at chess is not a universally valid index of high mental endowment. The logical type differs in the different stages of a game and with the knowledge and skill of the player, approaching always nearer, as his knowledge and skill increases, to that of the syllogism. The reasoning process is, in psychological terms, a sequence of mental states due to shiftings of the focal point of attention, the associations working strictly within the limits imposed by the task or purpose. In his learning the chess player passes through well defined stages and these mark the necessary steps in his progress. The most important psychological feature in the learning of chess (and it seems equally true of all learning), is the progressive organization 0/ knowledge, making possible the direction of the player's attention to the relations of larger and more complex units. The organization involves generalization, increasing sym- bolism, and the multiplication of associations; it insures prompter recall and increased potential meaning in the general concepts; it releases attention from details and favors consequent mental automatisms and ' 'short circuit' ' processes. Thus alone is progress possible. Mental automatisms are usually perfected, one may conjecture, after advance to the next higher stages of learning. 3o6 ci,EVEi,AND : Appendix: On ths Casb op a Feebi,b-minded Chess Pi,ayer. During the course of this study several cases of chess playing among the feeble-minded have been reported to the writer, but it has been impossible to secure definite data except in one case. It is said that in some instances a very high degree of chess skill was possessed by men of very low mentality. An inmate of the Wisconsin Institution for the Feeble-minded, is reported to have been able to cope success- fully with very strong players. Very likely the strength of these players has been very much overestimated, but the evidence is suffi- cient to warrant us in saying that in chess as in other kinds of mental activity a peculiar power is not incompatible with a very low average of general mental ability. The writer has been able to study at first hand one case of chess playing by a man of low grade intelligence who is an inmate of the department for the feeble-minded and criminally insane at the Massa- chusetts State Farm. In the asylum records he is classed as a congeni- tal idiot who has suffered degeneration since coming to the institution in 1891. Previous to that time he had been an inmate of other institu- tions for the insane. He has had and still has, though less frequently than formerly, outbursts of rage, at which times he beats his head against the wall. He says he does this because he loves his mother. He is a sexual pervert and some of his outbursts followed his separa- tion from other inmates of the institution whom he designates as "friends." He is fifty-four years of age but looks much younger, is' filthy in his personal habits, and presents a very peculiar appearance. He stoops considerably and walks with the shuffling gait characteristic of the feeble-minded. In one of the older asylum records some one has noted the fact that he resembles an anthropoid ape in appear- ance. His forehead is very low and receding, his maxillaries are very protruding and the posterior portions of his head are so prominent that his head resembles that of the African negro. The term idiot is used to cover such a wide range of mental deficiency that it conveys no very definite meaning, so that it will be necessary to give a brief account of his attempts at mental work in order to con- vey some idea of his general intelligence. His memory for some things is fairly good, though it is not of special excellence. He re- members faces quite well and for a considerable time. He also has a fairly good memory for places, remembering, for instance, the town in which he was brought up, the different institutions he has been in, and the town in which some of his relatives live, and remembers all these by name. He has no idea of time, but holds a few dates in mind. For example, he said he came to the asylum in 1891, which was correct. He knows the names of most of the months of the year, but has no idea of their order. In January he was asked what month it was and replied that he did n't know. He was then asked if it were June and replied that it was the month before June. When asked what month that was, replied: "That is the month of October." He has had practically no schooling and can neither read nor write. When asked why he didn't go to school when he was a boy he replied that he was too thick-headed to learn. He repeated this on several occasions. The following questions were asked him: If you had two apples and I gave you two more how many would you have then? How many are five'times five? If you worked for me five days and I gave you a dollar for every day you worked, how many dollars would you have, To all these and to other questions he gave the same answer: " Don'? know." Questions in regard to his name, the names of otherst his age, and other simple questions he answers intelligently or THB PSYCHOLOGY OP CHBSS. 307 ■with his indifferent "Don't know." In this regard he may be compared to a young child. There is this difference, however: he does not show the curiosity of a child, and displays very little men- tal iniative. He is like a child, however, in another respect: he is very fond of toys, picture books, and especially of neckties. He asks for them repeatedly, but only apparently when he notices them. He enjoyed playing with my watch and with my ring and asked for the latter several times. When told he could not have a thing or promised it later he always replied "Thank you." He is unable to tell time by the clock or watch, but almost always knows the hour of the day, which he is no doubt able to determine from the regularity of the institution life. In reply to a question he said that he is twenty-one years old and that he had been that age for a long time. In regard to his chess playing I should say at the outset that he is not a strong player, and that an average player of a year's experience could probably play as well or better. It should be remembered, however, that he has never studied the game at all, has never played regularly, and has not played with many different players. There was no way of determining how long he had known the game, except from his own statements and these are, of course, not very certain. He said he learned about three years ago, that no one had taught him the moves, but that he learned them by watching others play. He has played checkers for many years, but there is no trace in his game at present of interference of association from this source. As is to be expected from the circumstances under which he learned, and played, his play shows very little variety, although there was some improve- ment in this regard as well as in general chess ability during the time I had him under observation. He has considerable familiarity with certain situations and can be relied on to liieet them in certain ways. He usually meets a threat, for example, at once and by dis- lodging the threatening piece if possible. An analysis of his games shows a number of oft recurring moves such as Kt-Rs, Q-B3, P-Q3, and advancing a pawn one square to serve as a guard for a piece or a pawn to be advanced at the next move. Attacking a piece with a pawn, and "forking" two pieces are favorite methods of attack with him. He makes his moves very rapidly and apparently with little or no time for consideration, but usually waits very patiently for his opponent to reply. If the effect of a move of his opponent is not very remote, he notes it almost immediately. For instance, on one occas- ion when a bishop attacked both of his rooks he announced at once that one of them was lost, and on another occasion when his queen was attacked by a knight, he announced at once that she was lost, a fact which his opponent had not yet appreciated. It may be, of course, that he had anticipated the dangerous move. He had a great deal of difficulty with a set of chessmen of a pattern dif- ferent from those he had been using. In the new set the king was larger than the queen, while in the old set the reverse was the case. He was utterly unable to use them until, at his request, a piece of colored cloth, which had been tied around the old queen, was fastened to the new one. After that he had little difficulty with the new set. At times he seemed to see a situation very quickly, but to be unable to retain it in mind when he attempted to meet it. For instance, when trying to get out of check, he moved his king back into check several times, that is, he would find a move impossible, recall it and then a little later attempt it again. On the whole it is not too much to say that his game compares quite favorably with those of players whose advantages in the way of in- 3o8 CLBVBLAND. struction, study, and practice have been much greater than his, and there is no reason to doubt that with more practice and instruction he would be able to improve his game considerably. Our conclusions from the study of this case must be, it seems to me, that chess skill is not an index of general intelligence, that the rea- soning involved in chess playing is reasoning within very narrow limits, and that a considerable degree of chess skill is possible to one who is mentally deficient in almost every other line. The following records of games played by this player will indicate to those who are familiar with the game something of his chess ability. The games are chosen as fairly representative of his play during the time he was studied, which extended a little over two months, with an interruption of three weeks between the last observation and the one just preceding it. Game No. z. white (feeble- minded player) 1P-Q4 2P-K3 3 Q-KB3 4 P-QB3 5 Kt-KR3 6 Q-Kt3 7 P-KB3 8 QPxP 9 P-KB4 10 QKt-R3 11Q-B3 12 KtPxB 13 K-K2 14 KKt-KtS 15 Kt-QKt5 16 P.QR3 17 P-Kt4 18 KtxKBP 19 P-QR4 20 PxP 21 K-Qsq. 22 B-Q2 23 B-Ksq. 24 KR-Kt 25 K-Q2 26 K-Kt2 27 Kt-Q3 28 PxKt 29 R-Qr 30 B-Kt4 31 K-Ktsq. 32K-B Black. P-Q4 Kt-QB3 P-K4 Kt-B3 QB-Kts Q-K2 B-R4 KtxP Kt-QB3 KKt-K5 BxQ Q-R5ch Kt-KB3 KB-B4 0-0 P-KR3 B-QKt3 RxKt P-QR4 BxP R-K2 B-Kt3 Q.R4 QxBp (ch) QxP (ch; QxR QKtxKt BxQP QxKB Q-QB5 (ch) Q-Kt6 (ch; 32 Q-Kt7 (check mate) White 1P-K4 2 Kt-KBs 3P-Q3 4 B-KtS 5 KtxKP 6 B-KB4 7 BxKKt 8 Kt-QB4 9 KB-K2 10 B-KR5 (ch) 11 P-Q4 12 Kt-QR3 13 P-Q5 14O-O 15 Q-K2 16 P-Ks 17 KPxP 18 R-Ksq. 19 RxB 20 R-Ksq. 21 R-K8 (ch) 22 RxR (check- mate) Black (Feeble minded player) P-K4 Q-KBs Kt-KR3 Q-QB3 Q-k:3 P-KB3 PxB Q-QB3 P-QKU K-Qsq. QxKt Q-B3 Q-Kt3 B-QB4 B-QR3 P-QKts BxQ QxP QxQKtP QxKt RxR	Gambit
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I have even trained my friends to give me Visual books as gifts. —Illona Bergstrom (Aventura, FL) I write to extend my thanks and appreciation for your books. They are clear, easy to follow, and straight to the point. Keep up the good work! I bought several of your books and they are just right! No regrets! I will always buy your books because they are the best. —Seward Kollie (Dakar, Senegal) 01_049839_ffirs.qxp 6:16 PM Page vii Credits Acquisitions Editor Pam Mourouzis Project Editor Donna Wright Technical Editor Richard Benjamin Editorial Manager Christina Stambaugh Publisher Cindy Kitchel Vice President and Executive Publisher Kathy Nebenhaus Interior Design Kathie Rickard Elizabeth Brooks Cover Design JosĂŠ Almaguer Photography Matt Bowen Photographic Assistant Andrew Hanson 01_049839_ffirs.qxp 6:16 PM Page viii About the Author Jon Edwards is a four-time winner of the American Postal Chess Tournaments (APCT) championship and a two-time winner of the APCT Game of the Year award. He won the United States Correspondence Chess Championship in 1997 and the North American Invitational Correspondence Chess Championship in 1999. He became an International Master in 1997 and a Senior International Master in 1999. Jon is currently competing on the U.S. Correspondence Chess Olympiad Team. His ICCF rating of 2,580 places him in top 200 correspondence chess players in the world. Jon is also the webmaster of Chess is Fun (www.queensac.com), a site that provides free chess instruction. He has authored seven chess books, including The Chess Analyst, (Thinkers Press, 1997), which chronicled his success in the U.S. Championship. He is a 1975 graduate of Princeton University, where he serves today as the Coordinator of Institutional Communications and Outreach within the Office of Information Technology. He resides in Pennington, New Jersey, with his wife Cheryl and two sons, Aaron and Neil. 01_049839_ffirs.qxp 6:16 PM Page ix Acknowledgments I want to thank Wiley Publishing for the opportunity to write this book. As a chess teacher for more than 30 years, I have seen the importance of chess in young peoplesâ€™ lives. While almost all players come to enjoy the game as a worthwhile pursuit and simply a whole lot of fun, in my experience, some players come to understand the game better than others. The reason, I believe, has much to with the different styles of learning. A few of my students are comfortable memorizing long sequences but, by and large, most prefer to learn the game visually, through pattern recognition and by learning to identify the various visual clues on the board. I have tried throughout this book to provide an introduction to and discussion of chess in a way that I believe is pedagogically sound for visual learners. These are the basic lessons that I have provided to young and old for decades. Wiley has assisted the effort in a very important way by producing a book with high-quality photographs of the board. Almost all chess books use diagrams that look straight down on the chessboard and represent the pieces with symbols. Here, you will see the board as it exists and from an angle that promotes understanding as well as excellent posture. It is fitting that a book like this should have such an amazing photograph of the author. Special appreciation goes to Princeton Universityâ€™s photographer Denise Applewhite for her impressive skill. The editors at Wiley are a very professional bunch and throughout made my life an easier one. Pam Mourouzis understood the importance of this book from the beginning. I thank her also for her willingness to bend her deadlines around my work schedule. Editors Donna Wright and Christina Stambaugh helped to shape the book into its current form. They know their craft and pursue it with impressive dedication. I am also grateful for the excellent technical editing job that Richard Benjamin performed. We were competitors in the 10th U.S. Correspondence Chess Championship. Itâ€™s a whole lot more fun to have him on my side. I am happy to share the credit with this fine crew, but in the end, of course, any errors that remain are my responsibility. Permit me also to express my love and appreciation for my wife, Cheryl, and for my two sons, Aaron and Neil, who have all waited on too many occasions for Daddy to finish up his chess. 02_049839 ftoc.qxp chapter An Introduction to Chess Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Viewing the Chessboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Introducing the Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Setting Up the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 How the King Moves and Captures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 How Rooks Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 How Bishops Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 How the Queen Moves and Captures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 How Knights Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 How Pawns Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Chess Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Protect Your Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 2 chapter Special Moves Checks and Checkmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Stalemates and Other Draws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Discovered Checks and Double Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Castling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 The En Passant Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 02_049839 ftoc.qxp Page 2 1 An Introduction to Chess Welcome to the game of chess. Like most games, chess has some very basic rules. Once you learn and understand those basics, you will be able to play against others, and you will be able to play through and enjoy the great matches that chess masters have played through time. In this chapter, I introduce the chessboard, how to set it up to start a game, how each piece moves, and how to begin play. I also give you the basics on chess notation, showing you the â€œshorthandâ€? used in the chess world (and in this book) to indicate each move a player makes. 03_049839 ch01.qxp 5:47 PM Page 3 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Viewing the Chessboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Introducing the Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Setting Up the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 How the King Moves and Captures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 How Rooks Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 How Bishops Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 How the Queen Moves and Captures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 How Knights Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 How Pawns Move and Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Chess Notation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Protect Your Pieces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 03_049839 ch01.qxp 5:47 PM Page 4 Getting Started Chess is an ancient game of war first invented and played in China or India more than 1,000 years ago. Over time, the rules have changed, but chess remains a game of strategy and skill that continues to excite players young and old. The names of the pieces bring to mind the origins of the game—a battle. Imagine soldiers on foot with the pawns leading the charge. Imagine the cavalry on horseback; the Knights jumping into battle. Imagine the general or the King with the Queen at his side. In many battles of yore, when the King died the battle would end. And so it is in the game of chess. Chess is played between two players who sit on opposite sides of a “chessboard.” Each player takes command of a “white” or “black” army of 16 units always arranged in the same way at the start of the game. By rule, the player with the white pieces always begins the game. The players alternate moves until one player attacks the enemy King in such a way that the King cannot escape. We call that checkmate. Many people believe that you have to be a genius to be good at chess. Being really smart helps at most things, but success in chess requires familiarity with the rules and some basic strategy, as well as practice. This book will help you to get started and to feel comfortable sitting down and playing a real game. Know that everyone starts out as a beginner. To get the most out of this book and your chess experiences, I recommend that you buy or borrow a chessboard and a chess set to play along as you read this book. Many people have very artistic sets. Those are fine for display, but when you review the material in this book and when you play, you will want to have a standard set much like the one depicted in this book. They are not very expensive and easy to find in stores and on the Internet. If you are having trouble finding a standard set, go to the U.S. Chess Federation’s website at www.uschess.org. 4 1 chapter Chess is played on a board with 64 squares. To make it easier to view the board and move the pieces, the board has alternating light and dark squares. As you will see, it is useful to think of the board in terms of its ranks, files, and diagonals. The Chessboard Setup This chessboard is typical of those on which you will play. To set up the board correctly, place it so that a dark square is in the lower-left corner. Or, as chess players like to say, “It’s white on the right.” Some boards are labeled with letters (a–h) and numbers (1–8) in the margins. Others are blank. It is perfectly fine to play with a board that does not have these letters and numbers in the margins. They are there to help you talk about the board, to name each square, and to emphasize certain features. In this book, we use a labeled board so you can easily identify the pieces and moves discussed. For example, every board has eight ranks (rows) and eight files (columns). The 1st rank consists of the eight squares directly in front of you. The 8th rank contains the eight squares that are farthest from you. As you can see, ranks are horizontal. Try to visualize each rank in turn: the 2nd rank, the 3rd rank, and so on. Files are vertical. The eight squares on the left side of the board are called the a-file. The eight squares on the right side of the board are called the h-file. The alternating colors of the squares are another wonderful visual aid. For the moment, simply note that there are alternating light and dark squares and light and dark diagonals. As you will soon see, some pieces move along the ranks and files, while others move diagonally. 5 5:47 PM Page 6 Introducing the Pieces Your chess “team” is made up of five types of pieces: one King, one Queen, two Bishops, two Knights, and two Rooks. Each player also has eight pawns. The pieces can look different from chess set to chess set, but you will always be playing with these same chessmen. The Five Types of Pieces The King is truly the most important piece because you lose the game if your King is attacked and cannot escape. Kings are abbreviated with the letter K. The Queen is considered the most powerful piece in terms of its ability to move around the board. Each player has one at the beginning of the game, though you will see, it’s possible to get more! Queens are abbreviated with the letter Q. 6 1 chapter The chessboard setup for the start of a game is always the same. In fact, one of the great charms of chess is that you start from the same position as others have done for centuries. Where to Place the Pieces The Rooks begin the game in the corners. The Knights (many beginning players call them horses) are next. The Bishops start the game next to the Knights. Finally, the Queen and King fill in the remaining squares on the 1st and 8th ranks. The Queen will always start on its own color. Note that the white Queen is on a white square. The black Queen is on a dark square. Don’t forget the pawns; all eight of them are ready to start the charge. At the beginning of the game, the eight white and eight black pawns form a line just in front of the white and black pieces, across the 2nd and 7th ranks, respectively. Note: In this book, the black side is always represented assuming a starting position at the “top” of the board on ranks 8 and 7, and white at a starting position at the “bottom” on ranks 1 and 2. Chess is played between two players, one in control of the white pieces and one in control of the black pieces. White always has the first move. To decide who gets white and who gets black, it is customary for one player to hide a white and black pawn in each hand. The other player then picks a hand. Whoever picks or is left with the white pawn will get the white pieces and will move first. In the second diagram, white is advancing one of its pawns by moving it forward two squares. As you will soon see, this pawn move helps control the key squares in the very center of the chessboard and permits one of white’s Bishops as well as the white Queen to move out. 9 5:47 PM Page 10 How the King Moves and Captures The King can move one square in any direction, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It can move forward and then back, but only one square at a time. The King can also capture any opponentâ€™s piece if it is on one of those squares. However, the King is not permitted to move into an attack. If you make a mistake and move your King into an attack, you will be required to take back your move. In other words, the King is not permitted to move so that it could then itself be captured on the next move. How to Move the King In this position, the white King can move legally to any of the squares highlighted in purple. A King in the center of the board can therefore move to a total of eight different squares, assuming that your opponent does not control any of those squares. By contrast, the black King in the corner can move to only three squares, those highlighted in green. Here, only two squares are forbidden to the white King. The King cannot move to a square already occupied by its own pawn, and the King cannot move to the square marked with a red X. The white King is not permitted to move there because one of the black pawns controls that square (see page 16 to learn how the pawns move and capture). White has several interesting options. White can capture either black pawn (to capture, white would simply remove the pawn from the board, placing the King on the square that the pawn occupied). Itâ€™s fun to practice such captures. Masters have become adept at moving and snatching a piece in one fluid motion. 10 1 chapter In this position, both Kings are facing each other. The white King can move to any of the squares highlighted in purple, and the black King can move to any of the squares highlighted in green. But neither King can move next to the other King. Simply put, a King may never move next to another King. To do so would be illegal because the other King controls those squares. It’s an important point. Both Kings “control” the same three squares! FAQ Is a checkerboard the same as a chessboard? It sure is! Both contain 64 alternating-color squares situated in the eight rank/eight file format. You can use a checkerboard in a pinch if you don’t mind the checkerboard’s traditional red squares instead of the white used for chess. In fact, you can purchase chess/checkerboard sets, which contain just one board, along with a set of checkers and a set of chessmen. 11 5:47 PM Page 12 How Rooks Move and Capture Unlike the King, a Rook can move more than one square at a time. A Rook can move any number of squares in a straight line, either horizontally or vertically, but only in one direction at a time per move. Note that a Rook cannot jump a piece of either color. How to Move a Rook In this position, the white Rook can move legally to any of the squares highlighted in purple. For example, it can move toward the black Knight or capture it by replacing the Knight on the square on which the Knight stood. Similarly, you might decide to capture the black Bishop, again simply by taking the Rook and placing it on the square that the Bishop occupied, being sure to remove the Bishop from the board as part of the move. A Rook is not permitted to jump either white or black pieces, so it cannot move on the other side of the white King. 12 How Bishops Move and Capture An Introduction to Chess 1 chapter Like a Rook, a Bishop can move more than one square at a time. As opposed to a Rook, which always moves in straight lines, a Bishop can move any number of squares diagonally. A Bishop will therefore always remain on a square of the same color on which it started the game. Like a Rook, a Bishop can move forward or backward, but in only one direction at a time per move. How to Move a Bishop In this position, the white Bishop can move to any of the squares highlighted in purple. For example, it can move toward the black Knight or capture it. Similarly, you might decide here to capture the black Rook, again simply by replacing the black Rook with the white Bishop. The white Bishop is not permitted to jump either the white or black pieces. 13 5:47 PM Page 14 How the Queen Moves and Captures The Queen is a very powerful chess piece. It combines the powers of both a Rook and a Bishop. As such, the Queen can move horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. Like the King, it can move in any direction. Unlike the King, however, it can move far in one direction if there are no pieces in its path. As you might expect, the Queen cannot jump another piece. How to Move the Queen In this position, the white Queen can move legally to any of the squares highlighted in purple. The power of the Queen becomes obvious when you observe all of the purple squares. Clearly the Queen has many, many options. For example, the Queen can move toward or capture the black Knight. Similarly, you might decide here to capture the black Rook or the black Bishop. The Queen is not permitted to jump either the white or black pieces. 14 How Knights Move and Capture An Introduction to Chess 1 chapter A Knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Some players visualize the Knight moving in an L-shapeâ€”two squares horizontally and then one square vertically (or two squares vertically and then one square horizontally). More experienced players understand the move is a straight line from the starting square to the destination. As you practice your Knight moves, notice that a Knight starting on a dark square will land on a light square. And of course, a Knight starting on a light square will land on a dark square. How to Move a Knight In this position, the white Knight can move legally to any of the squares highlighted in purple. As you can see, it can capture the black Rook but cannot occupy the same square as the white Bishop. Remember, two pieces can never occupy the same square. Some players have some difficulty with a Knightâ€™s movement. Keep in mind that a Knight on a dark square, as in this diagram, will only be able to move to light squares. And of course, a Knight on a light square will only be able to move to dark squares. KNIGHTS CAN JUMP A Knight is the only chess piece permitted to jump over other pieces. In this position, the white Knight has just made the first move in the game. As you can see, it has jumped over the white pawns. Note again that the Knight, which started on a dark square, has arrived on a light square. From its new position, the Knight now has access to four new dark squares, indicated in purple. 15 5:47 PM Page 16 How Pawns Move and Capture The pawns are often called the “soul of chess.” They are the only chessmen that move differently from how they capture. A pawn, like a foot soldier in war, marches ever forward, one square at a time. Unlike the other pieces, the pawn can never retreat. Pawns that have not yet moved have the option of making their first move two squares forward instead of just one square; but after this initial two-square move, it’s one square at a time. Pawn Dynamics HOW TO MOVE A PAWN In this position, the white pawn can move forward one or two squares (highlighted in purple). The white pawn has that additional two-move option because it has not yet moved. It does not matter how many moves have been played. A pawn that has never moved will have the additional option to move ahead two squares on its first move. By contrast, the black pawn has already moved. It therefore has only one option, to advance a single square (highlighted in green). Note: Experienced players never refer to pawns as “pieces.” Pawns are pawns. Knights, Bishops, Rooks, Queens, and Kings are considered pieces. HOW PAWNS CAPTURE A pawn is the only chessman that captures differently from how it moves. It captures diagonally only one square ahead, as if it were fighting on its side with a short sword. In this position, the white pawn can advance one or two squares, but it also has the opportunity to capture the black Knight. To bring about the capture, simply move the pawn diagonally one square, replacing the black Knight. The black pawn has three options. It can advance a single square, but it can also capture either the white Knight or the white Bishop. 16 1 chapter In order to discuss and write about chess, chess players have invented a written language that, as languages go, is the easiest language you will ever learn. Reading and Writing Chess Moves Just as each piece has a name, so too does every square. In each chess diagram, you will notice that there are eight letters along the top and bottom of every board (a–h) and eight numbers along each side (1–8). To identify any square, locate its letter and then its number. For example, the square in the bottom left corner is a1. The square in the upper-right corner is h8. The square indicated is d5. Using the names of the squares helps us to discuss the board in a very simple, clear manner. For example, in this position, the white Queen is on b1, the black Queen is on e5, and a black Bishop is on d7. White has pawns on c3 and c4. Take a moment to locate them. As you will see, it’s very easy. A numeral and period at the beginning of a notation indicates the move number. For example, in the game shown here, white’s first move was pawn e2 to e4. This is notated 1.e2-e4. You will see this type of notation starting in Chapter 8, “Opening Strategy.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:47 PM Page 18 Chess Notation (continued) Notation also permits us to talk about the movement of pieces. Remember, pieces are abbreviated as follows: K for King, Q for Queen, B for Bishop, N for Knight, and R for Rook (there isn’t an abbreviation for pawn). For a refresher on these abbreviations, see “Pieces and Pawns at a Glance” on page 8. In this position, white has just moved the Queen from d1 to b1. In this book, I use the long form of the notation, “Qd1-b1,” but many chess players abbreviate the move with “Qb1.” As a result of white’s move, the white Queen on b1 is suddenly attacking the black pawn on b6. As you can see, it’s not very hard to find the black b6-pawn. To defend the b6pawn, black might now play Re8-b8, moving the black Rook from the e8-square to b8. Captures are simply recorded with an “x.” And so in this position, if black were to move the black Queen on e5 to capture the white pawn on e4, you would write: Qe5xe4. Of course, that awful Queen move would result in losing the black Queen to the white Bishop (Bc2xe4). When a move results in check, an attack on the enemy King, this is indicated with a “+” at the end of the notation. When a move results in checkmate, this is indicated with a “#” at the end of the move. In this second position, white is about to promote a pawn. Promoting the e7-pawn to a Queen on e8 would be written e7-e8=Q or simply e8=Q. Note: If a pawn makes it all the way to the 8th rank on the other side of the board, you get to promote it to a more valuable piece, meaning you get to trade in this pawn for a Queen, Rook, Knight, or Bishop (most often players promote to a Queen because of its versatility). For more on promoting pawns, see “Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns” in Chapter 2. 18 1 chapter Many beginners make the same simple mistake. After their opponent captures a piece or a pawn, they fail to recapture or “take back.” A good rule of thumb is if your opponent captures one of your pieces, try to recapture a piece of equal or greater value. Generally speaking, if one side has more material than the other, they will have the advantage and will be more likely to win the game. Protection Strategies BE SURE TO RECAPTURE In this example, recapturing is illustrated with pawns. Black is about to move the pawn on d5 to capture the white pawn on e4. Not to fear. As long as white is alert, black will not “win” the pawn. Rather, white can simply move the Knight to e4 (following the arrow) to recapture the pawn. PRESERVE THE BALANCE In this position, the situation is more complicated because more pieces have moved, but the idea of recapturing is the same. Black moves the Knight on a5 to capture the white Bishop on c4. White could respond with many moves, but white should recapture with the white pawn on d3. If white fails to recapture, black will simply move the Knight back to safety and will have taken the white Bishop without losing a thing. It may be hard to believe, but good players will almost always win the game if you give them the advantage of an extra Knight or Bishop. Note: If an illegal move has been played in an informal game between friends, you would simply point out the illegal move and your opponent would have another chance to move. In a tournament, that’s still the case except that the opponent who touched a piece would still have to move it, albeit in a legal manner. There’s also often a time penalty . . . extra time for you or less for your opponent. 19 Page 20 2 Special Moves Like many other games, chess has some special moves. There are checks that attack the enemy King, checkmates that are checks from which the enemy King cannot escape, and stalematesâ€”an end to the game in which the enemy is not in check but has no legal moves. There are discovered checks and double checks. You can transform (promote) your pawns into Queens or even under-promote your pawns to become Knights, Bishops, or Rooks. Castling permits you to move your King and Rook at the same time. And thereâ€™s a special capture called en passant reserved just for the pawns. This chapter explains all these moves and helps you understand how you can use them to improve your play. 04_049839 ch02.qxp 6:12 PM Page 21 Checks and Checkmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Stalemates and Other Draws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Discovered Checks and Double Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Castling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 The En Passant Capture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 04_049839 ch02.qxp 6:12 PM Page 22 Checks and Checkmate Whenever you attack your opponent’s King, you are putting the King in check. The goal of chess is checkmate— to attack your opponent’s King when it has no escape. You are not obliged to say “Check,” and in tournaments, saying “Check” is considered rude. But who could resist saying “Checkmate”? When the King Is Under Attack Check simply means that a King is under attack. In this position, the black King is in check because the white Queen is attacking it along the diagonal. On the very next move, black must make sure to stop the attack. There are three possibilities. First, the King can move out of check to any square that is not being attacked (f1, g2, h1, or h2). Note that the King cannot move to f2 because that would still be check. Simply put, the King cannot move into check. 22 chapter Or black could end the attack by capturing the white Queen with the Knight (Nd5xb6). Or black could move a piece between the attacking Queen and the King in order to interrupt the direct attack. For example, black could move the Bishop to d4 (Ba1-d4) or the Knight to e3 (Nd5-e3). If the King is under attack and there is no immediate way to end the attack, the game is over. Note that checkmate does not actually involve removing the King from the board. In this position, the black Bishop is attacking the white King. The King has no legal moves because the other white pieces are occupying the escape squares. White cannot capture or block the attack from the Bishop. Checkmate! 23 6:12 PM Page 24 Stalemates and Other Draws Not all games end in a checkmate. Many games end in a draw, usually an agreement between the players that no one wins. This section reviews most of the types of draws. So what is a draw? That’s when nobody wins. In tournaments, draws are recorded as 1⁄2 – 1⁄2, essentially half a point for each player rather than a full point for a win. Types of Draws A TYPICAL STALEMATE The most exciting form of a draw is the stalemate. On a player’s turn, if he or she is not in check and cannot make a legal move, this is a stalemate—neither side wins. In this position, it is black’s move. The black King is not in check, and it has no legal moves. It cannot capture the white pawn or move to c7 or e7 because the white King controls those squares. Similarly, the black King cannot move to c8 or e8 because the white pawn controls those squares. Remember that the King is not permitted to move to any square controlled by an enemy piece. This position is the most common stalemate in chess. White appears to be well behind in this position. In fact, black is threatening to move the Rook on g3 to g1 (Rg3-g1#), checkmate. (The Knight on f3 would defend the Rook.) 24 2 chapter However, it is whiteâ€™s move. White surprises black by moving the Rook on a2 to h2, check (Ra2-h2+). At first glance, the move looks terrible because black can simply capture the white Rook with the Knight. But after the Knight on f3 captures the Rook (Nf3xh2), the result is a stalemate. The white King is not in check but cannot move. OTHER TYPES OF DRAWS By Agreement The most common type of draw is by agreement. At any time in a game, you can offer a draw to your opponent. Be mindful of good etiquette, however. Donâ€™t offer a draw on every move! Most chess players consider that to be rude. Perpetual Check In this position, white appears to have an overwhelming advantage and the prospect of a quick win, perhaps with a Rook-from-e4-toh4 checkmate. But black on the move draws in one of two interesting ways. The most spectacular is Qb8-h2 check because, after white captures the black Queen, the result is a stalemate! Black could also draw quickly with what is called a perpetual check, a never ending series of checks. Black moves the Queen from b8 to g3, check (Qb8-g3+). White cannot capture the Queen or block the attack. White therefore must move the King into the corner at h1 (Kg1-h1). To draw, black will simply check the white King on h3 (Qg3-h3+) and then again on g3 (Qh3-g3+). Reaching the same position three times in a row is an automatic draw. For a play-by-play of this draw scenario, see the next page. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 2 chapter 50-Move Rule And then there’s the merciful 50-move rule. If both players have made their last 50 consecutive moves without moving a pawn and without making a capture, either player can claim a draw. Obviously, you will need to have kept an accurate score sheet to make this claim! In this example from a real game, white just moved the Rook from e3 to e4 (Re3-e4) and used the 50-rule move to claim a draw. This particular game lasted a total of 170 moves. FAQ How much are the pieces worth? Queen It must be obvious by now that the Queen is much stronger than the Knight, Bishop, or Rook. After years of experience, we know the relative value of each piece. This table estimates the value of the chessmen. The basic unit, the pawn, has a value of one. Rook 1 9 Use the values in this table as a rough guide. A Rook is roughly worth as much as five pawns or a Knight (or Bishop) and two pawns. A Queen is worth approximately as much as a Rook, Knight, and pawn. Two Rooks are roughly equivalent to a Queen plus a pawn. Of course, in most situations, there are many other factors to consider, such the activity of the pieces and the amount of space on the board each player controls. The King is not included in the table because, in a real sense, it has infinite value. If your opponent attacks your King and it has no escape, you lose the game. But in many positions, especially late in the game, the King can play an active role. In such situations, it might be useful to think of the King as having a value of approximately five pawns. Note that the Bishop has a value slightly greater than the Knight. The Bishop is usually, though not always, worth a bit more than a Knight. See Chapter 5, “Bishop Strategy,” for more information on why this might be so. 27 6:12 PM Page 28 Discovered Checks and Double Checks Discovered checks are among the most powerful moves in chess. The maneuver is quite simple. You move a piece, exposing an attack from a piece behind it. If itâ€™s possible, double checks are even more exciting and deadly. Like a discovered check, a piece moves to expose a check from behind it while the piece itself also gives check. As you will see, double checks always force the King to move. Discovered Checks In this first position, the black King would be in check from the white Queen except that, for the moment, the white Knight on e5 is blocking the attack. With white to move, any move by the Knight will expose the attack from the Queen and place black in check, thus the discovered check. White could play the Knight to g6 check (Ne5-g6+), winning the h8-Rook on the next move. Better still, white selects the Knight to c6 check (Ne5-c6+), knowing that no matter what black does to block the check from the white Queen, the white Knight will capture the black Queen on the next move. In this second position, black has more material than white has, but white can quickly win the black Knight and the Queen by using a discovered check. White begins by moving the Rook on b1 to b7, capturing the black b7-pawn. The Rook on b7 would place the black King in check because the Rook on b7 attacks the b8 square. The white Bishop on g2 defends the Rook on b7 (in other words, the black King cannot capture the Rook because it would then be in check from the white Bishop). Therefore, under attack from the Rook, black has no choice but to retreat the King into the corner at a8 (Kb8-a8). White then continues with a powerful discovered check: The white Rook takes the black Knight on e7 (Rb7xe7), leaving the diagonal open, with the white Bishop now holding the black King in check. After black gets out of check by moving its King back to b8 (Ka8-b8), white will move the Rook (now on e7) to capture the black Queen on f7 (Re7xf7). See the next page for a play-by-play of this discovered check scenario. 28 6:12 PM Page 30 Discovered Checks and Double Checks (continued) Double Checks At first glance, it appears that black has a significant advantage in this game. The Knight on f2 is attacking the white Queen and both of the white Rooks. Note also that black has two Knights while white has only one. But white has the possibility of bringing about a powerful double check. White begins by sacrificing the Queen by moving it to d8, putting the King in check (Qd3-d8+). Black has no choice but to capture the Queen on the key d8 square (Ke8xd8). This is the position after the Queen sacrifice. White now moves the Bishop on d2 to g5 (Bd2-g5+), giving double check from both the Bishop and the Rook on d1. Note that black is attacking both of these white pieces, but it is not possible to capture both with one move. To get out of the double check, black must move the King from d8. If the King moves to c7, white has the amazing Bishop g5 to d8 checkmate! If, instead, black moves the King from d8 to e8, white delivers checkmate by advancing the Rook to d8. 30 Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns Special Moves 2 chapter Your pawns are worth less than the King, Queen, Bishops, Knights, and Rooks, but they can help you control key squares, and they become very powerful as they approach the end of the board. If you succeed in advancing a pawn all the way to the 8th rank, you must remove the pawn and replace it with a Queen, a Rook, a Knight, or a Bishop. Almost all the time, you will want to promote the pawn to a Queen, but there are interesting exceptions. Promoting Your Pawns Advance a pawn to the 8th rank and a wonderful transformation will occur. The rules require that you convert the pawn to a Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen. As the most powerful piece, the Queen is the most obvious choice, and most players promote to a Queen. This position is from a game between former world chess champion Bobby Fischer (playing white) and the Russian Tigran Petrosian (playing black). Petrosian advanced the pawn on a2 to a1 (a2-a1=Q) and promoted it to a Queen. Fischer replied by advancing his h6 pawn to h7 (h6-h7). Petrosian was unable to prevent Fischer from promoting that pawn to a Queen on the next move (h7-h8=Q). With eight pawns at the beginning of the game, you can, in theory, have a total of nine Queens on the board. It is rare, of course, to have more than two Queens. Some modern sets come with two Queens. If you have only one in your set, it is customary to use an upside-down Rook as the second Queen. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:12 PM Page 32 Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns (continued) Under-Promoting Your Pawns Under-promotion is rare, but itâ€™s always fun when it occurs. Here, with black to move, black dares not promote the pawn on e2 to a Queen because white will quickly respond by moving its Rook on b8 to e8 (Rb8-e8+), checking the black King, and, on the next move, capturing the new Queen on e1. Instead, black under-promotes the e-pawn to a Knight! Suddenly, the white King is in check from the new Knight with only a single legal move: King from f3 to e3 (Kf3-e3). Note that on e3, the King no longer has any legal moves. The new Knight controls d3 and f3. The Rook on a2 controls the squares on the 2nd rank. And the black King controls d4, e4, and f4. Black should therefore attack the trapped King by advancing the f-pawn from f5 to f4 (f5-f4). Thatâ€™s check, with mate to follow on the next move (after two pawn captures on f4)! 32 2 chapter The King and the Rook can take part in a very special move, the only chess move that involves moving two pieces at the same time. This move, known as castling, helps bring the King to a safer square and bring the Rook toward the center. How to Castle Here, the white King can castle on either side of the board. To castle, follow these steps: 1 Move the King two squares toward the Rook (in this example, from e1 to c1 or from e1 to g1. 2 Move the Rook to the square immediately on the other side of the King (in this example, to d1 or f1). Technically, castling is a King move, so be sure to move the King first. If you touch the Rook first in a tournament, you will be required to move just the Rook. Hereâ€™s where the King and Rook end up after castling. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:12 PM Page 34 Castling (continued) The Rules of Castling Note that castling is permitted only when your King and Rook have not previously moved. In addition, there are two simple rules to keep in mind: • • You cannot castle out of, through, or into check. If your King is being attacked, castling is not an option for getting out of check. All of the squares between the King and the Rook must be vacant. Note that you can castle if your Rook is under attack. You can even castle if your Rook passes through a square controlled by your opponent. In this diagram, white is not in check but cannot castle on the Kingside because the black Bishop on h3 controls the f1 square through which the King would have to move. White is permitted to castle Queenside despite the fact that black’s Bishop on g7 is attacking the Rook on a1 and the black Queen on h7 is attacking the b1 square through which the white Rook would move. 34 2 chapter In the early days of chess, pawns could move forward only one square at a time. When the rules changed to permit pawns to advance two squares for their first move, the French added a new rule to make sure that a pawn couldn’t become a Queen without a neighboring pawn having at least one chance to capture it. Many players are not familiar with this unusual pawn capture, but it is very much a part of the game. The en passant (French for “while passing”) capture is perhaps the trickiest chess move to learn and remember. How to Capture En Passant In this diagram, the white pawn on d2 has not yet moved. It has the option of moving one or two squares. If it moved ahead a single square to d3, the black pawn would clearly be able to capture it. If the white pawn moves ahead two squares, however, the black pawn on the neighboring e-file would like to have the chance to capture it before the white pawn can advance toward its Queening square, d8. The en passant rule applies here. For one move only, the black pawn can respond by capturing the white pawn as if it had moved only a single square. Note: From white’s viewpoint, Queening squares consist of all squares in the 8th rank. For black, the Queening squares are all the squares on the 1st rank. For more on promoting pawns, see “Promoting (and Under-Promoting) Your Pawns,” earlier in this chapter. To capture the white pawn, move the black pawn forward diagonally as if the white pawn had moved only a single square. This diagram shows the final position. Note that only pawns can capture en passant, and that only a pawn on an adjacent square can capture in this way. EN PASSANT CAPTURE IN ACTION In this position, it is black’s move. The black King has no legal moves. In fact, black’s only legal move is with the black b7-pawn. If black advances its pawn two squares from b7 to b5, white has a very strong response with the en passant capture, a5xb6. Without the en passant capture, black might actually win the game by advancing the b-pawn and promoting it to a Queen on b1. With the en passant capture, white will quickly advance the b6-pawn all the way to b8, promoting to a Queen (or Rook) with checkmate! 35 Page 36 3 Rook Strategy A Rook is a powerful piece. This chapter will help you learn how to make the most of it. Some chess players find it difficult to develop the Rooks effectively because the Rooks begin the game in the corners. Developing your pieces quickly and moving the Rooks toward the central files will help you secure control over the center of the board. And by attacking or controlling distant squares, the Rooks can help your attacks succeed. Experienced players know that Rooks belong on open files (not blocked by pawns) and that Rooks are especially effective when they get to the 7th rank to attack the enemy pawns. 05_049839 ch03.qxp 6:07 PM Page 37 Rooks Belong on Open Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Advance Your Rooks to the 7th Rank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Simple Back-Rank Checkmates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Fun with Active Rooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Rooks Belong Behind Passed Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 05_049839 ch03.qxp 6:07 PM Page 38 Rooks Belong on Open Files To make the Rooks as good as possible, move them to open files where the pawns do not block their mobility. On open files (remember, files are the “vertical columns” on the chessboard, lettered a–h), the Rooks can move forward and help control the center and far reaches of the board. Rooks Are Powerful on Open Files You will often want to move a Rook to an open file where its own pawns cannot block its forward movement. In this example, the black Rook on a8 has the option of moving to any of the squares on the 8th rank. One of those squares, of course, is different. Moving the Rook from a8 to e8 (Ra8-e8) is the best move here because from e8, the Rook will help control all the squares along the 8th rank as well as the squares on the open e-file. In the second example, there are two black Rooks and two open files. If it’s good to place one Rook on an open file, it’s even better to place both Rooks on open files. In this case, placing the Rooks on d8 (Ra8-d8) and e8 (Rh8-e8) will help black to control the important squares in the center of the board. 38 3 chapter In this final example, black has both Rooks but only a single open file. You can begin by moving one of the Rooks to the e-file. Of course, that Rook will be a “good” Rook, while the other will remain “bad.” To make both Rooks good, move the Rook at e8 forward, perhaps to e7 or e6. This advance will make room for the other Rook. Complete your Rook maneuver by moving the other Rook to e8. This is called “doubling Rooks” (see the next photo for the resulting doubling Rook position). Once you control an open file with a Rook, you can often use the Rook to infiltrate your opponent’s position. The Rook is especially effective when it is attacking undefended pawns deep in the enemy’s position. 39 6:07 PM Page 40 Advance Your Rooks to the 7th Rank Rooks become especially powerful when they advance safely across the board to attack the enemy pawns. Don’t let the term 7th rank confuse you here. When playing chess, your back row counts as rank 1, so black’s 7th rank, for example, is the same as white’s 2nd rank. 7th Rank Advances In this example, the enemy pawns rest on their original squares. And so, masters often talk about advancing their Rooks to the 7th rank where the enemy pawns usually are. The key for black is to advance the Rook on e8 to e2 (Re8-e2). White will then have a problem. The black Rook on e2 will be attacking undefended white pawns on d2 and f2. White can respond by moving its Rook on b1 to d1 (Rb1-d1) or f1 (Rb1-f1), but there’s clearly no way to move the Rook on b1 to defend both pawns. In this example, the black Rooks are dominating black’s 7th rank. Black has succeeded in doubling the Rooks on the 7th rank, a catastrophe for white. On the 7th rank, the Rooks combine to place tremendous pressure on the white pawns. White has succeeded with the King on b1 and the Rook on c1 to defend the c2-pawn adequately. However, the white f2-pawn is in jeopardy. White could push the f2-pawn forward, but the black Rook on e2 would then capture the g2-pawn instead, and then go on to threaten the h2-pawn. 40 chapter Here are our first checkmates! Rook Checkmates One of the reasons that Rooks belong on open files is that they can often deliver checkmate all by themselves. In this example, black has an active Rook on an open file. Moreover, white has no defense along the 1st rank. Black simply moves the Rook forward all the way to e1 (Re8-e1) to attack the white King. White cannot move its King, capture the Rook on e1, or place a piece between the King and the attacking Rook. Itâ€™s checkmate! Experienced players will often head off this attack by moving a pawn forward in front of their Kings; you will be surprised how often this simple attack works. In this second example, black shows off the power of doubled Rooks. White does have a Rook defending the key e1-entry square, but black has two attacking Rooks. Black begins by advancing the Rook on e7 to e1, check (Re7-e1+). To avoid checkmate, the white Rook on g1 must capture the black Rook on e1 (Rg1xe1). White then delivers checkmate by playing Rook on e8 takes Rook on e1 (Re8xe1#). 41 6:07 PM Page 42 Fun with Active Rooks As the game unfolds, the player with the most active Rooks is often the victor. Be sure to place Rooks on open files, look to advance them to undefended outposts in your opponent’s position, and remain aware of the awesome power of your doubled Rooks. Active Rooks Can Assist Mating Attacks Here’s another example of why it is so important to double your Rooks on an open file. The black Rooks are dominating the only open file on the board. As you have seen in previous examples, the Rooks will advance to the 7th rank to attack the enemy pawns. Here, however, black has a much stronger plan. The two black Rooks combine to attack the key e1 square. White is defending the square with two Rooks. The attack will work if black can eliminate one of white’s defending Rooks. Black therefore begins with the aggressive Queen sacrifice: The black Queen captures the white Rook on g1, check (Qc5xg1+). White must recapture with the Rook on h1 (Rh1xg1). The result is a simple two-on-one attack on the e1 square. Black moves its e7 Rook to e1 (Re7-e1). White then captures it with its remaining Rook (Rg1xe1). Then black advances its e8 Rook to e1 (Re8-e1#). The white King cannot escape from the final check by the e1-Rook; it’s checkmate. 42 Rooks Belong Behind Passed Pawns Rook Strategy 3 chapter Rooks are also especially powerful when you place them behind passed pawns (pawns that are advancing toward promotion and cannot be captured by an enemy pawn). By themselves, the pawns might be successfully captured. With a Rook behind them, they become a powerful force. Rooks and Passed Pawns In this position, white has placed the Rook on a1 behind the passed pawn on a7. To prevent the pawn from promoting to a Queen, black was forced to play Rook to a8. The white Rook is clearly playing a strong, aggressive role. By contrast, the black Rook is quite passive and cannot move along the rank without permitting the pawn to advance. To win, white will need only to move the King from d4 to the key b7 square. On that square, the white King will attack the black Rook, forcing it to move away or be captured. If black decides to move the Rook along the 8th rank, the pawn will be able to advance and promote to Queen. 43 Page 44 4 Knight Strategy While the Bishop, Queen, and Rook can sweep across the board, the Knight is limited to its relatively short L-shaped movements. As you will see, these limited movements make it all the more important to decide early on where you can safely post the Knight and from where it can effectively assist in the battle. 06_049839 ch04.qxp 6:02 PM Page 45 Move the Knights to the Center of the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Place Your Knights Where the Enemy Pawns Canâ€™t Attack Them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Knight Forks Are Fun! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 06_049839 ch04.qxp 6:02 PM Page 46 Move the Knights to the Center of the Board The experience of masters tells us that a Knight belongs in or near the center of the board, where the enemy pawns cannot attack it. From this safe post, a Knight can lash out to assist in attacks against the enemy King, to deliver unexpected forks (forks are explained in â€œKnight Forks Are Fun!,â€? later in this chapter), and simply to tie down enemy movement. Attack from the Center In this position, the white Knight is safe from attack in the center and can move to eight different squares. From its central perch on d5, the white Knight is ready to assist in an attack on the black King or to lash out toward the black Queenside (the side of the board where the Queen started is called the Queenside while the side of the board on which the King started is called the Kingside). By clear contrast, the black Knight is in the corner at a8, where it will likely have very little effect on what will happen next. In this position, the white Knight controls eight squares because it is actively placed in the middle of the board. Note that the Knight is occupying a light square on e4 and, as a result, is attacking eight different dark squares. 46 4 chapter If you move or place a Knight on a dark square, for example on d4, it would be attacking eight different light squares. Observing the light square/dark square relationship here can help you become more comfortable with the movement of the Knight. By contrast, if you place the Knight on the side of the board, the Knight will have access to only four squares. In this case, the Knight on d8 can move only to b7, c6, e6, and f7. That’s why we say that “a Knight on the rim is grim.” In this position, the white Knight on the a2 square has access to only three squares: b4, c3, and c1. The black Knight in the corner on h8 can move only to two light squares: f7 and g6. There’s a rhyme for that too: “A Knight in the corner makes you a mourner.” 47 6:02 PM Page 48 Place Your Knights Where the Enemy Pawns Can’t Attack Them The actual rule for Knight strategy is a bit more complicated than simply moving your Knights to the center of the board. The key is to move your Knights to central squares that your opponent’s pawns cannot attack. Avoid Pawn Attacks Black has just responded to white’s opening move of pawn from e2 to e4 (e2-e4) with Knight g8 to f6 (Ng8-f6). At first, black’s move seems strong because the Knight has developed quickly toward the center and is attacking the white pawn on e4. However, on white’s second move, the pawn on e4 can advance again to e5 (e4-e5), attacking the black Knight on f6. The black Knight would need to move again to avoid its loss, but moving the Knight to e4 would invite another pawn attack d2 to d3 (d2-d3). Moving the black Knight to d5 (Nf6-d5), a better move, would nonetheless invite white to attack the Knight with c2 to c4 (c2-c4). As you can see from this example, advancing your Knights to the center of the board isn’t enough; read on. In this example , the white Knight is on its starting g1-square. The advance of black’s central pawns has created a “hole” in black’s pawn structure on the d5 square. Note that the black pawns will not be able to attack or capture the white Knight if it’s on d5, and from the d5 hole, the Knight would help to control eight squares. On d5, the Knight would be able to assist a Kingside attack or possibly deliver forks on the c7 square (imagine a black Rook on a8 and the black King on e8). To learn about forks, see “Knight Forks Are Fun!,” on the next page. The arrows show the fastest and safest path for the Knight to follow to reach the key d5 square in this scenario: g1-e2-c3-d5. 48 4 chapter The Knight can attack two or more pieces at the same time. When a Knight attacks two pieces at once, we call it a Knight fork. An attack on more than two pieces is called a family fork. In practice, it is rare for a Knight to attack more than two pieces at a time, but forks are often the culmination of complex maneuvers and tactical intrigue. Family Fork Hereâ€™s a position from a sample game, with black set to move. As you can see, the white Knight on d5 is attacking the black Queen on e7. If the black Queen moves forward one square from e7 to e6, do you see how white can move the white Knight to deliver a family fork? The answer is Knight from d5 to c7 (Nd5-c7); resulting in check, as well as a family fork. The white Knight on c7 is attacking blackâ€™s Knight (Ke8), Queen (Qe6), Rook (Ra8), as well as the Bishop (Ba6). CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:03 PM Page 50 Knight Forks Are Fun! (continued) In this more difficult example, white combines a wonderful Queen sacrifice with a clever Knight fork to gain a decisive material advantage. Note that the white Knight on d5 is powerfully located in the center, even though it is being attacked by a black pawn on e6. As chess books like to say, itâ€™s white to move and win, in this case by winning a piece. White begins by moving its Knight to f6, putting the King in check (Nd5-f6+). Note that black cannot capture the Knight with its Bishop because the white Queen on g4 is pinning the Bishop on g7. Simply put, you are not allowed to make a move that places your King in check. Black must therefore respond by moving the King to f7 or into the corner to h8. White then has a wonderful combination ending with a Knight fork. White captures the black Bishop with its Queen, putting the King in check (Qg4xg7+). Black must respond by recapturing the Queen with its King (Kxg7). This then yields a Knight fork opportunity for white that will regain the Black Queen. Can you find the solution? The answer is Knight to e8, check (Nf6-e8+), forking the King and Queen. The play-by-play of this combination is detailed on the next page. 50 Page 52 5 Bishop Strategy The Bishop is forever committed to traveling on the same color. To make sure that the Bishop will have the most substantial effect on the position, it is important not to fix your pawns on the color of your Bishop. In an open board where the pawns are mobile, the Bishop can be a very powerful piece. You will soon see pins, skewers, and Bishops that can dominate Knights and even Rooks. However, in a closed position where many of the pawns are fixed, the Bishopâ€™s mobility can be seriously limited. 07_049839 ch05.qxp 6:31 PM Page 53 Bad Bishops and Good Bishops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Bishops Can Dominate Knights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Fianchettos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Bishops of Opposite Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Skewers and Pins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Bad Bishops Against Good Knights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Bishops Can Dominate Rooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 07_049839 ch05.qxp 6:31 PM Page 54 Bad Bishops and Good Bishops Just as there are good Rooks (on open files) and good Knights (in the center where the enemy pawns can’t attack them), there are good Bishops and bad Bishops. From experience, it is clear that Bishops are good as long as you don’t limit their mobility behind pawns that are fixed (set on the same color as the Bishop). A VERY BAD BISHOP In this situation, the white Bishop on f1 can safely move around to g2, h3, and even h1. You can immediately see that, while the Bishop remains on the board, it will have no meaningful effect on the rest of the game. In a real sense, white’s pawns on e2, f3, and g4 have imprisoned or trapped their own lightsquared Bishop. The simplest advice: Don’t let this happen to you! GOOD VS. BAD Most of the time, Bishops are not quite that bad, but the principle remains important. Do not fix pawns on the same color as your Bishop. In this example, the two pawns are considered fixed because they cannot advance. The Bishop on b2 is considered “bad” because the white pawn on d4 is fixed on its color. By contrast, the black Bishop on g7 is considered “good” because it is attacking a fixed white pawn. 54 5 chapter One reason that Bishops are worth slightly more than Knights is that the Bishop can dominate a Knight on the open board. In this position, the white Bishop on e5 controls all four of the squares to which the black Knight on h5 can move. To improve your play, you should play against others and also play through the games of some the worldâ€™s greatest players. As you play through master games, time and again, you will observe the same pattern: Bishops three squares away from enemy Knights, dominating them just as they do in this example. 55 6:31 PM Page 56 Fianchettos Fianchetto is Italian for “on the flank.” In chess, a fianchetto is a special formation of pawns that give the Bishop an opportunity to take control over the longest diagonal on the chessboard. White can fianchetto the Bishop on the Queenside by playing b2-b3 and then Bc1-b2. On the Kingside, white can play g2-g3 and then Bf1-g2. Many players enjoy these formations because fianchettoed Bishops have such sweeping control through the board. The Formation At the beginning of a game, you have an opportunity to place your Bishop quickly on the board’s longest diagonal, setting up a fianchetto. In this position, after advancing the g-pawn to g3 (g2-g3), white can play Bishop f1 to g2 (Bf1-g2). Many players like this maneuver, but white must be careful when advancing the g-pawn that black is not able to capture the white Rook on h1 with a Bishop or a Queen coming straight down the long diagonal. Here, all of the Bishops have been fianchettoed (flanked by their pawns). Note that both sides have been very careful, developing the Knights to f3 and f6 to prevent any of the Bishops from capturing another Bishop. 56 5 chapter Light-squared Bishops and darksquared Bishops can never capture one another. That simple fact usually means that games ending with opposite-colored Bishops result in draws. Opposite-Colored Bishops Often Result in a Draw In this position, black appears to have a significant two-pawn advantage. However, white has a light-squared Bishop, while blackâ€™s Bishop can travel only on the dark squares. The two can never come into direct conflict. White can effectively blockade the black pawns by moving its Bishop to light squares that stay in contact with the d3 square. For example, white could simply shuttle the Bishop back and forth between d3 and c2. If black moved the King around to c3 in order to prevent Bishop to c2, the white Bishop could move instead to e4. Simply put, thereâ€™s no safe way for black to advance the pawns. 57 6:31 PM Page 58 Skewers and Pins Skewers are dramatic attacks by the Bishop, usually involving a check, that often net a Rook or a Queen. Pins are much more common maneuvers. A pin begins with a Bishop attacking a piece, usually a Knight. In some cases, a movement by the Knight would expose the Queen to attack. In other cases, the Knight cannot move, because the Bishop would then be attacking the King. The Knight is thus, pinned by the Bishop. SKEWERS In this position, it is white’s move. White can carry out a skewer in two different ways. First, white could attack or check the black King by playing Bishop on d1 to f3 (Bd1-f3). The black King on d5 would have to move, permitting white to capture the Rook on a8 (Bf3xa8). Better still, white could play Bishop to b3, check (Bd1-b3+). Here, the skewer will net the Queen on g8 (Bb3xg8). PINS In this position, there are two pins. Note that the white Bishop on b5 is pinning the black Knight on c6 to the black King. This is called an absolute pin because the Knight on c6 cannot legally move (remember, you cannot make a move that results in putting your King in check). By contrast, the black Bishop on g4 is pinning the white Knight on f3 to the white Queen. This is called a relative pin because the Knight on f3 is permitted to move. Such moves are often unwise though, because moving the Knight would result in the loss of the white Queen. It is far more common, in master play, for players to “unpin” with a move like Bishop f1 to e2 (Bf1-e2), as seen in the photo at the top of this page. Or, white could simply challenge the black Bishop by moving the pawn from h2 to h3 (h2-h3); masters call such pawn maneuvers “putting the question to” or “kicking” the Bishop. 58 Bad Bishops Against Good Knights Bishop Strategy 5 chapter While Bishops are often better than Knights, there are exceptions to the rule. A good Knight (in the center of the board where the enemy pawns cannot attack it) is almost always better than a bad Bishop (locked in by its own pawns). In this example, material is even—black and white are evenly matched in the number and value of their pieces. However, black’s Knight is wonderfully posted, while the white Bishop has little scope. In this position, it is white’s turn to move, but every move that white can make will result in a winning advantage for black. If, for example, white moves the Bishop, black will be able to capture it with its Knight and then infiltrate with the King. 59 6:31 PM Page 60 Bishops Can Dominate Rooks In almost all situations, Rooks are stronger than Bishops. Perhaps you will be fortunate to skewer a Rook or to pin a Rook to a Queen or a King. There is another way for a Bishop to dominate a Rook. It simply requires some help, in this case from an advanced pawn. In this example, both Bishops are dominating a Rook. The white Bishop on f8, for example, has trapped the black Rook on g8 with help from the pawn on g7. If the Rook moves to h8, the pawn will capture it. If the Rook captures the Bishop on f8, the pawn will then capture it. If the Rook captures the pawn on g7, the Bf8 will capture it. Similarly, the black Bishop on b2, with help from the advanced black a-pawn, has trapped the white Rook. If the Rook moves to a1 or captures the a3-pawn, the Bishop can capture it. And if the Rook on a2 captures the Bishop on b2, the a3-pawn will be able to recapture. Imagine trapping a Rook in this way and then bringing up another pawn or piece to attack it. 60 5 chapter This position was reached in the famous 1972 World Championship match between Bobby Fischer and the Russian Boris Spassky. Spassky, playing white, had just played Bishop to e7 and was threatening to play Bishop e7 to f8 (Be7-f8) and then pawn g7 to g8 (g7-g8) to promote to Queen (g7-g8=Q)! Fischer had no choice but to prevent that threat with Rook a8 to g8 (Ra8-g8). Naturally, Spassky followed up with Bishop e7 to f8 (Be7-f8), trapping Fischer’s Rook. In spite of having his Rook trapped, Fischer nonetheless went on to win the game and the match. FACT U.S.-born Bobby Fischer is viewed by many chess players as the greatest chess player in history. He took the chess world by storm in 1972, when he challenged and defeated reigning World Champion, Russian Boris Spassky. This meeting was coined as the “Match of the Century.” Fischer’s convincing victory over Spassky brought chess into the international limelight and elevated Fischer to celebrity status. Fischer’s win was viewed by many as a symbolic Western victory during the Cold War. 61 Page 62 6 Pawn Strategy Unlike Kings, Queens, Bishops, Knights, and Rooks, pawns can move in only one direction: forward, ever forward. Reach the final rank and the lowly pawn, the foot soldier of chess, can transform itself into any piece except a King (players most often opt to promote to a Queen). But there is much more to pawns than just the quest to promote into a more powerful piece. As the pawns move forward, they open up diagonals for the Bishops, protect other pieces, and often lead the way for attacks. They can pry open an opponentâ€™s Kingside, but they can also spell doom when they become weak, and are then subject to capture. 08_049839 ch06.qxp 6:25 PM Page 63 Donâ€™t Double Your Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Pawn Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Some Doubled Pawns Are Strong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Pawn Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Pawn Majorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Isolated Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Backward Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Hanging Pawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Pawn Masses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Pawns Can Fork, Too! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Passed Pawn Blockaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 Every Pawn Move Creates a Weakness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 08_049839 ch06.qxp 6:25 PM Page 64 Don’t Double Your Pawns When pawns are one in front of the other, we refer to them as doubled pawns. Doubled pawns occur when a pawn captures and moves in front of another pawn. There are exceptions to most rules in chess, but you should usually try to recapture with a piece rather than with a pawn to avoid the weakness of doubled pawns. The Weaknesses of Doubled (and Tripled) Pawns In this position, white has doubled pawns on the f-file, while black has tripled pawns on the c-file. These pawns are weak because they cannot defend one another. If you were playing white, for example, you might attack the black pawns with Rooks along the c-file, and perhaps also with your other pieces. Black might decide to try to defend the pawns or, alternatively, attack the weak white doubled pawns. Here, black has not one but two sets of doubled pawns. White’s strategy is clear. White has doubled the white Rooks on the c-file and will, on the next move, capture the weak black pawn on c6. In contrast, the white pawn structure seems quite strong with no obvious weaknesses. As a result, black cannot easily mount a counterattack on white’s position. It is worth noting that there are many situations in which you need not be in rush to attack such weaknesses. By all means do so if you see a clear win as a result, as in this situation, but keep in mind that weaknesses such as doubled pawns are “structural” in that the weaknesses will usually be there for the whole game, and you will easily be able to capture such pawns once all of your pieces are well developed. 64 6 chapter Pawns are generally more secure and harder to attack when they are connected and able to defend one another. By contrast, when the pawns are scattered around the board, they are easier to attack. The Fewer Pawn Islands the Better Here, white has two pawn islands. Pawn islands consist of a single pawn or group of side-by-side pawns that are separated from other pawns by open files. The white pawns on the a-, b-, and c-files form one island, while the white pawns on the f-, g-, and h-files form the other island. Side-by-side, these pawns do not defend one another, but we consider these strong formations because, unlike the doubled pawns we just saw, they contain no permanent weaknesses and are capable of defending one another. By contrast, the black pawns in this diagram form a total of four pawn islands and are considered much weaker. Three of the pawns have no neighbors. Therefore, if attacked, these pawns would need to be defended by Knights, Bishops, Rooks, or Queens, pieces that in most cases have more important roles to play than to defend a lowly pawn. The general rule here is simple: During the game, try to have fewer pawn islands than your opponent. 65 6:25 PM Page 66 Some Doubled Pawns Are Strong Many beginning players become so fearful of doubling their pawns that they miss situations when doubled pawns can be strong. Double Pawns Supporting the Center In the following position, the black Knight has just captured on the e3 square. White could automatically recapture with the Queen to avoid doubling the white pawns on the e-file. A great American chess player, Frank Marshall, reached this position in a game against Abraham Kupchik in 1915. Marshall decided that capturing with the pawn had some advantages that outweighed the structural weakness of doubling the pawns. Here is the position after the pawn capture. The new pawn on e3 helps to support the white center by defending the white d4-pawn. More important, by recapturing with the pawn, white has opened up the f-file for the Rook. To be sure, white now has four pawn islands while black has only two, but Marshall, who went on to win the game, felt that having both the Queen and the Rook on the open file and the strengthened center more than compensated for the doubled pawns and the extra pawn island. 66 6 chapter In many openings, the pawns form chains along a diagonal. Compare these chains to birds flying in formation. When three birds fly overhead in formation, the best strategy for a hunter is to aim for the last bird. The other birds may hear the shot, but they won’t actually see that the bird has been hit. Similarly, the pawn at the rear of the chain is the weakest because no other pawn defends it. The best strategy is to aim your attack at the rear of your opponent’s pawn chain. Introducing Pawn Chains In this position, the three white pawns are forming a chain. Note that two of the three white pawns are defended. The most advanced white pawn on e5 is defended by the pawn on d4. The pawn on d4 is defended by the pawn on c3. By contrast, the white pawn on c3 is completely undefended. The pawn in the rear of the chain is considered the weakest of the pawns precisely because the other pawns can no longer protect it. The weak pawn in the chain often becomes the main target of the attack by your opponent. In this position, black has prepared and will now play the move c7 to c5 (c7-c5). If white should capture black’s c5-pawn (d4xc5), both of white’s remaining pawns would be weak and subject to capture. White would try a similar strategy by advancing the f-pawn from f2 to f4 (f2-f4). White’s plan would then be to play f4 to f5 (f4-f5) with the idea of attacking the weak e6-pawn in black’s short pawn chain. Note: For more on attacking pawn chains, see “Backward Pawns” later in this chapter. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:25 PM Page 68 Pawn Chains (continued) This position offers a more practical example. White, on the attack, advances the pawn to e6 (e5-e6) where it attacks the base of black’s f7-g6-h5 pawn chain. If black responds by capturing white’s e6-pawn (f7xe6), white will be able to respond with Queen to g6 to capture the middle pawn in the chain, simultaneously putting the King in check (Q3-g6+). TIP Want to learn more about pawns and other chess strategies? Join a local chess club. Most chess clubs have players from beginners through master. You can use the United States Chess Federation’s website (www.uschess.org/directories/AffiliateSearch/) to look for clubs in your area. All chess clubs welcome new and intermediate players, and most offer free lectures and lessons. Apart from meeting new people, a chess club is a great place simply to play and improve. If there isn’t an existing chess club in your area, gather some other interested players and start one. The U.S. Chess Federation makes starting a new club easy. For more on becoming an affiliate, visit their website. 68 6 chapter One key goal for the pawns, of course, is to promote at least one to a Queen by advancing it to the end of the board. Sometimes, pawns are able to advance without any opposition. More often, you will have to find a way to push your pawns successfully past your opponent’s pawns. A pawn majority means that one player has more pawns than the opponent on one side of the board. As you will see, some pawn majorities are more useful than others. USEFUL PAWN MAJORITIES In this position, both sides have useful pawn majorities. On the Queenside, for example, white has three advanced pawns facing only two black pawns. With white to move, white can make significant progress toward promoting a pawn by advancing the c-pawn forward (c5-c6). With no black pawn on c7, white threatens simply to advance the c-pawn from c6 to c7. Black can delay the advance of the white pawn temporarily by capturing on c6 (b7xc6), but white will be able to use the power of this majority to force a white pawn through no matter what black tries. Black, of course, has a useful pawn majority on the Kingside. Knowing that it is not possible to prevent white from Queening a pawn, black might instead seek a Queen by advancing the h-pawn forward to h3 (h4-h3). Here too, white can delay the advance with a capture (g2xh3), but the majority will succeed in making a passed pawn (remember, “passed pawn” is just another term for a pawn that can’t be opposed by an enemy pawn). NOT USEFUL PAWN MAJORITIES In this next position, on the Queenside, white has a three-pawn majority against only two for black, but the pawns are all fixed and the extra pawn is not capable of being forced through for promotion. Similarly, on the Kingside, black has a pawn majority, but the pawn majority is not useful. Any effort by black to advance the g-pawn will result in the pawn’s capture and in a dangerous passed pawn for white. 69 6:25 PM Page 70 Isolated Pawns Simply put, isolated pawns are single pawn islands that have no pawns on either side. Such pawns therefore cannot be defended by a pawn. Even without help, such pawns can advance aggressively, but all too often, isolated pawns are blocked, attacked, and captured. HOW TO SPOT AN ISOLATED PAWN In this position, white and black both have three pawn islands. Black’s smallest island, the e6-pawn, is an isolated pawn. Notice there are no black pawns on the d-file or on the f-file. If a white piece was to attack the black e6-pawn, black would have to defend the isolated e-pawn with a piece because there are no pawns to do the job. To try to eliminate the isolated pawn, black might try to push it to e5 in an effort to exchange it. Similarly, one of white’s island is the isolated pawn on d4. Faced with a lasting weakness, white might consider advancing the pawn to d5 in an effort to exchange it for black’s e6-pawn. Isolated pawns like these play an important role in shaping strategy. Here, black might try to double Rooks. For example, black might place a Rook or two on the d-file to place pressure on or perhaps capture the isolated white d-pawn. White could try a similar strategy, doubling the white Rooks on the e-file to attack black’s weak e6-pawn. BLOCKADE ISOLATED PAWNS WITH YOUR KNIGHTS In this next position, white and black have both succeeded in blockading each other’s isolated pawns. The white Knight on e5 occupies a key square, right in the center of the board where the black pawns will not be able to attack it. Similarly, the black Knight on d5 blockades white’s isolated d-pawn. From these key squares, the Knights will often have opportunities to lash out with forks or to assist in the attacks on each other’s Kings. 70 6 chapter The pawn in the rear of a pawn chain is called a backward pawn. There are many situations in which backward pawns are very weak and especially open to attack. HOW TO SPOT A BACKWARD PAWN There are several backward pawns in the following position. Black’s a7-pawn is a glaring example. If black moves the a7-pawn forward, white will be able to capture it on a6. Note that white would be able to capture en passant if black advanced the a-pawn two squares to a5. For a refresher on en passant captures, see Chapter 2, “Special Moves.” There are three other backward pawns in this position: f5, f2, and h2. Imagine blockading these pawns with a Knight, or mounting an attack on them with your Bishops, Rooks, and Queen. ATTACKING A BACKWARD PAWN In this position, white has succeeded in fixing and attacking black’s backward a7-pawn with both Rooks. Because no pawns can defend the backward pawn, black will either have to defend the pawn with a piece or else let white capture it. Try to imagine how to defend the a7-pawn. Perhaps you would move a Bishop to b8. Or perhaps, you would use two Rooks along the 7th rank. 71 6:25 PM Page 72 Hanging Pawns Pawn islands that have two pawns side by side are often called hanging pawns. Hanging pawns are sometimes weak and sometimes strong. If you are on the attack, try to get your opponent to move one of the pawns and then blockade the pawn chain that emerges. HOW TO SPOT HANGING PAWNS In this position, black’s pawns on c5 and d5 are said to be “hanging.” The word suggests danger, and as you will see, such pawns can bring about wonderful attacking chances or be the cause of defeat. With white to play, imagine how you might organize your pieces to attack either the c5- or the d5-pawn. Perhaps you might double your Rooks on the c- or d-file. Perhaps you might use your Knights to attack one of the pawns. In this section, there are several examples that will illustrate the potential strength and weakness of hanging pawns. 72 6 chapter HANGING PAWNS CAN BE STRONG In this position, the hanging pawns have helped black to attack the white pawn on e2 (d5-d4). Notice that the advanced black pawn on d4 helps to control the key e3 square. White cannot advance the e2-pawn without black having an opportunity to capture with the d-pawn on e3. Notice that black has assembled a massive amount of pressure on the white e2-pawn. The two Rooks and the black Bishop on a6 are all combining to pressure white’s e2-pawn. It should be clear that black’s hanging pawns are assisting in the attack. The most meaningful weakness in the position is on e2. Similarly, in this position, the hanging pawns have helped black to attack the white pawn on b2. In this case, black has advanced the c-pawn to c4 (c5-c4), helping to fix and attack the key white pawn on b2. Black’s pieces are poised here for the attack, with both Rooks and the black Bishop joining in the attack on the b2-pawn. In this case, the most meaningful pawn weakness is on b2. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:25 PM Page 74 Hanging Pawns (continued) HANGING PAWNS CAN BE WEAK In this position, the hanging pawns are very weak. Black has advanced the d-pawn to d4 (d5-d4), creating a “hole” in the pawn structure on c4. Rather than play passively and permit an attack on the e2-pawn, white has responded aggressively by fixing and then attacking the backward pawn on c5. As you can see, all four of the white pieces have joined in on the attack on black’s c5-pawn. Here, the hanging pawns are also very weak. This time, black has pushed the c-pawn to c4 (c5-c4), leaving a backward pawn on d5. White has again responded aggressively by mounting a huge attack on the backward d5pawn. As you can see, the white Knight, the two white Rooks, and white’s light-squared Bishop have all joined in the attack. 74 6 chapter Obviously, pawns can become more and more powerful as they advance toward the end of the board. By themselves, however, they can be vulnerable, blocked, and then captured. Instead, imagine a group or mass of pawns advancing in tandem. Such pawn masses are especially strong and can overwhelm your opponentâ€™s position. A Powerful Pawn Mass In this position, three black pawns have crashed through the enemy lines and together, threaten to overwhelm the white army. The simplest way for black to proceed is to advance the black d-pawn forward from d4 to d3 (d4-d3). On d3, the wellprotected pawn attacks the white Bishop on e2. Note that the Bishop, once attacked, would have no safe retreats. As you might imagine, pawn masses are fun to have. Make sure, of course, that you protect your pawns carefully. For example, in this position, if it were whiteâ€™s move, the white Bishop could capture the undefended black c4-pawn or the white Queen could safely capture the d4-pawn. 75 6:25 PM Page 76 Pawns Can Fork, Too! The lowly pawn will occasionally have a chance to show off some power. Look for opportunities to attack two pieces at the same time with your pawns. These pawn forks will almost always result in a significant gain of material, the capture of a piece worth much more than a single pawn. Pawn Forks Hereâ€™s a simple example. By advancing the white e-pawn to e5, the little white pawn will be attacking the black Rook and Knight at the same time. Be on the lookout for such moves because they often result in the gain of material. A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE In this position, white has just moved the dark-squared Bishop to f4. By advancing the black e-pawn from e6 to e5 (e6-e5), black can fork the white Bishop and the white Knight on d4. If white responds by moving the Knight, black could capture the Bishop. And of course, if white were to retreat the Bishop, black could capture the Knight. 76 6 chapter How do you stop a passed pawn? Placing a Queen or a Rook in the path of a passed pawn may not be the solution because itâ€™s too easy to force such a valuable piece to move. To prevent your opponentâ€™s passed pawn from advancing, try blockading it with a Knight. In the position at the right, the white h2-pawn is the only passed pawn because it can proceed down the h-file, all the way to the h8 Queening square without any black pawn ever being able to capture it. Stopping Passed Pawns In this position, with black to move, the Knight can prevent the white a-pawn from promoting into a Queen by blockading the pawn. Move the Knight into the corner at a8, and you will prevent the further advance of the a-pawn. Knights usually make the best blockaders. If you block a passed pawn with a more powerful piece, a Queen for example, the Queen would have to move off its blockading square if attacked by a piece of lesser value. The Knight makes the best blockader because it is the least valuable among the major (Queen and Rook) and minor (Bishop and Knight) pieces. 77 6:25 PM Page 78 Every Pawn Move Creates a Weakness As you have seen, pawn moves can be very strong. Pawns can fork, and they can promote into Queens. However, every pawn move also creates a weakness. As pawns move forward, they give up control over squares that can often become important bases for the opponentâ€™s pieces. Always consider whether your advance of a pawn is more important than the weakness that you will create. The Advance of a Pawn Creates a Weakness In this position, with black to move, black is considering the possibility of advancing the pawn on e6 to e5. The pawn move makes some sense. The pawn will move forward and force the white Knight on d4 to move. However, the pawn on e6 currently defends the d5 and f5 squares. If black advances the e-pawn to e5, both the d5 and f5 squares will become weak. 78 6 chapter Here is the position after the advance of the black e-pawn. It is true that the white Knight on d4 must move, but white has the strong move Knight d4 to f5 (Nd4-f5). On f5, the white Knight attacks the black Bishop on e7 and places more pressure on what is now a backward black pawn on d6. More important, perhaps, the advance of the black e-pawn has created a hole in the black pawn structure on the key central d5-square. For example, white is likely, within a few moves, to move the Knight on c3 into the hole on d5. Both of these key moves, Knight to f5 (Nd4-f5) and Knight to d5 (Nc3-d5), are possible because black decided to advance the e-pawn to e5. So keep in mind, all pawn moves create such weaknesses. Be sure to locate the weaknesses and consider their importance before you lash out with pawn moves. 79 Page 80 7 King and Queen Strategy The King and Queen are the two strongest pieces. The Queen has tremendous scope, especially in the open board, but it is important not to bring the Queen out too early. If you do, you might find that your opponent is able to attack the Queen and make it move again and again, often a clear waste of time. The King, of course, is the most important piece. If it is attacked and has no escape, you lose the game. Therefore, you typically want to safeguard your King before you begin your attacks. In most games, you will usually want to castle to safeguard your King and activate a Rook. Once castled, try not to move the pawns in front of your King. As you saw in Chapter 6, every pawn move creates weaknesses that your opponent may be able to exploit. 09_049839 ch07.qxp 5:58 PM Page 81 Don’t Develop Your Queen Early . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Beat Back Early Queen Aggression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Safeguard Your Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Don’t Risk Your King! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Castling Long or Short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Don’t Push Your Pawns in Front of a Castled King . . . . . . . . . . . .88 09_049839 ch07.qxp 5:58 PM Page 82 Donâ€™t Develop Your Queen Early Most of the time, you will want to develop your Knights, Bishops, and perhaps also your Rooks before you bring out your Queen. The Queen is so valuable that it is difficult early on to be sure exactly where the Queen belongs. If you advance your Queen into the middle of the board, your opponent will have a chance, for example, to develop their Knights, Bishops, and Rooks and, at the same time, attack your Queen. You will lose valuable development opportunities because you will have to move your Queen over and over again while your opponent will be properly developing many pieces. In this position, black has developed the Queen before bringing out any of the black Knights, Bishops, or Rooks. As a result, white has a very strong move, developing the Knight on b1 to c3 (Nb1-c3). The Knight develops to a strong natural square and, at the same time, attacks the Queen. The Queen, a much more valuable piece than the white Knight, will have to move again. Some players might simply retreat the black Queen to its starting square. Imagine, however, that black decides to move the Queen to e5 giving check (Qd5-e5+). Here, white has responded to the check from the Queen by developing the light-squared Bishop to e2 (Bf1-e2). Then, with white to move, white can bring out another piece, in this case the Knight on g1 to f3 yet again attacking the black Queen. As you can see, white is busy developing pieces actively while black is forced to make moves again and again with the Queen. 82 Beat Back Early Queen Aggression King and Queen Strategy 7 chapter Many beginning players have never been told, or simply don’t believe, that you shouldn’t bring the Queen out early. But, please heed my warning and fight the urge to make an early Queen move. In this position, white has broken the rule and posted the white Queen very aggressively on just the second move of the game. At first glance, you might wonder why the move is so bad. After all, the Queen attacks the undefended black pawn on e5. The Queen’s move, however, offers black a simple way to develop effectively. First, black can defend the e5-pawn by developing the Knight on b8 to c6 (Nb8-c6). On the next move, black can simply advance the g-pawn to g6, gaining time by attacking the Queen and getting ready to develop the Knight from g8 to f6 and the Bishop from f8 to g7. 83 5:58 PM Page 84 Safeguard Your Queen Rather than develop the Queen too early, where it might be a target and assist your opponentâ€™s development, try developing all of your other pieces first. That way, your opponent may not be able to figure out what you intend to do with your Queen. Remaining flexible is often a good idea in chess, especially when it comes to developing your Queen. In this position from a game between two masters, both players have placed their Queens far from the center. Neither Queen can be easily attacked, yet both are likely to aid in the later action. 84 Don’t Risk Your King! King and Queen Strategy 7 chapter The goal in chess, of course, is checkmate, an attack on the King from which there is no escape. The most important advice, therefore, is to secure your King before you launch your attacks. Masters often spend an extra move or two to make sure that their Kings are safely removed from open files and diagonals before they begin their attacks. They know from experience that complicated maneuvers will often fail because, at the end of a complicated set of moves, an exposed King will be attacked, pinned, or skewered. In this position, white has dominated the center quickly with pawns on d4 and e4 and developed a Bishop, while black has preferred to fianchetto the Queen’s Bishop (see Chapter 5 for more on fianchettos). Seeing an opportunity for a quick attack, black advances the f-pawn to f5 (f7-f5). White takes advantage of black’s poor development by capturing the pawn on f5 (e4xf5). At first glance, it would appear that white has made a terrible mistake. After all, black can now capture the white pawn on g2 with the light-squared Bishop (Bb7xg2). That move certainly looks like it will win the white Rook on h1. However, white has a very powerful response that takes advantage of the undeveloped black King. White plays the Queen to h5, giving check (Qd1-h5+). As you can see, the King cannot move. Black has no choice but to block the check by advancing the g-pawn (g7-g6). CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:58 PM Page 86 Donâ€™t Risk Your King! (continued) As this next position shows, white has continued the attack by capturing the black g6-pawn with the white pawn on f5 (f5xg6). Black simply does not have time to capture the white Rook on h1 because any move by the white pawn on g6 will be checkmate! Black therefore decides to develop the Knight on g8 to f6 (Ng8-f6), attacking the white Queen. White now has a fabulous checkmate in two more moves. White continues with pawn take pawn (g6xh7), sacrificing the Queen to the f6 Knight! Here is the position after black responds with the only possible move, Knight captures Queen (Nf6xh5). White ends the game with the amazing Bishop to g6 checkmate (Bd3g6#)! This wonderful game emphasizes the need for more rapid development and making sure that your King is safe before your lash out with an attack. 86 7 chapter Generally speaking, it is safer to castle on the Kingside (short). Simply put, there is less space to defend. On the Queenside (long), you often have to spend time moving your King at least once more toward the corner. Of course, there are exceptions. If your opponent has castled Kingside, consider castling Queenside in order to launch an attack that includes the advance of the Kingside pawns. Here, white has castled on the Queenside, while black has castled on the Kingside. White gains an advantage because the white Rook lands on an open file. But the white King has a bit more space to defend. An attack by black on the white a-pawn might require white to move the King again or to advance the apawn. And, of course, after castling on the Queenside, the white King is exposed on the c1-h6 diagonal By contrast, blackâ€™s King is slightly safer. The King is not exposed to any checks, and all of blackâ€™s Kingside pawns are defended. However, unlike the white Rook, the black Rook is usually not on an open file after castling on the Kingside. In this example, white has castled Queenside and taken the added precaution of moving the King further to b1. On c1, the King would rest on a file that black is likely to use to double the black Rooks. By castling on the Queenside, white is able to advance the Kingside pawns forward in a menacing way. White might continue, for example, by advancing the g- or h-pawn again. Black has castled Kingside here, and is not without possibilities. With black to move, black would likely advance the b-pawn to attack the white Knight (b5-b4). There are good attacking chances for both sides in this position. White will be attempting to coordinate an attack on blackâ€™s Kingside with moves like g5-g6 and Qd2-h2. Black must not wait for the attack, but rather move aggressively against the white King with moves such as b5-b4, Rf8-c8, and perhaps Nc6-e5-c4. 87 5:58 PM Page 88 Don’t Push Your Pawns in Front of a Castled King In Chapter 6, “Pawn Strategy,” you learned that every pawn move creates a weakness. This section presents three additional examples that demonstrate the consequence of advancing pawns in front of a castled King. In this first example, black has advanced the g-pawn (g7-g6). As a result, two squares have become weak: f6 and h6. Both of these are squares that the pawn controlled before moving forward. White has many different moves that might take advantage of these weaknesses. For example, white might move the Queen to c3 or to h6, threatening to deliver checkmate with the Queen on the g7 square. Or white might simply advance the h-pawn to h5 in an effort to open the h-file and to blow apart the black Kingside. Generally speaking, the more moves made in front of a castled King, the more vulnerable the King will be. 88 7 chapter In this second example, black has weakened the Kingside by advancing the h-pawn to h6. As a result, white has at least two plans for breaking through. First, white could simply challenge the black h6-pawn by playing g4 to g5. Note that the white h-pawn, the Rook, and the Queen all support the g4 to g5 advance. But let’s consider an interesting alternative. The advance of the black h-pawn has created a short pawn chain. The black h6-pawn is the strong pawn in the chain. By contrast, the black pawn on g7 is the weak pawn in the chain. White might therefore consider the pawn move f5 to f6. Black’s movement of the black g7-pawn to g6 or f6 would permit white to capture the h6pawn with the Queen. If, instead, black advanced the g-pawn to g5, white could pry apart the Kingside with the h4 to g5 pawn capture (h4xg5). And black’s third option of leaving the pawn on g7 would, of course, permit the f6 to g7 pawn capture, (f6xg7). Things don’t look good for black. In this last example, black has advanced two pawns in front of the King. Again, the weakness of black’s Kingside creates many good options for white. For example, the white Queen might move to d3 or e4 in order to threaten Queen to h7 checkmate. Or the white Queen might move to h5 in order to attack the backward black h-pawn. Or white could simply advance the h-pawn to h4 in an effort to break apart black’s pawn structure. You don’t need to remember all of the details. However, you should remember that moving the pawns in front of a castled King exposes the King to many dangers. Advance those pawns at your own peril. 89 Page 90 8 Opening Strategy Now that you know how to set up the board and how to move and activate the pieces and pawns, it’s time to start putting it all together. Playing chess is very much like being a commander in a war. You are in control of all your pieces. Some beginners make the mistake of bringing out only one or two pieces, while leaving the rest of their army on their original squares. To play a good game, it’s important to try to coordinate all of the pieces in your army. In this chapter, you will learn about using all of your pieces to fight for the center the board. You will see why it’s important to develop your Knights before your Bishops and why you should limit the number of early pawn moves. If you place your pieces on active squares, you will find that your attacks succeed more often. 10_049839 ch08.qxp 6:26 PM Page 91 Fight for the Center of the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 An Ideal Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 Knights Before Bishops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Limit Your Early Pawn Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Complete Your Development Before You Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 Gain Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Limit Exchanges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Avoid Exchanging Bishops for Knights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107 10_049839 ch08.qxp 6:26 PM Page 92 Fight for the Center of the Board The center of the chessboard forms the high ground in a chess battle. If you dominate the center of the board, your attacks are very likely to succeed. Two Common Opening Moves for White The absolute center consists of the four squares highlighted here (d4, d5, e4, and e5). From the very beginning of the game, you want to fight for control over these squares. The two most common first moves for white are pawn e2 to e4 (1.e2-e4) and pawn d2 to d4 (1.d2-d4). These moves have merit. If you open the game with e2 to e4, as in this example, you can see that the pawn already occupies one of the key center squares and exercises control over another central square, d5. Note: Remember that a numeral followed by a period in chess notation indicates the move number. For a refresher, see “Chess Notation” in Chapter 1. Notice also that the white Bishop on f1 and the white Queen on d1 gain the ability to move out. Although you have already learned not to develop your Queen too early, having these early mobility options often proves useful. For example, black should not reply with the move b7 to b5 (1.b7-b5) because white’s Bishop on f1 would be able to capture it. 92 8 chapter In addition to staking a claim in the center, white’s e2-e4 opening move has an important threat. Here, the threat is simply the move that white would make if white could move again—d2 to d4 (2.d2-d4)—taking full command over the center of the board. The two pawns together, if unopposed, occupy two of the squares in the center and exercise control over the other two center squares. White’s other main possibility at the beginning of the game is d2 to d4 (1.d2-d4). Here, too, the pawn occupies one of the central squares and helps control another key square, e5. In this case, the move provides additional mobility for the white Bishop on c1 and carries the obvious second move threat of e2 to e4 (2.e2-e4). These first moves are bit like a religion: Some players believe firmly in one or the other. Players who prefer e2 to e4 (1.e2-e4) tend to be highly tactical players—players who prefer highly complicated contests that require careful calculation. By contrast, players who open the game with d2 to d4 (1.d2-d4) tend to be more positional players, who prefer a calmer, more strategic approach to chess. In my experience, younger players tend to prefer opening games with 1.e2-e4, and more seasoned players often prefer 1.d2-d4. 93 6:26 PM Page 94 An Ideal Setup You wonâ€™t always be able to obtain this ideal setup (described in detail below) for your pieces; in fact, the moves that you make will depend on what your opponent does. But the following position represents a goal, an ideal position that you might want to obtain if your opponent puts up very little resistance. Your Goal In this position, white has complete command over the center of the board. The two pawns on d4 and e4 occupy two of the squares in the center. White is exercising very strong control over the d5-square. As you can see, the Knight on c3 (Nc3), the Bishop on c4 (Bc4), and the pawn on e4 all help control the key d5-square. White also has excellent control over the key e5square. The pawn on d4 and the Knight on f3 (Nf3) are both attacking e5. 94 8 chapter Place Your Pieces on Their Best Squares In this ideal setup, white has succeeded in developing every piece. The Rooks occupy the central files and exert influence over the center. Having castled on the Kingside, the white King is safe. Both Bishops have been developed, and the white Queen, while developed, is posted where it will not be easily subject to attack. Note that white is now fully prepared for the next step—an attack on the black King. For example, the white Bishop on c4 (Bc4) is attacking black’s f7-pawn, the weakest spot in black’s beginning setup. The f7 pawn is weak because only the black King defends it. Keep in mind that every move in chess is important. Beginners often make the mistake of moving the same piece or a small number of pieces over and over again. In the early part of the game, try to place your pieces on strong natural squares, squares that will help to control the center or, like the Bc4, control key diagonals. Try not to move a piece more than once or at most twice in the first ten moves of the game . . . unless by doing so you can capture (or recapture) a piece or force your opponent to retreat. In other words, don’t start attacking until all or at least most of your pieces are developed. TIP Get Online The Internet offers a full range of chess activities and never-ending opportunities to play. Many websites even provide free instruction. Not surprisingly, my top recommendation is www.queen sac.com, a site that I began nearly 20 years ago. In addition to free instruction, there are thousands of free games to play through. Another Web gathering place for chess enthusiasts is www.chesscafe.com. Here you’ll find instructional articles for beginners, several book reviews, and some fascinating archives for those who enjoy the history of the game. To improve your tactics and your endgame, visit http://chess.about.com/od/improveyourgame; this site contains numerous exercises. 95 6:26 PM Page 96 Knights Before Bishops As my Uncle Joe used to say, “Knights before Bishops, Knights before Bishops, Knights before Bishops.” I think that he said it three times because he really meant it. There are exceptions, but moving Bishops first can cost time later because the Bishop may be posted on a square that in a few moves, if not immediately, could be attacked. So make my uncle happy and move your Knights before you move your Bishops! Advantages to Developing Knights First Most of the time, it is fairly clear where the Knights should be developed. The best squares for the Bishops become apparent a bit later. In this position, white has opened the game with e2 to e4 (1.e2-e4). Black, in an effort to prevent white from carrying out the threat of d2 to d4 for it’s second move (2.d2-d4), has responded with an opening move of e7 to e5 (1.e7-e5). This popular response is a favorite at chess tournaments. For its second move, white has several options. Both Knights can develop to their natural squares on c3 and f3. Knight to f3 (2.Ng1-f3) is the preferred response for several reasons. This Knight move attacks the black pawn on e5, and it helps prepare for castling by clearing a square between the King and the h1-Rook. The Knight on f3 also supports the later move d2-d4, an important part of the effort to control the center of the board. 96 8 chapter Disadvantages to Developing Bishops First All of the possible moves by white’s light-squared Bishops are considered not as good. Playing Bishop f1 to a6 (2.Bf1-a6) is the worst Bishop move, not because the move does not help white control the center, but because the black pawn on b7 and the black Knight on b8 both control the a6 square. A second move of Bishop f1 to a6 would lose the Bishop! Note: You may come across “?” or “??” in chess notation. The “?” indicates a bad move, and “??” a very bad move. Therefore, the Bishop f1 to a6 move detailed above can also be notated as 2.Bf1-a6??. A second move of Bishop f1 to d3 (2.Bf1-d3) is also considered very weak. On d3, the Bishop would defend the white e4pawn, but it also blocks the advance of the important white d-pawn. If the d-pawn can’t move, white’s dark-squared Bishop on c1 might also have a difficult time entering the game. Even Bishop f1 to b5 (2.Bf1-b5) is considered a poor second move because black will be able to play either pawn a7 to a6 (2.a7-a6) or even pawn c7 to c6 (2.c7-c6), attacking the Bishop and forcing it to move again. Your goal with the Bishops is to place them on strong natural squares. If it isn’t clear which Bishop move is best, you will want to wait until you have a clear reason why one move might be better than the others. Here, white has played Knight g1 to f3 (2.Ng1-f3), attacking black’s e5-pawn. Black has responded to the threat by playing Knight b8 to c6 (2.Nb8-c6). As you can see, the black Knight on c6 defends the black e5-pawn. In this position, white is finally ready to consider moving the Bishop on f1 (Bf1). Many players try Bishop f1 to c4 (3.Bf1-c4), preparing to castle by clearing the squares between the King and h1-Rook and beginning to place pressure on the weak f7-square. (Remember, the f7-pawn is weak because only the King is defending it.) The best third move for white, however, is probably Bishop f1 to b5 (3.Bf1-b5). It is a move that was bad just a move ago. But now, the Bishop arrives on b5 with an attack on the black Knight on c6 (Nc6), all with the idea of putting more pressure on the black e5-pawn. White’s idea is simple enough. Perhaps, by capturing the black c6-Knight (Bb5xc6), white will be able to win the black pawn on e5 in its fourth move. Black will be busy responding with a Bishop recapture (b7xc6 or d7xc6) for its third move. 97 6:26 PM Page 98 Limit Your Early Pawn Moves Quick development is one of the main keys to success in chess. The winner of the game is often the player who, after just ten moves, has the most pieces bearing down on the center. With that in mind, early pawn moves that do not have a bearing on the center could be a waste of time. Avoid Early Maneuvers on the Flank Certainly, early in the game, try to limit the number of moves made by pawns on the a-, b-, g-, and h-files (these files are called flanks because theyâ€™re on the outside edges of the board). The following example is a bit extreme. White began by playing g2 to g4 (1.g2-g4) and has continued by advancing the f-pawn (2.f2-f3). Black can punish such play very quickly, in this case with a Queen to h4 checkmate (2.Qd8-h4#)â€”the fastest possible mate. Very few players will fall into that quick checkmate. Here is a more practical example. Black, a beginner, has developed only on the flanks. White, a more experienced player, has taken quick control over the center, castled, and even developed a Rook to the e-file. By contrast, black has no control over the center other than two attacks from the Bishops. Black would also like to castle on the Kingside in order to safeguard the King, but to do so, the black Knight on g8 (Ng8) would have to move first. The natural move, of course, is Knight on g8 to f6 (Ng8-f6). However, the strong white pawn center makes that move very hard to play, as explained on the next page. 98 8 chapter Here is the position after Knight g8 to f6 (Ng8-f6). White can respond powerfully with pawn e4 to e5 (e4-e5), taking further command over the center and forcing the poor f6Knight (Nf6) to move again. Notice that if the Knight moves again to d5, g4, or h5, it will be subject to another attack from a white pawn. The worst of these choices is perhaps Knight to h5 (Nf6-h5). By moving to h5, the Knight has moved to the rim and no longer has any safe moves. White might be reluctant to weaken the position in front of the King, but the attacking move pawn g2-g4 (g2-g4) will win the Knight. Like many games, chess has its tradeoffs. In this instance, the capture of the black Knight should compensate white for the weakening of the Kingside. The real point, of course, is to fight for the center and to avoid early maneuvers on the flank that cede the center to your opponent. 99 6:26 PM Page 100 Complete Your Development Before You Attack All too often, beginners tend to begin their attacks before they have completed developing their pieces. Be sure to develop first, then attack. Develop First Here is a typical example of such a mistake. In this position, white probably should develop the Knight from b1 to c3 (Nb1c3), or simply castle. Instead, white launches an aggressive attack on the black Kingside with Knight from f3 to g5 (Nf3-g5). White sees that having the Knight on g5 (Ng5), and the white Bishop on c4 (Bc4) will combine to attack the black f7-pawn twice. For the moment, at least, black has only a single defender of f7, the black King. 100 8 chapter Here is the position after black’s response, castling Kingside. As you can see, by castling, black now defends the key f7-pawn twice, with the Rook on f8 (Rf8) as well as the King. Intent on the attack, white mistakenly lashes forward, moving the Knight yet again to capture on f7 (Nf3xf7). Black will respond, capturing the white Knight with its Rook (Rf8xf7), and then white answers by capturing the black Rook with its c4-Bishop, putting the King in check (Bc4xf7+). The black King then captures the white Bishop (Kg8xf7). The trade of two minor pieces, in this case a Knight and a Bishop, for a Rook and pawn is rarely a good idea so early in the game. See the next position below for how this plays out. After the captures have cleared on f7, black’s position is well developed. The two Knights are on natural squares, c6 and f6, helping to control the center. The Bishop on c5 (Bc5) is also well placed. Black is likely to continue development with pawn d7 to d6 (d7-d6), bringing the Bishop from c8 to e6 (Bc8-e6), retreating the King back to g8 for safety (Kf7g8), and then finding files for the Queen and the remaining Rook, probably on the f-file. By clear contrast, white’s development has suffered. Both Rooks, the Knight, the Bishop, and the Queen are—as masters like to say— still “in the box;” they haven’t moved from their starting positions. White has made very little progress, while black has an excellent plan to activate every piece. The cause of this catastrophe for white was the premature attack on f7. Rather than lash out by moving the same piece three times in the opening, white should simply have tried to develop slowly, bringing out all or most of the pieces before commencing the attack. 101 6:26 PM Page 102 Gain Time As you are developing, pay attention to your opponent’s moves. Is your opponent threatening to capture one of your pieces? Did your opponent leave a piece undefended where it can be successfully captured at little or no cost to you? Almost as important, can you gain time by forcing your opponent to retreat? Alekhine’s Defense In this position, black has responded to white’s opening move of pawn e2 to e4 (1.e2e4) with the very sharp Knight g8 to f6 (1.Ng8-f6). This opening—known as Alekhine’s Defense, after former world champion Alexander Alekhine—prevents white from playing a second move of pawn d2 to d4 (2.d2d4) because black’s first move threatens to capture the white pawn on e4. White could decide to defend the e4-pawn with pawn d2 to d3 (2.d2-d3), but the white d-pawn really would like to develop directly to d4. White therefore decides to gain time by advancing the e-pawn for a second time to e5 (e4-e5). The second advance of the white epawn might appear to break the rule of developing a piece only once, but the advance does present the black Knight with a problem. Black mistakenly advances the attacked Knight to e4 (Nf6-e4). Knight f6 to d5 (Nf6-d5) is the main line, although the Knight can also be attacked there by the white pawns. In this position, white can continue to attack the black Knight with its d2-pawn (3.d2-d3), gaining time for rapid development. Here is the position after the third moves by white (d2d3) and black (Ne4-c5). (These moves can be notated together as 3.d2-d3 Ne4-c5). Note: When both white’s move and black’s move are notated together, they are preceded by the move number, with white’s move always being listed first, as above. The poor black Knight is being forced to move again and again, while white is successfully establishing a strong pawn center. White’s next move is likely to be d3 to d4 (4.d3-d4), followed by the rapid deployment of the white Knights to f3 and c3. 102 8 chapter Many beginners feel that they ought to exchange piecesâ€”Knights for Knights, Bishops for Bishops, Rooks for Rooksâ€”whenever they have the opportunity. As a general rule, exchanges are not often advantageous because they only help an opponent gain time for development. Avoid Early Exchanges In this position, both sides have been developing normally, bringing out their Knights first. With white to move, white has an opportunity to exchange Knights on c6 or to develop a Bishop. The best move is probably to develop the Bishop on f1 to c4 (Bf1-c4). If, instead, white decides to capture the black Knight on c6 (Nd4xc6), black will simply recapture with the b7-pawn (b7xc6) and gain time for development. The pawn on c6 would be useful in supporting the later advance of the black d-pawn. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:26 PM Page 104 Limit Exchanges (continued) It is possible that white feared that black would exchange Knights on d4. Here is the position after the white Bishop moves from f1 to c4 (6.Bf1-c4) and the exchange of Knights on d4. It is true that white, in recapturing on d4, had to develop the Queen aggressively and early (Qd1xNd4). Notice, however, that black does not have a useful, immediate way to attack the white Queen. The black pawn move of e7 to e5 (7.e7-e5) permanently weakens the d6-pawn and creates a hole at d5. If black instead moves the Queen from d8 to b6 (7.Qd8-b6) white can exchange Queens, which will in turn result in doubled black pawns on the b-file. In Many Openings, One Exchange Is Useful Waiting for your opponent to do the exchanging is usually good because most recapturing often improves your position. In many openings, however, one exchange is advantageous. In this position, white opened with e2 to e4 (1.e2-e4), and black responded with e7 to e6 (1.e7-e6), the French Defense. The idea behind the French Defense is to delay the fight for the center by one move. Note: In the early 1800s, a Paris team used this opening move to defeat a London team in a correspondence match, thus the name French Defense. For more on correspondence chess, see page 134 in Chapter 10. 104 8 chapter As you can see, black made no effort to prevent white from taking full command over the center. So white proceeds with the usual strategy, playing pawn d2 to d4 (2.d2-d4). Black responds immediately with d7 to d5 (2.d7d5), a move that instantly places pressure on the white e4-pawn. Following the idea of limiting exchanges, white declines to capture the pawn on d5 (3.e4xd5). Rather, white pursues straightforward development with the b1-Knight to c3 (3.Nb1-c3), defending the e4-pawn and placing additional pressure on blackâ€™s d5-pawn. Black responds with the Classical Variation of the French Defense, developing itâ€™s g8-Knight to f6 (3.Ng8-f6). With a Knight on f6, black places more pressure on the white e4-pawn. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:26 PM Page 106 Limit Exchanges (continued) In this position, white has an important choice. White could push the e-pawn from e4 to e5 (e4-e5), establishing a small pawn chain on d4 and e5. If white were to do that, its light-squared Bishop would become good. White’s dark-squared Bishop, however, would become bad (trapped by the fixed pawns on the d4 and e5 dark squares). At the same time, black’s lightsquared Bishop on c8 would become bad, trapped by its own pawns, while black’s dark-squared Bishop would become good. Note: For a refresher on good and bad Bishops, see Chapter 5, “Bishop Strategy.” White’s interest is in trying to exchange the bad Bishop on g5 (Bg5) for black’s good dark-squared Bishop. To prevent the loss of the Knight, black “unpins” with its Bishop, moving it from f8 to e7 (Bf8-e7). On g5, the white Bishop is pinning the black Knight on f6 and threatening to play e4-e5, attacking and perhaps winning the pinned Knight. Now, of course, after white advances its e4 pawn to e5 (5.e4-e5) and the black Knight retreats from f6 to d7 (5.Nf6-d7), white will succeed in exchanging the bad dark-squared Bishop for black’s good Bishop. 106 Avoid Exchanging Bishops for Knights Opening Strategy 8 chapter As you have seen, Bishops can dominate Knights, and Bishops tend to be more useful than Knights so long as the board is not sealed shut by long-fixed pawn structures. Exchanging a Bishop for a Knight too early in the game is a very risky strategy, even if the exchange brings about doubled pawns. The reason is that, early in the game, the pawn structure is not yet set. The person with the extra Bishop can aim to keep the board open so their extra Bishop will be able to work well. Here is a position early in a game after white opens d2 to d4, black opens Knight g8 to f6, and white responds Bishop c1 to g5 (1.d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2.Bc1-g5). This opening, called the Trompowski, breaks the important rule of developing a Bishop before the Knights. White’s strategy, perhaps flawed, is to weaken the black pawn structure by capturing the black Knight on f6. Here is the same game a few moves later. Note that the black f-pawns are indeed doubled. In compensation, black has aggressively posted the dark-squared Bishop on g7. This Bishop is quite strong because it is well posted on the long diagonal and because white no longer has a dark-squared Bishop to challenge it. Black may not be able to castle safely on the Kingside, but black could later in the game be able to post a Rook or even double Rooks on the open g-file. Note also that black’s f5-pawn is preventing white from developing normally with e3-e4. The point, of course, is that such early exchanges of Bishops for Knights are very committal and might determine who will have winning chances. It’s best to avoid such exchanges if you have the Bishop and, of course, to seek such exchanges if you have the Knight. 107 Page 108 9 Opening Variations The beginning moves of a chess game, the first phase of the game, are called the opening. Some players spend years memorizing long opening variations, but you can get far in chess with a firm understanding of just a few key principles. Make sure that you fight for control of the center of the board. In your fight for the center, try to limit the number of your pawn moves. Before you attack, try to develop most of your pieces on squares that help control the center and from which they can’t easily be attacked. In other words, pick safe, good squares for your pieces, and don’t keep moving one piece if you have many other pieces that have not been moved. Of course, don’t play like a robot. You can have a good plan or idea for where all your pieces may go, but carefully watch the moves that your opponent makes. If your opponent makes a move that threatens something, it’s often best to eliminate that threat before you continue with your development. Most of the openings in this section conform to these principles. I have also included a set of bad openings that break these rules. As you will see, there are good reasons to avoid such moves. One more thing: In previous chapters, I described moves with both text (move the Knight on b4 to c2) and with chess notation (Nb4-c2). In this chapter through the end of the book, you’ll see that I mainly use chess notation to identify pieces and to describe moves. Review the “Chess Notation” section in Chapter 1 for a refresher on this notation. 11_049839 ch09.qxp 5:56 PM Page 109 Double King Pawn Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Other Replies to 1.e2-e4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Double Queen Pawn Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123 Indian Defenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 Two Bad Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 11_049839 ch09.qxp 5:56 PM Page 110 Double King Pawn Openings A number of interesting openings begin with the moves 1.e2-e4 e7-e5. This is called a double King pawn opening because King’s pawns (the pawn directly in front of each King) advance two squares. Black’s first move prevents white from establishing a broad pawn center with pawns on e4 and d4. Like white’s first move, 1.e7-e5 provides the black Bishop on f8 (Bf8) and the black Queen with some mobility. Alternatives to 2.Ng1-f3 In this common opening position, white has several logical ideas for its second move. I examine the most common choice, 2.Ng1-f3, just below. In this section, I introduce several interesting alternatives for white. The King’s Gambit offers a pawn in exchange for quick development. The Vienna Game offers a tamer alternative that will permit you to develop quickly. The Center Game is a less favored choice because white’s Queen enters the game too early. KING’S GAMBIT (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.F2-F4 The famous King’s Gambit continues with 2.f2-f4. Black, of course, will often simply capture the pawn on f4 with e5xf4. Gambits are openings that offer material, here the white pawn on f4, in exchange for space or rapid development. As a result of the capture on f4, black takes a material advantage, the extra pawn on f4. White offers the f-pawn in the King’s Gambit in an effort to obtain immediate control over the center with 3.Ng1-f3 and 4.d2-d4. Black has interesting ideas here as well. If white does not play 3.Ng1-f3, black could try the very aggressive 3.Qd8-h4+. If white does play 3.Ng1-f3, black can play 3.g7-g5, a move that breaks the rule about fighting for the center but the move does hold on to the extra pawn and it threatens 4.g5-g4. Note: The King’s Gambit, defined by the moves 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2. f2-f4 was a favorite opening choice during the 19th century. It remains appealing because, at the cost of only a pawn, white gains full control over the center with d2-d4 as well as an open f-file. 110 9 chapter THE VIENNA GAME (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.NB1-C3) The Vienna Game, 2.Nb1-c3, is another option. Rather than offer the f-pawn with 2.f2-f4, white prepares the advance of the fpawn with moves such as 3.Bf1-c4, 4.d2-d3, and then 5.f2-f4, when white’s Bishop (Bc1) would be able to recapture on f4. Note: The Vienna Game, defined by the moves 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Nb1-c3 is a cousin of the King’s Gambit. Rather than play 2.f2-f4 immediately, white postpones the move in the hope of getting more pieces developed before the attack starts. The disadvantage of the Vienna Game is that white’s second move does not contain an immediate threat. Black can therefore respond aggressively with 2.Ng8-f6. If white continues with the plan of 3.Bf1-c4, black has an interesting tactical shot. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 112 Double King Pawn Openings (continued) Black can play 3.Nf6xe4 because, if white recaptures on e4 with 4.Nc3xe4, black can recover a piece with an amazing pawn fork. As you can see in this diagram, the pawn move 4.d7-d5 is attacking both the Bishop (Bc4) and the Knight (Ne4). Of course, white wasnâ€™t required to recapture on e4. Instead, the most interesting move for white is the very aggressive 4.Qd1-h5. In this position, white is already threatening checkmate on f7, as well as to recapture the white Knight on e4. Black would need to retreat Ne4-d6 to stop both threats with an interesting and complex game ahead. 112 9 chapter THE CENTER GAME (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.D2-D4) The Center Game is a relatively poor opening choice for white. Although white’s second move does place pressure on the center, white will find that, after black counters with 2.e5xd4, there is simply no good way to recapture. Recapturing the d4-pawn with 3.Qd1xd4 places the white Queen prematurely in the center where it will be easy for black to attack with Nb8-c6. As you might imagine, an early Ng1-f3 would have improved white’s plan, because the Knight on f3 rather than the Queen would then be able to recapture on d4. Continuing with 2.Ng1-f3 The most common second move for white after 1.e2-e4 e7-e5 is simply to develop the Knight on g1 to f3 (Ng1-f3). The Knight move threatens to capture the black pawn on e5, develops the Knight to a logical square that exerts influence over two central squares (d4 and e5), helps to prepare the advance of the white d-pawn to d4, and the move brings white a little closer to castling. The openings in this section all begin with 2.Ng1-f3. THE RUY LOPEZ (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.NG1-F3 NB8-C6 3.BF1-B5) For the reasons stated just above, most players find that 2.Ng1-f3 is the most logical second move for white. Black’s most common response is to defend the black e5-pawn by playing Nb8-c6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 114 Double King Pawn Openings (continued) White’s third move, 3.Bf1-b5, defines the opening as the Ruy Lopez, or the Spanish game. The Bishop on b5 threatens to capture the black Knight that is defending the black e-pawn. Just as important, the Bishop move prepares white to castle on the Kingside and then to bring the King’s Rook to e1, where it will exert significant support for the center. Note: A Spanish priest named Ruy Lopez wrote at length about this opening in 1561. The opening remains popular today and is regularly revitalized by the strongest players with fresh analysis. The opening maintains the pressure on the black center and often leads to a complex struggle for control over the center of the board. In the Ruy Lopez, white will often proceed very slowly, preparing the move d2-d4. Here is an ideal setup for white in the Ruy Lopez. Note that white has prepared the advance d2d4 with c2-c3. If black were to capture on d4, white would recapture with the c3-pawn, maintaining a strong pawn center. Note also that white’s Queen’s Knight has reached the g3-square, where it usefully supports the white pawn on e4 and aims to advance aggressively with Ng3-f5. To get to the g3 square, the Knight followed the interesting path Nb1-d2-f1-g3, a very common maneuver in the Ruy Lopez. Finally, note that black “kicked” the white Bishop on b5 back to b3 with both a7 to a6 and then with b7 to b5. This Bishop is sometimes called the Ruy Bishop. If white succeeds in advancing the center pawns, this Bishop can become a very powerful force in assisting attacks on black’s Kingside. If the central pawns become fixed, this “Ruy Bishop” could remain bad. 114 9 chapter THE SCOTCH GAME (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.NG1-F3 NB8-C6 3.D2-D4) White does not have to play 3.Bf1-b5. On the third move, white has the choice of entering the Scotch game with 3.d2-d4. Unlike the Ruy Lopez, in which white carefully prepares the d2-d4 advance, in the Scotch game, white plays the move straight away. The move often leads to quick exchanges that can limit white’s attacking chances, which is the main reason strong chess players prefer the Ruy Lopez to the Scotch game. Note: The Scotch game received its name from a correspondence chess game played between Edinburgh and London in 1824. A 19th century favorite of Grandmasters Blackburne and Chigorin, the opening has been played more and more lately by the best players. PETROV’S DEFENSE (1.E2-E4 E7-E5 2.NG1-F3 NG8-F6) Rather than defending the e-pawn on the second move, black has the option of counterattacking with Petrov’s Defense. As you can see, like white, black has also developed the King’s Knight, ignoring the attack on the e5pawn, and instead countering with an attack on the white e4-pawn. At first glance, it would seem that each side now has the opportunity to capture a pawn. White can play 3.Nf3xe5 and black could respond with 3.Nf6xe4. Note: Petrov’s Defense is named after Alexander Petrov, a 19th-century Russian chess player. An alternative spelling is Petroff’s Defense, and in Europe, it’s sometimes called the Russian game. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 116 Double King Pawn Openings (continued) In this position, both players have captured a pawn but white also has a very strong response with 4.Qd1-e2. Note that the two Knight captures have completely opened up the e-file. With the move 4.Qd1-e2, white immediately threatens to capture the undefended black Knight on e4. Black cannot continue to copy whiteâ€™s moves because, after 4.Qd8-e7, the white Queen will successfully capture the black Knight on e4. Black has an enormous problem in this position. If black moves the Knight on e4 away, say to f6, white will be able to take full advantage of the open e-file with a powerful discovered check. 116 9 chapter The best move for white after black’s 4.Ne4-f6 is the amazing 5.Ne5-c6, revealing a check from the Queen. The discovered check will, no matter what black does, result in the loss of the black Queen to the white Knight! Correct Play in Petrov’s Defense Rather than copy white’s capture in the center, black must first attack the advanced white Knight. Here, black has played the essential move, 3.d7-d6, attacking the white Knight on e5 and forcing it to move away. Once the Knight moves off, black will be able to capture successfully on e4 without having to face the devastating discovered check. 117 5:56 PM Page 118 Other Replies to 1.e2-e4 After white’s 1.e2-e4 opening, black is not obligated to play 1.e7-e5. In fact, many of the alternative replies in this section are among the most popular choices. Black can choose from dynamic openings such as the Sicilian, the French, the Caro-Kann, and Alekhine’s Defense. The Sicilian Defense (1.e2-e4 c7-c5) Black’s first move, 1.c7-c5, defines the opening as a Sicilian. Black’s move is aggressive. It immediately aims to prevent white from taking command over the center with d2-d4. With just one move, black intends to capture white’s central pawn when it reaches d4 and, by so doing, open up the c-file for activity with black’s Rooks. Note: The Sicilian Defense received its name in the 17th century from the Italian master Greco. Today, the Sicilian is a regular guest at every chess tournament and a favorite of Grandmasters like Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. In the Sicilian, white usually develops actively with 2.Ng1-f3 and then 3.d2-d4. When black captures on d4 with the c5-pawn, white intends to recapture with the Knight on f3 rather than the Queen. Here is a typical Sicilian position after just five moves by each side. White has played d2-d4 and, after a pawn capture, recaptured with a Knight from f3. Both sides have developed their other Knights to posts that help to exert some control over the center. Black has also played the move d7-d6 in an effort to develop the Bishop on c8 and to exert additional control over the e5-square. Notice that black’s c-file is now open. Black’s plan might be to develop the Bishop Bf8-e7 (with e7-e6 first or to g7 with g7-g6 first), and then to castle on the Kingside. Within the next dozen moves, or so, black would hope to have doubled Rooks on the c-file. 118 9 chapter The French Defense (1.e2-e4 e7-e6) In the French Defense, with 1.e7-e6, black makes no immediate effort to prevent white from playing 2.d2-d4. Here is the basic position in the French Defense after just two moves by each player. As you can see, white has placed both central pawns on their best squares. Black has countered with one pawn in the center, the d5-pawn, supported by the e6-pawn. Note: For an explanation of how this defense got it’s name, please see “Limit Exchanges” in Chapter 8. Advocates of the French Defense are a loyal bunch, sticking with their approach despite the cramped nature of its positions. Most positions in the French Defense involve an immediate or slightly delayed e4-e5 pawn push by white. Note that, in this position, the black Bishop on c8 is a bad Bishop because it is already trapped by its own fixed pawns on e6 and d5. Note also that both sides have fixed pawn chains. White would like to proceed aggressively against the black Kingside with moves such as Ng1-f3, Bf1-d3, and perhaps even h2-h4 and Rh1-h3. Black would likely play against the relative weak d4-pawn and break up white’s central pawn chain by playing c7-c5 and then Nb8c6. Both sides have active and interesting play. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 120 Other Replies to 1.e2-e4 (continued) The Caro-Kann Defense (1.e2-e4 c7-c6) In a strategy very similar to the French Defense, black delays the fight against white’s center for one move, but this time beginning with 1.c7-c6, the Caro-Kann Defense. As you can see, black has again used a pawn to support the d7-d5 pawn push on black’s second move. In one key respect, the Caro-Kann is better than the French Defense because the black pawns do not imprison the black Bishop on c8. Indeed, in this opening, black’s lightsquared Bishop will be able to play a much more active role than its counterpart in the French Defense. Note: The Caro-Kann was little understood and barely played until the 1890s when H. Caro of Berlin and M. Kann of Vienna began to play it regularly. World Champion Jose Capablanca used it in a 1922 match. Other World Champions, notably Tigran Petrosian and Anatoly Karpov, have been advocates of the Caro-Kann. Here is a typical position in the Caro-Kann after just four moves. Black has captured in the center with d5xe4, and the white Knight, which entered the game on c3, has recaptured. Black has taken advantage of the CaroKann pawn structure to activate the light-squared Bishop from c8 to f5. As you can see, this Bishop is far more active than the Bishop in the French Defense. In this position, white must either defend or move the currently undefended Knight on e4. The most commonly played move for white here is to retreat the Knight to g3, attacking the black Bishop on f5 and forcing black to retreat it— most commonly to g6. 120 9 chapter Note that, in this position after the white Knight plays Ne4-g3 and the black Bishop moves Bf5-g6, the black Bishop winds up three squares away from the white Knight. As you saw in Chapter 5, “Bishop Strategy,” Bishops can dominate Knights in this manner. A typical white plan from this position involves the idea of a quick flank attack with h2-h4, threatening to trap the Bg6 with h4-h5. Black can respond by making “luft” (the German word for space) for its Bishop with h7-h6. Alekhine’s Defense Alekhine’s Defense, named after former world champion Alexander Alekhine, is not for beginners. On the very first move, black prevents white from playing 2.d2-d4 by challenging the white e4-pawn directly. As you saw in Chapter 8, white should proceed in this position by pushing the e-pawn to e5, forcing the Knight to move again. The correct response for black is Nf6-d5. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 122 Other Replies to 1.e2-e4 (continued) Already on move two, the unusual character of Alekhine’s Defense is clear. Black is trying to provoke many pawn moves, while white would like to gain full control over the center and prove that black’s strategy of moving the Knight over and over is fatally flawed. In this position after move two, white already has two excellent alternatives: to gain more control over the center with 3.d2-d4 or to challenge black’s Knight yet again with 3.c2-c4. Here is a common position in Alekhine’s Defense, an opening variation known as the Four Pawns Attack. After white’s c2-c4 move, the black Knight retreated once again, this time to b6. White will likely continue with development moves such as Nb1-c3 and Ng1f3. Few beginners would be happy with the black position, although, in tournament experience, white often finds it difficult to defend all of the forward pawns. 122 9 chapter After 1.d2-d4, white is already threatening to take full command over the center with 2.e2-e4. Most of black’s replies therefore attempt to prevent white from playing 2.e2-e4. Double Queen pawn openings (moving the pawns located in front the Queens) all involve the black reply 1.d7-d5. White’s usual plan in this opening is to prepare e2-e4. Unfortunately, the obvious 2.Nb1-c3 move is not effective because black can defend the e4-square with Ng8-f6. The Queen’s Gambit Accepted White usually continues with 2.c2-c4, a move that gambits a pawn, though it is rare that black accepts the offer. After 2.c2-c4 d5xc4, white is able to gain undisputed control over the center of the board with 3.Nb1-c3 and 4.e2-e4. Indeed, once white develops normally, it might be able to recapture on c4 with the Bf1. To prevent that, black might have to play moves such as a7-a6 and b7-b5. So many pawn moves on the flank will only encourage white to take full command over the center. Note: The Queen’s Gambit dates back to 1490, but the opening was considered dull and unambitious. The Queen’s gambit began to emerge as a reasonable choice only in 1870s when many players seemed to tire of the already over-analyzed King’s Gambit. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 124 Double Queen Pawn Openings (continued) Queen’s Gambit Declined (1.d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4 e7-e6 3.Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6) Most players prefer to decline the gambit and to fight for a share of the center. Here is a typical position in the Queen’s Gambit Declined after just three moves. White has continued with c2-c4 and then Nb1-c3, which is pressuring the d5-square. Black has responded to this pressure by developing first with e7-e6 and then Ng8-f6. White would like to play e2-e4, but the black d5-pawn and the black Knight both control the key e4-square. White usually continues with Bc1-g5 in an effort to pin the black Knight and then to play e2-e4. Reacting to the threat, black will usually break the pin with Bf8-e7. This position has some resemblance to the French Defense in that black’s light-squared Bishop is blocked in by the black pawns on e6 and d5. This bad Bishop is one of the main drawbacks for black in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. 124 9 chapter The Slav Defense (1.d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4 c7-c6) The Slav Defense is very similar to the Queen’s Gambit Declined except that black defends the d5-pawn by playing c7-c6 rather than e7-e6. As you can see in this position, black has avoided the problem of sealing in the Bishop on c8. In this respect, the Slav Defense is also similar to the Caro-Kann Defense. Note: The Slav gained its name because it was first played by Slavic masters, notably Alapin. Its strength and versatility were unrecognized until grandmaster Euwe adopted it as a regular defense in the 1930s. In the Slav, black will usually be able to develop the c8-Bishop aggressively on f5 or g4. In this position, a typical one that might be reached from either the Queen’s Gambit, the Queen’s Gambit Declined, or the Slav Defense, black has elected instead to fianchetto the Bishop on b7. The black Bishop on b7 is much less active than white’s lightsquared Bishop on d3. Note that, with the black pawn on c6, the Knight on b8 developed to d7 rather than to c6. As you can see, black is making it difficult for white to play the attacking move e3-e4. The pawn on d5 and the Knight on f6 stand ready to capture on e4, and black hopes for counter-play with the aggressive move c6-c5, freeing the Bishop on b7. 125 5:56 PM Page 126 Indian Defenses There are other popular ways after white’s 1.d2-d4 to prevent white from playing 2.e2-e4. The most common first move today for black against 1.d2-d4 is 1.Ng8-f6. The Knight move by itself prevents 2.e2-e4 and keeps many options alive for black. The popular King’s Indian Defense involves a Kingside fianchetto by black. The Queen’s Indian Defense involves a Queenside fianchetto. And the Nimzo-Indian Defense is a hard-hitting counter that immediately challenges the white setup. King’s Indian Defense (1.d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2.c2-c4 g7-g6 3.Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7) In the King’s Indian Defense, white proceeds with the idea of 2.c2-c4 and 3.Nb1-c3. Black, in turn, pursues a Kingside fianchetto. After just three moves, it has become clear that black’s defense does not prevent white from playing 4.e2-e4. White will therefore be able to achieve a broad pawn center. This typical position in the King’s Indian provides a sense of the opening’s unusual character. Black has challenged white’s pawn center by advancing the e-pawn and later the f-pawn. Black is likely to attack on the Kingside in spite of the fact that its King is castled there. White has achieved much more central space and often attacks on the Queenside with the idea later of c4-c5. The black Knight that opened the game at f6 has moved to the h5 square first to prepare f7-f5 and to make room for the other black Knight, which arrived at f6 from b8 and then d7. See Chapter 10 for a related opening formation— the King’s Indian Attack. 126 9 chapter Queen’s Indian Defense (1.d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2.c2-c4 e7-e6 3.Ng1-f3 b7-b6) The Queen’s Indian Defense involves a fianchetto on the Queenside. Here is the position in the Queen’s Indian after just three moves. White has again opened with d2-d4 and then c2-c4. Black has countered with 1.Ng8-f6, 2.e7-e6, and then 3.b7-b6. Black intends to play Bc8-b7 where the Bishop, in conjunction with the Knight on f6, tries to prevent white from playing e2-e4. Here is a typical position in the Queen’s Indian Defense. Black has completed a Queenside fianchetto and is ready to castle. However, with black to move, black has the option of preventing e3-e4 by playing Nf6-e4. This sharp resource is one of reasons this defense is popular. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:56 PM Page 128 Indian Defenses (continued) The Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2.c2-c4 e7-e6 3.Nb1-c3 Bf8-b4) The very popular Nimzo-Indian Defense is named after Aron Nimzovitch, a great chess theorist of the early 20th century. In this opening, black aggressively prevents white from playing e2-e4 by pinning the white Knight on c3. As you can see, white has developed normally with 2.c2-c4 and with 3.Nb1-c3. Black has responded with 1.Ng8-f6, 2.e7-e6, and, unlike the Queen’s Indian, with 3.Bf8-b4. The Bishop on b4 pins the white Knight on c3 and, by so doing, prevents white from playing 4.e2-e4. If white were to play 4.e2-e4, black would simply capture the e4-pawn with the Knight on f6 (Nf6). As you might expect, the early placement of the black Bishop on b4 can lead to its exchange for the white Knight on c3. Often, the white c-pawns become doubled, but white will then have an uncontested darksquared Bishop as compensation. FAQ Why do we call these Indian Defenses? The term Indian Defense comes from the ancient chess-like game chaturanga. Chaturanga originated in India circa 7th century. A common opening move in this game was to develop a Bishop on the wing—we call this a fianchetto today. For more on fianchettos, see Chapter 5, “Bishop Strategy.” 128 9 chapter If you’re careful about fighting for the center and guarding your material, you’re likely to avoid a catastrophe in the opening. As you might expect, there are many bad openings. There are even a number of chess books dedicated to the study of such moves. Here are two bad openings, the Englund Gambit and the Spike. They have glamorous names, but make no mistake: These are openings to avoid. THE ENGLUND GAMBIT (1.D2-D4 E7-E5?) In this opening, black responds to white’s 1.d2-d4 with an awful move that simply loses a pawn. As you can see, the Englund Gambit involves an immediate 1.e7-e5 by black. On just the second move, white wins a pawn with little or no compensation for black. To win the pawn, of course, white simply plays 2.d4xe5. THE SPIKE The name of this opening is far more compelling than the move itself. Rather than contest the center, white opens the game with 1.g2-g4. Black should respond to white’s flank move by capturing a part of the center with 1.d7-d5 or 1.e7-e5. 129 Page 130 10 Common Opening Formations To improve in chess, it helps to be able to recognize certain pawn structures and have a coordinated plan for how to proceed. In this chapter, I present several different structures and opening formations. Most are relatively easy to set up and can be very effective even in the hands of a relatively inexperienced player. As you will see, every structure has its strengths and weaknesses. Understanding the role of each piece within the structure will help guide your play. The first two sections involve opening formations that you might use with the white pieces. The second two are structures commonly used by the player with the black pieces. The only danger is that you might decide to set up these formations without regard to what your opponent is doing. Itâ€™s great to have these plans at your disposal, but watch and consider all of your opponentâ€™s moves before you play your next move. 12_049839 ch10.qxp 6:20 PM Page 131 Kingâ€™s Indian Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Colle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 Hedgehog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 Avant-Garde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138 Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 French Winawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 Stonewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143 Benoni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 12_049839 ch10.qxp 6:20 PM Page 132 King’s Indian Attack Unlike most of the openings presented in Chapter 9, the King’s Indian Attack is a very patient opening system that seeks to develop all of white’s pieces before initiating any attack. You might not win with it, but at least no one will be able to run you off the board quickly. The King’s Indian Attack is essentially a King’s Indian Defense, but played with the white pieces rather than with black. As you might expect, the extra move that white has by moving first gives the opening a bit more punch than the defense. In the King’s Indian Attack, white aims to achieve this position by move 7. Note that white has fianchettoed the light-squared Bishop. The Knight on g1 has developed to f3. The Knight on b1 has developed to d2. White has a modest but solid central pawn structure with pawns on d3 and e4. To achieve this position, white could have opened the game with either 1.e2-e4 or even 1.Ng1-f3. Many players reach this position by playing 1.Ng1-f3 first, fiancettoing quickly with 2.g2-g3 and 3.Bf1-g2, and then castling. It may surprise you that the move e2-e4 can actually be played in this opening system on move 7 rather than on move 1. So, after castling, white might continue with 5.d2-d3, 6.Nb1-d2, and finally 7.e2-e4. 132 10 chapter White’s next moves very much depend, of course, on what black is trying to do. But white does have a straightforward plan for making progress. As long as the Knight can’t be captured there, white might try Nf3-h4, or otherwise Nf3-e1, followed by the quick advance of the f-pawn from f2-f4. In this position, white is getting ready to attack with e4-e5 or possibly f4-f5. Perhaps you might decide first to develop the Queen to e2 or (after the Nd2 moves) Bc1-e3. However you proceed, you have the possibility to play ten moves or so without significant error, even against a relatively strong player. Even if you lose eventually, your opponent will be impressed that you have made quick progress as a chess player, and you will have the opportunity for an exciting middlegame with an active set of pieces. For middlegame strategies, see Chapter 11. This King’s Indian Attack position was reached after just seven moves. White has reached the ideal position. Black responded to 7.e2-e4 by pushing the d-pawn through to d4. In this position, white decides to play Nd2-c4, an interesting move that combines with the Nf3 to attack the black e5-pawn twice. Black is forced to defend the pawn by playing 8.Qd8-c7. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:20 PM Page 134 Kingâ€™s Indian Attack (continued) Rather than play quickly or automatically, white realizes that black might try to attack the Nc4 by playing b7-b5. White would like to keep the Knight on c4, near the middle of the board. White therefore plays 9.a2-a4 in order to safeguard the Nc4 from attack. Notice that the Nd2-c4 maneuver now permits Bc1 to move out, perhaps to the g5 square. If you find this kind of position to your liking, you now know how to reach it! FAQ What is correspondence chess? In this age of the Internet, it may be hard to believe that proponents of playing chess through the mail still exist. Correspondence chess, also known as postal chess, is perhaps the slowest form of chess, with international games lasting as long as 3 to 4 years! Postal chess players enjoy taking days over each move, exploring all the possibilities. But in the age of chess software, e-mail, and chess websites, correspondence chess could be on its way out. To get started in postal chess, try one of the dedicated postal chess organizations. The U.S. Chess Federation (www.uschess.org/cc/) runs its own postal tournaments. The International Correspondence Chess Federation (www.iccf.com) organizes international events. 134 10 chapter The Colle System carries the name of the Belgian master, Edgard Colle, who used it to win many brilliant games in the 1920s. The Colle System is very much like the Slav Defense but is played with the white pieces rather than with black. White begins the game with a rather unassuming setup. Rather than fight immediately for the center, white has chosen a pawn structure that delays the occupation of e4. This idea is very simple. White wants to prepare e3-e4 rather than play it immediately. And so note that the white Qc2, the Bd3, the Nd2, and the Re1 are all poised to support the move e3-e4. When the move comes, it will have half an army to defend it. To bring the position about, white usually begins the game with 1.d2-d4, and continues with 2.Ng1-f3, 3.e2-e3, 4.Nb1-d2 (Knights before Bishops), and then 5.c2-c3, 6.Bf1-d3, and then castles Kingside (0-0), Rf1-e1, and Qd1-c2. Be sure not to play these moves automatically. If black initiates a capture, be sure to recapture. And do not permit black to safely advance the black e-pawn to e4 where it would fork whiteâ€™s Bd3 and Nf3. In this position from a real game, white plays 9.e3-e4 immediately in order to threaten e4e5, forking the Bd6 and the Nf6. As you can see, the e4-push can be very strong, and white will usually develop a strong attack if the pawn can safely advance to the e5square. If there is a drawback to the Colle System, it is that white has made no effort to activate the Bc1. With black, you should certainly try to prevent white from playing e3-e4 and, if possible, to advance the black e-pawn to the key e4-square. 135 6:20 PM Page 136 Hedgehog Just as the Colle System and the King’s Indian Attack are all-purpose attacks for white, the Hedgehog is an all-purpose defense for black. It’s not a gimmick or a second-rate defense. I used it to win the 10th U.S. Correspondence Chess Championship, and some of the strongest players in the world continue to make it their main weapon. The Hedgehog is an animal akin to the porcupine: Get too close and you will get poked. Here is the Hedgehog pawn structure. The black pawns on a6, b6, d6, and e6 form a defensive wall that aims to prevent white from advancing. Some people believe that the black pawn structure resembles a hedgehog, hence its name. Note that the black c-pawn is missing. Black usually exchanges the c-pawn for the white d-pawn, as you have already seen in the Sicilian Defense. This example illustrates a common setup for all of black’s pieces within the Hedgehog. Note that the black Rooks are aggressively doubled on the c-file. The Bishop on b7 and the Queen on a8 are joining forces with the Nf6 to deliver three attacks on the white e4pawn. The Knight on d7 can help direct the attack. If the Knight moves to e5, it will become the third attack on the white c-pawn. If the Nd7 moves to c5, it will become the fourth attack on white’s e4-pawn. 136 10 chapter One of the best features of the Hedgehog is that there are no meaningful pawn weaknesses in the black camp. To reach the Hedgehog structure, black can play a Sicilian against 1.e2-e4. When white plays d2-d4, black should capture the pawn so long as a Knight or a Queen will recapture. Black usually begins to set up the Hedgehog structure with e7-e6, a7-a6, d7-d6, Ng8-f6, Nb8-d7, and often Qd8-c7. The Bishops then move to e7 and b7 and, after castling, black will play Ra8-c8. The Queen on c7 “tucks” to b8 and perhaps to a8, where it is very safe from attack, and plays an important role in attacking the white center. The Hedgehog is considered an all-purpose weapon because it can be reached easily against 1.e2-e4, 1.c2-c4, and 1.Ng1-f3, all by beginning with black’s move 1.c7-c5. This position illustrates a common Hedgehog tactic. Black has completed the development of all the pieces. Black now plays b6-b5, knowing that if white captures on b5 with the c4-pawn, black can unleash the power of the doubled Rooks with Rook capturing Nc3. 137 6:20 PM Page 138 Avant-Garde The Avant-Garde, as its name may imply, is a modern attempt to create a truly all-purpose approach for black. In this opening structure, white develops all of the Knights and Bishops fairly quickly, but in a very distinct way. Many players will not be happy with its cramped approach to the game but, like the other systems we’ve examined, it has the merit of keeping even a beginner in the game against a much stronger opponent. You will see that this setup would not be difficult to achieve. Both Bishops are fianchettoed, the Knights have developed toward the center at d7 and e7. Black’s position is cramped but quite versatile; there are no weaknesses. Most white players decide to expand in the center and simply can’t resist trying to break down this system. In this figure showing black’s position as well as a portion of white’s center, white can decide to move forward with e4-e5. Black will not capture on e5 but rather will respond with d6-d5 and then c7-c5, counterattacking on the Queenside. If, instead, white attacks with d4-d5, black, rather than capture, will often play e6-e5 and then f7-f5, counterattacking on the Kingside. One Canadian Grandmaster, Duncan Suttles, made a chess career out of playing such positions with black and with white as well. Many others find the system to be very slow, but Suttles showed that with sufficient patience, the Avant-Garde can be a dangerous weapon. 138 10 chapter Just as the Hedgehog pawn structure does not look much like a hedgehog, the Dragon structure doesn’t really look like a dragon. “Dragon” describes the Kingside pawns that are said to be the dragon’s head, and the Queenside pawns that form its tail. The Dragon is a specific variation of the Sicilian Defense, but for our purposes, think of the Dragon simply as one possible strategy for developing the white and black pieces. In this position, black has fianchettoed the dark-squared Bishop within the Dragon’s head and castled on the Kingside. Black’s formation is set for a sharp attack on the white Queenside. Black’s decision is whether to attack first with the pawns or with the pieces. In a pawn-led attack, black might advance the a-pawn to a6 and the b-pawn to b5 and then perhaps on to b4. Then black might continue with Qd8–a5. In a piece-led attack, black might play Bc8d7 and Ra8-c8, bringing the Rook quickly to the open c-file. Black might then continue with Nc6-e5 and then Ne5-c4, where the Knight would fork the white Queen and the Bishop on e3. The position is “double-edged” because white also has a plan to slay the Dragon. White has two ideas here. The pawn-led attack involves g2-g4 and then h2-h4-h5, an effort to pry open the h-file for the Rook on h1 and perhaps also the Queen after Qd2-h2. In a piece-led attack, white might try Bf1-c4 as well as Be3-h6—an attempt to exchange black’s dark-squared Bishop, which is an important defender of the black Kingside. In order to fianchetto, black had to advance the g-pawn to g6. We know that every pawn move creates weaknesses. In this case, the h6-square is no longer defended by the black g-pawn. Notice how carefully white has constructed the attack to go after the weakness on h6. White has castled on the Queenside in order to be able to push the Kingside pawns forward without compromising the King’s safety. And white has pointed the Qd2 and the Be3 toward the key h6-square. White has also safeguarded the Be3 by placing the f-pawn on f3 where it prevents the annoying Nf6-g4. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:20 PM Page 140 Dragon (continued) During tournament play in this position, white (Anatoly Karpov) and black (Victor Kortchnoi) were engaged in a titanic struggle in which white eventually won. In this Dragon, white has succeeded in exchanging the darksquared Bishops and, hoping to play Qh6xh7, would now like to eliminate the key Nf6. Karpov therefore played g4-g5 and, after black’s Rc5xg5, continued with the amazing Rd3-d5, a move that looks bad because the Nf6 attacks the d5-square. Of course, the Nf6 must not move because it is needed to defend the h7-square from the threat of Qh6xh7. As you can appreciate, games in the Dragon tend to be among the most complex in chess. TIP If playing the game is the best way to improve, reading chess books is a close second. There are thousands of books about chess out there. Some even focus solely on openings. However, I recommend that beginners shy away from the chess opening books. Instead, stick with ones that focus on complete games—openings, middlegames, and endgames. Many of my students have enjoyed Irving Chernev’s classic Logical Chess Move by Move. To sharpen your tactics, try Fred Reinfeld’s 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate. As you progress, I hope that you also discover two special chess classics: Bobby Fischer’s My 60 Memorable Games and David Bronstein’s Zurich, 1953. The truth is, you will benefit from any chess book, as long as you spend time with it and give thought to the various positions. Reading about chess is a surefire way to improve. 140 10 chapter Named after Simon Winawer, the French Winawer was popularized by Aron Nimzovitch and later by World Champion Mikael Botvinnik. A variation of the French Defense, it provides another instructive pawn structure. As you saw in Chapter 9, in the French Defense, white is able to place both the d- and e-pawns on the 4th rank. Black supports the d7-d5 counter with e7-e6. The French Winawer variation begins after 3.Nb1-c3 and then black’s move, 3.Bf8-b4. This Bishop move is interesting. Black breaks the rule of moving a Bishop before a Knight, but the pin on white’s Nc3 is annoying. The Knight was defending the white e4-pawn, which white must now advance or further defend. White prefers to push with 4.e4-e5 in order to imprison black’s bad light-squared Bishop on c8. The pawn chain that emerges has the strong pawn on e5 but also the weak pawn on d4. Black therefore plays the move 4.c7-c5 in an effort to disrupt white’s pawn chain. White now “puts the question” to the black Bb4 with 5.a2-a3. After all, the Bishop moved early and is now being forced to move again. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:20 PM Page 142 French Winawer (continued) Black responds by capturing the Nc3 with Bb4, check, and white of course recaptures with the b2-pawn. The following position includes one additional move by black, 6.Ng8-e7, a logical square for the Knight now that the white pawn on e5 is guarding the natural f6-square. In this interesting position, notice that both sides have long pawn chains. White’s pawn chain stretches from c3 through e5, while black’s reaches from the backward pawn on f7 through to d5. As a result of the two chains, black’s Bishop on c8 is bad because it is boxed in by the fixed black pawns. Unfortunately for black, the good dark-squared Bishop has already been traded. White can try to take advantage of the absence of black’s dark-squared Bishop in two ways. First, white could advance the a-pawn once again to a4 and then play Bc1-a3. From a3, the Bishop would exert powerful pressure on the a3-f8 diagonal. Or, white could play the surprising Qd1-g4. White has not yet developed the Ng1 or the Bishops, but the early Queen move causes a real problem for black. With the black Bishop gone from f8, how should black defend the pawn on g7? Black could castle, but it’s not hard to visualize a powerful attack brewing with moves such as Bf1-d3, Bc1-h6, h2-h4, Rh1-h3-g3, and Ng1-e2-f4. In response to 7.Qd1-g4, black could push the g-pawn to g6. But every pawn move creates weaknesses, in this case on the f6 and h6 squares. In most games, black therefore plays 7.Qd8–c7, permitting white to capture the g7-pawn and hoping for counter-play on the Queenside. 142 10 chapter Like an old stone wall in New England, the Stonewall’s pawn formation is set in stone. In this pawn structure, no attack will proceed through the center. If either player attempts to push their e-pawn, it will be lost. The attacks will therefore occur on the flanks. Notice that each side will have a bad Bishop. This fixed structure makes white’s darksquared Bishop bad. Black’s light-squared Bishop will also be bad. Each side would very much like to trade its bad Bishop for another Bishop or a Knight. In open positions, Bishops are better than Knights. Here, with the pawns locked in the center, the Knights can be more valuable. This is a stonewall position in which black is doing very well. Black has managed to trade the light-squared Bishop for a Knight on the f3square. Black’s Knight on e4 is especially strong, located in the middle of the board where the enemy pawns can’t attack it. White would also like to place a Knight on the key e5-square, but the Queen on f3, which arrived there to recapture black’s Bishop, is blocking the Nd2’s path to f3 and then e5. With such wonderful activity, black draws up a neat attacking plan. Black will play Kg8-h8, slide the Rf8-g8, and attempt to attack on the flank with g7-g5. 143 6:20 PM Page 144 Benoni The Benoni is an interesting defense against 1.d2-d4 that creates an imbalanced pawn structure that often results in very spirited games that aggressive players tend to appreciate. Black begins the game like the Indian Defenses in Chapter 9 with 1.Ng8-f6 and, after white’s 2.c2-c4, black continues with 2.c7-c5. The Benoni formation was named for a biblical reference. Benoni means, literally, “son of sorrow.” A forte for a time of World Champion Alexander Alekhine, it is a frequent visitor in tournament play. As you can see in this position, the black pawn on c5 presents three options to white. White can capture the black c5-pawn, but that would simply double white’s c-pawns and invite black to recapture in any number of ways. The strongest method for black would probably be 3.e7-e6, hoping to recapture with the Bishop. If then 4.b2-b4, black has the strong response 4.a7-a5, attacking the b4-c5 pawn chain at the base. As an alternative, white could defend the pawn with Ng1-f3, but that would invite black to capture the d4-pawn with the flank c5pawn and reach a Hedgehog position with e7-e6, a7-a6, and Qd8-c7. White’s best move in this position is to push the d4-pawn to d5. Here is the position after 3.d4-d5 e7-e6, 4.Nb1-c3 e6xd5, 5.c4xd5 d7d6. As you can see, there is a significant imbalance in the pawn structure. Black has three pawns on the Queenside, a majority compared to white’s two pawns. By contrast, white has a five-on-four advantage on the Kingside. White would like to continue with e2-e4 with the idea of preparing for an e4-e5 advance. Apart from trying to prevent white’s advance of the e-pawn, black will try to advance the Queenside pawns. The fianchetto of the black’s dark-squared Bishop and castling on the Kingside will assist in that goal. 144 10 chapter Here is a Benoni after 12 moves. Black has fianchettoed the dark-squared Bishop, castled, and brought a Rook to e8 to watch over the key e5-square. Black has also prepared to advance the b7-pawn by playing the Nb8-a6c7 and by sliding the Rook from a8 to b8. White played f2-f4 to support an e4-e5 advance. The Be2 is likely soon to support the white center with Be2-f3. The Nd2 will likely move to c4 in order to support e4-e5 and to place some pressure on black’s weak pawn on d6. TIP Practice with Online Chess A good place to practice opening formations is online. There are many places to play chess on the Internet these days. Many are free; a few charge a modest fee. If you just want to play a light game of chess at any hour, try one of these websites: • • • • • Yahoo: games.yahoo.com Pogo: www.pogo.com MSN: http://zone.msn.com/en/chess/default.htm www.chessclub.com www.playchess.com 145 Page 146 11 Middlegame Strategy Many players memorize long opening variations but have little or no idea how to proceed once they get to the middle of a game. You already know about having good and bad pieces, placing Rooks on open files, placing the Knights in the center where the enemy pawns can’t attack them, and trying to avoid bad Bishops. In this chapter, I offer four basic principles and strategies that will help you integrate many of these ideas. Aron Nimzovitsch, a great German Grandmaster of the early 20th century, introduced new ways of thinking about chess. His chess classic, My System, is a long and complex book that was awkwardly translated to English. In the first section, I introduce his five steps to victory in an easy-to-understand manner. In the second section, I introduce two important ways of approaching your thought process in every chess game. The first, the idea of selecting and considering options, at least three “candidate moves,” was popularized in Alexander’s Kotov’s 1971 classic Think Like a Grandmaster. The idea is simple enough. In every position, consider not one move but at least three. Or, as the great player Emanuel Lasker put it, “When you see a good move, look for a better one.” In the third section, I offer an important way of thinking about “threats.” Before every move, consider whether your opponent is threatening to do something important. In response, you must either turn off the threat or else find a threat that is more significant. And finally, in the fourth section, I emphasize the importance of recapturing after someone captures one of your pieces. 13_049839 ch11.qxp 6:21 PM Page 147 Five Steps to Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 Candidate Moves and Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Responding to Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 Recaptures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 13_049839 ch11.qxp 6:21 PM Page 148 Five Steps to Victory The five steps that I outline here were first discussed by Grandmaster Aron Nimzovitsch in his books My System and Blockade. He never actually called them “the five steps to victory,” but these steps are discussed extensively in his books. The five steps are relatively simple but account for many of my victories, and they are present in one form or another in many, if not most, master games. The Steps STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE WEAKNESS The first step is simple enough. You will win many games if you train yourself to be aware of and to quickly identify all of your opponent’s pawn weaknesses. In this example, the two central black pawns on d6 and e5 form a pawn chain. As you saw in Chapter 6, “Pawn Strategy,” the backward pawn at d6 is the weaker of the two pawns because no pawn can defend it. Black’s d6-pawn represents a key weakness in the black pawn structure. Having identified the key weakness on d6, you are ready for step 2. STEP 2: FIX THE WEAKNESS The second step is quite simple. To prevent black from pushing the d6-pawn to d5, white must fix black’s weakness by occupying or controlling the d5-square. In Chapter 4, “Knight Strategy,” you learned that it is advantageous to place Knights in the center of the board where they can’t be attacked by pawns. Here, you can see that it would be helpful to place a Knight—or another piece, for that matter—in the “hole” at d5. By moving the Knight to d5, or even by using the Knight to control d5, you will prevent black from eliminating the d6-pawn weakness by pushing the pawn from d6 to d5. In this figure, white controls the key d5-square with both the Knight on e3 and the pawn on e4. If black were to push the d6-pawn to d5, white would be able to win it. With the Knight on e3, the pawn on d6 has been fixed because it can’t successfully move without being lost. 148 11 chapter STEP 3: ATTACK THE WEAKNESS WITH YOUR PIECES Once you have identified and fixed the weakness, it’s time for step 3: Attack the weakness with your pieces—not your pawns. In this position, it is clear that white has successfully arranged an attack on black’s d6-pawn with four different pieces, the doubled Rooks on d2 and d3, the Queen on d1, and even the dark-squared Bishop on a3. Notice that white’s attack has been patient in that the Queen is not leading the charge on d3 but rather is attacking from the rear on d1. Strong players know that it’s often more effective to have the less valuable pieces lead the attack. As they say in boxing, “Don’t lead with your nose.” STEP 4: YOUR OPPONENT WILL BE FORCED TO DEFEND THE WEAKNESS If you have successfully carried out the first three steps, your opponent must carry out step 4. For every one of your attacks on the pawn weakness, your opponent will have to find a defender. If your opponent fails to defend the pawn adequately, look to take the target-pawn first “with the little thing.” What “little thing,” you ask? It depends on the position but it is often a Knight or a Bishop. In this position, white is still attacking black’s d6-pawn with four pieces, and black has responded by defending the poor d6-pawn with four pieces—Rd8, Rd7, Be7, and Qb8. As a result, these pieces aren’t very active. Note that, as a result of the first four steps, white has two active Rooks on a semi-open file, while black’s Rooks are stuck defending the d6-pawn. White has a good Bishop on a3, attacking the d6-pawn, while black’s Be7 is bad, stuck behind the fixed d6-pawn. Even the white Queen on d1 is more active than its black counterpart on b8. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:21 PM Page 150 Five Steps to Victory (continued) STEP 5: ATTACK THE WEAKNESS WITH A PAWN By the time your opponent has completed step 4, he’ll know that there’s trouble ahead. Most or all of your pieces will be active by focusing their energy on a single fixed point. By contrast, your opponent’s pieces will be relatively weak, defending rather than attacking a weakness. For the final step, attack the weakness with a pawn. As you can see in this position, white has simply advanced the c4-pawn to c5 and black is in a quandary. The black d6-pawn has three options. It can capture on c5, push forward to d5, or remain where it is. We know that the pawn can’t push forward to d5 because it is fixed. On d5, white would have four attacks on the pawn while black would have only two defenses (the Rooks). Instead, if black were to capture with d6xc5, white would suddenly have three attacks on the Rd7. Capturing the white pawn would lose a black Rook. Black could do nothing, but white would still have five attacks on the d6-pawn, and black would have only four defenses. On white’s next move, white would continue with c5xd6, winning the key black pawn. TIP See the Five Steps to Victory in Action Online! Observing other players online is a great way to learn and to see the five steps in action. PlayChess (www.playchess.com) and Internet Chess Club (www.chessclub.com) are pay-sites that offer fairly competitive games, but you can log in as a guest and watch live grandmaster events from all over the world. PlayChess is my personal favorite, and you will often find me playing there with the login name jedwards. 150 11 chapter The Five Steps in Practice In this position, with black to move, black realizes that the white b3-pawn is a weakness and is already fixed by the black c5-pawn and the black Nc6. Black plays Nc6-a7, threatening to capture Bb5 and, by forcing the Bishop to move, gaining access for Rb8-b4. White responds with Bb5-e2. Black continues with the strategy by playing Rb8-b4, helping to fix the pawn and preparing to bring the Rc8 into the strategy by doubling the Rooks on the b-file. Understanding blackâ€™s strategy, white attempts to bring the King closer to the b-pawn by playing Kf1-e1. Black continues with Rc8-b8, placing a second attack on the white b3-pawn. For the moment, white has only one defender, the Rc3. White therefore plays Be2-d1, using the Bishop to defend b3. There are now two attacks and two defenses. The third attack will require that the black Knight reach the a5-square. Black plays Na7-c6. Knowing there will soon be a third attack, white could defend again with Rc1-b1, but Rb1 would be vulnerable after Rb4xa4 because the b3-pawn would be pinned and unable to recapture on a4 without losing Rb1. White therefore plays Rc1-a1 with the idea of defending the b3-pawn with a Rook on a3. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:21 PM Page 152 Five Steps to Victory (continued) Black now continues with Nc6-a5, placing the b3-pawn under a third attack. White has no choice but to defend the pawn with its Rook and plays Ra1-a3. Finally, the fifth step. Black plays c5-c4, making the fourth attack on the white b-pawn. A pawn capture on c4 not only weakens the white pawn structure, but also permits Na5xc4+: a Knight fork that attacks white’s Kd2 and Ra3. If white does nothing, black will be able to capture and win the b3-pawn. The only step remaining is to attack b3 with the c5pawn (c5-c4). Black, in no rush, delayed for a moment to fix another one of the white pawns on a dark square with g6-g5. White responded with a bad move, Ke1-d2, permitting the black Knight to move later toward the center with a powerful check (Na5-c4+). TIP Practice with Chess Software Chess software and websites are transforming how to play chess. Anyone with a computer can play against software that can challenge even the best players in the world. Most of the current chess software programs are so strong that many players can get discouraged quickly. No human enjoys losing game after game, but the advantage is clear: You have a built-in opponent who is happy to play at any hour of the day or night. Keep in mind that the engines in the software are simply number-crunching and never tire. They play a very different game than humans do, and as long as you keep that in mind, you can use them to hone your skills. The engines almost always permit you to take back a bad move—a nice advantage when you’re learning. 152 11 chapter Consider your options (candidates) at every move. Very few masters move quickly. Instead, they tend to play very thoughtfully. But what are they thinking about? At every move, most strong players consider at least three different moves. That may surprise beginners, who are content to play the first good-looking move they find. Emmanuel Lasker summed it up by explaining that even after you find a strong move, keep looking. You may find something stronger. Making Plans Many beginners believe that the masters have trained themselves to think many moves ahead. The fact is that masters have an advantage. Masters rarely calculate long forced sequences. Although some rely on intuition or an innate feel for the game, most are able to plan ahead. They have a sense of where the strongest squares are and where each piece belongs. From experience, they know how to conduct attacks and how to coordinate their pieces. To illustrate the process, this section follows the ideas and considerations through 12 consecutive moves of a master game. In this first position, white already has a tangible advantage. The move Nf3-g5 has already caused black to prevent Bd3xh7 with the move g7-g6, a pawn advance that has weakened the black Kingside. Notice that by moving the g-pawn forward, the f6 and h6 squares are now weak. White would like to move the dark-squared Bishop on c1 to h6 where it would attack the black Rf8 and also control the g7-square in front of the black King. White would also like to further weaken the black Kingside. White therefore has two ideas. The first is the move Qf3-h3 with the threat of Qh3xh7 checkmate (Ng5 would defend Qh7). The threat of checkmate would require black to weaken the Kingside with h7-h5. White could also try Ng5-e4, which is a strong looking move with the idea of both Ne4-f6 check as well as opening the Bc1â€™s path to the h6 square. Both plans are legitimate. Although you should keep in mind the principle that when two moves look good, one is always better than the other. In this case, white plays Qf3-h3 in order to further weaken the black Kingside. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:21 PM Page 154 Candidate Moves and Planning (continued) As you can see, black has prevented the immediate checkmate by advancing the h7pawn to h5, but the pawn move has further weakened the black Kingside. It would now be more difficult, for example, to drive the Ng5 away, and the support for the g6-pawn has been reduced. White might again try Ng5-e4 with the idea of Ne4-f6 check and Bc1-h6. That idea seems even stronger now that the Kingside is weaker. White could also try to advance the f-pawn to f4 and then f5. Or white could play g2-g4 to try to batter down the black Kingside. White must decide whether to conduct a pawn-led or a piece-led attack. Both pawn moves weaken the white Kingside. White therefore decides on the first course of action, Ng5-e4, with the idea of activating the Bc1. Black responds by capturing on d5 with the Ne7. The Nd5 will be well posted in the center of the board where the white pawns will not be able to attack it. White has three candidate moves in this next position. White could capture the Bd6 with the Ne4. White could develop the Bc1 directly to h6, or white could play Bc1-g5. Both Bishop moves take advantage of the weak dark squares around the King. White’s move Ne4xBd6 is very tempting because, in the open board, the Bishop has considerable sway. However, the Knight is a powerful piece in the center of the board where, to drive it away, black would have to play f7-f5, further weakening black’s Kingside. The most tempting move is white’s Bc1-h6, but white would lose quickly after this move with black’s Bb7-c8 attacking the white Queen. In that position, the Queen would be quickly trapped in the center of the board after Qh3f3 and Bc8-g4. Having seen the trap, white avoids it by first playing the move Bc1-g5, attacking the black Queen. To guard the Queen, black responds with Bd6-e7. 154 11 chapter After blackâ€™s Bd6-e7, black is threatening simply to capture the white Bg5. White therefore has two options: capture the black Be7 or play the move Bg5-h6. Fortunately, after Bg5-h6, black is no longer able to trap the white Queen because, without the black Bishop on d6, the Queen will have access to the g3-square. Rather than exchange Bishops, which would reduce the firepower aimed at the black King, white plays Bg5-h6. This move, of course, attacks the Rf8. Rather than move the Rook, black plays Bb7-c8, attacking the white Queen. With the attack by the Bc8 on the Qh3, white has two logical moves. To save the Qh3, white can move it to f3 or to g3. On f3, the Queen would be subject to another attack with Bc8g4. White therefore decides to play Qg3 where the Queen, in conjunction with the Bd3, is generating pressure on the weakened g6pawn. Black responds by moving Rf8-e8, out of danger from the attack from the Bh6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:22 PM Page 156 Candidate Moves and Planning (continued) White has many good moves in this position. For example, white could activate the Ra1 to c1 or the Rf1-e1. The Bd3 could move to b5 to attack the Re8. Or white could play Qg3-e5, threatening checkmate in one move with Qe5-g7. Both Rook moves look useful, but masters know that Rook moves are often the most difficult moves to make because it is hard to know exactly where the Rooks belong. White decides to play Qg3-e5, in part because the move is very difficult to meet. After Qg3-e5 black can’t respond with Be7-f6. White would then play the amazing Qe5xNd5, seeing that after black’s Qd8xd5, white plays Ne4xBf6 check, forking the King, the e8-Rook, and the black Queen on d5. Black therefore must block the checkmate by white’s Queen on g7 by advancing the f7-pawn to f6, yet another weakening of the black Kingside. In this case, the f7-f6 move weakens the now undefended g6-pawn. Having forced yet another Kingside weakness, the white Queen must now retreat. In this instance, there is only one safe move: Qe5-g3. Fortunately for white, the Qg3 will now attack the black g6-pawn. To defend it, black decides to push the g6-pawn to g5. 156 11 chapter White’s strategy has worked very well. As a result of carefully timed maneuvers, black’s Kingside is in shambles. However, black does suddenly emerge with the idea of trapping the Bh6 behind enemy lines. White could develop one of its Rooks, but to take advantage of the Bh6’s advanced position, white decides to play h2-h4. Note that the pawn on h4 represents the fourth attack on the black g5-pawn. Under such pressure, black has no choice but to push the g-pawn yet again. This position represents the culmination of white’s initial strategy of forcing the black Kingside pawns to advance. Having caused the damage, white now considers the next phase: how best to take advantage of the open diagonals and the entry squares around the black King. White has many interesting options and, as many strong players like to say, even a bad plan is better than no plan. White could now take aim on the a2-g8 diagonal with moves such as Bd3-c4 and Qg3-b3. Alternatively, white could begin with Ra1-c1 or Rf1-e1. Another interesting option is Ra1-e1, with the idea of advancing the f-pawn against black’s weak pawn structure. White decides on the first plan of Bd3-c4, putting pressure on the white center, pinning the black Nd5 against the Kg8, and taking aim on the e6 and f7 squares. Black responds, as masters often do, by moving the King in order to break the pin (Kg8-h7). CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:22 PM Page 158 Candidate Moves and Planning (continued) In this position, white faces the need to retreat the Bh6. Retreating the Bishop to g5 would lose the Bishop to the f6-pawn. Retreating back to c1 makes little sense, because the Ra1 will probably want to develop there. That leaves d2, e3, and f4. The e3-square is relatively inactive because of the fixed d4-pawn, and, with a Bishop on e3, the Qg3 would be blocked from the b3 square. White decides to retreat the Bishop to d2 where, three squares away from the centralized black Nd5, the Bishop dominates the black Knight. Fearful of white’s activity and mindful of the Kingside weaknesses, black responds with Bc8-f5, attacking the undefended Ne4 and immediately taking control over the b1-h7 diagonal on which the black King is sitting. With no reasonable retreat for the white Ne4, white will need to defend it. Qg3-d3 is unacceptable because white would not want to walk into a pin. Retreating the Bc4-d3 blocks the Queen’s access to the b3 square and the Bc4’s real idea is to pressure the a2-g8 diagonal. White therefore needs to choose between Ra1-e1 or Rf1-e1. Ra1-e1 would probably commit white to using the Rf1 to push the f-pawn. Rf1-e1 would give white the opportunity to use the Ra1 on the c-file. White selects Rf1-e1 as the more flexible move. Black responds with Bf5-g6 in an effort to fight for control over the f7-square. 158 11 chapter White’s move is relatively easy this time, with Qg3-b3—the most logical move. On b3, the Queen augments the pressure along the a2g8 diagonal. Black is simply unable to defend the Knight a second time. If, for example, black plays Bg6-f7, white can play Ne4-c3, a third attack on the poor Nd5. If the black Knight on d5 were to move, the black Bishop on f7 would fall. Black therefore retreats the Nd5 to c7, three squares away from the c4-Bishop, in an effort to limit the Bishop’s scope. After 12 moves in this middlegame, white has a substantial advantage. You might imagine continuing with Ra1-c1 or Bc4-f7. Both are excellent moves. Ra1-c1 places white’s final undeveloped piece on an open file. White’s Bc4-f7 takes advantage of the entry square on f7. Note that after Bg6xf7, the white Queen would powerfully infiltrate the black Kingside on the f7 square. White’s strategy has resulted in a nice range of options that gives white by far the best chances to win the game. In the actual game (J. Edwards vs. W. Jones, 1993), the contest ended as follows: 28.Bc4-f7 Re8-f8 29.Bf7xg6+ Kh7xg6 30.Ne4-g3 Rf8-h8 31.Ra1-c1 Nc7-e8 32.Qb3-e6 Be7-a3 33.Ng3xh5 Ba3xc1 34.Qe6xg4+ Kg6-f7 35.Qg4-e6+ Kf7-g6 36.Nh5-f4+ Kg6-h7 37.Qe6-f7+ Ne8-g7 38.Nf4-h5 1–0 Black resigns. 159 6:22 PM Page 160 Responding to Threats Strong moves often contain threats. A threat is simply the move that you would make if, after having moved, you were given an opportunity to make a second consecutive move. When your opponent makes a move that contains a threat, you have an important choice: Stop the threat immediately, or make a move that contains a bigger threat. In the following sequence, the moves on both sides contain numerous threats. A Sequence of Threats This scenario occurred in the Sicilian Defense after the moves 1.e2-e4 c7-c5, 2.Ng1-f3 Nb8c6, 3.d2-d4 c5xd4, 4.Nf3xd4 Ng8-f6, 5.Nb1-c3 e7-e5. Black’s last move, e7-e5, threatens on the next move to capture white’s Nd4. White has many options for the Knight, including the retreat to f3, but white prefers to play Nd4-b5, where the Knight will threaten the move Nb5-d6 check. Black responds by stopping that threat with the move d7-d6. You might recognize that black’s central pawn structure contains a weakness on d6 and a central hole on d5. White would like to play the move Nc3-d5 but the Nd5 would be captured immediately by the strong Nf6. Rather than play the move Nd5, white threatens to play it by first moving Bc1-g5. The Bishop pins the Nf6 to the black Queen and the threat of Nc3-d5 is now real. Strong players often say that “the threat is stronger than the execution.” They mean that preparing the threat correctly (in this position with Bc1-g5) is better than playing the threat immediately (with Nc3-d5) as you can see in this position. After the move Bc1-g5, black has several interesting candidate moves. Black could un-pin immediately with Bf8-e7. Black could guard the d5-square with Bc8-e6. But black prefers to meet the threat of Nc3-d5 with his own threat, the move a7-a6 threatening to capture the Nb5. 160 11 chapter Whiteâ€™s Nb5 is now under attack and has only one logical retreat. White could play Bg5xf6, meeting the threat on the Nb5 with a larger threat, but black might simply recapture with the g7-pawn. White therefore retreats the Nb5-a3. Black responds with b7-b5, a move that carries another threat, a pawn fork with b5-b4. White stops the threat of the pawn fork on b4 simply by moving the Nc3 powerfully to the central hole on d5. The black Nf6 dare not capture the Nd5 because the Bg5 is pinning it to the black Queen. Black therefore responds with Bf8-e7, a move that carries another threat, this time the move Nf6xNd5, winning a piece! CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:22 PM Page 162 Responding to Threats (continued) Responding to the threat, white now plays Bg5xf6, giving up the Bg5 but stopping the threat of Nf6xd5 and retaining the powerful Nd5. To advance in chess, watch carefully for such threats. Strong chess players develop a finely honed sense of danger. Before you move, always ask: “Does my opponent’s last move contain a threat?” If so, your move should either stop the threat or, even better, you should look for a threat that’s even bigger. Meeting a Threat with a Bigger Threat Sometimes, the best way to meet a threat is with an even bigger threat. In this position, white has just made the move Nc3-d5. The Nd5 threatens to capture the Qf6 and threatens to play Nd5xc7 check, forking the black King and the Ra8. You might expect black to meet both threats with the move Qf6-d8, removing the Queen from attack and using the Queen to defend the c7-pawn. Instead, black responds to the threat of Nd5xc7 with a bigger threat: Qf6-g6. 162 11 chapter Almost every time that someone captures one of your pieces, you will want to recapture. There are exceptions, however, and there is nothing automatic about recapturing. Always consider other options. Recapturing Your Pieces and Pawns In this position, black’s advantage is pronounced. The Nd5 is in the center the board where it can’t be attacked by white’s pawns. White’s dark-squared Bishop on d2 is bad, locked in by its own pawns. By contrast, the black Bishop on d8 will have an important role to play in black’s attack on the Kingside. Note that black’s Rooks are actively doubled on the g-file and the Qh6 is bearing down on the white Kingside. In an effort to relieve some of the pressure in this position, white played Bc4xd5. Most chess players would gladly recapture immediately with the e6-pawn in order to undouble the black e-pawns. But black has a much stronger response with the move Rg5-h5. Black suddenly has the huge threat of a check with Rh5xh3+, forcing the white King to g2. Then white can play Rh5-h2, checking the Kg2 and then winning the white Qf2 with check when the King retreats to f1. Masters achieve their strength in part because they consistently look for such “in-between” moves. 165 Page 166 12 Elementary Checkmates To win a chess game, you must deliver a checkmate (or mate, for short)—placing your opponent’s King in check with the King having no legal move. In this chapter, you will be able to explore all the most basic checkmates. As you will see, some of these checkmates are very simple. In fact, if you’re clever enough to Queen a pawn, the checkmate with two Queens against a lone King is easy and fun to do. The other checkmates in this chapter are somewhat more challenging, but with a bit of practice, you’ll be able to deliver checkmate with just a Rook or even with a King, Bishop, and Knight. You will also learn to recognize when there is insufficient material to deliver a checkmate. That way, you won’t play on and on, trying to do the impossible. Or perhaps when you’re trailing, you will be able to reach such an endgame and avoid a loss. 14_049839 ch12.qxp 6:09 PM Page 167 Two Queens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168 Queen and Rook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 Two Rooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172 King and Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 King and Rook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176 King and Two Bishops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 King, Bishop, and Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184 14_049839 ch12.qxp 6:09 PM Page 168 Two Queens You can have more than one Queen by promoting pawns. Some players enjoy promoting more than two, if they can, but two Queens are almost always enough to deliver checkmate. In this section, you will see how two Queens together are so powerful that checkmates will occur quite quickly. The Basic Checkmate Here is the basic checkmate. With white to move, white can deliver a check on several squares, but the move Qb6-b8 is checkmate. On b8, the Queen will be attacking the black King, which cannot escape from the attack. Note that the Queen on a7 controls all of the squares of the 7th rank while, after Qb6-b8, the Queen on b8 controls all of the squares of the 8th rank. 168 12 chapter How to Get There The simplest method for this checkmate is illustrated here. The technique is a bit like walking a dog, forcing the King step by step toward the top edge of the board. Here, white has many paths to the checkmate, but the simplest is clearly Qb4-b6, attacking the lone King. The King must retreat to the 7th rank. Here, after the retreat of the King to d7, white will continue to force the King toward the top of the board by playing Qa5-a7. Note that, given the power of the white Queens, the black King is unable to approach the Queens in an effort to prevent the checkmate. After Qa5-a7, you will be in the same position illustrated at the beginning of this section (see the previous page). As you can see, checkmating with two Queens is relatively simple. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:09 PM Page 170 Two Queens (continued) Another Way to Checkmate Here is another example of a checkmate with two Queens. White could simply proceed with the technique we just reviewed, but there is a much faster and more elegant checkmate. The Qb5 controls the 5th rank while the Qc3 controls the 3rd rank. White begins with Qb5-e5 check. Note that, after the check, black has only a single legal move, to g4. White completes the checkmate by playing Qc3-g3#, using the Queen on e5 to support the Qg3. It is a beautiful checkmate! In many chess games, however, you might not have the luxury of having so much extra material. In the following sections, we will explore checkmates with less material. 170 12 chapter Together, the Queen and Rook are almost as powerful as the two Queens. And in most chess games, you are more likely to have a Queen and Rook in an endgame than two Queens. Both techniques that you saw in the first section are still useful here. How to Get There THE FIRST TECHNIQUE THE SECOND TECHNIQUE In this position, the Queen and Rook combine very much like the two Queens. White brings about a quick checkmate by playing Qa5-a7 and then, once the King retreats to the 8th rank, with Rb6-b8 checkmate. This position requires a slightly different technique. Here, the Queen covers all the squares on the 5th rank, while the Rook covers the 3rd rank. White begins by playing Rc3-e3 check. Note that the Qc5 defends the Rook on e3. Black has no choice but to retreat along the 4th rank to f4. White continues with Qc5-e5 check, driving the King farther along the 4th rank to g4. The technique should be clear now. White alternates Rook and Queen moves, driving the King to the edge of the board. Checkmate is near. White continues, with the Re3-g3 check, driving the King to the edge on h4. White then follows with the Qe5-g5 checkmate. The Queen and Rook are defending each other while covering all of the Kingâ€™s possible retreats. 171 6:09 PM Page 172 Two Rooks Using two Rooks is another common checkmate. It is slightly more difficult to do because the Rooks are not as powerful as the Queens. How to Get There The Rooks will attempt to walk the black King toward the 8th rank. This time, however, the King will be able to approach the Rooks and disrupt the simple checkmate. White begins as expected by playing Ra4-a6, forcing the black King to retreat toward the 8th rank. As you can see, the King retreated to the d7-square, approaching the Rooks. As with the Queens, white continues with Rb5-b7, forcing the black King to the top edge of the board. Black moved Kd7-c8, attacking Rb7. The Rooks do not support each other like the two Queens and the Queen and Rook did. If white carelessly played Ra6-a8 check, black could escape with Kc8xRb7. Instead, white safeguards the Rb7 by moving it across the 7th rank to h7. With the threat of Ra6-a8 checkmate looming, black must defend the a8-square by playing Kc8-b8. The defense is annoying, but white can still win by shifting the a6-Rook toward the Kingside with Ra6-g6. Facing the inevitable move Rg6-g8 checkmate, black might resign here. Few chess players like being checkmated. 172 12 chapter It might surprise you to learn that the Queen alone cannot deliver checkmate. When itâ€™s down to King and Queen vs. the King, the Queen requires close cooperation with its King to deliver the mate. A Simple Checkmate Here is the simplest of the checkmates with a Queen and a King. Notice that the Qd7 is smothering the black King against the top edge of the board. Simply put, the Queen is attacking the King and covering all the black Kingâ€™s possible retreats. Moreover, the black King cannot capture the Queen because the Qd7 is defended by the white King. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:09 PM Page 174 King and Queen (continued) Other Ways to Checkmate In this position, white can bring about a similar checkmate by playing Qg7-e7 checkmate. Even though the white King is on d6, the Queen on e7 will still be defended and will be smothering the black King against the edge of the board. White has an additional option, playing Qg7-g8 checkmate. In this position, the white King is preventing a black retreat to d7 and e7, while the Queen not only attacks the black King but also covers the key d8, f8, and f7 squares. In this position, white again has two possible checkmates in one move. White can play either Qg2-a8 or Qg2-g8. Both moves attack the black King, and cover all of the squares on the 8th rank, while the white King prevents any move by the black King to the 7th rank. 174 12 chapter Moves to Avoid In bringing about the checkmate with your King and Queen, there are two key moves to avoid. In this position, white has a simple checkmate with Qb6-b8. However, Qb6-d6 is a move that many players make without realizing the danger. With the white Queen on d6, black has been stalemated! Black of course must move, but black has no legal move and the black King is not in check. Note that stalemate applies only when one side has no legal move whatsoever. For more on stalemates, see the section â€œStalemates and Other Drawsâ€? in Chapter 2. There are many positions in which the King or another piece cannot move. It is only a stalemate if one side is not in check and has no legal moves anywhere on the board. In this interesting position, white should march the white King toward f6 and deliver checkmate with the Queen. This strategy speaks to the key of all of these King and Queen checkmates: To win, the King and Queen must work together in harmony. Instead, white blundered with Qa7-f7?, again with a stalemate. Notice that the black King is not in check. But because of the bad move by the white Queen, the black King has no legal moves. 175 6:09 PM Page 176 King and Rook Mating with a Rook is somewhat more challenging than mating with a Queen, although many players prefer this mate because there are fewer possibilities for a stalemate. The Basic Checkmate Here is the basic checkmate. The Rf8 is checking the black King and preventing Kh8-g8. As in the King and Queen endgames, the white King plays an essential role by preventing the black King from escaping to either g7 or h7. Backing up just one move, the checkmate in this position should be clear. White simply advances the Rook from f7 to f8 checkmate. A significant mistake would be Rf7-g7, resulting in the only stalemate with a King and Rook. Therefore, it is a key move to avoid. 176 12 chapter Here, if it were black’s move, the black King would have only one move—Kg8-h8. White would then checkmate with Rf7-f8 as we have seen. But if it is white’s move, white wants to make sure that the black King does not escape to the Queenside. White therefore plays Rf7-f1. Actually, any backward movement of the Rook along the f-file would accomplish the purpose, but most chess players like dramatic finishes. Black has no choice in this position but to move the King directly into the corner at h8. With a flourish, white can play Rf1-f8, delivering checkmate. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:09 PM Page 178 King and Rook (continued) How to Get There Checkmating with a King and Rook is easy once the King is in the corner. Hereâ€™s how you can force the enemy King into the corner. Notice that the white Re5 has already placed the black King in a box. The Rook controls e6, e7, and e8, as well as the key squares on the 5th rank: f5, g5, and h5. The black King is trapped inside those squares and has only nine squares at its disposal (f6, f7, f8, g6, g7, g8, h6, h7, and h8). To make some headway, the white King and Rook must work together. White begins with Ke4-f4, waiting for the black King to move backward. Black is in a quandary. If black moves to g6, white has Re5-f5 to push black further toward the corner and close the box from nine squares to just six (g6, g7, g8, h6, h7, and h8). Therefore, black decides to move instead to f7. The moment that black gives ground, white should step forward to claim that territory. In this case, white has the strong move Kf4-f5, claiming control over both f6 and g6. 178 12 chapter Fearing an imminent checkmate, black does not want to retreat to the top edge of the board. Rather, black tries to hold ground with Kf7-g7. White could continue slowly with Re5-e6 and, indeed, you might want to practice such a slow procedure. As it turns out, white can proceed more quickly here with a check Re5-e7 check. Black might not want to respond by moving the King to f8 where, after Kf5-f6, white is very close to the checkmate that introduced this section. Instead, black tries to escape from the corner with Kg7-h6. In this position, white moves toward the end of the game quickly with a dramatic Re7-a7 (other Rook moves to b7, c7, d7, or f7 also work), forcing the black King to move to h5. At the end of a long sequence, white has a beautiful checkmate in one move with Ra7-h7. As you can see, these checkmates require patience. Of course, it helps to recognize the mating patterns. You will find that, after a bit of practice, you will be able to deliver checkmate with just a King and a Rook. 179 6:09 PM Page 180 King and Two Bishops A checkmate with two Bishops does not occur often. If it does, you will find that patience is required. The first step is to force the King toward any edge of the board and then toward any corner. The checkmate will look very much like the photo on the right. Notice that the white King is playing a very active role in blocking the escape of the black King. The light-squared Bishop is controlling the g8 escape square. The dark-squared Bishop is attacking the black King and delivering the checkmate. How to Get There 1.Be4-f5 Ke7-d8 There are many ways to proceed in this position. White would like to drive the black King toward the top edge of the board and then walk the King into one of the corners. Black would like to try to run away from white’s King and Bishop and therefore might try Ke7-d7. White therefore begins with 1.Be4-f5 to prevent black from moving to d7. Black continues to try to escape toward the a-file with Ke7-d8. Note: As you learned in the “Chess Notation” section in Chapter 1, the move number is indicated with a numeral followed by a period at the beginning of the notation. Here, we use move numbers starting with “1.” to best illustrate this endgame scenario. These move numbers are not indicative of a start-to-finish game, but are instead used to easily illustrate the order of moves necessary to achieve this checkmate. 2.Ke5-d6 Kd8-e8 White prevents any further movement of the black King toward the Queenside by advancing the King from e5 to d6. Black has no choice but to continue with Kd8-e8. 180 6:09 PM Page 182 King and Two Bishops (continued) 6.Bf5-g6+ Ke8-f8 White regains control over the e8-square, forcing the black King toward the corner with Bf5-g6+. To get out of check, blackâ€™s King makes its only legal move, Ke8-f8. 7.Bg5-h6 Kf8-g8 Whiteâ€™s dark-squared Bishop moves aggressively to h6 to control both the f8 and g7 squares. Black again makes the only legal move it has, Kf8-g8. 8.Bg6-e4 Kg8-h8 White moves the light-squared Bishop to e4 where it continues to control the h7 escape square but also readies the idea of Be4-d5. Black is forced to move the King to h8. 182 12 chapter 9.Ke6-f6 Kh8-g8 White brings its King closer to the g6-square where it can control the g7 and h7 squares without help from the Bishops. Black again moves back to g8. 10.Kf6-g6 Kg8-h8 The movement back and forth is not a threefold repetition because white’s moves have been different. Indeed, white continues to make progress, with the King having reached the key g6-square. Black retreats again to h8. 11.Bh6-g7+ Kh8-g8 White moves Bh6-g7 for check and is very close to checkmate. White’s Bg7+ move forces the black King back to g8 where, suddenly, it has no moves. 12.Be4-d5 checkmate White’s Be4-d5 is a pretty checkmate. 183 6:09 PM Page 184 King, Bishop, and Knight Of all the checkmates in this chapter, the checkmate with a King, Bishop, and Knight is the most complex. It is so difficult that some masters have failed to deliver the checkmate within the 50-move limit rule. (The U.S. Chess Federation rule book states that the result of a game is a draw if, after 50 consecutive moves by each player, there have been no captures or pawn moves.) The Final Checkmate Position Here is the final checkmate. Note that the white King controls the g7 and h7 escape squares. The Nh6 plays a key role in controlling g8. And of course, the Bd4 is delivering the final check. The key to this endgame is that the checkmate can be forced only in the corner that the Bishop can control. Players with the lone King should therefore run into the â€œwrongâ€? corner and see if their opponent can figure out how to force the checkmate. 184 12 chapter How to Get There In this position, white has already made good progress. The black King is on the edge of the board. White needs to decide which corner to drive the black King into. 1.Be5-f6 Ke8-f8 Be5-f6 prevents the black King from moving to d8 and toward the wrong corner. Blackâ€™s response to f8 is blackâ€™s only legal move. 2.Bf6-e7+ Kf8-g8 The Bishop check on e7 forces the black King to g8 because Kf8-e8 would allow Nf5-d6 checkmate! 3.Ke6-f6 Kg8-h7 The white King heads toward the key g6-square, moving Ke6-f6. Black moves the King to Kg8-h7 to prevent white from moving to g6 and in an effort to run the King toward h1. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 12 chapter Insufficient Mating Material Please note that it is not possible to force a checkmate with just a Bishop or just a Knight. Even with a King and two Knights, no checkmate can be forced. In this position, white will be able to deliver checkmate if black plays the Kg8 into the h8-corner. But black can avoid all trouble simply by playing Kg8-f8. TIP Use a Chess Database to Help Your Game A chess database is simply a database that is dedicated to chess. These specialized chess applications provide you with easy access to the history of chess. Current programs come with more than 3,000,000 games that you can view and play through. For example, you can use ChessBase, the most popular of these programs (www.chessbase.com) to find all the games of your favorite players and the games in your favorite openings. You can even play through an assortment of great combinations or instructive endgames. The PlayChess website (www.playchess.com) has a unique feature: All the games that you play there will be entered in the ChessBase database. This enables you to explore what other players did in the same position, or simply what you did wrong in a key position. In ChessBase, you can view a board position that shows the different moves that have been played from this position, as well as statistical information with regard to the relative success of the different alternatives. There is also an interesting list of the grandmasters who have favored each alternative and a list of all the games actually played from this position. With a chess database, you can easily play through many important games very quickly, learning as you go. 187 Page 188 13 Attacking the King The most exciting phase of the game of chess is the attacks leading to checkmate or to the gain of substantial material. In this chapter, you will be able to review a number of different patterns for attacking an opponent. By playing through these patterns, you will learn to recognize such possibilities in your own game—either how to bring about the attacks or how to stop them. In almost every section, you will see that the black King, as checkmate approaches, has no moves. As a general rule, when your opponent’s King cannot move, all you need is check! Many strong players use this rule. When they reach positions in which their opponent’s King cannot move, they know that they can safely sacrifice considerable material if they can find a way to deliver the final blow. Note: As I did in the later sections of Chapter 12, “Elementary Checkmates,” I again show these checkmates move by move, starting the move numbering with “1.” Again, these move numbers are not indicative of a start-to-finish game, but are instead used to easily illustrate the order of the moves necessary to achieve these checkmates. 15_049839 ch13.qxp 6:14 PM Page 189 Smothered Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190 Back Rank Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192 Gueridon Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194 Greco’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196 Epaulette Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197 Anastasia’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198 Boden’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199 Blackburne’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201 Lolli’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 Pillsbury’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205 Domiano’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208 Legal’s Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 15_049839 ch13.qxp 6:14 PM Page 190 Smothered Mate The smothered checkmate is one of the prettiest in chess. A lone Knight, with help from the enemy forces, checkmates the King. As you can see here, with the smothered mate, the black King is under attack and cannot move because its own Rook and pawns are blocking the escape. The Smothered Mate in Action 1.Ng5-f7+ Kh8-g8 Are you wondering why the black player would have allowed such a powerful move? The actual checkmate usually begins in a position like this one. As you can see, the black Rook is not on g8 and would certainly not want to move there voluntarily. White begins by moving the Ng5-f7, giving check to the black King. The King has no choice but to move out of the corner to g8. 2.Nf7-h6++ Kg8-h8 The power of the double check! White continues by moving the Nf7-h6, giving check to the black King from both Nh6 and Qb3. Black cannot capture the white Knight with the g7-pawn because the black King is also in check from the Queen. Black must move its King, but not to f8 where the white Queen, supported by the Nh6, would deliver checkmate with 3.Qb3-f7. The black King therefore retreats back into the corner. Note: As you learned in Chapter 1 in the section on “Chess Notation,” A single “+” after a move indicates a check. In turn, “++” indicates a double check. 190 13 chapter 3.Qb3-g8+ Ra8xg8 Rather than check again with the Knight on f7, white plays the amazing Qb3-g8+. Black cannot capture the Queen with the its King because the Knight on h6 supports the g8 square. Black therefore must capture on g8 with the Rook. 4.Nh6-f7 Checkmate Whiteâ€™s final move of Nh6-f7# is pleasing to the eye. Watch for such combinations in your own games. You might be surprised how often this smothered checkmate occurs in practice. FAQ Iâ€™d like to play in a chess tournament, but how do I find one? Every year, thousands of chess tournaments are held, including dozens in every state. Tournaments are the best place to meet other players and to practice the craft of chess. Most tournament events are certified by the United States Chess Federation (www.uschess.org), and the games are rated. The better your results, the higher your rating. With a high enough rating, you can gain an official title of expert, master, or even grandmaster. The U.S. Chess Federation publishes a monthly magazine, Chess Life, and maintains a website, both of which list tournaments throughout the United States. Their Web page www.uschess.org/directories/tnmtsearch/ permits you to search for tournaments in your area. State and regional championships tend to be the most competitive events, but there are club and weekend events that attract a wide range of players. 191 6:14 PM Page 192 Back Rank Mate The back rank mate is both simple and elegant. The white Rook checks the King along the back rank, and blackâ€™s own pawns prevent the King from escaping, as shown here. In practice, the back rank mate can be easy or surprisingly difficult. There are two examples in this section: the first easy, the second more difficult. The Back Rank Mate in Action AN EASY BACK RANK MATE 1.Qe3-e7+ Kf8-g8 In this position, white does not have a direct checkmate if it moves its Queen to the e8-square because the black King on f8 and the Rook on d8 both help to defend e8. White therefore first plays the Queen to the e7-square in order to drive the black King back to g8. 2.Qe7-e8+ Rd8xe8 The rest is simple. White has two attacks on the key e8-square. Black has only the Rook defending. White therefore sacrifices the Queen on e8 with Qe7-e8+, forcing Black to capture with Rd8xe8. 192 13 chapter 3.Re1xe8 Checkmate Although white has lost the Queen, the result is clear. The white Rook moves to e8 to capture black’s Rook. This move is checkmate, because the black King, thanks to its own pawns, has no escape. A MORE DIFFICULT BACK RANK MATE 1.Qf2xf7+ Rf8xf7 Here is a somewhat more challenging example of the back rank checkmate. Notice first that white has three attacks on the black f7-pawn, while black has only two defenses. White could therefore begin with 1.Ra7xf7, although there would be no immediate checkmate if black responded with Rg6-f6. White begins instead with the neat Queen sacrifice on f7 (Qf2xf7+). In check, black cannot simply retreat the King into the corner or white will checkmate quickly with 2.Qf7xf8 checkmate. Black therefore must capture the Queen with Rf8xf7. 2.Ra7-a8+ Rf7-f8 At first glance, it might appear that white has simply lost a Queen. But don’t forget about the back rank checkmate. White plays Ra7-a8, delivering check to the Kg8. Black could bring the Queen back to d8, but white would simply capture the Queen. Black therefore blocks the check by retreating Rf7-f8. 3. Ra8xf8 or Rf1xf8 Checkmate To end the game, white will capture the black Rf8 with either of its Rooks (Ra8xf8 or Rf1xf8)—checkmate! 193 6:14 PM Page 194 Gueridon Mate Here is another very pleasing checkmate in which the King’s own forces block its escape. The white Queen is attacking the King. The King cannot capture the Queen because the pawn on e5 defends it. The two black Rooks are occupying the only escape squares that the Queen doesn’t directly control. The Gueridon Mate in Action 1.Bc4xf7+ Ke8xf7 Some combinations seem to come from nowhere. White does have excellent control over the center and appears to be ready to castle and to play Nb1-c3. Instead, white launches a power attack on the black King with Bc4xf7+. The f7-pawn, defended only by the black King, is black’s weakest pawn. Black could decline the sacrifice and opt not to recapture with the King, but that would leave black’s King on f8 and white would be able to fork the black King and Queen with Nd4-e6+. So black recaptures the Bishop with Ke8xf7. 2.Nd4-e6 Kf7xe6 White presses forward with the amazing Nd4-e6, threatening the black Queen. Note that black could simply move the Qd8 to safety on e8. Doing so, however, would invite Ne6xc7, forking the Rook and Queen, and white would probably continue to attack with Qd1-d5. Instead, black, noticing that the advanced white Knight is undefended on e6, captures it with the King. 194 13 chapter 3.Qd1-d5+ Ke6-f6 It is extremely dangerous to move a King so early into the middle of the board. White is quick to punish the black King. White continues with Qd1d5 check, attacking the black King with support from its e4-pawn. Black, blocked by a pawn, a Knight, and a Bishop, has only one legal move: Ke6-f6. 4.Qd5-f5 Checkmate The white Queen delivers the Gueridon checkmate with Qd5-f5. The white Queen smothers the black King, with blackâ€™s own pieces blocking the escape. FACT From the French word for pedestal, the Gueridon mate is likely of French origin. If you prefer, this checkmate is sometimes referred to as the Swallowâ€™s Tail mate. 195 6:14 PM Page 196 Greco’s Mate Greco’s mate is very much like the back rank mate, but on the side of the board instead. As you can see here, the white Rook is attacking the King along the h-file. The white Bishop on b3 controls the g8 escape square, while the black pawn on g7 prevents the King from moving there. Checkmate. Greco’s Mate in Action 1.Ne5-g6+ h7xg6 At first glance, it might appear that white is in trouble. After all, the black Knight on d2 is forking the white Qf3 and the Rf1. However, notice that the white Bb3 is cutting straight through to the g8-square, preventing the black King from moving. White begins by checking with the e5-Knight to g6. This Knight check would be checkmate, except that black can capture the Knight with its h7-pawn. Black has no choice but to accept this Knight sacrifice (h7xg6). 2.Qf3-h3 Checkmate White ends the game quickly with Qh3 checkmate, a pretty example of Greco’s mate. 196 13 chapter A Rook or a Queen provides the final check in this pleasing checkmate. In this position, the Rook delivers a check along the open g-file. The poor black King has no escape; it’s hemmed in by the two black Rooks and the f- and h-pawns. Epaulette Mate in Action The Epaulette mate is a useful part of your chess arsenal. Positions like this can occur if the enemy King, rather than castling, is forced by a check to walk toward its own Rook. 1.Qe7xf6 g7xf6 Black’s position looks secure, but white will win quickly, starting with Qe7xf6. The Queen capture pries open the black Kingside. Black is not forced to recapture and, indeed other moves would permit the game to go on. Nonetheless, the winning of a Knight is very useful and usually enough to guarantee victory. Black therefore responds with g7xf6. 2.Rd3-g3 Checkmate Now that the g7-pawn has captured the white Queen on f6, the g-file is open for the white Rook to deliver the checkmate. Once white plays Rd3-g3, the King is in check. Black cannot capture or block the Rook, and the black King has no escape from the check. It’s checkmate! 197 6:14 PM Page 198 Anastasia’s Mate Anastasia’s checkmate is very similar to a back rank mate except that it can occur on any side of the board. As you can see in the final position of Anastasia’s mate shown here, the Rook along the h-file is delivering checkmate. The white Knight has control over the g6 and g8 escape squares, while the black pawn on g7 blocks the King’s other escape square. Anastasia’s Mate in Action Try to imagine how to achieve Anastasia’s checkmate from this position. Clearly, white will need to check with the Knight on e7 and pry open the h-file for the checkmate. 1.Nf5-e7+ Kg8-h8 With white to move, it plays the Knight to e7 check, which forces the black King into the corner at h8. After black’s move, note that the black King cannot move. All white needs is to check. 2.Rh1xh7+ Kh8xh7 White blasts through the black defense with a nice Rook sacrifice on h7. Black has no choice but to recapture the Rook with its King. The mate is now set up. The white Knight on e7 controls both g8 and g6, while the black pawn blocks any escape by the black King to g7. 3.Qd2-h2 Checkmate White ends the game with Anastasia’s mate, this time with the check from the Queen on h2. 198 13 chapter In 1853, an Englishman named Samuel Boden was the first to uncork this fascinating finish. The black King has castled Queenside and has no moves because the white Bh2 cuts through the darksquare diagonal all the way to b8. Bodenâ€™s Mate at a Glance 1.Qf3xc6+ b7xc6 White begins with Qf3xc6+, a spectacular Queen sacrifice that rips open the black Queenside. The black King cannot move to b8 because the Bh2 controls the b8-h2 diagonal, and there is no way to block the check. Black therefore has no choice but to accept the sacrifice by capturing the Queen, b7xc6. 2.Bf1-a6 Checkmate The game ends abruptly with the check from the light-squared Bishop, Bf1-a6. Notice how the two Bishops by themselves deliver this pleasing checkmate. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:14 PM Page 200 Boden’s Mate (continued) Boden’s Mate in Action This position seems ripe for Boden’s mate. Note that black has castled on the Queenside and that the black King cannot move. However, the white Knight on b5 is blocking the Bd3’s access to the a6-square. How can white deliver the mate? 1.Nb5xa7+ Bb8xa7 White begins by ditching the Nb5, capturing the pawn on a7 and forcing black to recapture with the Bb8. Once the exchange on a7 occurs, you will start to recognize Boden’s mate. 2.Qf3xc6+ b7xc6 In this example, there is no Queen sacrifice, simply an exchange of Queens on the c6-square. But the result is the same. White’s light-squared Bishop now has access to the key a6-square. 3.Bd3-a6 Checkmate The a6-square is now open for the checkmate. Even though there wasn’t a true Queen sacrifice here (black and white just exchanged Queens), the final checkmate is still very satisfying. 200 13 chapter Joseph Henry Blackburne, a 19thcentury English master who was nicknamed the Black Death, discovered this nice checkmate with two Bishops. Note here that the two Bishops are actively cutting through the position toward the black King. The Knight on g5 plays a key role in the checkmate by supporting Bd3-h7 checkmate. Blackburne’s Mate in Action Blackburn’s mate often occurs when the g- and h-pawns advance in front of the King. As you can see here, white’s Bb2 has control over all of the dark squares along the long diagonal. White would like to play Bd3-h7 checkmate but the pawn on g6 is in the way. 1.Qd1xh5 g6xh5 White begins with a Queen sacrifice that black simply cannot refuse. The Qd1xh5 threatens both Qh5-h7 checkmate and the Qh5-h8 checkmate. Once the g6xh5 recapture has occurred, the Bishop’s diagonals are fully open. 2.Bd3-h7 Checkmate In this example, white offered a Queen sacrifice to open lines for a Blackburn’s checkmate. Bishop d3-h7 finishes the job. The fault here, of course, is black��s for having weakened its Kingside with the advance of both the g- and h-pawns. 201 6:14 PM Page 202 Lolli’s Mate Named after an 18th-century Italian chess enthusiast, Lolli’s mate is a familiar theme to beginning chess players. The checkmate will occur with the white Queen on g7, supported by a pawn on f6 or h6 or perhaps by a Bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal. Lolli’s Mate at a Glance 1.f5-f6 g7-g6 As you can see in this example, the advance of the white pawn to f6 will often serve to weaken the black pawn structure, whether or not the f-pawn is taken. Here, of course, with the Queen pinning the g7-pawn, the g7xf6 capture is illegal. White’s f5-f6 pawn advance threatens checkmate on g7 with Qg5xg7. Because black is unable to use a piece to capture on f6 or to defend the g7-pawn, black will have to respond with g7-g6, further weakening the Kingside. As you know, every pawn move creates a weakness. In this case, the g7-g6 pawn push creates a significant weakness on the h6-square. 2.Qg5-h6 Kg8-h8 White takes immediate advantage of the new weakness on h6 to move the Queen there. The threat, often unstoppable, is the Qh6-g7 checkmate. 3.Qh6-g7 Checkmate An abrupt finish. It’s mate. 202 13 chapter Lolli’s Mate in Action FIRST EXAMPLE The threat of Lolli’s mate often forces players to move the King into the corner and then to defend the g7 mating square with a Rook. Once again, this defense has left the black King without a move. 1.Qh6xh7 Kh8xh7 White, again, sacrifices the Queen with Qh6xh7 to expose the black King to further attack. It is generally not a good idea to give up your Queen unless you see clear compensation; with black recapturing with Kh8xh7 here, it’s worth it. 2.Rf3-h3 Checkmate In this case, the compensation is clear. The f6pawn controls the g7 escape square, while the black Rg8 and the pawn on g6 also block the King’s escape. Rf3-h3 is checkmate! CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:14 PM Page 204 Lolli’s Mate (continued) SECOND EXAMPLE One additional feature of Lolli’s mate is that, if the enemy Rook moves to g8 to prevent Qh6g7 checkmate, the f7-pawn becomes weak. If a Knight were able to take safely on f7, the King, unable to move, would be checkmated. 1.Nf3-g5 Qf8xh6 Here, black appears to have defended successfully. The Rg8 prevents Qh6-g7 mate and the Qf8 defends the weak f7-pawn and challenges the white Queen on h6. White makes a very strong move, Nf3-g5, with the powerful threat Qh6xh7 checkmate. Black responds with Queen takes Queen in order to prevent the mate. 2.Ng5xf7 Checkmate White unleashed a huge surprise—a smothered checkmate with the Knight! 204 13 chapter This common checkmate honors Harry Nelson Pillsbury, a great American player of the late 19th century. This mate takes advantage of a strong Bishop on the long diagonal and a Rook on an open g-file. In this simple position, white will capture on g7, but will it be with the Bishop or the Rook? Both appear strong, but one leads to checkmate in just two more moves. Pillsburyâ€™s Mate at a Glance 1.Rg1xg7+ Kg8-h8 Here, white captures on g7 with the Rook because the black King is forced into the corner and white will now have a powerful discovered check. 2.Rg7-g1+ Rf8-f6 White responds with Rg7-g1 for check (actually white could deliver check by withdrawing the Rook to any of the other squares along the g-file. The discovered check looks like mate but black can delay the inevitable by blocking the check with the Rf8-f6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:14 PM Page 206 Pillsbury’s Mate (continued) 3.Bb2xf6 Checkmate Another checkmate that is pleasing to the eye. The black King is jailed in the corner by the white Rook and the black pawn. The little Bishop delivers the final blow. Pillsbury’s Mate in Action Despite black’s material advantage, it is not surprising that white is winning in this position. The white Bishop on b2 has impressive control over the long diagonal, and the Rg1 has control over the open file pointed right at g7. Together, the Rook and Bishop are attacking the g7-pawn twice, and only the black King defends it. Note, however, that the black Knight on d3 is attacking the Bb2. 1.Rg1xg7+ Kg8-h8 White captures the g7-pawn in the most forceful way, with its Rook. Black has no choice but to move the King into the corner, permitting a discovered check on the next move. At least black can count on the fact that the Nd3 is attacking white’s Bb2. On any conventional discovered check, black can simply play Nd3xb2. 206 6:14 PM Page 208 Domiano’s Mate Pedro Domiano discovered this checkmate in 1512. In this spectacular checkmate, white will sacrifice one or two Rooks to clear the way for a Queen check on the h-file and then checkmate on h7. Domiano’s Mate at a Glance In this position, neither King can move. If it were black’s move, 1.Qa7-a2 would be checkmate. White must therefore act quickly and decisively. The white pawn on g6, like the black pawn on b3, is playing a key role. The g6-pawn controls both f7 and h7. If white could find a way to place the Qc1 on h7, the game would be over. 1.Rh1-h8+ Kg8xh8 The Rook sacrifice here brings the King to the h8-square and opens up the h1-square for the Queen. Black has no choice but to capture the Rook and place the King in jeopardy on h8. 2.Qc1-h1+ Kh8-g8 With the black King exposed on h8, the white Queen gains access with check to the h-file and especially to the key h7-square. The black King has only one move, to retreat to the g8-square. 208 13 chapter 3.Qh1-h7 Checkmate Another nice finish. White finishes the game by moving the Queen to the key h7-square. The Qh7, defended by the pawn on g6, checkmates the black King. Domianoâ€™s Mate in Action Once you have visualized these patterns, you will begin to recognize them in more complex situations. In this position, both sides have raging attacks. Black is threatening to checkmate in one move with Ra7xa2. White, however, recognizes the possibilities for a Domiano checkmate. 1.Nh4-g6+ h7xg6 White begins with a surprising Knight fork of the black King and Queen. Black could decline the sacrifice with Kh8-g8, but white would then capture the black Queen with check and next prevent the checkmate on a2 by playing a2-a3. Black opts to play h7xg6 to eliminate the Knight fork. 2.h5xg6+ Kh8-g8 White continues with an important discovered check, playing h5xg6+. The pawn capture on g6 brings check from the Rh1. Black has no choice but to retreat to g8. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:14 PM Page 210 Domiano’s Mate (continued) 3.Rh1-h8+ Kg8xh8 As you can see, Domiano’s checkmate sometimes involves the sacrifice of more than one Rook. White responds with the sacrifice of the first Rook on h8. Black is forced to recapture. 4.Rd1-h1+ Kh8-g8 The pattern repeats. White “reloads the gun” with Rd1-h1+. The idea is to sacrifice a second Rook on h8. The black King is yet again forced to retreat to g8. 5.Rh1-h8+ Kg8xh8 The second Rook sacrifice brings the King for the final time to h8. The white Queen finally has access to the h1-square, where it can deliver the key check and gain entry to the h7 mating square. 210 6:14 PM Page 212 Legal’s Mate Legal’s mate usually only occurs against beginners in the opening. Black has already broken several rules in this position. The Bg4 developed before the Knights, and black has moved three pawns while leaving seven pieces “in the box.” White is able to punish black’s poor development with a spectacular sacrifice. Legal’s Mate in Action 1.Nf3xe5 Bg4xd1 White begins by breaking the pin from the Bg4. Black is not obligated to capture the Queen, although most beginners would. By simply recapturing the Ne5 with its d6-pawn instead, black would only be down a pawn after white’s anticipated next move of 2.Qd1xg4. But black opts to capture the Queen. 2.Bc4xf7+ Ke8-e7 Although down a Queen, white has a mate in two moves! White continues with the pawn capture on f7, check, taking advantage of the centralized Knight on e5, which now defends the f7-Bishop. The King has only one legal move, to e7. 212 13 chapter 3.Nc3-d5 Checkmate In the final position, the white pieces harmoniously cooperate to cover all of the King’s possible moves. The Nc3-d5 delivers the checkmate by attacking the King and by covering the f6 escape square. The Ne5 covers d7 and f7, while the Bf7 covers e8 and e6. It’s checkmate! FAQ How does someone become a “master”? By playing in a tournament, you will earn a rating. Every time you play, you will gain or lose points depending on your results and the strength of your opponent. If you defeat a strong player, you will win as many as 32 points. If you lose to a strong player, you could lose only 1 point. Of course, if you lose to a low-rated player, you could lose as many as 32 points. The U.S. Chess Federation maintains a classification system that contains eight classes, identified by accumulated tournament points (see table at right). If you are new to tournaments, you will begin as an unrated player and soon thereafter gain a provisional rating for your first 20 games. All of your results will count, and your first established rating will reflect those results. The ratings are used to rank players in order to make fair pairings in the events. Points Page 214 14 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices Middlegame attacks are often the most exciting phase of the chess game. In this chapter, you will be able to review a number of different strategic themes for attacking an opponent. By playing through these patterns, you will be able to recognize such possibilities in your own game—either to bring them about or, if you are being attacked, to be able to prevent them. Just as important, you should be able to get a sense that successful attacks require careful coordination among many pieces, not just one or two. Sacrifices are special kinds of attacks in which one player gives up or “sacrifices” material, perhaps as little as a pawn or as much as a Queen, in order to generate an attack. This chapter will review a number of common sacrifices that can occur in your own games. In almost every case, attacks and sacrifices occur because one player is better developed than the other. For example, you might be able to mobilize many pieces around your opponent’s King. Or perhaps if you remove one of the key defensive pieces, even at a high price, it will open direct lines against your opponent’s King. As attacks develop, you will often see that a King, as checkmate approaches, has no moves. As a general rule, when your opponent’s King can’t move, all you need is check! Many strong players use this rule. When you reach positions in which the opponent’s King can’t move, know that you can safely sacrifice material if you can find a way to deliver the final checkmate. 16_049839 ch14.qxp 5:49 PM Page 215 The Dragon Variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 The English Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Common Knight Sacrifices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221 Bishop Sacrifices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227 Exchange Sacrifices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236 16_049839 ch14.qxp 5:49 PM Page 216 The Dragon Variation The Dragon variation of the Sicilian Defense gets its name from its pawn structure. The eye of the dragon is on g7. The a6- and b7-pawns form the tail. Notice first that black is likely to have a fianchettoed Bishop on g7, and black will be castling on the Kingside. Having moved the g-pawn from g7 to g6, the f6 and especially the h6-square have become weak. White should therefore coordinate an attack on the dark squares on the Kingside. Slaying the Dragon Here is a typical Dragon position. Notice that white has castled on the Queenside in order to use both Rooks in the Kingside attack. The white Be3 and the Qd2 are both pointed aggressively toward the weak h6-square. The white pawn on f3 discourages black from moving its e5-Knight to g4, where the Knight might attack the Be3 and help defend the h6-square. The f3pawn also supports the g4-pawn. Note too that white has taken the useful precaution of moving the King from c1 to b1. Itâ€™s good advice to safeguard your King from possible checks before you commence an attack. In this position, white has at least two excellent options. There is Be3-h6, seeking to exchange the dark-squared Bishops and leaving the black King without a key defender. White could also play h2-h4, rushing the h-pawn forward toward h5 in an effort to pry open the h-file for use by the Rh1 and a Queen after Qd2-h2. 216 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter In this position, one move later, white has begun the attack with Be3-h6 while Black, eager to counterattack, has played b7-b5. White now presses forward with h2-h4, threatening to push the h-pawn forward again to h5. Notice the usefulness of playing g2-g4 first. The pawn on g4 discouraged black from trying to defend with h7-h5. Black has a terrible choice to make. If black captures the Bishop on h6, the white Queen will recapture and lead the attack on h6. If black declines to capture on h6, white will be able to capture on g7, which forces the black King to recapture on g7. Again, a move later, the exchange of Bishops has occurred on g7. Black is seeking some counterplay on the Queenside with Qd8-a5. White will now continue the attack with h4-h5. The idea, of course, is to open up the h-file with h5xg6 and then with Qd2-h6 check. These attacks are very powerful and fun to play. 217 5:49 PM Page 218 The English Attack The attack against the Dragon works well even when black does not fianchetto the Bishop at g7. White’s pawn structure against the Dragon has become known as the English attack, named after a number of English grandmasters who helped popularize the attack nearly two decades ago. The English attack is a potent weapon for you to consider whether or not your opponent fianchettos. An Active Kingside Attack ONE WAY TO GO In this position, black has again chosen to castle on the Kingside, but this time the Bf8 has developed to e7. Black’s Kingside is much more secure because black has avoided the Kingside fianchetto. Nonetheless, white continues as before. White has successfully developed most of its pieces, with the Be3 and Qd2 powerfully pointing toward the Kingside. Once again, the pawn on f3 prevents Nf6-g4 and supports the beginning of an attack with g2-g4-g5. After you have completed or nearly completed your development, you will need to make a decision about the nature of your attack. Will the attack be led by your pawns or by your pieces? That interesting decision gets easier with experience. In this position, white will lead the charge with the g-pawn, playing g2g4. The idea is to push the pawn to g5, where the g-pawn will attack the Nf6 and force this key defender of the black Kingside to move away. In the second figure, two moves later, white has proceeded quickly to advance the g-pawn to g5. Black has countered with b7-b5 with the idea of b5-b4 attacking the white Nc3. Black has an awkward choice in this position. The black Nf6 could retreat to e8 or move to the dim rim at h5. Note: As you learned in Chapter 4, “Knight Strategy,” if you place a Knight on the side of the board, it will have access to only four squares. Keeping a Knight near the center yields more square access. Thus the saying, “A Knight on the rim is dim.” Let’s examine both possibilities. 218 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter Here, two moves later, black has moved the Bc8-b7, while white has “swung” the Nc3-e2 and then on to g3, where it attacks the undefended Nh5. Black dare not defend the Knight with g7-g6 because, after Ng3xh5, the resulting pawn recapture would drastically weaken the black Kingside. If, instead, black captures the Ng3, white will recapture with the h2pawn, opening up the h-file for a forceful attack. Here is the culmination of white’s idea. After the recapture on g3 with the h2-pawn, white has played Qd2-h2 with the powerful threat of Qxh7 checkmate. Black can stop the checkmate by advancing the h-pawn, but that additional Kingside weakness will leave white with an enormous edge and an easy way to continue the attack with g5xh6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:49 PM Page 220 The English Attack (continued) ANOTHER WAY Here is a position that might have occurred had black retreated the Nf6-e8 rather than play Nf6-h5. Note that white has advanced the h2-pawn to h5. The h-pawn was needed on h2 in the event that white had to play Nc3e2-g3. Here, the black Knight is on e8 rather than h5. White has therefore rushed the h-pawn to h5, where it can support the additional pawn advance, g5-g6. Whiteâ€™s strategy is becoming clear. Black will not be able to use the f7-pawn to capture on g6 because the f7-pawn is required to defend against the threat Nd4xe6 forking the Qd8 and the Rf8. Black can prevent the advance of the white g-pawn by playing g7-g6, but that move would weaken the f6 and h6 squares and permit white to open the h-file for its Rook and Queen with h5xg6. In both of these English attack examples, white opens up the h-file for an attack from the heavy pieces, the Rooks and the Queen. TIP What to Expect in a Tournament When playing in a tournament, come prepared. Be sure to bring a chessboard, a chess set, and a chess clock to the events, although there are usually extras if you forget. If you need to buy equipment, the U.S. Chess Federation is a good source for the standard equipment used at most tournaments. Chess clocks are used to allocate time fairly. Chess clocks are actually two timers in one. When you make a move, your clock stops ticking and your opponentâ€™s clock starts up. In national events, players typically must make 40 moves in 2 hours or 30 moves in 90 minutes. In local clubs, faster time limits are the norm. Often, each player gets 30 or 60 minutes for the whole game. If you fail to make the required number of moves in the time allotted, you lose. Most of the time, however, players become nervous about the clock and speed up their play. The best advice is to play patiently and slowly. A bad move brought on by concern about the clock could permanently spoil your game. 220 14 chapter In the opening, when you employ a gambit to sacrifice a pawn, you might expect in return to control an open file or gain an active square or two for your pieces. When you sacrifice a Knight, a Bishop, or more, you usually can expect much more compensation. In this section, two Knight sacrifices lead either to material gain or to the gain of significant positional advantages. As you observe these positions, consider how much fun it must be to offer the material, knowing the reward that may await you. The Fried Liver Attack In addition to having an amusing name, this opening variation provides a quick attack that many players enjoy. The moves 1.e2-e4 e7-e5, 2.Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6, and 3.Bf1-c4 Ng8-f6 are the starting position of what’s called the Two Knights’ Defense. This position, although only three moves into the game, permits white to try the interesting Nf3-g5 move. The Knight move breaks an important principle of moving a piece twice so early in the game, but it carries the powerful threat of Ng5xf7. To prevent the threat, black usually plays d7-d5, blocking the Bc4’s attack on the f7-square. White continues by capturing on d5 with the e4-pawn. Experienced players know that black’s best response in this position would be to play Nc6-a5, threatening the white Bc4. Instead, black responds with the obvious recapture, Nf6xd5. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:49 PM Page 222 Common Knight Sacrifices (continued) Here is the critical position. For the moment, white has only one attack on the black Nd5 with Bc4, and black has a single defenderâ€” Qd8. The Fried Liver Attack begins now with the surprising move Ng5xf7, forking the Qd8 and the Rh8. To prevent the capture of the Queen or the Rook, black must recapture the Knight with Ke8xf7. Why would white give up a Knight in this manner? In this case, because white is able to develop very quickly and force the black King into the middle of the board. First, white is able now to play Qd1-f3 check. The Queen move develops the Queen powerfully to f3 where, in addition to the check, it adds a second attack on the black Nd5. To defend the Nd5, black must bring the King farther into the center with Kf7-e6. As you might imagine, few players enjoy having their King exposed so early in the game. 222 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter White now has two attacks on the black Nd5, while black has two defenders, the Qd8 and the Ke6. Rather than capture the Nd5, white increases the pressure on the pinned Nd5 by developing the other Knight with Nb1-c3. Now facing three attacks on itâ€™s d5-Knight, black plays Nc6-b4, using the Nb4 to provide a third defense and simultaneously to threaten Nb4xc2 check, forking the white Ke1 and the Ra1. White now has two interesting options: play Qf3-e4, defending the c2-pawn, or threaten to develop quickly with a2-a3. White plays the amazing a2-a3, attacking the black Nb4 and forcing it to carry out its threat of capturing on c2. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Page 224 Common Knight Sacrifices (continued) Having already sacrificed a Knight, white sacrifices an additional Rook. But consider that the Ra1 has not yet moved, while blackâ€™s Knight on c2 will have moved four times if it proceeds with Nc2xa1. In this position, whiteâ€™s King, in check, moves to d1 to force the Nc2 to move and to open the e1-square for Rh1-e1. With the Knight under attack, black naturally captures the Ra1. White is down considerable material, but note that white now has three attacks on the black Nd5 while black has only two defenders. In compensation for the sacrifice of a Knight and a Rook, white is now able to capture the Nd5 and continue to attack with moves like Rh1e1 and d2-d4. Are the sacrifices correct? That question has haunted chess players for more than 400 years. Many books have been written on this subject, and still the answer is not yet clear. What is clear is that this type of sacrificial play is very exciting and a joy to play. By all means try to prove the soundness of the sacrifice. Or join the many players who are convinced that the Fried Liver is unsound. Either way, you will have become yet another chess player with an opinion about this exciting line. 224 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter Another Knight Sacrifice on f7 In the Caro-Kann Defense, after the moves 1.e2-e4 c7-c6, 2.d2-d4 d7-d5, 3.Nb1-d2 d5xe4, 4.Nd2xe4 Nb8-d7, 5.Bf1-c4 Ng8-f6, 6.Ne4-g5 e7-e6, 7.Qd1-e2 Bf8-e7, we reach this position. Whiteâ€™s Ng5, Bc4, and Qe2 are all aiming at the e6-square. If it were blackâ€™s move, black would likely castle, moving the King to safety. For the moment, however, the King is the only black piece defending the key f7-pawn, and white has an opportunity to expose the King to a terrific attack. White begins with the Knight sacrifice Ng5xf7. Faced with the Knight fork of the Qd8 and the Rh8, black recaptures with Ke8xf7. The white Qe2 and Bc4 are now combining to attack the e6-pawn, which black is defended only with the Kf7. White continues with the powerful Qe2xe6 check. The black King dare not retreat to f8 to face a Qe6-f7 checkmate. Black therefore moves the King forward to g6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter Bishop sacrifices, like Knight sacrifices, should lead either to a significant attack or later material gain. For example, the Greco sacrifice of the Bishop on h7 leads to a complex position in which white delivers checkmate in every line. The complications can be difficult to calculate, but I hope you will begin to recognize positions in which the sacrifice could work. The Greco Bishop Sacrifice White begins straight away with Bd3xh7. Black is not required to recapture the Bh7, but avoiding the recapture simply permits white to win the h7-pawn. Few players will decline the offer. If black were to play Kg8-h8, white would simply continue with Nf3-g5 and then Qd1-h5 for a powerful attack. Black opted to recapture with Kg8xh7; white has given up a Bishop. In compensation for the material, the black King is now exposed. Whiteâ€™s plan is to play Nf3-g5 and, if the black King retreats, follow up with Qd1-h5 and then the Qh5-h7 checkmate. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:49 PM Page 228 Bishop Sacrifices (continued) GRECOâ€™S SACRIFICE IN ACTION Many of these sacrifices work because one side has far better development than the other. This is certainly true here. White has successfully advanced the e-pawn to e5, attacking blackâ€™s Nf6, which has retreated to d7. As a result, the black Knight is no longer on f6, where it can defend the Kingside, notably the h7-square. White begins by playing with Bd3xh7 check. Only the King can recapture. Black is not required to recapture, but moving the King to h8 would lose the h7-pawn with no compensation and only invite additional moves like Nf3-g5 and Qd1-h5 for a powerful attack. Black therefore captures the Bishop with Kg8xh7. Having sacrificed the Bishop, white should play aggressively, not permitting black time to safeguard the King. White therefore continues with Nf3-g5 check. Black dare not capture the Ng5 with the Qd8 because the white Bc1 defends the Knight. Black therefore must move the King. Black rejects the move Kh7-h8 because white would win quickly with Qd1-h5 check followed by Qh5-h7 checkmate. 228 5:49 PM Page 230 Bishop Sacrifices (continued) In this position, see if you can find the checkmate in four moves. The solution? The game ends quickly after the following forced sequence: Qf7-h5+ Kh8-g8 Qh5-h7+ Kg8-f8 Qh7-h8+ Kf8-e7 Qh8xg7 checkmate Second Variation: Kh7-h6 Now, let’s see what happens if black opts to retreat the King from its check on h7 to the h6-square. The move by the black King does prevent white from moving the Queen to h5, but the Kh6 is suddenly on the c1-h6 diagonal. Any movement now by the Ng5 will be a powerful discovered check. The best of those moves is probably Ng5xe6, revealing the check from the Bishop and attacking both the black Qd8 and the Rf8. No matter what black’s response, white will be able to win the black Queen—clearly wonderful compensation for the sacrificed Bishop. 230 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter Third Variation: Kh7-g6 Finally, what if black moved Kh7-g6? In this position, the black King is dangerously exposed, but it does prevent white from playing Qd1-h5. White has two other strong ideas. White could play Qd1-g4, threatening discovered checks like Ng5xe6. Or white could play what may be an even more powerful move, h2-h4. The pawn advance would provide additional support for the Knight and threaten the h4-h5 check. The King would then have to move to the dangerous h6-square when discovered checks from an Ng5-move again become possible. Bishop Sacrifices on h6 As you can see, black has weakened the Kingside by advancing the h-pawn to h6. If you have a lead in development, you might want to consider the following Bishop sacrifice. White begins by playing Be3xh6. Not wanting to lose the h6-pawn for no reason, black recaptures with g7xh6. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:49 PM Page 234 Bishop Sacrifices (continued) The black King can’t move now. To end the game, white only needs to deliver check from a piece other than the Queen. White sees that the Re1 can now move to e3 and then slide to the h-file on h3, delivering the final blow. With the Kingside in shambles and poor development, black has no way to prevent the checkmate from occurring. A Bishop Sacrifice on f7 It is readily apparent that white has good control over the center in this position. The two center pawns are unopposed, and white’s Nf3 and Bc4 are already actively placed. By contrast, black has fianchettoed the Bg7 and developed the Queen’s Knight to d7. Black’s last move, Nb8-d7, probably should have been Ng8-f6 to develop the Knight toward the center and to prepare for castling. White can now take advantage of black’s lack of development by playing the impressive Bc4xf7 check. Black can decline this Bishop sacrifice offer with Ke8-f8, but white would then simply be ahead a pawn with a nice attack brewing with moves such as Nf3-g5 and Qd1-f3. Black therefore accepts the sacrifice with Ke8xf7. 234 5:49 PM Page 236 Exchange Sacrifices An exchange sacrifice, or “the sacrifice of the exchange,” occurs when one player exchanges a Rook for a “minor piece,” either a Knight or a Bishop. This section introduces two common exchange sacrifices, one for white and one for black. The themes should be familiar to you. As compensation for the lost material, the player giving up the Rook for the minor piece gains open files against the opponent’s King and active squares for the remaining pieces. An Exchange Sacrifice on h5 In the Dragon variation, to break through to the King, white often must sacrifice a Rook for a Knight. For example, in this position, white would like to checkmate quickly with Qh6xh7, but the black Nf6 is defending the h7-square. White therefore begins by advancing the g4pawn to g5, kicking the Nf6. The Knight must move or be captured. Black therefore plays Nf6-h5, blocking the h-file and continuing to prevent white from checkmating on h7. To break through to the King, white continues the attack with an exchange sacrifice, Rh1xh5. Obviously, the move offers the Rh1 for the Nh5, but it succeeds in breaking up the black Kingside and setting up the final checkmate. Faced with the threat of Qh6xh7 and needing compensation for the loss of the Knight, black recaptures with g6xh5. 236 5:49 PM Page 238 Exchange Sacrifices (continued) There are many ways for white to finish the game quickly. The most accurate is the move Rd1-g1, with the threats of Qg6-g7 checkmate, as well as Qg6-h6 checkmate and even Qg6xh5 checkmate. To delay the checkmates, black could sacrifice the Qa5 on a2, but most players with the black pieces would probably resign after Rd1-g1. An Exchange Sacrifice on c3 Not all sacrifices and victories in the Dragon variation are played by white. Here is a typical exchange sacrifice that will help the player with the black pieces gain a victory or two. In this position, white has begun an attack on the black Kingside with h2-h4-h5 and with Be3-h6. Black has responded by posting the Queen aggressively on a5 and by doubling the Rooks on the c-file. Note that black would like to play Qa5xa2, but the white Nc3 is defending the a-pawn. Black therefore begins with Rc7xc3, an exchange sacrifice that removes a key defender. White could ignore the capture with a move like Bh6xg7, but white decides instead to accept the exchange sacrifice with b2xc3. 238 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter As you can see, the sacrifice of the exchange has resulted in severe damage to the pawns around the white King. The c-pawns are doubled. Black has two attacks on the c3-pawn, which is defended only by the white Queen. Rather than capture the c3-pawn, black decides instead to play Qa5xa2 with the powerful threat Qa2-a1 checkmate. In an effort to guard the a1-square and prevent the immediate checkmate, white responds with Nd4-b3. Black would like to continue with Rc8xc3, but the white Queen on d2 is guarding the c3pawn. Black therefore plays Bg7xh6, attacking the Qd2 and forcing white to respond with Qd2xh6, a move that white usually likes to play, but here it removes the Queen from its role in defending the Queenside pawns. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5:49 PM Page 240 Exchange Sacrifices (continued) With the white Queen now on h6, black can continue the attack with Rc8xc3, a capture that carries the threat of Rc3xc2 checkmate as well as Qa2xc2 checkmate. Seeing that after Rd1-d2, black could simply play Qa2xb3 (taking advantage of the fact that Rc3 pins the white c2-pawn), white responds instead with Nb3-d4, using the Nd4 to defend the c2-pawn. Already with firm control over the white Queenside, black now offers a Knight sacrifice with Ne5-g4, attacking the white Queen. With no good retreats for the white Queen (Qh6g5 meets Rc3-c5, Qh6-f4 meets e7-e5, and Qh6-d2 meets Qa2-a1 checkmate), white captures the black Knight with f3xg4. 240 Attacking Themes and Common Sacrifices 14 chapter Black now plays Nf6xe4, capturing a central white pawn but, more important, taking control over the key d2-square that the white King needs for its escape. White is now helpless. The white Queen can sacrifice itself to delay checkmate, but the threat of Qa2-a1 is simply too difficult to stop. If Nd4-b3, for example, black would immediately end the game with Qa2xc2 checkmate. FAQ Are there different types of chess tournaments? Yes. The most common type of chess tournament in the United States is the Swiss tourney or Swiss system. In these tournaments, players who win are paired against other winners. And so, the final round often consists of two undefeated players competing for first place. If you lose several games in a Swiss system, your next pairing is likely to get easier. By using a Swiss system, tournaments need only four to six rounds and can take place within a two-day weekend. Major championships tend to be round-robins, in which each player plays every other player in the field. Such events tend to take place over a week or longer. 241 Page 242 15 An Introduction to Endgames If both sides have played with reasonable care, the result at the end of the game is often what appears at first to be a very simple position. There are just one or two pieces on the board and perhaps just a handful of pawns. As you will see in this chapter, it is possible to gain victory with just a small advantage. You will learn how to win with an extra pawn, and hopefully, how to draw if you are down a pawn. The strategies in this chapter are relatively straightforward, but they form a solid foundation for your middlegame strategy. Perhaps you will be able to exchange pieces to reach a position similar to one in this chapter. Transitions to favorable endgames are at the heart of a masterâ€™s strategy. Many beginning players prefer to spend their time learning opening variations. Strong players often begin at the end, mastering the subtleties of these endgames in the expectation that their opponents will not know what to do in this phase of the game. No one will expect that you will study endgames for years, but having knowledge of the positions in this chapter will help you to play your endgames with much more confidence. Throughout this chapter, youâ€™ll also find helpful sidebars highlighting basic endgame principles that you need to keep in mind as you play and learn. 17_049839 ch15.qxp 6:28 PM Page 243 King and Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244 Rook and Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .252 Bishop and Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257 Knight and Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261 Queen and Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 17_049839 ch15.qxp 6:28 PM Page 244 King and Pawn King and pawn endgames seem simple but can be quite complex. This section will focus on several key positions that you are likely to experience. Some involve offense, trying to Queen a single remaining pawn. Others involve defense, trying to prevent your opponent from promoting a pawn to a Queen. Mastery of these simple positions will greatly aid your game. The Strategy THE MAGIC POSITION This first position is worth remembering because, no matter whose move it is, white will successfully be able to promote the pawn. As you can see, the white King is in front of the pawn. That’s the key! In this position, if it is black’s move, the black King must move to either d8 or to f8. Either way, the poor King must leave the square on which the white pawn will be promoted. White will then be able to move the King forward to gain control over the Queening square. In this position, after just one move, the situation has become completely clear. White has complete control over the key e8-square as well as the e6 and e7 squares through which the white pawn will now travel. White will successfully promote the pawn into a Queen and then proceed with a King and Queen to deliver the checkmate we reviewed in Chapter 12, “Elementary Checkmates.” 244 15 chapter That was easy, but what if white has to move first from the Magic position. Itâ€™s still a win for white. From this same position, white begins by sliding the King to d6 or f6, making way to push the pawn forward. Whichever direction the white King selects, black will move in the same direction, attempting to prevent the white King from moving forward and capturing easy control over the e8-Queening square. Having made room for the advance of the pawn, white pushes it forward. Black has no choice but to defend the Queening square by occupying it. Now, white again pushes the e6-pawn to e7. Note the key principle. The pawn advances WITHOUT giving check to the black King. The King has only one legal move, Ke8-f7. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 246 King and Pawn (continued) White has a choice, but only one correct move. Queening the pawn would be a significant error because the black Kf7 would simply capture it! The key move is to patiently move the white King to d7 where it controls the Queening square and prepares the successful advance of the pawn to e8. HOW TO STOP THE PAWN? Here, with black on the defense, black must simply prevent the white King from moving in front of its pawn. Black therefore moves Ke7-d7, placing itself opposite the white King. Chess players call this â€œtaking the opposition.â€? White now advances the pawn with e6 check. The black King, whenever it can, should occupy the square directly in front of the pawn. 246 15 chapter White canâ€™t move the pawn because the black King is blocking its path. Therefore, white must move the King. With Kd5-e5, white defends its pawn. Whenever the black King must move from the square in front of the pawn, it needs to move directly backwards. Hereâ€™s the key. If white advances the King to either d6 or f6, black must take the opposition. On Ke5-d6, black must play King to d8. If instead, white plays Ke5-f6, black must move its King to f8. Now, when white advances the pawn to e7, it is with a check. The black King moves to block the advance of the pawn with Kd8-e8. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 248 King and Pawn (continued) In this final position, white has a terrible choice. Kd6-e6 is a stalemate, a draw, and all other moves permit black to capture the pawn. THE RULE OF THE SQUARE To make it simpler to calculate long sequences, chess players have introduced a counting tool called “the Rule of the Square.” In this position, the white pawn is moving toward the h8-Queening square. You can see that the white h-pawn needs just three more moves to reach the h8-Queening square, while the black King needs four moves to reach h8. To make it simpler to see if the King can capture the pawn, imagine that the white pawn forms a four by four square. The highlighted area forms a square in which each length is the distance that the pawn must travel in order to become a Queen. The key principle is that the defending black King must be able to enter that highlighted area in order to be able to capture the pawn successfully. With black to move, the black King easily moves into the highlighted region by playing Kd4-e5. If, however, it were white’s move, h5-h6 would reduce the size of the highlighted area, and the black King would not be able to reach it in time. Exceptions to the Rule Most rules have exceptions. Here are two special cases. This is the same diagram as above, but with the addition of a black pawn on f6. The black King can enter the square of the white pawn but will not be able to do so again as the white pawn advances. The reason, of course, is that the black pawn on f6 is blocking the black King’s path toward the h8-Queening square. 248 15 chapter Here is a second exception. It certainly appears at first glance that the black King will be able to reach the white pawn. The square is larger, and after white moves h2-h3, the black King would indeed be able to reach the pawn in time. However, white can begin with h2-h4! Suddenly, by moving ahead two squares, the black King will be unable to reach the pawn. THE POWER OF THE OPPOSITION You have already seen that using the opposition can help you to draw against a King and a pawn. The opposition can also help you to win. In this position, white could try to advance the h-pawn quickly, but after h2h4 black would be able to enter the square of the pawn with Kd3-e4 and eventually capture it. Rather than advance the h-pawn directly, white should instead take the opposition with Kc5-d5, blocking the black Kingâ€™s access to the e4-square. Black will therefore continue with Kd3-e3 in an effort to reach the white h-pawn. White could now advance the h-pawn with h2-h4, but again the black King would be able to enter the square of the pawn after Ke3-f4. Showing off the power of the opposition, white again continues with Kd5-e5 and black continues to move toward the pawn with Ke3-f3. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 250 King and Pawn (continued) The opposition pays off this time with Ke5-f5 because the black King cannot move to the g3-square. Black therefore tries to reach the h2-pawn with Kf3-g2, an act of some desperation. The finale is now clear. White simply plays h2-h4 and the black King will not be able to capture it. The h-pawn will race unimpeded down the board and promote on the h8-Queening square. SELF-SUPPORTING PAWNS Late in the game, the pawns are often capable of defending themselves from capture. In this position for example, the King can capture the white pawn on d4, but the capture would bring the King outside the square of the c5-pawn. These pawns are therefore said to be â€œself-supporting.â€? 250 15 chapter It might surprise you, but these two pawns are also self-supporting. Black can move the King in an attempt to capture one of them, but white will respond simply by advancing the other pawn. For example, black might play the move Kd6-e5, attacking the white e4-pawn. White would respond with c4-c5. It is clear that black dare not capture the e4-pawn here because that capture would bring the King outside the square of the c5-pawn. White would simply advance the c5-pawn to c6 and soon thereafter promote the c-pawn to a Queen. TIP Basic Endgame Principle #1: Stay Active The most important end game principle is to stay active. Often, in response to threats, beginners tend to defend against those threats rather than to counterattack with threats of their own. Stay active, and think about responding with a threat of your own. 251 6:28 PM Page 252 Rook and Pawn Endgames that involve only Rooks and pawns are the most common type of endgames between strong players. These endgames are quite challenging, but having a firm understanding of the three main positions here will help you to survive the complexities. Remember, keep your Rooks active, even if doing so requires that you consider giving up a pawn. The player with the most active Rook and King will almost always win these endgames. The Strategy TWO CONNECTED PASSED PAWNS VS. A ROOK This first position illustrates that two connected passed pawns on the 6th rank are more powerful than a Rook. Even with black to move, thereâ€™s simply no way to prevent at least one of the pawns from successfully promoting to a Queen. Blackâ€™s best hope might be to attack one of the pawns from the rear, but white will respond by advancing the pawn that is not attacked. Black could now capture the c6-pawn, but white would successfully promote the other pawn. Instead, white could move the Rook behind the more advanced d-pawn. Of course, white would respond by advancing the c-pawn. 252 15 chapter It’s clear in this position that one of the pawns will Queen. The back Rook can capture the d-pawn, but there’s simply no way for the Rook to capture both pawns. THE SECRET TO REACHING A DRAW In the section on King and pawn endgames, you learned that to win, the winning side needs to place its King in front of its advancing pawn. The same holds true here. In this position, white is threatening to play Ke5-e6. Black could try to check the white King with Ra2-e2, but the white King could escape check by moving in front of the pawn on d6. Similarly, after Ke5-e6, black could check the King with Ra2-a6. But white would simply advance the pawn to d6, with the terrible threat of Rb1-b8 checkmate! With black to move, in order to draw, black must play Ra2-a6 to prevent the white King from moving in front of its pawn. White can move the Rook around for a while, but so long as black’s Rook maintains control over the 6th rank, the white King will not be able to move in front of its pawn. To make progress, white will therefore have to advance the d5pawn to d6. As soon as white advances the d-pawn, black must move the Rook back as far as safely possible to the 1st or 2nd rank, in this case, back to a2. White can play Ke5-e6, threatening checkmate with Rb1-b8, but black will be able to draw. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 254 Rook and Pawn (continued) Although the threat of checkmate with Rb1-b8 is in the air, black has a simple draw. Rather than Ra2-a8 to defend the checkmate, black decides to check the white King with Ra2-e2. Note that, with the pawn on d6, there’s simply no place for white to escape a never ending series of checks. If white decides to approach the black Rook with the King, black will be able to approach and then capture the d6-pawn with Ke8-d7. WINNING WITH THE EXTRA PAWN The major difference between this position and the last is that the white King already controls the Queening square on e8. Note, however, that the white King cannot legally move off to one side and then Queen the pawn. For the moment at least, the white King cannot move because the black King defends d8 and d7, and the black Rook defends f8 and f7. In order to win, white must drive back the black King and then find a clever way to shield the white King from attacks by the black Rook. White begins by playing Rh2-c2 check, forcing the black King to retreat to the b-file. In order to construct a shield of protection for the white King, white plays the impressive move Rc2-c4. The purpose of this Rook move might not be immediately apparent. I recommend that you review this small section at least twice in order to understand the importance of this move. The Rc4 will, after several more moves, help to erect a shield in the center with the white King on e5 and the Rook protecting against checks on the e4-square. Chess players call this “building a bridge.” Black responds to white’s Rc2-c4 by moving its King to b6, hoping to advance to b5 to attack the c4-Rook. 254 15 chapter White is now ready to try to promote the e-pawn by playing Ke8-d7. As you can see, after the King leaves the e8-Queening square, white threatens to promote the e-pawn to a Queen. Black must therefore check the King with the Rook (Rf1-d1) in an effort to delay or prevent the pawn promotion. There is no point in returning the King to the e8-square. Rather, white plays Kd7-e6, again threatening to promote the e-pawn. Black continues to check the white King with Rd1-e1 check. White must be careful here. Ke6-d5, for example, would permit black simply to capture the e-pawn. White therefore prepares the construction of the shield more patiently, first with Ke6-d6. Again, black continues to check the white King by playing Re1-d1 check. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 256 Rook and Pawn (continued) Now, with no direct threat to the e7-pawn, white simply plays Kd6-e5, again with the threat of promoting the e7-pawn. Black must again deliver check with the Rook, this time from e1. White’s strategy has finally paid off. In this position, white simply blocks the check from the black Rook by playing Rc4-e4, the culmination of white’s strategy. Black has no chances in the final position because there are no further delaying checks. Black might exchange Rooks, but the white pawn will now Queen successfully. TIP Basic Endgame Principle #2: Think Ahead Beginners tend to think about each move only as it occurs rather than thinking strategically. To succeed in chess, you should think three moves ahead—try to envision your future moves, as well as your opponent’s likely responses. 256 15 chapter In simple endgames that involve only a single Bishop with an outside passed pawn, the key is often whether the Bishop can control the Queening square. In endgames that involve Bishops on both sides, you should be concerned with whether the Bishops are of the same or of opposite color. Endgames that involve Bishops of the same color usually have one good and one bad Bishop. As you might expect, a good Bishop will usually help you to win the game. When the Bishops are of opposite color—one dark-squared and one light-squared—games are often drawn. Single Bishop and Rook Pawn Endgames WHEN THE BISHOP CAN CONTROL THE QUEENING SQUARE This first Bishop endgame is a very simple win because white’s darksquared Bishop is able to control the h8-Queening square. White begins by advancing the h6-pawn to h7, giving check to the black King. Black could retreat to f8, permitting the pawn to Queen, but black prefers to play Kg8-h8 to block the pawn. Note: A Rook pawn is defined as a pawn on either the a- or h-file. It’s called a Rook pawn because Rooks start on the a- and h-files at the beginning of the game. As you can see, now the black King cannot move. All white needs to do is check. Bg5-f6 is a very quick checkmate, all made possible by the fact that white’s dark-squared Bishop is able to control the dark h8-Queening square. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 258 Bishop and Pawn (continued) WHEN THE BISHOP CANNOT CONTROL THE QUEENING SQUARE It surprises many beginners, but even with a Bishop and pawn, white cannot win here. Unlike the last position, the light-squared Bishop on g4 will not be able to control the dark h8-Queening square. White again begins by pushing the h6-pawn to h7, and black gladly responds with Kg8-h8. Here, the black King cannot move, but there is no way for white to deliver the final checkmate. On any Bishop move, the game will end in a stalemate. White could retreat the King, but black would then capture the pawn. Unfortunately for white here, a King and Bishop is an insufficient force to deliver checkmate. Bishops of Opposite Color A DRAW In this situation, the remaining Bishops on the board each travel on different colored squares. Blackâ€™s Bishop can move only on the light squares. Whiteâ€™s Bishop can travel only on the dark squares. As such, the two Bishops will never be able to attack each other. Endgames that involve Bishops of opposite color are so drawish (or likely to end a draw) that even with an advantage of two and sometimes even three pawns, they simply cannot be won. As you can see in this position, white is ahead in material by two pawns. However, black has assembled a firm blockade on the light squares with the Bd5 and the Ke6. White, with its dark-squared Bishop, simply cannot force the black King or the black Bishop to move off and permit the white pawns to advance. Indeed, black can simply move the Bishop back and forth between any safe light square and the d5-square. Unable to make any progress, white should offer a draw. 258 15 chapter NOT ALL OPPOSITE-COLORED ENDGAMES ARE DRAWISH In endgames with Bishops of opposite color, it is much easier to win when the two pawns are separated by several files because the defending side cannot easily blockade both pawns. In this position, black is blockading the white c6-pawn with the King, but that leaves only the Bg7 to prevent white from advancing and promoting the g4-pawn. Whiteâ€™s strategy is simple. Force the black King to commit to stopping one of the pawns and then use the white King to assist the advance of the other pawn. Here, white begins with Ke4-f5, moving toward the g6-square. Black dare not move the King too far away from the c6-pawn. Therefore, black decides to move the Bishop along the long a1-h8 diagonal to b2. White continues with g4-g5 to bring the pawn closer to the Queening square. By later bringing the white King to either f7 or h7, the King will be able to guide the g-pawn all the way toward the g8-Queening square. Black again moves the Bishop along the long diagonal, this time to d4. White now plays Kf5-e6, cutting off the black Kingâ€™s access to d6 and with the idea of Ke6-f7, guiding in the g-pawn toward the g8-square. Black, without any good play, moves the Bishop to e3 to attack the g5-pawn. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 260 Bishop and Pawn (continued) The end is near. White reacts to the threat of Be3xg5 by advancing the pawn to g6. The rest is easy. White will continue with Ke6-f7 and then guide the g-pawn to g7. Black will probably capture the pawn on g7 with the Bishop, but after recapturing blackâ€™s Bishop, white will have a very easy win. Black will only have the King left and will have to move it, unblocking the c6-pawn and allowing it to promote to a Queen. White will move its King over to assist the advance of the c6-pawn. Checkmate will be just a few moves away. TIP Basic Endgame Principle #3: Place Your Pieces on Active Squares Another key principle is to consider where your pieces are best placed. In most positions, there are strong squares or outposts that are immune from capture by enemy pawns, and entry squares, undefended squares deep in your opponentâ€™s position that permit the pieces to become active and to remain active. Keeping your Knights in the center, opening files for your Rooks and Queen, and placing your Bishops on long diagonals are all good ways to get the most action from your pieces. 260 15 chapter The Knight is usually not quite as powerful as the Bishop in the endgame. Consider, for example, that the Bishop can control a key square from a large distance, while the Knight can take a few moves to reach a key square. As you’ll learn in this section, a victory for either side is possible when it’s down to a Knight and a pawn. The Strategy A DRAW In this first example, the black pawn is ready to promote on e1. Only the Knight can stop it. With black to move, the black King could capture the Knight and then Queen the pawn. It is white’s move, however, and the Knight is able to maintain control over the Queening square. White begins by moving the Knight to e1, blocking the advance of the pawn. Black responds by moving its King to d2, forcing the white Knight to move. White has two adequate options here. First, Ne1-g2 would continue to guard the e1-square and also prevent the black King from moving to e3 and thereafter to f2 in order to drive off the Knight. The second option is Ne1-f3 check. This move would guard the e1-square and force the black King to move—most likely to e3 in an effort to force the Knight away from its control over the key e1-square. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 262 Knight and Pawn (continued) As you can see, there is simply no way to drive the Knight away. White will respond with Nf3-e1. After some patient maneuvering, both sides are likely to finally agree on a draw. SOMETIMES THE PAWN CAN WIN! When it is able to control a square through which a passed pawn must travel, the Knight obviously has the ability to prevent the promotion of the pawn. However in this position, the Knight is unable to blockade the pawn. Itâ€™s whiteâ€™s move. Because white must prevent black from capturing the h5pawn with Ng7xh5, white advances its pawn to h6 to attack the black Knight. There is no square that the Knight can move to that will help to prevent the pawn from reaching h8. Black instead tries to race the King toward h8 by playing Ke8-f8, and in turn, defending the Knight. In this key position, white would make a significant error by capturing the black Knight. That would lead to an uninteresting draw after Kf8xg7. Instead, white cleverly continues to advance the pawn to h7. Notice that the pawn on h7 prevents the black King from moving to g8 where it would be closer to the h7-pawn. The Knight is also unable to prevent the h7-pawn from promoting to a Queen on h8. 262 15 chapter A KNIGHT AND ROOK PAWN WILL ALWAYS WIN Unlike the endgame with a Bishop and pawn when the pawn does not always promote (see pages 257â€“260 earlier in this chapter), the Knight will never have a problem controlling the Queening square so the pawn will always be able to promote to a Queen. In this position, white needs only to be careful not to stalemate the black King. For example, if white pushes the h6-pawn to h7, the black King will not be in check and will not have a legal move. The result will be a stalemate, an unfortunate draw for white. To win, white should begin by playing Ng5-f7 check to drive the black King from the Queening square to g8. The rest is quite easy. Now that white has control over the key h8-Queening square, white pushes the pawn to h7, delivering check and forcing the King away to f8. The h-pawn now Queens, forcing the King to e7. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 264 Knight and Pawn (continued) White has a very quick mate, in part because Queens and Knights work very well together. White proceeds by moving the new Queen from h8 to d8, check. It’s a powerful move that uses the Knight on f7 to defend the Queen on d8 and forces the black King to e6. White ends the game quickly with a beautiful checkmate, Qd8-d6#, again using the Knight on f7 to support the Queen on d6. Notice how the Knight, Queen, and King work together. TIP Basic Endgame Principle #4: Activate Your King In the opening and in the middlegame, it is a good strategy to safeguard the King, often by moving it into the corner. This isn’t so in the endgame. In the final phase of the game, the King becomes a powerful piece. After the Queens have been exchanged and there is no danger of a checkmate, it is often a good idea to begin moving your King forward or toward key sectors of the board. Perhaps the King will prevent an enemy piece from gaining control over a key outpost or entry square. Or perhaps the King will help to guide a passed pawn toward the Queening square. Either way, you are more likely to win in the endgame if your King is more active than your opponent’s King. 264 15 chapter Queen endgames are less common than Rook endgames. When they occur, they are even more challenging. The reason, of course, is that the Queen is an extremely powerful piece, and the player with the Queen will have many options to consider. A few simple examples in this section can help you to cope with these complexities. The Strategy QUEEN AGAINST A LONE ROOK PAWN As you should expect, the Queen will almost always be able to prevent a pawn from Queening. In this example, the black pawn is only two squares away from the h1-Queening square, and the white King is too far away to provide immediate help. Nonetheless, white can win very quickly. White begins with Qa6-g6+. Black responds with Kg1-f2, with the idea of being able to advance the pawn to h2. There are many paths to the win here, but white decides to play Qg6-f5+ to check and, at the same time, attack the h3-pawn. The black King responds with Kf2-g3 in an effort to prevent the Queen from moving toward the black pawn. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 15 chapter It is white’s move in this position, but white notices that, if it were black’s move, black would have only one legal move—Kh2-h1. It’s a move that would permit white to capture the h-pawn. White therefore can make any King move to force black to give up the h-pawn after Kh2-h1. THE QUEEN AGAINST A MORE ADVANCED PAWN In the previous example, the Queen was able to stop the advance of a Rook pawn on the 6th rank all by itself. Here, the pawn is in the middle of the board but more advanced. The Queen can succeed again, but this time only with help from the King. In this position, black is ready to promote the pawn on e1. The white Queen could capture the e2-pawn, but that would lead to an immediate draw once the black King recaptured. Instead, white wants to bring the King on d5 closer to the pawn. Therefore, white begins with Qe3-d3+, knowing that in order to continue to defend the e2-pawn, the black King will have to move to e1, thus blocking its own pawn from Queening. Once the black King is forced to block the advance of the e-pawn, white gains the opportunity to bring the King toward the pawn. White therefore plays Kd5-e4. In an effort to mobilize the pawn, black moves Ke1-f2, again threatening to promote the e-pawn. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 268 Queen and Pawn (continued) Once again, white attacks the King by playing Qd3-f3+. Note that on f3, the Queen is attacking both the King and the e2-pawn. In order to continue to defend the pawn, black once again is forced to return to the e1-square, blocking the e-pawn. Again, white takes the opportunity to advance the King, this time to the d3-square. Black can resign now, because white will now be able to capture the e2-pawn with the Queen on the next move and deliver checkmate soon thereafter. NOT ALL QUEENS WILL CATCH THE PAWN This position is a special case. The black h-pawn is on h2, only one square away from Queening. Unfortunately for white, the white King is far off and there is, as you will see, no way to bring the King close enough to capture the pawn. With white to move, white could simply play Qh3-f1 checkmate. However, with black to move, black will move Kh1-g1, blackâ€™s only legal move. 268 15 chapter White now has a problem. Black is threatening to Queen the h-pawn. To prevent the advance of the pawn, white plays Qh3-g3+, and black happily moves the King back into the corner. As you can see, black is out of moves with its King in the corner and the white Queen on g3. White cannot move the King closer because the game would end immediately in a stalemate. ANOTHER EXCEPTION It would appear again that white will be able to bring the King on a6 closer and closer to the pawn. However, black has an important move to play. White begins by moving its King closer to the action with Ka6-b5. Black responds by moving its King toward the corner with Kf1-g1. In order to try to prevent black from Queening the pawn, white plays Qf3-g3+, expecting that black will move its King back in front of the f2-pawn. Instead, black cleverly moves the King into the h1 corner. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6:28 PM Page 270 Queen and Pawn (continued) White cannot capture the pawn because that position is a stalemate! Any King move would permit black to Queen the pawn. Thereâ€™s simply no way to make progress. The Exception to the Exception The difference in this position is that the white King is already just close enough to enter the action. White begins with Qh3-g3+. Hoping for a stalemate, black responds with Kg1-h1. Rather than bring the King up closer, white releases the black King out of the corner with Qg3-f3+. The King is forced to return to the g1 square. 270 Double checkmate notation. Bad move notation. ?? Very bad move notation. algebraic notation A method for recording chess moves that uses the letters a–h to describe the board’s ranks and the numbers 1–8 to describe the board’s files. The letters K, Q, R, B, N describe each of the pieces. The notation Ng1-f3 describes the movement of the Knight from g1 to f3. attack An aggressive move or set of moves aimed at winning material or delivering checkmate to the enemy King. back rank mate A Rook or Queen checks the enemy King along the back rank, and the King’s escape is blocked by its own pawn. bad Bishop A Bishop with limited mobility due to its own pawns being fixed on its color. capture A capture is the movement of a piece onto the square occupied by an enemy piece. That enemy piece is immediately removed from the board. castling The only move in chess that moves two pieces, the King and Rook, at the same time. The King moves two squares toward the Rook. The Rook is then moved to the other side of the King. To castle, the King and Rook must not have previously moved. You cannot castle out of, through, or into check. center The squares d4, e4, d5, and e5 comprise the center. The squares immediately surrounding these four squares are sometimes included in the definition. In the opening phase of the game, both players often fight for control over these key squares. check A check is a move that attacks a King. On the very next move, the King must end the attack, either by moving to a safe square, capturing the attacking piece, or by blocking the attack. Note that you are not required to say “check.” 272 5:57 PM Page 273 checkmate The end of a chess game occurs when there is an attack on a King (a check) from which there is no escape. Note that the King is not actually removed from the board. correspondence chess A form of chess in which two players compete through the mail. Today, e-mail chess is becoming as or more popular than postal chess—the sending of post cards that contain chess moves. diagonals The chessboard has alternating black and white squares. The white and black squares form diagonals that cut through the board. Some of the diagonals are longer than others. Placing a Bishop on the longest diagonals, for example the diagonal stretching from a1 through h8, can increase their scope. discovered checks double check check. You move a piece, which exposes an attack from the piece behind it. When moving a piece exposes a check from behind it, while the piece itself also gives draw A completed chess game that has no winner. Both players can agree to a draw at any time. See also definition of stalemate on page 275. Other types of draws are discussed in Chapter 2, “Special Moves.” en passant When a pawn moves forward two squares, a pawn on an adjacent file can capture, only on its next move, the pawn as if it had moved forward only one square. The rule was introduced to make sure that a pawn could not advance all the way down the board without an adjacent pawn having an opportunity to capture it. endgame The final phase of the game, often distinguished by a simplified amount of material. fianchetto A pawn structure that permits a player to place a Bishop quickly on one of the board’s long diagonals. For example, advancing a pawn from g2 to g3 permits white to continue with Bf1-g2, fianchettoing white’s light-squared Bishop. file The chessboard contains eight vertical columns or files. In chess, we identify each file with a different letter, a–h. And so, white’s left-most file is the a-file; the right-most file is the h-file. flanks Files that are on the outside edges of the board (a, b, g, or h files). fork An attack, usually by Knight, on two enemy pieces at the same time. Forks of more than two pieces are called family forks. 273 5:57 PM Page 274 gambit A gambit is a move or an opening that offers a pawn or more in exchange for control over the center, a file, or a key square. The most famous opening gambits are the King’s Gambit (1.e2-e4 e7-e4 2.f2-f4) and the Queen’s Gambit (1.d2-d4 d7-d5 2.c2-c4). good Bishop to move). A Bishop that is able to attack the opponent’s fixed pawns (pawns that are unable illegal move A move that is in violation of the laws of chess. When discovered, the game should be returned to the exact point that the illegal move occurred. The player who made the illegal move must then make a legal move with the piece that was moved illegally. Kingside The Kingside refers to the area on the side of the board on which the King began the game. On white’s side of the board, for example, the term usually refers to the squares f1, g1, h1, f2, g2, h2, and f3, g3, h3. The expression, attacking white’s Kingside, will usually refer to a piece- or pawnled attack on at least one of those squares. Knight fork An attack by a Knight on two or more pieces at the same time. middlegame The phase of a chess game after the opening in which both sides use their developed pieces to contest important squares or regions of the board and begin to attack each other’s King positions. passed pawn square. A pawn that no longer must face enemy pawns as it advances toward its Queening pawn chain A group of pawns set along a diagonal. The weakest pawn is the pawn in the rear of the chain because none of the other pawns can defend it. Most players, therefore, attack pawn chains at the weakest point, the pawn in the rear of the chain. perpetual check A never ending series of checks. pin There are two types of pins. An absolute pin is an attack on a piece that cannot now move because doing so would expose an attack on the King. A relative pin is an attack on a piece that can legally move, but doing so would expose an attack on a powerful and more valuable piece like the Queen. Queening square The square on the eighth rank on which a pawn, having reached it, will promote from a pawn to a Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen. Most players promote to a Queen, the most powerful piece. Hence the name. 274 5:57 PM Page 275 Queenside The Queenside refers to the area on the side of the board on which the Queen began the game. On white’s side of the board, for example, the term usually refers to the squares a1, b1, c1, a2, b2, c2, and a3, b3, c3. The expression, attacking white’s Queenside, will usually refer to a piece- or pawn-led attack on at least one of those squares. rank The chessboard contains eight horizontal rows or ranks. In chess, we identify each rank with a different number, 1–8. And so, white’s bottom-most rank is the first rank. White’s top-most rank is the eighth rank. skewer An attack on a piece that results, after the retreat of the attacked piece, in the win of a more distant piece along that same rank, file, or diagonal. stalemate A special situation in which a player has no legal moves anywhere on the board, and the King is not in check. The result is a draw. United States Chess Federation www.uschess.org. The official governing body of American chess. Visit their website at 275 5:57 PM Page 276 Index Numbers and Symbols 50-move rule, 27, 184 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate (Fred Reinfeld), 140 A absolute pin, 58 active square, 257 a-file, 5 Alapin, Semion, 125 Alekhine, Alexander and Alekhine’s Defense, 102, 121 and Benoni, 144 Alekhine’s Defense, 102, 121–122 Anastasia’s mate, 198 attack. See also specific pieces and specific strategies developing pieces prior to, 100–101 Dragon variation, 216–217, 236, 238 English, 218–220 in five steps to victory, 149, 150 Four Pawns, 122 Fried Liver, 221–225 King’s Indian, 132–134 by Knight from center of board, 46–47 notation for, 18 securing King before, 85–86 Avant-Garde, 138 B back rank checkmate, 41, 192–193 backward pawn, 71 balance, recapturing for, 19 Benoni, 144–145 Bishop(s) (B) avoiding exchange of Knights for, 107 capture by, 13 checkmate with King, Knight, and, 184–187 checkmate with King and two, 180–183 checkmate with two, 201 described, 7 endgames with pawn and, 257–260 good vs. bad, 54 movement by, 8, 13 moving Knights before, 96–97 placement of, 9 promoting pawn to, 18, 31 relative value of, 27 276 Ruy, 114 value of Knight vs., 55, 59 Bishop sacrifice on f7, 234–235 Greco’s, 227–231 on h6, 231–234 Bishop strategy dominating Knights, 55 dominating Rooks, 60–61 fianchetto, 56 against good Knights, 59 good vs. bad, 54 and opposite-colored Bishops resulting in draws, 57 pins, 58 skewers, 58 black. See also specific pieces and strategies Avant-Garde, 138 choice of, 9 Hedgehog, 136–137 notation of moves by, 102 Queening squares for, 35 Blackburne, Joseph Henry (Black Death) and Blackburne’s mate, 201 and Scotch game, 115 Blackburne’s mate, 201 blockade of isolated pawns, 70 of passed pawns, 77 Blockade (Aron Nimzovitsch), 148 Boden, Samuel, 199 Boden’s mate, 199–200 books about chess, 140 Botvinnik, Mikael, 141 Bronstein, David, 140 building a bridge, 254 C Capablanca, Jose, 120 capture. See also recapturing by Bishops, 13, 57 en passant, 35 and 50-move rule, 27 by King, 10–11 by Knights, 15 notation for, 18 by pawns, 8, 16 19_049839 bindex.qxp 11/2/06 5:57 PM by Queen, 14 by Rooks, 12 Caro, H., 120 Caro-Kann Defense described, 120–121 as Knight sacrifice, 225–226 origin of, 120 castle. See Rook(s) castling described, 33 on Kingside vs. Queenside, 87 long vs. short, 87 rules of, 34 Center Game King’s Gambit vs., 110 as poor opening for white, 113 center of board control of, 9 described, 92 fighting for, 92–93 King in, 10 Knight attacks from, 46–47 Knight in, 46, 59 Queen in, 82 chain, pawn, 67–68, 71 chaturanga, 128 check and castling, 34 discovered, 28–29 double, 30, 190 as goal of chess, 22 as King being under attack, 22–23 notation for, 18 perpetual, 25–26 saying, 22 checkerboard, 11 checkmate Anastasia’s, 198 back rank, 41, 192–193 Blackburne’s, 201 Boden’s, 199–200 defined, 4 described, 23 Domiano’s, 208–211 Epaulette, 197 as goal of chess, 22 Page 277 Greco’s, 196 Gueridon, 194–195 with King, Bishop, and Knight, 184–187 with King and Queen, 173–175 with King and Rook, 176–179 with King and two Bishops, 180–183 Legal’s, 212–213 Lolli’s, 202–204 notation for, 18 Pillsbury’s, 205–207 with Queen and Rook, 171 Rook, 41 smothered, 190–191 with two Queens, 168–170 with two Rooks, 172 Chernev, Irving, 140 chess (in general). See also chess tournaments beginning game, 4 choosing color, 9 correspondence, 134 end of games, 24 goal of, 22 illegal moves in, 19 improving game, 55 on Internet, 95, 145, 152 learning about, 68 notation, 17–18 origin of, 4 pieces used in, 6 players, 4, 9 reading books about, 140 ChessBase, 187 chessboard checkerboard same as, 11 described, 4, 5 Kingside of, 46 orientation of, 5 Queenside of, 46 setup for, 9 chess clock, 220 chess clubs, 68 chess databases, 187 Chess Life magazine, 191 chess set, standard, 4 chess software databases, 187 practice with, 152 277 5:57 PM Page 278 chess tournaments equipment for, 220 finding, 191 illegal moves in, 19 ratings from, 213 types of, 241 what to expect in, 220 Chigorin, Mikhail, 115 Classical Variation of the French Defense, 105–106 clock, chess, 220 clubs, chess, 68 Colle, Edgard, 135 Colle System, 135 column (file), 5 control of squares. See also specific strategies by Bishop, 13 in center of board, 9 by first pawn move, 9 by King, 10–11 by pawns, 31 by Queen, 14 by Rook, 12 corner, Knights in, 47 correspondence chess, 134 D databases, chess, 187 defense. See also specific strategies or formations Alekhine’s, 102, 121–122 Caro-Kann, 120–121, 225–226 French, 104, 119 French, Classical Variation of, 105–106 King’s Indian, 126 Nimzo-Indian, 128 Petrov’s, 115–117 Queen’s Indian, 127 Sicilian, 118, 216 Slav, 125 Two Knights’, 221 development. See also specific pieces and specific strategies of Bishops first, 97 gaining time for, 103–104 paying attention to opponent’s moves during, 102 prior to attacking, 100–101 of Queen, 82–83 diagonal, 5 discovered check, 28–29 278 Domiano, Pedro, 208 Domiano’s mate, 208–211 double check, 30, 190 doubled pawns, 64, 66 double King pawn openings Center Game, 113 King’s Gambit, 110 Petrov’s Defense, 115–117 Ruy Lopez, 113–114 Scotch game, 115 Vienna Game, 111–112 double Queen pawn openings Queen’s Gambit, 123 Queen’s Gambit Declined, 124 Slav Defense, 125 doubling Rooks for checkmate, 41 described, 39 for power, 42 Dragon opening formation, 139–140 Dragon variation attack described, 216–217 exchange sacrifice on c3, 238 exchange sacrifice on h5, 236 origin of, 216 draw by agreement, 25 in endgames with Bishops of opposite colors, 257 in endgames with Knight and pawn, 261–262 and 50-move rule, 27 with opposite-colored Bishops, 57 in perpetual check, 25–26 secret to reaching, 253–254 stalemates, 24–25 typical, 26 E Edwards, J., 159 endgame activating King in, 264 Bishop and pawn, 257–260 King and pawn, 244–251 Knight and pawn, 261–264 Queen and pawn, 265–271 Rooks and pawns, 252–256 staying active in, 251 thinking ahead in, 256 using active squares in, 257 19_049839 bindex.qxp 5:57 PM Page 279 ending of games and 50-move rule, 27 by stalemate or draw, 24–26 English attack, 218–220 Englund Gambit, 129 en passant capture, 35 entry square, 257 Epaulette mate, 197 Euwe, Max, 125 exchanges of Bishops for Knights, 107 limiting, in opening strategy, 103–106 by opponent, 104 exchange sacrifice on c3, 238–241 on h5, 236–238 F family fork, 49 fianchetto and chaturanga, 128 described, 56 50-move rule, 27, 184 file (column), 5. See also open files first move, color for, 9 Fischer, Bobby in Match of the Century, 61 My 60 Memorable Games, 140 and promoting pawns, 31 and Sicilian Defense, 118 five steps to victory attack weakness with pawn, 150 attack weakness with your pieces, 149 fix weakness, 148 identify weakness, 148 online, 150 opponent forced to defend weakness, 149 in practice, 151–152 fixed pawn, Bishop behind, 54 flanks, 98 fork family, 49 Knight, 49–51 pawn, 76 Four Pawns Attack, 122 French Defense, 104, 119 French Defense, Classical Variation of, 105–106 French Winawer, 141–142 Fried Liver Attack, 221–225 G gaining time, 102 gambit, 110 Englund, 129 King’s, 110 Queen’s, 123 Queen’s, Declined, 124 Greco, Gioacchino, 118 Greco’s Bishop sacrifice, 227–231 Greco’s mate, 196 Gueridon mate, 194–195 H hanging pawn, 72–75 Hedgehog, 136–137 h-file, 5 horse. See Knight I ideal setup, 94–95 illegal moves, 19 improving game, 55 Indian Defense King’s, 126 Nimzo-Indian, 128 origin of name, 128 Queen’s, 127 infinite value, of King, 27 International Correspondence Chess Federation, 134 Internet chess activities book reviews and archives, 95 instruction websites, 95 practice websites, 145, 152 Internet Chess Club, 150 island, pawn, 65 isolated pawn, 70 J Jones, W., 159 jumping, by Knight, 15 K Kann, M., 120 Karpov, Anatoly and Caro-Kann Defense, 120 and Dragon variation, 140 279 5:57 PM Page 280 Kasparov, Garry, 118 kicking the Bishop, 58 King (K) activating, in endgame, 264 capture by, 10–11 castled, advancing pawns in front of, 88–89 castling, 33–34 in check, 22–23 in checkmate, 4, 23 checkmate with Bishop, Knight, and, 184–187 checkmate with Queen and, 173 checkmate with Rook and, 176–179 checkmate with two Bishops and, 180–183 control of squares by, 10–11 description, 6 double King pawn openings, 110–117 endgames with pawn and, 244–251 infinite value of, 27 movement by, 8, 10–11 placement of, 9 safeguarding, 85 King’s Gambit, 110 Kingside, 46 King’s Indian Attack, 132–134 King’s Indian Defense, 126 King strategy advancing pawns in front of castled King, 88–89 castling, 87 securing King before launching attacks, 85–86 Knight (N) avoiding exchange of Bishop for, 107 blockading isolated pawns with, 70 capture by, 15 checkmate with King, Bishop, and, 184–187 in corner, 47 described, 7 endgames with pawn and, 261–264 good, 54 jumping by, 15 movement by, 8, 15 moving, before moving Bishop, 96–97 pinned by Bishop, 58 placement of, 9 promoting pawn to, 18, 31 relative value of, 27 sacrifices with, 221–226 on side of board, 47 280 smothered checkmate with, 190–191 under-promoting pawn to, 32 value of Bishop vs., 55, 59 Knight fork, 49–51 Knight sacrifice Caro-Kann Defense, 225–226 Fried Liver Attack, 221–225 Knight strategy attack from center, 46–47 to avoid pawn attacks, 48 family fork, 49 Knight fork, 49–51 Kortchnoi, Victor, 140 Kupchik, Abraham, 66 L Lasker, Emmanuel, 153 Legal’s mate, 212–213 Logical Chess Move by Move (Irving Chernev), 140 Lolli’s mate, 202–204 long castling, 87 Lopez, Ruy, 114 luft, 121 M Magic position, 244–245 mail, playing chess by, 134 Marshall, Frank, 66 mass, pawn, 75 master(s) becoming, 213 moving and snatching pieces by, 10 planning of moves by, 153 Match of the Century, 61 middlegame attack Dragon variation, 216–217 English attack, 218–220 middlegame strategy candidate moves and planning, 153–159 five steps to victory, 148–152 recaptures, 165 responding to threats, 160–164 movement by Bishop, 8, 13 in castling, 33–34 illegal, 19 by King, 8, 10–11 19_049839 bindex.qxp 5:57 PM Page 281 by Knight, 8, 15 notation for, 17–18 by pawns, 8, 16, 78–79, 98–99 by Queen, 8, 14, 83 by Rook, 8, 12 moves. See also specific formations and strategies and 50-move rule, 27, 184 opening, 9 planning, 153–159 threats contained in, 160 My 60 Most Memorable Games (Bobby Fischer), 140 My System (Aron Nimzovitsch), 148 N Nimzo-Indian Defense, 128 Nimzovitsch, Aron Blockade, 148 and five steps to victory, 148–152 and French Winawer, 141 and Nimzo-Indian Defense, 128 notation, chess check in, 190 described, 17–18 double check in, 190 white preceding black moves in, 102 O 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate (Fred Reinfeld), 140 online games, 95, 145, 152 open files checkmate by Rooks in, 41 moving Rooks to, 38–39 opening formation Avant-Garde, 138 Benoni, 144–145 Colle System, 135 Dragon, 139–140 French Winawer, 141–142 Hedgehog, 136–137 King’s Indian Attack, 132–134 online, 145 Stonewall, 143 opening move, 9 opening strategy avoiding exchange of Bishops for Knights, 107 developing Bishops first, 97 developing completely before attacking, 100–101 fighting for center of board, 92–93 gaining time, 102 ideal setup, 94–95 Knights before Bishops, 96–97 limiting early pawn moves, 98–99 limiting exchanges, 103–106 most common, 92–93 opening variation(s) Alekhine’s Defense, 121–122 bad, 129 Caro-Kann Defense, 120–121 Center Game, 113 double King pawn, 110–117 double Queen pawn, 123–125 Englund Gambit, 129 French Defense, 119 Indian Defenses, 126–128 King’s Gambit, 110 King’s Indian Defense, 126 Nimzo-Indian Defense, 128 Petrov’s Defense, 115–117 Queen’s Gambit, 123 Queen’s Gambit Declined, 124 Queen’s Indian Defense, 127 Ruy Lopez, 113–114 Scotch game, 115 Sicilian Defense, 118 Slav Defense, 125 Spike, 129 Vienna Game, 111–112 outpost, 257 P passed pawn blockading, 77 defined, 43 endgame with single Bishop and, 257–260 Rooks behind, 43 pawn(s). See also specific strategies advancing, in front of castled King, 88–89 attacking weakness with, 150 avoiding attacks on Knights by, 48 backward, 71 capture by, 8, 16 described, 8 doubled, 64, 66 double King pawn openings, 110–117 281 11/2/06 5:57 PM double Queen pawn openings, 123–125 endgames with Bishop and, 257–260 endgames with King and, 244–251 endgames with Knight and, 261–264 endgames with Queen and, 265–271 endgames with Rooks and, 252–256 in en passant capture, 35 fianchetto formation of, 56 and 50-move rule, 27 first move of, 9 fixed, Bishops behind, 54 Four Pawns Attack, 122 hanging, 72–75 isolated, 70 limiting early moves of, 98–99 majority, 69 movement by, 8, 16, 78–79, 98–99 notation for promoting, 18 passed, 43. See also passed pawn pieces vs., 16 placement of, 9 promoting, 18, 31, 168–170 relative value of, 27 Rook, 257, 263, 265 self-supporting, 250–251 as “soul of chess,” 16 tripled, 64 under-promoting, 32 pawn chain, 67–68, 71 pawn fork, 76 pawn island, 65 pawn majority, 69 pawn mass, 75 pawn strategy backward pawns, 71 chains, 67–68 doubled pawns, 64, 66 hanging pawns, 72–75 isolated pawns, 70 moves leading to weakness, 78–79 passed pawn blockades, 77 pawn forks, 76 pawn islands, 65 pawn majority, 69 pawn masses, 75 tripled pawns, 64 282 Page 282 perpetual check, 25–26 Petrosian, Tigran and Caro-Kann Defense, 120 and promoting pawns, 31 Petrov, Alexander, 115 Petrov’s Defense, 115–117 pieces. See also pawn(s); specific strategies abbreviations for, 8 attacking weakness with, 149 Bishop, 7 King, 6 Knight, 7 notation for movement of, 18 pawns vs., 16 placement of, 9 protecting, 19 Queen, 6 recapturing, 19 relative value of, 27 Rook, 7 types of, 6 use of term, 16 Pillsbury, Harry Nelson, 205 Pillsbury’s mate, 205–207 pin absolute vs. relative, 58 of Bishop, 50 defined, 58 planning moves, 153–159 PlayChess, 150, 187 player classification system, 213 postal (correspondence) chess, 134 power of Queen, 14 of Rooks, 38, 40 promoting pawns described, 18, 31 notation for, 18 for two-Queen moves, 168–170 putting the question to Bishop, 58 Q Queen(s) (Q) capture by, 14 checkmate with King and, 173 checkmate with Rook and, 171 19_049839 bindex.qxp 5:57 PM Page 283 checkmate with two, 168–170 description, 6 double Queen pawn openings, 123–125 early development of, 82–83 endgames with pawn and, 265–271 movement by, 8, 14 placement of, 9 power of, 14 promoting pawn to, 18, 31, 168 relative value of, 27 safeguarding, 84 upside-down Rook as, 31 value of, 82 Queening square controlled by Bishop, 257 defined, 35 Queen’s Gambit, 123 Queen’s Gambit Declined, 124 Queenside, 46 Queen’s Indian Defense, 127 Queen strategy castling, 87 and early development of Queen, 82–83 and early movement of Queen, 83 safeguarding Queen, 84 R rank (row), 5, 40 rating, tournament, 213 recapturing in middlegame, 165 with piece vs. pawn, 64 as protection strategy, 19 Reinfeld, Fred, 140 relative pin, 58 relative value of pieces, 27 Rook(s) (R), 7 capture by, 12 castling, 33–34 checkmate with King and, 176–179 checkmate with Queen and, 171 dominated by Bishop, 60 doubling, 39 endgames with pawns and, 252–256 “good” vs. “bad,” 38–39 movement by, 8, 12 placement of, 9 power of, 38, 40 promoting pawn to, 18, 31 relative value of, 27 sacrificing, 236–241 two, checkmate with, 172 upside-down, as second Queen, 31 Rook pawn defined, 257 Knight and, 263 Queen against, 265 Rook strategy active Rooks assisting in mating attacks, 42 checkmates, 41 moving to open files, 38–39 placement behind passed pawns, 43 7th rank advances, 40 round-robin, 241 row. See rank the Rule of the Square, 248–249 Russian game, 115. See also Petrov’s Defense Ruy Bishop, 114 Ruy Lopez, 113–114 S sacrifice Bishop, 227–235 exchange, 236–241 Knight, 221–226 sacrifice of the exchange. See exchange sacrifice Scotch game, 115 self-supporting pawn, 250–251 7th rank advance, 40 short castling, 87 Sicilian Defense, 118, 216 skewer, 58 Slav Defense, 125 smothered checkmate, 190–191 software, chess, 152, 187 “soul of chess,” pawns as, 16 Spanish game, 114. See also Ruy Lopez Spassky, Boris, 61 special moves castling, 33–34 check, 22–23 checkmate, 23 283 11/2/06 5:57 PM discovered checks, 28–29 double checks, 30 draws, 24–27 en passant capture, 35 promoting pawns, 31 stalemates, 24–25 under-promoting pawns, 32 Spike, 129 square(s) active, 257 in castling, 34 designation of, 5 notation (names) for, 17–18 placement of pieces/pawns on, 9 Queening, 35, 257 stalemate. See also draw and 50-move rule, 27 illustrated, 26 typical, 24–25 standard chess set, 4 Stonewall, 143 Suttles, Duncan, 138 Swallow’s Tail mate, 195 Swiss tourney (Swiss system), 241 T take back. See recapturing thinking ahead, 256 threats, responding to, 160–164 time penalties, 19 tournaments. See chess tournaments tower. See Rook(s) tripled pawns, 64 the Trompowski, 107 Two Knights’ Defense, 221 284 Page 284 U under-promoting pawns, 32 United States Chess Federation Chess Life magazine from, 191 finding chess clubs through, 68 finding standard sets through, 4 player classification system of, 213 postal tournaments by, 134 unpinning, 58 V value of pieces/pawns, 27 Vienna Game, 110–112 W weakness, in five steps to victory, 148–150 white. See also specific pieces and strategies choice of, 9 Colle system, 135 as first mover, 4, 9 ideal setup for, 94–95 King’s Indian Attack, 132–134 most common first moves for, 92–93 notation of moves by, 102 opening move, 9 Queening squares for, 35 Winawer, Simon, 141 World Championship match of 1972, 61 Z Zurich, 1953 (David Bronstein), 140 20_049839 bob.qxp Read Less–Learn More® Teach Yourself VISUALLY books... ™ Whether you want to knit, sew, or crochet…strum a guitar or play the piano…train a dog or create a scrapbook…make the most of Windows XP or touch up your Photoshop CS2 skills, Teach Yourself VISUALLY books get you into action instead of bogging you down in lengthy instructions. 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You begin with essential chords and techniques and progress through suspensions, bass runs, hammer-ons, and barre chords. As you learn to read chord charts, tablature, and lead sheets, you can play any number of songs, from rock to folk to country. The chord chart and scale appendices are ready references for use long after you master the basics. 0-7645-9642-X	i don't know
Gambrius, legendary King of Flanders, is the unofficial patron and mythical inventor of which drink?	Historic Beer Birthday: Gambrinus - Brookston Beer Bulletin Brookston Beer Bulletin You are here: Home / Birthdays / Historic Beer Birthday: Gambrinus Historic Beer Birthday: Gambrinus By Jay Brooks 4 Comments Today is the traditional birthday of Gambrinus , sometimes called King Gambrinus, considered to be a patron saint of beer, brewing and/or Belgian beer. Not an “official” saint, at least not in the catholic church, but a legendary figure. Regardless, join me in drinking a toast to King Gambrinus today. Here’s the overview at Wikipedia : Gambrinus is a legendary king of Flanders, and an unofficial patron saint of beer or beer brewing. Gambrinus is variously depicted as a European king, as an English knight of the Middle Ages, or (less commonly) as a plump old man. Gambrinus’ birthday is purported to be April 11. The origin of the character is most widely believed to be John the Fearless (1371–1419), who some also believe to be the inventor of hopped malt beer. However, other sources report that one of the cup-bearers in the court of Charlemagne (742–814) was also called Gambrinus. In 1543, the German poet Burkart Waldis wrote of Gambrinus, explaining that Gambrinus learned the art of brewing from Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood and fertility. It is also possible that the original Gambrinus was Duke John I of Brabant (1254-1298), who was called Jan Primus. Other possible Latin etymologies of the name include cambarus (cellarer) and ganeae birrinus (one who drinks in a tavern). Plzeňský Prazdroj, brewer of the Gambrinus lager, endorses the explanation that the name is a corruption of Jan Primus (John the First), referring to John I, Duke of Brabant. Alternatively, Gambrinus may be a corruption of the name Gambrivius. Although less likely, Gambrinus might also derive from camba, a word from the Celtic language family that refers to a brewer’s pan. The beer website Froth N Hops has the fullest account of the story of King Gambrinus in one place, though it’s unclear what the source material is. Hopefully, he won’t mind my re-printing it here. King Gambrinus, known as “the patron saint of beer,” has long been a universal symbol of beer and brewing. Particularly during the late nineteenth century, the image of Gambrinus was used by countless brewers to promote their products and remind consumers of the rich heritage of beer-making. Many breweries were even adorned with life-size statues of the King. But who was Gambrinus? It is Gambrinus who brought beer to earth, and here is the legend of how this came to pass, and how he came to be King: Gambrinus was a poor apprentice in glass-making, hailing from a little town in the Flandres called Fresne sur l’Escaut. With his wonderful pink cheeks, blonde hair and blonde beard, he was the most beautiful boy in the town and had great romantic success with the town girls. But Gambrinus had secretly fallen in love with the beautiful daughter of his master, Flandrine. In those times, glass makers were noble from birth, and taught their art only to their sons. Flandrine, as proud as she was pretty, wanted to marry a master glass maker like her father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Gambrinus, as an apprentice, would only prepare the glass for his master, who then skillfully puffed it into decorative sheets. At last, Gambrinus gathered the courage to reveal his feelings to Flandrine. But Flandrine, offended that such a lowly apprentice sought her affection, refused so strongly that Gambrinus left Fresne, and vowed never to return to glass-working again so that he might forget about Flandrine forever. So Gambrinus wandered from town to town playing his violin and writing poetry to sing along while he played. Gambrinus, who was very clever and a quick-learner, soon gained a reputation as one of the best violinists in the region. He was constantly called on in towns far and wide to liven up weddings, birthdays, and other parties. When the people of Fresne heard of the fame Gambrinus had achieved, they could barely believe it. They were so proud of their Gambrinus that they invited him back to Fresne and threw a town-wide celebration in his honor. Gambrinus, flattered by the thought of a celebration in his honor, accepted the towns invitation and returned to Fresne. When he arrived in Fresne and began playing his violin, the delighted townspeople began to sing and dance and cheer. But soon after Gambrinus had started playing, he noticed Flandrine in the crowd. Overcome by nervousness, Gambrinus began to tremble. He trembled so much and played his violin so horribly that the townspeople began to kick him and shout at him. The townspeople all blamed Gambrinus for the commotion, since it was his poor playing that upset everyone. Gambrinus soon found himself arrested by the town officials and spent a full month in jail for the trouble he caused in the street and the noisy disturbance he had caused in the night. When Gambrinus was released from jail, he decided the only way he could ever make himself forget about Flandrine was to kill himself. He decided to hang himself, and headed out into the forest to set up a noose and platform. Gambrinus slid the noose over his neck, but just when he was about to step off the platform, he saw before him the devil himself. As is his custom, the devil proposed a deal to Gambrinus: if his power was not strong enough to make Flandrine love Gambrinus, the devil would oblige Gambrinus to forget Flandrine forever. This in exchange for Gambrinus’ soul in 30 years time. Gambrinus accepted the deal, and agreed to the devil’s terms. As soon as Gambrinus returned to town, he noticed an intense desire to gamble on games. Indeed, the devil meant to turn Gambrinus’ love for Flandrine into a passion for betting. Gambrinus bet on everything he could, not caring whether he won or not. But win he did, and soon Gambrinus found himself the owner of a small fortune. Although gambling had nearly eclipsed any thought of Flandrine, Gambrinus suddenly had an idea. Because he was as rich as a prince, perhaps Flandrine would agree to marry him as a noble. Gambrinus approached Flandrine for the second time and expressed his feelings to her. But Flandrine’s rejection was as swift and as ruthless as the first time: Gambrinus wasn’t a noble; he was born a boy, and would remain a boy for life. King on a Barrel Gambrinus, returned to the forest to see the devil and ask him what went wrong; after all, Gambrinus still had not forgotten Flandrine, nor had Flandrine been made to fall in love with Gambrinus. Suddenly, before Gambrinus’ eyes appeared a large field with long lines of poles on which green plants began to grow. Soon the poles were covered by these green, perfumed plants. “These,” explained the devil, “are hops.” Just as quickly, two buildings burst forth from the ground. “The first building is a hophouse,” said the devil, “and the second one is a brewery. Come, and I will teach you how to make beer, Flandres’ wine. Beer will help you to forget Flandrine.” Gambrinus learned how to make beer (not without tasting it every now and again) and found it delicious. Gambrinus soon felt like singing and dancing and playing his violin. But he remembered that the last time he had played violin he had been arrested, and his violin destroyed. Gambrinus asked the devil how he might seek revenge against the townspeople of Fresne who kicked him, sent him to jail, and broke his violin. The devil gave Gambrinus a new instrument that no one could resist, and taught Gambrinus how to play it. The devil explained that this instrument was called the chimes. The devil gave Gambrinus some seeds and the chimes and sent Gambrinus back to Fresne. Once he arrived home, Gambrinus planted the precious seeds given to him by Belzebuth, and practiced making beer and playing chimes. One morning, Gambrinus set up tables, chairs, barrels, and chimes on the main town square and invited all the townspeople to join him to sample his new drink called beer. The townspeople tasted the beer, which was a brown lager. At first the people complained: “It is too bitter,” “It is too strong.” The people soon began laughing at Gambrinus and his stupid drink. Then Gambrinus began to play the irresistible chimes. The people all began dancing and could not stop. All the dancing made the people thirsty, which encouraged them to drink more beer. After an hour or so, the tired and woozy townspeople pleaded with Gambrinus to stop playing chimes. But Gambrinus kept playing for hours and hours. Gambrinus was satisfied that he had gotten his revenge on those who had wronged him. But after time the townspeople began to appreciate the beer. They begged Gambrinus to make more and called beer the best drink they ever had. Word of Gambrinus’ drink spread far and wide and crossed over all frontiers. People from other towns soon begged Gambrinus to bring beer to their towns. Everywhere Gambrinus went, he brewed beer and played the chimes. So impressed were the nobles of the region that the Dukes, Counts, and Lords offered Gambrinus the title “King of Flandres.” Gambrinus accepted the position of king, but said he preferred the title “King of the Beer.” From thence on, Gambrinus was known as “The Brewer King.” When Flandrine realized that Gambrinus would never come to her again, she came to talk to him. Gambrinus, however, more than a little inebriated, couldn’t recognize Flandrine, and just offered her something to drink; indeed, Gambrinus had forgotten about Flandrine. Gambrinus lived happily with his subjects for many years, until finally the devil returned. “Thirty years have passed since we made our deal,” said the devil. “Now you must follow me.” But when the devil turned around, Gambrinus began playing the chimes, and the devil began to dance. The devil begged Gambrinus to stop playing, but Gambrinus continued, and the devil could not stop dancing. Finally, the devil agreed to break his deal with Gambrinus, releasing Gambrinus from his end of the deal. King Gambrinus lived happily for another half century playing chimes and making beer. When Gambrinus finally died, his body disappeared, and in its place appeared a barrel of beer. This is why Gambrinus has no tombstone, and why no one knows of the resting place of The Brewer King. Another website lists some tall tales that have made Gambrinus famous: He received the gift of beer directly from the Egyptian fertility goddess Isis In medieval times he loaned his soul to the devil for 30 years to learn the art and process of brewing He outwitted his opponent in a challenge to lift an impossibly heavy beer cask by first drinking the beer then triumphantly lifted the empty cask During a three-day banquet he drank mug after mug of foamy beer and he was known forever after as the King of Beer Below is a Symphonion No. 25 GS: “Gambrinus,” a “spectacular original coin-operated disc musical box by ‘Symphonion Musikwerke, Leipzig,’ for 11 3/4 in. discs, 84 teeth in duplex comb (complete), with a wonderful wood-carved figure of the mythical Flemish King “Gambrinus”. 43 1/2 in. high. With 10 discs.” The German Beer Brewers Museum in Munich owns a portrait from 1526 of King Gambrinus, and it includes the following verse: Im Leben ward ich Gambrinus gennant, König zu Flandern und Brabant, Ich hab aus Gersten Malz gemacht Und Bierbrauen zuerst erdacht. Drum können die Brauer mit Wahrheit sagen, Daß sie einen König zum Meister haben. Which translates roughly to: In life I was known as Gambrinus, King of Flanders and Brabant, From barley I made malt And was first at brewing beer. Thus the brewers can truthfully say, They have a king as master brewer.	Beer
Which strait, named after a famous Portuguese-Spanish explorer, separates Chile and Tierra del Fuego?	Beer and breweries in Czech Republic (Part 2) \| Foreigners.cz Blog Home » Featured » Beer and breweries in Czech Republic (Part 2) Beer and breweries in Czech Republic (Part 2) Posted by Foreigners.cz on Jan 22, 2013 in Featured , Posts in French , Uncategorized \| 1 comment Famous breweries and beer There are many breweries in the Czech Republic and this article does not pretend to be able to present all Czech beers, but rather highlight some Czech towns history and anecdotes on the creation of a few Czech beers that you probably know. Pilsen In the 1830s the beer of Pilsen (Plzen) was deemed undrinkable and many city dwellers preferred other beers, including the beers that came from Bavaria. In 1838, the inhabitants of the city expressed their dissatisfaction in front of City Hall by emptying 36 barrels of beer that was deemed undrinkable. Citizens who had the right to brew, decided to establish a new brewery. By the stroke of genius of the people, they decided to hire Joseph Groll as master brewer. This native of Bavaria decided to create a whole new beer with Saaz hops, a strand that comes from world famous Bohemia. Joseph Groll Beer Wiki The first batch was created in 1842 and immediately created a shock through the region, because the taste was unlike any other beer, a flourishing taste with a soft dose of bitterness. The beer was quickly distributed and sold to Vienna in 1856, Paris in 1869 and in the United States in 1873. The brand was introduced in 1898 as Urquell meaning “original source”, but this beer is now owned by SABMiller one of the largest beer companies in the world. But the recipe has been preserved and it is probably one of the best beers in the world that is produced in large quantities. In any case, this particular taste is actually one of my favorite Czech beers. Advertising of the beginning of XXth Century If you want to know more, just check out the Pilser Urquell website. Gambrinus, there are several explanations for the origin of the name, but conversations are mostly about the beer, brewing, wine cellars, and hops. This is one of the names most commonly associated with beer in the world, because Gambrinus brewery is established in France, the United States, and Canada. Gambrinus is considered the unofficial patron saint of beer. This character is a legendary king of Flanders during the time of Charlemagne, or a nickname of John the Fearless, believed to be the inventor of hopped beer. Gambrinus brewery in Plzen But according to the company that produces the Plzensky Prazdroj Gambrinus Pilsen since 1869, the name is a tribute to Jan Primus or John I, Duke of Brabant (1267-1294). It is a typical example of a medieval prince, adventurous and brave, knight of good character, which makes it popular in medieval literature. České Budějovice This city for a was named Budweis for a long period of time, because it was mostly populated by Germans. We think that the first beer production was during the 13th century. The city of České Budějovice has two more breweries, and these should not be confused: Budějovický-měšťanský pivovar. The most famous beer brewery is the BB Budweiser Bier, but most of its products are sold under the label Samson Budweiser Premium Bier. The brewery was founded in 1795, and it is the oldest in the city, it has 110 years on its neighbor, Budweiser Budvar. The beer is still brewed according to the rules established by the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot of 1516, and owes much of its fame to the extreme softness of the water drawn from artesian wells located in the city. The brewery began exporting its production in 1871 to the United States. Samson Budweiser Budějovický Budvar beer has been produced since the 19th century. The brewery produces Budweiser Budvar. Budvar in the Czech Republic is symbolic because it was the only Czech-owned brewery, as breweries were controlled by a minority of Germans. At the end of the 19th century there was a “Czech national awakening,” which led to many changes in the Czech society, for example, the foundation of the Prague National Theatre began having Czech operas in Czech language rather than the language of the German aristocracy. It is the Czech people of České Budějovice who founded the brewery Budvar. The nationalist fervor of Czech beer lovers pushed to make this very popular beer. But this popularity is not just patriotism, this beer is light as Pilsner, brewed with Saaz hops, and the hops matures for at least 90 days. Budweiser Budvar brewery There is a long conflict with the Budweiser name. Budweiser from the American Anheuser-Busch introduced the name in 1876, and by 1880, the first trial in a long dispute over the name began. In 1939 a compromise was reached between the Czech Budweiser Budvar and the American Budweiser. The Czech name was reserved throughout Europe except the United Kingdom, and the American Budweiser had ownership to the name worldwide. In 2007, another compromise was reached when American Budweiser proposed to become the official importer of Budweiser Budvar in North America, but would be marketed under the name Czechvar Premium. In 2010, the European Union recognized the right of authorship to the name Budweiser Budvar Czech company with a geographical indication protected label. Prague Brewery Staropramen Smichov was founded in 1869 in Prague. The first name of the brewery was Smichov Joint Stock Brewery. The brewery started exporting its beer in 1884 to the United States, and by 1889 it was one of the largest brewery in Central Europe. In 1911, the brewery registered its brand name, it had 17 possible name options, such as Pracep (original tap), the Starozdroj (original source) and finally it was decided on Staropramen (old source). It was Czech artist Frantisek Tichy who created the logo. Staropramen brewery Kozel, the brewery Velke Popovice is located near Prague and has a long history of more than 600 years. Kozel has been brewed since 1874 it has changed ownership several times, but it is industrial tycoon Frantisek Ringhoffer, that made Kozel’s success possible. In 1934 it was the third largest producer in the country. Today Velkopopocicky Kozel Premium, is the largest exported Czech beer. Kozel means goat, and the famous emblem was created by a French artist who wanted to thank the family, the original brewers of Kozel for their hospitality. The symbol is a sign of power and strength. The company owns two goats as mascots who live in the gardens of the brewery, both are traditionally named Olga. Kozel old logo Žatec The small town of Žatec in the North East of Czech Republic is known for its quality of hops. I told you above that the Saaz hops is known worldwide, but it is better known under the German name, and less often by Czech Žatec. This is a paradox of Czech beer, most beers are made with this high quality hop, one of the most expensive in the world, but the beer is still cheap. Zatec in the Middle Age This beer often goes unnoticed, but the brewing tradition began in 1621. Several times through out history the town of Žatec had up to 17 breweries. Today there are still two breweries. One brewery is a kind of non-profit brewery that focuses on research. The other brewery founded in 1801, is located on the central square of the city. We also think it is the oldest Czech brewery that has worked without interruption and continues to produce beer in a traditional style. Zatec Beer Ostrava Many beers in Ostrava, (an industrial city in the east of the Czech Republic) were created to compete with brands that were then controlled by the German ruling minorities in the region. In 1897, following the example of the citizens of České Budějovice two years earlier, many Czechs in Ostrava funded the creation of a Czech brewery per share. Ostravar brewery There were two Ostrava breweries until 1950, but ultimately the communist regime decided to keep only one brewery, and gave the name “Brewery city of Ostrava.” The beer was known as Ondras until the Velvet Revolution in 1990, and is now sold under the name Ostravar. Tradition There are many cities that I have not mentioned but certainly deserve a place in this article because of the long tradition of brewing in Czech Republic, or even through the city’s history. I didn’t mention Moravian towns which produce very good beer, but the region is probably more famous for its wines. For example, Brewery Brno was founded in a former monastery in the 14th century, and today Heineken is the owner of Starobrno brewery. Do you know the history of your favorite beer? One Comment Andre %A %B %e%q, %Y I always loathe when some foreigner writes a definitive article on Czech beers. I’m not sure what city you live in, nor do I care, but seriously, you really need to research the budding Czech microbrew scene. Pretty much every brewery you mentioned is owned by SAB. So mass produced chemical beer.	i don't know
2 inches x 1.5 inches (52x37mm) are the dimensions of which paper size?	A Paper Sizes - A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10 A Paper Sizes Dimensions Of A Series Paper Sizes A Paper Sizes - Quick Lookup Size in is The dimensions of the A series paper sizes, as defined by the ISO 216 standard, are given in the table below the diagram in both millimetres and inches (cm measurements can be obtained by dividing mm value by 10). The A Series paper size chart, below left, gives a visual representation of how the sizes relate to each other - for example A5 is half of A4 size paper and A2 is half of A1 size paper. A Series Paper Sizes Chart. Image courtesy of Office 365 . Table of Paper Sizes From 4A0 to A10 Size 26 x 37 mm 1.0 x 1.5 in To obtain paper sizes in centimetres, convert mm values to cm by dividing by 10 and in feet by dividing inch values by 12. More units here and sizes in pixels here . 4A0 & 2A0 - The DIN 476 Oversize Formats The paper sizes bigger than A0, 4A0 & 2A0, aren't formally defined by ISO 216 but are commonly used for oversized paper. The origin of these formats is in the German DIN 476 standard, that was the original base document from which ISO 216 was derived. 2A0 is sometimes described as A00, however this naming convention is not used for 4A0. A Series Paper Size Tolerances ISO 216 specifies tolerances for the production of A series paper sizes as follows: ±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in) ±2 mm (0.08 in) for lengths in the range 150 to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in) ±3 mm (0.12 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in) A Series Paper Sizes Defined The A series paper sizes are defined in ISO 216 by the following requirements: The length divided by the width is 1.4142 The A0 size has an area of 1 square metre. Each subsequent size A(n) is defined as A(n-1) cut in half parallel to its shorter sides. The standard length and width of each size is rounded to the nearest millimetre. Note: For reference the last item is there because the root 2 aspect ratio doesn't always give a whole number. For more information about A paper size areas and areas of sizes other than A0 in square metres and square feet click here . International Usage The A series paper sizes are now in common use throughout the world apart from in the US, Canada and parts of Mexico . The A4 size has become the standard business letter size in English speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, that formerly used British Imperial sizes . In Europe the A paper sizes were adopted as the formal standard in the mid 20th century and from there they spread across the globe. RA & SRA Untrimmed Sizes RA & SRA sizes define untrimmed paper for commercial printing. These formats are designed to allow for ink bleed during the printing process so that the paper can then be trimmed to one of the A series sizes. Click here for more on RA & SRA sizes . A3+ (Super A3) A3 Plus, or Super A3 as it is sometimes known, is not an ISO 216 paper size. It has dimensions of 329mm x 483mm (13" x 19"). This gives it an aspect ratio of 1:1.468 rather than the 1:root 2 aspect ratio of the ISO series paper sizes. In actuality the A3+/Super A3 name is quite misleading as this paper size is known as B+ or Super B in the United States and is ANSI B with a 1" margin for print bleed.	A9
Cinnabar, having the symbol HgS, and being highly toxic, is the common ore of which metal?	B Paper Sizes - B0, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10 B Paper Sizes Dimensions Of B Series Paper Sizes B Paper Sizes - Quick Lookup Select the paper size from the 'Size' selector and the unit from the 'Unit' selector - the dimensions will be shown in the dimensions box. Size in is The dimensions of the B series paper sizes, as defined by ISO 216, are given in the table below in both millimetres and inches (cm measurements can be obtained by dividing the mm value by 10). The B Series paper size chart is a visual explanation of how the B paper sizes relate to each other. B Series Paper Sizes Chart. Table of Paper Sizes From B0 to B10 Size 31 x 44 mm 1.2 x 1.7 in To obtain sizes in centimetres, convert mm values to cm by dividing by 10 and in feet by dividing inch values by 12. More units here . B Series Paper Size Tolerances ISO 216 specifies tolerances for the production of B series paper sizes in the same way as for A series paper sizes, the specific details of which are as follows: ±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in) ±2 mm (0.08 in) for lengths in the range 150 to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in) ±3 mm (0.12 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in) B Series Paper Sizes Definition The B series paper sizes are defined in ISO 216 in the following way. The B series paper sizes were created in order to provide paper sizes that weren't covered by the A series, but also use an aspect ratio of 1:root2. B sizes are defined as size B(n) being the geometric mean of size A(n) and size A(n-1). The Geometric Means of 2 numbers being the square root of the product of the two numbers. This system gives a useful property for enlarging and reducing documents in that the enlargement from A(n) to B(n) is the same as that from B(n) to A(n-1). As with the A series paper sizes, the standard lengths and widths are rounded to the nearest millimetre. Uncut B Sizes B2+ and B1XL B2+ and B1XL (Also known as B1+) are oversize/uncut B paper sizes. These are not defined by ISO and have come about due to an industry need. The commonly used dimensions for these sizes are given in the following table. Size	i don't know
Which vegetable, of the species Brassica Oleracea, has the varieties Nevada and Canberra?	Genus Brassica - THE WORLDWIDE VEGETABLES THE WORLDWIDE VEGETABLES Edited by Ho Dinh Hai Long An - Vietnam 1- Introduction to the Genus Brassica 1.1- Scientific classification 1.2- Genus Brassica + Overview Brassica ( / ˈ b r æ s ɨ k ə / ) is a genus of plants in the mustard family ( Brassicaceae ). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables , cabbages , or mustard plant . Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops - derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant. Members of brassica commonly used for food include cabbage , cauliflower , broccoli , Brussels sprouts , and some seeds. The genus is known for its important agricultural and horticultural crops and includes a number of weeds , both of wild taxa and escapees from cultivation. It counts over 30 wild species and hybrids plus numerous cultivars and hybrids of cultivated origin. Most are seasonal plants ( annuals or biennials ), but some are small shrubs. Brassica plants have been the subject of much scientific interest for their agricultural importance. Six particular species (Brassica carinata, B. juncea, B. oleracea, B. napus, B. nigra and B. rapa) evolved by the combining of chromosomes from three earlier species, as described by the Triangle of U theory. The genus is native in the wild in western Europe , the Mediterranean and temperate regions of Asia and many wild species grow as weeds, especially in North America , South America , and Australia . A dislike for cabbage or broccoli can result from the fact that these plants contain a compound similar to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), which is bitter or tasteless to some people depending on their 'taste buds'. In the division of a large number of plants in the plant kingdom into the groups "monocotyledon" and "dicotyledon" all members of Brassica are dicotyledons. + Major species There is some disagreement among botanists on the classification and status of Brassica species and subspecies. The following is an abbreviated list, with an emphasis on economically important species. 1- Brassica balearica: Mallorca cabbage 2- Brassica carinata : Abyssinian mustard or Abyssinian cabbage, used to produce biodiesel . 15- Brassica tournefortii : Asian mustard. + Other species formerly placed in Brassica Brassica kaber (wild mustard or charlock) - see Sinapis arvensis Brassica alba or Brassica hirta (white or yellow mustard) - see Sinapis alba Brassica geniculata (hoary mustard) - see Hirschfeldia incana 2- The Important Species of the Genus Brassica that are edible 2.1- Species Brassica balearica - Mallorca cabbage Brassica balearica Pers. is a tertiary wild relative of a number of crops in the brassica group. It is a Perennial plant. Brassica balearica is an endemism exclusive to Mallorca. It lives in the Serra de Tramuntana (northern mountain range) occupying rocky crevices in the rocky cliff faces of mountains, generally in shady places. It is characterised by its shiny, fleshy leaves with wavy margins which are concentrated at the base of the plant. It grows on inland cliffs, in limestone areas and in oak forests. There is no other plant in the rocky crags with similar leaves; it is unmistakable. It is suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. Brassica balearica is assessed as Least Concern because it is a locally common species which does not currently face any major threats and the population is not reported to be in decline. B. balearica is a tertiary wild relative of and potential gene donor to a number of crops in the brassica group; including broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, swede, turnip and oilseed rape. 2.2- Species Brassica carinata - Abyssinian mustard or Abyssinian cabbage Brassica carinata (also called Ethiopian mustard, Abyssinian mustard) is a member of the Triangle of U species (U, 1935) in the agriculturally significant Brassica genus. It has 34 chromosomes with genome composition BBCC, and is thought to result from an ancestral hybridisation event between Brassica nigra (genome composition BB) and Brassica oleracea (genome composition CC) (Prakash and Hinata, 1980). Although B. carinata is cultivated as an oilseed crop in Ethiopia (Alemayehu and Becker, 2004), it has generally high levels of undesirable glucosinolates and erucic acid (Getinet et al. 1997), making it a poor choice for general cultivation as an oilseed crop in comparison to the closely related Brassica napus (Rapeseed). The plant is also grown as a leaf vegetable , with a mild flavor. It is known as yabesha gomen in Amharic . Named varieties include Texsel, which is particularly adapted to temperate climates. The flowers are very attractive to honey bees which collect both pollen and nectar. Abyssinian mustard or Abyssinian cabbage, used to produce biodiesel . This plant is also part of a research to develop an aviation biofuel for jet engines. On October 29 of 2012, the first flight of a jet aircraft powered with 100 percent biofuel, made from brassica carinata, was completed. 2.3- Species Brassica elongata - Elongated mustard. + Overview Brassica elongata, the elongated mustard, is a species of the mustard plant that is native to parts of Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, Morocco and parts of Central Asia. Through plant invasion this species has become naturalized in many other parts of the world. Some of these naturalized regions include South Africa, North Western Europe, Australia and North America. Given the wide range of climate and ecological conditions of these regions, B. elongata has been able to disrupt the ecosystems of their native plant habitats and has been label as an invasive species in many of its naturalized zones. In North America, this species is often found as a roadside weed in the southwestern states, particularly in the state of Nevada. Studies allude that the Cruciferae might have migrated through the Bering land bridge from what is now Central Asia. Commonly known as the long-stalked rape or as langtraubiger Kohl in German, this species is a close cousin to Brassica napus ( rapeseed ) and a secondary genetic relative to B. oleracea ( kale ). As a close genetic species of the rapeseed, the long-stalked rape has one of the highest counts of accumulated polyunsaturated linoleic and linolenic acid. Both compounds are heavily used to manufacture vegetable oils. Brassica elongata has the propagative potential of turning into a horticultural product from what is currently a noxious weed . The stems extend out from the base and are branched basally. The basal leaves are obovate to elliptic (10-35 millimetres or 0.4-1.4 inches) and its margins are sub- entire to dentate . The cauline leaves have oblong or lanceolate leaves that are up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length. The inflorescence is raceme . + Subspecies There are five subspecies of Brassica elongata : 1- Brassica elongata, 2.4- Species Brassica fruticulosa - Mediterranean cabbage. + Overview Brassica fruticulosa (Mediterranean cabbage or twiggy turnip) is a cabbage , a member of the agriculturally significant genus Brassica . It was described by Domenico Maria Leone Cirillo in 1792. - Description Brassica fruticulosa has a similar odour to cabbage and broccoli , when crushed. The plant's stem is smooth and erect, varies from grey to green in colour, and can reach a height of 50 centimetres. The upper and lower leaves are stemmed, with the lower leaves being lyre -shaped, lobed near the base, and bristly in parts. The lower leaves measure up to 15 centimetres. The plant produces 10 millimetre-long, pale yellow flowers with four petals each, on short stalks, with many branches forming at the end of a stem. It also bears a pea pod -shaped siliqua which has a lumpy appearance and measures 2-4 centimetres in length. The seeds, when mature, are brown and spherical in appearance. - Distribution Brassica fruticulosa is a wild cabbage which originated in southern Europe and North Africa . It has been introduced to Australia and North America (including California , U.S.A. ), where it has subsequently become naturalized in the wild. + Subspecies and hybrids Brassica fruticulosa has been synthetically cross-bred with Brassica rapa . 2.5- Species Brassica hiarionis - St Hilarion cabbage. Brassica hilarionis is a hairless perennial up to 1 m high with a basal rosette of roundish, fleshy, flat-stalked leaves, upper leaves stalkless and stem-clasping. Has large loose racemes of creamy white flowers with petals up to 2.5 cm long. Narrow beaked pods up to 7 cm. Flowers from Mars to May. It is found on limestone cliffs at altitudes of 400–850 m (Tsintides et al. 2007). Brassica hilarionis is endemic to Cyprus where it is restricted to the west part of Pentadaktylos range. It is known from seven localities, most of which are in state forest land from Kornos peak in the west to Giailas in the east (Tsintides et al. 2007). Its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be 350 km2 and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 5,000 km2. Brassica hilarionis is a wild relative of and potential gene donor to a number of crops in the brassica group; including broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, rape,swede and turnip. The genus Brassica is listed in Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Brassica hilarionis is listed in Annex I of the Bern Convention and in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. It is classified as Endangered in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus (Tsintides et al. 2007). 2.6- Species Brassica juncea - Indian mustard, brown and leaf mustards, Sarepta mustard. Brassica juncea , mustard greens, Indian mustard, Chinese mustard, Kai Choi, or leaf mustard is a species of mustard plant . Subvarieties include southern giant curled mustard, which resembles a headless cabbage such as kale , but with a distinct horseradish-mustard flavor. It is also known as green mustard cabbage. The leaves, the seeds, and the stem of this mustard variety are edible. The plant appears in some form in African, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and soul food cuisine. Cultivars of B. juncea are grown as greens , and for the production of oilseed . Brassica juncea is also known as Gai Choi, Siu Gai Choi, Xaio Jie Cai (Shiau Jie Tsai), Baby Mustard, Chinese Leaf Mustard and Mostaza. Brassica juncea is more pungent than the closely related Brassica oleracea greens ( kale , cabbage , collard greens , et cetera), and is frequently mixed with these milder greens in a dish of "mixed greens", which may include wild greens such as dandelion . As with other greens in soul food cooking, mustard greens are generally flavored by being cooked for a long period with ham hocks or other smoked pork products. Mustard greens are high in vitamin A and vitamin K . In Russia , this is the main variety grown for production of mustard oil , which after refining is considered one of the best vegetable oils. It is widely used in canning , baking and margarine production in Russia, and the majority of table mustard there is also made from this species of mustard plant. Mustard oil is also the primary cooking oil used in Eastern India . The leaves are used in African cooking, and leaves, seeds, and stems are used in Indian cuisine , particularly in mountain regions of Nepal , as well as in the Punjab cuisine of India and Pakistan , where a famous dish called sarson da saag (mustard greens) is prepared. Chinese and Japanese cuisines also make use of mustard greens. In Japanese cuisine it is known as takana and is often pickled and used as filling in onigiri or as a condiment. A large variety of B. juncea cultivars are used, including zha cai , mizuna , takana (var. integlofolia), juk gai choy, and xuelihong; var. crispifolia. Asian mustard greens are most often stir-fried or pickled . A Southeast Asian dish called asam gai choy or kiam chai boey is often made with leftovers from a large meal. It involves stewing mustard greens with tamarind , dried chillies and leftover meat on the bone. 2.7- Species Brassica napus: rapeseed , canola , rutabaga + Overview Rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed (and, in the case of one particular group of cultivars , canola ), is a bright-yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family), consumed in China as a vegetable. The name derives from the Latin for turnip , rāpa or rāpum, and is first recorded in English at the end of the 14th century. Older writers usually distinguished the turnip and rape by the adjectives 'round' and 'long' (-'rooted'), respectively. Rutabagas , Brassica napobrassica , are sometimes considered a variety of Brassica napus. Some botanists also include the closely related Brassica campestris within Brassica napus. Brassica napus is cultivated mainly for its oil-rich seed, the third-largest source of vegetable oil in the world. Canola was originally a trademark, but is now a generic term in North America for edible varieties of rapeseed oil. In Canada, an official definition of canola is codified in Canadian law. Rapeseed oil had a distinctive taste and a greenish colour due to the presence of chlorophyll. It also contained a high concentration of erucic acid. + Top rapeseed producers in 2012 include: 1- European Union , 2- Canada , 3- China , 4- India , 5- France , 6- Germany , 7- Australia , 8- United Kingdom , 9- Poland , 10- Ukraine , 11- United States , 12- Czech Republic , 13- Russia , 14- Belarus , 15- Lithuania , 16- Denmark … 2.8- Species Brassica narinosa - Spoon mustard, broadbeaked mustard. Spoon mustard or Tatsoi (Brassica narinosa or Brassica rapa var. rosularis), also called spinach mustard, spoon mustard, broadbeaked mustard or rosette bok choy, is an Asian variety of Brassica rapa grown for greens. This plant has become popular in North American cuisine as well, and is now grown throughout the world. Tatsoi is a small low-growing plant that forms a rosette of petite leaves with short pale lime green stems. Its spoon-shaped, near seaweed green colored leaves are glossy with a buttery, tender and succulent texture. Fresh tatsoi displays sweet and tangy flavors with a mineral finish. Once cooked, it develops a warm earthiness similar to spinach. The plant has dark green spoon-shaped leaves which form a thick rosette. It has a soft creamy texture and has a subtle yet distinctive flavour. It can be grown to harvestable size in 45-50 days, and can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (15°F). Tatsoi can be harvested even from under the snow. Tatsoi is a very versatile green in the kitchen. It can be used with any other green that you might like to make a salad, such as spinach, arugula, watercress, pea tendrils, mizuna or even also be substituted for any recipe calling for spinach. Its tangy and peppery notes pair well with citrus, crisp cool ingredients such as apple, fennel and mint, warm flavors that are abundantly found in chiles, garlic and allspice. Pair tatsoi with ingredients rich in umami such as scallops, mushrooms, seaweed and braised meats. Fermented ingredients such as fish sauce, soy sauce and vinegars are also complimentary matches. 2.9- Species Brassica nigra - Black mustard. Brassica nigra (black mustard) is an annual weedy plant cultivated for its seeds, which are commonly used as a spice . The plant is believed to be native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe and possibly South Asia where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. The spice is generally made from ground seeds of the plant, with the seed coats removed. The small (1 mm) seeds are hard and vary in color from dark brown to black. They are flavorful, although they have almost no aroma. The seeds are commonly used in Indian cuisine , for example in curry , where it is known as rai. The seeds are usually thrown into hot oil or ghee , after which they pop, releasing a characteristic nutty flavor. The seeds have a significant amount of fatty oil. This oil is used often as cooking oil in India. The plant itself can grow from two to eight feet tall, with racemes of small yellow flowers. These flowers are usually up to 1/3" across, with four petals each. The leaves are covered in small hairs; they can wilt on hot days, but recover at night. Since the 1950s, black mustard has become less popular as compared to India mustard because some cultivars of India mustard have seeds that can be mechanically harvested in a more efficient manner. Despite their similar common names, black mustard and white mustard (genus Sinapis ) are not closely related. Black mustard belongs to the same genus as cabbage . Brassica nigra also resembles Hirschfeldia incana , or hoary mustard, (formerly Brassica geniculata), which is a perennial plant. 2.10- Species Brassica oleracea - kale , cabbage , broccoli , cauliflower … + Overview Brassica oleracea is the species of plant that includes many common foods as cultivars , including cabbage , broccoli , cauliflower , kale , Brussels sprouts , collard greens , savoy , kohlrabi and Chinese kale . In its uncultivated form, it is known as wild cabbage. It is native to coastal southern and western Europe . Its tolerance of salt and lime and its intolerance of competition from other plants typically restrict its natural occurrence to limestone sea cliffs , like the chalk cliffs on both sides of the English Channel . Wild Brassica oleracea is a tall biennial plant , forming a stout rosette of large leaves in the first year, the leaves being fleshier and thicker than those of other species of Brassica, adaptations to store water and nutrients in its difficult growing environment. In its second year, the stored nutrients are used to produce a flower spike 1 to 2 metres (3-7 ft) tall bearing numerous yellow flowers. Although it is believed to have been cultivated for several thousand years, its history as a domesticated plant is not clear before Greek and Roman times, when it was a well-established garden vegetable. Theophrastus mentions three kinds of rhaphanos (ῤάφανος): a curly-leaved, a smooth-leaved, and a wild-type. He reports the antipathy of the cabbage and the grape vine, for the ancients believed cabbages grown near grapes would impart their flavour to the wine. It has been bred into a wide range of cultivars , including cabbage , broccoli , cauliflower , and more, some of which are hardly recognisable as being members of the same genus, let alone species. The historical genus of Crucifera , meaning four-petalled flower, may be the only unifying feature beyond taste. In places such as the Channel Islands and Canary Islands where the frost is minimal and plants are thus freed from seasonality, some cultivars can grow up to three meters tall. These "tree cabbages" yield fresh leaves throughout the year, and harvest does not mean the plant needs to be destroyed as with a normal cabbage. Their woody stalks are sometimes dried and made into walking sticks . + Cultivar group The cultivars of B. oleracea are grouped by developmental form into seven major cultivar groups , of which the Acephala ("non-heading") group remains most like the natural Wild Cabbage in appearance: 3- Brassica oleracea - Botrytis Group: cauliflower , Romanesco broccoli and broccoflower . 4- Brassica oleracea - Capitata Group: cabbage . 5- Brassica oleracea - Gemmifera Group: brussels sprouts . 6- Brassica oleracea - Gongylodes Group: kohlrabi . 7- Brassica oleracea - Italica Group: broccoli . 2.11- Species Brassica perviridis - tender green, mustard spinach Komatsuna or Japanese mustard spinach ( Brassica perviridis = Brassica rapa var. perviridis) is a leaf vegetable . It is a variety of Brassica rapa , the plant species that yields the turnip , mizuna , napa cabbage , and rapini . It is grown commercially in Japan and Taiwan . The name komatsuna is from the Japanese komatsuna, "small pine tree greens". It is stir-fried, pickled, boiled, and added to soups or used fresh in salads. It is an excellent source of calcium . The leaves of komatsuna may be eaten at any stage of their growth. In a mature plant they are dark green with slender light green stalks, around 30 centimeters (12") long and 18 cm (7") wide. It is most often grown in the spring and autumn, as it cannot endure extreme heat or cold for more than a short time. The plant is also used for fodder in some Asian countries. 2.12- Species Brassica rapa (syn B. campestris) - Chinese cabbage , turnip , rapini , komatsuna . Brassica rapa L. is a plant consisting of various widely cultivated subspecies including the turnip (a root vegetable ); the mizuna , napa cabbage , and cime di rapa ( leaf vegetables ); and the turnip rape (Brassica rapa subsp. oleifera, an oilseed which has many common names, including [annual] turnip rape, field mustard, bird rape, keblock, and colza). The oilseed is sometimes also called canola, which is one reason why it is sometimes confused with rapeseed oil , but this comes from a different Brassica species ( Brassica napus ). The oilseeds known as canola are sometimes particular varieties of Brassica rapa (termed Polish Canola) but usually the related species Brassica napus (rapeseed) and Brassica juncea (mustard greens). In the 18th century the turnip and the oilseed-producing variants were seen as being different species by Carolus Linnaeus who named them B. rapa and B. campestris. 20th-century taxonomists found that the plants were cross fertile and thus belonged to the same species. Since the turnip had been named first by Linnaeus, the nameBrassica rapa was adopted. 2.13- Species Brassica rupestris - brown mustard + Overview Brassica rupestris is a species in the genus Brassica which contains approximately 73 to 132 species and belongs to the family of the Brassicaceae (Mustard Family). Brassica rupestris is reported by the European Environment Agency (2010) to occur in 31 Natura 2000 sites. Brassica rupestris ssp. hispida is listed as Endangered in Italy (Conti et al. 1997). EURISCO reports 20 germplasm accessions of Brassica rupestris held in European genebanks, 19 of which are reported to be of wild or weedy origin; of the wild accessions, 17 originate from Italy, 15 of which are stored in the genebank of the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain and two of which are stored in the genebank of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Germany (EURISCO Catalogue 2010). + Characteristics - Leaves: Brassica rupestris is deciduous. The leaves are simple. - Flowers and Fruits: Brassica rupestris produces racemes of yellow cruciform flowers. The plants produce siliques. - Cultivation: The plants prefer a sunny situation on moderately moist soil. The substrate should be loamy, sandy-loamy, sandy clay or loamy clay soil. 2.14- Species Brassica septiceps - seventop turnip Brassica septiceps is a plant in the Brassica (Mustard) genus with a scientific name of Brassica rapa var. septiceps. It is an edible vegetable that typically grows as an annual, which is defined as a plant that matures and completes its lifecycle over the course of a single year. English common names: seven-top turnip, Italian kale (plant) / turnip greens, turnip tops, broccoli greens (product). See also: Brassica rapa Septiceps Group (Common names) . 2.15- Species Brassica tournefortii - Asian mustard The mustard species Brassica tournefortii is known by the common names Asian mustard, African mustard, and Sahara mustard, and is well known as an invasive species , especially in California . The plant is generally similar to other mustards, but the yellow flowers are not as bright and flashy as closely related species. It is a spreading annual herb with long stems up to 40 inches in length. This mustard is native to the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. It became notorious during the twentieth century after it invaded the deserts of the United States and Mexico. Recently it has become an abundant weed of low deserts including the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts , plus the desert valleys such as the Coachella and Imperial Valleys of southern California. The plant disperses easily at the first hint of rain. When the seed coats are moistened they form a gel and become very sticky and readily adhere to people, animals, and objects. Seeds easily take hold along roadsides and arid desert lands, especially in disturbed habitats. Thick stands of the plant can crowd out native flora. Well-adapted to desert life, it monopolizes any moisture in the soil before other plants can get it and forms seeds before other species do. It produces seed as early in the year as January, especially if the region undergoes a warm spell, which is a common occurrence during southern California winters. It self-fertilizes and drops seeds into the soil, where they persist and survive fires and long periods without rain. The fact that it propagates by leaving large numbers of viable seeds in the soil prevents eradication measures such as pulling, mowing, grazing, and burning. Individual plants have the capacity to separate from the ground and become like tumbleweeds , dropping seeds as they are carried across the desert floor in the breeze. Edited by Ho Dinh Hai Long An - Vietnam	Cauliflower
Southern Distilleries Ltd, the world's most southern distillery, produces Hokonui Moonshine, named after the mountains where the illicit version of the drink first appeared, in which country?	brassica brassica Summary Summary: A plant genus of the family Cruciferae. It contains many species and cultivars used as food including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale, collard greens, MUSTARD PLANT; (B. alba, B. junica, and B. nigra), turnips (BRASSICA NAPUS) and rapeseed (BRASSICA RAPA). Top Publications BRAD, the genetics and genomics database for Brassica plants Feng Cheng Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China BMC Plant Biol 11:136. 2011 Rates of nucleotide substitution in angiosperm mitochondrial DNA sequences and dates of divergence between Brassica and other angiosperm lineages Y W Yang Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 11529 J Mol Evol 48:597-604. 1999 Mitochondrial genome sequencing helps show the evolutionary mechanism of mitochondrial genome formation in Brassica Shengxin Chang State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China BMC Genomics 12:497. 2011 Trans-acting small RNA determines dominance relationships in Brassica self-incompatibility Yoshiaki Tarutani Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916 5 Takayama, Ikoma 630 0192, Japan Nature 466:983-6. 2010 Direct ligand-receptor complex interaction controls Brassica self-incompatibility S Takayama Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma 630-0101, Japan Nature 413:534-8. 2001 Components of the Arabidopsis C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factor cold-response pathway are conserved in Brassica napus and other plant species K R Jaglo Department of Crop and Soil Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA Plant Physiol 127:910-7. 2001 ARC1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and promotes the ubiquitination of proteins during the rejection of self-incompatible Brassica pollen Sophia L Stone Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B2 Plant Cell 15:885-98. 2003 Comparative analysis between homoeologous genome segments of Brassica napus and its progenitor species reveals extensive sequence-level divergence Foo Cheung The J Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA Plant Cell 21:1912-28. 2009 Numerous and rapid nonstochastic modifications of gene products in newly synthesized Brassica napus allotetraploids Warren Albertin UMR de Genetique Vegetale, INRA CNRS UPSud INA P G, La Ferme du Moulon, Gif sur Yvette, France Genetics 173:1101-13. 2006 Asy1, a protein required for meiotic chromosome synapsis, localizes to axis-associated chromatin in Arabidopsis and Brassica Susan J Armstrong School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK J Cell Sci 115:3645-55. 2002 Research Grants JAY FOWKE; Fiscal Year: 2002 Scientific Experts Publications262 found, 100 shown here BRAD, the genetics and genomics database for Brassica plants Feng Cheng Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China BMC Plant Biol 11:136. 2011 b>Brassica species include both vegetable and oilseed crops, which are very important to the daily life of common human beings... Rates of nucleotide substitution in angiosperm mitochondrial DNA sequences and dates of divergence between Brassica and other angiosperm lineages Y W Yang Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 11529 J Mol Evol 48:597-604. 1999 ..5-20.4 Myr for the Brassica-Arabidopsis split, and 14.5-20.4 Myr for the Arabidopsis-Arabideae split. Mitochondrial genome sequencing helps show the evolutionary mechanism of mitochondrial genome formation in Brassica Shengxin Chang State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China BMC Genomics 12:497. 2011 ..We analyzed the evolutionary relationships of Brassica mitotypes by sequencing. Trans-acting small RNA determines dominance relationships in Brassica self-incompatibility Yoshiaki Tarutani Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916 5 Takayama, Ikoma 630 0192, Japan Nature 466:983-6. 2010 ..expression of S-locus protein 11 genes (SP11), which encode the male determinants of self-incompatibility in Brassica. We previously reported that SP11 expression was monoallelic in some S heterozygotes, and that the promoter .. Direct ligand-receptor complex interaction controls Brassica self-incompatibility S Takayama Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma 630-0101, Japan Nature 413:534-8. 2001 Many higher plants have evolved self-incompatibility mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization. In Brassica self-incompatibility, recognition between pollen and the stigma is controlled by the S locus, which contains three highly .. Components of the Arabidopsis C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factor cold-response pathway are conserved in Brassica napus and other plant species K R Jaglo Department of Crop and Soil Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA Plant Physiol 127:910-7. 2001 ..Here, we present evidence for a CBF cold-response pathway in Brassica napus. We show that B... ARC1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and promotes the ubiquitination of proteins during the rejection of self-incompatible Brassica pollen Sophia L Stone Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B2 Plant Cell 15:885-98. 2003 ARC1 is a novel U-box protein required in the Brassica pistil for the rejection of self-incompatible pollen; it functions downstream of the S receptor kinase (SRK)... Comparative analysis between homoeologous genome segments of Brassica napus and its progenitor species reveals extensive sequence-level divergence Foo Cheung Homoeologous regions of Brassica genomes were analyzed at the sequence level... Numerous and rapid nonstochastic modifications of gene products in newly synthesized Brassica napus allotetraploids Warren Albertin UMR de Genetique Vegetale, INRA CNRS UPSud INA P G, La Ferme du Moulon, Gif sur Yvette, France Genetics 173:1101-13. 2006 ..To investigate modifications of gene expression occurring during allopolyploid formation, the Brassica napus allotetraploid model was chosen... Asy1, a protein required for meiotic chromosome synapsis, localizes to axis-associated chromatin in Arabidopsis and Brassica Susan J Armstrong School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK J Cell Sci 115:3645-55. 2002 ..Antibodies specific to Asy1 protein and its homologue BoAsy1 from the related crop species Brassica oleracea have been used to investigate the temporal expression and localization of the protein in both species... The CACTA transposon Bot1 played a major role in Brassica genome divergence and gene proliferation Karine Alix UMR de Génétique Végétale INRA Univ Paris Sud CNRS AgroParisTech, Ferme du Moulon, F 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France Plant J 56:1030-44. 2008 We isolated and characterized a Brassica C genome-specific CACTA element, which was designated Bot1 (Brassica oleracea transposon 1)... Genetic variation in defense chemistry in wild cabbages affects herbivores and their endoparasitoids Rieta Gols Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands Ecology 89:1616-26. 2008 Populations of wild Brassica oleracea L. grow naturally along the Atlantic coastlines of the United Kingdom and France. Over a very small spatial scale (i.e... Efficient large-scale development of microsatellites for marker and mapping applications in Brassica crop species A J Lowe IACR Long Ashton Research Station, Long Ashton, BS41 9AF, Bristol, UK Theor Appl Genet 108:1103-12. 2004 ..398 simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs) have been developed and characterised for use with genetic studies of Brassica species. Small-insert (250-900 bp) genomic libraries from Brassica rapa, B. nigra, B. oleracea and B... Direct and indirect effects of resource quality on food web structure Tibor Bukovinszky Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Post Office Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, Netherlands Science 319:804-7. 2008 ..We conclude, on the basis of our data, that changes in the food web are dependent on both trait- and density-mediated interactions among species... Patterns of sequence loss and cytosine methylation within a population of newly resynthesized Brassica napus allopolyploids Lewis N Lukens Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Plant Physiol 140:336-48. 2006 ..To study the dynamics of genome change, we synthesized 49 isogenic Brassica napus allopolyploids and surveyed them with 76 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes and 30 .. Assessment of FAE1 polymorphisms in three Brassica species using EcoTILLING and their association with differences in seed erucic acid contents Nian Wang National Centre of Plant Gene Research, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China BMC Plant Biol 10:137. 2010 FAE1 (fatty acid elongase1) is the key gene in the control of erucic acid synthesis in seeds of Brassica species... The S receptor kinase determines self-incompatibility in Brassica stigma T Takasaki Research Institute of Seed Production Co, Ltd, Sendai, Japan Nature 403:913-6. 2000 The self-incompatibility possessed by Brassica is an intraspecific reproductive barrier by which the stigma rejects self-pollen but accepts non-self-pollen for fertilization... Chemical and biological characterisation of nutraceutical compounds of broccoli D A Moreno Dept Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos and Dept Nutrición Vegetal, CEBAS CSIC, Apdo 164, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain J Pharm Biomed Anal 41:1508-22. 2006 ..Numerous epidemiological studies indicate that Brassica vegetables in general, and broccoli in particular, protect humans against cancer since they are rich sources of .. SCAR and CAPS mapping of CRb, a gene conferring resistance to Plasmodiophora brassicae in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) Z Y Piao Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, 305 764 Daejeon, Korea Theor Appl Genet 108:1458-65. 2004 ..One dominant marker, TCR09, was located 0.78 cM from CRb. The remaining markers (TCR05, TCR01, TCR10, TCR08, and TCR03) were located on the other side of CRb, and the nearest of these was TCR05, at a distance of 1.92 cM... Genic microsatellite markers in Brassica rapa: development, characterization, mapping, and their utility in other cultivated and wild Brassica relatives Nirala Ramchiary Molecular Genetics and Genomics Lab, Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Gung Dong, Yuseong Gu, Daejeon 305 764, Republic of Korea DNA Res 18:305-20. 2011 ..Transferability analysis of 167 EST-SSRs in 35 species belonging to cultivated and wild brassica relatives showed 42.51% (Sysimprium leteum) to 100% (B. carinata, B. juncea, and B. napus) amplification... PCP-A1, a defensin-like Brassica pollen coat protein that binds the S locus glycoprotein, is the product of gametophytic gene expression J Doughty Self-incompatibility (SI) in Brassica species is controlled by a single polymorphic locus (S) with multiple specificities... A pollen coat protein, SP11/SCR, determines the pollen S-specificity in the self-incompatibility of Brassica species H Shiba Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630-0101, Japan Plant Physiol 125:2095-103. 2001 ..rapa by the same approach and further established that SP11/SCR is the sole male determinant of SI in the genus Brassica sp... Chlororespiration is involved in the adaptation of Brassica plants to heat and high light intensity Milagros Díaz Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, E 30100 Murcia, Spain Plant Cell Environ 30:1578-85. 2007 Two species of Brassica were used to study their acclimation to heat and high illumination during the first stages of development... Sulforaphane inhibits extracellular, intracellular, and antibiotic-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and prevents benzo[a]pyrene-induced stomach tumors Jed W Fahey Lewis B and Dorothy Cullman Cancer Chemoprotection Center, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 2185, USA Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:7610-5. 2002 .... BnaC.Tic40, a plastid inner membrane translocon originating from Brassica oleracea, is essential for tapetal function and microspore development in Brassica napus Xiaoling Dun National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Rapeseed Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China Plant J 68:532-45. 2011 Here, we describe the characteristics of a Brassica napus male sterile mutant 7365A with loss of the BnMs3 gene, which exhibits abnormal enlargement of the tapetal cells during meiosis... Recognition specificity of self-incompatibility maintained after the divergence of Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa Ryo Kimura Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Aoba ku, Sendai 981 8555, Japan Plant J 29:215-23. 2002 The determinants of recognition specificity of self-incompatibility in Brassica are SRK in the stigma and SP11/SCR in the pollen, respectively. In the pair of S haplotypes BrS46 (S46 in B. rapa) and BoS7 (S7 in B... Microspore culture preferentially selects unreduced (2n) gametes from an interspecific hybrid of Brassica napus L. x Brassica carinata Braun Matthew N Nelson Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Theor Appl Genet 119:497-505. 2009 We analysed the products of male meiosis in microspore-derived progeny from a Brassica napus (AAC(n)C(n)) x Brassica carinata (BBC(c)C(c)) interspecific hybrid (ABC(n)C(c))... Transcriptional activation and localization of expression of Brassica juncea putative metal transport protein BjMTP1 Balasubramaniam Muthukumar Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 1392, USA BMC Plant Biol 7:32. 2007 ..we present data on the transcriptional regulation and localization of expression of the homologous gene BjMTP1 in Brassica juncea. Though B... Brassica vegetable consumption reduces urinary F2-isoprostane levels independent of micronutrient intake Jay H Fowke Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232 8300, USA Carcinogenesis 27:2096-102. 2006 Isothiocyanates and indoles (e.g. indole-3-carbinol) from Brassica vegetables (e.g. broccoli) induce Phase I and Phase II enzymes responsible for the oxidation, reduction and metabolism of endogenous and exogenous carcinogens... A Comparison of Semiochemically Mediated Interactions Involving Specialist and Generalist Brassica-feeding Aphids and the Braconid Parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae J D Blande Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK J Chem Ecol 33:767-79. 2007 Diaeretiella rapae, a parasitoid that predominately specializes in the parasitism of Brassica-feeding aphids, attacks Lipaphis erysimi, a specialist feeding aphid of the Brassicaceae and other families in the Capparales, at a greater rate .. Phenolic compounds in Brassica vegetables María Elena Cartea Mision Biologica de Galicia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC, Apartado 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain Molecules 16:251-80. 2011 ..The phenolic composition of Brassica vegetables has been recently investigated and, nowadays, the profile of different Brassica species is well .. Reduction of rare soil microbes modifies plant-herbivore interactions W H Gera Hol Netherlands Institute of Ecology NIOO KNAW, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Boterhoeksestraat 48, 6666 GA Heteren, The Netherlands Ecol Lett 13:292-301. 2010 ..It remains to be tested whether these are direct effects of rare soil microbes on plants and herbivores, or indirect effects via shifts in the microbial soil community assemblages... Cellular pathways regulating responses to compatible and self-incompatible pollen in Brassica and Arabidopsis stigmas intersect at Exo70A1, a putative component of the exocyst complex Marcus A Samuel Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Plant Cell 21:2655-71. 2009 ..In a screen for ARC1-interacting proteins, we have identified Brassica napus Exo70A1, a putative component of the exocyst complex that is known to regulate polarized secretion... Genomic organization of the S locus: Identification and characterization of genes in SLG/SRK region of S(9) haplotype of Brassica campestris (syn. rapa) G Suzuki Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 981 8555, Japan Genetics 153:391-400. 1999 In Brassica, two self-incompatibility genes, encoding SLG (S locus glycoprotein) and SRK (S-receptor kinase), are located at the S locus and expressed in the stigma... Male-derived butterfly anti-aphrodisiac mediates induced indirect plant defense Nina E Fatouros Department of Plant Sciences, Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105:10033-8. 2008 ..Our results suggest that the anti-aphrodisiac pheromone incurs fitness costs for the butterfly by both mediating phoretic behavior and inducing plant defense... Control of flowering time by FLC orthologues in Brassica napus M Tadege Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia Plant J 28:545-53. 2001 ..We isolated five FLC-related sequences from Brassica napus (BnFLC1-5)... Breast cancer risk in premenopausal women is inversely associated with consumption of broccoli, a source of isothiocyanates, but is not modified by GST genotype Christine B Ambrosone Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Science, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA J Nutr 134:1134-8. 2004 ..No significant effects of GST genotype on risk were observed in either menopausal group. These data indicate that cruciferous vegetables may play an important role in decreasing the risk of premenopausal breast cancer... Heating decreases epithiospecifier protein activity and increases sulforaphane formation in broccoli Nathan V Matusheski Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, 499 Bevier Hall, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA Phytochemistry 65:1273-81. 2004 ..Heating to 70 degrees C and above decreased the formation of both products in broccoli florets, but not in broccoli sprouts. The induction of QR in cultured mouse hepatoma Hepa lclc7 cells paralleled increases in sulforaphane formation... Allele-specific receptor-ligand interactions in Brassica self-incompatibility A Kachroo Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Science 293:1824-6. 2001 Genetic self-incompatibility in Brassica is determined by alleles of the transmembrane serine-threonine kinase SRK, which functions in the stigma epidermis, and of the cysteine-rich peptide SCR, which functions in pollen... A newly-developed community microarray resource for transcriptome profiling in Brassica species enables the confirmation of Brassica-specific expressed sequences Martin Trick John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK BMC Plant Biol 9:50. 2009 The Brassica species include an important group of crops and provide opportunities for studying the evolutionary consequences of polyploidy... The dominance of alleles controlling self-incompatibility in Brassica pollen is regulated at the RNA level Hiroshi Shiba Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630 0101, Japan Plant Cell 14:491-504. 2002 Self-incompatibility (SI) in Brassica is controlled sporophytically by the multiallelic S-locus... Broccoli: a unique vegetable that protects mammalian hearts through the redox cycling of the thioredoxin superfamily Subhendu Mukherjee High-density Brassica oleracea linkage map: identification of useful new linkages Muqiang Gao Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA Theor Appl Genet 115:277-87. 2007 We constructed a 1,257-marker, high-density genetic map of Brassica oleracea spanning 703 cM in nine linkage groups, designated LG1-LG9... Migrant studies aid the search for factors linked to breast cancer risk Nancy J Nelson J Natl Cancer Inst 98:436-8. 2006 Endocytosis and endosomal regulation of the S-receptor kinase during the self-incompatibility response in Brassica oleracea Rumen Ivanov Reproduction et Developpement des Plantes, Institut Fédératif de Recherche 128, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon I, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, F 69364 Lyon, France Plant Cell 21:2107-17. 2009 ..There are, however, signaling phenomena that add a further layer of complexity. In the Brassica self-incompatibility response, a single cell can adequately respond to two opposite stimuli: accepting cross-.. Dietary sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprouts reduce colonization and attenuate gastritis in Helicobacter pylori-infected mice and humans Akinori Yanaka Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba ken, Tokyo, Japan Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2:353-60. 2009 ..pylori colonization in mice and improves the sequelae of infection in infected mice and in humans. This treatment seems to enhance chemoprotection of the gastric mucosa against H. pylori-induced oxidative stress... Analysis of the xylem sap proteome of Brassica oleracea reveals a high content in secreted proteins Laetitia Ligat Universite de Toulouse, UPS, UMR, Surfaces Cellulaires et Signalisation chez les Végétaux, Castanet Tolosan, France Proteomics 11:1798-813. 2011 ..Here, we studied the proteome of Brassica oleracea cv Bartolo and compared it to the plant cell wall proteome of another Brassicaceae, the model plant .. Cold-activation of Brassica napus BN115 promoter is mediated by structural changes in membranes and cytoskeleton, and requires Ca2+ influx V Sangwan Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada Plant J 27:1-12. 2001 ..Here we examine cold signaling in transgenic Brassica napus seedlings carrying, in addition to the endogenous cold-inducible BN115 gene, the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) .. Epigenetic chromatin modifications in Brassica genomes Agnieszka Braszewska-Zalewska Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska 28, Katowice, Poland Genome 53:203-10. 2010 ..b>Brassica species represent a very attractive model for analysis of epigenetic changes because of their differences in .. Functional alleles of the flowering time regulator FRIGIDA in the Brassica oleracea genome Judith A Irwin Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK BMC Plant Biol 12:21. 2012 ..The aim of this study was to identify and characterize orthologues of FRI in Brassica oleracea. Structural and transcriptional comparative analysis of the S locus regions in two self-incompatible Brassica napus lines Y Cui Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Plant Cell 11:2217-31. 1999 Self-incompatibility (SI) in Brassica is controlled by a single locus, termed the S locus... UV-B irradiation changes specifically the secondary metabolite profile in broccoli sprouts: induced signaling overlaps with defense response to biotic stressors Inga Mewis Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Großbeeren Erfurt e V, Department of Quality, Theodor Echtermeyer Weg 1, D 14979 Großbeeren, Germany Plant Cell Physiol 53:1546-60. 2012 ..3-1 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) were applied to sprouts of the important vegetable crop Brassica oleracea var... Effectiveness of edible coatings combined with mild heat shocks on microbial spoilage and sensory quality of fresh cut broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) María Del R Moreira Grupo de Investigación en Ingeniería de Alimentos Fac de Ingeniería, UNMDP, Juan B Justo 4302, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina J Food Sci 76:M367-74. 2011 .... Brassica orthologs from BANYULS belong to a small multigene family, which is involved in procyanidin accumulation in the seed Bathilde Auger UMR118 Amélioration des Plantes et Biotechnologies Végétales, INRA, Agrocampus Ouest, Université Rennes1, Le Rheu Cedex, France Planta 230:1167-83. 2009 As part of a research programme focused on flavonoid biosynthesis in the seed coat of Brassica napus L. (oilseed rape), orthologs of the BANYULS gene that encoded anthocyanidin reductase were cloned in B... Interaction of calmodulin, a sorting nexin and kinase-associated protein phosphatase with the Brassica oleracea S locus receptor kinase Vincent Vanoosthuyse Reproduction et Developpement des Plantes, Unite Mixte de Recherche 5667, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, 46 allee d Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France Plant Physiol 133:919-29. 2003 Recognition of self-pollen during the self-incompatibility response in Brassica oleracea is mediated by the binding of a secreted peptide (the S locus cysteine-rich protein) to the S locus receptor kinase (SRK), a member of the plant .. First isolation of an antifungal lipid transfer peptide from seeds of a Brassica species Peng Lin Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China Peptides 28:1514-9. 2007 ..sequence exhibiting notable homology to those of lipid transfer proteins was isolated from seeds of the vegetable Brassica campestris... Characterization of the SP11/SCR high-affinity binding site involved in self/nonself recognition in brassica self-incompatibility Hiroko Shimosato Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma 630 0192, Japan Plant Cell 19:107-17. 2007 In Brassica self-incompatibility, the recognition of self/nonself pollen grains, is controlled by the S-locus, which encodes three highly polymorphic proteins: S-locus receptor kinase (SRK), S-locus protein 11 (SP11; also designated S-.. Towards the production of high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in transgenic plants: the effects of different host species, genes and promoters Bifang Cheng Bioriginal Food and Science Corporation, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W9, Canada Transgenic Res 19:221-9. 2010 ..Zero-erucic acid Brassica carinata appeared to be an outstanding host species for EPA production, with EPA levels in transgenic seed of .. Isothiocyanate concentrations and interconversion of sulforaphane to erucin in human subjects after consumption of commercial frozen broccoli compared to fresh broccoli Shikha Saha Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK Mol Nutr Food Res 56:1906-16. 2012 ..We compared the bioavailability and metabolism of sulforaphane from portions of lightly cooked fresh or frozen broccoli, and investigated the bioconversion of sulforaphane to erucin... Aphid resistance in Brassica crops: challenges, biotechnological progress and emerging possibilities Varnika Bhatia National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi, India Biotechnol Adv 29:879-88. 2011 ..The present review is an attempt to highlight the current status and possible avenues to develop aphid resistance in Brassicaceae crops... Indirect plant-mediated interactions among parasitoid larvae Erik H Poelman Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, P O Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands Ecol Lett 14:670-6. 2011 ..Our results show that temporally separated parasitoid larvae are involved in indirect plant-mediated interactions by a network of trophic and non-trophic relationships... A zinc-finger-family transcription factor, AbVf19, is required for the induction of a gene subset important for virulence in Alternaria brassicicola Akhil Srivastava Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St John 317, Honolulu 96822, USA Mol Plant Microbe Interact 25:443-52. 2012 ..This study demonstrated the existence and the importance of a transcription factor that regulates a suite of genes that are important for decomposing and utilizing plant material during the late stage of plant infection... BraSto, a Stowaway MITE from Brassica: recently active copies preferentially accumulate in the gene space Véronique Sarilar AgroParisTech CNRS, UMR 0320 UMR 8120 Génétique Végétale INRA Univ Paris Sud CNRS AgroParisTech, Ferme du Moulon, 91190, Gif sur Yvette, France Plant Mol Biol 77:59-75. 2011 We characterized a Brassica miniature inverted repeat transposable element (MITE) from the Stowaway superfamily, designated BraSto (Bra ssica Sto waway)... Synthesis of a Brassica trigenomic allohexaploid (B. carinata × B. rapa) de novo and its stability in subsequent generations Entang Tian National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, 1 Shizishan, 430070, Wuhan, China Theor Appl Genet 121:1431-40. 2010 ..The present investigation was aimed at synthesising the first known chromosomally stable hexaploid Brassica with the genome constitution AABBCC... Parasitoid-specific induction of plant responses to parasitized herbivores affects colonization by subsequent herbivores Erik H Poelman Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, 6700 EH, Wageningen, The Netherlands Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:19647-52. 2011 ..Here, we show that the species identity of a parasitoid had a more significant effect on defense responses of Brassica oleracea plants than the species identity of the herbivorous hosts of the parasitoids. Consequently, B... Influence of feeding and oviposition by phytophagous pentatomids on photosynthesis of herbaceous plants Violeta Velikova Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology, Acad G Bonchev Str, Bl 21, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria J Chem Ecol 36:629-41. 2010 ..bugs, Murgantia histrionica and Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), affect photosynthetic parameters of Brassica oleracea (savoy cabbage) and Phaseolus vulgaris (French bean)... Fine mapping of loci involved with glucosinolate biosynthesis in oilseed mustard (Brassica juncea) using genomic information from allied species N C Bisht Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110 021, India Theor Appl Genet 118:413-21. 2009 ..Based on the DNA sequences from Arabidopsis and Brassica oleracea for the different genes involved in the aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis, candidate genes were .. Growing hardier crops for better health: Salinity tolerance and the nutritional value of broccoli Carmen López-Berenguer Food Science and Technology Department and Plant Nutrition Department, CEBAS CSIC, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain J Agric Food Chem 57:572-78. 2009 ..Overall, the nutritional quality of the edible florets of broccoli was improved under moderate saline stress... Tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC): scavenger of reactive nitrogen species Carla Sousa REQUIMTE Servico de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade do Porto, R Anibal Cunha Porto, Portugal J Agric Food Chem 56:4205-11. 2008 The ability of tronchuda cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) to act as a scavenger of the reactive nitrogen species nitric oxide and peroxynitrite was investigated... Intra- and intergenomic homology of B-genome chromosomes in trigenomic combinations of the cultivated Brassica species revealed by GISH analysis Xian Hong Ge National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Crop Molecular Breeding Technology, National Center of Oil Crop Improvement Wuhan, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China Chromosome Res 15:849-61. 2007 Intragenomic chromosome homology in the B genome of Brassica nigra and their homoeology with the chromosomes of the A-genome of B. rapa and C-genome of B... BcMF9, a novel polygalacturonase gene, is required for both Brassica campestris intine and exine formation Li Huang Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China Ann Bot 104:1339-51. 2009 ..role that the PG gene has played in pollen development and about this family in general, one putative PG gene, Brassica campestris Male Fertility 9 (BcMF9), was isolated from Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis, syn... Characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase containing Methylobacterium oryzae and interactions with auxins and ACC regulation of ethylene in canola (Brassica campestris) Munusamy Madhaiyan Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 361 763, Republic of Korea Planta 226:867-76. 2007 ..role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase containing bacteria on ethylene production in canola (Brassica campestris) in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of growth regulators were investigated... Ontogenetic changes of 2-propenyl and 3-indolylmethyl glucosinolates in Brassica carinata leaves as affected by water supply Monika Schreiner Department of Quality Research, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Grossbeeren and Erfurt e V, Theodor Echtermeyer Weg 1, Grossbeeren, Germany J Agric Food Chem 57:7259-63. 2009 Concentrations of 2-propenyl and 3-indolylmethyl glucosinolates in two lines of Brassica carinata (Holeta-1 and 37-A) were assessed during the vegetative life cycle under optimal or drought-inducing water supply conditions... The Fus3/Kss1 MAP kinase homolog Amk1 regulates the expression of genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes in Alternaria brassicicola Yangrae Cho Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Fungal Genet Biol 44:543-53. 2007 ..the Amk1 MAP kinase gene, a homolog of the Fus3/Kss1 MAP kinases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in the necrotrophic Brassica pathogen, Alternaria brassicicola. The amk1 disruption mutants showed null pathogenicity on intact host plants... Factors affecting the glucosinolate content of kale (Brassica oleracea acephala group) Pablo Velasco Department of Plant Genetics, Mision Biologica de Galicia, Spanish Council for Scientific Research CSIC, Apartado 28, E 36080 Pontevedra, Spain J Agric Food Chem 55:955-62. 2007 Kales (Brassica oleracea acephala group) are important vegetable crops in traditional farming systems in the Iberian Peninsula. They are grown throughout the year to harvest their leaves and flower buds... Responses of Brassica oleracea cultivars to infestation by the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae: an ecological and molecular approach Colette Broekgaarden Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands Plant Cell Environ 31:1592-605. 2008 ..we take such an approach to study the interaction between the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae and four white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) cultivars... The presence of a Sar1 gene family in Brassica campestris that suppresses a yeast vesicular transport mutation Sec12-1 W Y Kim Department of Biochemistry, Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, Korea Plant Mol Biol 33:1025-35. 1997 Two new members (Bsar1a and Bsar1b) of the Sar1 gene family have been identified from a flower bud cDNA library of Brassica campestris and their functional characteristics were analyzed... Haplotype structure of the stigmatic self-incompatibility gene in natural populations of Arabidopsis lyrata Deborah Charlesworth Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Mol Biol Evol 20:1741-53. 2003 ..In A. lyrata, the SRK S-domain controls the pistil recognition specificity, as in self-incompatible Brassica species. In alleles from plants derived from natural A... Linear dominance relationship among four class-II S haplotypes in pollen is determined by the expression of SP11 in Brassica self-incompatibility Tomohiro Kakizaki Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, 020 8550 Japan Plant Cell Physiol 44:70-5. 2003 ..The Brassica SI system is controlled sporophytically by multiple alleles at the single locus, S, and dominance relationships .. Glucosinolate polymorphism in wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) influences the structure of herbivore communities Erika L Newton Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Tremough, Penryn, Cornwall, UK Oecologia 160:63-76. 2009 ..b>Brassica oleracea (Brassicaceae) produces aliphatic glucosinolates, which break down into toxins when leaf tissue is .. Lipid-rich tapetosomes in Brassica tapetum are composed of oleosin-coated oil droplets and vesicles, both assembled in and then detached from the endoplasmic reticulum Kai Hsieh Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA Plant J 43:889-99. 2005 ..Here we report the biogenesis and structures of tapetosomes in Brassica. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that during early anther development, the endoplasmic reticulum (.. Ectopic expression of an annexin from Brassica juncea confers tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress treatments in transgenic tobacco Sravan Kumar Jami Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, AP, India Plant Physiol Biochem 46:1019-30. 2008 ..A full-length cDNA for a gene encoding an annexin protein was isolated and characterized from Brassica juncea (AnnBj1)... Identification of individual chromosomes and parental genomes in Brassica juncea using GISH and FISH J Maluszynska Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland Cytogenet Genome Res 109:310-4. 2005 ..nigra, B. oleracea, B. campestris) and three allotetraploid (B. carinata, B. juncea, B. napus) species of Brassica, known as the "U-triangle" are one of the best model systems for the study of polyploidy... Development of public immortal mapping populations, molecular markers and linkage maps for rapid cycling Brassica rapa and B. oleracea Federico Luis Iniguez-Luy Agri aquaculture Nutritional Genomic Center CGNA, Plant Biotechnology Unit UBP, INIA Carillanca, P O Box 58 D, Temuco, Chile Theor Appl Genet 120:31-43. 2009 ..of immortal mapping populations of rapid cycling, self-compatible lines, molecular markers, and linkage maps for Brassica rapa and B. oleracea and make the data and germplasm available to the Brassica research community. The B... Forward and reverse genetics of rapid-cycling Brassica oleracea Edward Himelblau Department of Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA Theor Appl Genet 118:953-61. 2009 Seeds of rapid-cycling Brassica oleracea were mutagenized with the chemical mutagen, ethylmethane sulfonate. The reverse genetics technique, TILLING, was used on a sample population of 1,000 plants, to determine the mutation profile... Water extracts of Brassica oleracea var. costata potentiate paraquat toxicity to rat hepatocytes in vitro C Sousa REQUIMTE, Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4099 030 Porto, Portugal Toxicol In Vitro 23:1131-8. 2009 .... Protective effects of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) against oxidative damage in vitro and in vivo Eun Ju Cho Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and Research Institute of Ecology for the Elderly, Pusan National University, 30 Jangjeon dong, Geumjeong Gu, Busan 609 735, Korea J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 52:437-44. 2006 ..The present study demonstrates that the BuOH fraction has an antioxidative effect in vitro and it protects against oxidative stress induced by diabetes in an in vivo model... Cytogenetics and genome analysis in Brassica crops Rod J Snowdon Department of Plant Breeding, Research Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich Buff Ring 26 32, 35392, Giessen, Germany Chromosome Res 15:85-95. 2007 The genus Brassica contains a wide range of diploid and amphipolyploid species including some of the most important vegetable, condiment and oilseed crops worldwide... Effect of storage, processing and cooking on glucosinolate content of Brassica vegetables Lijiang Song Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom Food Chem Toxicol 45:216-24. 2007 Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of Brassica vegetables decrease the risk of cancer. These associations are linked to dietary intake of glucosinolates and their metabolism to cancer preventive isothiocyanates... Tri-trophic effects of inter- and intra-population variation in defence chemistry of wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Jeffrey A Harvey Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands Oecologia 166:421-31. 2011 ..KIM), Old Harry (OH) and Winspit (WIN)] and two cultivars [Stonehead (ST), and Cyrus (CYR)] of cabbage, Brassica oleracea... Multi-functional acetyl-CoA carboxylase from Brassica napus is encoded by a multi-gene family: indication for plastidic localization of at least one isoform W Schulte Max Planck Institut fur Zuchtungsforschung, Cologne, Germany Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:3465-70. 1997 Three genes coding for different multifunctional acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase; EC 6.4.1.2) isoenzymes from Brassica napus were isolated and divided into two major classes according to structural features in their 5' regions: class I .. Microsatellites in Brassica unigenes: relative abundance, marker design, and use in comparative physical mapping and genome analysis Swarup K Parida National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India Genome 53:55-67. 2010 ..The present study was designed to assay the unigenes of Brassica napus and B... Large-scale cis-element detection by analysis of correlated expression and sequence conservation between Arabidopsis and Brassica oleracea Georg Haberer Munich Information Center for Protein Sequences, Institute for Bioinformatics, GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany Plant Physiol 142:1589-602. 2006 ..promoter sequences were identified by a bidirectional best blast hit strategy in genome survey sequences from Brassica oleracea... Isotopic labeling and LC-APCI-MS quantification for investigating absorption of carotenoids and phylloquinone from kale (Brassica oleracea) Anne C Kurilich U S Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA J Agric Food Chem 51:4877-83. 2003 ..This work describes a method for studying the bioavailability of nutrients from kale (Brassica oleracea var... Performance of generalist and specialist herbivores and their endoparasitoids differs on cultivated and wild Brassica populations Rieta Gols Laboratory of Entomology, Plant Science Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands J Chem Ecol 34:132-43. 2008 ..herbivores and their endoparasitoids were compared when reared on a wild and cultivated population of cabbage, Brassica oleracea, and a recently established feral Brassica species... Naturally occurring indel variation in the Brassica nigra COL1 gene is associated with variation in flowering time Marita Kruskopf Osterberg Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Genetics 161:299-306. 2002 Previous QTL mapping identified a Brassica nigra homolog to Arabidopsis thaliana CO as a candidate gene affecting flowering time in B. nigra. Transformation of an A. thaliana co mutant with two different alleles of the B... Development of an insect herbivore and its pupal parasitoid reflect differences in direct plant defense Jeffrey A Harvey Department of Multitrophic Interactions, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, P O Box 40, 6666 Heteren, The Netherlands J Chem Ecol 33:1556-69. 2007 ..Pteromalus puparum, when reared on three wild populations (Kimmeridge, Old Harry, Winspit) of cabbage, Brassica oleracea, and a Brussels sprout cultivar... Comparative analysis of the Brassica oleracea genetic map and the Arabidopsis thaliana genome Malgorzata Kaczmarek Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60 479 Poznan, Poland Genome 52:620-33. 2009 We further investigated genome macrosynteny for Brassica species and Arabidopsis thaliana. This work aimed at comparative map construction for B. oleracea and A. thaliana chromosomes based on 160 known A... Self-incompatibility in the genus Arabidopsis: characterization of the S locus in the outcrossing A. lyrata and its autogamous relative A. thaliana M Kusaba Department of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Plant Cell 13:627-43. 2001 ..thaliana and is thought to have diverged from A. thaliana approximately 5 million years ago and from Brassica spp 15 to 20 million years ago. Analysis of two S (sterility) locus haplotypes demonstrates that the A... Comparative biochemical and transcriptional profiling of two contrasting varieties of Brassica juncea L. in response to arsenic exposure reveals mechanisms of stress perception and tolerance Sudhakar Srivastava Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India J Exp Bot 60:3419-31. 2009 ..an insight into these mechanisms, biochemical and transcriptional profiling of two contrasting genotypes of Brassica juncea was performed... The ecology of Bacillus thuringiensis on the Phylloplane: colonization from soil, plasmid transfer, and interaction with larvae of Pieris brassicae M F Bizzarri	i don't know
The game 'Spillikins' is commonly known by which other name?	47 brilliant family party games for Christmas 47 brilliant family party games for Christmas Credit: Bader-Butowski / WestEnd61 / Rex Features /Rex Features Telegraph Reporters 6 December 2016 • 5:08pm Party games: from musical chairs and blind man's buff to consequences and pin the tail on the donkey. Here is the Telegraph guide to fun games for the family . 1. Adverb Game Person A leaves the room. The rest choose an adverb (eg 'joyfully', 'lazily', or 'gloomily'). Person A returns and has to guess the adverb. He can either ask questions and stipulate that they be answered 'in the manner of the word'. Or ask the group to act out a situation (driving a car; making a sandwich) 'in the manner of the word'. 2. Animal Snap (One or two decks of cards) Everyone has their own 'animal noise'. If your card matches someone else's, you have to call out their animal noise. 3. Arm Wrestling Novelist Norman Mailer arm wrestling heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali Credit: AP 4. The Book (Three or four well-known books; pencils; paper) Choose a book (eg The Hound of the Baskervilles). Players have to write down what they think the first sentence should be. Everyone's entries are read out, then the original. The closest wins. 5. Bobby Bingo (Ball of string, ring) Players stand in a circle. Take a long piece of string, slip a ring onto it, and tie the string at the ends to form a big loop with the ring free to slide along it. One person is the 'ring-finder' and stands in the centre. The others grasp a stretch of the string in their fists. One player hides the ring in his hand. Everyone sings: 'There was a farmer had a son/His name was Bobby Bingo/B-I-N-G-O/B-I-N-G-O/B-I-N-G-O/His name was Bobby Bingo.' Players move their fists apart and together, in time to the music. This permits their fists to meet those of the players next to them so that the ring can be passed from one player to the next. When the song stops, the 'ring-finder' has to guess who has it. 6. Categories A game of speed. Player 1 shouts out a category (eg 'fish' or 'puddings') and the other players shout out examples, in order. For added excitement, the players set up a rhythm, either clicking fingers, slapping thighs or clapping hands. Click, click, clap, clap. Player 1: 'Categories'. Click etc. Player 2: 'Such as'.Click etc. Player 3: 'Flowers'. Click etc. Player 4: 'Daisy' Click etc. Player 5: 'Gladioli'. Play continues until one of the participants is unable to think of an example. He or she is then eliminated. Then, either carry on with the same category, or think of a new one. 7. Consequences (1) (Paper, pencils) Each player takes a sheet of paper and folds it into four. First, draw a head (animal, human or imaginary), fold the paper down to hide the drawing - but leave some neck - and pass it on. Next, draw a torso, arms or wings, fold the paper (leaving the tops of the legs showing) and pass on. Then come the legs (fold again). Pass on. Finally, add the feet. Unfold. You'll be amazed. 8. Consequences (2) (Paper, pencils) Write a story. Each player takes a sheet of paper and writes one section of the story. The paper is then folded and passed on. Here are the sections. 1) A description beginning with the word 'the', eg 'The beautiful', 'The very talkative'; 2) A man's name; 3) A second description, as above; 4) A woman's name; 5) Where they met; 6) What he gave her; 7) What she said; 8) What he said; 9) What the consequence was; 10) What the world said about it. Read aloud, inserting the words 'met', 'at' etc, where appropriate. 9. Dictionary Game People take it in turns to find an obscure word in the dictionary. Players write down a meaning. Repeat with up to 10 words. Pass the papers round; read out. Credit: Ian Nicholson/PA Wire /PA 10. Duck, Duck, Goose. Players sit in a circle. One person goes round the outside, tapping people on the head, slowly saying 'duck, duck, duck', and finally 'goose'. The goose jumps up and has to race the tapper round the circle back to the goose's seat. If the tapper loses, the goose takes over. Best for small children. 11. Fizz Buzz A counting game, in which players start at one and aim for 100. Instead of 3, or multiples of 3, say 'fizz'; for 5 or multiples thereof, say 'buzz'. For multiples of 3 and 5, it's 'fizz buzz'. So: I, 2, fizz, 4, buzz, fizz, 7, 8, fizz, buzz, etc. 12. Forehead Detective The person on your left writes the name of a well-known person on a Post-It note and sticks it on your forehead. Players have to ask 'yes/no' type questions until they find out who they are. 13. Gargle a Song Fill a glass, sing a song. The others must try to guess which one. 14. Hunt the Thimble Players are sent out of the room and re-enter to search for a hidden thimble. Credit: Jane Mingay 15. Ibble Dibble (A burnt cork) Players sit in a circle. Each one has a number. Player A says 'Ibble Dibble Number 1 with No Dibble Ibbles calling Ibble Dibble Number...' and chooses another number. The person with that number repeats the phrase word perfectly, and chooses another number. Players who slip up get a cork mark on their face (a Dibble Ibble). So for their first call, they shout 'Ibble Dibble Number 1 with One Dibble Ibble calling?…' And so on. The adult version has drinks as forfeits. 16. I went to the shop and bought... An apple, a banana… Players take it in turns to repeat original item, and add a new one, following the letters of the alphabet. 17. Kipper racing Each player cuts a kipper from a sheet of newspaper. Line the fish up and fan them towards the finishing line with a magazine. 18. Matchbox race (Two matchbox sleeves) Two teams stand in line, hands behind their backs. The player at each end sticks the matchbox sleeve on their nose and on the word 'go', docks it onto the nose of the next player. First team to move the matchbox to the end of the line wins. 19. Murder in the Dark (Paper) On small pieces of paper, mark one 'murderer', another one 'detective' and leave the rest blank. Players choose a piece of paper. The detective announces himself; the murderer keeps quiet. Lights go off. The murderer touches the victim, who screams. The murderer moves away. Everyone else stays put. The detective questions everyone. The murderer lies, others must tell the truth. The detective is allowed two guesses. 20. Musical Chairs Place a row of chairs (or cushions) back to back in the middle of the room. There should be one fewer than there are players. Players circle the chairs while the music plays and sit down when it stops. Chairless players drop out. One chair (or cushion) is removed. The play continues. 21. Party Bag Hang a paper bag filled with sweets from a door frame. Each player is blindfolded and given three chances to hit the bag with a stick. The winner bursts the bag and pockets the sweets. 22. Pass the Clothes Pass a bag of dressing-up clothes around the circle. When the music stops, take an item and put it on. Continue until everyone is wearing something daft. 23. Pass the Orange (Two oranges) Two teams sit on the floor facing each other and pass an orange down the line with their feet. If the orange touches the ground, it goes back to the start. Shrek 3 Credit: Dreamworks 24. Pin the Tail on the Donkey (Piece of wallpaper, blindfold, Blu-Tack) Draw a donkey on the back of the wallpaper and fasten onto the wall. Or pin the nose on a snowman. 25. Reverse-Bottle Spillikins Take turns to place a match on top of an empty wine bottle. Whoever disturbs the matches loses. 26. Sardines One person hides. The person who finds them joins them. So does the next one to find them. Last player to discover them is the next sardine. 27. Squeak Piggy Squeak Player A is blindfolded. The players take their seats. Player A sits on one knee, invites the person to 'squeak piggy squeak', and has to guess the identity of the squeaker (or snorter). Credit: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire /PA 28. Statues Put on the music, get everyone dancing, press pause. The first one to move is out. And so on, until one person is left. 29. The Game Each team thinks up a list of phrases: song, book or film titles, proverbs, and so on. Team A gives the first one to a player on team B, who has to act it out for the rest of Team B. When they guess it (or give in), Team B gives Team A a title. And so on. Use the same conventions as Charades. 30. Ripping fun Take a Strauss waltz, rock, rap, salsa, anything with a decent rhythm, and tear strips of newspaper in time. 31. Tower of Flour Fill a pudding bowl with flour and turn it upside down on a plate. Put a jelly baby on top of the flour. Players take it in goes to cut a slice from the mound, without disturbing the jelly baby. The one who makes the flour collapse has to pick up the sweet from the plate in their mouth (and gets a very floury face). 32. Toothless Vegetables Players take turns to name a fruit or vegetable without showing their teeth. No repetition allowed. Show teeth or laugh and you're out. 33. Wink Murder (One card per player; one of which is the Ace of Spades) Cards are dealt to players sitting at a table. The one who draws the Ace of Spades is the murderer, who kills a person by winking surreptitiously. The dead person slumps on the table. The others try to identify the murderer. A wrong challenge, and that person is out of the game. 34. Apple Bobbing Fill a tub with water and put one apple for each person into it. Players have to retrieve an apple out without using hands. Either the first one to succeed wins - or in a set time. Do it in the kitchen. Alternate version: hang the apples on string from a door frame. 35. Balloons Two teams keep a balloon in the air by blowing. Can also be played with a feather. The Gryphon and Mock Turtle from Alice in Wonderland Credit: Illustration by Sir John Tenniel /www.alamy.com 36. Blinking Each person tries to stare at the other player without blinking (or laughing). The world record is 22 minutes apparently. 37. Blind Man’s Bluff One person is blindfolded, turned around three times. Players scatter. When he catches one, he has to identify him or her by touch. 38. Grand Inquisitor The inquisitor has to choose three categories, for example, books, actors, dogs. Players sit in a circle; the Grand Inquisitor, in the middle, points at a person and fires a question, which has to be answered immediately. Anyone who can’t answer is out. 39. Good Morning, Madam (Cards) A pack (or two packs) are dealt and players take it in turns to put a card face up on a pile in the middle. When an Ace appears, the first person to cover it with a hand, wins the stack. When a Jack is dealt, it’s the first player to shout ‘boo’; King, to salute; and Queen, to shout ‘Good Morning, Madam’. The winner gets all the cards. 40. Hands up Player A leaves the room. The remaining players choose one person to hold a hand above his head for 30 seconds (with one finger extended). Player A knocks, returns quickly to the room, and has to guess which person had their hand raised. The players extend both hands, one beside the other. The guess is made. (Answer: the raised hand will be pale and drained of blood) 41. Levitation An adult sits on chair, arms folded. Four children stretch their right hands in turn over the adult’s head, then their left hands. Keep the hands there for a while. After 15 seconds, they place their index fingers under the adult’s arms and knees and lift him. Alternatively, you can press down gently on the person’s head. Create the right atmosphere with mystical chants. If it doesn’t work at first, keep trying. 42. Likes and Dislikes Players write down a list of five things they like and dislike. These are then given to aone player who reads each one out in turn. Everyone hasThe players have to guess each list’sthe author of each list. 43. The monkey and the Organ Grinder Players sit at a table. One person asks the person to their right (the ‘Monkey’) a series of personal questions, eg name, whereabouts, state of health. The person to the right of the Monkey (the ‘Organ Grinder’) answers for him. If the Monkey talks or laughs, everyone shouts: ‘He wasn’t talking to the Monkey, he was talking to the Organ Grinder.’ Credit: Lauren Brent/AAAS/PA/PA 44. Scissors, Paper and Stone (For two) On the count of 1 2 3, each produces one of three shapes with their hands. Scissors (two fingers in V shape) cuts Paper (hand held flat); sStone (bunched fist) breaks scissors; paper wraps up stone. In some versions, the winner is allowed to give the loser a slap on the back of the hand with two wet fingers. 45. Elves, Gnomes and Giants A team version of Scissors, Paper and Stone. Each team decides to be either elves (using the scissors symbol); gnomes (paper) or giants (stone). On the shout of ‘Go’ they run to the centre of the room, making the gesture and shouting their identity. The winners stay in the middle. The losers go to the back and the game is repeated. Two clear wins constitutes a victory. If there’s a draw (eg both choose paper), the teams stay in the middle and choose their new symbol in secret – by nodding and winking. 46. Table football (Table, ping-pong ball, straws) Mark two goals on the kitchen table. Use straws to blow a ping-pong ball into the goals. FA rules apply. Alternatively, use rulers as ‘flippers’ instead of straws. 47. What’s Wrong? Players split into teams and leave the room. While they are out, five objects are moved. The players come back and have to list them. Comedy latest 19 Jan 2017, 4:48pm Premium 13 Jan 2017, 6:30pm Interview 31 Dec 2016, 10:41am	Pick-up sticks
The Narcissus plant is otherwise known by which popular name?	47 brilliant family party games for Christmas 47 brilliant family party games for Christmas Credit: Bader-Butowski / WestEnd61 / Rex Features /Rex Features Telegraph Reporters 6 December 2016 • 5:08pm Party games: from musical chairs and blind man's buff to consequences and pin the tail on the donkey. Here is the Telegraph guide to fun games for the family . 1. Adverb Game Person A leaves the room. The rest choose an adverb (eg 'joyfully', 'lazily', or 'gloomily'). Person A returns and has to guess the adverb. He can either ask questions and stipulate that they be answered 'in the manner of the word'. Or ask the group to act out a situation (driving a car; making a sandwich) 'in the manner of the word'. 2. Animal Snap (One or two decks of cards) Everyone has their own 'animal noise'. If your card matches someone else's, you have to call out their animal noise. 3. Arm Wrestling Novelist Norman Mailer arm wrestling heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali Credit: AP 4. The Book (Three or four well-known books; pencils; paper) Choose a book (eg The Hound of the Baskervilles). Players have to write down what they think the first sentence should be. Everyone's entries are read out, then the original. The closest wins. 5. Bobby Bingo (Ball of string, ring) Players stand in a circle. Take a long piece of string, slip a ring onto it, and tie the string at the ends to form a big loop with the ring free to slide along it. One person is the 'ring-finder' and stands in the centre. The others grasp a stretch of the string in their fists. One player hides the ring in his hand. Everyone sings: 'There was a farmer had a son/His name was Bobby Bingo/B-I-N-G-O/B-I-N-G-O/B-I-N-G-O/His name was Bobby Bingo.' Players move their fists apart and together, in time to the music. This permits their fists to meet those of the players next to them so that the ring can be passed from one player to the next. When the song stops, the 'ring-finder' has to guess who has it. 6. Categories A game of speed. Player 1 shouts out a category (eg 'fish' or 'puddings') and the other players shout out examples, in order. For added excitement, the players set up a rhythm, either clicking fingers, slapping thighs or clapping hands. Click, click, clap, clap. Player 1: 'Categories'. Click etc. Player 2: 'Such as'.Click etc. Player 3: 'Flowers'. Click etc. Player 4: 'Daisy' Click etc. Player 5: 'Gladioli'. Play continues until one of the participants is unable to think of an example. He or she is then eliminated. Then, either carry on with the same category, or think of a new one. 7. Consequences (1) (Paper, pencils) Each player takes a sheet of paper and folds it into four. First, draw a head (animal, human or imaginary), fold the paper down to hide the drawing - but leave some neck - and pass it on. Next, draw a torso, arms or wings, fold the paper (leaving the tops of the legs showing) and pass on. Then come the legs (fold again). Pass on. Finally, add the feet. Unfold. You'll be amazed. 8. Consequences (2) (Paper, pencils) Write a story. Each player takes a sheet of paper and writes one section of the story. The paper is then folded and passed on. Here are the sections. 1) A description beginning with the word 'the', eg 'The beautiful', 'The very talkative'; 2) A man's name; 3) A second description, as above; 4) A woman's name; 5) Where they met; 6) What he gave her; 7) What she said; 8) What he said; 9) What the consequence was; 10) What the world said about it. Read aloud, inserting the words 'met', 'at' etc, where appropriate. 9. Dictionary Game People take it in turns to find an obscure word in the dictionary. Players write down a meaning. Repeat with up to 10 words. Pass the papers round; read out. Credit: Ian Nicholson/PA Wire /PA 10. Duck, Duck, Goose. Players sit in a circle. One person goes round the outside, tapping people on the head, slowly saying 'duck, duck, duck', and finally 'goose'. The goose jumps up and has to race the tapper round the circle back to the goose's seat. If the tapper loses, the goose takes over. Best for small children. 11. Fizz Buzz A counting game, in which players start at one and aim for 100. Instead of 3, or multiples of 3, say 'fizz'; for 5 or multiples thereof, say 'buzz'. For multiples of 3 and 5, it's 'fizz buzz'. So: I, 2, fizz, 4, buzz, fizz, 7, 8, fizz, buzz, etc. 12. Forehead Detective The person on your left writes the name of a well-known person on a Post-It note and sticks it on your forehead. Players have to ask 'yes/no' type questions until they find out who they are. 13. Gargle a Song Fill a glass, sing a song. The others must try to guess which one. 14. Hunt the Thimble Players are sent out of the room and re-enter to search for a hidden thimble. Credit: Jane Mingay 15. Ibble Dibble (A burnt cork) Players sit in a circle. Each one has a number. Player A says 'Ibble Dibble Number 1 with No Dibble Ibbles calling Ibble Dibble Number...' and chooses another number. The person with that number repeats the phrase word perfectly, and chooses another number. Players who slip up get a cork mark on their face (a Dibble Ibble). So for their first call, they shout 'Ibble Dibble Number 1 with One Dibble Ibble calling?…' And so on. The adult version has drinks as forfeits. 16. I went to the shop and bought... An apple, a banana… Players take it in turns to repeat original item, and add a new one, following the letters of the alphabet. 17. Kipper racing Each player cuts a kipper from a sheet of newspaper. Line the fish up and fan them towards the finishing line with a magazine. 18. Matchbox race (Two matchbox sleeves) Two teams stand in line, hands behind their backs. The player at each end sticks the matchbox sleeve on their nose and on the word 'go', docks it onto the nose of the next player. First team to move the matchbox to the end of the line wins. 19. Murder in the Dark (Paper) On small pieces of paper, mark one 'murderer', another one 'detective' and leave the rest blank. Players choose a piece of paper. The detective announces himself; the murderer keeps quiet. Lights go off. The murderer touches the victim, who screams. The murderer moves away. Everyone else stays put. The detective questions everyone. The murderer lies, others must tell the truth. The detective is allowed two guesses. 20. Musical Chairs Place a row of chairs (or cushions) back to back in the middle of the room. There should be one fewer than there are players. Players circle the chairs while the music plays and sit down when it stops. Chairless players drop out. One chair (or cushion) is removed. The play continues. 21. Party Bag Hang a paper bag filled with sweets from a door frame. Each player is blindfolded and given three chances to hit the bag with a stick. The winner bursts the bag and pockets the sweets. 22. Pass the Clothes Pass a bag of dressing-up clothes around the circle. When the music stops, take an item and put it on. Continue until everyone is wearing something daft. 23. Pass the Orange (Two oranges) Two teams sit on the floor facing each other and pass an orange down the line with their feet. If the orange touches the ground, it goes back to the start. Shrek 3 Credit: Dreamworks 24. Pin the Tail on the Donkey (Piece of wallpaper, blindfold, Blu-Tack) Draw a donkey on the back of the wallpaper and fasten onto the wall. Or pin the nose on a snowman. 25. Reverse-Bottle Spillikins Take turns to place a match on top of an empty wine bottle. Whoever disturbs the matches loses. 26. Sardines One person hides. The person who finds them joins them. So does the next one to find them. Last player to discover them is the next sardine. 27. Squeak Piggy Squeak Player A is blindfolded. The players take their seats. Player A sits on one knee, invites the person to 'squeak piggy squeak', and has to guess the identity of the squeaker (or snorter). Credit: Owen Humpreys/PA Wire /PA 28. Statues Put on the music, get everyone dancing, press pause. The first one to move is out. And so on, until one person is left. 29. The Game Each team thinks up a list of phrases: song, book or film titles, proverbs, and so on. Team A gives the first one to a player on team B, who has to act it out for the rest of Team B. When they guess it (or give in), Team B gives Team A a title. And so on. Use the same conventions as Charades. 30. Ripping fun Take a Strauss waltz, rock, rap, salsa, anything with a decent rhythm, and tear strips of newspaper in time. 31. Tower of Flour Fill a pudding bowl with flour and turn it upside down on a plate. Put a jelly baby on top of the flour. Players take it in goes to cut a slice from the mound, without disturbing the jelly baby. The one who makes the flour collapse has to pick up the sweet from the plate in their mouth (and gets a very floury face). 32. Toothless Vegetables Players take turns to name a fruit or vegetable without showing their teeth. No repetition allowed. Show teeth or laugh and you're out. 33. Wink Murder (One card per player; one of which is the Ace of Spades) Cards are dealt to players sitting at a table. The one who draws the Ace of Spades is the murderer, who kills a person by winking surreptitiously. The dead person slumps on the table. The others try to identify the murderer. A wrong challenge, and that person is out of the game. 34. Apple Bobbing Fill a tub with water and put one apple for each person into it. Players have to retrieve an apple out without using hands. Either the first one to succeed wins - or in a set time. Do it in the kitchen. Alternate version: hang the apples on string from a door frame. 35. Balloons Two teams keep a balloon in the air by blowing. Can also be played with a feather. The Gryphon and Mock Turtle from Alice in Wonderland Credit: Illustration by Sir John Tenniel /www.alamy.com 36. Blinking Each person tries to stare at the other player without blinking (or laughing). The world record is 22 minutes apparently. 37. Blind Man’s Bluff One person is blindfolded, turned around three times. Players scatter. When he catches one, he has to identify him or her by touch. 38. Grand Inquisitor The inquisitor has to choose three categories, for example, books, actors, dogs. Players sit in a circle; the Grand Inquisitor, in the middle, points at a person and fires a question, which has to be answered immediately. Anyone who can’t answer is out. 39. Good Morning, Madam (Cards) A pack (or two packs) are dealt and players take it in turns to put a card face up on a pile in the middle. When an Ace appears, the first person to cover it with a hand, wins the stack. When a Jack is dealt, it’s the first player to shout ‘boo’; King, to salute; and Queen, to shout ‘Good Morning, Madam’. The winner gets all the cards. 40. Hands up Player A leaves the room. The remaining players choose one person to hold a hand above his head for 30 seconds (with one finger extended). Player A knocks, returns quickly to the room, and has to guess which person had their hand raised. The players extend both hands, one beside the other. The guess is made. (Answer: the raised hand will be pale and drained of blood) 41. Levitation An adult sits on chair, arms folded. Four children stretch their right hands in turn over the adult’s head, then their left hands. Keep the hands there for a while. After 15 seconds, they place their index fingers under the adult’s arms and knees and lift him. Alternatively, you can press down gently on the person’s head. Create the right atmosphere with mystical chants. If it doesn’t work at first, keep trying. 42. Likes and Dislikes Players write down a list of five things they like and dislike. These are then given to aone player who reads each one out in turn. Everyone hasThe players have to guess each list’sthe author of each list. 43. The monkey and the Organ Grinder Players sit at a table. One person asks the person to their right (the ‘Monkey’) a series of personal questions, eg name, whereabouts, state of health. The person to the right of the Monkey (the ‘Organ Grinder’) answers for him. If the Monkey talks or laughs, everyone shouts: ‘He wasn’t talking to the Monkey, he was talking to the Organ Grinder.’ Credit: Lauren Brent/AAAS/PA/PA 44. Scissors, Paper and Stone (For two) On the count of 1 2 3, each produces one of three shapes with their hands. Scissors (two fingers in V shape) cuts Paper (hand held flat); sStone (bunched fist) breaks scissors; paper wraps up stone. In some versions, the winner is allowed to give the loser a slap on the back of the hand with two wet fingers. 45. Elves, Gnomes and Giants A team version of Scissors, Paper and Stone. Each team decides to be either elves (using the scissors symbol); gnomes (paper) or giants (stone). On the shout of ‘Go’ they run to the centre of the room, making the gesture and shouting their identity. The winners stay in the middle. The losers go to the back and the game is repeated. Two clear wins constitutes a victory. If there’s a draw (eg both choose paper), the teams stay in the middle and choose their new symbol in secret – by nodding and winking. 46. Table football (Table, ping-pong ball, straws) Mark two goals on the kitchen table. Use straws to blow a ping-pong ball into the goals. FA rules apply. Alternatively, use rulers as ‘flippers’ instead of straws. 47. What’s Wrong? Players split into teams and leave the room. While they are out, five objects are moved. The players come back and have to list them. Comedy latest 19 Jan 2017, 4:48pm Premium 13 Jan 2017, 6:30pm Interview 31 Dec 2016, 10:41am	i don't know
A 'boxcar' is a term for rolling which number on the dice in a game of craps?	Craps Terms - Glossary of Terms Used in Craps Back Line – The Do Not Pass Line. Bank – The stack of chips placed on the craps table by the casino. Bar 6-6 – Is a standoff with no total wins or losses. In this situation, bets placed may be withdrawn or alternatively, carried over to the next betting roll. Sometimes it’s Bar 1-1 or Bar 1-2. Bar 12 or 2 – A push for bets on the Don’t Pass Line and the Don’t Come. Behind – After the Don’t Come point is established, all checks are to go into the box placed “behind” the box number. Behind the Line – A bet placed after the come out roll, on the Free-Odds. Big 6 – A bet that a 6 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1 to 1. Big 8 – A bet that an 8 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1 to 1. Big Red – A bet that the next roll will show a 7. Bones – Another name for the dice. Black – Colloquial name for a $100 casino check. Bowl – The container tray in which the spare dice is held by the stickman. Boxcars – A bet on the number 12. Box Man – The casino employee who supervises the dealers at the Craps table. He is usually also responsible for counting cash and gaming checks, settlling gambling disputes and general play of the game. Box Numbers – The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 marked inside “boxes” on the layout are known as box or point number. The remaining numbers are known as natural numbers. Box Up – The changing of dice for every new set. Buffalo – A 5 unit bet on every Hard Way and number Eleven. Buy Bet – When a 5% commission is paid to collect house advantage and to get correct odds. The bet is placed on any of the box numbers and are paid if the number shows before a seven. C C and E – A two unit and one roll bet that the next roll will show 2, 3, or 11. One unit is wagered on any Craps or “C” and the other unit is wagered on Eleven or “E”. Change Only – When the player places cash on the craps table, the dealer or the player must call out “change only” to indicate that there is no action being taken on the cash and it will be used to converted into checks. Checks – Chips used to play Craps. They are round, plastic tokens and used for placing bets. Choppy – A game is described as choppy when there are a number of inconsistent passes and misses with none of the players experiencing any good runs of winning throws. Cocked Die/Dice – When either or both dice are rolled and they land partly on the craps layout and lean partially against some other obstruction on the table. The boxman is then required to call the number on the die that would land face up if the obstruction were to be removed. Cold Table – When shooters do not have much luck making their points or naturals. Color Change – When a player exchanges playing chips for different denominations. Color Up – Is applicable either when a player exchanges smaller denomination checks for larger ones; or when the player is intentionally handed larger checks as part of better customer service. Come Bet – A bet placed after the come out roll that the dice, Payouts are on rolls of 7 or 11 and losses incurred for 2, 3 and 12. Come Out Roll – It is the first roll when a new game is being started. Comps – Complimentary drinks, room, food, etc provided by a casino to valuable players. Craps – Numbers 2, 3 and 12 on the come out roll. Crapless Craps – A type of Craps game offered at some casinos. When playing this version of craps, a roll of craps is not a loss at the come out. The number is instead marked as a point. House advantages on this game are much higher than regular versions of Craps and most experienced players tend to avoid Crapless Craps. Crew – The collective name for all the casino employees running a Craps table. D Dealers – The casino employees in charge of a Craps table. There are usually 4 dealers for every craps game and they rotate positions. It is the dealer’s responsibility to pay out as well as place Free Odds and Lay bets. Die In the Wood – When a die is rolled and it lands in a rack of chips. Dime – A bet for $10. Don’t Come Bet – When the player bets that the dice will not pass after the come out roll. Winnings are on a roll that shows 2 or 3 and losses are based on a 7 or 11. This bet can be easily removed at any time. Don’t Pass Bet – This bet must be placed during the come out roll. Losses are on 7 and 11 with wins on 2 and 3. The role of 12 establishes a don’t pass point and once this is done, a 7 must show on the next roll for the bet to be a winner. throw of craps, or a 7 instead of the point. Down Behind – This is usually called by the stickman, serving as a reminder to the dealer at the base that they must take losing Don’t Come bets. Down with odds – A phrase used to describe the act of a dealer converting a player’s place bet to odds for their come bet that has traveled to a number. The place bet comes “down” after it is paid and is converted to a free odds bet for the come bet. E Easy Way – A roll of the dice with 4,6,8 and 10 and each die is different. Edge – The advantage held by the casino over any wager made by a player. E.T Bet – A bet that 11 or 12 will show in the next roll. F Fade – When a player meets an opposing player’s bet in a private game rather than playing against the casino. Field – The large area on the lay out with the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Field Bet – When a bet is placed on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Pays twice the amount of the bet if 2 and 12 are rolled . Free Odds Bet – A bet paid at the correct/true odds. Usually wagered with another bet that has a house edge. Front Line – Another term for the Pass Line. G H Hardway – These bets can be placed on all boxes with even numbers. It is a bet that pairs 22, 33, 44, 55 will roll (made up with 4, 6, 8 or 10) before the 7 comes out. Bets are controlled by the stickman. Hi / Lo – Two unit bet laid on the high 12 and the low 2. Hi-Lo-Yo – Variation of the Hi/Lo bet with bets laid on three units, 2, 11 and 12. Hook – When a player is positioned at the crap table between the base dealer and the stickman. Hop Bet – One roll bets and can be wagered on any combination of dice numbers for the next roll. For example, the player will say “two, three hops for a dollar”. This means they are betting the 5 will be the next roll with the dice showing 2 and 3. Hop bets are a high house advantage bet and therefore best avoided. Horn Bet – A 4 unit bet with 1 unit each on 2, 3, 11, and 12. The payouts for this bet are 15 to 1 when a 3 or a 11 rolls and 30 to 1 when a 2 or a 12 rolls. This bet is popularly considered an amalgamation of the worst craps bets and experts advise players not to use this bet. Horn High Bet – 5 unit bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 and the player calls a fifth number that is high. Horn Numbers – 2, 3, 11 and 12. Hot Table – A table where almost all the shooters are making the point. I Inside Bet – When a bet is placed on 5, 6, 8, or 9. Inside Numbers – 5, 6, 8, or 9. Insurance Bet – Two or more bets made in an attempt to cover each other. J Juice – Another term for vig (vigorish). The house edge. K L Lammer – A plastic disc used by the dealers to designate, different bet situations. Lay Bet – A bet that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 (point numbers) will only roll after a 7. Layout – The base of a Craps table clearly marked with the various bets available to players. Line Bet – Bet placed on the Pass or Don’t Pass Line Long and Strong – This is said by the stickman when the dice needs to be thrown hard so it hits the back wall of the table. Little Joe – Slang for a hard 4 (2-2) M Marker – An IOU agreement signed by a player owing credit at a casino. Marker Puck – The plastic disc used by dealers to indicate the ‘Off’ and ‘On’ points on the Craps table. Maximum/Minimum – The limits on the maximum or minimum amount that can be wagered on a single craps bet. Midnight – Single roll bet on the number 12 Miss – The outcome of craps or the show of a 7 before the point. Money Plays – Dealer announces it when acknowledging the cash is being used on the craps table lay out. N Natural – When there is a throw of either a 7 or an 11 on the come out roll. Also known as natural seven or natural eleven. Nickel – Used to describe a $5 chip. No Bet – Announced by dealer when a player’s bet is not accepted at the table either because it was too late, incorrect value, improper dice throw etc. O Odds Bet – A bet with not house advantage and is paid at its true odds. However, such a bet is usually made in conjunction with a bit that does have a house edge. Off – When a bet is designated as inactive or not working for the next roll. Called by the dealer, usually in response to a player’s request. On – When a bet is designated as active. One Roll Bet – When the outcome of the bet is entirely dependent on the next roll of the dice. Outside Numbers – 4, 5, 9 and 10. P Pass Bet – A bet that the shooter will throw the point or a natural. Parlay – Taking the winnings from one bet and adding the winnings to a bet and betting all the money. Pass Line – This is the most common Craps bet. A winning bet is when either a 7 or an 11 show on the come out roll. A losing bet is when a 2, 3 or 12 shows. Past Posting – This is an illegal act where a gambler places or adds to a bet that has already won. Payoff – The paycheck received by the player for placing a wager. Pips – The spots on the dice. Pit – The casino area that contains the Craps tables. Pit Boss – The designation of the casino employee in charge of supervising and overseeing the “pit”. Place Bet – A bet that states a place number i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will show before a 7 rolls. Point – Any box number can be a point number and is established when the dealer places the puck on the number. Press – Increasing a bet. The player informs a dealer that they want to “press” and the bet is usually increased by a factor of 2. The increments can be chosen at the discretion of the player. Proposition Bet – Bets placed in the center of the craps table including both hardway and hop bets. Purple – Slang term used to describe $500 checks. Put Bet – Some casinos allow players to place this bet where the bet is “put” directly on a box number without worrying about going through the come. They have a high house advantage due to the flat portion of the bet never being in the come. Q Quarter – Slang term for a $25 check. R Rail – The area running along the top of the perimeter of the craps table where the players place their chips. Right Bettor – The player who bets that the dice will win or pass. Rounding – Rounding off of the payout amount to a whole number S Seven Out – Rolling a seven before making the point. It is called by the stickman and is the end of a shooter’s turn with the dice. Sequence Bet – A bet that is not necessarily determined by the next roll. Shooter – The player currently rolling the dice. Skinny Dugan – Slang term used for the number 7. According to Craps superstition, the number “7” should never be said in a game to avoid bad luck and hence slang terms should be used. Slow Bleed – When a player loses all their money, slowly and steadily. Snake Eyes – A slang term used for a roll of 2. Square Pair – Slang term used for a hard eight. Stacks – Also known as working stacks, is the stack of chips that the dealers place in front of themselves and are used to pay bets. Stickman – The casino employee responsible for handling of the dice with a long stick. T Take the Odds – Making a Free-Odds bet as a right bettor. Three Way Craps – Betting in multiples of` 3 with 1 unit each on the 2, 3 and 12. Toke – A tip given to the dealer or other craps crew. True odds – The right odds of an event happening depending on the probabilities of the dice as per the chart. U V Vigorish or abbreviated as Vig – Originally a term used to refer to the percentage charged by a craps operator on bets. It is now sometimes used to refer to the House edge. W Whirl Bet – A 5 unit bet the next roll will be a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12. Also known as the easiest way to make the 5 worst bets in the game. Wrong Bettor – When a player bets that a dice will not pass. Working Bet – A bet that is currently live or active and has not been called off by its player. X Y Yo (Yo-leven) – The slang term used for the number eleven. Since it sounds like seven, eleven is called as yo –leven or simply yo to avoid confusion. Z	twelve
Ganymede is the largest moon of which planet?	Craps - Probability - Wizard of Odds Home › Ask The Wizard › Craps - Probability Craps - Probability Let me begin by saying that of all the gambling related sites, the Wizard of Odds is by far the best. My question has to do with a betting strategy for craps. My question has to do with what some people have termed variance. As you state in your Ten commandments , the house has an edge in the long term, but there are short term fluctuations. A casino I played at had the 3,4,5 odds system where you were allowed 3x on the 4 and 10, 4x on the 5 and 9 and 5 x on the 6 and 8. I feel that with this "system" of placing odds, you reduce the fluctuations (with respect to standard 5x odds on all numbers) in your bankroll, and change the distribution of net gain/loss per session, i.e. you would produce a sharper peak located slightly more to the loss side than with 5x odds. Is this so, and could you put some numbers to it? Ted That is known as 3-4-5X odds, and is now pretty common. The following table shows all the possible outcomes, for the pass and odds combined, with full odds. Return Table with 3-4-5X Odds Event Point of 4 or 10 & win 7 Point of 4 or 10 & lose -4 Point of 5 or 9 & win 7 Point of 5 or 9 & lose -5 Point of 6 or 8 & win 7 Point of 6 or 8 & lose -6 -0.014141 The standard deviation per pass line bet is 4.915632. What is the average number of rolls until a shooter "sevens out"? I know that a 7 will appear every 6 rolls, but with come-out 7-11s and craps, plus the possibility of shooters making multiple points, I think the average number of rolls may be higher than expected. Is there any mathematical reference material on this? Grshooter from Kansas City, Missouri The average number of rolls per shooter is 8.525510. For the probability of exactly 2 to 200 rolls, please see my craps probability of survival page . On average, during the course of 100 points being established in craps: (1) How many of those would be 4/10, 5/9 or 6/8, (2) During the 100 how many times would each point (4/10, 5/9, 6/8) vs. a 7 be made? Jon from Danville, New Hampshire Of those 100 points established, on average 41.67 would be on a 6 or 8, 33.33 would be on a 5 or 9, and 25.00 would be on a 4 or 10. You could expect on average 18.94 points made on a 6 or 8, 13.33 on a 5 or 9, and 8.33 on a 4 or 10. Are the craps probability numbers with the odds taken 100% reliable. Also is the gaming industry your full time profession, and do you visit Atlantic City often? Also, how do you simulate billions and billions of hands, spins, and rolls. Is it computer generated and if so with which software? DB from New York, USA Well, anyone can make a mistake, but craps is an easy game to analyze mathematically so I would be very confident my odds on craps are right. Yes, gambling in one way or another is my full time self-employed profession. I have been to Atlantic City many times in the last few years but two months ago I moved to Las Vegas. So, I'm afraid I wouldn't be gracing Atlantic City with my presence much any longer. I prefer a combinatorial approach as opposed to random simulations whenever I can. Either way, I roll my own software with Visual C++. For random numbers I use a Mersenne Twister . Before I ask my questions I just want to say your site is phenomenal! I have two craps questions I was hoping you could answer: 1) Your preference is to count the come out roll of 12 in the calculation of the house edge on the don’t pass. If one was to choose NOT to count it, would the house edge on the pass line combined with full double odds be exactly equal to that of the house edge on the don’t pass line combined with full double odds? 2) Does the overall house edge against player x go up if player x places come bets (which will be backed up with full double odds) after betting the pass line with full double odds? i.e. player x with just a pass line with full double odds = house edge .572%, player x with same bet but places two come bets with full double odds = house edge (.572%)x(3)? Jay from Hamilton, Ontario Thanks for your kind words. Here are my answers. 1. If we define the house edge as the expected loss per unresolved bet (not counting ties) then the house edge on the don’t pass would be 1.40%, just barely less than the 1.41% on the pass line bet. If the player can bet more money on the don’t pass side, which is the case in real but not Internet casinos, then the combined house edge favors the don’t side more the greater the multiple of odds allowed. 2. Assuming the player keeps his odds on during a come out roll then the overall house edge does not change if the player adds come bets, backed up with the odds. However if the player keeps the odds off, which is the default rule, then the overall house edge will actually go up slightly by adding come bets. First let me say I think your web site is absolutely outstanding. Thanks. I watched a new craps game being played at Grand Casino, Biloxi, MS. called "Four The Money". To win the shooter must throw the dice 4 times without a 7 coming up. What are the odds of throwing the dice: 4 times without throwing a 7? 3 times without throwing a 7? 2 times without throwing a 7? 1 times without throwing a 7? How does the math work for this? Thanks Stan Abadie from Harahan, Louisiana You’re welcome, thanks for the kind words. The probability of throwing the dice n times without a 7, and then throwing a 7, is (5/6)n(1/6). The probability of throwing n non-sevens, without specifying the next throw would be (5/6)n. So the probability of throwing the dice at least four times without a seven would be (5/6)4=625/1296=0.4823. Based on approximately 150 rolls per hour in dice, how many decisions with regard to the point will be made. I was told by someone that there is a decision every 3.6 rolls. Is this correct? Jeff from Las Vegas, US The following are the possible outcomes of the pass/come bet and their associated probabilities: Player wins on come out roll: 22.22% Player loses on come out roll: 11.11% Player wins on a point: 27.07% Player loses on a point: 39.60% So the player will win on a point about 1 in 3.7 rolls. I’ve just starting learning the game of craps. In craps, the Don’t Pass is a better bet for the player than the Pass Line bet. But the few times I’ve played in the casinos, most people seem to be betting the Pass Line and not the Don’t pass. I’m either not correct on the odds b/t the two bets or is there some reason most players are taking the Pass Line bet over the Don’t pass line bet? Anonymous That is a good question. It is obviously more fun to go with the crowd than against it. The question is why does the crowd favor the pass line? Perhaps it is just tradition. Maybe when people first started playing craps in private games the don’t pass wasn’t even an option. I have a craps question. If I make a $100 pass line bet and then a $100 come bet every roll, what is my average action per roll? For example, I bet $100 on the come-out. The dice show a 4. I bet $100 come bet ($200 total on the layout). A five is rolled. I bet another $100 come bet ($300 on the layout). A seven is rolled. My total action was $100+$200+$300=$600, or average of $200 per roll. What is this number for the long run using this betting pattern? Essentially I am looking for my average bet. Thanks. Anonymous Good question. Let’s think of this in units as opposed to $100 bets. You will always have a bet on the pass or come. On any given roll the probability there is an old pass or come bet on the 4 is 3/9. This is the probability that by looking back at old rolls you will find a 4 before a 7. Likewise the probability of having a bet on 5 is 4/10 and on 6 is 5/11. So the average overall bet is 1+pr(4)+pr(5)+pr(6)+pr(8)+pr(9)+pr(10) = 1+3/9 + 4/10 + 5/11 + 5/11 + 4/10 + 3/9 = 3.3758 units. This average will not true at the beginning, while you are getting in to the game. It will only apply after all point numbers and the 7 have already been rolled at least once. I rolled four hard 4’s without rolling a 7 or an easy 4. Any idea what the odds on doing that is? Can it be calculated? Anonymous The probability of winning the hard 4 bet is 1/9. So the probability of winning four times in a row is (1/9)4 = 1 in 6561. How does the casino practice of calling established come bet odds "off" during the "come out" roll affect the house advantage, how is that computed, and how is the house advantage affected by leaving the odds on come bets turned on during come out rolls? Anonymous Good question. For those who don’t understand the question, unless otherwise requested, odds on come out bets are not active on come out rolls. So if the player rolls a seven on a come out roll any come bets will lose and odds on come bets will be returned. Likewise if the player’s point on the come bet is rolled on the come out roll the come bet will win but the odds will push. The answer depends on how we define the house edge. If we define it as expected loss to total bets made then turning the odds off would not matter. This is because the player is still betting the odds and it still counts as a bet even if it is returned as a push. However if you define the house edge as expected loss to bets resolved then turning the odds off on a come out roll does indeed increase the house edge. I wrote a computer simulation to determine this effect. Assuming the player takes fives times odds then turning the odds off on come out rolls increases the ratio of losses to total bets resolved from 0.326% to 0.377%, or an increase of 0.051%. So if you want to maximize your return on bets resolved then leave those come odds turned on. You say the house edge on the pass line bet in craps is 1.414%. Is there any coincidence that this number is the square root of 2? Anonymous Just a coincidence I assure you. The exact house edge in craps is 7/495, which by definition must be a rational number. In fact I would argue the house edge in all casino games must be a rational number because there are a limited number of possible outcomes in all games, resulting in a house edge of a perfect fraction. 2 is not a perfect square thus the square root of 2 must be irrational by definition. Therefore the two numbers can not be equal. To be specific the house edge on a $100 pass line bet would be $1.41414141... The square root of 2 is 1.4142135623731... First, great site. During a recent visit to Harrah’s, they gave me an option of either $100 match play or $50 in slot play. In your opinion with which is the best to take. (I took the match play). Also, for the match play would it be better to play all $100 on one hand, or multiple smaller hands (10 x $10 hands). Thanks Wally from Houston Thanks for the compliment. I recommend taking the match play. I’m sure the $100 in slot play was on specially designated machines. From anecdotal evidence I believe these free play slots are extremely stingy, set to pay back about 25%. That match play is worth about 48 cents on the dollar. I recommend betting in on the don’t pass in craps. The reason I favor that over blackjack is that blackjack has a lower probability of winning, thus reducing the value of the match play. For further explanation please see my October 30 2001 column . The American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling has the following "anything but seven" combination of craps bets that shows a net win on any number except 7. Here's how much MENSA advises to bet in the "Anything but 7" system: 5- place $5 1 -0.25 The reason the overall house edge appears to be less than the house edge of each individual bet is because the house edge on place bets is generally measured as expected player loss per bet resolved. However, in this case the player is only keeping the place bets up for one roll. This significantly reduces the house edge on the place bets from 4.00% to 1.11% on the 5 and 9, and from 1.52% to 0.46% on the 6 and 8. For you purists who think I am inconsistent in measuring the house edge on place bets as per bet resolved (or ignoring ties) then I invite you to visit my craps appendix 2 where all craps bets are measured per roll (including ties). In one of your answers you state that the average number of rolls for a shooter in craps is 8.522551. How is that number obtained? Steve S. from Long Island, NY First, if the probability of an event is p then the expected number of trials for it to occur is 1/p. Let's call x the expected number of rolls per shooter. The probability that any given round will end in one roll (with a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12) is 1/3. If the player rolls a 4 or 10 on the come out roll the expected number of additional rolls is 4, because the probability of rolling a 4 or 7 is (6+3)/36 = 1/4. Likewise If the player rolls a 5 or 9 on the come out roll the expected number of additional rolls is 3.6 and for a 6 or 8 is 36/11. Assuming a point was thrown the probability of it being a 4 or 10 is 3/12, a 5 or 9 is 4/12, and a 6 or 8 is 5/12. So the expected number of throws per round is 1+(2/3)((3/12)4 + (4/12)3.6 + (5/12)(36/11)) = 3.375758. Next, the probability that the player will seven out is (2/3)((3/12)(2/3) + (4/12)(3/5) + (5/12)(6/11)) = 0.39596. The probability that player will not seven out is 1 - 0.39596 = 0.60404. So... x = 3.375758 + 0.60404x 0.39596x = 3.375758 x = 8.52551 Is the combined house edge in craps of 0.014% (taken from your chart) on don’t pass and laying 100x odds the lowest house edge of any casino game? And, does 0.014% casino edge mean that for every $100 you wager you will lose 1.4 cents? Anonymous There are still video poker games that with proper strategy pay over 100%. I’ve also seen a blackjack game at the Fiesta Rancho and Slots-a-Fun in Las Vegas that had a basic strategy advantage. As I argue in my sports betting section betting NFL underdogs at home against the point spread also has resulted in a historical advantage. So 100x odds in craps is still one of the best bets out there, but not the very best. Yes, 0.014% means that per $100 bet you lose 1.4 cents on average. I’ve noticed a small disturbing pattern at the craps table that I thought might be worth mentioning on your site. Players will bet the don’t come bar, but if a 6 or 8 is rolled as the point they say "no action" and they keep their money on the don’t come bar. The Luxor even had a boxman ENCOURAGE me to do it saying it’s what "smart people who know the odds are better on the don’t tend to do" or something to that effect. Not sure how you could incorporate this into your site but I’ve seen players doing it and casinos encouraging it and it’s really stooopid. S.R. I agree that this is a very bad decision and poor advice from the dealers. Once a point of 6 or 8 has been rolled the player edge on a don’t pass or don’t come bet is (6/11)1 + (5/11)-1 = 1/11 = 9.09%. Taking "no action" is the same as trading it for a bet with a 1.36% house edge. So this decision costs the player 10.45%. To any dealers encouraging this I say shame on you. At the showboat in Atlantic City there’s a new bet on the layout where the big 6/8 was. I’m wondering what the odds were on this one roll bet. 6-7-8 pay even money, hard 6/8 pay double. Thanks. B.L. from NYC 2.949% -0.227% Hello oh great and powerful Wizard. Love your site and the great education it has given me. Today I am asking a question regarding the math for determining the odds of certain "groups" of wagers. For instance, the groups of 2 bets wagering on both the 6 and 8 in craps, or the group of 4 bets wagering as an "inside" bet in craps. We know that for the 6 OR the 8, ((5/11)7 + (6/11)(-6))/6 = 1.515 %. BUT what if we wager on both the 6 and the 8 at the same time? Using a formula similar to that above: (((10/36)/(10/36+6/36))7+(((6/36)/(6/36+10/36))-12))/12 = -1.04167%. - 10 chances to win 7, and 6 chances to lose 12. No? Am I out to lunch?! Thanks for considering this problem. Andy from Hollywood I get a lot of questions about combinations of craps bets. Normally I don’t answer them but when you address me as "the great and powerful Wizard" it greatly improves your odds of getting a reply. Your mistake is that both bets are not resolved all of the time. When you win either the 6 or 8 you are taking the other bet down, which brings down the expected loss because you are betting less. So your math is right but you are comparing apples to oranges. Normal Craps are not allowed in California. Here many casinos are using cards to act as dice, using A,2,3,4,5,6 to act as the 6 sides of the dice. I would assume by using multiple decks it would alter the odds. (i.e 4 decks = 16 aces, 16 2’s, ect.) Does this favor the house as in blackjack... or does this favor the player? The player could bet at higher or lower numbers based on the half of the cards out of the shoe before a shuffle(assuming a mid shoe shuffle). Joe from Eureka, CA You’re correct, dice alone can not determine the outcome in craps. There are various ways of using cards in place of dice and still have the odds exactly the same. One way is to use two separate decks, thus there is no effect of removal. Another way is to have a 7-card deck, featuring the numbers 1 to 6, plus a seventh "double" card. The first card drawn can never be the double card. If it is then it is put back in and the process repeats from the beginning. If the double card is drawn second then it counts as whatever the first number drawn was. Regardless of how the casino does it I have never seen hard evidence of a case where the odds were different than if two dice were used. So I think you are omitting something from the rules. You mentioned in one of your articles an upcoming appearance on " The Casino " (apparently, it’s been cancelled). I have searched and searched to no avail in finding some kind of link to his episode. I find the idea of a story involving his advice to some young gamblers and how to most likely turn $1,000 into $5,000 quite intriguing. Please respond with some insight/leads as to how I might go about finding a copy of this episode online or purchase a video recording of it, or at the very least come across a written transcript of the episode. Thank you for your time. Brian Yes, there was a story taped in which some frat boys at UNLV were trying to parlay $1,000 into $5,000 to buy a high end television. They sought out my advice on how to best achieve this goal quickly. I was limited to the games at the Golden Nugget. The Nugget has 10x odds in craps, which I felt offered the opportunity to achieve the goal. It was my strategy on each come out roll to bet min(bankroll/11, (5000-bankroll)/21), subject to convenient rounding, and take the maximum odds. This way we would never go over $5,000 after a 4 or 10 win, would always have enough to take full odds, and would risk the maximum amount if we didn’t have enough to get to $5,000. For the first bet, this formula would call for a pass line bet of $90.91, but I rounded it up to $100. Then a point was rolled, I think a 6 or 8. On the second roll the shooter sevened out. So the entire grand was lost in two rolls. It apparently didn’t make for very entertaining television and that story never made the air. Two questions I can anticipate being asked would be (1) why did I have them bet the pass as opposed to the don’t pass, and (2) why didn’t I bet $91 on the line and $910 on the odds, adding the extra dollar out of my own pocket. To answer the first question, I think that for purposes of going for a quick big win the pass line is better. While the overall house edge is less on the don’t pass, I felt it would have taken more rolls to achieve the $5,000 goal, thus exposing more money to the house edge. To answer the second question, there is not much difference between 9x odds and 10x odds and I thought it would look better on television to be betting only black chips, at least to start. At a recent charity casino night (not real money) there were some unusual rules for both Blackjack and Craps, and I wasn’t sure which to play. In BJ, Dealer stand on Soft 17, Double after splitting alowed (except on aces), Doubling allowed on 3 cards, BJ pays 2:1, no insurance, no surrender. In craps, COME bets paid 2:1 on 4 and 10, but no odds allowed on COME bets. I played craps until the table just got so crowded it wasn’t any fun any more, but I suspect my pass line / always COME strategy was better odds than I got at the BJ table. Was I right? Greg from Fairfax As my blackjack section shows, the 2 to 1 on blackjacks is worth 2.27% and doubling on 3 cards is worth 0.23%. Otherwise the rules look standard. All things considered, the house edge in the blackjack game has a player advantage of 2.1%. The probability of winning on a 4 or 10 in craps is (6/36)×(3/9) = 5.56%. Every time this happens you get an extra unit, so it is worth 5.56%. Normally the house edge on the come bet is 1.41%, so overall the player edge under this rule is 4.15%. So I agree that craps was the better game to play. On a Crapless Craps table in Tunica, you can buy the 2, 3, 11, and 12. You listed the house edge when you place those numbers, but not when one is bought. What is the house edge on buying the 12 for $30 if you only pay the commission of $1 (rounded down from $1.50) when you win? According to my math, it’s about .47%, which would make it a VERY good bet. I got this by calculating the total money exchanged on all decision rolls ($211, including the vig) and the amount lost ($1). Am I doing this correctly? I want to make sure because this makes it a VERY appealing bet to make! Please detail how you arrived at the house edge as well, so I can make sure I am, in fact, doing it correctly. Thanks so much! Will from Rector I didn’t know they had a buy bet in Crapless Craps. The following table shows the house edge of place and buy bets, assuming there were no rounding of winnings. In your example of a $30 buy bet on 2 or 12 the winnings would be 6$30-$1=$179. So the expected return is [(1/7)$179 + (6/7)-$30] / $30 = -0.0048, so we’re very close. Place and Buy Bets in Crapless Crapspass and buying oddsin Crapless Craps Bet 0.25 0.047619 I am a crap dealer in a casino that offers the fire bet (pay table A, 20.83% edge). The limits on the fire bet are $1-$5 (for players and dealers), but the dealers are limited to $1000 payout. What does that do to the house edge? Donald from Las Vegas That is very tight to limit the dealers like that. On a $2 bet the house edge goes up to 29.02%, and a $5 bet it is 41.94%. The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, Illinois offers a promotion called "Craps for Cash." A shooter wins a $4,000 cash bonus for making all six points on the same hand. All that's required is a $5 bet on the pass line. How does this affect the house edge on this particular game? John B. from Riverside, Illinois We can see from my analysis of the Fire Bet that the probability of a shooter making all six points is 0.000162435. So, the value of the promotion per shooter is $4,000 × 0.000162435 = 0.649739. The next question to be asked is what is the expected loss per shooter. The house edge on the pass line bet is 7/495 = 1.414141%. The tricky part is how many pass line bets will a shooter make, on average. There are four possible states the shooter can be in. Let's define each one as the expected number of future pass line bets for that shooter. A = Come out roll A little algebra results in A = 2.525510, the number of pass line bets made per shooter. So, the expected loss per $5 shooter is $52.5255100.0141414 = 0.178571. The expected amount bet by the shooter is $52.525510=$12.627551. Finally, the expected return is the expected win divided by the expected bet: (0.649739-0.178571)/12.627551 = 3.73127%. So the house edge is -3.73%. Why are the odds of a hard four different from the odds of a hard six? Isn’t there just one way out of thirty-six possible combinations to hit doubles (double 1,2,3...)? James from Santa Cruz Yes, the probability of each double is 1/36. However you have to compare that to the probability of rolling a losing comination. For a hard four, there are 8 losing rolls (two each of 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, and 1-3), so the probability of winning is 1/9. For a hard six, there are ten losing rolls (two each of 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 1-5 and 2-4), so the probability of winning is 1/11. The hard six pays more because the probability of winning is less. I was playing craps at Harrah’s in St Louis, and noticed they have added place bet positions for the 2, 3, 11, and 12 to the table. I don’t remember what they paid. Do you know the odds for these bets? Thanks. Ron from Collinsville, IL Crapless Craps offers those two bets too. There is one way to roll a 2, and six ways to roll a 7, so the probability of winning a place bet on the 2 is 1/7. Same probability is the same for the 12. As explained in the baccarat question, if the probability of something is p, then fair odds are (1/p)-1 to 1. In this case fair odds would be 6 to 1. The house edge can be expressed as (t-a)/(t+1), where t is the true odds, and a is the actual odds. In Crapless Craps the place bet on the 2 and 12 pays 11 to 2. Using this formula, the house edge on the 2 and 12 is (6-5.5)/(6+1) = 0.5/7 = 7.14%. In Crapless Craps the 3 and 11 pay 11 to 4. Using the same formula, t=3, and a=2.75, so the house edge is 0.25/4 = 6.25%. In a recent article, it was revealed that Ty Lawson, the starting point guard at UNC said, "The only time I lost was in Reno; that’s when everybody on the team lost," he said. "It’s the only place I lost. The other five or six times I did gamble, I won at least $500.” Ben from Austin, TX If we ignore the house edge (which is very low in craps if played properly), the probability of winning $500, as opposed to losing $1,000, is 2/3. The probability of 4 out of 5 winning sessions would be 5×(2/3)4×(1/3) = 32.9%. My question is based on dice odds. I know that there are six ways to get 7 and one way to get 12, but what are the chances of getting six 7’s before one 12? Are they even, and if not, how many twelves should be added to the equation to make it an even proposition? nick The probability of rolling a 7 is 1/6, and the probability of rolling a 12 is 1/36. The probability of rolling a 7, given that a roll is a 7 or 12 is (1/6)/((1/6)+(1/36)) = 6/7. So the probability that the first six times a 6 or 12 is rolled it is a 6 every time is (6/7)6 = 39.66%. If you rephrase the question to be what is the probability of rolling five 6’s before a 12, then the answer is (6/7)5 = 46.27%. With four rolls it is (6/7)4 = 53.98%. So there is no number of 7’s before a 12 that is exactly 50/50. If you’re looking for a good sucker bet, suggest you can either roll four 7’s before a 12, or a 12 before five 7’s. This question was raised and discussed in the forum of my companion site Wizard of Vegas . At a craps table with the Fire Bet, I saw a player make every point except 10, and still rolling. Assuming it was a come out roll, what is the probability of making a point of 10 at that point before sevening out? rudeboyoi p = 0.041667/(1-0.364394) p = 0.065554 This question was raised and discussed in the forum of my companion site Wizard of Vegas . What is the average number of points hit by a craps shooter before he sevens out? JimmyMac Given that a point is established, the probability that the shooter makes the point is pr(point is 4 or 10) ×pr(making 4 or 10) + pr(point is 5 or 9) × pr(making 5 or 9) + pr(point is 6 or 8) ×pr(making 6 or 8) = (6/24) × (3/9) + (8/24) × (4/10) + (10/24) × (5/11) = 201/495 = 0.406061. If the probability of an event is p, then the expected number of times it will happen before failure is p/(1-p). So, the expected number of points per shooter is 0.406061/(1-0.406061) = 0.683673. This question was raised and discussed in the forum of my companion site Wizard of Vegas . What is the expected number of rolls of two dice for every total from 2 to 12 to occur at least once? SixHorse This question was asked at TwoPlusTwo.com, and was answered correctly by BruceZ . The following solution is the same method as that of BruceZ, who deserves proper credit. It is a difficult answer, so pay attention. First, consider the expected number of rolls to obtain a total of two. The probability of a two is 1/36, so it would take 36 rolls on average to get the first 2. Next, consider the expected number of rolls to get both a two and three. We already know it will take 36 rolls, on average, to get the two. If the three is obtained while waiting for the two, then no additional rolls will be needed for the 3. However, if not, the dice will have to be rolled more to get the three. The probability of a three is 1/18, so it would take on average 18 additional rolls to get the three, if the two came first. Given that there is 1 way to roll the two, and 2 ways to roll the three, the chances of the two being rolled first are 1/(1+2) = 1/3. So, there is a 1/3 chance we'll need the extra 18 rolls to get the three. Thus, the expected number of rolls to get both a two and three are 36+(1/3)×18 = 42. Next, consider how many more rolls you will need for a four as well. By the time you roll the two and three, if you didn't get a four yet, then you will have to roll the dice 12 more times, on average, to get one. This is because the probability of a four is 1/12. What is the probability of getting the four before achieving the two and three? First, let's review a common rule of probability for when A and B are not mutually exclusive: pr(A or B) = pr(A) + pr(B) - pr(A and B) You subtract pr(A and B) because that contingency is double counted in pr(A) + pr(B). So, pr(4 before 2 or 3) = pr(4 before 2) + pr(4 before 3) - pr(4 before 2 and 3) = (3/4)+(3/5)-(3/6) = 0.85. The probability of not getting the four along the way to the two and three is 1.0 - 0.85 = 0.15. So, there is a 15% chance of needing the extra 12 rolls. Thus, the expected number of rolls to get a two, three, and four is 42 + 0.1512 = 43.8. Next, consider how many more rolls you will need for a five as well. By the time you roll the two to four, if you didn't get a five yet, then you will have to roll the dice 9 more times, on average, to get one, because the probability of a five is 4/36 = 1/9. What is the probability of getting the five before achieving the two, three, or four? The general rule is: pr (A or B or C) = pr(A) + pr(B) + pr(C) - pr(A and B) - pr(A and C) - pr(B and C) + pr(A and B and C) So, pr(5 before 2 or 3 or 4) = pr(5 before 2)+pr(5 before 3)+pr(5 before 4)-pr(5 before 2 and 3)-pr(5 before 2 and 4)-pr(5 before 3 and 4)+pr(5 before 2, 3, and 4) = (4/5)+(4/6)+(4/7)-(4/7)-(4/8)-(4/9)+(4/10) = 83/90. The probability of not getting the four along the way to the two to four is 1 - 83/90 = 7/90. So, there is a 7.78% chance of needing the extra 7.2 rolls. Thus, the expected number of rolls to get a two, three, four, and five is 43.8 + (7/90)*9 = 44.5. Continue with the same logic, for totals of six to twelve. The number of calculations required for finding the probability of getting the next number before it is needed as the last number roughly doubles each time. By the time you get to the twelve, you will have to do 1,023 calculations. Here is the general rule for pr(A or B or C or ... or Z) pr(A or B or C or ... or Z) = pr(A) + pr(B) + ... + pr(Z) - pr (A and B) - pr(A and C) - ... - pr(Y and Z) Subtract the probability of every combination of two events + pr (A and B and C) + pr(A and B and D) + ... + pr(X and Y and Z) Add the probability of every combination of three events - pr (A and B and C and D) - pr(A and B and C and E) - ... - pr(W and X and Y and Z) Subtract the probability of every combination of four events Then keep repeating, remembering to add probability for odd number events and to subtract probabilities for an even number of events. This obviously gets tedious for large numbers of possible events, practically necessitating a spreadsheet or computer program. The following table shows the the expected number for each step along the way. For example, 36 to get a two, 42 to get a two and three. The lower right cell shows the expected number of rolls to get all 11 totals is 61.217385. Expected Number of Rolls Problem Highest Number Needed	i don't know

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