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How many bones are in the human neck? | How many bones are in the neck? - Parts of The Skeletal System - Sharecare
Parts of The Skeletal System
How many bones are in the neck?
There are seven bones in the neck, or cervical spine. Each bone is called a vertebra.
(This answer provided for NATA by the University of Alabama Athletic Training Education Program.)
Helpful? 1 person found this helpful.
This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Videos (6)
| seven |
Which chemical element is also know as ‘Inflammable Air’? | Your Bones
Your Bones
Tus huesos
Think back to last Halloween for a minute. Wherever you looked, there were vampires, ghosts, or bony skeletons grinning back at you. Vampires and ghosts don't really exist, but skeletons sure do!
Every single person has a skeleton made up of many bones. These bones give your body structure, let you move in many ways, protect your internal organs, and more.
It's time to look at all your bones — the adult human body has 206 of them!
What Are Bones Made Of?
If you've ever seen a real skeleton or fossil in a museum, you might think that all bones are dead. Although bones in museums are dry, hard, or crumbly, the bones in your body are different. The bones that make up your skeleton are all very much alive, growing and changing all the time like other parts of your body.
Almost every bone in your body is made of the same materials:
The outer surface of bone is called the periosteum (say: pare-ee-OSS-tee-um). It's a thin, dense membrane that contains nerves and blood vessels that nourish the bone.
The next layer is made up of compact bone. This part is smooth and very hard. It's the part you see when you look at a skeleton.
Within the compact bone are many layers of cancellous (say: KAN-sell-us) bone, which looks a bit like a sponge. Cancellous bone is not quite as hard as compact bone, but it is still very strong.
In many bones, the cancellous bone protects the innermost part of the bone, the bone marrow (say: MAIR-oh). Bone marrow is sort of like a thick jelly, and its job is to make blood cells.
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How Bones Grow
When you were a baby, you had tiny hands, tiny feet, and tiny everything! Slowly, as you grew older, everything became a bit bigger, including your bones.
A baby's body has about 300 bones at birth. These eventually fuse (grow together) to form the 206 bones that adults have. Some of a baby's bones are made entirely of a special material called cartilage (say: KAR-tel-ij). Other bones in a baby are partly made of cartilage. This cartilage is soft and flexible. During childhood, as you are growing, the cartilage grows and is slowly replaced by bone, with help from calcium.
By the time you are about 25, this process will be complete. After this happens, there can be no more growth — the bones are as big as they will ever be. All of these bones make up a skeleton that is both very strong and very light.
Your Spine
Your spine is one part of the skeleton that's easy to check out: Reach around to the center of your back and you'll feel its bumps under your fingers.
The spine lets you twist and bend, and it holds your body upright. It also protects the spinal cord, a large bundle of nerves that sends information from your brain to the rest of your body. The spine is special because it isn't made of one or even two bones: It's made of 26 bones in all! These bones are called vertebrae (say: VER-tuh-bray) and each one is shaped like a ring.
There are different types of vertebrae in the spine and each does a different kind of job:
The first seven vertebrae at the top are called the cervical (say: SIR-vih-kul) vertebrae. These bones are in the back of your neck, just below your brain, and they support your head and neck. Your head is pretty heavy, so it's lucky to have help from the cervical vertebrae!
Below the cervical vertebrae are the thoracic (say: thuh-RAS-ik) vertebrae, and there are 12 in all. These guys anchor your ribs in place. Below the thoracic vertebrae are five lumbar (say: LUM-bar) vertebrae. Beneath the lumbar vertebrae is the sacrum (say: SAY-krum), which is made up of five vertebrae that are fused together to form one single bone.
Finally, all the way at the bottom of the spine is the coccyx (say: COK-siks), which is one bone made of four fused vertebrae. The bottom sections of the spine are important when it comes to bearing weight and giving you a good center of gravity. So when you pick up a heavy backpack, the lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, and coccyx give you the power. When you dance, skip, and even walk, these parts help keep you balanced.
In between each vertebra (the name for just one of the vertebrae) are small disks made of cartilage. These disks keep the vertebrae from rubbing against one another, and they also act as your spine's natural shock absorbers. When you jump in the air, or twist while slamming a dunk, the disks give your vertebrae the cushioning they need.
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Your Ribs
Your heart, lungs, and liver are all very important, and luckily you've got ribs to keep them safe. Ribs act like a cage of bones around your chest. It's easy to feel the bottom of this cage by running your fingers along the sides and front of your body, a few inches below your heart . If you breathe in deeply, you can easily feel your ribs right in the front of your body, too. Some thin kids can even see a few of their ribs right through their skin.
Your ribs come in pairs, and the left and right sides of each pair are exactly the same. Most people have 12 pairs of ribs, but some people are born with one or more extra ribs, and some people might have one pair less.
All 12 pairs of ribs attach in the back to the spine, where they are held in place by the thoracic vertebrae. The first seven pairs of ribs attach in the front to the sternum (say: STUR-num), a strong bone in the center of your chest that holds those ribs in place. The remaining sets of ribs don't attach to the sternum directly. The next three pairs are held on with cartilage to the ribs above them.
The very last two sets of ribs are called floating ribs because they aren't connected to the sternum or the ribs above them. But don't worry, these ribs can't ever float away. Like the rest of the ribs, they are securely attached to the spine in the back.
Your Skull
Your skull protects the most important part of all, the brain. You can feel your skull by pushing on your head, especially in the back a few inches above your neck. The skull is actually made up of different bones. Some of these bones protect your brain, whereas others make up the structure of your face. If you touch beneath your eyes, you can feel the ridge of the bone that forms the hole where your eye sits.
And although you can't see it, the smallest bone in your whole body is in your head, too. The stirrup bone behind your eardrum is only .1 to .13 inches (2.5 to 3.3 millimeters) long! Want to know something else? Your lower jawbone is the only bone in your head you can move. It opens and closes to let you talk and chew food.
Your skull is pretty cool, but it's changed since you were a baby. All babies are born with spaces between the bones in their skulls. This allows the bones to move, close up, and even overlap as the baby goes through the birth canal. As the baby grows, the space between the bones slowly closes up and disappears, and special joints called sutures (say: SOO-churs) connect the bones.
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Your Hands
As you sit and type at the keyboard, while you swing on a swing, even when you pick up your lunch, you're using the bones in your fingers, hand, wrist, and arm.
Each arm is attached to a shoulder blade or scapula (say: SKA-pyuh-luh), a large triangular bone on the upper back corner of each side of the ribcage. The arm is made up of three bones: the humerus (say: HYOO-muh-rus), which is above your elbow, and the radius (say: RAY-dee-us) and ulna (say: UL-nuh), which are below the elbow.
Each of these bones is wider at the ends and skinnier in the middle, to help give it strength where it meets another bone. At the end of the radius and ulna are eight smaller bones that make up your wrist. Although these bones are small, they can really move! Twist your wrist around or wave and you'll see how the wrist can move.
The center part of your hand is made up of five separate bones. Each finger on your hand has three bones, except for your thumb, which has two. So between your wrists, hands, and all your fingers, you've got a grand total of 54 bones — all ready to help you grasp things, write your name, pick up the phone, or throw a softball!
Your Legs
Sure, your arm, wrist, hand, and finger bones are great for picking up the phone, but how are you supposed to run to answer it? Well, with the bones of the legs and feet!
Your legs are attached to a circular group of bones called your pelvis. The pelvis is a bowl-shaped structure that supports the spine. It is made up of the two large hip bones in front, and behind are the sacrum and the coccyx. The pelvis acts as a tough ring of protection around parts of the digestive system, parts of the urinary system, and parts of the reproductive system.
Your leg bones are very large and strong to help support the weight of your body. The bone that goes from your pelvis to your knee is called the femur (say: FEE-mur), and it's the longest bone in your body. At the knee, there's a triangular-shaped bone called the patella (say: puh-TEL-luh), or kneecap, that protects the knee joint. Below the knee are two other leg bones: the tibia (say: TIH-bee-uh) and the fibula (say: FIH-byuh-luh). Just like the three bones in the arm, the three bones in the leg are wider at the ends than in the middle to give them strength.
The ankle is a bit different from the wrist; it is where the lower leg bones connect to a large bone in the foot called the talus (say: TAL-iss). Next to the talus are six other bones. But the main part of the foot is similar to the hand, with five bones. Each toe has three tiny bones, except for your big toe, which has just two. This brings the bone total in both feet and ankles to 52!
Most people don't use their toes and feet for grabbing stuff or writing, but they do use them for two very important things: standing and walking. Without all the bones of the foot working together, it would be impossible to balance properly. The bones in the feet are arranged so the foot is almost flat and a bit wide, to help you stay upright. So the next time you're walking, be sure to look down and thank those toes!
Your Joints
The place where two bones meet is called a joint. Some joints move and others don't.
Fixed joints are fixed in place and don't move at all. Your skull has some of these joints (called sutures, remember?), which close up the bones of the skull in a young person's head. One of these joints is called the parieto-temporal (say: par-EYE-ih-toh TEM-puh-rul) suture — it's the one that runs along the side of the skull.
Moving joints are the ones that let you ride your bike, eat cereal, and play a video game — the ones that allow you to twist, bend, and move different parts of your body. Some moving joints, like the ones in your spine, move only a little. Other joints move a lot. One of the main types of moving joints is called a hinge joint. Your elbows and knees each have hinge joints, which let you bend and then straighten your arms and legs. These joints are like the hinges on a door. Just as most doors can only open one way, you can only bend your arms and legs in one direction. You also have many smaller hinge joints in your fingers and toes.
Another important type of moving joint is the ball and socket joint. You can find these joints at your shoulders and hips. They are made up of the round end of one bone fitting into a small cup-like area of another bone. Ball and socket joints allow for lots of movement in every direction. Make sure you've got lots of room, and try swinging your arms all over the place.
Have you ever seen someone put oil on a hinge to make it work easier or stop squeaking? Well, your joints come with their own special fluid called synovial fluid (say: SIH-no-vee-ul) that helps them move freely. Bones are held together at the joints by ligaments (say: LIH-guh-mints), which are like very strong rubber bands.
Taking Care of Bones
Your bones help you out every day so make sure you take care of them. Here are some tips:
Protect those skull bones (and your brain inside!) by wearing a helmet for bike riding and other sports. When you use a skateboard, in-line skates, or a scooter, be sure to add wrist supports and elbow and knee pads. Your bones in these places will thank you if you have a fall!
If you play sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, or ice hockey, always wear all the right equipment. And never play on a trampoline. Many kids end up with broken bones from jumping on them. Broken bones can eventually heal, but it takes a long time and isn't much fun while you wait.
Strengthen your skeleton by drinking milk and eating other dairy products (like low-fat cheese or frozen yogurt). They all contain calcium, which helps bones harden and become strong.
Be active! Another way to strengthen your bones is through exercise like running, jumping, dancing, and playing sports.
Take these steps to be good to your bones, and they will treat you right!
| i don't know |
In the nursery rhyme, ‘…who…put the kettle on? | Polly Put the Kettle On
Polly Put the Kettle On
Polly Put the Kettle On
Polly put the kettle on
Polly put the kettle on
Polly put the kettle on
We'll all have tea
Sukey take it off again
Sukey take it off again
Sukey take it off again
They've all gone away
| Polly |
In which European city was writer and poet Oscar Wilde born? | Polly Put the Kettle On - Nursery Rhyme
Polly Put the Kettle On
About this nursery rhyme
"Polly Put the Kettle On" is a popular English language nursery rhyme
“Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
We'll all have tea.
Sukey take it off again,
Sukey take it off again,
Sukey take it off again,
They've all gone away.”
Discuss this nursery rhyme with the community:
Citation
| i don't know |
What do the interior angles of an octagon add up to in degrees? | Cool math .com - Polygons - Octagons - properties, interior angles
Sum of the Interior Angles of an Octagon:
This image shows the process for a
HEXAGON:
Using the same methods as for hexagons to the right (I'll let you do the pictures)...
To find the sum of the interior angles of an octagon, divide it up into triangles... There are six triangles... Because the sum of the angles of each triangle is 180 degrees... We get
So, the sum of the interior angles of an octagon is 1080 degrees.
Regular Octagons:The properties of regular octagons:
All sides are the same length (congruent) and all interior angles are the same size (congruent).
To find the measure of the angles, we know that the sum of all the angles is 1080 degrees (from above)... And there are eight angles...
So, the measure of the interior angle of a regular octagon is 135 degrees.
The measure of the central angles of a regular octagon:
To find the measure of the central angle of a regular octagon, make a circle in the middle... A circle is 360 degrees around... Divide that by eight angles...
So, the measure of the central angle of a regular octagon is 45 degrees.
Popular Topics
| 1080 |
What is the title of the theme tune to BBC radio’s ‘Desert Island Discs’? | 8
1080
The more sides (and angles) we have in an object, the more the angles inside the shape add up to! We could even write a formula like this ...
Angles inside a polygon add up to = 180 � (number of sides - 2)
If we just kept adding more and more sides until the number of sides gets to infinity, what shape would we have?
A CIRCLE!
| i don't know |
In Greek mythology, who was condemned to the eternal task of rolling a large stone up to the top of a hill, from which it always rolled down again? | Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Sisyphus
Sisyphus (SIS-i-fus)
Sinner condemned in Tartarus to an eternity of rolling a boulder uphill then watching it roll back down again. Sisyphus was founder and king of Corinth, or Ephyra as it was called in those days. He was notorious as the most cunning knave on earth. His greatest triumph came at the end of his life, when the god Hades came to claim him personally for the kingdom of the dead. Hades had brought along a pair of handcuffs, a comparative novelty, and Sisyphus expressed such an interest that Hades was persuaded to demonstrate their use - on himself.
And so it came about that the high lord of the Underworld was kept locked up in a closet at Sisyphus's house for many a day, a circumstance which put the great chain of being seriously out of whack. Nobody could die. A soldier might be chopped to bits in battle and still show up at camp for dinner. Finally Hades was released and Sisyphus was ordered summarily to report to the Underworld for his eternal assignment. But the wily one had another trick up his sleeve.
He simply told his wife not to bury him and then complained to Persephone, Queen of the Dead, that he had not been accorded the proper funeral honors. What's more, as an unburied corpse he had no business on the far side of the river Styx at all - his wife hadn't placed a coin under his tongue to secure passage with Charon the ferryman. Surely her highness could see that Sisyphus must be given leave to journey back topside and put things right.
Kindly Persephone assented, and Sisyphus made his way back to the sunshine, where he promptly forgot all about funerals and such drab affairs and lived on in dissipation for another good stretch of time. But even this paramount trickster could only postpone the inevitable. Eventually he was hauled down to Hades, where his indiscretions caught up with him. For a crime against the gods - the specifics of which are variously reported - he was condemned to an eternity at hard labor. And frustrating labor at that. For his assignment was to roll a great boulder to the top of a hill. Only every time Sisyphus, by the greatest of exertion and toil, attained the summit, the darn thing rolled back down again.
| Sisyphus |
Which member of The Beatles used the pseudonym L’Angelo Misterioso? | Sisyphus | Article about Sisyphus by The Free Dictionary
Sisyphus | Article about Sisyphus by The Free Dictionary
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Sisyphus
Related to Sisyphus: Sisyphus syndrome
Sisyphus
(sĭs`ĭfəs), in Greek mythology, son of Aeolus and founder and king of Corinth. Renowned for his cunning, he was said to have outwitted even Death. For his disrespect to Zeus, he was condemned to eternal punishment in Tartarus. There he eternally pushed a heavy rock to the top of a steep hill, where it would always roll down again. Albert Camus' essay The Myth of Sisyphus is based on this legend.
Sisyphus
(religion, spiritualism, and occult)
Sisyphus, asteroid 1,866 (the 1,866th asteroid to be discovered, on December 5, 1972), is approximately 7.6 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 2.6 years. Sisyphus was a mythological figure whose punishment in the underworld was to roll a stone up a hill, only to have it roll back to the bottom, and then have to push it up the hill, over and over again for eternity. According to Martha Lang-Wescott, Sisyphus represents “determination; dogged persistence; to start over (again or anew); to repeat effort.” Jacob Schwartz gives this asteroid’s astrological significance as “determined action on hopeless or repetitive tasks, ‘returning to square one.’” This asteroid’s key phrase is “start over.”
Sources:
Lang-Wescott, Martha. Asteroids-Mechanics: Ephemerides II. Conway, MA: Treehouse Mountain, 1990.
Lang-Wescott. Mechanics of the Future: Asteroids. Rev. ed. Conway, MA: Treehouse Mountain, 1991.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
Sisyphus
in Greek mythology, the son of Aeolus (the guardian of the winds) and the builder and king of Corinth.
After his death, Sisyphus was condemned in Hades to roll a heavy stone up a hill, which, every time it nearly reached the top, rolled down again. Hence the expression “Sisyphean labor,” which signifies endless and ineffective hard work and torments. Various myths have been preserved that explain why such a severe punishment befell Sisyphus. According to one myth, he is tormented for having disclosed the gods’ secrets. Sisyphus was portrayed in ancient Greek dramas, including non-extant works by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. He has been represented in modern literature (A. Camus, R. Merle) and in art (Titian). [23–1053–]
Sisyphus
a genus of dung beetles whose black or brown body is 5-12 mm long. The legs are very long. The anterior tibiae are dentate, whereas the posterior tibiae are bent and lack denticles. There are 16 species, distributed mostly in the tropics of Africa and Asia. There is only a single species, S. schaefferi, in the USSR (southern region). Like the scarab, Sisyphus feeds on the excrement of animals, mostly ungulates. Before eating the dung, the beetle rolls it into small balls.
Sisyphus
man condemned to roll up a hill a huge stone which always rolls back before he gets it to the top. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Dictionary, 1006]
| i don't know |
In cookery, ‘agneau’ is French for which meat? | Le Gigot d'Agneau - French Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe - Learn French
Le Gigot d'Agneau - French Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe
March 21, 2016
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Today, we'll take a look at a very traditional French leg of lamb recipe: le gigot d'agneau Pascal. In case you were wondering, let's be clear: "Agneau Pascal" does NOT mean "Some guy named Pascal's recipe for leg of lamb!" but rather the lamb that is traditionally cooked for Easter (called "Pâques") holiday.
You’ll find several variations of this leg of lamb recipe in countries around the mediterranean (my favourite being the lemon based Greek leg of lamb, but I’m biased with my ancestry).
The good news is that as far as holiday meals are concerned, this is probably one of the simplest and fastest to make: The whole recipe requires just 5 ingredients and less than 15 minutes of preparation!
Now you can of course spruce it up a little (which is what I do) but the basics of the meal is super simple.
Ingredients For the French Easter Lamb Recipe
Leg of lamb, bone-in recommended (“Gigot d’agneau”)
Garlic
Dried “herbes de Provence” (mixture of savoury, thyme, lavender and other herbs)
Leg of Lamb Recipe
[Note: Take the leg of lamb out of the fridge about 2 hours before you start the recipe so that the meat is not too cold]
Run the leg of lamb under cold water to remove any stickiness of the meat and dry it well with paper towels. Removing all the excess moisture will make for a crispier outside when cooking.
If your butcher has not done so, remove most of the white tough skin that might be on the leg of lamb. Just make a small incision, pull with your fingers and cut parallel to the meat as you pull (Some people don’t mind that skin it but I prefer without it, it makes the meat more presentable and easier to eat)
Cut your garlic into small juliennes (long strips) of about 5mm x 5mm (imagine tiny garlic French fries!)
With a long sharp knife, make an long thin incision in the meat and insert the garlic into the opening. (I also like to add a couple of leaves of fresh rosemary too but not everyone likes that stronger taste). This is called “piquer la viande à l’ail” (literally to pierce the meat with garlic).
Do this evenly in all the deep parts of the meat. The amount of garlic you “pique” with is up to you and based on your preferences, use less for a romantic dinner, use more after 10 years of marriage ;-)
Put the leg of lamb in a large oven dish (“Un plat”) and add some olive oil (not too much, lamb already has lots of natural fat) and generously sprinkle pepper and, optionally, the “herbes de Provence” on every part of the roast. With the oil, all the pepper and herbs will stick to the meat making a sort of crust.
[Note you can make all these steps the day before, just make sure you take the leg of lamb out of the fridge 2 hours before you put it into the oven]
Cooking Your Leg of Lamb
Set your oven (“un four”) to a high temperature (about 240° celsius/464°F and let it get really hot)
Just before you put the leg of lamb in the oven, sprinkle the whole roast with salt.
Put in the high temp oven for about 20 minutes to develop a nice crust (“une croûte”). This will prevent juices from flowing out during the cooking and add flavor + visual appeal.
Then lower the oven to about 200° C / 390° F
Let cook your leg of lamb for about 12 to 15 minutes per pound depending on if you want it pink or 18 minutes if you want it well done.
In the middle of the cooking, you can flip the leg of lamb once if you’d like.
Serving the Leg of Lamb
Once you take the “gigot” out of the oven, take it out of the pan and cover it with tin foil (“papier alu” – short for aluminium). Let it rest at least 10 minutes for the juices to flow back into the leg of lamb meat.
In the meantime, you can dump most of the fat that is left in the pan and put the pan on the stove at a low heat (make sure your pan allows that). Then add a large glass of chicken stock (or I prefer to add red wine) and deglaze the pan, scraping all the good bits from the bottom of the pan, let it reduce, season if needed and serve as a nice simple sauce.
As with most of the meats, the French will usually eat gigot d’agneau “rosé” (pink) whereas the easter leg of lamb in Greece is always eaten well cooked through… It’s a cultural thing I guess. We like our leg of lamb well cooked through in my family, so that’s what I made.
If your leg of lamb is really big, it may be too pink to your liking closer to the bone. Just put it back in the oven a bit.
What is “la Souris” Part of the Gigot d’Agneau ?
The triangular shaped part next to the tip of the bone is called “la souris”. The meat is different there, and French people usually fight over it (it’s definitely Camille’s favorite !!). So you may need to cut this part in smaller pieces so everybody can get a piece.
The Gigot d’Agneau Pascal is traditionally served with Flageolets (pale green beans) and pommes de terre dauphines (another French delicacy…see picture below).
And it makes wonderful leftovers for sandwiches the next days!
I hope you try it at home and let me know how it turned out (you don’t have to wait for Easter, we eat this type of roast year round!)
Bon appétit!
| Lamb |
Which energy drink is advertised with the slogan ‘…..gives you wings’? | French Culinary-Baking Terms | The Bakery Network
French Culinary-Baking Terms
Although many of the terms below do not relate specifically for baking, you may encounter from time to time, a collection of these terms used through professional kitchens around the world.
A
A la Literally means ‘in the style of.’ A la Translates from French as ‘in the fashion of’.
A la Broche Meat roasted on a spit.
A la Carte Menu items prepared fresh to order. A French term, A la carte translates as ‘by the menu’.
A la Grecque Translates from the French as ‘in the Greek style’.
A L’Espagnole Literally translates from French as, ‘in the Spanish style’.
Al a Minuta A French term literally meaning cooked in a minuet; often applied to food cooked at the table, for example traditional stroganoff.
Al Dente An Italian term which describes the consistency of pasta when cooked correctly. Al dente literally translates as “to the tooth”, i.e. the pasta should be slightly firm to the bite.
Abatis Chicken giblets.
Abats Offal. A French term indicating the head, heart, livers, kidney, tongue, feet, etc, of an animal.
Aboyeur A person responsible for the calling of an order within a kitchen, making sure that each section is aware of any requirements.
Agneau Lamb. See also ‘mouton’.
Aiguille a Brider A trussing needle.
Aiguille a Larder A larding needle.
Aiguillettes Thin long strips, vertically cut, principally of duck breast and other poultry. From the French word aiguille meaning ‘little needle’.
Aile The wing of poultry or game, also known as ‘aileron’.
Airelles Cranberries.
Akami Japanese term describing a cut from the lean loin of a tuna fish, used in sushi and sashimi.
Akami Japanese term describing a cut from the lean loin of a tuna fish, used in sushi and sashimi.
Alfresco Outdoors, in the open air. An Italian term meaning ‘in the fresh’.
Aloyau A whole unboned sirloin of beef.
Amandine A French term meaning cooked, filled or served with almonds. For example salmon amandine. From the French word amande meaning ‘almond’.
Amuse-Bouches Cocktail canapés.
Amuse-Gueule Translates from the French as to ‘entertain the mouth’.
Anglaise Means plain in style. When applied to fish it means flour, egg washed and bread crumbed. In the case of vegetables it often means boiled. In French cooking it is egg beaten with oil and seasoning..
Animelles A French term indicating the delicate tender parts of a lamb, especially the fillet and loin. Also referred to as ’criadillas’.
Annoncer To call out orders in a kitchen or restaurant.
Antipasti Food served at the beginning of an Italian meal, either as a starter or as a snack. Antipasti translates from Italian as ‘before food’.
Aperitif An alcoholic beverage drunk before the beginning of a meal. A French term derived from the Latin word aperire meaning ‘to open’.
Apparell A culinary term for a prepared mixture ready for further processing. For example bombe apparell or croquette apparell.
Apricoter To coat with strained and reduced apricot jam.
Aretes Fish bones.
Aromates Herbs used as a flavouring.
Aromatic Having a distinctive and pleasant smell; fragrant. Derived from the Greek word aromatikos meaning ‘spice’.
Assaisonner To season.
Asseoir A French word meaning to ‘to seat’.
Assiette A French word meaning to ‘place at table’. See also ashet.
Assiette Anglaise A selection of sliced cold meats.
Au Bleu A method of preparing and cooking trout in court-bouillon, a specific dish known as ‘truit au bleu’.
Au Four Baked in an oven.
Au Gratin Sprinkled with breadcrumbs, cheese or both and browned under a grill before serving. Translates as ‘with a crust’.
Au Jus Describes a meat which is served in its own cooking juices. Translates as ‘with the juice‘.
Au Naturel A food that is served plainly and simply, often uncooked unseasoned food. Translates as ‘in the natural state’.
Au Vin Blanc Prepared with the addition of white wine.
B
Badam An Asian term, meaning an almond processed for cooking.
Ballotine Fish, meat or poultry that has been boned, stuffed, rolled and tied in a bundle. Usually braised or poached. A term traditionally applied only to poultry.
Barbue Brill.
Bard To cover the breast of a bird with thin slices of fat prior to roasting. A French term, derived from the Arabic word bardaa meaning ‘padded saddle’.
Barde De Lard A thin slice of salted and fatty bacon.
Barista A person employed to operate an espresso machine in a coffee shop. An Italian word, barista translates as ‘worker in’ or ‘owner of’ a bar.
Baron Legs with the loins attached.
Baron D’agneau The saddle and legs of lamb or mutton left in one piece and roasted. Also a double loin of beef left in one piece and cooked whole.
Barquette A boat shaped pastry case.
Basting The spooning of melted fat over foods, usually over roasted or grilled meats, to prevent them becoming dry and enhance flavour.
Batarde The French term for butter sauce.
Batterie De Cuisine A set of cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc. A French phrase translating as ‘set of implements for cooking‘.
Beard The removal of the beard from shell fish.
Beat To mix or stir moist ingredients together vigorously in order to combine them, make smooth or to incorporate air.
Beurre Manie An equal quantity of flour and butter, rubbed together and used for thickening sauces
Bien Cuit Well cooked.
Biscotto The Italian word for ‘biscuit’.
Bisque The name given to certain shellfish soups that are thickened with rice, originally prepared using breadcrumbs.
Bistro A Russian word meaning ‘quick’.
Blanc A liquor of water, salt and lemon juice, which is slightly thickened with flour and used For cooking. Also the French term for white.
Blanch The placing of root vegetables into cold water or green vegetables into boiling water, brining to the boil, draining off and then refreshing in cold water. To cook potatoes in oil without them taking any colour. To quickly plunge into boiling water to add the removal of a skin, e.g. tomatoes. Derived from the French word blanchir meaning to ‘whiten’.
Blanchir A French word meaning to ‘whiten’.
Blanquette A white stew cooked in a stock from which the sauce is to be made.
Blin A Russian word meaning ‘pancake’.
Blini A buckwheat pancake.
Blonde The French term for pale yellow, derived from the Latin word blundus.
Blue A term meaning extremely rare, almost without cooking; for example a blue steak.
Boeuf Beef.
Bolt To filter an ingredient, especially flour, through a sieve or muslin cloth. Also known by the French term buleter.
Bombay Duck Canned, smoked and especially dried bummaloe fish, usually dried, salted and then grilled. Imported from India and served as a pungent relish with curry dishes. The name comes from Bombay in Indian, form where the fish was originally exported.
Bombe An ice cream made in a dome shaped mould.
Bonbon A sweet confection; something that is sweet. A French word translating as ‘good-good’
Bon Ton A French term meaning of good taste or style; literaly translates as ‘good tone’.
Bonne A dated term for a female waitress. A French term translating as ‘good girl’.
Bonne Bouche A small piece of tasty food. A French term literaly translating as ‘good mouth.’
Boteillier A butler, derived from the old French word boteillier meaning ‘cup-bearer’.
Bouchee Small puff pastry cases. From the French word bouche meaning ‘mouth’.
Bouillon Unqualified stock.
Boulangerie The bakery section.
Boult To filter an ingredient, especially flour, through a sieve or muslin cloth. Also known by the French term buleter.
Bouquet Garni A collection of herbs placed inside a small muslin bag or into a metal infuser, to facilitate their removal after use. Traditionally they were tied inside two pieces of celery. Also known as a faggot.
Braciola Thin slices of meat wrapped around a stuffing and poached in white wine. An Italian word meaning ‘cooked over coals’.
Braiser A French term indicating the slow cooking of a food, usually covered and with only a small amount of liquid or stock.
Braisiere A braising pan.
Brasare An Italian word meaning to ‘cook slowly’.
Brasserie A restaurant serving a wide range of both food and drink. Derived from the old French word bracier meaning ‘brew’.
Brider To truss poultry of feathered game.
Brin A sprig.
Brine Water containing a significant amount of salt, used for curing and preserving meat, fish or vegetables.
Briser To break bones.
Broach A spit used for roasting meat over an open fire. Also a tool used for making holes in casks. Derived from the old French word broche meaning ‘long needle’.
Brochettes A kebab skewer, taken from the French word broche meaning ‘long needle’. Any food, especially fish or meat that is cooked on a brochette. Also known as an attereaux.
Broil To grill.
Bruscare An Italian word meaning to ‘roast over coals’.
Brun The French term for brown in colour.
Brunoise Small neat dice, usually of vegetables. Also a garnish for consomme.
Buffets A self-service meal of various dishes set out on a service table or counter. A selection of refreshments. A French word translating as ‘sideboard’.
Buleter A French term meaning to filter an ingredient, especially flour, through a sieve or muslin cloth. Also known as bolting.
C
Caldi Italian term indicating that the food is served hot.
Canapé A small cushion of toasted bread on which savoury foods are served
Carte Du Jour A menu displaying the dishes available in a restaurant on a particular day. A French term literaly translating as ‘card of the day’.
Cartoccio A cartouche, an Italian word meaning ‘paper coronet’.
Cartouche A circle of greaseproof paper cut to size and placed on top of a sauce to prevent a skin forming as the liquid cools. A small hole in placed in the centre to allow steam to escape. From the French word carta meaning ‘paper’.
Cassolette A small china container or pot, usually heatproof, used for serving one portion of fine ragouts, eggs etc.
Chantilly Whipped cream flavoured with icing sugar and white wine or brandy.
Chapelure A French term indicating brown bread crumbs.
Charcuterie Cold cooked meats, usually cured. Derived from the old French char cuite meaning ‘cooked flesh’.
Chateaubriand The head end of a fillet of beef. A thickly cut beefsteak obtained from the middle part of a prim fillet. Named after the 19th century French nobleman Francois Rene de Chateaubriand.
Chaud-Froid A creamed veloute, béchamel or demi-glace with added gelatine or aspic that sets when cold and is used for masking cold savoury foods. A French term literaly translating as ‘hot-cold’.
Chaufroiter A French term indicating a food that has been coated with chaud-froid sauce.
Chef Translates from the French as the boss, top man, a chief. Sous Chef: Second in command, French for underling, one beneath. Chef de Partie: Known for many things, a bit chef able to cover many aspects of the kitchen. Head of a section. Chef de Cuisine: Speciality chef, also known as cuisinier. Commis Chef: An apprentice or assistant. Master chef: A chef demonstrating exceptional ability, knowledge and skill.
Chemise The lining of a mould with a savoury jelly or fruit ice cream.
Chiffon A term describing a food with a light fluffy texture, usually created by the addition of whipped egg white or gelatine. Derived from the French word chiffe meaning ‘flimsy stuff’.
Chiffonade Coarsely shredded lettuce, spinach or other salad vegetable. Traditionally sautéed in butter and used as a garnish for soups.
Chine A French term indicating the removal of the spine from a cut of meat. Also any cut of meat that includes a piece of the backbone.
Chinois A fine-meshed conical sieve that requires the food to be pushed through with a ladle or spoon. Most often used to strain sauces.
Choucroute A sauerkraut popular in the Alsace region of France.
Cimier A saddle of venison, usually of stag.
Ciseler To score both sides of a small fish to allow heat to penetrate quicker. Also to shred finely.
Clarify To clear stocks, soups or cooking fats.
Cloche A round silver, metal or glass cover designed to keep food hot. Glass is often used to cover cakes and cheeses, helping to keep them fresh and aid display. A very strong, saltless, chicken stock produced by sweating chicken trimmings in butter with mushrooms, covered with white stock, and reduced by boiled slowly for an hour. A French word meaning ‘bell’.
Cloute An onion studded with cloves and used to flavour a white sauce. Derived from the French word clou meaning ‘clove’.
Coat To cover a food with an outer coating such as breadcrumbs, icing or sauce.
Cocotte A small dish used for the cooking and service of a single portion. Derived from the Latin word cucuma meaning ‘cooking pot’.
Cocotte a Oeuf An individual porcelain egg dish.
Column Cutters Long cylindrical cutters used in cold buffet work.
Compote Fresh or dried fruit cooked in a light syrup.
Condimenter To season with condiments. Derived from the Latin word condimentum meaning ‘to preserve’.
Condire A French word meaning ‘to preserve’.
Confit A method of cooking meat slowly in its own fat, then storing it in that fat. Usually applied to duck, goose and pork, with vegetables also then being cooked in the same fat. Derived from the Latin word conficere meaning ‘put or make together’.
Consommé A basic clear soup. Derived from the Latin word consummare meaning ‘accomplish’.
Consommer A French word meaning to ‘use up’.
Contiser A French term indicating the insertion of thinly sliced truffle into meat or fish.
Contrefilet A boned sirloin of beef.
Coquere An old French word meaning ‘cook’.
Corbeille de Fruit’s A basket of fresh fruit.
Cordon A thin thread of sauce. Derived from the old French word corde meaning ‘small cord’.
Coulis A thin puree of fruit or vegetables used as a garnish. Derived from the old French word coleis meaning ‘flowing’. Traditionally also an essence produced from shellfish, and used as a base for sauces.
Coupe A silver cup or goblet. A combination ice cream with fruit and liqueur.
Couronne To arrange and serve food in the shape of a crown.
Court-Bouillon A liquor made from carrots, onions, wine, peppercorns and herbs. Often used for cooking fish.
Crapandine Poultry and game split down the back and laid flat for roasting.
Crèmeux A French term indicating ‘creamy’.
Crepe A thin pancake usually served rolled or folded with a sweet or savoury filling. Derived from the old French word crespe meaning ’curled’.
Croquant A French term indicating crisp crackling.
Croquettes Cooked foods, often potatoes, moulded into cylinder shaped pieces, egg, breadcrumb and fried. Derived from the French word croquer meaning ‘to crunch’.
Croustadines Small pieces of puff pastry cut into various shapes and used as ‘bouchees’.
Croute A cushion of fried bread upon which foods are served. A pastry crust. Derived from the old French word crouste meaning ‘crust’.
Croutes De Flute A French loaf cut into thin slices and toasted on both sides.
Crouton A small cube of fried bread used to garnish soup. Bread cut into heat or other fancy shapes, fried and used to garnish various foods. A French word meaning ‘little crust’.
Cru Raw.
Crudités A selection of raw vegetables eaten as an appetizer or snack, often served with a dip or as a garnish. Celery, cucumber, baton carrots, young asparagus tips, small cauliflower florets, mangetout and baby sweet corn are some of the vegetables used. Derived from the Latin word cruditas meaning ‘raw’.
Crustaces et Coquillages Indicates shellfish.
Cuisine A style of cooking noted for its high quality. A range of food produced by a restaurant, individual or country. A French word meaning ‘kitchen’, and derived from the Latin word coquina meaning ‘to cook’.
Cuisine Minceur A low-calorie form of French cooking. A French term translating as ‘slimness cooking’.
Cuisson A liquid used for cooking.
Cuissot A large leg of pork or venison.
Cuit Cooked.
Cutlet A cut of meat taken from the leg or rib sections; usually applied to lamb, pork or veal. Derived from the French word cotelette meaning ‘little rib’.
D
Darne A round cut of fish taken across the bone. The middle section of a salmon.
Dariole A small flower pot shaped mould. A French word translating as ‘custard tart’.
Deglacer The swilling out of a pan with wine or stock in order to use the sediment.
Degorger The use of salt to draw water out of a food. The use of salt to draw out the bitter juices of some foods, for example aubergines.
Degraiser To degrease, the removal of fat from the surface of sauces, soups, stocks, etc.
Dejeuner Luncheon.
Demi-Deuil A French term indicating poultry that has been studded with truffle.
Demi-Glace Equal quantities of brown stock and brown sauce then reduced by half. Half glazed reduced espagnole.
Denerver A French term indicating the removal of sinew.
Denoyauter A French term indicating the removal of the stone from a fruit, for example an olive.
Depouiller A French term indicating the slow, continuous, cooking of a food in order to remove any fat or scum as it rises to the surface. To skim.
Desosser To bone, the removal of bones from meat, poultry, etc.
Dessaler A French term indicating the removal of salt.
Devilled The addition of hot condiments.
Diable Devilled.
Dice To cut food into small equal sized cubes.
Dorer To cook a food until it is a golden-brown colour.
Double De Mouton The two legs of mutton or lamb cooked whole and in one piece.
Douilles Piping tubes.
Dress The cleaning, trimming and garnishing of food ready for presentation.
Duxelles Finely copped mushroom and shallots, sweated in half oil and butter then seasoned and garnished with fresh chopped parsley. Allowed to dry, then used for sauces, soups and stuffing. Named after the Marquis d’Uxelles, a 17th centaury French nobleman.
Duxelles Stuffing Dry Duxelles simmered in white wine until completely reduced, then tomato is added along with crushed garlic and breadcrumbs. Used to stuff vegetables.
E
Eau De Vie Literaly translates as ‘water of life’, eau de vie is the French name given to any number of fruit brandies. Especially used to flavour sauces and sweets, they include examples such as kirsch (cherry) and framboise (raspberry).
Ebarber A French term indicating the removal of the border from oysters, mussels or fish.
Ecumer To skim.
Emincer To slice thinly, or to cut into very small pieces.
Empanadillas Small crescent shaped pastries traditionally served as tapas. Available with a variety of either sweet or savoury fillings.
En Branche Vegetables cooked and served as whole leaves.
Endive An edible plant with tightly packed curly leaves, used as a salad or garnish. A term used in North America to indicate chicory.
Entrecote Steak from a boned sirloin. A French word translating as ‘between the rib’.
Entrée A light dish or appetiser served before the main course during a formal dinner. Also a dish served as an accompaniment to a main meal. Traditionally a main course dish consisting of meat or poultry. See also under ‘appetiser’.
Entremets Traditionally a light dish served between the main course and desert at a formal dinner. Also a sweet dessert served at the end of a meal, or after the cheese course of a formal meal. A French word translating as ‘between the course’.
Epaule A French term indicating the ‘shoulder’.
Eplucher A French term indicating to ‘peal’ or ‘skin’.
Escalope A thin slice of boneless meat of fish, especially veal and poultry beaten flat prior to cooking. A French word meaning ‘shell’.Escarole Endive salad.
Espagnole Brown sauce.
Essence De Volaille A very strong, saltless, chicken stock produced by sweating chicken trimmings in butter with mushrooms, covered with a white stock, and boiled slowly for an hour.
Estomac A French term indicating the stomach of an animal.
Estouffade Traditionally a brown stock, but more commonly a beef stew.
Etamine A muslin cloth used for straining sauces, soups and other liquids.
Etuver To stew, braise or steam meat in its own juice. An old French word literaly meaning ‘steam bath’.
F
Farce A French stuffing, often made from sausage meat, also known as forcemeat. Derived from the Latin word farcire meaning ‘to stuff’.
Farci A French term meaning to be stuffed with forcemeat; usually applied to fish, poultry and vegetables. Derived from the Latin word farcire meaning ‘to stuff’.
Farinaceous Any food that contains or consists mainly of starch; potatoes, rice and noodles for example. Farinaceous is a term generally taken to mean any pasta dish.
Farineux et Riz Indicates farinaceous and rice dishes.
Faux-filet A boned-out sirloin.
Feuillete A puff pastry case cut into a diamond, round, square or triangular shape. Derived from the French word feuille meaning ‘leaf’.
Fines Herbs This is a traditional mixture of the fresh herbs chervil, chives, tarragon and parsley. Often referred to in many classical French recipes.
Flambé Food covered in a warm spirit and then set alight in order to impart flavour. Derived from the old French word flamber meaning ‘to pass through flame’.
Fleuron A small crescent shaped piece of puff pastry, used as a garnish for fish.
Floured To cover or coat food, work surfaces or utensils with flour.
Foie Gras Fat goose liver
Fold The mixing of a light airy mixture with a heavier one. The two are blended together with a spatula or spoon in a gentle motion, combining the mixture without loosing any air.
Fond A basic simplified stock.
Fond De Volaille A white poultry stock.
Fouette To whisk.
Fourre Stuffed with a filing, for example an omelette.
Frappe Chilled. A beverage chilled or poured over crushed ice. Also a dish consisting of fruit-flavoured water ice, served as a starter or cold dessert.
Frapper A French word meaning to ‘chill’.
Freddi Italian term indicating that the food is served cold.
Friandises An alternative name for petits fours.
Fricassee A white stew of meat or poultry in which the food is cooked in the sauce. Derived from French word fricasser meaning to ‘cut up and cook in sauce’.
Frire A French word translating as ‘fry’.
Fritto Misto An Italian term indicating a deep-fried mixture of meat or fish together with vegetables. Literaly translating as ‘fried mixture’.
Friture Frying fat or oil, also a pan set-aside containing hot oil or fat and used for frying.
Froth A mousse. Either a very light and fluffy forcemeat, or light iced cream.
Fume Smoked. Derived from the Latin word fumus meaning ‘smoke’.
Fume Negro Literally meaning black smoke.
Fumet A strongly flavoured, concentrated stock prepared by cooking meat, fish or vegetables. An essence of fish or game.
G
Galantine A dish consisting of boned fish, meat or poultry which is shaped, usually stuffed and cooked in a stock, cooled, glazed with aspic and served.
Garni A French term indicating garnished. Derived from the French word garnir meaning ‘adorn’.
Garnish A decorative item, usually edible, used to decorate a dish.
Gibier Indicates game dishes.
Givre Frosted.
Glace Iced. To glaze cakes or pastries with apricot jam, fondant or icing. Also to be dusted with icing sugar and browned under a salamander.
Glace De Viande A meat glaze. Usually a brown stock reduced slowly to a glue-like consistency, although poultry and fish glazes may be produced in the same way.
Glacer A French term meaning to colour a dish under a grill.
Glacier An ice cream maker. A chef that specializes in pastry work and ice cream.
Glaze To coat with melted butter, jelly or sauce. To colour a sauce or sugar coated dish under a grill. To baste a meat with its own juices, to brush meat etc.
Gratinate Sprinkled with breadcrumbs or cheese and browned under a salamander.
Gravlax Raw salmon cured with salt and fresh dill, usually served with a sweet mustard sauce. Also known in Sweden as ‘gravad lax’ and in Norway as ‘gravlaks’.
Grease The coating of a tin or baking tray with butter, fat or oil in order to prevent sticking. Animal fat, especially from cooked meat. Derived from the Latin word crassus meaning ‘fat’.
Grenouilles Frogs’ legs.
Gros Sel Coarse salt. See also ‘migonette’.
H
Hache A French word meaning ‘minced’.
Hacher To chop.
Haute Cuisine Classic, high-quality French cooking. Translates into English as ‘high cooking’.
Historier To decorate or embellish a dish.
Hors D’Oeuvre Small starter dishes, served hot or cold, an appetizer. A French term that translates as ‘outside the work’.
Hure The cooked head of a pig or boar.
I
Insalata Italian term for salads.
J
Jardinière To cut into thin baton shapes.
Julienne To cut into very thin baton strips.
Jus A basic thin gravy, consisting mainly of the natural juices of the food it is served with. Also the juice of a fruit. for example lemon. A French word translating as ‘juice’. See also brown stock.
Jus de Citron Lemon juice.
Jus de Veau A brown veal gravy, produced from blanched veal bones browned together with mirepoix. Covered with white stock and boiled for several hours, skimmed and strained.
Jus de Viande A simple and basic gravy. Produced from the natural juices of roasted meat, deglazed with a little brown stock.
Jus Lie Thickened gravy.
Jus Roti Roast gravy.
K
Knock-Up The creation of ridges around the edge of a pie by pressing with the fingers.
Knock Back To push back a yeast dough after it has risen.
L
Larding The insertion of small strips of fat through a piece of lean meat. Usually pork fat is used, as this helps keep the meat moist during cooking.
Lardons Small strips of bacon.
Le Buffet Froid The cold buffet.
Le Chateaubriand The top end of a fillet of beef.
Le Chaud-Froid A creamed veloute with added gelatine, used for masking cold dishes.
Le Contrefilet A boned sirloin of beef.
Le Court-Bouillon A blanc used for the cooking of oily fish, calf’s brain etc.
Leaven To add yeast or other agent to a food in order to make it rise, especially a dough. To cause a bread or cake to rise by the addition of leaven. Derived from the Latin word levare meaning ‘to rise’.
Legumes et Pommes de Terre Indicates vegetables and potatoes.
Liaison A blend of egg yolk and cream used as a thickening agent. The addition of cream or butter to a soup or sauce. Derived from the French word lier meaning ‘bind’.
Lier A French word meaning ‘bind’.
Luter The sealing of a cocotte with pastry paste prior to cooking.
M
Macedoine A French term usually taken to mean mixed vegetables cut into 5mm dice, served hot or cold as a garnish or side dish; but traditionally it was also applied to assorted diced fruits.
Macerate The marinating of fruits in wine or liqueur, usually over night, in order to impart flavour and moisture.
Manche A Gigot Basically this is a handle that is attached to a cooked leg of lamb or mutton, used to give a firmer grip while carving.
Mangier A French word meaning ‘food’.
Marinade A blend of herbs, condiments, acids and oils used to impart flavour and improve the flavour of meat, poultry and game prior to cooking.
Mariner A French term describing the process of marinating meats in order to improve flavour and tenderness.
Mask The coating of an item with sauce.
Masquer To mask. To cover any hot or cold food with a sauce or jelly. Also to cover the bottom of a dish or mould with a sauce or jelly.
Matignon Equal amounts of thinly sliced carrots and onion, a third of the amount of raw ham and celery, simmered in butter with bay leaf and thyme, then deglaced with Madeira.
Mecerer To macerate, also to pickle briefly. A French term traditionally describing the process of preserving fruits in liquor.
Medallion The preparation of food into a flat round medallion shape.
Melange The combination of two or more fruits or vegetables prepared together. A French word meaning ‘to mix’.
Mesclun A mixture of young salad leaves, usually including dandelion, endive, radicchio and rocket. Literaly translates from the old French as ‘mixture’.
Meze An assortment of snacks served either as a starter or as a complete light meal. Especially popular in Asia and usually served including stuffed vine leaves, savoury pastries and spiced dips. Derived from the Persian word meza translating as ‘taste,’ or ‘relish’.
Mie-De-Pain Fresh white bread with the crusts removed, allowed to dry and rubbed through a course sieve to produce breadcrumbs. Used with flour and whisked egg to coat fish, meat, etc.
Mignardises An alternative name for petits fours.
Migonette Coarsely ground pepper. See also ‘gros sel’.
Mijoter A French term describing the process of simmering a food slowly for a long period.
Mille-Feuilles Translates as a thousand leaves, a puff pastry and cream slice. Translates from the French as a ‘thousand leaves’.
Mirepoix A selection of roughly cut vegetables and herbs used for the flavouring of soups and sauces. Traditionally in French cookery carrots, onions celery, bacon, bay leaf and thyme are used. Named after the Duc de Mirepoix an 18th centaury French diplomat and general.
Mirepoix-Bordelaise Carrots, onions, parsley stalks, bay leaf and thyme, stewed slowly in butter until moist. Used chiefly for hot lobster and shellfish dishes.
Mis-En-Place Literally translates as in its place. Basic preparations prior to service. Literally translates from the French as ‘in its place’.
Monter To whip egg, egg white or butter into a sauce, soup, etc.
Mornay A food served in a cheese sauce, for example cauliflower mornay. Named after the 17th century French writer Philip de Mornay.
Mortifer A French term meaning the hanging of meat, game or poultry.
Mouiller A French term meaning to moisten ingredients with water or stock prior to cooking.
Moule A mould.
Mousseline A mixture of pureed raw fish or poultry, blended with egg whites and cream until light and fluffy. Usually poached or baked in small moulds using a bain marie, and served with a strongly flavoured sauce.
Muslin A thin loosely woven cotton fabric, originally used to wrap butter, and traditionally used to strain soups, sauces, etc.
N
Napper A French term describing the coating of a prepared dish with sauce.
Noisette A small round cut of meat, often lamb. Also to be shaped or coloured like a nut. A French word translating as ‘little nut‘.
Noix A nut. Also the cushion piece of a leg of veal.
O
Oeuf Sur Le Plat Egg cooked in an egg dish.
P
Panache Mixed, multi coloured ice cream or jelly in a mould. Also mixed fruits or vegetables. Derived from the Italian word pennacchio meaning ‘plume of feathers’.
Panade A thick paste produced using starchy ingredients such as flour, potato or rice blended together with water or stock. Used as a thickener for sauces, or as a binding agent for stuffing. There are five basic types of panade: 1) White bread crumbs soaked in milk, lightly seasoned with salt and white pepper, then gently heated until the liquid evaporates, allowed to cool before use. 2) Choux paste produced without the addition of eggs. 3) Flour blended with egg yolks, melted butter, grated nutmeg, salt and white pepper, then softened with boiled milk and allowed to cool before use. 4) Rice cooked in a white consomme and blended into a smooth paste when cooked. 5) Potatoes prepared and cooked in milk, minced and seasoned with salt, white pepper, nutmeg, then reduced and blended with butter. Derived from the Latin word panis meaning ‘bread’.
Pane To pass fish, chicken, etc. through seasoned flour, beaten egg and white breadcrumbs.
Pantry A highly ventilated cold room used for storing food. A small closed space connected to a kitchen, and used for storing food and utensils. Derived from the French word paneterie meaning a ‘cupboard for bread’.
Papillote A term used to describe food that has been cooked and served inside a buttered paper bag to preserve flavour and moisture. Often grease proof paper or parchment is used, and a method traditionally reserved for the cooking of fish. A French word translating as ‘butterfly’.
Parer A French term meaning the trimming of any food and remove all superfluous parts.
Partie Any section of a kitchen that is responsible for a particular course. A French word translating as ‘divide’.
Pass To push through a metal sieve, strainer or muslin.
Passer To strain.
Pate Savoury mixtures of animal livers, blended with other meats, vegetables and condiments. They may be either smooth or coarse in texture. Also the French term for a pastry or other dough, and translating as ‘paste’.
Patisserie Indicates pastry. Also an establishment the specialises in the production and sale of cakes and pastries. Derived from the old French word pasticier meaning to ‘make pastry’.
Patty A small flat individual cake, produced from minced meat, vegetables or other ingredients.
Pauillac A milk fed lamb.
Paupiette A French term meaning a thin strip of meat, poultry or fish rolled in a stuffing and then poached.
Paysanne Literally means in a county style, usually vegetables cut into 15mm round or square shapes. Usually a combination of potatoes, carrots, turnips and cabbage.
Pesce Italian term indicating the seafood selection on a menu.
Petits Fours Very small bite size sweet biscuits or cakes, served at the end of a meal with coffee. See also ‘friandises’. A French term translating as ‘little oven’.
Piccata An Italian term describing thin slices of meat sautéed, and served in a spicy lemon and butter sauce.
Pincer A French term describing the browning of vegetables or bones in an oven.
Piquant Having a flavour, taste or smell that is spicy or savoury, often with a slightly tart or bitter edge to it.
Pipe The use of a piping bag for the ornamental decoration of food.
Piquer The insertion of large lardoons of bacon, fat, ham or truffle into meat or poultry. A French term meaning to ‘attach ingredients’.
Plier To fold over.
Pluck The removal of feathers from poultry and game. Also the stomach of a sheep traditionally used when making ‘haggis’.
Poach The cooking of a food by submerging it in a simmering liquid. Derived from the old French word pochier meaning to ‘enclose in a bag’.
Poele A frying pan.
Poissons et Coquillages Indicates fish dishes.
Polpetta An Italian term meaning a thin strip of meat, poultry or fish rolled in a stuffing and then poached.
Potages Indicates soups. A French word translating as ‘what is put in the pot’.
Prick This is the piercing of the skin of fruit, meat, vegetables, etc, to allow the release of air, fat or moisture.
Primeurs Early season fruit or vegetables, a term especially applied to spring vegetables. Derived from the Latin word primus meaning ‘first’.
Printaniere Literally means springtime, generally a garnish of spring vegetables.
Puree A smooth blend of food. Derived from the French word purer meaning to ‘squeeze out’.
Q
Qandi To candice. An Arabic word meaning ‘crystallized into sugar’.
Quenelle Meat pounded, sieved and shaped like a brazil nut. Often poached. Derived from the German word knodel meaning ‘dumpling’.
R
Racines Root vegetables.
Rafraichir To chill a food. Also the rapid cooling of a food by running it under cold water.
Ragouts A rich slow-cooked Italian stew of meat and vegetables, often richly seasoned. Derived from the French word ragouter meaning ‘renew the appetite.
Ramekins Small round moulds, made of porcelain, glass or earthenware. Used for cold desserts and hot puddings, or for the presentation of sauces and dips. Derived from the Dutch word rameken meaning ‘little cream’.
Rape Grated.
Reduce The concentration of a sauce, stock or other dish by boiling.
Reduire To reduce a liquid to the desired consistency by gentle heating and evaporation.
Rechauffer The reheating of leftover food, literaly translating from the French as ‘reheat’. Derived from the Latin word calere meaning ‘make or be warm’.
Releve A braised or roasted joint of meat served with garnish.
Remouillage Bones boiled up again with fresh water after the stock has been poured off.
Render The heating of animal or poultry fat slowly until a liquid, before being strained and cooled. Beef dripping, for example, is extracted from beef fat. Derived from the Latin word reddere meaning ‘give back’.
Renverser To demould, to turn a food out onto a dish.
Repere A French term describing flour blended with water or egg whites, and used to seal the lids of cooking pots.
Revenir A French term describing the process of quickly frying meat or vegetables in hot oil, so sealing in flavour and juices prior to cooking.
Ribbon Long thin vegetable shavings produced using a peeler, typically of cucumber, carrot or courgette. Also a term describing the consistency of eggs beaten with sugar until stiff; when the whisk is removed the batter runs off in smooth, thick ribbons.
Rissoler To bake or fry sharply to a brown colour. For example pommes rissolees, browned potatoes.
Rocher A scoop of ice cream.
Rondeau A large shallow pan.
Rostir The act of roasting.
Roux Plain flour and fat, usually butter, cooked together and used as a thickener for sauces, soups, etc. Roux Blonde: 10oz of flour cooked in 8oz of butter to a light yellow colour. Roux Brun: 10oz of flour browned slowly in 8oz of dripping, used for brown stocks. Roux Blanc: 10oz of flour cooked slowly in 8oz of butter, stirred continually and kept white. Used for white sauces and soups.
S
Sabayon Egg yolks and water cooked until creamy, may be used as a sweet sauce.
Saignant Underdone.
Saisir To seal meat over a moderate heat without browning.
Salamander A cooking utensil consisting of a metal plate fitted with a handle, designed to be heated and used for browning food. When hot it is held over the food to produce a brown or caramelized surface. A term often applied to mean a grill.
Salmagundis A French term literally meaning ‘seasoned salt meats’, but more generally used to indicate a mixture of different types of foods; often a mixed salad of various ingredients such as meat, poultry, fish and vegetables arranged in neat rows on a platter
Salpicar A Spanish word meaning ‘sprinkled with salt.’
Salpicon Meat, poultry, fish, or game cut into very small cubes for use in ragouts. Also finely diced fruits for use in sweets. Derived from the Spanish word salpicar meaning ‘sprinkle with salt’.
Sauté To cook quickly in shallow oil. The tossing of food in hot oil.
Scorch To burn the surface of a food slightly, a superficial burn.
Score Incisions made through meat, fish or vegetables to assist the cooking process. Often made to assist marinating. Derived from the old Norse word skor meaning to ‘notch’.
Seal The application of intense heat to meat or vegetables causing the pores to seal, so keeping in flavour.
Sear The browning of fish, poultry or meat quickly over a high heat, keeping the centre rare.
Season The addition of condiments to food so enhancing flavour.
Shred To cut into thin strips. Derived from the German word screade meaning ‘to cut’.
Shuck A term describing the removal of oysters and clams from their shells. Also the removal of corn from its husk, and the shelling of beans and peas.
Sift The working of ingredients through a sieve to form a fine powder; also used to aerate flour when baking. Derived from the old English word siftan.
Singe The burning off of the down of a plucked bird by passing over a flame.
Sippets A white loaf cut into 10mm slices with the crusts removed, then cut into small cubes and shallow fried until golden brown. Used as a garish for soups. Derived from the German word supan meaning to ‘take liquid’.
Skillet Another term for a frying pan, now more often referring to a small shallow metal dish used for the table service of sizzling stir fries. Derived from the old French word escuelete meaning ‘small platter’.
Skim The removal of fat or scum from the surface of a liquid, also known as skimming. Derived from the French word escumer meaning ‘scum’.
Snail Butter Butter creamed, and mixed with finely chopped shallots, crushed garlic, parsley, salt and pepper.
Snip The cutting of herbs or leaf vegetables into small pieces. Derived from the German word snippen, an imitation of the sound made by scissors.
Sop A piece of food that is soaked, or dipped, in a liquid before being eaten. Derived from the German word supan meaning to ‘take liquid’.
Sopp An English word meaning bread dipped into a liquid.
Soufflé A sweet or savoury, hot or cold, dish. Very light in texture, with a high
egg white content. Derived from the French word souffler meaning ‘puff-up’.
Suer A French term indicating the slow cooking of meats, poultry, fish, etc in a pan with little fat.
Supreme A delicate fillet cut from poultry or fish.
T
Table D’Hote A meal of several courses, of a limited choice and at a set price. Translates from the French as ‘host’s table’.
Tamis An extremely fine sieve for straining food. Originally a piece of unbleached calico cloth.
Tammy An extremely fine woollen strainer.
Tenderize The breaking down of meat fibbers prier to cooking, so making it less chewy and more digestible. This is achieved by either pounding the meat, marinating or by sprinkling with a commercial tenderizer.
Terrine A small round or oval earthenware mould, or the food contained within it; usually straight sided and with a fitted lid. A term often used to describe a coarse pate or similar cold food served in a small dish. Derived from the old French word terrin meaning ‘earthen’.
The Pass The hot plate where food is plated and garnished ready for service in a restaurant. An interface between the kitchen and eatery where orders are placed and collected.
Tina A French term describing a square or rectangular earthenware casserole dish, originally used to cook foods au gratin. Any food cooked in such a dish.
Timbale A half conical shaped mould of various sizes. Also, a flat bottomed conical shaped silver serving dish. A type of hot meat loaf. Derived from the French word tamballe meaning ‘a drum’.
Tomated A French term indicating the addition of tomato puree to a preparation, so adding colour and flavour.
Tomber des Legumes A French term describing the cooking of prepared vegetables in water and butter, heated gently until the liquid is completely evaporated.
Tourner A French term meaning vegetables prepared and cut into a regular barrel shape.
Tranche A thin rectangular piece of puff pastry. Also to slice or cut foods. A French word meaning ‘slice’.
Trancher To carve or slice meat, fish, game, etc.
Troncon A French term meaning a cut of flat fish taken across the bone, sometimes also applied to a similar cut taken from an oxtail.
Trousse A French word meaning ‘to truss’.
Truss The tying of game or poultry with string to retain its shape during cooking. Derived from the French word trousser meaning ‘to tie’.
Turn The cutting of potatoes and other vegetables into barrel or olive shapes. To cut a groove or channel in a mushroom. Derived from the Latin word tornare meaning ‘turn on a lathe’.
V
Vandyking An English method of preparing whole fish by cutting a “v” shape into its tail, named after the painter Anthony Van Dyck, famous for his v-shaped beard. Also a method of preparing fruits and vegetables by cutting “v” shapes along the circumference, for example tomatoes.
Varak Ultra thin edible sheets of gold or silver used for cake and sweet decorations.
Veau Veal.
Veloute A basic sauce. The base of a creamy soup or sauce, the blend of fresh stock and a roux. An old French word meaning ‘velvety’.
Velveting A method of marinating meats used in Oriental cookery; a blend of corn flour, soy sauce and seasoning used to coat food prior to cooking.
Verjus The juice of an unripe fruit, especially sour grapes.
Vesiga A jelly like substance obtained from the spinal marrow of the great sturgeon. Used in Russian cookery.
Viandes Indicates meat dishes.
Voiler A French term describing small pieces of confectionary coated with spun sugar.
Vol-Au-Vent A puff pastry case. A French term translating as ‘flight in the wind’.
Volaille Indicates poultry dishes.
W
Whites The name given to the protective clothing worn by a chef. Traditionally consisting of a white cotton tunic or jacket, blue checked cotton trousers, white apron and hat. Its is now common for almost any colour or pattern to be used as part of the kitchen uniform.
Z
Zabaione An Italian word for a ‘sabayon’.
Zakuska A selection of blinis and breads served with various toppings, especially caviar, and vodka. Traditionally served as a starter, but now more often served as a pre theatre buffet. A Russian word translating as ‘hors d’oeuvres’.
Zesting To grate the glossy rind from a citrus fruit.
Zuppe Italian term indicating the soup section on a menu.
| i don't know |
A pontil is a metal rod used in the process of what? | pontil - Wiktionary
pontil
pontil (plural pontils )
(glassblowing) A punty ; a metal rod used in the glassblowing process. After a glass vessel has been blown to approximate size and the bottom of the piece has been finalized, the rod, which is tipped with a wad of hot glass, is attached to the bottom of the vessel to hold it while the top is finalized. It often leaves an irregular or ring-shaped scar on the base when removed called the "pontil mark".
| Glassblowing |
What colour are the flowers of the saw-wort? | Secrets of Tiffany Glassmaking
Secrets of Tiffany Glassmaking
Ongoing
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848â1933) began his work in glass with the same tools and ingredients that had been used by artisans for thousands of years before him. Tiffany took the science of glassmaking, however, and elevated it to an art form of new brilliance and beauty. Under his watch, teams of talented designers and craftspeople translated Tiffanyâs all-encompassing vision into some of the most memorable glass creations of our time. Tiffanyâs studio system was not a simple enterprise; he needed specialized employeesâa hierarchy of artists and artisansâto accomplish his goals. This exhibition, updated and reinstalled on September 4, 2012, addresses the processes that Tiffanyâs many companies used to produce everything from glass mosaics and molded buttons to leaded-glass lamps and windows.
Silica (most commonly sand), soda or potash, and lime are the three primary ingredients of glass. When mixed, these raw materials form what artisans refer to as batch. Color is created in various ways, but often by adding either metallic oxides to the batch or various ready-made forms of colored glass during other stages of the glassmaking process.
Blown Glass
Glassblowing is a team activity that employs the talents of many artisans. Typically, a supervisor known as a gaffer manages a group of seven people who comprise one shop. To create a blown-glass object, glass ingredients must first be heated to a molten state of 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the next steps:
Shaping: An artisan collects a gob of the hot, liquified glass, known as a gather, from the working furnace on the end of a metal blowpipe, a hollow rod, usually five-feet long. The molten glass is blown, rolled, pulled, and manipulated with various tools into the shape desired. During this phase, the object is taken frequently to a reheating furnace commonly referred to as a glory hole.
Finishing: The shaped object is transferred from the blowpipe to a pontil, a long, solid metal rod, for additional sculpting and added details.
Cooling: The completed glass object must be placed in an annealing oven to cool gradually over time. If glass objects are not annealed, they will crack or break.
Opalescent Glass
The glass made at Tiffany Studios was called opalescent glass or American glass. It was radically different from pot metal, a type of glass commonly used in Tiffanyâs era. Pot metal was uniformly colored, translucent, and regular in every way. Craftspeople making pot metal windows often painted them with enamelsâa glass pasteâto create form and visual effects.
By contrast, opalescent glass was fabulously varied in color and textureâeven within a single piece of glass. By careful selection, Tiffany could use his glass to mimic foliage, fabric, water, or a sunlit horizon. Tiffany, in a sense, was painting with glass, as opposed to painting on glass. He applied for and received patents for his modifications and improvements upon opalescent glass, although John La Farge (1835â1910) first patented the underlying process in 1879.
Tiffany used the word Favrile as a general trademark for his glassâand later for his pottery and metalwork. Favrile and “fabricate” have the same root, and Tiffany applied the name to his glass to suggest its handmade quality.
Tiffany glass was created in a variety of ways. Some glass pieces were cast in molds. Other types were rolled out onto a flat surface and manipulated. To create the cloth-like drapery glass artisans used hand tools to move and twist hot glass into folds. Mixing two or more colors of molten glass together created streaky or striated glass. Confetti glass was made by pouring molten glass on top of pieces of colored glass or by sprinkling pieces of colored glass into hot glass. Some of these terms for glass types are merely descriptive and were not necessarily used by Tiffany.
Leaded-glass Windows
The creation of a Tiffany stained-glass window began with a small sketch or drawing that was followed by a cartoon, a full-scale painting of the proposed window. Then the designer made two cutlinesâtracings of the cartoon on which the planned glass cuts were carefully marked in thick black line. The first cutline served as the pattern for the window assembly. The second was cut into templates to be used to produce the many individual glass shapes and sizes required by the pattern. Next, glass for the window design was chosen from the thousands of colors and textures that were stored and coded in sheets. Once all of the glass for the window was selected and cut, the window was put together in one of two ways:
Leaded-glass technique: Artisans fit the cut glass into flexible lead cames, which are strips of lead shaped like construction “I-beams.” The glass pieces are placed on either side of the “I” and soldered and mitered at the joints.
Copper-foil technique: Lead cames were difficult to use for complex patterns requiring many small glass pieces. For these projects, especially the leaded-glass lampshades, artisans wrapped the edges of glass pieces with a thin copper foil before they were laid out and soldered together. This copper foil was treated with beeswax on one side and muriatic acid on the other. The beeswax permitted the foil to adhere to the glass, while the muriatic acid permitted solder to bond to the foil.
Leaded-glass Lampshades
The creation of a leaded-glass lampshade began with a color sketch on paper of the lamp design. Next, the design was copied using pencil, watercolor, and paint onto a plaster form in the shape of the shade so that it could be assessed as a three-dimensional object. The design was finally inscribed on a wooden form. Patterns for each individual piece of glass that made up the shade were created using the design on this mold, and the leaded-glass shade was assembled on it.
Standardization and bottom-line concerns governed lamps production. Often the patterns were fashioned out of brass, which lasted longer than other materials and could be used multiple times in filling orders for the same lampshade design.
When beginning the shadeâs assembly, a brass ring was placed on top of the wood mold to create an aperture. The artisan then wrapped selected glass piecesâeach cut using the brass patternsâin copper foil and positioned them on the mold with small nails. Starting at the top and working down, glass pieces were soldered first to the aperture ring and then one by one to each other. When this process was finished, the shade was removed from the mold and turned upside down to add a rim to the bottom edge and stabilize the shape. The shade was then soldered on the inside and âbeadedâ on the outside. Beading is a heavier application of solder to smooth and round out the line and to protect the copper-foiled edges. After soldering, the shade was patinated to change the color of the solder lines.
The design and production of lampshades was primarily accomplished within the Womenâs Glass Cutting Department . Tiffany established the department at his studio in 1892, allowing women for the first time to cut and select glass for windows and mosaics along with the men. Tiffany employed six women at his glasshouse in Corona, New York, in 1892. By 1897, Tiffany had between forty and fifty young women employed in his glass workshop.
Clara Driscoll (1861â1944), supervisor of the department, designed many lampshades including the popular Dragonfly & Water shade that was awarded a medal at the 1900 Paris worldâs fair.
| i don't know |
A Schick test is a skin test for previously acquired immunity to which disease? | Schick test - definition of Schick test in English | Oxford Dictionaries
Definition of Schick test in English:
Schick test
A test for previously acquired immunity to diphtheria, using an intradermal injection of diphtheria toxin.
Example sentences
‘By 1921 Park and his colleagues had used the Schick test on more than 52,000 New York City schoolchildren.’
‘The Schick test, in which a tiny quantity of diphtheria toxin protein is injected into the skin of the forearm, can show whether an individual is immune to diphtheria.’
Origin
Early 20th century: named after Bela Schick (1877–1967), Hungarian-born American paediatrician.
Pronunciation
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reptiles and amphibians
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birds
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classification
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living organisms
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organisms at low temperatures
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animals
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fish
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allergies
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farming
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| Diphtheria |
Jafar, Abu and Iago are all characters in which Disney film? | Laboratory Tests | Immune Deficiency Foundation
Clinical Trial Information
Laboratory Tests
Laboratory studies are necessary to determine the presence of a primary immunodeficiency disease. This is usually prompted by an individual experiencing some clinical problems, particularly recurrent and/or chronic infections. Information regarding the types of organisms, the sites of infection and the therapies required to treat the infections often help focus the laboratory studies. The patient’s medical history and physical exam direct the appropriate choice of laboratory tests.
Normal vs. Abnormal Laboratory Values
An important aspect in the proper interpretation of any laboratory value is what values are considered normal or abnormal. To determine what is normal, samples are obtained from a group of healthy individuals, usually adults and equally divided between males and females. These results are used to determine what the normal range is, using a variety of statistical approaches. A common statistical measurement is called a 95% confidence interval, which is the range that includes 95% of the normal results. Another statistical test often used is to calculate the mean (the average) and the standard deviation of the mean. One standard deviation above and below the mean includes 65% of the values and 2 SDs encompass 95% of the values. Thus, values that deviate more than 2 SDs represent 2.5% that are unusually high or 2.5% that are unusually low. It is important to note that when the definition of the normal range is set as a 95% confidence interval, the 5% of the selected normal population outside the 95% will fall in the abnormal range, even though they were originally selected as being normal. This is one of the challenges with using statistical methods to define a normal range and must be remembered when evaluating a test result falling near either end of the normal range.
Using the measurement of height as an example, normal individuals can be just above or just below a normal range (or 95% confidence interval) and still be normal. Someone 1 inch taller than the 95% confidence interval is not necessarily a giant and someone 1 inch shorter is not necessarily a little person. In fact, by definition, 2.5% of normal individuals will be below the 95% confidence limit and 2.5% will be above.
The fact that 5% of otherwise normal healthy individuals will fall outside the normal range is important when looking at laboratory results—finding a value outside of the reference range does not automatically represent an abnormality. The clinical relevance of an abnormal laboratory finding must be based on the clinical history as well as the size of the difference from the normal range.
Another important issue is the group that was used to determine the normal range. This is crucial since the immune system undergoes substantial development during infancy and childhood. The range of test values that are normal in infancy will probably be quite different when the child is 2 or 20 years old.
Consequently, all studies in children must be compared with age-matched controls. If the laboratory reporting test results does not provide age specific information, it is important to consult with a specialist who knows the age-specific reference ranges. Optimally, the laboratory doing the test should provide this, but if unavailable, there are published age-specific reference ranges.
The laboratory tests used to evaluate immune disorders are used to identify antibody deficiencies, cellular (T-cell) defects, neutrophil disorders and complement deficiencies. These four major categories of tests for immune deficiencies are described on following pages.
Laboratory Evaluation for Antibody Deficiency, or Humoral Immunity
The standard screening tests for antibody deficiency starts with measurement of immunoglobulin levels in the blood serum. These consist of IgG, IgA and IgM levels. The results must be compared to age-matched controls.
There are also tests for specific antibody production. These tests measure how well the immune system responds to vaccines. In this approach, the patient is immunized with common vaccines, including those that have protein antigens (such as tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid) and those with carbohydrate antigens (such as Pneumovax, HiB vaccine). Blood samples are obtained immediately prior to and approximately four weeks after the immunization to evaluate how well the patient forms specific antibodies.
In some instances, the patient may have already been immunized with these vaccines as part of their normal care and will already have circulating antibodies (if they make antibodies), while in other instances the patient may have little or no specific antibody prior to the immunization. The use of different types of vaccines is necessary because certain patients with recurrent infections (and normal or near normal immunoglobulin levels) have been identified with an abnormality in the response to carbohydrate antigens but a normal response to protein antigens.
It is worth noting that during the maturation of the immune system, the response to carbohydrate antigen vaccines lags behind the response to protein antigen vaccines. The interpretation of vaccine responses is best done by a physician who deals with patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases on a regular basis.
The ability to evaluate the antibody response in a patient already receiving immunoglobulin replacement therapy is more difficult. This is because immunoglobulin is rich in most of the specific antibodies that are generated following immunizations. When immunized with common vaccines, it is difficult to tell the difference between the antibody provided by the immunoglobulin treatment and any that might have been made by the patient. The solution to this is to immunize with vaccines that are not normally encountered by the general population and therefore are unlikely to be present in immunoglobulin preparations. Uncommon vaccines, such as typhoid or rabies vaccine, can serve this purpose.
It is important to note that in a patient with a previously confirmed defect in antibody production, stopping therapy to recheck for antibody levels and immunization response is unnecessary and may place the patient at risk of acquiring an infection during the period when the replacement therapy is stopped. However, in a patient whose diagnosis of a humoral immunodeficiency is unclear, it may be necessary to stop replacement therapy for a period of four to six months so that the patient’s humoral immunity can be adequately assessed.
Additional studies used to evaluate patients with antibody deficiencies include measuring the different types of lymphocytes in the blood by marking those cells with molecules that can identify the different types. A commonly used test is called flow cytometry that can identify B-cells (and other kinds of lymphocytes) present in the circulation. The B-cell is the lymphocyte that has the ability to produce antibody. B-cells may be absent in certain immune disorders associated with antibody (such as X-linked Agammaglobulinemia [XLA]).
In addition, analysis of DNA can be used to confirm a particular diagnosis (such as the gene encoding Bruton tyrosine kinase [BTK] associated with XLA.) Finally, there are studies done in specialized laboratories to assess immunoglobulin production by cultured lymphocytes in response to a variety of different kinds of stimuli.
Evaluation of Cellular (T-Cell) Immunity
The laboratory evaluation of cellular or T-cell immunity focuses on determining the numbers of different types of T-cells and evaluating the function of these cells.
The simplest test to evaluate possible decreased or absent T-cells is a complete blood count (CBC) and differential to establish the total blood (absolute) lymphocyte count. This is a reasonable method to access for diminished T-cell numbers, since normally about three-quarters of the circulating lymphocytes are T-cells and a reduction in T-lymphocytes will usually cause a reduction in the total number of lymphocytes, or total lymphocyte count. This can be confirmed by using flow cytometry with markers specific for different types of T-cells.
The measurement of the number of T-cells is often accompanied by cell culture studies that evaluate T-cell function. This is done by measuring the ability of the T-cells to respond to different types of stimuli including mitogens (such as phytohemaglutinin [PHA]) and antigens (such as tetanus toxoid, candida antigen). The T-cell response to these various stimuli can be measured by observing whether the T-cells divide and grow (called proliferation) and/or whether they produce various chemicals called cytokines (such as interferon). There are an increasing variety of functional tests that are available to evaluate T-cells. An immunologist is the best person to undertake this interpretation.
Many immune deficiencies are associated with specific genetic defects. This is particularly true of Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) where more than 12 different genetic causes for SCID have been identified. These can all be evaluated using current technology for mutation analysis, and this is the most accurate means to establish the definitive diagnosis.
Evaluation of Neutrophil Function
The laboratory evaluation of the neutrophil begins by obtaining a series of white blood cell counts (WBC) with differentials. The WBC and differential will determine if there is a decline in the absolute neutrophil count (neutropenia). This is the most common abnormal laboratory finding when a patient presents with a clinical history that suggests defective neutrophil immunity. Usually more than a single CBC and differential is necessary to diagnose neutrophil problems.
A careful review of the blood smear is important to rule out certain diseases that are associated with abnormalities in the structure of the neutrophil, or the way it looks under the microscope. An elevated IgE level may also suggest the diagnosis of Job’s Syndrome (Hyper IgE Syndrome) along with other clinical features that are associated with this syndrome. If these initial screening tests of neutrophil numbers were normal, testing would then focus on two possible primary immune disorders: Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) and Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (LAD). Both of these disorders have normal or elevated numbers of neutrophils and each of these disorders has distinctive features that can help to direct the appropriate evaluation.
Laboratory testing to diagnose CGD relies on the evaluation of a critical function of neutrophils that kills certain bacteria and fungi—the creation of reactive oxygen. This process, called the oxidative burst, can be measured using a number of different methods including a simple dye reduction test called the Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) test. A more recently developed test uses flow cytometry to measure the oxidative burst of activated neutrophils using a specific dye (dihydrorhodamine 123 or DHR), referred to as the DHR test. The DHR test has been used for more than 15 years, and it is extremely sensitive in making the diagnosis. As a result of its excellent performance, this test has become the standard in most laboratories supporting clinics that see patients with CGD regularly. The best confirmation of the specific type of CGD is suggested by the results of the DHR test, but requires confirmation by either specifically evaluating for the defective protein involved or its related gene mutation underlying the disease.
Laboratory testing for the most common form of LAD Type 1 involves flow cytometry testing to determine the presence of a specific protein on the surface of neutrophils (and other leukocytes). When this protein is absent or significantly decreased, the movement of neutrophils to sites of infection is hampered and produces a large increase in the number of these cells in the circulation as well as an increased susceptibility to bacterial skin, oral and other infections.
Laboratory Evaluation of Complement
The standard screening test for deficiencies in the complement system is the total hemolytic complement assay or CH50. In situations with a defect in one complement component, the CH50 will be almost completely negative. Specialized complement laboratories can provide additional testing that will identify the specific complement component that is defective. There are some extremely rare conditions in which there are defects in another (the “alternate”) complement pathway. These can be screened for by using a functional test directed specifically at this pathway, the AH50 test. The complement cascade can also be initiated by the mannan-binding pathway and there are some patients with a deficiency in mannan binding lectin.
Laboratory Tests of Innate Immunity
Laboratory tests are also available to measure the function of the various elements of innate immunity. This includes determining the number and activity of lymphocytes such as natural killer cells, as well as the function of various cell surface receptors such as the toll-like receptors.
Looking to the Future
Newborn screening for severe T-cell immunodeficiency is now recommended by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and has become a reality in more than 10 states, at time of publication, with more to follow. Newborn screening should make the successful cure of SCID and other related severe T-cell immunodeficiencies easier since infants with these conditions will be identified at birth and appropriate treatment, such as immune reconstitution using bone marrow (hematopoietic stem cell) transplantation, can be readily undertaken. (See chapter titled “ Newborn Screening .”)
Genetic testing (mutation analysis) is likely to undergo significant changes in the near future based on the newer technologies. This enables genetic evaluation of large parts of or the entire genetic code for an individual at relatively low cost. These types of approaches are referred to in discussions of personalized medicine based on an individual’s unique genetic code, but when this will become reality at a clinical level remains to be defined.
Summary of Laboratory Tests
Laboratory testing plays a central role in the evaluation of the immune system. All results must be compared to age-appropriate reference ranges. An accurate medical history, family history and physical examination are critical in developing the best strategy for laboratory evaluation. This typically begins with screening tests, followed by more sophisticated (and costly) tests chosen based on the initial test results. The range of laboratory testing available to evaluate the immune system continues to expand. This has been driven in part by the recognition of new clinical syndromes associated with recurrent and or chronic infections.
It is the direct link between the clinical findings and laboratory testing that has extended our understanding of primary immunodeficiency diseases. The continuation of this trend and laboratory testing of the future will likely be even more sophisticated and help provide further answers to the underlying basis of the expanding range of primary immunodeficiencies.
Excerpted from the IDF Patient & Family Handbook for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases FIFTH EDITION Copyright 2013 by Immune Deficiency Foundation, USA. This page contains general medical information which cannot be applied safely to any individual case. Medical knowledge and practice can change rapidly. Therefore, this page should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
| i don't know |
The song ‘Ugly Duckling’ by Danny Kaye features in which car manufacturers television advert? | Ad of the Day: Audi Goes Back to the 1920s to Pitch the 2012 A5 | Adweek
Advertising & Branding
Advertisement
Sometimes a brand is just too forward thinking for its own good. At least Audi was when its engineer Paul Jaray designed a crazy-looking, aerodynamically advanced concept car in 1920—a vehicle that looked straight out of The Jetsons. But what was then the automotive laughingstock of Weimar Germany might have ended up being an inspiration to modern-day car designers.
Things weren't easy for the poor little Jaray Audi when it debuted, Audi shows us in its latest (and thankfully, vampire-free) TV spot, "The Swan," which BBH London and director Joachim Back based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Ugly Duckling" (and set to the song of the same name, sung by Danny Kaye in 1952's Samuel Goldwyn musical about the Danish author). As the misunderstood vehicle drives through a small Bavarian village, the local residents mock and scowl at it. Admittedly, it looks ridiculously out of place. The sad Audi finally retires to a nearby forest, where it's transformed into a white, streamlined 2012 Audi A5 version of itself, whose exterior hints at the lines of the original concept car but is a lot less visually jarring.
It's a charming spot that will certainly stand out—swan-like for the category, indeed. Then again, the new A5 doesn't have that silly "ugly duckling" charm. So, maybe a 1920s reissue is in order?
CREDITS
Head of Marketing: Dominic Chambers
Agency: BBH, London
Creative Team: Matt Doman, Ian Heartfield
Creative Directors: Nick Kidney, Kevin Stark
Producer: Ruben Mercadal
| Audi |
Who became the Mayor of New York City in 2002? | Calling All Toddlers | Character Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Edit
It's Itsy Bitsy Time used to air on the Fox Family channel, ABC 4 Kids and GMTV, on weekday mornings. It was aimed at young audiences, and it was commercial free. The theme song, which just repeatedly sang "It's Itsy Bitsy Time, It's Itsy Bitsy Time," was sang to the tune of "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay." The show featured different short series, Signalled by the appearance of a blue and white carnival tent, The rest of the episode would be filled with very short segments. (64 Zoo Lane, Tom and Vicky, The Animal Shelf, Slurps, Charlie and Mimmo, Samuel and Nina, Timbuctoo, Rugrats, TUGS, Dream Street, Oupagogo, Sesame Street Song and Segments, The Handymen, Postman Pat, Mimi and Scruff, The Stringy Things, Koki, Budgie the Little Helicopter and The Smart Arty).
VHS
The Story of Nelson the Elephant
It's Itsy Bitsy Time with Telly Tots
air on CITV with CITV Pre-School Shows (Mopatop's Shop, Hilltop Hospital, Teddybears, The Forgotten Toys, Dog and Duck, Dream Street, Jamboree and Meeow) full of sunny stories, games, make and do, puzzles and activities.
copyrights
Mopatop's Shop © The Jim Henson Company. inc./Carlton Television Ltd. Licensed by Carlton International Media Limited. Dog and Duck © 2000 Meridian Broadcasting Limited, Dream Street © 1999 Dream Street Productions Ltd. Meeow © 2000 Scottish Television Enterprises and SKC. a member of the Enterainment Right Group. All Rights Reserved. Jamboree © Floella Banjamin Productions for KTE an XL Entertainment Plc Company. Hilltop Hospital © 2000 EVA Entertainment/Folimage/Siriol Productions/France 3/Canal. J. Teddybears © Meridian Broadcasting Ltd/Link Entertainment 2000 Licensed by Link Licensing Ltd. The Forgotten Toys © Link Entertainment/Hibbert Ralph Entertainment 2000 Licensed by Link Licensing Ltd.
Little Audrey in Storyland
Edit
Little Audrey in Storyland is a Story Record and Cartoon Film by Paramount Pictures' Famous Studios, with Mae Questel as Little Audrey (also played as Betty Boop and Olive Oyl).
Featuring Mae Questel, Mel Blanc, Jack Mercer, Tommy Luske, Jackson Beck, Cecil Roy, June Foray and Sid Raymond
A Capitol Record Reader
Recorded on April 21 1955
The Songs that Little Audrey sings are Little Audrey Says, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Rock-a-bye Baby and I'm Popeye the Sailor Man
With Special Guest Stars: Little Lulu, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare, Baby Huey and Popeye the Sailor
in Which Casper said about Sweets, Audrey is getting sick to her stomach from Butterscotch and Soda.
Little Audrey falls asleep while she's Fishing with Little Sam and Little Dot from The Seapreme Court.
Moe Hare has the voice of Bugs Bunny
Little Audrey Says is written by Winston Sharples and Buddy Kaye
Casper The Friendly Ghost is written by Mack David and Jerry Livingston
Little Lulu is written by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise and Sidney Lippman
I'm Popeye The Sailor Man is written by Sammy Lerner
Little Audrey's Friends are Little Tina, Little Jim, Bully Billy, Little Sam, Little Lotta and Little Dot
advertised as: While fishing with her friends Little Audrey gets winds up in Storyland where she meets characters from children's stories, including Little Red Riding Hood, whom Audrey saves from the wolf and finds that it was a dream.
Voice Cast
Mae Questel as Little Audrey, Little Sam and Jill
Jack Mercer as Fiddler 2, Popeye and Tommy Tortoise
Sid Raymond as Baby Huey
Tommy Luske as Little Dot
Mel Blanc as Old King Cole, Fiddler 1, Moe Hare and The Wolf
Cecil Roy as Casper the Friendly Ghost and Little Lulu
June Foray as Little Bo Peep, Little Red Riding Hood, Little Boy Blue, Simple Simons, Good Fairy, Jack, Little Miss Muffet, Mary and Fiddler 3
Jackson Beck as the Park Keeper
Little Audrey in The Book Revue
a World's Story Record and Cartoon Film by Paramount Pictures' Famous Studios, with Mae Questel as Little Audrey (also played as Betty Boop and Olive Oyl).
Featuring Mae Questel, Mel Blanc, Jack Mercer, Tommy Luske, Jackson Beck, June Foray and Sid Raymond
A Capitol Record Reader
Recorded on July 1960
The Songs that Little Audrey sings are Little Audrey Says, I'm Just Curious, La Cucaracha, Caroleena in the Mornink and I Love Dots
With Special Guest Stars: Little Lulu, Popeye the Sailor, Bluto, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Baby Huey, Superman, Lois Lane, Woody Woodpecker, Daffy Duck, Herman, Katnip, Buzzy the Crow, Henry, Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare
Little Lulu acts like a Lady from Musica-Lulu.
Audrey's a detective (complete with Deerstalker hat) from The Case of the Cockeyed Canary.
Audrey is sitting in the corner of the Library from Goofy Goofy Gander.
Audrey is a Champion Samba Dancer from W'ere on Our Way to Rio.
Moe Hare has the voice of The Dog from Goofy Groceries.
Woody Woodpecker's Laugh was by Grace Stafford.
Daffy Duck is Gene Krupa from Book Revue.
advertised as: Little Audrey and Little Dot are in the Library, when Audrey was so Sleepy she Dreams about a Books Comes to Life. With Dot, Audrey visit a Nightclub, where the featured singers and dancers live there, like Daffy Duck in his fake Russian accent as he sings, Carolina In The Morning, until She breaks out the Spinach, but The wolf appears behind Audrey and chases her through Hopalong Cassidy, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and is stymied trying to cut down Daffy who is hiding in the Petrified Forest, The Judge Fish declares the wolf as guilty and sentences him to Life, but the wolf makes his Escape and runs through the volumes. until he falls in into Dante's Inferno, all the Famous Studios characters loudly cheer and dance to a jazz/swing version of "Carolina In The Morning", Audrey wakes up and find out that it was a dream.
Voice Cast
Mae Questel as Little Audrey, Little Sam, Henry the VIII's Mother and Cuckoo Bird
Tommy Luske as Little Dot
Jack Mercer as Bully Billy and Popeye
Sid Raymond as Baby Huey
Grace Stafford as Woody Woodpecker
Robert Ellis as Little Lotta
Cecil Roy as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Little Tina and Little Lulu
Mel Blanc as Daffy Duck, Sailor, Henry VIII, Jack Bunny, Moe Hare, Aladdin and The Wolf
June Foray as Little Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, Little Jim, Emily Host and Heidi
Jackson Beck as Bluto, Buzzy and Judge Fish
Bea Benaderet as Can Can Dancers
Famous Studios' Arabian Nights
Edit
a Story Record and Cartoon Film by Paramount Pictures' Famous Studios, with Stars from Famous. (Little Audrey, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Little Lulu, Popeye, Baby Huey).
Featuring Mae Questel, Mel Blanc, Jack Mercer, Cecil Roy, Jackson Beck, June Foray, Jim Backus and Sid Raymond
A Capitol Record Reader
Recorded on May 1959
The Songs are Little Audrey Says, I'm Just Curious, Caroleena in the Mornink, Little Lulu, Casper The Friendly Ghost, I'm Popeye The Sailor Man and Skiddle Diddle Dee
Featuring Special Stars: Little Audrey, Pal, The Genie, Caliph Hassan Pfeiffer, Casper, Baby Huey, Papa Duck, Little Lulu, Popeye the Sailor, Bluto, Bugs Bunny, Rabbit Thugs, Beaky Buzzard, Raggedy Ann, Woody Woodpecker, Duck Twacy, Herman, Katnip, Spunky, A Ferocious Fox, Tommy Tortoise, Moe Hare, Wolfie, Waxey Weasel and Buzzy
Audrey has a sunhat and Umbrella from Surf Bored.
Little Audrey falls asleep from The Seapreme Court.
Audrey's a detective (complete with Deerstalker hat) from The Case of the Cockeyed Canary.
The Rabbit Thugs Thought That Audrey is the Turtle from Tortoise Wins by a Hare.
Daffy reprises his role as Duck Twacy from The Great Piggy Bank Robbery.
Audrey Found Aladdin's lamp from A-Lad-In His Lamp.
Moe Hare has the voice of The Dog from Goofy Groceries.
Little Lulu is a Miss America from Snap Happy.
Popeye and Bluto Riding on the Donkey from W'ere on Our Way to Rio.
The Genie is played by Jim Backus.
Woody Woodpecker's Laugh was by Grace Stafford.
Baghdad (here spelled as "Bagdad"), the aerial view depicts two bodies of water named Veronica Lake and Turhan Bay; when in the city, the view includes places such as "The Brown Turban", the Temple Bell telephone company with a sign for Persian to Persian calls, and Mad Man Hassan's used magic carpet lot.
advertised as:in the Paramount Cartoon Studios, Little Audrey Dreams of Living in Baghdad who went to the Royal Palace of Caliph Hassen Pheffer (built on a GI Loan). Audrey need a nap in a Palace Garden but Caliph, who then wants her, a chase Starts. she hides behind a door and ladies shriek, forcing her out of that room. Kick her Outside, Audrey soon find Aladdin's lamp and a genie appears and tells him to make a wish. Calling him "Smokey", Audrey quickly tries to escape from the Caliph by taking a magic carpet, rigged with an outboard motor. the magic carpet runs out of gas, making Her crash land. Caliph got Audrey and make her stay but she do not want to stay but when wakes up she was find out that it was a dream. Audrey Walks all alone and looks sad. When she meets up with Pal (her Puppy) and other Paramount cartoon characters and makes friends with them, but When the Caliph tries to get the genie out of the lamp, in spite of Bugs warning him not to ("You'll be SORRY!"), Smokey erupts, larger and angrier than before and beats the Caliph to a pulp. Cheering Audrey, he grants Her a wish as a celebration. he produces a ball that ends up as a puff of smoke when dropped. The scene concludes showing Audrey as a Caliph herself.
Voice Cast
Grace Stafford as Woody Woodpecker
Jackson Beck as Bluto, Rabbit Thugs and Buzzy
Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, Caliph Hassen Pheffer, Duck Twacy, Moe Hare and Rabbit Thugs
Jim Backus as Smokey the Genie
The New Harveytoons Show
Edit
The New Harveytoons Show is a television series based on the Harvey Comics, with a Harveytoon version of Movies, Fairy Tales and Stories. featuring Harvey Comics characters: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Wendy, Baby Huey, Richie Rich, Herman and Katnip and More. with Cilps from theatrical animated cartoons produced by Famous Studios, The New Casper Cartoon Show, The Baby Huey Show and the Film Roman version of Richie Rich.
Plot
Edit
Little Audrey, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richie Rich and Other Harvey Cartoon Characters has a theater of there own Called the Harvey Theater with Songs, Jokes, Acts and Dances. Each Name in there own and Ones with the room in it. Each show is a lighthearted takeoff of a children’s story and a popular movie.
Episodes
Crocodile Richie (Staring: Richie Rich and Moe Hare)
Dot and the Magic Lamp (Staring: Little Dot and Casper)
A Harvey Christmas Carol (Staring: Moe Hare, Little Dot, Baby Huey and Hot Stuff)
Robin Richie (Staring: Richie Rich and Hot Stuff)
The Wizard of Ah (Staring: Wendy, Richie Rich, Casper and Little Audrey)
The Phantom of the Theater (Staring: Baby Huey and The Ghostly Trio)
Casper and the Kong (Staring: Casper, Little Dot and Baby Huey)
Dot and the Dotstalk (Staring: Little Dot and Stumbo the Giant)
Audrey in Wonderland (Staring: Little Audrey)
Little Wendy Riding Hood (Staring: Wendy and Hot Stuff)
Little Dreamers (Staring: Little Audrey, Wendy, Little Dot and Gloria)
Hudi (Staring: Baby Huey, Gloria and Tommy Tortoise)
Gloria and the Three Ducks (Staring: Gloria Glad and Baby Huey)
Dot White (Staring: Little Dot, Richie Rich and Hot Stuff)
Casel & Dottel (Staring: Casper and Little Dot)
Herman and the Wolf (Staring: Herman, Buzzy, Little Audrey and Tommy Tortoise)
Frankencat (Staring: Katnip and Lucretia)
Richblanca (Staring: Richie Rich, Little Audrey, Gloria and Casper)
Rumpelduckskin (Staring: Little Dot and Baby Huey)
Harvey in the Willows (Staring: Casper, Richie Rich, Wendy and Little Audrey)
The Dotcracker (Staring: Little Dot and Herman)
Ghost of the Round Table (Staring: Casper, Spooky and The Ghostly Trio)
Sleeping Wendy (Staring: Wendy and Casper)
Huey's New Clothes (Staring: Baby Huey and Richie Rich)
The Ugly Girling (Staring: Little Audrey)
Hare of the Jungle (Staring: Moe Hare)
CinderDotty (Staring: Little Dot, Little Audrey and Casper)
Audrey and the Beast (Staring: Baby Huey and Little Audrey)
Peter Rich (Staring: Richie Rich, Princess Charma, Buzzy and Little Audrey)
The Secret Garden of Dots (Staring: Little Dot)
Dotcahontas (Staring: Little Dot and Wendy)
Audreylina (Staring: Little Audrey and Richie Rich)
Pecos Ghost (Staring: Spooky and Katnip)
The Wendy Piper (Staring: Wendy and Hot Stuff)
Ghost Lake (Staring: Casper, Pearl and Spooky)
The Audrey and the Devil (Staring: Little Audrey and Hot Stuff)
Voice Cast
Additional Voices - Bill Thompson, Jackson Beck, Daws Butler, Mae Questel, Sid Raymond and Jack Mercer
Richblanca
Edit
A Harvey Tale with Harvey Comic characters in Roles from the Film like Richie Rich as Rick, Spooky as Sam and Baby Huey as Captain Renault, Some characters use their real names, others the names of the characters in the original film, or parodic versions. Other Harvey Comics Characters can be seen in the Background
A German secret document is stolen and Usmarte (Casper as Ugarte), the actual thief, lures Richie Rich into taking it. General Pandemonium as (Moe Hare as Major Strasser) gets a frantic call from Rooster (Foghorn Leghorn) saying the secret document has been stolen, and immediately heads for the Richblanca nightclub---the Cafe Au Lait Americain, Meanwhile Melvin (as Victor Lazlo) and Audrey Ketty (as Ilsa) arrive at the hotel. Ketty, who happens to be a former girlfriend of Richie, asks Spooky (as Sam) to play her favorite song, General Pandemonium suspects Melvin may know about the document and binds him in his office. Ketty pleads with Richie to help Melvin out of this. Though Richie is initially reluctant due to the fact that Ketty broke his heart, he goes to the General's office nevertheless and confuses the General himself into jail. The story climaxes with Melvin and Ketty escaping on the plane for Toronto, New York City and Cucamonga, as Richie watches them go... except that they find Captain Louis (Baby Huey) on the plane working as a steward. Louis asks Ketty, "Coffee, tea, or milk?", causing her to jump out, seemingly without a parachute, landing right in front of Richie. They kiss, then the parachute opens, covering them.
Cast
Harvey Storytime - Huey and the Pirates
A Harvey Song - No Mouse in the World Like me
Little Things Mean a Lot
Modern Madcaps - Silly Science
Baby Huey - Git Along Little Ducky
Harvey Storytime - The Fastest Duck in the West
Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare - Mr. Money Gags
Herman and Katnip - Robin Rodenthood
Modern Madcaps - Fido Beta Kappa
Harvey Storytime - Gave the Tortoise Some Money
A Harvey Song - The Daring Young Hare on the Flying Trapeze
It's Playtime with Casper
Casper the Friendly Ghost - Boo Moon
Casper the Friendly Ghost - Ghost of Honor
Harvey Storytime - Ghost on the Moon
Casper the Friendly Ghost - To Boo or Not to Boo
Casper the Friendly Ghost - Red, White, and Boo
Casper the Friendly Ghost - Which is Witch
Harvey Storytime - Wendy at the Beach
A Harvey Song - Come Along Now and Join the Party
Storytime with Little Audrey
Harvey Storytime - Little Red Audrey Hood
A Harvey Song - Try a Little Something New/High and Low Medley
Share Your World
Buzzy Crow - As the Crow Lies
Modern Madcap - From Dime to Dime
Harvey Storytime - The Crow's Big Night
Herman and Katnip - Will Do Mousework
Casper the Friendly Ghost - Mother Goose Land
Modern Madcaps - Poop Goes the Weasel
Harvey Storytime - Wendy, Through the Looking-Glass
A Havrey Song - Casper and Friends
Songs
Open my Heart (Opening and Ending)
Casper the Friendly Ghost (Casper's Theme)
Little Audrey Says (Little Audrey's Theme)
The Cute Little Witch (Wendy's Theme)
I Wanna Scare Myself (Spooky's Theme)
I'm a Baby Huey (Baby Huey's Theme)
Tommy and Moe are Friends (Tommy and Moe's Theme)
Skiddle Diddle Dee (Herman and Katnip's Theme)
Listen to the Mockingbird (Buzzy Crow's Theme)
The World of Modern Madcap (Modern Madcap's Theme)
No Mouse in the World Like me (Herman and Katnip Featurettes)
The Daring Young Hare on the Flying Trapeze (Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare Featurettes)
Come Along Now and Join the Party (The New Casper Cartoon Show)
Here i go Round and Round (Little Audrey Featurettes)
Oh' Little Audrey (The Adventures of Little Audrey)
Do the Duck (Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure)
Try a Little Something New/High and Low Medley (Casper and Friends)
Casper and Friends (Casper and Friends)
With the All-new Voice Cast
Katie Leigh - Casper/Richie Rich/Lou/Isabel/Mary Canary/Dueben
Joe Alaskey - Spooky/Baby Huey/Moe Hare/Farmer Jones/Katnip
Anndi McAfee - Wendy/Wishbone
Additional Voices - Julie Kavner, Gilbert Gottfried, Mr. Lawrence, Dan Castellaneta and Cree Summer
Cecil Roy - Casper/Billy (archive footage)
Alan Shay - Casper (archive footage)
Norma MacMillan - Casper/Wendy (archive footage)
Arnold Stang - Herman/Turkey/Turtle (archive footage)
Jackson Beck - Buzzy the Crow/Fox/Red Lantern/Moe Hare/Additional Voices (archive footage)
Bradley Bolke - The Ghostly Trio (archive footage)
Jack Mercer - Spooky/Waxey Weasel/Jonah/Additional Voices (archive footage)
Sid Raymond - Baby Huey/Wolfie/Katnip (archive footage)
Mae Questel - Little Audrey/Audrey's Mother (archive footage)
Warner Bros. Sing-Along: Looney Tunes, Quest for Camelot and Little Audrey
Warner Bors. Sing-Along: Looney Tunes
Daffy Duck challenges Bugs Bunny to a Wild and Wacky Talent Contest.
Songs
"This Is It" from The Bugs Bunny Show (Bugs and Daffy)
"Jeepers Creepers" from Show Biz Bugs (Children's Chorus)
"Call Me Wacky Daffy Duck" (Mary had a Little Lamb) (Daffy and Children's Chorus)
"The Daring Young Hare on the Flying Trapeze" (The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze) (Bugs)
"Tweety" from All Abi-r-r-rd (Tweety)
"I Thought I Saw A Putty-Tat" (Pop Goes the Weasel) (Tweety)
"The Three Little Bops" from The Three Little Bops
"Hooray for Hollywood" from "What's Up Doc?" (Bugs and Children's Chorus)
The Rabbit of Seville from "The Rabbit of Seville" (Bugs and Elmer)
"What's Up Doc?" from "What's Up Doc?" (Bugs and Elmer)
"The Wild Blue Yonder" (Daffy and Children's Chorus)
"Tea For Two" from Show Biz Bugs (Children's Chorus)
Voice Cast
Mel Blanc - Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck/Tweety Bird (archive footage)
Billy West - Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd
Joe Alaskey - Tweety Bird/Daffy Duck
The Celestial Singers - Children's Chorus
Warner Bros. Sing-Along: Quest for Camelot
Let's meet the characters in Ye Merry Olde England from the animated musical, Quest for Camelot.
Songs
"On my Father's Wings" from Quest for Camelot (Kayley)
"This Old Knight" (This Old Man) (Bugs and Children's Chorus)
"If I Didn't Have You" from Quest for Camelot (Devon and Cornwall)
"London Bridge Is Falling Down" from Rabbit Hood (Bugs)
"Come Lads and Lasses" from Robin Hood Daffy (Daffy)
"I Stand All Alone" from Quest for Camelot (Garrett)
"No, No, No You Don't" (Row, Row, Row Your Boat) (Bugs and Daffy)
"Are You Sleeping" (Tweety)
"Jimmy Crack Corn" from Lumber Jack-Rabbit (Bugs and Children's Chorus)
"We're Of To See The Wizard" from The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion)
Voice Cast
The Celestial Singers - Children's Chorus
Warner Bros. Sing-Along: Little Audrey and Friends
Join Little Audrey and all of her Funday Funnies for a Sing-Along Fun and Laughs Too.
"Time for Funday Funnies" from Matty's Funday Funnies (Children's Chorus)
"Little Audrey Says" from Little Audrey Featurettes (Children's Chorus)
"Here i go Round and Round" (Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush) (Little Audrey and Children's Chorus)
"The Cute Little Witch" (Rock-a-Bye Baby) (Wendy)
"Casper the Friendly Ghost" from Casper Featurettes (Childen's Chorus)
"By the Beautiful Sea" (Casper, Wendy, Little Audrey and Children's Chorus)
"I'm Just a Buzzy Crow" (Listen to the Mockingbird) (Buzzy)
"Try a Little Something New/High and Low Medley" (Little Audrey, Buzzy and Children's Chorus)
"Tommy and Moe are Friends" (Tommy and Moe)
"Skiddle Diddle Dee" from Herman and Katnip Featurettes (Children's Chorus)
"No Mouse in the World Like me" (Friend like Me) (Herman and Katnip)
"I'm a Baby Huey" (The Merry-go-Round Broke Down) (Baby Huey and Children's Chorus)
"Me and My Friends" (Sing) (Little Audrey, Casper, Moe Hare, Wendy, Buzzy, Herman, Baby Huey and Children's Chorus)
Voice Cast
Edit
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released several hundred titles to home video. Home of the Walt Disney Classic Films, Sing Along with Sing Along Song, Learn with The Raggy Dolls, Join Aladdin in his Arabian Adventures, Swim with Ariel and her Friends and more Like Spot, Mickey's Fun Songs, Storybook Favourites and Winnie the Pooh
Walt Disney Classics
Once Upon a Time as many times as you like What's a Disney Videos without Classics flims.
Mary Poppins, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland and Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Song of the South, Robin Hood, The Great Mouse Detective, Pete's Dragon and The Sword in the Stone
So Dear to My Heart and Sleeping Beauty
Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, Bambi and The Little Mermaid
The Rescuers, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin and Peter Pan
101 Dalmatians, The Aristocats and The Black Cauldron
The Rescuers Down Under and Fantasia
The Fox and the Hound and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Pocahontas, Toy Story and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Oliver & Company, Hercules and Mulan
Walt Disney's Classic Adventures
The Collection of forgettable Family Films!
The Parent Trap, Pollyanna, That Darn Cat!, The Moon-Spinners and Summer Magic
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, 7 Kidnapped, Swiss Family Robinson and Treasure Island
The Light in the Forest, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates and Johnny Tremain
The Love Bug, Herbie Rides Again, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and Herbie Goes Bananas
Old Yeller
The Shaggy Dog, The Shaggy D.A., The Absent-Minded Professor and Son of Flubber
The Barefoot Executive, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit and The Strongest Man in the World
The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again and No Deposit, No Return
Walt Disney Pictures Presents
Favourites Family films for all ages
The Three Musketeers and Cool Runnings
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco
White Fang, Hocus Pocus and The Santa Clause
The Mighty Ducks and the Champions and Honey I Blew Up The Kids
Storybook Favourites and Mini Classics
Magical Stories for Mini People
The Prince and the Pauper and The Wind in the Willows
Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare and The Ugly Duckling
Mickey and the Beanstalk and Peter and the Wolf
Mickey's Magical World, Donald in Mathmagic Land and The Reluctant Dragon
Ben and Me, Bongo and Mickey's Christmas Carol
The Small One, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Willie the Operatic Whale
Disney's Cartoon Collection
An Action Packed Collection Bursting with fun. Adventure and Disney's Colourful Characters as seen on TV.
Disney's TaleSpin: Baloo Skies, Dare Devil Bears, Fearless Flyers and Hot Shot Heroes
Disney's Darkwing Duck: Darkly Dawns the Duck and Justice Ducks Unite
Disney's Goof Troop: Goin' Fishin and The Race is on
Disney's Winnie The Pooh: The Great Honey Pot Robbery, Birds of a Feather, 100 Acre Hero, Up, Up & Away, Masked Maaruders, Wild West Winnie, Bubbles & Troubles, Pooh Bear's Big Surprise, The Great River Rescue and Goodbye Mr Pooh
Disney's Ducktales: Earthquack, Microducks from Outer Space, Hotel Strangeduc, High Seas Adventures, The Lost Crown of Genghis Khan, 1001 Arabian Duck, Treasure of the Lost Lamp, Jailhouse Duck, Fool of the Nile and Little Duckaroos
Disney's Details Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers: Crimebusters, Flies in Disguise, Ghouls & Jewel, Size Heros, Romancing the Clone, 3 Men & Birdie, Duelling Dale and Danger Rangers
Disney's Gummi Bears: Welcome to Gummiglen, Creature Feature and Hot Little Tot
Disney Cartoon Classics
you can count on Mickey Mouse, Pluto and Donald Duck for non-stop Laughter in this classic cartoons from Disney's Treasured Collection
Starring Donald & Daisy and Staring Goofy
Celebrate With Mickey, Donald's Birthday Bash and Frontier Pluto
Here's Mickey!, Here's Donald!, Here's Goofy!, Silly Symphonies! and Here's Pluto!
Starring Mickey & Minnie, Starring Silly Symphonies: Animals Two by Two, Starring Chip 'n' Dale and Starring Pluto & Fifi
Mickey & the Gang and Nuts About Chip 'n' Dale
The Muppets
from the genius of Jim Henson comes The Muppets
The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan and Muppet Treasure Island
It's the Muppets: Meet the Muppets and More Muppets Please
Muppets on Wheels
Muppets Sing Alongs: Billy Bunny's Animal Songs and It's Not Easy Being Green
Muppet Babies: Explore With Us, Time to Play and Let's Build
Fraggle Rock: Meet the Fraggles, Fraggle Fun and Doozer Doings and The Fraggles Search and Find
Muppet Babies Yes I Can: Yes, I Can Be a Friend, Yes, I Can Help and Yes, I Can Learn
Mother Goose Stories: Mary had a Little Lamb and Humpty Dumpty
Disney's Sing Along Song
it's fun and great with Disney captured of collection of Sing Along Songs, just follow the words on the screen
101 Notes of Fun, Circle of Life and Colors of the Wind
Songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Under the Sea and The Bare Necessities
Let's go to Disneyland Paris
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah and Heigh-Ho
Fun with Music, You Can Fly!, Disneyland Fun and I Love to Laugh
Be Our Guest, Pongo and Perdita, Songs from Hercules and Friend Like Me
Mickey's Fun Songs
Mickey and his Friends going to Somewhere New and full of Music fun with Favourite Kids Songs.
Let's Go to the Circus and Campout at Walt Disney World
Beach Party at Walt Disney World
Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing Along
Sing with Alvin, Simon and Theodore with all there songs thet makes sing along fun
Cowboy Joe
I've Been Working On the Railroad
Disney's The Raggy Dolls
Join in the various adventures of Sad Sack, Back-To-Front, Dotty, Lucy, Hi-Fi, Claude and Princess from the reject bin in Mr Grimes' factory
Back-To-Front's Adventures, Lucy's Playtime and Princess' Stories
Dolls Together and Three Cheers for Back-To-Front and Sad Sack
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Early Adventures
Join Ariel and her Friends in their Under-sea Adventures
Saltwater Sisters and Ariel the Ballerina
A Whale of a Tale, Stormy the Wild Seahorse and Double Bubble
in Harmony and Ariel's Gift
Aladdin's Arabian Adventures
Aladdin Returns for more Animated Adventures.
Aladdin to the Rescue, Genie in a Jar and Treasures of Doom
The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and The King of Thieves
Disney's Presents Spot
Spot, the Ever-curious, Always Adorable Puppy in his big Adventures.
Where's Spot and Spot Goes to the Farm
Spot Goes to School, Spot Goes to a Party and Sweet Dreams Spot
Winnie the Pooh
Join Winnie the Pooh and his Friends in a series of delightful escapades in the Hundred Acre Wood.
A.A. Milne's Original Tales: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! and Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore
Playtime: Pooh Party, Cowboy Pooh, Happy Pooh Day, Detective Tigger and Fun 'n' Games
Learning: Sharing and Caring, Growing Up, Working Together, Helping Others and Making Friends
Friendship: Clever Little Piglet, Three Cheers for Eeyore and Rabbit!, Imagine That, Christopher Robin!, Tigger-Ific Tales and Pooh Wishes
Disney Princess Collection
There's three Enchanted Tales, Song and Stoires from you're Favourite Disney Princess Firends
Jasmine's Enchanted Tales: Jasmine's Wish, Greatest Treasure, True Hearts and Magic and Mystery
Ariel's Songs & Stories: Wish Upon a Starfish and Giggles
Belle's Sing Me a Story: Chapters of Enchantment and Beauty & The World of Music
Disney's Christmas Collection
Wrap up a Disney video this Christmas
Mickey's Christmas Carol and The Small One
Twelve Days of Christmas and Very Merry Christmas Songs
A Walt Disney Christmas, Jiminy Cricket's Christmas and A Disney Christmas Gift
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, The Raggy Dolls' Christmas Gift, The Muppets Christmas Carol and Spot's Magical Christmas
Bright Beginnings
The Collection for Preschoolers, Each Bright Beginnings Collection includes activitiy books and other videos
Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories
Old MacDonald's Sing-Along Farm: That's What Friends are For, Share and Care Alike and Past, Presents and Future
Rimba's Island: Lost and Found, We Love to Share and You are Special
Animal Shelf: Stripey to the Rescue, Music in the Woods, Little Mut Goes Flying, Mystery of the Pictures and Hottest Day of the Year
Parachute Express: Come Sing with Us!
Disney Princess Collection: Ariel's Songs & Stories: Wish Upon a Starfish and Giggles
Disney's Presents Spot: Sweet Dreams Spot
Mickey's Fun Songs: Let's go to The Circus, Camping in Walt Disney World and Beach Party at Walt Disney World
Disney's The Raggy Dolls: Lucy's Playtime, Princess' Stories and Dolls Together
Winnie the Pooh Playtime: Pooh Party, Cowboy Pooh, Happy Pooh Day, Detective Tigger and Fun 'n' Games
Jim Henson's Preschool Collection: Humpty Dumpty, Mary had a Little Lamb and Yes I Can, Be a Friend
NBC "Let's All Be There" Mornings
Edit
The Chipmunks sing NBC's "Let's All Be There" theme. Featuring other classic hit shows and characters like: The Smurfs, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Quick Draw McGraw, Heckle and Jeckle, Mr. T, The Snorks, The Pink Panther and Sons, The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show and many more of Saturday and Sunday Cartoons on DVD Disc 1 (Saturday)
The Snorks: Allstar's Freshwater Adventure/Dr. Strangesnork
Alvin & The Chipmunks: The C-Team/The Chipettes
Heckle and Jeckle: Hula Hula Land/Blue Plate Symphony
Quick Draw McGraw: In the Picnic of Time/Scary Prairie/Desperate Diamond Dimwits
The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show: School for Cats/Disco Droopy/Pied Piper Puss
Kidd Video: The Dream Machine
Mr. T: Mystery of the Forbidden Monastery
Disc 2 (Sunday)
Matty's Funday Funnies: Huey's Father's Day/Once Upon a Rhyme/The Seapreme Court
The Smurfs: The Baby Smurf/Vanity Fare
Beany and Cecil: So What and the Seven Whatnots/Beany and the Boo Birds
Pink Panther and Sons: Pinto Pink/Sitter Jitters
Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales: Rainmakers
Going Bananas
Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends: 7 Little Superheroes
Little Audrey's Cartoon Show
Edit
Little Audrey's Cartoon Show is a television series presenting theatrical animated cartoons produced by Famous Studios, starring Harvey Comics character, Little Audrey. It airing in 1961 with Famous Studios-produced cartoons from October 1950 to March 1962 featuring Little Audrey, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare, Baby Huey, Buzzy Crow, Herman and Katnip and Modern Madcaps with the Little Audrey Act segment by Gene Deitch staring Little Audrey and Her Friends (Pal, Little Tina, Little Jim, Bully Billy, Little Sam, Little Lotta and Little Dot).
List of Little Audrey filmography
Famous Studios filmography (1950/59)
Tarts and Flowers/The Little Girl Who Could Fly/Sam's Dance Party
Audrey's Doll Sitter/Butterfly Audrey/Good Billy
Hold the Lion Please/Little Snow-Audrey/Make's Music
Lotta's Cheese/Law and Audrey/Dot and Audrey
Dots, Dots, Dots/Be Yourself/Audrey's Candy Sack
The Case of the Cockeyed Canary/Surf Bored/Dot in Love
Little Runaway Car/Cousin Suzie/Audrey's Night Out
The Seapreme Court/Audrey and the Pirates/Dot's Diary
The Mad Doctor/Dizzy Dishes/Little Audrey Riding Hood
I'm Just Curious/Fishing Tackler/Aurdey's Baby Talk
Lotta and Dot's Sandpit/Spotty Girl/Suzie's Hypnosis
Dawg Gawn/Spook a Nanny/Little Audrey Peep
Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films filmography (1961/64)
Land in Audrey/Twin Trouble/The Heart of Gold
Girls Only/It's Greek to Audrey/Tina's Little Secret
Tot Watchers/Fastest Trap in the West/Caribbean Jim
Dot's Big Day
Mae Questel - Little Audrey, Little Sam (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Tommy Luske - Little Dot (Famous Studios only)
June Foray - Little Jim, Cousin Suzie (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Cecil Roy - Little Tina (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Jack Mercer - Bully Billy (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Robert Ellis - Little Lotta (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Barbara Luddy - Audrey's Mother, Dot's Mother (Famous Studios only)
Mel Blanc - Pal (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Jackson Beck - Lotta's Father, Buzzy Crow (Famous Studios/Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Norma MacMillan - Audrey's Twin Sister (Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films)
Bruce Reitherman - Little Dot (Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films only)
Sid Raymond - Little Lotta (Famous Studios only)
Heather Angel - Audrey's Mother (Gene Deitch/Rembrandt Films only)
Additional Voices - Jack Mercer/Daws Butler/Allen Swift/Jackson Beck/Paul Frees/Mel Blanc/June Foray/Jim Backus/Bill Thompson/Sid Raymond/Gilbert Mack/Mae Questel/Eddie Lawrence/Arnold Stang
Songs
Little Audrey Says from Little Audrey Featurettes (Chorus)
I Just a Lovely Little Girl from Little Audrey Featurettes (Little Audrey)
Mama Yo Quiero from Audrey's Doll Sitter (Meathead, Butch and Topsy)
Cheese, Cheese, Cheese from Lotta's Cheese (Little Lotta)
I Like Dots from Dot and Audrey, Dots, Dots, Dots, Spotty Girl and Dot's Diary (Little Dot)
Tummy Ache Blues from Audrey's Candy Sack (Candy Monsters)
I'm Just Curious from Little Runaway Car and I'm Just Curious (Little Audrey and Audrey's Mother)
It's Jive from Cousin Suzie and Suzie's Hypnosis (Cousin Suzie)
Rock-a-Bye Audrey from Audrey's Night Out (Audrey's Mother)
Bottle of Rum from Audrey and the Pirates (Little Audrey, Pirates, Pirate Captain, Dead Man, Little Sailor, Little Tina, Little Jim, Bully Billy, Little Sam, Little Lotta and Little Dot)
Listen to the Mockingbird from Buzzy and Little Audrey Featurettes (Buzzy Crow)
The Pizza Song from Tina's Little Secret (Little Audrey, Tony, Little Tina, Little Jim, Bully Billy, Little Sam, Little Lotta and Little Dot)
Episodes of Little Audrey's Cartoon Show
The Case of the Cockeyed Canary/Sleuth But Sure/Top Cat
Little Audrey Riding Hood/Git Along Little Ducky/Boo Scout
Dizzy Dishes/One Quack Mind/Boo Hoo Baby
Surf Bored/Fido Beta Kappa/Kitty Cornered
Law and Audrey/La Petite Parade/Ship A-Hooey
Hold the Lion, Please/Sock-a-Bye Kitty/Casper Genie
Dawg Gawn/Bouncing Benny/You Said a Mouseful
The Seapreme Court/Doing What's Fright/Huey's Father's Day
Tarts and Flowers/Dutch Treat/The Voice of the Turkey
Fishing Tackler/Will Do Mousework/Huey's Ducky Daddy
The Little Girl Who Could Fly/No Ifs, Ands or Butts/From Dime to Dime
Aurdey's Baby Talk/Northwest Mousie/Ghost Writers
I'm Just Curious/Which is Witch/Swab the Duck
Audrey's Night Out/Poop Goes the Weasel/Crazytown
Butterfly Audrey/Feast and Furious/Boo Bop
Cousin Suzie/Mouseum/Trick or Tree
Little Runaway Car/In the Nicotine/Mr. Money Gags
Spook a Nanny/To Boo or Not to Boo/Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
The Scarlet Pumpernickel with Little Audrey
The cartoon is a story-within-a-story. Daffy (one of The Cartoon Staff from Ghost of Honor) is fed up with comedy and wants to try a dramatic act instead (Little Audrey Loves comedy). He offers a script to the Paramount Cartoon Studios executive "J.L." (Also a Warner Brothers executive), called The Scarlet Pumpernickel, which he wrote himself (under the name Alexandre Dumas.)
As Daffy reads the script to J.L., Audrey was so Sleepy, she Dreams that she in the Story of The Scarlet Pumpernickel with Various Scenes with Daffy as The Narrator.
The Scarlet Pumpernickel (Daffy Duck) must save the Fair Lady Melissa (Little Dot, Audrey's Firend) from being married to a man she does not love, the Grand Duke (Sylvester) under the Lord High Chamberlain's (Porky Pig) orders. Melissa loves Scarlet, but her happy mood is extinguished in a heartbeat when the Chamberlain orders her to "Keep away from that masked band-d-d-d-d-a-desperand-d-d-d-d-that masked stinker!". The Chamberlain gets a brilliant plan and decides to marry Melissa to the Grand Duke in exchange for killing the Scarlet Pumpernickel.
As planned, Audrey is drawn to town to interrupt the wedding. She arrives disguised as a noble and uses the disguise to research and develop her plan for rescuing Melissa. Storming the wedding ceremony as she is walking up the aisle, Audrey is instantly successful as Melissa tears herself from her father's arms and runs from the chapel, dragging Audrey with her ("So what's to save?"). Audrey takes her back to the inn where she was staying. The Grand Duke stops for respite at the inn and spots Audrey on the staircase. He chases her and is bearing down upon her when Scarlet swings in. Notably in this segment of the plot there is a running gag in which Daffy compares his own daring stunts with those of Errol Flynn.
The Grand Duke and the Scarlet Pumpernickel engage in an intense duel, but no conclusive ending is given as to who ultimately wins the battle. Daffy, as the scriptwriter, having only thought of the beginning and middle of the story, and being pressured by the enthusiastic "J.L.", overdoes the ending as an unlikely series of random and accelerating natural disasters, to which surprisingly, J.L. asks, "is that all?" At his wit's end, Daffy shoots through his hat in exhaustion.
That Made Audrey Wake up find out that it was a dream, Daffy has a plan. he Tell Jake about that the story Daffy reads "The Scarlet Pumpernickel by Little Audrey" then as Daffy Faint, Audrey Laugh at the end.
This is notable among Famous Studios, Warner Bros. and Universal International shorts for its unusually large cast of "star" characters (which, in addition to Little Audrey, Pal, Little Dot as Melissa, Daffy Duck as The Scarlet Pumpernickel, Porky Pig as Lord High Chamberlain, Sylvester as The Grand Duke, Popeye, Foghorn Leghorn and Woody Woodpecker as The Guards and Little Lulu as The Messager includes Elmer Fudd, Wimpy, Casper, Katnip, Tommy Tortoise, Moe Hare, Baby Huey, Henery Hawk and Mama Bear from Jones' Three Bears series).
The Saturday Superstar Movie Vol. 1, 2 and 3
a series of one-hour animated TV-movies is now on dvd. produced by several production companies including Hanna-Barbera, Harvey Films, Filmation, and Rankin/Bass and mostly contained features Yogi Bear, The Brady Kids and Lassie.
The Saturday Superstar Movie Vol. 1
The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park
Nanny and the Professor
Play It Again, Charlie Brown
Havreytoons' Carnival of the Animals
The Saturday Superstar Movie Vol. 2
Oliver and the Artful Dodger
Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family
The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik
Mad Mad Mad Monsters
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
Lassie and the Spirit of Thunder Mountain
The Saturday Superstar Movie Vol. 3
The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island
Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection
Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies
Luvcast U.S.A.
Edit
The Disney Channel was released on VHS PAL in the UK, USA and Australia. in The six-volume set which also each featured an episode of Good Morning, Mickey!, Welcome to Pooh Corner, The Mouse Factory, Dinosaurs, Adventures in Wonderland, Dumbo's Circus, Bear in the Big Blue House, Donald Duck Presents, Mousercise, Bertha and The Raggy Dolls
Volume One:
Bear in the Big Blue House - Change is in The Air
Adventures in Wonderland - Busy as a Spelling Bee
Volume Six:
Donald Duck Presents - Nature's Half Acre
Welcome to Pooh Corner - Handyman Tigger
The Raggy Dolls - Princess at School
Dumbo's Circus - Finding the Perfect Gift
Adventures in Wonderland - The Mirth of a Nation
Dinosaurs - Employee of the Month
Mousercise - with Kellyn, Mickey, Donald and Goofy
Adventures in Wonderland, Welcome to Pooh Corner, Dumbo's Circus, Good Morning, Mickey!, Donald Duck Presents, The Mouse Factory and Mousercise © The Walt Disney Company, All Rights Reserved. Bear in the Big Blue House © Jim Henson Productions inc. Dinosaurs © Michael Jacobs Productions. Bertha © Woodland Animations Ltd. The Raggy Dolls © Melvyn Jacobson.
Noah's Ark (A.K.A The Perfect Place)
A Movie Dozens of Cartoon Characters travelin a Flying version of Noah's Ark in search of "The Perfect Place"
The Song is The Perfect Place from Yogi's Ark Lark
Characters from the following Cartoons appeared in this movie
Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpy
Marlon, Greg Brady, Peter Brady, Bobby Brady, Marcia Brady, Jan Brady and Cindy Brady from The Brady Kids
Baby Huey
Parachute Express - Come Sing with Us!
Animal Shelf - Little Mut Goes Flying
Animal Shelf - Mystery of the Pictures
Animal Shelf - Hottest Day of the Year
Sesame Street - The Alphabet Jungle Game
Sesame Street - The Great Numbers Game
Sesame Street - Big Bird Gets Lost
Sesame Street - Elmo Says Boo
Sesame Street - Best of Elmo
Winnie The Pooh - Three Cheers For Eeyore and Rabbit
Winnie The Pooh - Pooh Wishes
Winnie The Pooh - Imagine That, Christopher Robin!
The Wiggles - Wiggly Wiggly Christmas
The Wiggles - Big Red Car
Dog and Duck - The Best of Friends
Hilltop Hospital - Heart Trouble at Hilltop
Spot and his Grandparents Go to the Carnival
Spot's Show and Other Musical Adventures
Cartoon Caper
Cartoon Caper is a Yorkshire Television cartoon series, the show featured a variety of cartoons including Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, MGM's Tom and Jerry and Famous' Popeye the Sailor.
Characters
MGM's Tom and Jerry, Barney Bear and Droopy (1942/1952)
Terrytoons's Heckle and Jeckle (1951/1961)
Walter Lantz's Woody Woodpecker (1951/1954)
Harvey Films' Little Audrey (1950/1958)
Hanna-Barbera's Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Wally Gator and Quick Draw McGraw (1958/1961)
Season 1
Daffy Duck: Hollywood Daffy/Popeye: I'll Be Skiing Ya/Donald Duck: Donald's Dilemma/Woody Woodpecker: Under the Counter Spy
Donald Duck: Chef Donald/Tom and Jerry: Trap Happy/Woody Woodpecker: Woodpecker in the Rough/Foghorn Leghorn: The Leghorn Blows at Midnight
Popeye: Shape Ahoy/Woody Woodpecker: Buccaneer Woodpecker/Foghorn Leghorn: The Egg-Cited Rooster/Donald Duck: Donald's Snow Fight
Woody Woodpecker: Sleep Happy/Tom and Jerry: Fine Feathered Friend/Little Audrey: Dizzy Dishes/Donald Duck: The Plastics Inventor
Bugs Bunny: What's Cookin' Doc?/Little Audrey: Dawg Gawn/Tom and Jerry: Little Runaway/Daffy Duck: Yankee Doodle Daffy
Tom and Jerry: Casanova Cat/Little Audrey: The Seapreme Court/Daffy Duck: Drip-Along Daffy/Foghorn Leghorn: Sock-a-Doodle-Do
Foghorn Leghorn: Leghorn Swoggled/Donald Duck: Early to Bed/Tom and Jerry: His Mouse Friday/Daffy Duck: The Great Piggy Bank Robbery
Little Audrey: Little Audrey Riding Hood/Popeye: The Fistic Mystic/Woody Woodpecker: Hypnotic Hick/Donald Duck: Donald's Double Trouble
Woody Woodpecker:A Fine Feathered Frenzy/Bug Bunny: Hare Tonic/Foghorn Leghorn: Walky Talky Hawky/Popeye: Popeye and the Pirates
Donald Duck: Wide Open Spaces/Daffy Duck: Daffy Doodles/Little Audrey: Trick or Tree/Tom and Jerry: The Lonesome Mouse
Popeye: Swimmer Take All/Donald Duck: Test Pilot Donald/Foghorn Leghorn: Crowing Pains/Little Audrey: Hold the Lion Please
Season 2
Tom and Jerry: Sufferin' Cats!/Woody Woodpecker: Scalp Treatment/Donald Duck: Donald's Diary/Huckleberry Hound: Wiki Waki Huck
Foghorn Leghorn: Leghorn Swoggled/Yogi Bear: Robin Hood Yogi/Little Audrey: Little Audrey Riding Hood/Tom and Jerry: Polka-Dot Puss
Huckleberry Hound: Spud Dud/Yogi Bear: Papa Yogi/Tom and Jerry: Mouse Trouble/Foghorn Leghorn: A Fractured Leghorn
Quick Draw McGraw: Bad Guys Disguise/Woody Woodpecker: The Woody Woodpecker Polka/Little Audrey: Law and Audrey/Bugs Bunny: High Diving Hare
Donald Duck: Working for Peanuts/Tom and Jerry: The Cat and the Mermouse/Bugs Bunny: Bugs Bunny Rides Again/Woody Woodpecker: The Great Who-Dood-It
Popeye: House Tricks?/Bugs Bunny: What's Up Doc?/Little Audrey: Surf Bored/Huckleberry Hound: Bird House Blues
Woody Woodpecker: Belle Boys/Popeye: Car-azy Drivers/Yogi Bear: A Bear Living/Daffy Duck: The Scarlet Pumpernickel
Yogi Bear: A Bear Pair/Little Audrey: The Case of the Cockeyed Canary/Donald Duck: Bee On Guard/Huckleberry Hound: Postman Panic
Bugs Bunny: The Big Snooze/Popeye: Bride and Gloom/Quick Draw McGraw: Who is El Kabong?/Yogi Bear: Big Bad Bully
Little Audrey: Fishing Tackler/Bugs Bunny: Slick Hare/Popeye: Popeye, the Ace of Space/Yogi Bear: Bears and Bees
Daffy Duck: My Favorite Duck/Tom and Jerry: Tennis Chumps/Woody Woodpecker: Operation Sawdust/Quick Draw McGraw: Dizzy Desperado
Sesason 3
Quick Draw McGraw: Who is El Kabong?/Daffy Duck: The Scarlet Pumpernickel/Little Audrey: The Case of the Cockeyed Canary/Woody Woodpecker: Under the Counter Spy
Heckle and Jeckle: Movie Madness/Woody Woodpecker: Buccaneer Woodpecker/Daffy Duck: Hollywood Daffy/Yogi Bear: Show Biz Bear
Popeye: Popeye and the Pirates/Huckleberry Hound: Wiki Waki Huck/Tom and Jerry: His Mouse Friday/Little Audrey: The Seapreme Court
Little Audrey: Little Audrey Riding Hood/Huckleberry Hound: Little Red Riding Huck/Foghorn Leghorn: Crowing Pains/Bugs Bunny: Slick Hare
Donalde Duck: Donald's Crime/Barney Bear: Cobs and Robbers/Daffy Duck: The Great Piggy Bank Robbery/Tom and Jerry: Little Runaway
Wally Gator: Gator-Napper/Woody Woodpecker: Scalp Treatment/Droopy: Senor Droopy/Donald Duck: Donald's Snow Fight
Droopy: Out-Foxed/Little Audrey: Dawg Gawn/Huckleberry Hound: Postman Panic/Yogi Bear: Pie-Pirates
Tom and Jerry: Life with Tom/Donald Duck: The Plastics Inventor/Woody Woodpecker: Hypnotic Hick/Foghorn Leghorn: All Fowled Up
Huckleberry Hound: Barbecue Hound/Popeye: Car-azy Drivers/Little Audrey: Fishing Tackler/Woody Woodpecker: Belle Boys
Yogi Bear: Papa Yogi/Little Audrey: Hold the Lion Please/Donald Duck: Working for Peanuts/Barney Bear: The Little Wise Quacker
Woody Woodpecker: The Great Who-Dood-It/Heckle and Jeckle: Blue Plate Symphony/Quick Draw McGraw: Dizzy Desperado/Wally Gator: Bachelor Buttons
Barney Bear: Heir Bear/Woody Woodpecker: Woodpecker in the Rough/Bug Bunny: Hare Tonic/Popeye: House Tricks?
A HavreyToon
A HavreyToon is a television series presenting theatrical animated cartoons. with Characters from Terrytoons, MGM, Warner Bros, Harvey Films, Famous Studios and Universal
A HavreyToon filmography
Mother Goose Land/Jimmy Crack Corn (Featuring: Foghorn Leghorn)/Little Red Audrey Hood (Featuring: Little Audrey, Popeye, Wimpy and Wolfie)
The Merry-go-Round Broke Down/Bottle of Rum (Featuring: Tom, Jerry, Katnip and The English Fox)/Blue Plate Symphony (Featuring: Heckle and Jeckle)
Tot Watchers (Featuring: Jeannie and the Baby)/Knock Knock (Featuring: Woody Woodpecker)/The Rabbit of Seville (Featuring: Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd)
Hillbilly Hare (Featuring: Bugs Bunny)/The Plastics Inventor/The Raggy Ice Skating (Featuring: Raggedy Ann)
Trick or Tree/Hold the Lion Please (Featuring: Louie the Lion)/The Friendly Ghost (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)
Mary had a Little Lamb/Boo Hoo Baby (Featuring: Jeannie and the Baby)/Surf Bored (Featuring: The Hawaiian Girl)
Failure Face (Featuring: Sister Belle)/Arabian Desert Danger/The Secret Six Secret (Featuring: Droopy)
Blackboard Jumble (Featuring: The Southern-accented Wolf)/The Britrish Doll (Featuring: Raggedy Ann)/Welcome to the Doghouse
Duck Outdoors (Featuring: Baby Huey)/The Wild Life/The High Mountain
The Truce Hurts (Featuring: Tom, Jerry and Spike)/Surf and Sound/The Treasure of Howe's Bayou (Featuring: Beetle Bailey and Sergeant Snorkel)
Water Baby (Featuring: Little Dot)/Downtown, Spooktown (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)/The Lost Duckling (Featuring: Sister Belle)
The Camptown (Featuring: Little Audrey, Pal the Puppy and Katnip)/My Favorite Duck (Featuring: Daffy Duck)/The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (Featuring: Woody Woodpecker)
Dawg Gawn (Featuring Snoopy)/Alvin's Solo Flight (Featuring: Little Lulu and Alvin)/Fresh Hare (Featuring: Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd)
Wags To Riches (Featuring: Droopy)/Song of the Roustabouts/Heir Bear (Featuring: Barney Bear)
Party Smarty/The Country Cousin (Featuring: Barney Bear and Snoopy)/Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt (Featuring: Bugs Bunny)
Overture To William Tell (Featuring: Wally Walrus)/A Dream Walking (Featuring: Little Dot, Heckle and Jeckle)/Lost Pet (Featuring: Pal the Puppy)
Invention Convention/Little Runaway (Featuring: Little Lulu)/The Sound of Music (Featuring: Raggedy Ann and Sister Belle)
Jabberwocky (Featuring: Wendy the Good Little Witch)/Okey Dokey Donkey (Featuring: Spunky)/The Lovely Present
Dixieland (Featuring: Moe Hare and Buzzy Crow)/Autumn Antics/Wendy's Wish (Featuring: Wendy the Good Little Witch and Wiffle Bird)
A Fine Feathered Frenzy (Featuring: Woody Woodpecker)/Matinee Mouse (Featuring: Tom and Jerry)/The Mummy Strikes (Featuring: Little Lulu, Little Audrey and Little Iodine)
Ghost of the Town (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)/Mice Paradise (Featuring: Herman)/One Rabbit Knight
Chow Hound (Featuring: Spike and Tyke)/Woodpecker in the Rough/Operation Sawdust
Pest Pupil (Featuring: Sister Belle)/Castle Hassle/Air Fare
The Tale of Two Toads/The Technicolour Dreamcoat (Featuring: Lucy van Pelt and Schroeder)/Feast and Furious (Featuring: Katnip)
Saltwater Sisters/Ship Ahoy (Featuring: Popeye)/In The Picnic of Time
The Stupidstitious Cat (Featuring: Heckle and Jeckle and Tom)/One Quack Mind (Featuring: Baby Huey)/Jitterbug Jive
Grin and Share It (Featuring: Droopy and Butch)/Spook a Nanny (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)/Huey's Father's Day (Featuring: Baby Huey)
The Little Wise Quacker (Featuring: Barney Bear)/The Pied Piper of Basin Street/Scat Cats (Featuring: Spike and Tyke)
Belle Boys/Noah's Ark/The Red Baron (Featuring: Snoopy)
When She Loves Him/Thru the Looking Glass (Featuring: Sister Belle)/The Spectrum (Featuring: Ludwig Von Drake)
Wrestling Wrecks/The Vanishing Duck (Featuring: Daffy Duck)/As the Crow Lies (Featuring: Buzzy Crow)
The Very Best Present (Featuring: Little Audrey)/One Froggy Evening (Featuring: Michigan J. Frog)/Good Will to Men
Mutts About Racing/Rabbit Hunt (Featuring: Bugs Bunny)/Magical Maestro
The Flying Machine/Beau Ties (Featuring: Little Lulu)/Boo Moon (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)
Johann Mouse (Featuring: Tom and Jerry)/Camping Out/Fishing Tackler (Featuring: Sister Belle)
Finding the Perfect Gift/Bee on Guard (Featuring: Little Dot)/My Best Friend (Featuring: Little Lulu)
The Chump Champ (Featuring: Bluto and Little Audrey)/Gone to the Ducks/Quack a Doodle Doo (Featuring: Baby Huey and Foghorn Leghorn)
The Two Mouseketeers/To Boo or Not to Boo (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)/Winner by a Hare (Featuring: Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare)
King Tut's Tomb (Featuring: Heckle & Jeckle)/Cricket in Times Square/Horton Hatches the Egg (Featuring: Horton the Elephant)
The Daring Young Hare on the Flying Trapeze (Featuring: Tommy Tortoise and Moe Hare)/The Treasure Hunt/Pie-Pirates (Featuring: Little Audrey)
Bulldozing the Bull (Featuring: Heckle and Jeckle and Popeye)/Busy as a Spelling Bee/House Busters (Featuring: Herman and Katnip)
The Wild Life/The Milky Way (Featuring: Tom and Jerry)/Night Over Shanghai
Dizzy Dishes (Featuring: Little Audrey)/The Missing Mouse (Featuring: Tom and Jerry)/Popeye, the Ace of Space (Featuring: Popeye)
His Mouse Friday/The Great Who-Dood-It (Featuring: Woody Woodpecker)/Lady of the Lake
Down Beat Bear (Featuring: The Dancing Bear, Little Dot and Pal the Puppy)/El Magnífico (Featuring: Tommy Tortoise and Little Aurdey)/Ferdinand the Bull
The Enchanted Square (Featuring: Raggedy Ann)/Two Little Indians (Featuring: Little Lulu and Little Aurdey)/Wolf Hounded (Featuring: Buzzy Crow and Loopy De Loop)
I'll Be Skiing Ya/Swimmer Take All (Featuring: Popeye and Bluto)/Scalp Treatment (Featuring: Woody Woodpecker)
Belle's Crime (Featuring: Sister Belle)/Crowing Pains (Featuring: Buzzy Crow, Heckle and Jeckle and Foghorn Leghorn)/Mystery of the Pictures (Featuring: Casper the Friendly Ghost)
Wynken, Blynken and Nod/Rail Rodents (Featuring: Herman and Katnip)/Mr. Money Gags
Land of the Lost (Featuring: Red Lantern)/The Scarlet Pumpernickel (Featuring: Daffy Duck)/Turtle Scoop (Featuring: Tommy Tortoise)
Cameo Appearances
Mother Goose Land: Donald Duck, Little Audrey, Snoopy, Pal the Puppy, Droopy, The Southern-accented Wolf, Popeye and Bluto
Bottle of Rum: Butch, Lightning, Topsy, Meathead, Sylvester, Katnip and The English Fox
Hillbilly Hare: Curt and Punkin'head Martin
The Friendly Ghost: Foghorn Leghorn
Arabian Desert Danger: Herman
Mae Questel - Little Audrey, Audrey's Mother, Mama Duck, Olive Oyl
Additional Voices - Cecil Roy/Sid Raymond/Jack Mercer/Arnold Stang/Daws Butler/Mel Blanc/Mae Questel/Norma MacMillan/Jackson Beck/Paul Frees/Don Wilson
Playhouse Disney
Edit
a block that aired on Disney Channel (Asia) for programs aimed at entertaining preschool of children ages 1–8, Playhouse Disney started on the Disney Channel on May 8, 1997. However, it didn't use its actual on-screen logo until January 22, 2001. On July 27, 2001, it re-launched with new graphics. On September 9, 2002, the block re-launched with a new logo and an animated yellow clay ball named "Clay" whose catchphrases are "It's true!" and "Are you with me?". Playhouse Disney would broadcast 4:00 am to 2:00 pm (3:00 am to 1:00 pm) on weekdays, and from 4:00 am to 9:00 am, (3:00 am to 8:00 am) on weekends, each running a different schedule. There are Shows in Playhouse Disney with Stanley, Out of the Box, The Little Mermaid, Spot the Dog, Tots TV, The Wiggles, Rolie Polie Olie, PB&J Otter, Sing Me a Story with Belle, Rosie and Jim, Madeline, Sesame Street, Adventures in Wonderland, Dumbo's Circus, The Raggy Dolls, Bear in the Big Blue House and The Book of Pooh.
Shows
Where Is Warehouse Mouse?
Preschool Time CD-Rom: Imagine That!
Preschool Time CD offers an exciting learning adventure. Each learning adventure is centered around a theme, such as friendship or using your imagination, and it features a variety of games and activities that reinforce the idea in a fun way. For example, in the “Imagine That!” theme, Playhouse Disney shows are represented during the main portion of the learning adventure.
Bear, of “Bear in the Big Blue House” greets children and introduces the letter and number of the day, which must be found in a bureau. He also explains what’s special about today Then Bear kicks off that week’s theme and sends your children to the main screen, where they engage in educational activities and games. Your children move through the learning adventure in a specific order.
At any time, children can click on the Backyard icon and head there, where more Playhouse Disney characters populate activities involving art, music, reading, and other skills.
Cast
Wayne Allwine as Mickey Mouse
Russi Taylor as Minnie Mouse
Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck
Bill Farmer as Goofy and Pluto
El Festival del Clan
Edit
The 1st Musical Show in the UK. El Festival del Clan, where the young ones can really enjoy themselves together with Roobarb and Custard, Bananas in Pyjamas and Popeye in English, Noddy and The Triplets in Mexican and Miffy and Pororo in Japanese who will fill the Christmas parties up with excitement for every child.
Super Cartoon Sunrise on GMTV
Here's Super Cartoon Sunrise on GMTV, Artwork was created by Cathy Mustari. The theme music is a jazzy, funky, disco-fied, Hammond B3 organ-heavy instrumental arrangement (with a bank of trumpets at the end) of "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here".
Cartoons
I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, Wonder Woman, Monkees and Brady Bunch
Superfriends, Inspector Gadget, The Goodies, He-Men, George of the Jungle and Dangermouse
Battle of the Planets, Pink Panther, Archie and Brady Kids
Underdog, The Famous Five, The Young Ones, Fractured Fairy Tales and Hector's House
Yogi's Gang, The Flintstones, Hong Kong Phooey, Jabberjaw, Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, Jeannie, Magilla Gorilla/Quick Draw McGraw/Wally Gator/Loopy De Loop, Top Cat, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm and The Jetsons
Great Space Coaster, Hot Fudge, Woody Woodpecker, Brum, Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends, Morph and Supergran
Puddle Lane, The Wombles, The New Casper Cartoon Show, Little Audrey and Friends, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, Chorlton and the Wheelies and The Raggy Dolls
Bugs Bunny, Popeye, The Three Stooges and Tom and Jerry
Carlton Video's Bring the Magic Home
Edit
Carlton Video has a wonderful collection of children's Entertainment starting in 1997. There's Tales and Story (A Monkey's Tale, Beatrix Potter, The Raggy Dolls, The Wind in the Willows, The Willows in Winter), Favourite Films (Hook, FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Monty Python Films, Peanuts Movies), Pre School (Jamboree, The Fairies, Jellikins, Incy Wincy Spider in the Kingdom of Rhymes, Hilltop Hospital), Characters (Tots TV, Dream Street, Bananas in Pyjamas, Thunderbirds) and Christmas Favourites (Annabelle's Wish, Casper's Haunted Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie)
Autumn
A Monkey's Tale: with the Voices of Matt Hill and Sally Ann Marsh
Thunderbirds: Vol. 1 to 10
Beatrix Potter: The World of Peter Ribbit and Friends
Peanuts Movies: with a new Video, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown
Jellikins: Jelly Disco, it's Jellytastic!
The Fairies: with 20 songs to sing along with
Dream Street: Surprise Surprise with Magic Time Buddy
Hilltop Hospital: Heart Trouble at Hilltop
Monty Python Films: Tiles like The Life of Brian and The Holy Grail
Jamboree: Staring Floella Benjamin and The Bopkins
FernGully: The Last Rainforest: Featuring A Young Fairy named Crysta
Winter
The Wind in the Willows: Kenneth Grahame's classic tale with Alan Bennett, Michael Palin and Rik Mayall
The Willows in Winter: More Troubles from Toad
Hook: Steven Spielberg's most Spectacular Film
The Raggy Dolls: Narrated by Neil Innes
Incy Wincy Spider in the Kingdom of Rhymes: 30 Action Rhymes
Tots TV: Snowy Adventure with Tilly, Tom and Tiny
Bananas in Pyjamas: Walking in the Snow with B1 and B2
Annabelle's Wish: Annabelle's one wish is wants to fly
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie: with Kathleen Barr as Rudolph
Casper's Haunted Christmas: a Little Spook meets the happy spirit of Christmas
CITV 30th Anniversary: The Great Show Spectacular
Edit
With Wizadora tells the Story about 'Adventure of a Lifetime' The Story Take's to find the Goldon Palace. Mopatop and Puppyduck (from Mopatop's Shop) opens followed by The Two Marks (as Victor and Hugo) they followed by Thomas Darvill and Andrea Green (Preform as Mike and Angelo) performs with Pat Sharp and twin cheerleaders (from Funhouse) and Floella Benjamin and the The Bopkins (from Jamboree) then they sing ' Be our Guest' with Tilly (from Tots TV). Treguard (Preform by Hugo Myatt from Knightmare) appears with Victor and Hugo, Wizadora sings her Eurovision song entry 'Better the Devil You Know'. Song from Aladdin 'Arabian Nights' and Richard Cadell and Sooty performs Magic. Wizadora introduce The Bopkins and the acromaniacs, followed by Billy Pearce (as Supergran), The Leads perform "You and Me Together" Then a performance from Tony Gardner (as Brian Johnson) and Tigger (from Potamus Park), They introduces the 1993 cast of West End hit 'Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat'. They perform ' Any Dream Will Do' The dancers perform with four of them singing 'We are Sailing', David Holt as Jim Hawkins (from The Legends of Treasure Island) bumps into Neil Buchanan (from Finders Keepers) who sings 'Raining on the Rock', Jim Hawkins performs 'One jump Ahead' from Aladdin. Stephen Mulhern (Tricky TV) does a short routine, Jim Hawkins and Rob Rackstraw as Long John Silver swordfight. The Raggy Dolls and Old Bear appears to do the Dance, Billy Pearce sings with dancers, Stephen Mulhern as Andrew Bethell (from Spatz), Tommy Boyd as Adam Newman (from The Tomorrow People), Michael Underwood (from Jungle Run), Bro and Bro (from Wolf It), Engie Benjy, Salem The Cat (from Sabrina The Teenage Witch), Bungle (from Rainbow), Tati (from Tati's Hotel), Ellie (from Girls in Love), Toby the Dragon (from Puddle Lane), Neil Buchanan (from Art Attack), Fred Dinenage (from How 2), Matt Kerr (from Press Gang) and Stephen Mulhurn (You Can Do Magic) Perform "Could it be Magic", "A Million Love Songs" and "Satisfied".
Children's Party at the Palace
Edit
This Telecast of "Children's Party at the Palace" is from the first Performance of the London Theatre with Characters over the years in 1 Film, Host by the Bopkins from Jamboree, with Mary Poppins, Cat in the Hat, Harry Potter, Lucy van Pelt, Noddy, PC Plod, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Gruffalo, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Mr Bump, Wallace and Gromit, Mr Toad, Engie Benjy, Huckleberry Hound, Tinker Bell and More.
Act 1
B1 (Voiced by Ken Radley)
B2 (Voiced by Nicholas Opolski)
Amy (Voiced by Mary-Anne Henshaw)
Lulu (Voiced by Taylor Owynns)
Morgan (Voiced by Jeremy Scrivener)
Rat in a Hat (Voiced by Shane McNamara)
Popeye (Voiced by Jack Mercer and Sang by Robin Williams)
Chuckie Finster (Voiced by Christine Cavanaugh)
Foghorn Leghorn (Voiced by Jeff Bergman)
Dorothy the Dinosaur (Voiced by Carolyn Ferrie)
Baloo (Voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft)
Charlie Brown (Voiced by Sean Collings)
Linus van Pelt (Voiced by Jeremy Miller)
Sally Brown (Voiced by Ami Foster)
Violet Gray (Voiced by Kristie Baker)
Lucy van Pelt (Voiced by Jessica Lee Smith)
Schroeder (Voiced by Jeremy Reinbolt)
The Wombles (Voiced by David Jason, Janet Brown, Jon Pertwee, John Graham and Lionel Jeffries)
Pingu (Voiced by Carlo Bonomi)
Napoleon (Voiced by Patrick Stewart)
Lucy (Voiced by Neil Innes)
Puppeteers
Rattus P. Rattus (Puppeteer by David Collins)
Modigliana (Puppeteer by Mal Heap)
Mixy (Puppeteer by Emma deVries)
Derryn (Puppeteer by Terry Ryan)
Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley (Puppeteer by Steve Nallon)
Rosie (Puppeteer by Rebecca Nagan)
Jim (Puppeteer by Robin Stevens)
Duck (Puppeteer by Robin Stevens)
Favourites Character Cakes and Lovadle Character Cakes
children usually want their favourite character from television, books, cartoons or comics. 2 volumes thats interprets children's characters in cake form.
Characters
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The Scales represent which sign of the Zodiac? | Libra - The Scales - Astrology - The White Goddess
Libra, the seventh sign of the zodiac, is shown as a woman holding a pair of scales. Libra is a Masculine, Cardinal Air sign.
Libra - The Scales - Astrology - The White Goddess
Home � Divination � Astrology � Libra - The Scales
Libra - The Scales
Libra - The Scales - 23 September - 22 October
A Masculine, Cardinal Air sign.
Libra, the seventh sign of the zodiac, is shown as a woman holding a pair of scales. The 13th century Cathedral of Chartres in France, on a column to the south of the 'astrological door' is a small carving of the symbol of Libra. One of the zodiacal sculptures by Benedetto Antelami, depicts a man holding a set of scales.
The Egyptian symbol for Libra, showed a disc above a bowl like form, said to represent the setting Sun above the Earth. More importantly, the space between the Sun and Earth represents the airy realm of Libra. It is this space that exists between the male principle and the female, that the impulse of Libra is trying to bridge.
Correspondences
American Indian: Sturgeon, Salmon Animal: Elephant
Birthstone: Emerald, Beryl, Opal
Element: 2nd of three air signs
Flower: Lily
Hawaiian: MAHOE HOPE - Gourd Scales
Indian (Sanskrit): Tula - The Scales
Metal: Brass
Quality: 3rd of four cardinal signs
Roman: Themis
Weapon: The Cross
Characteristics
Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac; it is cardinal and air. Libra is the diplomat or negotiator of the zodiac. The symbol for Libra is the scales, always balancing two opposing options. Libra does so well at seeing both sides of a question that it sometimes has difficult deciding which option to choose. Libra is concerned with harmonious relationships between people. Representing this idea, the ruling planet is Venus.
Egyptian symbol for Libra, showing the
Sun above the Earth. The enclosed space
denotes Air, the realm of Libra.
Hawaiian Astrology
MAHOE HOPE - Gourd Scales. In Hawaiian mythology is depicted similarly to the Scales in Greek mythology, the cardinal airy sign of the Statesman or Manager.
Celtic Tree Astrology
Cypress: 26/07 - 04/08
ROWAN TREE (the Sensitivity) - full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.
Beth-Luis-Nion Tree Alphabet : Gort (Ivy) September 30 to October 27
Native American Medicine Wheel
The Crow/Raven September 22/October 23
The Butterfly Clan
| Libra |
Which English Rugby Union team play their home games at Franklins Gardens? | Libra Mythology: The Secret Truth
Contact
Libra Mythology
It's truly impossible to talk about Libra mythology without also referencing the Virgo myth . The myth of the constellation Libra and the myth of the constellation Virgo are intrinsically tied together in a way that no other two constellation myths could be.
A great deal of this has to do with the controversy surrounding the Virgo myth and its origins. As I explain in the Virgo myth article , the figure that represents that constellation is largely under debate.
If you don't want to read the article in full, I'll cut to the conclusion. I believe that the best representative for the Virgo zodiac symbol is the star goddess Astraea .
Where does this fit into Libra mythology? The answer lies in Astraea herself. The most common and relevant explanation of the constellation Libra is that the scales that represent the Libra constellation belong to the figure of the constellation Virgo.
This creates a very interesting issue for both constellation myths. If the scales are indeed that of Virgo, then it stands to reason that the figure in Virgo must have to do with justice, as that is what the scales represent. The only problem is that most people believe that the Virgo myth has to do with a virgin, a theme which seemingly has nothing to do with justice, so how does one reckon the one myth story with the other?
Enter the controversy. (If you're confused at this point, then please go read the Virgo myth article . That will make everything much easier to understand.)
Let's pause and talk about Libra mythology on its own for a moment. There is very little controversy over the representative symbol of Libra on its own. Nobody disagrees that the symbol representing Libra is a set of scales, and that those scales represent the scales of justice. They also represent balance and temperance, as well as the dark side of Libra astrology, which is essentially the opposite of those traits. Libras must be careful to maintain balance and not lose themselves into the beckoning chaos around them - but this is a story for another day.
Okay, so we know that the myth of the constellation Libra is tied to the myth of the constellation Virgo. And we know that I believe that Astraea is the key figure who represents the Virgo zodiac symbol. Now here's the big explanation that ties it all together: Astraea also represents Libra mythology.
How can this be? One figure representing two constellation myths?
I know, it sounds a bit odd, but it makes perfect sense. Astraea was a virgin goddess of justice. The only virgin goddess of justice who was also a primary caretaker of humanity (the true meaning of Virgo).
The woman holding the ear of corn in Virgo is Astraea. The scales of justice that glide by her side in the zodiac are her scales. The two never leave one another's side, forever connecting the two constellations with a single mythology.
Of course, I could be wrong. But if I am, then it's Virgo that is represented by someone else. The scales are undoubtedly those of Astraea, and if she is not the caretaker figure shown in the Virgo myth, then she is surely both herself and the scales represented in Libra mythology.
Again, if you haven't read the articles about the Virgo myth or Astraea , I highly recommend them. The mythology of Libra simply can't be explained without them.
| i don't know |
Who plays the politician who becomes the boyfriend of Jennifer Lopez in the 2003 film ‘Maid in Manhattan’? | Maid in Manhattan (2002) - IMDb
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A senatorial candidate falls for a hotel maid, thinking she is a socialite when he sees her trying on a wealthy woman's dress.
Director:
John Hughes (story) (as Edmond Dantès), Kevin Wade (screenplay)
Stars:
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1 win & 8 nominations. See more awards »
Videos
Mary Fiore is San Francisco's most successful supplier of romance and glamor. She knows all the tricks. She knows all the rules. But then she breaks the most important rule of all: she falls in love with the groom.
Director: Adam Shankman
The love life of Charlotte is reduced to an endless string of disastrous blind dates, until she meets the perfect man, Kevin. Unfortunately, his merciless mother will do anything to destroy their relationship.
Director: Robert Luketic
A woman conceives twins through artificial insemination, only to meet the man of her dreams on the very same day.
Director: Alan Poul
A thirty-something, is still living at home until his parents hire an interventionist to help him graduate out of the house. That's when the fun begins.
Director: Tom Dey
A guy in love with an engaged woman tries to win her over after she asks him to be her maid of honor.
Director: Paul Weiland
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.1/10 X
Single-girl anxiety causes Kat Ellis (Messing) to hire a male escort (Mulroney) to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. Her plan, an attempt to dupe her ex-fiancé, who dumped her a couple years prior, proves to be her undoing.
Director: Clare Kilner
A romantic comedy where a bored, overworked Estate Lawyer, upon first sight of a beautiful instructor, signs up for ballroom dancing lessons.
Director: Peter Chelsom
After running away fails, a terrified woman (Jennifer Lopez) empowers herself in order to battle her abusive husband (Billy Campbell).
Director: Michael Apted
A young woman who's reinvented herself as a New York socialite must return home to Alabama to obtain a divorce from her husband, after seven years of separation.
Director: Andy Tennant
An FBI agent must go undercover in the Miss United States beauty pageant to prevent a group from bombing the event.
Director: Donald Petrie
A lawyer decides that she's used too much like a nanny by her boss, so she walks out on him.
Director: Marc Lawrence
After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister's side as her sibling marries the man she's secretly in love with.
Director: Anne Fletcher
Edit
Storyline
Marisa Ventura is a single mother born and bred in the boroughs of New York City, who works as a maid in a first-class Manhattan hotel. By a twist of fate and mistaken identity, Marisa meets Christopher Marshall, a handsome heir to a political dynasty, who believes that she is a guest at the hotel. Fate steps in and throws the unlikely pair together for one night. When Marisa's true identity is revealed, the two find that they are worlds apart, even though the distance separating them is just a subway ride between Manhattan and the Bronx. Written by Anonymous
cupid in central park... See more »
Genres:
Rated PG-13 for some language/sexual references | See all certifications »
Parents Guide:
13 December 2002 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Made in New York See more »
Filming Locations:
$18,711,407 (USA) (13 December 2002)
Gross:
Did You Know?
Trivia
The second time the casting of Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Lopez have crossed paths. Lopez previously replaced Bullock in Enough. See more »
Goofs
The hotel manager enters the lift with Chris, Marisa and Ty but by the end of the scene, the manager does not seem to have had an opportunity to leave politely, but is nonetheless no longer there. If viewed in "Anamorphic" widescreen (2.40:1), at about 31:40 minutes, at the very right edge of the screen after the elevator bell dings, you can see part of the manager's (John Bextrum's) back, leaving the elevator just before the French lady in the black hat crosses in front of the camera. After all, he was the last person into the lift, and the closest one to the door, so he would be the first person to exit as well. See more »
Quotes
Ty : Yeah.
Marisa : Hurry up, sweetie. We're late. Ty. Today papí. You're killing me, Ty. Right now you're killing mommy.
Don't waste your time - watch "Sabrina" once again instead!
29 December 2004 | by debblyst
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – See all my reviews
The story? Cliché, cliché, cliché, the umpteenth remake of Cinderella with not a single interesting addition. The script? Formula (and lame at that). The cast? Jennifer Lopez's turn as Cinderella/Sabrina proves she does not remotely belong to "rags-to-Princess" roles; she is galaxies away from Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly (or even "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts), no matter how expensive the jewelry or costumes she wears. Ralph Fiennes seems to be on an O.D. of Prozac, with a perennial foolish smile on his face, wishing he were Cary (or even Hugh!) Grant -- shame to see a talented actor in such a puffy role. Natasha Richardson is wasted in the obligatory dumb blonde part, Stanley Tucci hams it up irritatingly, Bob Hoskins knows and shows his role is an embarrassment. On a less negative note, kid Tyler Posey is a real charmer, and manages to survive his "cutie" part. The direction? Well, no doubt Wayne Wang is a professional and I hope he was paid a LOT of money to lend his prestigious name to this fluffy cake - I only wish the word "professionalism" were taken more seriously, as in "professional integrity"...Where is the Wayne Wang that directed the surrealistic "Life is Cheap...But Toilet Paper is Expensive" and the cool "Smoke"?
Sit through this only if you are in a hypoglycemic fit; otherwise watch "Sabrina" once again and marvel at real star power, witty dialog and charm to spare!
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| Ralph Fiennes |
What was jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke’s first name? | Greatest New York Film Scenes - On the set of New York.com
Greatest New York Film Scenes
On the Set of New York.com presents a collection of the most famous, distinguished, unforgettable and memorable film scenes shot in New York City. From "Breakfast at Tiffany's" when Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golighty, still wearing a Givenchy evening dress from the night before, staring dreamily into gem-filled Tiffany's window as she consumes a breakfast of take-out coffee and a Danish - to - "Vanilla Sky" where Tom Cruise as David Aames finds himself completely alone in Times Square.
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
By the early 1950's Hollywood production crews could be found frequently filming location sequences in New York City. Although these film shoots almost always attracted the attention of the city's press and residents, none drew a fraction of the attention as the scene filmed on location during a cold night on September 15th in 1954 along Lexington Avenue between 51st and 52nd Street, for a motion picture called "The Seven Year Itch". Directed by Billy Wilder the sequence required Tom Ewell and Marilyn Monroe to linger outside the Trans-Lux Theatre as a gust of wind from a passing subway train blew Monroe's dress up around her waist, revealing a glimpse of her underwear.
Advance notice of the film shoot, which began at 1am, brought out dozens of photographers and many onlookers, who watched for almost 3 hours as Marilyn Monroe continually missed her lines, forcing Wilder to call for take after take. In the end, ironically, the footage went unused, as the film's producers decided to reshoot the entire scene on a Fox stage because of supposed problems with the sound quality.
Locations: The Seven Year Itch
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Among the most romantic of all sequences filmed in New York City are those in Blake Edwardsâ screen adaptation of Truman Capoteâs tale, âBreakfast at Tiffanyâsâ. The filmâs opening sequence showed Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, still wearing a glamorous evening dress from the night before, staring dreamily into Tiffanyâs gem-filled window as she consumes a breakfast of coffee and a Danish pastry. The scene took place very early on a Sunday morning at the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street.
Locations: Breakfast at Tiffany's
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
In 1969, director John Schlesinger put newcomers Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman together in New York City as two hustlers who walk the streets looking for easy ways to make money in a time of hardship. Whilst deep in conversation, Rizzo, who was played by Hoffman, blithely walks into traffic at 58th Street and 6th Avenue.
According to Dustin Hoffman himself, the taxi incident was not scripted. During an L.A. Times interview in January 2009, he said that the movie didn't have a permit to close down the NYC street for filming, so they had to set-up the scene with a hidden camera in a van driving down the street, and remote microphones for the actors. After 15 takes, it was finally going well, but this time, as they crossed the street, a taxi ran a red light. Hoffman wanted to say "Hey, we're SHOOTING here!" not only from fear of his life, but also from anger that the taxi driver might have ruined the take. Instead, being the professional that he is, he stayed in character and shouted "Hey, we're WALKING here!" and made movie history. Jon Voight also backs up this version of the incident, saying that seeing how well Hoffman was handling the situation, he likewise stayed in character. And, it added even more fame to New York City taxi service!
Locations: Midnight Cowboy
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Based on an actual back robbery that took place in 1972, Sidney Lumet's film was shot almost in its entirety on a quiet stretch of shopfronts on Prospect Park West between 17th and 18th Street, just south of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Al Pacino played the mastermind bank robber Sonny Wortzik who would often leave the safety of the bank and stand in the street shouting abuse at the gun-pointing police.
Locations: Dog Day Afternoon
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
The transformation of Ted Kramer played by Dustin Hoffman from a career-obsessed ad man into a caring, attentive father after his wife of many years has abruptly left him is played out in this abiding ritual of family life in the city. The Mall in Central Park is the setting for this heart-rendering scene where Ted hands back his Son, Billy to his estranged wife Joanna. Unaware of the pain that his father feels, Billy runs happily into his mother's arms.
Locations: Kramer vs. Kramer
Manhattan (1979)
An all-night walk conversation between Isaac Davis played by Woody Allen and Mary Wilkie played Diane Keaton comes to an end in this memorable scene, which was shot at the foot of 58th Street, over-looking the East River and Queensboro Bridge at around 4am on the morning of August 14th, 1978. Except for the string lights on the bridge, which the filmmakers arranged with the city to leave on, and the street lamp, which they arranged to turn off, the scene was shot entirely with available light. This was Woody Allen's first film shot using the widescreen (2.35:1) anamorphic Panavision process.
Locations: Manhattan
Fame (1980)
For the film's title number, in which students spill out of the city's High School for Performing Arts and perform an impromptu dance routine among midtown traffic, the filmmakers arranged with the Mayor's Office to close 46th Street for several days in the summer of 1979. The actual Performing Arts school building which was on the left side of the street was not used in the film after the school board read the script and felt that the bad language would reflect badly on the school. In the end, the filmmakers had tro settle with a decommissioned church on the right side of 46th Street. As the Irene Cara song was not complete, the dancers had to dance to a Pointer Sisters song inside. The song was later replaced in post production.
Locations: Fame
Ghostbusters (1984)
As the years have passed by, the original Ghostbusters film has become known as a cult classic. Shot in the great days of the 1980's when films only ran for a mere 90 minutes and had a beginning, middle and an end, Ghostbusters was the pinnacle for science fiction meets comedy. Starring alongside comedian Bill Murray was fellow comic Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis better known as The Ghostbusters.
When New York City comes under attack from the paranormal and a hotel manager has been receiving complaints from the guests - who are you going to call? In this scene, the Ghostbusters arrive at the hotel in supposeably downtown Manhattan, but is in fact the famous Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on the corner of 5th and Grand. This famous location has been used for hundreds of films, TV shows, commercials and even a few music videos. The three doors that the Ghostbusters walk through in the film are actually located on the entrance on 5th St. The Grand Avenue entrance leads you to the main lobby, which used to be the hotel ballroom, as seen in the film.
Locations: Ghostbusters
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
The filming schedule for Deperately Seeking Susan was 10 weeks in total and was Madonna's debut film. In an amusing, character-defining moment, Susan played by Madonna arriving at the uptown Port Authority Bus Terminal on 181st Street, prepares for her entrance to the city by using the restroom's hand dryer in an unconventional way, a moment that the actress improvised on the spot.
Locations: Desperately Seeking Susan
Crocodile Dundee (1986)
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee is an Australian crocodile hunter who visits New York City, and soon finds the culture and life a lot different than his home town of Walkabout Creek. Whilst on a night out in the city with journalist Sue, they are accosted by a mugger who demands that they hand over their money. Scarred for her life, and seeing that the mugger has a knife, Sue tells Mick to do as they have been told. Unfazed, Mick chuckles, âThatâs not a knife,â then draws a large Bowie knife which is 10 times the size of the muggers and says, âThatâs a Knife!â
Locations: Crocodile Dundee
Big (1988)
The toy store on 5th Avenue provided the setting for the fondly remembered scene in which Robert Loggie, a toy company executive making weekend rounds, joins Tom Hanks, a 13 year old boy inhabiting the body of a man, in a spirited duet on a giant electronic keyboard. Though most of the displays were those found in the actual store, the overscaled keyboard was added by the film's production designer as a way to subtly reinforce the movie's underlying confusion of big and small.
The 16ft (4.9m) piano has since been given to a US children's museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The instrument was offered to the Please Touch Museum by a US couple who bought it after the film's release. It was built in Philadelphia by Remo Saraceni, who called his invention a Walking Piano.
Locations: Big
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
One of the most memorable location scenes in New York City's history was filmed at Katz's Delicatessen at 205 East Houston Street, featuring Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal and a customer played by the mother of the film's director Rob Reiner. The table at which the scene was filmed now has a plaque on it that reads, "Congratulations! You're sitting where Harry met Sally."
For the infamous orgasm scene, the original script called for just Harry and Sally to talk about women faking an orgasm, until Meg Ryan suggested that Sally actually fake an orgasm at the table. Rob Reiner loved the idea and put it into the script.
Locations: When Harry Met Sally
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
Gene Wilder agreed to do "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" only if he was allowed to re-write the script. The studio agreed and "See No Evil, Hear No Evil" premiered on May 1989 to mostly negative reviews. Many critics praised Wilder and Pryor, and even Kevin Spacey's performances but they mostly agreed that the script was terrible. Roger Ebert called it "a real dud", the Deseret Morning News described the film as "stupid", with an "idiotic script" that had a "contrived story" and too many "juvenile gags." On the other hand Vincent Canby called it "by far the most successful co-starring vehicle for Mr. Pryor and Mr. Wilder", while also acknowledging that "this is not elegant movie making, and not all of the gags are equally clever." The film has also gained a cult following in the past decade.
In this scene, blind Wally tries to warn his deaf friend Dave that the evil Eve and her accomplice Kirgo had managed to track them down.
Locations: See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Sleepless in Seattle was a romantic comedy film written and directed by Nora Ephron. Based on a story by Jeff Arch, it starred Tom Hanks as Sam Baldwin and Meg Ryan as Annie Reed. The film was inspired by "An Affair to Remember" and used both its theme song and clips from the film in critical scenes. The climactic meeting at the top of the Empire State Building is a reference to a reunion between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.
The closing sequence of the film when Jonah and Sam return to the observation deck and finally meet Annie was shot in a warehouse with a replica version of the Empire State Building observation deck.
Locations: Sleepless in Seattle
It Could Happen to You (1994)
In the summer of 1994, Tribeca residents were startled to see two historic buildings suddenly appear on an empty lot at the corner of West Broadway and North Moore Street. The two structures, which included Federal style rowhouse, its first floor converted into a 1950s modernistic coffee shop were in fact an elaborate set created by the production team for "It Could Happen To You" starring Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda.
Cage who plays police office Charlie Lang meets Yvonne played by Fonda when she waits on him at the diner where she works. Since Charlie doesn't have enough money to pay the tip, he promises to give her either double the tip or half of his prospective lottery winnings the next day. He wins $4 million in the lottery the next day and keeps his promise, despite the protests of his wife.
Locations: It Could Happen to You
Leon (1994)
Leon: The Professional is a 1994 thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson. The film stars Jean Reno as the titular mob hitman; Gary Oldman as corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield; a young Natalie Portman, in her feature film debut, as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who is taken in by the hitman after her family is murdered; and Danny Aiello as Tony, the mobster who gives the hitman his assignments.
An undeniably tender moment in this film comes when Leon accompaines 12 year-old Mathilda, carrying his houseplant down an empty 7th Avenue. The pair are on their way to a new hotel, where she hopes that he will allow her to assist him in his next assassination.
Locations: Leon
Hackers (1995)
Hackers is a 1995 film that follows the misfortunes of the young hackers Dade Murphy played by Jonny Lee Miller, Kate Libby played by Angelina Jolie and their friends. It was written by Rafael Moreu and directed by Iain Softley. The movie failed to make a profit at the box-office, but has developed a cult following from its video release despite (or, in some cases, because of) inaccuracies in its portrayal of hacking and hacker culture. Metaphorical and graphical sequences are used as a substitute for the real actions involved in hacking and systems administration.
In this scene, the hackers skate through midtown Manhattan and along Park Avenue on their way to Grand Central Terminal where they plan to take down the evil Eugene Belford by hacking his mainframe computer.
Locations: Hackers
One Fine Day (1996)
Central Park was the perfect setting for this scene where sophisticated divorcees Jack Taylor played by George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer as Melanic Parker reliving the joys of splashing through puddles as they race with their kids through the park. This scene was also used for the film's promotional poster.
Locations: One Fine Day
As Good As It Gets (1997)
Melvin Udall is a cranky, obsessive-compulsive writer who finds his life turned upside down when neighbouring gay artist Simon is hospitalised and his dog is entrusted to him. In addition, Carol, the only waitress who will tolerate him, must leave work to care for her sick Son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast. In this scene, Melvin has agreed to take Simon on a road trip to see his parents and for safe measure has invited Carol along for the ride. On introducing the two friends, Melvin jokingly says, "Carol the waitress.... Simon the fag!"
Locations: As Good As It Gets
One Night Stand (1997)
One Night Stand is a 1997 drama film by British director Mike Figgis. The first draft of the screenplay was written by Joe Eszterhas, who had his name removed from the project following Figgis' rewrite. In the final scene of the film, the two couples have dinner together and from an audience point of view, there are no clues as to which person is with until they leave the restaurant. Starring Wesley Snipes, Nastassja Kinski, Kyle MacLachlan and Ming-Na, the film is loosely based around the death of their friend, Charlie played by Robert Downey Jr. and how a one night stand with a stranger can unbalance the strongest of relationships.
Locations: One Night Stand
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
In this scene, an arrogantly charming but shadowy law partner played by Al Pacino interviews an ambitious new associate on a rooftop terrace of his office building in lower Manhattan, one whose unusual design includes a broad reflecting pool but no safety railing whatsoever.
Locations: The Devil's Advocate
Cruel Intentions (1999)
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blairâs kiss in Cruel Intentions is to movies what Montana to Clark is to football: a seemingly impossible 60 seconds that can be instantly recalled by generations of men from just a simple two-word nickname. Itâs âThe Kissâ versus âThe Catch.â Sarah Michelle Gellarâs character, Kathryn sets out to corrupt the innocent and naïve Cecile played by Selma Blair in this teenage version of Dangerous Liaisons, and the resulting kissing lesson leaves Cecile wanting more, and when itâs all over, she breathlessly exhales, âThat was cool.â
Locations: Cruel Intentions
Coyote Ugly (2000)
The film was based on an article, "The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon", in GQ by Elizabeth Gilbert, who worked as a bartender in the East Village. The bar which opened in 1993 quickly became a favourite of the Lower East Side hipsters. The slang term "Coyote Ugly" refers to the feeling of waking up after a one-night stand, and discovering that your arm is underneath someone who is so physically repulsive that you would gladly gnaw it off without waking the person just so you can get away without being discovered. Coyotes are known to gnaw off limbs if they are stuck in a trap in order to facilitate escape.
In this scene Violet Sanford played by Piper Perabo dances on the bar. Whilst having water poured on her, she's unaware that her father Bill, who has made a surprise visit to the bar is standing in the crowd unimpressed at what he is witnessing.
Locations: Coyote Ugly
Serendipity (2001)
After their chance meeting at Bloomingdales department store, Sara Thomas played by Kate Beckinsale and Jonathan Trager played by John Cusack go for refreshments at Serendipity 3 at East 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. The drink Sara and Jonathan order is the famous Frozen Hot Chocolate. Although parts of this scene were filmed on a stage, the owner of the business makes an appearance when Jonathan returns to the restaurant after having left his scarf there and the owner allows him to go upstairs to collect it. This scene was all shot at the Serendipity 3 and the table where Jonathan and Sara sat is now called the Star Table.
Locations: Serendipity
Vanilla Sky (2001)
For this scene, Tom Cruise runs through a deserted Times Square wondering why he is the only person there. The film's producers spoke to the NYPD movie unit and requested to film in Times Square with one condition. It had to be completely empty. There was of course no way this could be achieved in normal daytime hours, but after closer inspection, on a Sunday morning from 4:30am until 6am, the place was virtually empty apart from the odd car and two all-night diners. So, it was agreed that the film crew would set up their camera's at midnight and wait for first light where they would have only one hour to capture the scene.
Locations: Vanilla Sky
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Two Weeks Notice is a 2002 romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock, and was written and directed by Marc Lawrence. The film was originally set to film entirely in Toronto due to cheaper production costs, but producer and star Sandra Bullock insisted that a film about New York City must be made in New York City. It ended up being shot entirely on location within a 17-week span. It revitalized the economy of New York City after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and allowed businesses to flourish once again. In honour of the cast and crew's contribution to the city, December 11th, 2002 was named "Two Weeks Notice" Day by the Mayor of New York City. At the end of the film, Hugh Grantâs character visits Lucy played by Sandra Bullock at her new workplace and confesses his true feelings for her. She ignores him and he leaves the legal aid office, only to find moments later, Lucy running after him and jumping into his arms, concluding in a long embrace.
Locations: Two Weeks Notice
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Maid in Manhattan is a romantic comedy film directed by Wayne Wang about a hotel maid and a high profile politician who fall in love starring Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson. It is based on a story by John Hughes who is credited using a pseudonym. As the friendship blossoms between the leading characters, they spend an evening together at the world famous MET in New York City where Jennifer Lopez's character gets to experience one night as Cinderella.
Locations: Maid in Manhattan
13 Going on 30 (2004)
The bright dazzling lights and signs of New York's Times Square frame the excited Jenna Rink, a 13 year old girl somehow transformed into the body and life of a thirty year old New York career woman played by Jennifer Garner, as she passes through in an open top limousine in the 2004 film, 13 Going on 30.
Locations: 13 Going on 30
Alfie (2004)
Jude Law took the place of Alfie in the 2004 remake, but it wasn't his performance that left a mark on the audience's mind but that of Sienna Miller who played Nikki, an uncontrollable party girl, that Alfie meets outside the Tavern on the Green restaurant. The slow motion effect used on Sienna as she gracefully turns around can be only compared to that of Cameron Diaz in debut film, The Mask, when she entered the bank in a painted-on red dress whilst flicking her hair back just as the 1970's Charlie's Angels once did on the small screen. The Cinematography was key during this sequence and throughout the rest of the film.
Locations: Alfie
Closer (2004)
Closer is a 2004 romantic drama film written by Patrick Marber, based on his award-winning 1997 play of the same name. It was produced and directed by Mike Nichols and stars Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Clive Owen. The film, like the play on which it is based, has been seen by some as a modern and tragic version of Mozart's opera Così fan tutte, with references to that opera in both the plot and the soundtrack. Although much of the film was shot at Elstree Film and Television Studios in London, the closing scene was shot in New Yorkâs Time Square and thereby earned a place in OTSONYâs film location section. Natalie Portmanâs character Alice supports herself while staying in London as a stripper, where she runs into Larry played by Clive Owen, who realises that he knows her, even though she is wearing a pink wig. He asks her if her name is Alice, knowing full well who she is, but no matter how much money he gives her, she keeps telling him her name is "Jane Jones." He asks her to come home with him so he can look after her, but she refuses.
Locations: Closer
Night at the Museum (2006)
For anyone who has seen Jurassic Park and has been amazed at how the T-Rex trembles its way through the undergrowth and looks as life-like as your family pet, the makers of Night at the Museum went one step further and managed to have the bones of the T-Rex chase night watchman Larry Daley played by Ben Stiller through the corridors of the Museum of Natural History. The actual real museum located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was only used for exterior shots.
Locations: Night at the Museum
Factory Girl (2006)
Sienna Miller stars as Edie Sedgwick, a young heiress studying art in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Upon moving to New York City, she is introduced to Pop Art painter and film-maker Andy Warhol. Intrigued by the beautiful socialite, he asks her to perform in one of his underground movies. Soon she is spending time with him at The Factory, his studio and also the hangout of a group of eccentrics, some of them drug addicts. Her status as Warhol Superstar and success as a fashion model gain her popularity and international attention. Katie Holmes was set to star as Sedgwick, but it was reported Tom Cruise convinced Holmes not to do it because it would be bad for her image. Regarding the rumours, Holmes said, "I declined the role in Factory Girl based on my own decisions about the movie." The role then went back to Miller. However, Holmes had also stated that even if she did take the part, she would have had to drop out because she was pregnant when the movie was set to begin filming. Although the film received generally negative reviews, Sienna Miller's performance as Edie Sedgwick was met with critical acclaim.
Locations: Factory Girl
Awake (2007)
Hayden Christensen plays a wealthy man named Clayton Beresford who has a faulty heart and needs a heart transplant in the film, Awake. Against his mother's wishes, he will be operated on by his surgeon friend, Jack, instead of a prestigious doctor. He is also dating his mother's secretary Sam played by Jessica Alba, whom he marries on the eve of the surgery. In this scene, Clayton is heading to the operating theatre completely unaware that there is a plot to kill him and get his money until he finds that he is still awake during the operation, a phenomenon called Anesthesia Awareness.
Locations: Awake
Chapter 27 (2007)
Chapter 27 is an independent film depicting the murder of John Lennon by Mark David Chapman, starring Jared Leto. It was written and directed by J. P. Schaefer. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2007 and the Berlin Film Festival in February. It received mostly negative reviews, although it did receive positive notices in Salon, The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly. Jared gained 67 pounds for the role and at times he was confined to a wheelchair due to so much added weight.
In this climaxing scene, Chapman waits in the doorway of The Dakota. He is clean in his mind that by killing John Lennon is the right thing to do. Moments later, the singer arrives home and Chapman without any hesitation pulls his gun from his coat pocket and shoots him in the back.
Locations: Chapter 27
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
One of the most noticeable elements in any film is the sudden or memorable appearance of one of the main characters for the first time. Often, film entrances are not very extraordinary, but now and again, there are some that are very spectacular and skilfully executed. Film scarlet Megan Fox is no exception to the rule as she makes her opening appearance at an after party. Unable to make it across to her publicist who waits on the opposite side of the terrace, she decides that the best way would be via the swimming pool and so gracefully slips fully-clothed into the water, to the astonishment of the other guests.
Locations: How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
Deception (2008)
When Ewan McGregor's character Jonathan McQuarry personates his new found friend, Wyatt Bose and tricks Tina played by Maggie Q, a regular sex partner of Wyatt, to open the hotel room door thinking it is Wyatt, Jonathan proceeds to beg her to tell him the truth about Wyatt and the no-strings-attached sex ring for the rich. In the real world, of course, suit-wearing types employ expensive prostitutes, a reality which the film earnestly transforms into the saucer-eyed male fantasy of hot female yuppies who will have hotel-room sex without needing to be paid afterwards.
Locations: Deception
The Proposal (2009)
For three years, Andrew Paxton played by Ryan Reynolds has slaved as the assistant to Margaret Tate played by Sandra Bullock, hard-driving editor at a New York publisher. When Margaret, a Canadian, faces deportation for an expired visa, she hatches a scheme to marry Andrew. Heâll only accept if she'll promise a promotion and officially propose to him. So, reluctantly Margaret agrees to his demands and whilst outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration offices kneels down and asks Andrew to marry her.
Locations: The Proposal
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, also known as Wall Street 2, is a 2010 American drama film directed by Oliver Stone, a sequel to Wall Street (1987). Michael Douglas reprises his role as Gordon Gekko with Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, and Frank Langella also starring in the film. The screenplay was written by Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff. Set in New York, the film takes place 23 years after the original and revolves around the 2008 financial crisis. Its plot focuses on a reformed Gekko acting an antihero rather than a villain, and follows his attempts to repair his relationship with his daughter Winnie, with the help of her fiancé, Jacob. In return, Gekko helps Jacob get revenge on the man he blames for his mentor's death. In this scene, Shia LaBeoufâs character walks across the lobby of the Millenium Hilton Hotel, in the distance the construction site of Ground Zero can be clearly seen.
Locations: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
The Adjustment Bureau is a 2011 romantic action thriller film loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, "Adjustment Team". The film was written and directed by George Nolfi and stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. The cast also includes Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Michael Kelly, and Terence Stamp. In early drafts of the script, the character Norris was changed from a real estate salesman, as in the short story, to an up-and-coming politician. Media Rights Capital funded the film and then auctioned it to distributors, with Universal Studios putting in the winning bid for $62 million. Nolfi worked with John Toll as his cinematographer and shots were planned in advance with storyboards but changed often during shooting to fit the conditions of the day. The visual plan for the film was to keep the camerawork smooth using a dolly or crane and have controlled formal shots when the Adjustment Bureau was in full control, with things becoming more loose and using hand-held cameras when the story becomes less controlled. The final scene which takes place on the rooftop of the GE Building in Rockefeller Center "Top of the Rock" was filmed four months after the rest of the film had completed shooting and has a different ending than the original.
Locations: The Adjustment Bureau
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Friends with Benefits is a romantic comedy directed by Will Gluck and starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. The film features a supporting cast which includes Woody Harrelson, Bryan Greenberg, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins, Nolan Gould and Patricia Clarkson. The plot revolves around Jamie and Dylan, who meet in New York City and naively believe adding sex to their relationship will not lead to complications. Over time they begin to develop deep mutual feelings for each other, only to deny it each time they are together. Filming took place in the Midtown Manhattan and Central Park. In this scene, Mila's character introduces Dylan to New York's prime location, Times Square, where a large crowd has gathered and are dancing in unison.
Locations: Friends with Benefits
Man on a Ledge (2012)
Man on a Ledge follows the travails of Sam Worthingtonâs character, Nick Cassidy, a former New York City police officer who must clear his name after being unjustly convicted of stealing a very large diamond. To draw attention to his plight and away from the diamond heist occurring across the street, Cassidy threatens to jump from the roof of a Manhattan hotel.
Actor Sam Worthington spent three weeks at the Roosevelt Hotel standing on a 14-inch ledge that was 22 stories off the ground, which was over 200 feet above Madison Avenue. He wore a harness that was attached to a pulley, so there was no chance of him falling even when he slipped or the wind blew too strong, but that didnât stop New Yorkers from encouraging him to jump.
Locations: Man on a Ledge
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street is a brilliant black comedy film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the ruthless New York stockbroker, Jordan Belfort. Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the film has so many classic moments helped along by the talented acting skills of Jonah Hill, Rob Reiner and Matthew McConaugkey, but our chosen one features virtually-unknown-actress Margot Robbie. Previously seen in the US television show, PamAm alongside Christina Ricci and briefly in the romantic comedy âAbout Timeâ, Margot plays the role of the Leonardo DiCaproâs long-suffering second wife, Naomi Lapaglia. In this scene, she able to achieve the upper-hand on her cheating husband and whilst sitting in the nursery threatens to only allow him to look and not touch her anymore. Naomi's sex appear is her power over Jordan and her form of currency in a world of millionaires. The only way of creating a better life for herself and getting what she wants is the fact that she's aware of this sexual power she has over men, and especially over Jordan.
Locations: The Wolf of Wall Street
The Other Woman (2014)
When Kate played by Leslie Mann discovers that her husband is still seeing someone on the side, she initially believes that it is Carly, played by Cameron Diaz, but she and Carly eventually discover that Mark is seeing a third woman, a beautiful young woman named Amber played by Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton. The most-talked-about scene from The Other Woman is when Carly and Kate travel to the beach and chase after a white bikini-clad Amber.
The SI model's moment in the sun is an obvious homage to Bo Derek's breakout splashy romp in the classic 1979 comedy, "10," in which a young Derek similarly plays the nubile object of an older man's desire. According to critics, the bikini jogging scene is pure leer-bait material. Unlike Derek, however, Upton only has a few lines and is the third wheel behind Mann and Diaz, who of course, successfully made the transition from model to actress since her big break in 1994's "The Mask."
When it comes to models-turned-actresses, the success rate is a mixed bag. Brooklyn Decker made the leap with small roles in comedies like "Just Go With It" and "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Gisele Bündchen appeared in "Taxi" and "The Devil Wears Prada", Rosie Huntington-Whiteley appeared in âTransformers: Dark of the Moon", and Cindy Crawford starred opposite William Baldwin in the 1995 action film "Fair Game." At the other end of the spectrum, there is Ukranian-French model Olga Kurylenko, who has moved to starring roles in "Hitman", "Max Payne", "Quantum of Solace" and "Oblivionâ with Tom Cruise.
Locations: The Other Woman
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
In 2016, Megan Fox reprised her role as roving Channel 5 News reporter April O'Neil in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel, which saw the Turtles continue to live in the shadows with no one knowing they were the ones who had taken down the evil Shredder in the first film.
In this scene, Megan Fox goes undercover and seamlessly switches from a âday at the officeâ shoulder-length blonde to a Britney Spears wannabe wearing school uniform and opaque black knee-stockings brunette as she struts her way in slow motion across the concourse of New York Cityâs Grand Central Terminal.
| i don't know |
What is the name given to a word or sentence which reads the same forwards and backwards? | Palindromes History + Forward and Backward Word Fun by Brownielocks
The year 2002 is also a palindrome number.
It will not happen again in your lifetime?
The next palindrome year is 2112.
So have a Happy New 2002!
Also... 911 is a palindrome number if done in Roman Numerals.
IXXI
Aibohphobia is the fear of palindromes.
(I don't know if this is true. But if you look at the word, but AIBOHP is phobia backwards. )
History of the Palindrome
If you never heard of one until now, don't feel bad. Palindromes aren't as common as anagrams (see our page on those) and there is not really a lot of historical information about them. My guess is that literacy was only among the wealthy, aristocrats or religious people in the past. And, IMHO palindromes are much more challenging intellectually than anagrams are. So they seem to be a secret among the old scholars of the past on their origins. Only samples remain, many of which have authors who use pen names. Perhaps it was an embarrassment to be able to compose foolish verse? Palindromes are done in several languages, with French being the assumed language of origin since it was for the anagram as well.
I gave you simple palindromes above as a fast example. But there are many more that impress me with their brilliance. Most of them were written in the 18th century which also tells me that without the distraction of television, radios, computers, movies etc. people had more time to THINK and create. And so they did.
There are entire poems that are done as a palindrome. I will give you several examples on palindromes as words, phrases and entire poems below.
The first publication of palidromic poetry was in 1802 by a Greek named Ambrose Hieromonachus Paperes titled "Ethopoiia Karkinike." This is a 416 line poem composed of short lines.
Below are two short poems that letter by letter reads the same forwards and backwards. Don't ask me exactly what it means. ;)
Ida by the Window
Peering furtively from behind a bush,
I saw him, for the first time
Entering the lonely house with my wife.
The King of the Palindrome.
This is a true story!
In 1881 (notice the numbers are the same forward and backward?) a man was born named Sydney Yendys (his name is also palindrome!).
I am not sure in which town he was born, but he married a girl named Edna and had a daughter named Edna. He worked for 5 yrs. as a bookkeeper with OK Cartrac Ko. (Reads the same forward and backward too!)
Business grew and an assistant was hired for Sydney, named Wordrow (another palindrome!). One day Wordrow said to his boss, "Have you ever noticed that your entire name is a palidrome?" Sydney had never heard of the word before. After Wordrow explained it to him, with two examples: "It's a word or sentence that reads the same forward and backwards like the word 'level' or 'Rats live on no evil star.'"
So, Sydney wrote his name on a piece of paper, and then wrote it backwards and exclaimed, "Sure enough, you're right!"
From that day on, Sydney became obsessed with palindromes. He is considered the "Father of the Palindrome" by many wordsmiths because more than any other man of his time, and perhaps in history so far he devoted his entire life to them? He spent all of his spare time fuddling around with words. One day he saw the results of a palidromic contest published in his weekly paper. The winner was Levin Snivel (palidrome name!) who wrote a twelve octosyllabic line poem. (He and Sydney were to become life-long competitors). Sydney was energized! He wrote a twenty decasyllable poem and sent it to the publisher, who did publish is. But he also sent his regrets that it had not been sent in in time for his contest (or he'd have won). Snivel heard about this and then wrote a palindromic poem of forty duodecasyllables. And ol' Sydney countered with the same kind of poem only composed of 60. Thus we have dueling poets!!
After Snivel wrote a poem of 114 syllabled lines, Sydney decided it was time for some major action. He decided to write a full-length novel that was one entire palidrome titled, "D'neeht" and started instantly.
Fortunately, he could do this because he got a nice inheritance to live on (relative unknown) so he could quit bookkeeping and devoted all his time writing this palindromic novel. Of course, this wrecked havoc on his personal life! .His wife left him, taking their daughter with her. Well, duh? Ironically Sydney never even noticed they left! He kept on with his novel writing and writing and writing.
How long did it take? 30 years!!! The palindrome novel was finally done -- or was it?
Sydney threw a party for a few of his closest friends, with a nice fire, wine and all the rest. He presented the large stack of typewritten papers of the novel, "D'neeht" and said it was an anti-war novel. Upon looking closely at the first sentence which read, "Snug and raw was I, ere I saw war and guns," they gasped.
It was underlined in red and as all good friends, they had suggested merely rewriting it to read,
"Snug & raw was I, ere I saw war & guns."
(Do you see his big error? The "and" was never a palindrome?)
Sydney's lips quivered, jaw dropped and perspiration formed on his brow. He picked up the entire manuscript and walked over to the fireplace and tossed it in! An artistic perfectionist as Sydney would never compromise his integrity. Thirty years had been wasted. He then produced a pistol and well.....Need I say more?
Carved on Sydney Yendy's tombstone were the following words,
"In my end is my beginning."
Mr. Sydney Yendy's seems to have been born, destined, preordained and cursed with being a palindromist till he died.
It's a shame Sydney tossed it in the fire. :( I think millions would have enjoyed his novel, regardless of that one flawed sentence. I know I would have loved to have read it or seen it.
Information is credited to George Marvil in the following book:
"Palindromes and Anagrams" by Howard W. Bergerson
Dover Publications, Canada � 1973
It's a great story and we are glad they both shared it. :)
Below are some examples of palindromic sentences.
Authors are unknown.
Palindromes were mostly done in the 1800's.
I find them the most challenging of all word puzzles.
Not many new ones have been done since the 1930's. I suspect television has played a major role in taking people's minds off of creating their own form of games, whether with words or objects?
But, here is a recent poem that was sent to me by Mark Scrivener to put on this page. I think it's very well done. You will see that it reads the same (word by word) forward and backward, at the same time portrays its meanings.
DUSK TO DAWN
| Palindrome |
Which 20th Century American artist was well known for his unique style of ‘Drip Painting’? | Using Data Types
Solution: ReverseString.java .
Write a program FlipX.java that takes the name of an image file as a command-line argument and flips the image horizontally.
Write a program ColorSeparation.java that takes the name of an image file as a command-line argument, and creates and shows three Picture objects, one that contains only the red components, one for green, and one for blue.
Write a static method isValidDNA() that takes a string as its argument and returns true if and only if it is composed entirely of the characters A, T, C, and G.
Solution:
public static boolean isValidDNA(String s) { for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++) { char c = s.charAt(i); if (c != 'A' && c != 'T' && c != 'C' && c != 'G') return false; }
Write a function complementWatsonCrick() that takes a DNA string as its arguments and returns its Watson–Crick complement: replace A with T, C with G, and vice versa.
Solution:
public static String complementWatsonCrick(String s) { s = s.replaceAll('A', 't'); s = s.replaceAll('T', 'a'); s = s.replaceAll('C', 'g'); s = s.replaceAll('G', 'c'); return s.toUpperCase(); }
What does the following code fragment print?
String string1 = "hello"; String string2 = string1; string1 = "world"; System.out.println(string2);
Solution: hello.
What does the following code fragment print?
String s = "Hello World"; s.toUpperCase(); s.substring(6, 11); StdOut.println(s);
Solution: Hello, World. String objects are immutable.
A string s is a circular shift of a string t if it matches when the characters of one string are circularly shifted by some number of positions. For example, ACTGACG is a circular shift of TGACGAC, and vice versa. Detecting this condition is important in the study of genomic sequences. Write a function isCircularShift() that checks whether two given strings s and t are circular shifts of one another.
Solution:
public boolean isCircularShift(String s, String t) { String s2 = s + s; return s2.contains(t); }
What does the following recursive function return?
public static String mystery(String s) { int n = s.length(); if (n <= 1) return s; String a = s.substring(0, n/2); String b = s.substring(n/2, N); return mystery(b) + mystery(a); }
Solution: the reverse of its argument string.
Suppose that a[] and b[] are both integer arrays consisting of millions of integers. What does the follow code do, and how long does it take?
int[] temp = a; a = b; b = temp;
Solution: It swaps the arrays, but it does so by copying object references, so that it is not necessary to copy millions of values.
Describe the effect of the following function.
public void swap(Color a, Color b) { Color temp = a; a = b; b = temp; }
Solution: It has no effect because Java passes object references by value.
Creative Exercises
Kamasutra cipher. Write a filter KamasutraCipher.java that takes two strings as command-line argument (the key strings), then reads strings (separated by whitespace) from standard input, substitutes for each letter as specified by the key strings, and prints the result to standard output. This operation is the basis for one of the earliest known cryptographic systems. The condition on the key strings is that they must be of equal length and that any letter in standard input must appear in exactly one of them. For example, if the two keys are THEQUICKBROWN and FXJMPSVRLZYDG, then we make the table
T H E Q U I C K B R O W N F X J M P S V L A Z Y D G
which tells us that we should substitute F for T, T for F, H for X, X for H, and so forth when filtering standard input to standard output. The message is encoded by replacing each letter with its pair. For example, the message MEET AT ELEVEN is encoded as QJJF BF JKJCJG. The person receiving the message can use the same keys to get the message back.
Color study. Write a program ColorStudy.java that displays the color study shown at right, which gives Albers squares corresponding to each of the 256 levels of blue (blue-to-white in row-major order) and gray (black-to-white in column-major order) that were used to print this book.
Tile. Write a program Tile.java that takes the name of an image file and two integers m and n as command-line arguments and creates an m-by-n tiling of the image.
Rotation filter. Write a program Rotation.java that takes two command-line arguments (the name of an image file and a real number \(\theta\)) and rotates the image \(\theta\)) degrees counterclockwise. To rotate, copy the color of each pixel \((s_i, s_j)\) in the source image to a target pixel \((t_i, t_j)\) whose coordinates are given by the following formulas:
$$ \begin{align} t_i \;&=\; (s_i - c_j) \cos \theta - (s_j - c_j) \sin \theta + c_j \\[1ex] t_j \;&=\; (s_i - c_j) \sin \theta + (s_j - c_j) \cos \theta + c_j \end{align} $$
where \((c_i, c_j)\) is the center of the image.
Swirl filter. Creating a swirl effect is similar to rotation, except that the angle changes as a function of distance to the center of the image. Use the same formulas as in the previous exercise, but compute \(\theta\) as a function of \((s_i, s_j)\), specifically \(\pi/256\) times the distance to the center.
Wave filter. Write a filter Wave.java like those in the previous two exercises that creates a wave effect, by copying the color of each pixel \((s_i, s_j)\) in the source image to a target pixel \((t_i, t_j)\), where
$$ \begin{align} t_i \;&=\; s_i \\[1ex] t_j \;&=\; s_j + 20 \sin(2 \pi s_j / 64) \end{align} $$
Add code to take the amplitude (20 in the accompanying figure) and the frequency (64 in the accompanying figure) as command-line arguments.
Glass filter. Write a program Glass.java that takes the name of an image file as a command-line argument and applies a glass filter: set each pixel p to the color of a random neighboring pixel (whose pixel coordinates both differ from pâs coordinates by at most 5).
Digital zoom. Write a program Zoom.java that takes the name of an image file and three numbers s, x, and y as command-line arguments, and shows an output image that zooms in on a portion of the input image. The numbers are all between 0 and 1, with s to be interpreted as a scale factor and (x, y) as the relative coordinates of the point that is to be at the center of the output image. Use this program to zoom in on a relative or pet in some digital photo on your computer.
Web Exercises (String Processing)
Write a function that takes as input a string and returns the number of occurrences of the letter e.
Give a one line Java code fragment to replace all periods in a string with commas. Answer: s = s.replace('.', ',').
Don't use s = s.replaceAll(".", ","). The replaceAll() method uses regular expressions where "."has a special meaning.
Replace all tabs with four spaces. Answer: s = s.replace("\t", " ").
Write a program that takes a command line input string s, reads strings from standard input, and prints the number of times s appears. Hint: use don't forget to use equals instead of == with references.
Write a program that reads in the name of a month (3 letter abbreviation) as a command-line argument and prints the number of days in that month in a non leap year.
public static void main(String[] args) { String[] months = { "Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec" }; int[] days = { 31, 28, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31 }; String name = args[0]; for (int i = 0; i < months.length; i++) if (name.equalsIgnoreCase(months[i])) System.out.println(name + " has " + days[i] + " days"); }
Write a program Squeeze.java that takes as input a string and removes adjacent spaces, leaving at most one space in-a-row.
Which one or more of the following converts all of the strings in the array a to upper case?
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) { String s = a[i]; s = s.toUpperCase(); } for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) { a[i].toUpperCase(); } for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) { a[i] = a[i].toUpperCase(); }
Answer: only the last one.
Describe the string that the following function returns, given a positive integer n?
public static String mystery(int n) { String s = ""; while (n > 0) { if (n % 2 == 1) s = s + s + "x"; else s = s + s; n = n / 2; } return s; }
Solution The string of length n consisting only of the character x.
Write a function that takes a string s and an integer n and returns a new string t of length exactly n that consists of s (truncated if its length is greater than n) followed by a sequence of '-' characters (if the length of s is less than n).
What does the following recursive function return, given two strings s and t of the same length?
public static String mystery(String s, String t) { int n = s.length(); if (n <= 1) return s + t; String a = mystery(s.substring(0, n/2), t.substring(0, n/2)); String b = mystery(s.substring(n/2, n), t.substring(n/2, n)); return a + b; }
Solution: Perfect shuffle of the characters of s and t.
Write a program that reads in a string and prints the first character that appears exactly once in the string. Ex: ABCDBADDAB -> C.
Given a string, create a new string with all the consecutive duplicates removed. Ex: ABBCCCCCBBAB -> ABCBAB.
Write a function that takes two string arguments s and t, and returns the index of the first character in s that appears in ts (or -1 if no character in s appears in t).
Given a string s, determine whether it represents the name of a web page. Assume that any string starting with http:// is a web page.
Solution: if (s.startsWith("http://")).
Given a string s that represents the name of a web page, break it up into pieces, where each piece is separated by a period, e.g., http://www.cs.princeton.edu should be broken up into www, cs, princeton, and edu, with the http:// part removed. Use either the split() or indexOf() methods.
Given a string s that represents the name of a file, write a code fragment to determine its file extension. The file extension is the substring following the last period. For example, the file type of monalisa.jpg is jpg, and the file type of mona.lisa.png is png.
Library solution: this solution is used in Picture.java to save an image to the file of the appropriate type.
String extension = s.substring(s.lastIndexOf('.') + 1);
Given a string s that represents the name of a file, write a code fragment to determine its directory portion. This is the prefix that ends with the last / character (the directory delimiter); if there is no such /, then it is the empty string. For example, the directory portion of /Users/wayne/monalisa.jpg is /Users/wayne/.
Given a string s that represents the name of a file, write a code fragment to determine its base name (filename minus any directories). For /Users/wayne/monalisa.jpg, it is monalisa.jpg.
Write a program that reads in text from standard input and prints it back out, replacing all single quotation marks with double quotation marks.
Write a program Paste.java that takes an arbitrary number of command line inputs and concatenates the corresponding lines of each file, and writes the results to standard output. (Typically each line in given file has the same length.) Counterpart of the program Cat.java.
What does the program LatinSquare.java print when N = 5?
String alphabet = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"; for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) { for (int j = 0; j < N; j++) { char c = alphabet.charAt((i + j) % N); System.out.print(c + " "); } System.out.println(); }
A Latin square of order N is an N-by-N array consisting of N different symbols, such that each symbol appears exactly once in each row and column. Latin squares are useful in statistical design and cryptography.
What does the following code fragment print?
String s = "Hello World"; s.toUpperCase(); s.substring(6, 11); System.out.println(s);
Answer: Hello World. The methods toUpperCase and substring return the resulting strings, but the program ignores these so s is never changed. To get it to print WORLD, use s = s.toUpperCase() and s = s.substring(6, 11).
What happens when you execute the following code fragment?
String s = null; int length = s.length();
Answer: you get a NullPointerException since s is null and you are attempting to dereference it.
What are the values of x and y after the two assignment statements below?
int x = '-'-'-'; int y = '/'/'/';
What does the following statement do where c if of type char?
System.out.println((c >= 'a' && c <= 'z') || (c >= 'A' && c <= 'Z'));
Answer: prints true if c is an uppercase or lowercase letter, and false otherwise.
Write an expression that tests whether or not a character represents one of the digits '0' through '9' without using any library functions.
boolean isDigit = ('0' <= c && c <= '9');
Write a program WidthChecker.java that takes a command line parameter N, reads text from standard input, and prints to standard output all lines that are longer than N characters (including spaces).
Write a program Hex2Decimal.java that converts from a hexadecimal string (using A-F for the digits 11-15) to decimal.
wget. Write a program Wget.java that takes the name of a URL as a command-line argument and saves the referenced file using the same filename.
Capitalize. Write a program Capitalize.java that reads in text from standard input and capitalizes each word (make first letter uppercase and make the remaining letters lowercase).
Shannon's entropy experiment. Recreate Shannon's experiment on the entropy of the English language by listing a number of letters in a sentence and prompting the user for the next symbol. Shannon concluded that there is approximately 1.1 bits of info per letter in the alphabet.
Scrambled text. Some cognitive psychologists believe that people recognize words based on their shape.
to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.
Write a program that reads in text from standard input and prints the text back out, but shuffles the internal letters in each word. Write and use a function scramble() that takes as input a string and returns another string with the internal letters in random order. Use the shuffling algorithm in Shuffle.java for the shuffling part.
Date format conversion. Write a program to read in a data of the form 2003-05-25 and convert it to 5/25/03.
Frequency analysis of English text. Write a program LetterFrequency.java that reads in text from standard input (e.g., Moby Dick ) and calculate the fraction of times each of the 26 lowercase letters appears. Ignore uppercase letters, punctuation, whitespace, etc. in your analysis. Use CharStdIn.java from Section 2.4 to read process the text file.
Print longest word(s). Repeat the previous exercise, but print out all of the longest words if there is a tie, say up to a maximum of 10 words. Use an array of strings to store the current longest words.
Test if two files are equal. Write a program that takes the name of two text files as command line inputs and checks if their contents are identical.
Parsing command-line options. Unix command line programs typically support flags which configure the behavior of a program to produce different output, e.g., "wc -c". Write a program that takes any number of flags from the command line and runs whichever options the user specifies. To check options, use something like if (s.equals("-v")).
Capitalization. Write a program Capitalizer.java that reads in text strings from standard input and modifies each one so that the first letter in each word is uppercase and all other letters are lowercase.
Railfence transposition cipher. Write a program RailFenceEncoder.java that reads in text from standard input and prints the characters in the odd positions, followed by the even positions. For example, if the original message is "Attack at Dawn", then you should print out "Atc tDwtaka an". This is a crude form of cryptography.
Railfence transposition cipher. Write a program RailFenceDecoder.java that reads in a message encoded using the railfence transposition cipher and prints the original message by reversing the encryption process.
Scytale cipher. The scytale cipher is one of the first cryptographic devices used for military purposes. (See The Code Book, p. 8 for a nice picture.) It was used by the Spartans in the fifth century BCE. To scramble the text, you print out every kth character starting at the beginning, then every kth character starting at the second character, and so forth. Write a pair of programs ScytaleEncoder.java and ScytaleDecoder.java that implement this encryption scheme.
Print longest word. Read a list of words from standard input, and print out the longest word. Use the length method.
Subsequence. Given two strings s and t, write a program Subsequence.java that determines whether s is a subsequence of t. That is, the letters of s should appear in the same order in t, but not necessarily contiguously. For example accag is a subsequence of taagcccaaccgg.
Bible codes. Some religious zealots believe that the Torah contains hidden phrases that appear by reading every kth letter, and that such pattern can be used to find the Ark of the Covenant, cure cancer, and predict the future. Results not based on scientific method and results have been debunked by mathematicians and attributed to illicit data manipulation. Using the same methodology one can find statistically similar patterns in a Hebrew translation of War and Peace.
Word chain checker. Write a program that reads in a list of words from the command line and prints true if they form a word chain and false otherwise. In a word chain, adjacent words must differ in exactly one letter, e.g., HEAL, HEAD, DEAD, DEED, DEER, BEER.
Haiku detector. Write a program that reads in text from standard input and checks whether it forms a haiku. A haiku consists of three lines containing the correct number of syllables (5, 7, and 5, respectively). For the purpose of this problem, define a syllable to be any contiguous sequence of consecutive vowels (a, e, i, o, u, or y). According to this rule, haiku has two syllables and purpose has three syllables. Of course, the second example is wrong since the e in purpose is silent.
ISBN numbers. Write a program to check whether an ISBN number is valid. Recall check digit. An ISBN number can also have hyphens inserted at arbitrary places.
Longest common prefix. Write a function that takes two input string s and t, and returns the longest common prefix of both strings. For example, if s = ACCTGAACTCCCCCC and t = ACCTAGGACCCCCC, then the longest common prefix is ACCT. Be careful if s and t start with different letters, or if one is a prefix of the other.
Longest complemented palindrome. In DNA sequence analysis, a complemented palindrome is a string equal to its reverse complement. Adenine (A) and Thymine (T) are complements, as are Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G). For example, ACGGT is a complement palindrome. Such sequences act as transcription-binding sites and are associated with gene amplification and genetic instability. Given a text input of N characters, find the longest complemented palindrome that is a substring of the text. For example, if the text is GACACGGTTTTA then the longest complemented palindrome is ACGGT. Hint: consider each letter as the center of a possible palindrome of odd length, then consider each pair of letters as the center of a possible palindrome of even length.
Highest density C+G region. Given a DNA string s of A, C, T, G and a parameter L, find a substring of s that contains the highest ratio of C + G characters among all substrings that have at least L characters.
Substring of a circular shifts. Write a function that takes two strings s and t, and returns true if s is a substring of a circular string t, and false otherwise. For example gactt is a substring of the circular string tgacgact.
DNA to protein. A protein is a large molecule (polymer) consisting of a sequence of amino acids (monomers). Some examples of proteins are: hemoglobin, hormones, antibodies, and ferritin. There are 20 different amino acids that occur in nature. Each amino acid is specified by three DNA base pairs (A, C, G, or T). Write a program to read in a protein (specified by its base pairs) and converts it into a sequence of amino acids. Use the following table. For example, the amino acid Isoleucine (I) is encode by ATA, ATC, or ATT.
Rosetta stone of life.
TTT Phe TCT Ser TAT Tyr TGT Cys TTC Phe TCC Ser TAC Tyr TGC Cys TTA Leu TCA Ser TAA ter TGA ter TTG Leu TCG Ser TAG ter TGG Trp CTT Leu CCT Pro CAT His CGT Arg CTC Leu CCC Pro CAC His CGC Arg CTA Leu CCA Pro CAA Gln CGA Arg CTG Leu CCG Pro CAG Gln CGG Arg ATT Ile ACT Thr AAT Asn AGT Ser ATC Ile ACC Thr AAC Asn AGC Ser ATA Ile ACA Thr AAA Lys AGA Arg ATG Met ACG Thr AAG Lys AGG Arg GTT Val GCT Ala GAT Asp GGT Gly GTC Val GCC Ala GAC Asp GGC Gly GTA Val GCA Ala GAA Glu GGA Gly GTG Val GCG Ala GAG Glu GGG Gly
Amino acid
val
V
Counter. Write a program that reads in a decimal string from the command line (e.g., 56789) and starts counting from that number (e.g., 56790, 56791, 56792). Do not assume that the input is a 32 or 64 bit integer, but rather an arbitrary precision integer. Implement the integer using a String (not an array).
Arbitrary precision integer arithmetic. Write a program that takes two decimal strings as inputs, and prints their sum. Use a string to represent the integer.
Boggle. The game of Boggle is played on a 4-by-4 grid of characters. There are 16 dice, each with 6 letters on the them. Create a 4-by-4 grid, where each die appears in one of the cells at random, and each die displays one of the 6 characters at random.
FORIXB MOQABJ GURILW SETUPL CMPDAE ACITAO SLCRAE ROMASH NODESW HEFIYE ONUDTK TEVIGN ANEDVZ PINESH ABILYT GKYLEU
Generating cryptograms. A cryptogram is obtained by scrambling English text by replacing each letter with another letter. Write a program to generate a random permutation of the 26 letters and use this to map letters. Give example: Don't scramble punctuation or whitespace.
Scrabble. Write a program to determine the longest legal Scrabble word that can be played? To be legal, the word must be in The Official Tournament and Club Wordlist (TWL98), which consists of all 168,083 words between 2 and 15 letters in TWL98. The number of tiles representing each letter are given in the table below. In addition, there are two blanks which can be used to represent any letter.
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 - 9 2 2 4 12 2 3 2 9 1 1 4 2 6 8 2 1 6 4 6 4 2 2 1 2 1 2
Soundex. The soundex algorithm is a method of encoding last names based on the way it sounds rather than the way it is spelled. Names that sound the same (e.g., SMITH and SMYTH) would have the same soundex encoding. The soundex algorithm was originally invented to simplify census taking. It is also used by genealogists to cope with names with alternate spellings and by airline receptionists to avoid embarrassment when later trying to pronounce a customer's name.
Write a program Soundex.java that reads in two lowercase strings as parameters, computes their soundex, and determines if they are equivalent. The algorithm works as follows:
Keep the first letter of the string, but remove all vowels and the letters 'h', 'w', and 'y'.
Assign digits to the remaining letter using the following rules:
1: B, F, P, V 2: C, G, J, K, Q, S, X, Z 3: D, T 4: L 5: M, N 6: R
If two or more consecutive digits are the same, delete all of the duplicates.
Convert the string to four characters: the first character is the first letter of the original string, the remaining three characters are the first three digits in the string. Pad the string with trailing 0's if there are not enough digits; truncate it if there are too many digits.
Longest word. Given a dictionary of words and a starting word s, find the longest word that can be formed, starting at s, and inserting one letter at a time such that each intermediate word is also in the dictionary. For example, if the starting word is cal, then the following is a sequence of valid words coal, coral, choral, chorale. Reference .
Phone words. Write a program PhoneWords.java that takes a 7 digit string of digits as a command line input, reads in a list of words from standard input (e.g., the dictionary), and prints all 7-letter words (or 3-letter words followed by 4-letter words) in the dictionary that can be formed using the standard phone rules, e.g., 266-7883 corresponds to compute.
0: No corresponding letters 1: No corresponding letters 2: A B C 3: D E F 4: G H I 5: J K L 6: M N O 7: P Q R S 8: T U V 9: W X Y Z
Rot13. Rot13 is a very simple encryption scheme used on some Internet newsgroups to conceal potentially offensive postings. It works by cyclically shifting each lowercase or uppercase letter 13 positions. So, the letter 'a' is replaced by 'n' and the letter 'n' is replaced by 'a'. For example, the string "Encryption" is encoded as "Rapelcgvba." Write a program ROT13.java that reads in a String as a command line parameter and encodes it using Rot13.
Longest Rot13 word. Write a program that reads in a dictionary of words into an array and determines the longest pair of words such that each is the Rot13 of the other, e.g., bumpily and unfiber.
Thue-Morse weave. Recall the Thue-Morse sequence from Exercises in Section 2.3. Write a program ThueMorse.java that reads in a command line input N and plots the N-by-N Thue-Morse weave in turtle graphics. Plot cell (i, j) black if the ith and jth bits in the Thue-Morse string are different. Below are the Thue-Morse patterns for N = 4, 8, and 16.
Because of the mesmerizing non-regularity, for large N, your eyes may have a hard time staying focused.
Repetition words. Write a program Repetition.java to read in a list of dictionary words and print out all words for which each letter appears exactly twice, e.g., intestines, antiperspirantes, appeases, arraigning, hotshots, arraigning, teammate, and so forth.
Text twist. Write a program TextTwist.java that reads in a word from the command line and a dictionary of words from standard input, and prints all words of at least four letters that can be formed by rearranging a subset of the letters in the input word. This forms the core of the game Text Twist . Hint: create a profile of the input word by counting the number of times each of the 26 letters appears. Then, for each dictionary word, create a similar profile and check if each letter appears at least as many times in the input word as in the dictionary word.
Word frequencies. Write a program (or several programs and use piping) that reads in a text file and prints a list of the words in decreasing order of frequency. Consider breaking it up into 5 pieces and use piping: read in text and print the words one per line in lowercase, sort to bring identical words together, remove duplicates and print count, sort by count.
VIN numbers. A VIN number is a 17-character string that uniquely identifies a motor vehicle. It also encodes the manufacturer and attributes of the vehicle. To guard against accidentally entering an incorrect VIN number, the VIN number incorporates a check digit (the 9th character). Each letter and number is assigned a value between 0 and 9. The check digit is chosen so to be the weighted sum of the values mod 11, using the symbol X if the remainder is 10.
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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - 1 2 3 4 5 - 7 - 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
For example the check digit of the partial VIN number 1FA-CP45E-?-LF192944 is X because the weighted sum is 373 and 373 mod 11 is 10.
1 F A C P 4 5 E X L F 1 9 2 9 4 4 1 6 1 3 7 4 5 5 - 3 6 1 9 2 9 4 4 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 - 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 42 6 15 28 12 10 50 - 27 48 7 54 10 36 12 8
Write a program VIN.java that takes a command line string and determines whether or not it is a valid VIN number. Allow the input to be entered with upper or lower case, and allow dashes to be inserted. Do thorough error checking, e.g., that the string is the right length, that no illegal characters are used (I, O, Q), etc.
Music CDs. Screen-scrape MusicBrainz to identify information about music CDs.
Pig Latin. Pig Latin is a fun secret language for young children. To convert a word to Pig Latin:
If it begins with a vowel, append "hay" to the end. At the beginning of a word, treat y as a vowel unless it is followed by a vowel.
If it begins with a sequence of consonants, move the consonants to the end, then append "ay". Treat a u following a q as a consonant.
For example, "input" becomes "input-hay", "standard" becomes "andard-stay", "quit" becomes "it-quay". Write a program PigLatinCoder.java that reads in a sequence of words from standard input and prints them to standard output in Pig Latin. Write a program PigLatinDecoder.java that reads in a sequence of words encoded in Pig Latin from standard input and prints the original words out in.
Rotating drum problem. Applications to pseudo-random number generators, computational biology, coding theory. Consider a rotating drum (draw picture of circle divided into 16 segments, each of one of two types - 0 and 1). We want that any sequence of 4 consecutive segments to uniquely identify the quadrant of the drum. That is, every 4 consecutive segments should represent one of the 16 binary numbers from 0000 to 1111. Is this possible? A de Bruijn sequence of order n is a shortest (circular) string such that every sequence of n bits appears as a substring at least once. For example, 0000111101100101 is a de Bruijn sequence of order 4, and all 2^4 possible 4-bit sequence (0000, 0001, ..., 1111) occur exactly once. Write a program DeBruijn.java that reads in a command line parameter n and prints an order n de Bruijn sequence. Algorithm: start with n 0's. Append a 1 if the n-tuple that would be formed has not already appeared in the sequence; append a 0 otherwise. Hint: use the methods String.indexOf and String.substring.
Ehrenfecucht-Mycielski sequence. The Ehrenfecucht-Mycielski sequence in a binary sequence that starts with "010". Given the first n bits b0, b1, ..., bn-1, bn is determined by finding the longest suffix bj, bj+1, ..., bn-1 that occurs previously in the sequence (if it occurs multiple times, take the last such occurrence). Then, bn is the opposite of the bit that followed the match. 0100110101110001000011110110010100100111010001100000101101111100. Hint: Use the substring() and lastIndexOf() methods.
Web Exercises (Image Processing)
Painter's and printer's color triangles. Create the following two images. The primary hues of the painter's triangle are red, green, and blue; the primary hues of the printer's triangle are magenta, cyan, and yellow.
Two-stroke apparent motion. Create the optical illusion of two-stroke apparent motion or four-stroke
De Valois' checkerboard. Create the optical illusion of De Valois' checkerboard or one of the other optical illusions from the Shapiro Perception Lab .
Color spectrum. Write a program Spectrum.java that draws all 2^24 possible colors, by drawing for each red value a 256-by-256 array of color chips (one for each green and blue value).
Vertical flip. Write a program FlipY.java that reads in an image and flips it vertically.
Picture dimensions. Write a program Dimension.java that take the name of an image file as a command line input and prints its dimension (width-by-height).
Anti-aliasing. Anti-aliasing is a method of removing artifacts from representing a smooth curve with a discrete number of pixels. A very crude way of doing this (which also blurs the image) is to convert an N-by-N grid of pixels into an (N-1)-by-(N-1) by making each pixel be the average of four cells in the original image as below. Write a program AntiAlias that reads in an integer N, then an N-by-N array of integers, and prints the anti-aliased version. Reference .
Thresholding. Write a program Threshold.java that reads in a grayscale version of a black-and-white picture, creates and plots a histogram of 256 grayscale intensities, and determines the threshold value for which pixels are black, and which are white.
Mirror image. Read in a W-by-H picture and produce a 2W-by-H picture which concatenates the original W-by-H picture with the mirror image of the W-by-H picture. Repeat by mirror around the y-axis. Or create a W-by-H picture, but mirror around the center, deleting half the picture.
Linear filters. A box filter or mean filter replaces the color of pixel (x, y) by the average of its 9 neighboring pixels (including itself). The matrix [1 1 1; 1 1 1; 1 1 1] / 9 is called the convolution kernel. The kernel is the set of pixels to be averaged together. Program MeanFilter.java implements a mean filter using the Picture data type.
Blur filter. Use low-pass 3-by-3 uniform filter [1/13 1/13 1/13; 1/13 5/13 1/13; 1/13, 1/13, 1/13].
Emboss filter. Use prewitt masks [-1 0 1; -1 1 1; -1 0 1] (east) or [1 0 -1; 2 0 -2; 1 0 -1], [-1 -1 0; -1 1 1; 0 1 1] (south-east),
Sharpen filter. Psychophysical experiments suggest that a photograph with crisper edges is more aesthetically pleasing than exact photographic reproduction. Use a high-pass 3-by-3 filter. Light pixels near dark pixels are made lighter; dark pixels near light pixels are made darker. Laplace kernel. Attempts to capture region where second derivative is zero. [-1 -1 -1; -1 8 -1; -1 -1 -1]
Oil painting filter. Set pixel (i, j) to the color of the most frequent value among pixels with Manhattan distance W of (i, j) in the original image.
Luminance and chrominance. Decompose a picture using the YIQ color space: Y (luma) = 0.299 r + 0.587 g + 0.114 b, I (in-phase) = 0.596 r - 0.274 g - 0.322 b, and Q (quadrature) = 0.211 r - 0.523 g + 0.312 b. Plot all 3 images. The YIQ color space is used by NTSC color TV system.
Brighten. Write a program Brighter.java that takes a command line argument which is the name of a JPG or PNG file, displays it in a window, and display a second version which is a brighter copy. Use the Color method brighter(), which return a brighter version of the invoking color.
Edge detection. Goal: form mathematical model of some feature of the image. To accomplish this, we want to detect edges or lines. An edge is a area of a picture with a strong contrast in intensity from one pixel to the next. Edge detection is a fundamental problem in image processing and computer vision. The Sobel method is a popular edge detection technique. We assume that the image is grayscale. (If not, we can convert by taking the average of the red, green, and blue intensities.) For each pixel (i, j) we calculate the edge strength by computing two 3-by-3 convolution masks. This involves taking the grayscale values of the nine pixels in the 3-by-3 neighborhood centered on (i, j), multiplying them by the corresponding weight in the 3-by-3 mask, and summing up the products.
-1 0 +1 +1 +2 +1 -2 0 +2 0 0 0 -1 0 +1 -1 -2 -1
This produces two values Gx and Gy. In the output picture, we color the pixel (i, j) according to the grayscale value 255 - Sqrt(Gx*Gx + Gy*Gy). There are various ways to handle the boundary. For simplicity, we ignore this special case and color the boundary pixels black. Program EdgeDetector.java takes the name of an image as a command line input and applies the Sobel edge detection algorithm to that image.
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Gary Burrell and Min Kao founded which US-based navigation systems company in 1989? | Dr. Min Kao | Garmin | United States
United States
Careers
Dr. Min Kao co-founded Garmin Corporation with Gary Burrell in October 1989 to integrate Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into navigation devices for multiple markets. Dr. Kao is credited with the breakthrough design and engineering of the GPS software technology that formed the foundation of the original Garmin product line. As executive chairman, Dr. Kao provides ongoing support to the company’s strategic planning and business development processes, and continues to serve as the chairman of the board of directors.
Prior to founding Garmin, Dr. Kao served as a systems analyst at Teledyne Systems for inertial, radio navigation and fire control systems. While at Magnavox Advanced Products, he designed the Kalman filter algorithms for Phase II GPS user equipment. He later served as engineering group leader with King Radio Corporation and AlliedSignal, where he led the development of the first GPS navigator to be certified by the FAA. Dr. Kao has a bachelor's in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University. His career began at the University of Tennessee where he earned his master's and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and was involved in research for NASA and the U.S. Army.
Dr. Min Kao Executive Chairman
Customer Service
| Garmin |
Morty and Ferdie are the nephews of which cartoon character? | Gary Burrell Net Worth - Get Gary Burrell Net Worth
Gary Burrell Net Worth
Gary Burrell Net Worth is$1.4 Billion
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Profession: Businessperson
Nicknames: Gary L Burrell
Country: United States of America
Gary Burrell net worth: Gary Burrell's net worth is $1.4 billion dollars which makes him one of the richest people in Kansas. Gary Burrell graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and then earned a Masters from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is currently based in Spring Hill, Kansas. He co-founded, Garmin, with Min Kao, in 1989. They created the company to make navigation devices for sailors and pilots. Their Global Position System devices became very popular with soldiers during the first Gulf War, though that was not their original intention. Mr. Burrell and Mr. Kao began developing domestic versions, introducing GPS systems for cars, in 1998. Garmin went public in 2000, and Mr. Burrell served as CEO until 2004. He still serves as Chairman Emeritus, with Min Kao serving as acting Chairman. He currently owns over 15% of the company. Garmin is based in Kansas City and is known for its face-to-face customer service model.
Gary Burrell (1937 - ) is an American businessman, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Garmin, makers of popular Global Positioning System devices.
He earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Wichita State University and a masters degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Along with partner Min Kao, Burrell founded Garmin in 1989 to make navigation devices for aviation and boating using the Global Positioning System. Their original office was two folding chairs and a card table. U.S. Army servicemen loved GPS during the first Gulf War, even though Garmin never had a military contract. Later on, the technology was expanded for the U.S. market, providing directions across all United States roads and highways.
In 2007, Burrell ranked #114 on the Forbes 400 list of America's richest people.
Gary Burrell Net Worth, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating
Gary Burrell Latest News
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What type of bird is a kookaburra? | kookaburra | bird | Britannica.com
Kookaburra
See Article History
Alternative Titles: bushman’s clock, Dacelo gigas, laughing jackass, laughing kookaburra
Kookaburra, also called laughing kookaburra or laughing jackass, (species Dacelo novaeguineae), eastern Australian bird of the kingfisher family (Alcedinidae), whose call sounds like fiendish laughter. This gray-brown, woodland-dwelling bird reaches a length of 43 cm (17 inches), with an 8- to 10-cm (3.2- to 4-inch) beak. In its native habitat it eats invertebrates and small vertebrates, including venomous snakes. In western Australia and New Zealand , where it has been introduced, the kookaburra has been known to attack chickens and ducklings. Defending their territory year-round, a monogamous pair of these birds lays two clutches of two to four white eggs in its nest in a tree hole. The young often remain with the parents and help raise the next year’s brood.
Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas)
Bucky Reeves—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
Listen: kookaburra
Audio clip of a laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).
Also sometimes called the “bushman’s clock,” the kookaburra is heard very early in the morning and just after sunset. The related blue-winged kookaburra (D. leachii), which does not “laugh,” is found across northern Australia.
Learn More in these related articles:
in kingfisher
Stretching 43 cm (17 inches) long and weighing 465 grams (16 ounces), the largest of all kingfishers is the kookaburra, known throughout Australia for its laughing call. The kookaburra’s white head has a brown eye stripe, the back and wings are dark brown, and the underparts are white. Often found in urban and suburban areas, it can become quite tame and may be fed by hand. A member of the...
1 Reference found in Britannica Articles
Assorted Reference
kookaburra - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
The loud call of the kookaburra, a woodland bird of Australia, sounds like maniacal laughter. The bird and its distinctive call have become a symbol of the Australian bush. Native to eastern Australia, it has also been introduced into western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. It is also known as the laughing kookaburra. Its species name is Dacelo gigas.
Article History
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Date Published: May 25, 2010
URL: https://www.britannica.com/animal/kookaburra
Access Date: January 19, 2017
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| Kingfisher |
In Greek mythology, the 100 eyes of watchman Argus were placed on the tail of which bird by Juno, after he fell asleep, closing all of his eyes? | Kookaburra - Animal Facts
Animal Profiles
Kookaburra
Bird. At twilight, kookaburras make loud, long calls that sound like laughter to let all know the boundaries of their territory. The largest of the kingfishers, kookaburras mate for life, living in pairs or small family groups. Chicks are born blind and naked, taking a month for their feathers to fill in. Older siblings often help their parents with the next clutch of eggs. The birds grow up to 47 cm (18.5 in) long and weigh about .5 kg (1 lb). Their bills are as long as 10 cm (4 in). Getting all their moisture from their food, they never need to drink water. They nest in hollow trees or termite mounds. Scientific Name Lifespan Dacelo gigas About 20 years Diet Carnivore. Snakes, lizards, mice, the young of other birds, as well as insects and small reptiles. Predators and Threats Cats, dogs, foxes, and larger predatory birds such as eagles and owls. Habitat Forests, open woodlands, or on the edges of plains in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea.
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The city of Samara is in which European country? | Samara, city, Russia
Encyclopedia > Places > Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic Nations > CIS and Baltic Political Geography
Samara
Samara (səmäˈrə) [ key ], formerly Kuybyshev, city (1989 pop. 1,254,000), capital of its region, E central European Russia, on the left bank of the Volga and at the mouth of the Samara River. It is a major river port and rail center (Moscow-Siberian line) and has important industries producing automobiles, aircraft, locomotives, machinery, ball bearings, synthetic rubber, chemicals, textiles, and petroleum products. Grain and livestock are the chief exports. The gigantic Kuybyshev reservoir and hydroelectric plant is a few miles upstream from the city. Industrial and residential satellite cities surround the main metropolis. Founded in 1586 as a Muscovite stronghold for the defense of the Volga trade route and of Russia's eastern frontier, Samara was attacked by the Nogai Tatars (1615) and the Kalmyks (1644) and opened its gates to the Cossack rebels under Stenka Razin in 1670. It grew to be the chief grain center on the Volga and was the seat of immensely rich grain merchants. Its industrial expansion dates from the early 20th cent., when railroads to Siberia and central Asia were built. Samara was (1918) the seat of the anti-Bolshevik provisional government and constituent assembly of Russia. During World War II the central government of the USSR was transferred to Kuybyshev (1941–43) from Moscow. As a result, the population increased tremendously, and the city limits were greatly expanded. The city was named Kuybyshev from 1935 to 1991.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
| Russia |
Pruritus is the medical name for which skin condition in humans? | Discovering Russia with James Brown - Samara - Part 1 - YouTube
Discovering Russia with James Brown - Samara - Part 1
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Published on Dec 22, 2012
Samara is the seventh-largest city in Russia, and one of the most important business and cultural centers in the European part of the country. During the Second World War, many Soviet government institutions, as well as most foreign embassies moved to Samara. A huge bunker was created here in 1942 as a back-up for Stalin and his cabinet. Here flows the mighty Volga river, and in winter, people play ice golf. Watch James Brown's adventures in Samara.
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‘Miercoles’ is the Spanish name for which day of the week? | Grammar
Grammar
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Days of the Week
The written lesson is below.
Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
In Spanish-speaking countries, the week begins on Monday.
lunes
Notice that the days of the week are not capitalized.
lunes
The days of the week are all masculine.
el lunes
el sábado
el domingo
When used with the days of the week, the definite article has the special meaning “on.”
No trabajo el lunes.
I don’t work on Monday.
No trabajo los martes.
I don’t work on Tuesdays.
Hay una fiesta el miércoles.
There is a party on Wednesday.
Hay muchas fiestas los viernes.
There are many parties on Fridays.
Days of the week ending in -s do not change form in the plural. Only the article changes.
el lunes
el domingo
los domingos
Use the verb ser to express the day. You will soon learn more about this verb. For now, simply realize that the word “es” is a conjugation of that verb, and is the correct verb in this use.
¿Qué día es hoy?
Mañana es martes.
Tomorrow is Tuesday.
Notice that the following actions do not occur in the present, but rather in the near future.
Salimos el lunes.
Mañana es domingo.
Tomorrow is Sunday.
In Spanish, the present tense of the indicative is sometimes used to express the near future. English does this too.
Salimos el lunes.
| Wednesday |
What is the geometric figure or design which represents the universe in Hindu or Buddhist symbolism? | Miercoles - Spanish to English Translation
miercoles
Spanish English Dictionary (Granada University, Spain), 7.7
(n.) = Wednesday.
Ex: And there was the curious behaviour of Plantin's compositor Michel Mayer, who in June 1564 spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in a brothel, then packed his things and left the establishment without saying a word to anyone.
----
* el miércoles por la noche = on Wednesday night.
* Miércoles de Ceniza = Ash Wednesday.
* miércoles por la mañana, el = Wednesday morning.
* miércoles por la tarde = Wednesday evening.
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In heraldry, a bar sinister, a broad diagonal stripe from top right to bottom left on a shield, was supposed to signify what? | Surname History | Surname Meanings | Family Crest | Heraldry | Coat of Arms
Acorn , Allocamelus , Amphiptere , Amphisboena , Anchor , Annulet , Ant , Antelope , Antique Crown , Anvil , Ape , Apples , Apre , Arrow
Acorn
The sign of the acorn in heraldry has traditionally been used to indicate independence in its bearer. It can be found slipped and leaved; the acorn-sprig is not uncommon as a crest and acorn-cups are represented alone.
The acorn is usually vert (green) but it can also be other colours.
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Allocamelus
An allocamelus is a creature with the head of a donkey joined to the body of a camel. It is extremely uncommon in heraldry.
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Amphiptere
An amphiptere is a winged serpent found very rarely in heraldry, though it does exist as a supporter and as a charge on a shield occasionally.
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Amphisboena
An amphisboena is a winged serpent with two legs and a head at both ends of its body; however the drawing of this creature does not strictly follow this description.
It is very uncommon in heraldry.
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Anchor
The anchor is the emblem of salvation and hope. It is also an appropriate device for the coat of arms of a family with a seafaring tradition. It is a common figure in the English armour, which is not surprising given that Britain is an island.
It was even a device that was once born by King Richard I.
Maritime devices are found less often on the continent where many countries are essentially landlocked, but Cosmo de Medici, the Duke of Etruria is an example of a Spanish noble who bore two anchors on his shield.
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Annulet
The annulet is a plain ring. As a closed circle, it is symbolic of continuity and wholeness. The Romans are said to have worn a ring as a sign of knighthood and rings are still used at some coronations and in the institution of knighthood.
The annulet may have been borne to indicate that the bearer had the superior qualities of a knight. In some circles an annulet represented riches.
On English arms, an annulet was a mark of cadency signifying the fifth son.
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Ant
The symbol of the ant traditionally signified one who was a strong labourer, wise and provident in all his affairs.
The ant is not a very common symbol in heraldry, but when depicted the ant is usually accompanied by a drawing of an anthill.
The ant may also be referred to as an emmet.
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Antelope
The antelope which is also referred to as an ibex or a springbok has three main symbolic meanings in heraldry.
It represents someone who is skilful at music and a lover of harmony, someone with a keen mind for politics and the ability to foresee times and opportunities well, and lastly, a person who is unwilling to assail his enemies rashly, who would prefer to stand his ground than risk harming another wrongfully. Thus the antelope signifies harmony, polity and peace.
The antelope has also been used occasionally as an emblem of purity and fleetness.
Early representations of the antelope did not look much like the real animal, as they were likely drawn from descriptions. That figure is now referred to as a heraldic antelope, as opposed to the later version, which has a more natural aspect.
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Antique Crown
The crown is an emblem of victory, sovereignty, and empire. It is a visible sign of success, thus the term ‘crowning achievement’, and its significance as the decoration of the ultimate level of rank and power, makes bearing the crown a great honour. Crowns are also symbols of God, as he is considered by some to be the ‘King of all’. The word crown, blazoned without any additional details, usually implies a ducal coronet without a cap.
The eastern or antique crown has a gold rim with eight sharp, triangular rays, only five of which are seen.
It is given to British subjects who have distinguished themselves in service in the East and it is also often born by merchants, the association being that they are like the magi.
Towns where these merchants had had a long-standing trade also often adopted eastern crowns into their arms.
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Anvil
The symbol of the anvil borne on a shield or coat of arms indicates that the first bearer was a smith. It is rarely found in heraldry.
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Ape
In heraldry, the ape is a symbol of sin, malice, craftiness and lust. It is thought to have indicated a moral obligation on the part of the bearer to conquer all sins, and been a reminder of one’s morals, ethics and religion.
The ape is not a very common symbol in heraldry but when it is found it is usually ‘collared and chained’, with the collar encircling its waist rather than its neck. It is found as a charge on shields and crests, and also as a supported in coats of arms.
A story exists that centuries ago, Thomas, the infant son of Maurice Fitzgerald, was snatched from his cradle by a tame ape, carried to the edge of the battlements at the top of the castle and safely retuned to his cradle. The Fitzgerald crest commemorates this even with the image of an ape.
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Apples
Apples signify liberality, felicity, peace and salvation. Fruit of all kinds was considered to be evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of the goodness of providence.
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Apre
The apre or après is an imaginary creature with a body that resembles a bull and the tail of a bear. It is extremely uncommon in heraldry.
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Arrow
The arrow is said to be a weapon ‘destined for avengement’. In heraldry, Arrows and arrowheads alone symbolize martial readiness.
In the case of Polish armoury, bows and arrows signify a man resolved to challenge himself to the utmost in battle, and who has prepared himself to the fall in the fight.
The pheon is as specific type of arrowhead of ancient origin, made of fine steel. It is a cleverly designed weapon that was very dangerous since it has a barbed inner edge that makes extraction difficult.
It symbolizes dexterity and nimbleness of wit, as people with these traits are able to penetrate and understand complicated problems.
Arrowheads without barbs, but still having space between the shaft and the arrow itself, are termed ‘broad arrows’ and this distinction is very stringently adhered to.
Devices associated with warfare and military defence are frequently found in heraldry.
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B
Badger , Bagwyn, Balance , Barrel , Banner , Bars , Bat , Battering Ram , Battle Axe , Beacon , Bear , Beaver, Bee , Bell, Bend , Bezant , Billet , Boar , Books , Bordure , Bucket , Buckle , Bull
Badger
The badger is an animal noted for his fierceness and courage in fighting to defend his home. The image of the badger is a symbol of bravery, perseverance and protection.
It is not a common symbol in heraldry; however, it is a typically English one.
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Bagwyn
The bagwyn is an imaginary animal with a head drawn like a heraldic antelope, the body and tail of a horse and the horns long and curved backwards. It is not commonly found in heraldry.
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Balance
Balances have traditionally been a symbol of justice. They are still used today in heraldry as a symbol of an unbiased court system.
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Banner
The banner is a sign of victory and self-assertion. Banners borne on the shield or as a crest are often references to a special military action where a flag was captured, otherwise an indication of gallant service.
Banners may also indicate that a member of that family was once a standard-bearer. There are very specific guidelines on the size of a banner designated for each rank, though it is doubtful whether they were followed very closely.
The principle distinction between a banner and a flag, standard of pennon etc, is that a banneris always square while the others are elongated.
As a charge in heraldry the banner is usually hung from the battlements of a castle or carried by the figure of some creature, such as the paschal lamb (a holy lamb with a halo), which is nearly always depicted with a banner.
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Barrel
Barrels, casks or tuns were used to hold beer or wine. In heraldry, it is probably borne on arms to indicate that the original bearer was a vendor of beer or wine, or an innkeeper.
It is usually figured lengthways, but if blazoned a hogshead or a tub it should maybe be drawn upright.
It is often used as a pun on names ending in ‘ton’, for example the crest of ‘Hopton’ depicts a lion hopping on a tun.
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Bars
A bar is the diminutive of a fesse, which is a wide horizontal stripe in the centre of a shield.
The rules of heraldry strictly state that there cannot be more than one fesse on a shield so if two charges with this character occur they are called bars and a single bar is narrower than a fesse.
Narrow, horizontal bars across a shield is said to be an appropriate device for one ‘who sets the barsof conscience, religion, and honour against angry passions and evil temptations.’
The diminutive of the bar is the barrulet, which is almost always born in a pair of two barrulets, placed close together, referred to as one bar gemel.
Bars gamel were awarded for acts of particular bravery in times of war, and a field composed of an even number of bars between four and eight is described as ‘barry’, with the exact number specified; with en or more it is called ‘barruly’.
The bat was an intimidating heraldic symbol used to inspire fear in enemies.
In heraldry, it is usually represented displayed, with wings open and facing the observer.
It is sometimes blazoned by the old name rere-mouse.
Quoted from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, ‘Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings.
Battering Ram
The battering ram is an ancient war machine that is a symbol of determination, especially in war. The image of the battering ram may have also been granted to someone, who was greatly skilled it its use, or who was in charge of it during wartime.
It is not a device found frequently in heraldry and it does not resemble a real battering ram either.
It consists of a ram’s head on the end of a log, with ropes encircling it and hooks attached to them, presumably to hold it up.
Battle Axe
The battle-axe is a symbol of authority and of the execution of military duty. The battle-axe denoted a warlike quality in its bearer.
The battle-axe was a veering introduced to heraldry as a token of the crusades, which began shortly after the rise of heraldry itself.
Though other axes are used as devices in heraldry, the battle-axe is distinct because of its blade that it firmly mounted on the shaft and penetrates though it to the other side. It is a common symbol on a crest.
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Beacon
The beacon or cresset was an alarm signal placed on high hills, church towers or city gates. On crests it is drawn as an elevated basket overflowing with flames. It was the watchman’s duty to fire it if he saw that the next nearest had been fired. Thus the warning of an enemy’s approach was conveyed inland from the coast with great rapidity.
In heraldry, the beacon signifies one who is watchful, or who gives the signal in times of danger.
The hand beacon or pitch pot and the lantern are also symbols that represent spiritual illumination.
The metaphorical association is derived from the fact that the light was used for finding one’s way in the dark. It may also indicate that the bearer was in charge of warning beacons.
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Bear
The bear was thought to possess diplomacy equal to its great strength and it is the emblem of ferocity in the protection of kindred.
In heraldry, a bear is also a symbol of healing and personal health, strength and bravery.
Bears are often in the arms of names that sound somewhat like the animal such as Baring and Barnes. The bear is usually muzzled but not always.
Bears’paws are also often found as crests or symbols on shields.
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Beaver
The beaver denotes industry, perseverance and determination. It was officially adopted as Canada’s national symbol in an Act passed by the Canadian Parliament in 1975, and is often found in arms granted to families connected in some way to Canada.
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Bee
In heraldry, the bee is a sign of industry, creativity, wealth, diligence and eloquence. The Egyptians used it as a symbol of regal power. In armoury, it is used to represent well-governed industry.
The Emperor Napoleon gave the bee considerable importance in the French armoury by adopting it as his personal badge. They also appeared on the mantle and pavilion around the armorial bearings of the empire, as well as on his coronation mantle.
The bee is undoubtedly the most popular insect found in heraldry, and even the beehive occurs often as a crest.
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Bell
Bells signify the supposed power of church-bells to disperse evil spirits in the air and their invocation of guardian saints and angels.
A hawk’s bell would denote one who feared not to signal his approach in either peace or war.
A Canterbury bell is a sign of pilgrimage.
A bell is assumed to be a church-bell unless it is blazoned otherwise.
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Bend
The bend is a broad, diagonal band across the shield representing either a scarf worn like a sash, or the shield suspender of a knight or military commander.
It has often been granted to those who have distinguished themselves as commodores.
The bend signifies defence or protection, and is a bearing of high honour. Unless it is specified otherwise the bend is assumed to go from the upper right corner of a shield to the lower left.
The bend sinister follows the opposite diagonal.
According to old theorists the bend should occupy one third of the surface of a shield, though it is usually drawn slightly more narrowly than this.
A charge half the width of a bend is termed a bendlet, and if six or eight of these pieces occurs on a shield it is termed ‘bendy’, though the mark of illegitimacy though the number must be specified.
The bend sinister has been used occasionally as a mark of illegitimacy though this is not commonly the case. More often a bendlet sinister is used, or a baton sinister, which is a bendlet that does not extern to the very edges of the shield.
Bezant
The bezant was the coin of Byzantium.
It is represented by a gold roundel, a roundel being a general name applied to any circular charges of colour or metal. It is thought that the bezant, also sometimes called a talent, was introduced into armoury at the time of the Crusades.
It is the emblem of justice and of equal dealing among people. In heraldry, the sign of the bezant is borne by those deemed worthy of trust and treasure.
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Billet
The billet represents a letter folded for transmission. It has the form of a plain rectangle and it occurs more frequently when a field of a superior charge is described as billette or seme, which means that there are many small billets distributed over it, alternating in the pattern of bricks.
In heraldry, it may indicate that the man granted a coat of arms with this charge was a man whose words and deeds were deemed trustworthy. It has also been suggested that lawyers and men of letters often adopted the sign of the billet.
The best-known instance where this charge was used was in the shield borne overt he arms of England during the joint reign of William and Mary.
Boar
The boar and its various parts are frequently met with in heraldry. The boar is the symbol of intrepidness.
A champion among wild beasts, he encounters enemies with nobility and courage, and has thus come to signify the traits of bravery and perseverance.
The boar is a fierce combatant when at bay and never ceases to resist, even when cornered. This device was given only to those considered fierce warriors.
A wild boar is referred to as a sanglier though there isn’t actually any difference from a domestic boar in the way that it is drawn.
A Boar may be drawn whole in various different positions or couped.
If open, as in the arms of the University of Oxford, the book signifies manifestation.
If it is closed, as in those of the University of Cambridge, it signifies counsel.
Books are also a general symbol of learning in heraldry.
The bible is frequently mentioned as the book represented in the crest or arms, though it would not appear any differently than a regular book. Books may also have clasps or seals that must be mentioned in the blazon.
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Bordure
The bordure is, as it sounds, a fairly wide border around the outside of a shield. Except for in more modern grants where the bordure is an original part of the shield, there is little doubt that the bordure is either a mark of cadency, displaying the status of a younger son or brother, or a mark of illegitimacy.
In heraldry, the bordure is no longer used for these purposes; except for in England where a bordure wavy is still a mark of illegitimacy and the bordure compony serves the same purpose in Scotland.
This is by no means a mark of dishonour though; it is merely a heraldic tradition carried over from the days when it was necessary to distinguish the rightful heirs from others who might have some claim to the family title and fortune.
The orle is the diminutive of a bordure and looks like the frame of a shield within the shield rather than a border. It is about half the width or a bordure. When charges are placed around the outside of it they are said to be ‘in orle’.
It was used as a mark to distinguish the arms of one branch of a family from those of another, and in some cases the orlewas used as a symbol of honour.
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Bucket
Though their appearance is quite different, the function and symbolic meaning of a water-bouget and a bucket are similar in heraldry.
A water-bouget is a bag made from the skin of a goat or sheep what was used for carrying water on military expeditions. The apparatus looks like a yoke with two large bags hanging down from it and a stick that goes through both attachments to form handles on either side.
The drawing evolved over time and its latest form is more symbolic than realistically drawn.
Water-bougets and buckets were conferred on those who had supplied water to an army of a besieged place. The bucket is merely the more modern way of transporting water. The common well bucket is usually the type born in arms, but they can also be hooped or have feet.
They are also sometimes blazoned dossers, a term that indicates two buckets hooked to a loop and carried over the back of a pack animal.
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Buckle
The buckle signifies self-defence and protection, as well as victorious fidelity in authority. The buckle appears quite often in heraldry, sometimes oval shaped, circular of square; they are most often shaped like a heraldic lozenge, though, or a diamond with sides of equal length, especially in the armoury of the continent.
A buckle occurs in the arms of the Prussian Counts of Wallenrodt, and it is used as a badge by the Earls of Yarborough and Chichester.
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Bull
A bull in a coat of arms, on a crest or a shield, represents valour and magnanimity, bravery and generosity. The horns represent strength and fortitude.
Oxen, and cows also appear on some crests and arms, although rarely and more often as a pun on a names such as Oxford or the town of Cowbridge.
Calves are more common in heraldry. The calf is an ancient heraldic symbol traditionally associated with the characteristics of patience, submissiveness and self-sacrifice.
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C
Caltrap , Camel , Camelopard , Castle , Cat , Celestial Crown , Centaur , Chains , Chaplet , Chess-Rook , Chevron , Chief , Chimera , Cloud , Cock , Cockatrice , Cockfish , Column , Comb , Cottise , Crab , Crane , Crescent , Crocodile , Crown , Crown Vallary , Cup , Cushions
Caltrap
A Caltrap or gal trap, and sometimes a cheval trap, was an ancient military instrument with four points, arranged so that when it was thrown on the ground, it always landed on three of the four points, with the fourth pointing up.
Caltraps were scattered in the path of an enemy to impede and endanger the horses. The emblem of the Caltrap in heraldry indicates a fierce warrior in battle.
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Camel
The camel signifies temperance, patience and perseverance. In ancient times it may have been used as a sign of royalty and dignity.
The camel is blazoned on very few arms.
Cameleopard
The medieval name for an ordinary giraffe was a cameleopard. It was a widely held belief that crosses between animals existed, just as the mule existed and was a cross between a horse and a donkey.
The camel and the leopard were well known animals at that time and it was likely that a crusader in the east saw an unknown animal and either he accounted for it this way or it was theorized far away at home, that the giraffe was the creature that was begotten by a leopard and a camel.
The scarcity of these animals was further explained by the knowledge that such hybrids, like the mule, can not reproduce.
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Castle
In heraldry, the castle has often been granted to one who has faithfully held a castle for his sovereign, or who has captured on by force or stratagem.
The castle signifies spiritual power and vigilance on the watch as well as home and safety. The tower is very similar to this and is an emblem of grandeur and society.
It is a symbol of defence and of a steadfast individual.
The visual difference between a tower and a castle is that a tower is a single column topped by a turret, and a castle usually has two towers joined by a wall with a door in it. This was a distinction that was rarely observed in ancient days, but now it is faithfully adhered to. When smaller towers surmount either a castle or a tower it is called ‘triple-towered’.
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Cat
A symbol of a great cat, or a cat-a-mountain, which refers to a wildcat, signifies liberty, vigilance and courage in heraldry.
Cats can be in many different positions like the lion, but they are most often blazoned passant, walking with right forepaw raised.
A cat-a-mountain is supposed to always be guardant, or on guard, with the head completely facing the observer. Cats are most common in Scottish or Irish arms.
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Celestial Crown
The crown is an emblem of victory, sovereignty, and empire in heraldry. It is a visible sign of success thus the term ‘crowning achievements’ and its significance as the decoration of the ultimate level of rank and power, makes bearing he crown a great honour.
Crowns are also sometimes symbols of God, as he is considered by some to be the ‘King of all’. The word crown, blazoned without any additional details, usually implies a ducal coronet without a cap.
The celestial crown closely resembles and eastern crown, having eight sharp, triangular rays, only five of which are seen m, with the addition of a five-pointed star on each ray. It was an ornament that frequently represented the achievements of deceased ladies and it was also often given to people or institutions connected with the church.
Centaurs are well known creatures that are half man and half horse.
A centaur carrying a bow and arrow is called a Sagittarius.
Both the Sagittarius and the centaur are quite common in heraldry, especially on the continent.
King Stephen is said to have assumed the symbol of Sagittarius because the sun was in that sign when he ascended the throne.
The centaur is a symbol of virility and one who has been eminent in the field of battle.
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Chains
Chains are a symbolic representation of reward for acceptable and weighty service. They are frequently met with in continental heraldry, particularly in southern France and Spain, and they are also accessories to more common charges, for example the portcullis.
They are often accompanied by crowns and collars, meaning that the owner of that symbol is chained by a sense of obligation to the people that he serves or rules. For this reason, chains and collars are also marks of honour for sheriffs and mayors, and formerly, for knights.
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Chaplet
A chaplet is a wreath without stems or ribbon, made of oak, laurel or other leaves, and carrying flowers, usually roses. In heraldry, it is a symbol of fame and is frequently part of a crest.
There is also a chaplet that looks like a plain, broad circlet, charged at four regular intervals with stars, roses or other objects.
A chaplet of oak and acorns is called a civic crown, but more frequently the chaplet is synonymous with wreath or garland, which is commonly made of laurel and roses.
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Chess-rook
A chess-rook is also called a castle, and may have been granted to those who had captured or defended castles.
It may also have denoted one who was skilful in influencing others to act to his own benefit, as the chess player moves his pieces in the game.
It is an ancient bearing in heraldry and it also occurs quite frequently. It is a device used by the Earls of Rochford.
Chevron
The chevron occurs very frequently in British and French heraldry, and is comparatively rare in German heraldry.
The chevron represents the foot of a house, derived from the French work ‘chevron’ meaning rafter. It signifies protection.
The chevron was granted to those who had participated in some notable enterprise, had built churches or fortresses, or had accomplished some work requiring faithful service.
The chevron used to almost reach the very top of the shield and then more nearly attained the 1/3 of the surface of the shield that was allotted to it by the guidelines of heraldry. Now it is drawn lower and with a less acute inner angle to allow more devices to be represented more attractively, and an artist may draw the chevron at the height and angle that will best suit the accompanying charges.
The chevronel, is a diminutive of the chevron and is much narrower. Chevronels may be stacked on top of each other or side-by-side at the same height, which is termed, interlaced or braced. A field composed entirely of an even number of chevrons is called ‘chevronny’.
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Chief
The chief is a broad band across the top of the shield that stands for authority and domination of will.
The chief has often been granted as a special reward for prudence and wisdom, as well as for successful command in war.
The chief theoretically contains the upper 1/3 of the shield, although it rarely actually does.
The chief is never surmounted by any other ordinary (a simple background symbol) except for in very exceptional cases.
A chief is also never couped (cut off before reaching the edges of the shield) or cottised (surrounded closely by smaller bars), and it has no diminutive.
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Chimera
The chimera is a very odd looking creature in heraldry with the head abreast of a woman, the forepaws of a lion, the body of a goat, the hind-legs of a griffin (the legs of a lion and claws of an eagle), and the tail of a dragon. It is not found it heraldry very often and is not unlike the sphinx in many ways.
Cloud
The cloud, the symbol of the ethereal heights of heaven, represents the quality of higher truth.
They are very seldom used as bearings on arms but quite frequently arms are represented as issuing from them, particularly in French arms.
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Cock
As the herald of the dawn, the cock is symbolic of the sun. It is also a bird of great courage in battle that will fight, if necessary, to the death. Therefore, in heraldry, it is an emblem of vigilance and courage.
The cock is also used as a Christian image of the resurrection. The gamecock in heraldry refers to a slightly different symbol of a cock without its comb and wattles, as was the case when birds were prepared for cockfighting. This symbol is less common, though, than a regular domestic cock.
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Cockatrice
The cockatrice is a fabulous king of serpents, with the head and legs of a cock, the wings of a dragon, and a scaly body, also like a dragon, that flows into a long barbed tail.
It can also be called a basilisk, of which legends say was produced from an egg laid by a nine-year-old cock, and hatched by a toad on a dunghill. Its breath and sight were so poisonous that they would kill all who came within range.
Thus, the cockatrice is a potent symbol of terror. The heraldic basilisk is supposed to have a tail that terminates in the head of a dragon, though if such an example exists, it is very uncommon in heraldry.
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Cockfish
The cockfish is drawn very much as it sounds with the head and upper-body of a cock terminating in the lower-body and tail of a fish. It is a very uncommon symbol in heraldry.
Column
Columns symbolize fortitude and constancy. It is a metaphorical heraldic device, implying that its bearer supports others who are weaker.
A serpent coiled round a column signifies wisdom with fortitude. Columns, also called pillars, commonly resemble ones of the Tuscan order bur are often otherwise specified. Plain Norman shafts with cushion capitals can also be found. The capital, the base and the pedestal are sometimes mentioned in the blazon.
Comb
In heraldry, the comb is the common attribute of certain mythical female beings such as lamias, sirens, and mermaids, whose usual pose is with mirror and comb in hand.
It have sometimes been given to those who were said to have fought or resisted the temptations of such dangerous types, but heraldry the comb more often refers to a wool-comb or the combs used in the textile industry, which is not an uncommon heraldic device.
The comb with no other specification in the blazon is drawn like a capital ‘I’ on its side with teeth filling in both sides of the spine. The wool-comb, also called a jersey-comb or a flax-comb, looks like a small rake. Another type is the currycomb, though this is exceptionally uncommon and has no definite representation.
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Cottise
A cottise, or cottice, is a diminutive of an ordinary such as a bend, a pale or a fess, ¼ of the width of that ordinary. In heraldry, it never exists alone, but accompanies one of the ordinaries at all times.
An ordinary is said to be cottised when it is set between a pair of cotises and an ordinary may be double or treble cottised with two or three cotises on either side.
The cotises emphasize the significance of the ordinary and are usually applied to a bend.
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Crab
The crab is a symbol of great strength and power in gripping and holding. It occurs on the coats of arms of several families.
The sign of the lobster in heraldry is also a symbol of prodigious gripping and holding power in its bearer and the symbols of its claws occur in arms more frequently than its entire body.
Allied to these two charges is the crayfish, which is also referred to as a crevice.
Crane
According to legend, cranes lived in a community in where individual members took turns standing watch.
The sentry crane held a stone in one claw so that if it dozed, the falling stone would wake the bird.
The crane is a symbol of vigilance, justice and longevity, but nevertheless, there are instances where the crane is depicted dormant (asleep) with its head under its wing, still holding its ‘vigilance’, as the stone is termed.
The stork and the heron, also called a herne, are very similar to the crane. Both birds were emblems of filial duty and gratitude or obligation, and like cranes, storks were believed to stand watch for each other.
All three birds are usually depicted with wings close, the crane in its vigilance and the stork holding a snake, while the heron often holds an eel.
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Crescent
The crescent stands for one who has been ‘enlightened and honoured by the gracious aspect of his sovereign’. It is also borne as a symbol of the hope of greater glory in heraldry.
Knights returning from the crusades introduced the crescent, the badge of Islam, into the language of heraldry. The heraldic crescent has a very deep base and curving horns that quickly sharpen to point close together.
Crescents also represent the moon that lights the night sky for travellers, though it does not resemble the shape of a crescent moon very closely. In English arms it’s was also a mark of cadency signifying the second son.
The reversed crescent is a crescent with the horns turned down. The term increscent indicates a crescent with the horns facing the observer’s left, and decrescent is a crescent facing the observer’s right.
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Crocodile
The crocodile was a mysterious and legendary beast to most people in ancient times and it was a powerful emblem of fury and power.
The uncertainty of the drawings means that in reference to the symbol in heraldry, the crocodile is frequently interchanged with alligator.
It occurs as a crest and a supporter but is, nevertheless, an uncommon heraldic charge.
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Crown
The crown is an emblem of victory, sovereignty, and empire in heraldry. It is a visible sign of success, thus the term ‘crowning achievement’, and its significance as the decoration of the ultimate level of rank and power, makes bearing the crown a great honour.
Crowns are sometimes a symbol of God, as he is considered by some to be the ‘King of all’.
The word crown blazoned without any additional details usually implies a ducal coronet without a cap.
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Crown Vallary
The crown is an emblem of victory, sovereignty, and empire in heraldry. It is a visible sign of success, thus the term ‘crowning achievement’, and its significance as the decoration of the ultimate level of rank and power, makes bearing the crown a great honour.
Crowns are sometimes a symbol of God, as he is considered by some to be the ‘King of all’.
The word crown blazoned without any additional details usually implies a ducal coronet without a cap.
A crown palisade is the name of a crown with palisades on the rim forming the spikes of the crown. This can either look like the pickets of a fence, or less correctly, like the silhouette of small houses side by side with every other one upside down, with the roof of each upside down one cut out of the metal.
The latter description is called a champagne border. It is said that Roman Generals awarded the crown palisado to the one who entered the camp of the enemy first after breaking thorough their outworks.
It is also called a crown vallary from the Latin vallus, which roughly translates to palisade.
Cup
In the heraldic tradition, the vase and similar vessels are considered symbols of fertility in heraldry.
The cup, covered or uncovered, is also sometimes representative of the chalice used in the communion or the Mass.
On the other hand, the chalice used in the Eucharist may be symbolic of a layman’s interest in church government. It may also be used as a symbol of faith.
Other vessels in heraldry include, drinking glasses, bowls, a pitcher, and posts, such as a pot of lilies.
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Cushions
Cushions have been looked on as marks of authority in heraldry, and have been borne by several noble families. Cushions appear in heraldry more often that one might think. They actually appear to be quite ancient symbols, especially in Scottish heraldry.
The Earls of Moray bore cushions on their arms for example.
Dog
The dog is the emblem of faithfulness and guardianship in heraldry.
Dogs were considered loyal and temperate and the dog is a symbol of a skilled hunter. It was also associated with priests since priests were watchdogs against the devil.
There are several differently named dogs blazoned on coats of arms. The leverer or levrier is the oldest name; the Talbot is and English hound.
Also found are bloodhounds, greyhounds, mastiffs, spaniels and terriers.
Dogs are symbols of courage, vigilancy and loyal fidelity.
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Dolphin
The dolphin is an emblem of safe travel, as well as kindness and charity. Though the dolphin is now known to be a mammal and not a fish at all, older heralds considered it the king of fish, just as the lion was king of the beasts and the eagle was the king of the birds.
From the 13th century onwards the dolphin was the badge of the county of Dauphine in France and was borne by the Dauphins who were styled lords of Auvergne.
In the 14thcentury the title of Dauphin was adopted as the title of the eldest son of the King of France, so the charge was frequently found in the arms of the royal heir.
The dolphin is always drawn curved or embowed, though a dolphin is in reality straight. It can be upright, swimming or ever swallowing a fish.
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Dove
The dove is a symbol of the soul and of the Holy Spirit. It signifies peace, gentleness and purity.
In armoury, the dove signifies loving constancy and peace.
In heraldry the dove has one interesting peculiarity: it is always depicted with a slight tuft on its head, possible to distinguish it from a woodpigeon, which is very much like it.
Many examples exist of a dove with an olive branch in its beak and an ordinary heraldic dove is represented with its wings close holding sprig. It can also be found, though, Volant and with its wings outstretched. The dove is frequently found in the arms granted to Bishops, and it was a symbol used by St. Edward the Confessor, and ancient high king of England.
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Dragon
The dragon is supposed to have a keen sight, which enables it to guard treasures well. It is also said to be the most valiant of creatures; therefore, the dragon is a symbol of a most valiant defender of treasure.
Dragons were perceived as powerful, protective, and with barbed tongues and have wings like bats with the ribs extending to the very edge of the skin.
In heraldry, great differences can be found in the way their ears are drawn and in almost all modern representations the tail is barbed, though the dragons of the Tudor period in England invariably had smooth tails.
The Chinese dragon is slightly different in that it has no wings; it is occasionally used in European coats of arms. Another creature called a hydra is a seven-headed dragon, which also appears in some instances.
Dragons also go by the German name of lindwurm.
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Duck
Ducks can elude their enemies in many ways, either by flying, running, swimming or diving for cover; therefore, they are a symbol for a person of many resources.
Ducks may be referred to by many names such as drake, mallard, teal, eider-duck, moorhen, and Sheldrake. They all refer to the same symbol, though, except for the shoveller or sholarde, which is distinguished by a tuft on the back of its head and its breast.
In addition, the gannet is a duck represented without beak or legs. Like the martlet, a footless swallow, the gannet is held to be a good bearing for one who is ‘prompt and ready in the dispatch of his business’.
The gannet may also represent one who has to ‘subsist bye the wings of his virtue and merit’ being unable to rest on land.
Eagle , Elephant , Enfield , Escallop , Escarbuncle , Eye
Eagle
The eagle was a symbol born by men of action, occupied with high and weighty affairs. It was given to those of lofty spirit, ingenuity, speed in comprehension, and discrimination in matters of ambiguity.
The wings signify protection, and the gripping talons symbolize ruin to evildoers. The eagle is held to represent a noble nature from its strength and aristocratic appearance, as well as its association with the ancient kings of Persia, Babylon and the Roman legions, having been the official ensign of those empires.
Since then, other empires and nations have also adopted the eagle as their symbol, such as the German third reich and the empire conquered by Napoleon.
In heraldry, the eagle is also associated with the sun.
As a Christian symbol, the eagle represents salvation, redemption and resurrection.
The eagle has been represented over the centuries in a variety of different ways: wingtips pointed up or down, wings closed or rising or the eagle displayed from above with one or two heads.
Parts of the eagle such as the head, wings, legs or talons, are also often symbols in heraldry.
An interesting form of the eagle is the alerion, which is drawn without the beak or the legs. It is thought to represent a formerly great warrior who was seriously injured in combat and is no longer able to fight.
The osprey may also be classed with the eagle. It is always represented as a white eagle and is referred to in heraldry as a sea-eagle.
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Elephant
The elephant is a symbol of huge strength and stature, wisdom and courage. In heraldry, it is a very appropriate bearing for those who have distinguished themselves in the East.
The elephant’s head or tusks are more common that the whole elephant, but even this can be fund on some crests and in coats of arms.
Enfield
The enfield is a fictitious animal with the head of a fox, chest of a greyhound, forelegs of an eagle, body of a lion, and hind legs and tail of a wolf. It occurs often in Irish heraldry.
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Escallop
The escallop is one of the most widely used heraldic symbols in all countries. Before the days of heraldry the symbol was the emblem of St. James, the patron saint of pilgrims and consequently the escallop was introduced into armoury to signify a soldier who had make long journeys or voyages to far countries, borne considerable naval command, or gained great victories.
It is an emblem of safe travel and is found on the shields of many families during the time of the crusades. Because its shells, once separated, can never be rejoined, the escallop is also an emblem of fidelity.
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Escarbuncle
The escarbuncle is a symbol of supremacy in heraldry and it is an interesting example of a charge developed by the evolution of the shield itself. In ancient warfare iron bands stemming from the centre and radiating outwards were used to strengthen the shield for better protection in battle.
Over time the pattern made by these brands was adopted as a charge and called in heraldic terms an escarbuncle. However, it is also accepted as a representation of a brilliant gem.
In heraldry, an eye signifies the providence in government.
F
Fasces
The Roman fasces, or lictors’ rods is a bundle of polished rods bound around a battle-axe.
AW lector was a civil officer who attended and carried the faces before a Roman consul, both to indicate his status as an important person and to clear a way through the crowds.
Thus, it indicated a superior magistrate, but it also symbolized the power over life and death that he might have, for example, as a judge.
In heraldry, this symbol of magisterial office was often included in grants of arms to Mayors and Lord Mayors.
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Falcon
In heraldry, the falcon or hawk signifies someone who was hot or eager in the pursuit of an object much desired. It is frequently found in the coats of arms of nobility, form the time when the falcon played an important social role in the sport of kings and nobles.
It is found as a heraldic bearing as early as the reign of King Edward II of England.
The falcon was also the badge of one of King Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and was later adopted by her daughter Queen Elizabeth I.
The falcon is frequently found ‘belled’, with bells on one or both of its legs. It may also be ‘jessed and belled’ meaning that the jess, the leather thong that ties the bell to the leg, is shown with the ends flying loose; or it may be hooded, which is how falcons were carried on the wrist until flown.
The falcon is indistinguishable, in heraldry, from the sparrow-hawk, goshawk, kite, or merlin, though they may be described that way in blazon.
The falcons’ head is a common symbol on a crest; it can also be found preying on something, which is termed trussing, rising or close.
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Feathers
Feathers are a very common charge in heraldry, which is not surprising considering that during a tournament helmets were more frequently ornamented with feathers than with family crests.
Consequently, the plume became the actual, inheritable family crest for many families. Feathers signify willing obedience and serenity of mind.
A plume is a term usually reserved for a grouping of five or more feathers. If they are arranged in two rows it is called a double plume, and in three a triple plume, etc.
The feathers commonly used were ostrich feathers, though on crests they can appear in many shapes and colours’ for example, the badge worn by John of Gaunt was an ermine ostrich feather.
Peacock continental heraldry feathers often adorn the sides of crests as well as appear as more central charges.
When a feather is crossed at the quill by a scroll of parchment it is called an escrol. The is the device that appears on the shields of the Edward the Black Prince, the son and heir of King Edward III, who bore three escrols on a field of black.
Three feathers encircled by a coronet is the current badge of the Prince of Wales, as it has been since the time of Henry VIII.
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Fer de Moline
A fer de Moline, or mill-rind is the iron clamp in the centre of a grindstone that provides support. It represents industry and purpose and may also have been used as the sign of a miller. The mill-rind is also symbolized by the Cross Moline, or ‘miller’s cross’.
Fesse
The fesse is a broad, horizontal band across the centre of the shield that represents the military belt and girdle of honour of the ancients. It signifies that the bearer must always be in readiness to act for the well being of the people. It is supposed to occupy a full third of the height of the shield, though it is seldom drawn this way, and it is subject to the lines of partition.
Its position is directly across the centre of the shield unless the fesse is described as enhanced or abased. There can only be one fesse on a shield. If more that one is present they are termed bars.
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Fetterlock
Some state that the fetterlock is a device for hobbling horses while others say that it is a handcuff or a prisoner’s bolt. Whatever the case, it is an emblem of victory.
The fetterlock is as honourable bearing in heraldry that may have represented someone in the middle Ages who had taken his enemy prisoner, or who could, by either his prowess or his charity, redeem any of his fellow soldiers ransomed in captivity. It is also referred to by the names of shacklebolt, shackbolt or manacle.
Sir Walter Scott represents King Richard I bearing the fetterlock as his device when proceeding to the release of Ivanhoe.
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Fish
Fish are held to be suitable marks for military families as they are symbols of prowess and fortitude. They are also symbols of the forces of industry and science, and emblems of the Christian faith of the bearer, especially in early coats of arms.
Though there are often specific names blazoned on crests and arms with fish, there usually isn’t any consistent difference between the way each fist is drawn in heraldry and often the names are intended as puns on the name of the bearer or are in reference to characteristics of the land owned by that family.
In ancient times the rolls only mentioned a few variations but later grew to include between thirty and forty different species, such as salmon, haddock, cod, herring, trout, eel, chub, ling, whiting, burbot, roach, and many more obscure types.
In early arms fish were only drawn upright, or hauriant, but now fish can be found in a wide variety of positions.
Flames are held to signify zeal, as one may be consumed by zeal as by flames.
Flames are also a symbol of passion, spiritual energy, rebirth and purification.
Flames have often been used as a torture and therefore may signify one who has undergone severe trials, however flames on a coat of arms is often specific or without a particular symbolic meaning. For example, the phoenix and the salamander are always accompanied by flames, and the flaming sword is a device as well.
These flames do not likely have a separate symbolic meaning from the object they accompany; however, the flaming torch on the crest of Sir William Gull is probably an allusion to the skill with which he kept the flame of life burning in the Prince of Wales, while he was very seriously ill in 1871.
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Flaunches
Flanuches are segments of a circle with a large diameter, that project into the filed from either side of the shield. They are a different colour that the field and are referred to by the various names of flinches, flanks or flanques. They are always borne in pairs.
Flanunches were granted by sovereigns as a reward for virtue and learning, especially for services as an ambassador. Flasques are the diminutives of flaunches and do not project as far in to the shield. Vioders are ever smaller and are incapable of bearing a charge.
Square flaunches are drawn like two projecting triangles. The term in the flank, or in the flaunch, is used to signify at the side.
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Fleam
The fleam was the barber-surgeon’s knife used for bleeding people to let the poison out of their systems, so that they could maybe recover from whatever ailed them. It is an appropriate bearing in heraldry for a physician or surgeon and it is also closely connected with the occupation of a farrier, who would have bled horses to cure their illnesses as well.
A fleam may also be referred to as a fleme, flegme, or a lance.
Flint
Flint and steel were the ancient components necessary fro producing fire. In heraldry, they are borne as tokens of the bearer’s readiness for zealous service.
The furison, the instrument by which fire was struck from flint, is also a heraldic charge and would have a similar symbolic meaning. John, the Earl of Flanders used a flint stone and steel as a device, which was inherited by his son. His son, Phillip the Good founded the order of the Golden Fleece and the collar of this order bears flint stones and steels.
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Fly
The fly is a bearer of pestilence in heraldry, and may have been adopted as a symbol to ward off evil and pestilence.
With all of its variations it is not an uncommon charge found on crests and coats of arms. The word fly likely refers to a common housefly, but flies, bees and beetlesseem to often be confused in heraldic drawing.
The butterfly, however, is unmistakable and is usually drawn Volant en arriere, as seen from above with its wings open.
The harvest-flyis similar except that it only has two wings instead of four and its legs are prominently shown; what it represents in nature is impossible to say.
The gadfly, which is frequently blazoned as a gad-bee, is really a brimsey or a horsefly. The silkworm-fly also exists, as does a stag beetle, though they are rarely found in heraldry.
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Fountain
The heraldic fountain is a roundel or a circle, crossed with wavy bands of blue and white. It represents a pool or spring of pure water and was borne as a symbol of purification.
Other shields display realistic looking fountains rather than symbolic ones. The well is very similar to this as a symbol of purification and rebirth.
Fox
In heraldry, the fox was a common symbol for the devil during the middle ages.
One of the oldest tales about the fox describes it feigning death in order to trap fox.
This fox is a symbol of the devil tempting man’ therefore, it may be a reminder to the bearer to say alert and resist temptation.
The fox was also used to symbolise the struggle of the ordinary common folk against the feudal baron. It is therefore a symbol of one who will use all his shrewdness, against the feudal baron.
In heraldry, it is therefore a symbol of one who will use all his shrewdness, sagacity, wit or wisdom for his own defence.
It occurs quite frequently as a heraldic charge.
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Fret
The fret has been called the ‘heraldic true lover’s know’. It consists of a thin border of a diamond of equal sides, interlaced with a cross make of tow bendlets (thin bars), running from corner to corner in the form of a saltire (X).
The fret signifies persuasion in heraldry. In early days the charge was interchangeable with a quarter or a field fretty, which is simply interlacing bendlets going diagonally right and left. In fact, fretty was the original pattern.
The fretty pattern represents a net and signifies persuasion.
Fusil
The fusil represents a spindle formerly used in spinning, and it is an ancient symbol of labour and industry.
The fusil is a diamond drawn point up and more elongated than a lozenge, which is square, though in early times there was no distinction between a lozenge and a fusil.
In many cases fusils and lozenges have been used indifferently to best suit the shape of the shield that they were drawn on, though the distinction is not generally observed in heraldry.
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Fylfot
The fylfot was introduced to the world and therefore also into heraldry at a very early period. It was a symbol used constantly by the Greeks in their clothing, architecture and pottery.
The symbol resembles four Greek capital gammas united at the base and this is where its alternate name, gammadion, is derived from.
But it is also found in the Egyptian catacombs and is aid to have been known in China and India long before Christianity, yet it also appears on coins of the Saxon king Ethelred in England in the 9th century. The Sanskrit work for this symbol is ‘swastika’.
Many people, including the Romans, Celts, Franks, Hindus and Yacatans have used the fylfot as an emblem of felicity. Before it was appropriated and brought into disrepute by the Nazi party, the fylfot was a good luck charm.
Gauntlet
Gauntlets or armoured gloves symbolize a man arrived and ready to make war.
The ancient form of a gauntlet, at least in heraldry, was more like an armoured mitten, but it is now more often drawn with fingers, than not.
It is necessary to distinguish between a right and left gauntlet in the blazon of the arms, as these are very important details.
Goat
In heraldry, the goat is a symbol of practical wisdom and an emblem of a man who wins victories through diplomacy means, rather than by force, It may also represent own who is willing to work hard for high honours.
The goat was associated with Christ, since both were partial to high places and had sharp eyes. A man bearing this symbol was thought to have God on his side.
The goat is a symbol that is often found in armoury. It can be in the positions of passant (walking), statant (standing), salient (springing) or rampant (in the fighting position).
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Golpe
A purple roundel is called a golpe, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal. It is an ancient heraldic symbol representing a wound inflicted in battle.
Grapes
Grapes are symbolic of good luck in heraldry. Though they are not easily distinguished from vines thy do appear in heraldry occasionally.
Fruit of all kinds was considered to be evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of the goodness of providence.
Grasshopper
The grasshopper has been used as an emblem of nobility and of wisdom in heraldry. It is only occasionally found in coats of arms.
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Grenade
The symbol of the grenade in heraldry was bestowed on those who had endured terror whiled under siege or in battle.
Visually, it is not unlike that bombshell, though the grenade appears to have several fuses.
The bombshell is a hollow cannon ball, with a round hole at the top through which the shell is stuffed with a tallow-soaked fuse and ignited.
It also may signify that the first bearer was an artilleryman, or that he had survived the danger of bombshells in battle. The cannon is a figure in more recent grants of arms with the same symbolic meaning.
Griffin
The griffin is a mythical creature, with the head, wings and talons of an eagle and the body and hind legs of a lion. It is thus composed of the most royal of the birds and the beasts.
The griffin was thought to find and guard mines of gold and hidden treasures. It is a distinctive feature of the griffin is that it has ears, which are large and stand up from its head.
This is the only feature that differentiates a griffin’s head from an eagle’s. In heraldry, the griffin can be found in all sorts of positions but a female griffin’s wings are never closed.
A male griffin, for some reason, does not have wings’ instead it is adorned with spikes at various points on its body and the male griffin is seldom found.
In the middle ages hybrids such as this one were assumed to be possible and to actually exist, just as a mule, which is a cross between a horse and a donkey. Mules were known to not be able to reproduce though, so it seemed logical that a hybrid like a griffin would not be able to either. This explained why griffins were so rare and hardly ever seen.
Gyronny
The gyronny is a decorative pattern that stands for unity in heraldry.
A gyron, sometimes also called an esquire, is a line that divides a square compartment of a coat or arms from corner to corner.
Gyronny refers to the entire shield being divided this way, first in a cross and then per saltire (diagonally), so that the shield is divided into eight compartments.
Less commonly a shield may be specified to be gyronny of six, ten, twelve or more pieces.
The compartments are usually tinctured with two alternating colours beginning with the upper left compartment of the shield.
The origin of the word is from the Spanish ‘gyron’, a triangualr piece of cloth sewed into a garment. A shield gyronny is frequent in Scottish arms.
Hammer , Hare , Harpy , Hawk's Lure , Heart , Hedgehog , Hippogriff , Holly , Horse , Hourglass , Hurt
Hammer
The hammer is a symbol of force and dominance in heraldry. It is an honourable symbol, since iron is a very useful metal and it was therefore more precious to people, in early times, than gold. For this reason the hammer may be born crowned.
The martel was a military hammer used in conflict, and the hammer can be found under this name in ancient rolls. It is even still borne by some French families of Martel.
The double-headed hammer was the chief emblem of the Norse god Thor. The hammer is also one of the chief emblems of a smith, which may indicate that the first bearer of the arms was also a smith.
Hare
The hare was probably introduced into heraldry as a symbol for one who enjoys a peaceable and retired life and the rabbit likewise. Also, since rabbits and hares reproduce prodigiously, they have become symbols for lust and great fertility.
The Hare is much less common than the rabbit, which is also called a coney.
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Harpy
In Greek mythology, the harpy was the spirit of the wind, particularity the hurricane. It is represented by a virgin’s face, neck and breast, the body of a lion and the wings and talons of a vulture or an eagle.
The harpy is a symbol of ferocity under provocation. It is particularly found in German heraldry, though it can also be found elsewhere, and the German name for it is jungfraunadler.
Hawk’s Lure
Hawk’s lures in heraldry indicate one who was fond of noble pursuits, such as hunting and falconry. The lure was constructed using a pair of wings, fashioned to resemble a bird. It was thrown up into the air to help retrieve the falcon, or hawk when it had flown too far afield after the quarry. It symbolizes a signal used to recall the absent from afar.
Heart
The ancients regarded the heart as the mark of a person of sincerity, who spoke the truth.
It is sometimes used in heraldry in this sense, bur more often as an emblem of kindness and charity.
On the shield of Douglas, the heart alludes to the well-known attempt by Sir James Douglas to carry the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land in 1328.
The heart may also be flammant or crowned; the flaming heart stands for ardent affection.
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Hedgehog
The hedgehog, which usually referred to as an urcheon in heraldic terms, is found in a number of coats of arms. It is an ancient heraldic symbol signifying a thoughtful provider. It is sometimes mistakenly blazoned a porcupine.
Hippogriff
A hippogriff has the head, wings and fore-claws of a griffin (which are really those of an eagle except that a griffin has large pointed ears) attached to the hind end of the body of a horse.
Holly
Holly was used to adorn temples and sacred palaces and its name is derived from the word holy. Holly is also an emblem of truth in heraldry.
Holly branches are emblazoned sheaves of holly or holly branches of three leaves. The term ‘branch’ is actually a bit of misrepresentation, though, because the ‘branch’is actually just three leaves tied together.
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Horse
Horses are considered very spirited, powerful and beautiful animals. They were thought of like brave warriors: highly skilled fighters who loved victory and were miserable when conquered.
The horse signifies readiness to act for one’s country. In heraldry, it is also a symbol of speed, intellect and virility.
As a result the horse will be found in arms as rampant or salient (in a fighting position), courant (running), as well as passant (walking) and trotting. It may be drawn saddled and bridled, with a rider or without.
Horses are also often found as supporters of a crest.
Hourglass
The hourglass is a symbol of the flight of time and is a reminder of man’s mortality. Also called a sand-glass, this is a very uncommon charge in heraldry.
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Hurt
A blue roundel, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal, is called a hurt. It is an ancient heraldic symbol signifying injury or loss.
I
Imperial Crown , In Escutcheon , Instruments
Imperial Crown
The royal or imperial crown is an emblem of empire and sovereignty in heraldry. It has a studded rim with alternating crosses and fleurs-de-lis, and it is capped, with four bands of metal meeting in the centre at a small cross, mounted on a ball.
The imperial crown may also refer particularly to the crown of the German Emperor, though, which is very unique and only appears in a few crests.
In escutcheon
When borne as a charge on an actual shield, the image of a shield signifies defence.
More formally, a shield on a shield is termed an in escutcheon and strictly, if more than one appears on the shield they should be referred to as escutcheons.
When an in escutcheon appears on a shield it should conform to the shape of the shield on which it is placed.
In German and Scottish armoury the in escutcheon bears the heart of the arms, or the paternal side, but in English heraldry it is used to carry the arms of an heiress wife.
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Instruments
Musical instruments are heraldic symbols that, in general, signify festivity and rejoicing. The clarion is an ancient brass instrument that is held in one had and blown over like a flute.
The bearer of this sign may have been a musician or ceremonial trumpeter and like the trumpet it would signify the call to battle, or the mustering call for a crusade.
They are suitable heraldic bearings for someone who would bravely follow such a sound into battle, thoughtfulness, and gently pursuits.
The hunting horn, or bugle was adopted as a symbol of the chase in heraldry and it generally indicated a man fond of high pursuits. The chase was considered the most noble of employments next to war.
More specifically, the hunting horn was the sign of a hunter. There are other instruments used as charges as well, such as pipes, tabors and others, though their specific symbolic meanings are not certain.
K
Key
The key is a symbol of knowledge and of guardianship in heraldry. Two keys crossed in saltire is the emblem of St. Peter who held the keys to the gates of heaven, and this emblem is part of the insignia of His Holiness the Pope.
They occur in many ecclesiastical coats of arms but also in the arms of regular families.
L
Label , Ladder , Lapwing , Laurel , Leopard , Lily , Lion , Lizard , Lozenge , Lynx
Label
The label was a decorative piece of fabric, usually silk. It was a popular trimming for dress and décor during the Middle Ages.
In heraldry, it is represented by a narrow band across the top of the shield, edged by another band from which three short bars hand down. Lately the bars have been drawn more like dovetails, like triangles inserted point first into the lower band.
In English arms a label was a mark of difference indicating that the bearer was the eldest son and heir. Some labels on coats of arms can be traced to this origin.
Ladder
The ladder was a symbol of fearlessness in attack as the scaling of walls with ladders was an extremely dangerous tactic used in laying siege to a castle. It is also a symbol of resolution in heraldry.
The scaling-ladder, that is one with hooks on the ends to go over the edge of a wall so that the ladder is not merely leaning against the castle, may be a reminder to stand carefully on guard.
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Lapwing
The lapwing bird is symbolic of strategy in heraldry because it outwits hunters by leading them away from its nest.
Those who bear the sign of the lapwing are shrewd strategists. The lapwing also goes by the alternative names of peewhit, plover, and tyrwhitt.
Laurel
In ancient times, Laurel leaves were thought to be remedies against poison, as well as tokens of peace and quiet.
Laurels were also symbol of victory in heraldry, first given to the winners in the early Olympic Games and later born by the conquerors such as Julius Caesar. They are symbolic of triumph and fame, especially when it is gained after a long, inner struggle.
Sprigs of laurel and laurel branches are also common heraldic symbols.
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Leopard
In heraldry, the leopard is a symbol of a valiant warrior who braves dangers with force and courage. In early heraldry leopards were often represented passant guardant and there were often no less that two on a shield, while lions were usually rampant and usually no more than two.
Therefore it could probably be more correct for the lions of England to be blazoned leopards’; probably, though, the same animal was intended but different names were given to each position. In later times, both animals were called lions.
The leopard’s head jessant is a leopard swallowing a fleur-de-lis. Edward III is said to have conferred the device during his wars in France, as a reward to leaders who served under him in his victorious campaigns. The idea behind the symbol is that he leopard of the English arms is swallowing the lily of the French coat.
Lily
The lily is the emblem of purity and innocence in heraldry. It is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary. Though it is usually represented by the fleur-de-lis, the lily can also be in its natural form, which is not uncommonly found in heraldry.
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Lion
The lion has always held a high place in heraldry as the emblem of deathless courage, and, hence, that of a valiant warrior.
It is said to be a lively image of a good soldier, who must be ‘valiant in courage, strong of body, politic in council and a foe to fear’.
Through the somewhat dubious legend of their compassion, lions also came to symbolize Christ. As one medieval author asserted ‘they prey on men rather than women, and they do not kill children except when they are very hungry’.
The lion, with such repute of its noble nature and having the position and title of king of the beasts, is naturally one of the most common heraldic symbols on the continent of Europe.
In ancient times when animals were defined in by the position that they were in, the lion held the position of rampant. A walking cat was originally called a leopard, so the lions of England can probably be more accurately called leopards, but the popularity of the lion led to its acquiring many more positions, and thus the development of a terminology was necessary to describe them all.
In addition to all of the positions a lion is found in, it can be found crowned or collared with two tails or two heads.
Lizard
The lizard is an ancient heraldic symbol signifying good luck.
It is not common in coats of arms, and its proper tincture is green, or in heraldic terms, vert.
Lozenge
The lozenge is a symbol of honesty and constancy and it is also a token of noble birth.
It has four sides of equal length and is positioned point up, so that it resembles a diamond rather than a square.
A lozenge throughout is a lozenge that has all four points touching the sides of the shield. The arms of a lady, as a maid or a widow, are always displayed on a lozenge.
Lozenges cojoined to form a fesse of a pale are referred to as a ‘bend lozengy’ or a ‘fesse lozengy’, or a field may be describes as ‘lozengy’ when it is formed entirely of an indefinite number of lozenges.
A mascle is an open lozenge, or a lozenge voided, and it is merely a lozenge with a smaller one removed from the inside. It is said to be a piece on which armour was fastened, and to represent a mesh of a net.
In heraldry, it signifies persuasion, and comparatively rare, type of lozenge, pierced in the centre with a circle.
Lynx
The lynx is an ancient heraldic symbol indicating that its bearer was possessed of particularly keen sight.
It does not occur very often in heraldry except as a supporter, but is does occur in certain families on a crest.
It is nearly always depicted and blazoned ‘coward’ which simply means that its small tail is between its legs and not upright.
Man-tiger , Martlet , Maunch , Mermaid , Mirror , Moon , Moorcock , Mural Crown , Musimon
Man-tiger
Manticora or mantegre are both names for a man-tiger, which has the body of a heraldic tiger and the head of an old man, with long spiral horns attached to its forehead. In heraldry, it is usually only found as a supporter for a coat of arms.
Martlet
The martlet, or heraldic swallow, is a bird perceived as swift and elegant and is a device for someone prompt and ready in the dispatch of his business. It may also represent one who has to subsist on the wings of his virtue and merit alone.
The martlet signifies nobility acquired through bravery, prowess or intelligence. On English arms it was a mark of cadency signifying the fourth son, for whom there was little doubt that there would be no land left for him to inherit.
Interestingly, this heraldic symbol was a perpetuation of the popular belief that the swallow has no feet. This is supported by the fact that one never does see swallow standing, but regardless.
The martlet is consistently drawn without feet in heraldry. If the feet are drawn the symbol becomes a swallow, which is less common than the martlet.
The swallow is a vanguard of spring and represents a bearer of good news.
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Maunch
The maunch is a lady’s sleeve of a very ancient pattern. It became used in heraldry from the custom of the knights who attended tournaments wearing their ladies sleeves, as ‘gages d’amour’ in the lists.
The maunch was the symbol suitable for a man whose heart had been captured by a fair maiden.
Mermaid
In heraldry and Coats of Arms, the mermaid or merman is a favourite symbol for seafarers or anything related to the sea. The merman was also referred to as a triton and siren was occasionally an alternate name for mermaid. Both are symbols of eloquence.
In heraldry the merman is usually found as a supporter and less often as a charge on a shield.
The mermaid is much more common and is generally represented with the traditional mirror and comb in her hands.
A melusine is a mermaid with two tails disposed on either side of her, commonly found in German heraldry.
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Mirror
The mirror is a symbol of the imagination and truth. It is seldom found in heraldry except for the round mirror held in the right hand of a mermaid, but it dies appear occasionally as a charge in a coat of arms or on a crest.
Moon
The image of the moon is a symbol of the goddess Diana and indicates, in its bearer, the serene power to endure mundane duties. It is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary.
The moon was said to have the sovereignty by night that the sun had by day. The moon ‘in her compliment’ signifies that the moon is full and no rays are ever drawn as with the sun.
A face is usually represented in a full moon and sometimes in a crescent moon, but this must not be confused with an ordinary heraldic crescent, as they are not similar.
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Moorcock
The Moorcock or heathcock is a curious bird that has the head and body of an ordinary cock united with either the flat tail of black game, or two or more large tail feathers at right angles to its body. Neither variation actually exists.
Mural Crown
The mural crown is plain gold circlet of battlements on a narrow rim. It is supposed to have been given by the Romans to the soldier that first mounted the breach in the walls of a town or fortress. In heraldry, it would also apply to the defender of a fortress or be an appropriate token of civic honour.
Musimon
A musimon is supposed to be a cross between a ram and a goat with the body and feet of a goat, the head or a ram, and four horns: tow straight like a goat’s and tow curved like a ram’s. It is also called a tityron and it is very uncommon in heraldry.
N
Naval Crown
The naval crown is gold and uniquely ornamented with alternating topsails and stems of ancient galleys. This was legendarily awarded to the one who first boarded the enemy’s ship and now it is awarded, in arms, to distinguished naval commanders. Some heralds say that the Emperor Claudius invented it as a reward for service at sea.
O
Oak leaves are religious symbols of faith and endurance in heraldry.
Opinicus
An opinicus is a very rare creature in heraldry. When it does occur it is described as similar to a winged griffin, which is the head, wings, front legs and claws of an eagle and the body, hind legs and tail of a lion, only an opinicus’s front legs are a lion’s and it has a short tail. Another description gives it the tail of a camel. It may also have the big ears of a griffin or just the head of an eagle, and sometimes the wings are omitted.
Orange
An orange is the name given to a tawny roundel, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal. It is supposed to represent a tennis ball.
Tennis was once a game played strictly by royalty and nobles and the orange indicates that the bearer was a member of that class; however, the orange is seldom met in heraldry.
Ostrich
The image of an ostrich is symbolic of faith and contemplation in heraldry.
The ostrich is represented in heraldry in its natural form and is a very common charge; in fact it is one of the birds met with most often, after the eagle and the falcon.
Until recent times the ostrich was always depicted holding something in its beak such as a horseshoe or a key. Thee digestive capabilities of the ostrich have been fabulously exaggerated at times, and even now the ostrich has a popular reputation for being able to eat anything.
Early natural history books show it ingesting inedible food such as these metal objects, and it is possible that at one time ostriches were actually believed to eat these things. Even now an ostrich is seldom found without something present in its mouth.
Otter
The image of an otter denotes that its bearer possesses industry and perseverance, as well as an ability to return to moments of play.
Otters were formerly more abundant in streams that they are now and otter hunting was a once a common pastime, so they are born in the arms of several families and are also the supporters for some arms.
The otter is most often found as a symbol in Scottish and Irish coats of arms; however, it is by no meant restricted to them.
Owl
The owl symbolizes on who is vigilant and quick-witted.
The owl is always depicted in heraldry with its face affronte, or facing the observer, though the body is not usually so placed.
P
Pale , Pall , Panther , Parrot , Passion Nails , Peacock , Pegasus , Pelican , Pellet , Phoenix , Pike , Pile , Pineapple , Plate , Pomegranate , Pomme , Portcullis
Pale
The pale is a vertical band down the shield denoting great defensive military strength. Protective railings were made of pales.
It has often been bestowed on those who have defended cities, supported the government of the sovereign, or stood strong for the country under stress.
The guidelines of heraldry instruct that the pale is to occupy on third of the width of the shield, though this is not always strictly followed. The pallet or palet is a diminutive of the pale. Numerous pallets are often found on a shield, and when the filed is striped vertically it is said to be ‘paly’.
Pall
As a device on a crest, the pall represents the ecclesiastical vestment called a pallium and is symbolic of archiepiscopal authority. It is the shape of a broad ‘Y’ with one end going to each corner and the end dropping almost to the bottom point of the crest or shield.
As a charge in heraldry, the end is always couped, meaning that it does not extend to the edge of the shield, and fringed. The pall, also called a pairle and a shakefork, is often found in the arms of archbishops and Sees.
The pall also occurs as an ordinary, a background symbol, especially in Scottish heraldry. Here it is usually borne with all three ends couped and pointed.
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Panther
The panther is said to represent a beautiful woman who is tender and loving to her young, and will defend them even with her own life in jeopardy. It is a symbol of bravery in defence of the weak.
It is difficult to know whether to class the panther with actual or mythical creatures in heraldry.
Often it is depicted flammant or incensed, with flames issuing from its mouth and ears. On the continent the panther is often depicted with the tail of a lion, horns, and the claws of an eagle on its forelegs.
Early armorial representations show a more natural representation, but they quickly disappear in favour of artistic creativity.
Parrot
The parrot or a popinjay, as it is termed in heraldry, is realistically drawn. Its image may signify distinguished service in a tropical country.
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Passion Nails
Passion nails are borne as a reminder of poignant suffering that the first bearer of the arms underwent.
For example, Sir R. Logan bore the shield of three black passion nails piercing a red heart, for accompanying James Douglas to Jerusalem with the heard of Robert the Bruce.
Peacock
In ancient times, it was believed that the flesh of the peacock would not decay. It was therefore used in heraldry as a symbol of resurrection and immortality.
The peacock represented in pride refers to a peacock observed from the front with its tail feathers splayed.
It is usually found in this position but there are also some occasions where its tail feathers are folded, particularly when it’s a supporter in a coat of arms.
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Pegasus
An image of Pegasus, the legendary winged horse, is said to signify exceeding activity and energy of mind, whereby one may mount to honour. It is also an emblem of fame in heraldry.
This beautiful horse of mythology is not an unusual symbol in heraldry and is used often as a crest.
Pelican
The female pelican was believed to wound her breast with her long, curved bill, drawing blood to feed her young.
The term for this is ‘vulning’ itself and there are some birds during the nesting season that grow red feathers upon their breast, which may be where the legend came from.
But for this noble act, the bird became a symbol of piety, self-sacrifice, and virtue associated with the Holy Eucharist.
The pelican in heraldry does not traditionally have the large pouched beak of the natural bird though modern representations have given it a more realistic appearance.
Also, when blazoned ‘proper’ (meaning in its natural colours) the pelican is traditionally given the colours and plumage of an eagle instead of its natural white.
The pelican will never be found ‘close’ with its wings folded; it is always drawn vulning itself, possibly surrounded by its young, but regardless, is a symbol of maternal solicitude.
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Pellet
A black roundel is given the various names of pellet, ogress and gunstone, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal. Black roundels represent cannon balls and bullets and may indicate that the first bearer was an artilleryman, or that he braved the dangers of these things in battle.
It may have been intended to appear globular on the shield, rather than flat like most other roundels, so an artist may shade it accordingly. Pellettee describes a shield strewn with pellets.
Phoenix
The phoenix is a symbol from Greek mythology, of immortality, rebirth and renewal. Legend states that at the end of its long life, this legendary bird built a pyre of spice-wood in the desert.
It ignited the pyre by fanning its wings in the heat of the sun, plunged into the fire and was burned to ashes. Then a rejuvenated phoenix rose out of the cinders, born again.
The phoenix is also a symbol of love in heraldry. It is often found as a symbol on a crest, accompanied by the flames that it rose out of renewed.
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Pike
The pike is a heraldic symbol for a military family and indicates prowess and fortitude in bearers of this charge.
This fish is also a symbol of the forces of industry and science and early Christians frequently used the pike as an emblem of their faith.
The pike is frequently found inn ancient arms though it may be referred to by the alternate names of lucy, luce, ged, geddes, pyke, jack, or the name of a pike of the sea, hake. It is distinguishable from other fish by its large head and long mouth. In early arms the pikeis always found hauriant, or upright, but this is not always the case anymore.
Pile
The pile is a large piece of wood used by engineers in fortifications and bridge construction. The image of the pile was granted to military leaders for significant deeds. Or to those who showed great ability in any kind of construction.
In heraldry a pile looks like an inverted triangle issuing, point invaders, from any point along the crest except the base. It may, if specified, issue from the base as well, if accompanied by piles issuing from other points of the escutcheon. They may terminate in fleurs-de-lis or crosses patee.
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Pineapple
Unless the arms described were granted in connection with a pineapple growing country, the term pineapple, in heraldry, actually refers to a pinecone. It is symbolic of the inexhaustible abundance of life in nature.
The association is derived from the fact that the pine tree remained green in the winter when others appeared dead. But real pineapples also exist in the armoury.
Occasionally pineapples were granted as a symbol of distinguished service in a country where such fruit grew.
Plate
The plate is a white of silver roundel, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal. It represents a silver coin found in Spain during the Crusades. The name comes from the Spanish word ‘plata’ meaning silver or silver coin. The plate signifies generosity in heraldry.
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Pomegranate
In heraldry, the pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and abundance. The association is derived from the fact that the pomegranate is a fruit composed almost entirely of seeds and was thought to reproduce itself prodigiously because of this.
The pomegranate dimidiated with a rose, meaning that the two half charges are joined, was one of the badges of Queen Mary of England, who ruled from 1553-1558.
Pomme
Pomme or pomeis is the heraldic name given to a green roundel, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal.
The pomme represents an apple and signifies good luck. Most fruit was considered a token of good luck and symbolized the generosity of nature.
It may have been intended to appear globular on the shield, rather than flat like most other roundels, so an artist may shade it accordingly.
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Portcullis
A portcullis is a great, barred, iron gate with spikes on the bottom, suspended over the main gate of a castle to be dropped before enemies could invade the castle.
In heraldry, it signifies an effective protection in emergency, as it was used to guard the entrance to the fortress and could be suddenly lowered against a surprise attack, when there was no time to raise the drawbridge or close the weighty doors.
Borne on a shield, a portcullis usually indicates that the bearer is a great defender in an emergency. In some cases it indicates that the original bearer operated the portcullis in a fort. It is the well-known badge of the Royal House of Tudor. It is drawn points down with chains attached to its upper corners, though the disposition of the chains is a matter left to the artist.
Q
Quarter
The quarter alone is not particularly common in heraldry. It is a square in the right corner of the shield (or the left to the observer) that theoretically occupies ¼ of the shields surface area, though it is usually slightly smaller than this.
Of course it often occurs, though, as a division of a field blazoned quarterly, which is divided into four quarters. A canton is the diminutive of a quarter and occupies 1/9 of the field. It superimposes all other charges or ordinaries on a field and unless it is an origin charge, and not added later, it need not conform to the rule forbidding colour on colour, or metal on metal.
It is sometimes used as an augmentation of honour and it is also a mark used to distinguish the arms of one branch of a family from another, or that the name and arms of a family have been assumed where there is no blood descent.
A canton in the left corner of the shield may be used as a mark of illegitimacy.
R
Rainbow , Ram , Raven , Reeds , Rhinoceros , Rose
Rainbow
The rainbow is an ancient heraldic sign of peace, sage travel, and good luck. The rainbow has similar connotations of luck and peacefulness in many other cultures also. It is not often used as a charge on a shield but has been granted in crest since olden days. The proper colours of a heraldic rainbow are gold, red, green and silver.
Ram
The ram is a symbol of authority and leadership in heraldry. A person who bore such a device on his shield was supposed to possess all of the power and nobility that was attributed to the ram.
It is a very common symbol in a crest or a coat of arms, as is the symbol of a ram’s head. The ramis often rampant, or in the fighting position on a crest or coat of arms, though it is also found in the positions of passant, statant and couchant.
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Raven
As the collector of bright objects, the raven stands as a symbol of knowledge in heraldry. It is also an emblem of divine providence.
The raven is said to be a Danish device used as a heraldic symbol very early in history. Visually no differentiation is made between the symbols of a raven, a rook or a crow.
The symbol of the crow signifies that the bearer is someone who is watchful and vigilant for friends.
The Cornish chough is a bird that has been called the ‘King of Crows’. It may indicate that the bearer is crafty and strategic, to the disadvantage of his enemies. It also signifies vigilance in watching over friends.
According to Cornish legend, the spirit of King Arthur inhabited the chough. The chough distinguished from its counterparts by its red beak and legs.
Reeds
Reeds represent the just, who are said to dwell on the riverbanks of grace. The reed is also one of the symbols of Christ’s passion.
And because it clusters thickly and is a common plant, in heraldry bulrushes are symbolic of the multitude of faithful who lead a humble life and abide by the Christian teaching.
This symbol may also be granted to recall a memorable event that occurred near water where bulrushes were abundant.
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Rhinoceros
The rhinoceros fights with great ferocity when aroused, but never seeks combat. Borne on a shield, the symbol indicated the same characteristics in its bearer. It is a very uncommon charge in heraldry, observed in only a few instances.
Rose
The rose is a symbol of hope and joy; it is first among flowers and expresses beauty and grace. With a red blossom, it is a symbol of martyrdom. The white rose expresses love and faith and in Christian symbolism, it signifies purity.
The yellow rose is a symbol of absolute achievement in heraldry. The conventional form of a heraldic rose have five displayed petals that mimic the look of a wild rose on a hedgerow.
The famous Wars of Roses, between the red rose of the house of Lancaster and the white rose of the house of York, ended after the succession of the Tudors to the throne.
After this the heraldic rose developed a double row of petals which was obviously in effort to combine the rival emblems, although the element of increasing familiarity with the cultivated rosewas also present.
During the reign of the Tudors there was a more naturalistic trend in heraldry, and stems and leaves were added to the rose. Nevertheless, heraldry has accomplished what horticulture could not, and roses will be found tinted blue, black and green, in addition to more natural colours.
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S
Salamander , Satyr , Satyral , Sceptre , Scythe , Sea Horse , Serpent , Ship , Shuttle , Spear , Sphinx , Spur , Squirrel , Staff , Stag , Staple , Star , Sun , Sunflower , Swan , Sword
Salamander
The salamander signified a man of faith, and was also considered a sign of good luck. It is usually described as a dragon in flames of fire, and is sometimes represented this way, only without the wings.
More frequently, though, the symbol simply indicates the shape of a lizard. The salamander is best known as the personal device of Francis I, King of France, to which origin the arms of the city of Paris can be traced.
Satyr
In heraldry, a satyr is compose of a demi-savage, or half of a man with a few inhuman characteristics such as large pointed ears, united with the hind-legs of a goat so that he walks upright on tow hooves.
Satyrs are not found in coats of arms except for supporters and occasionally their heads are found used as charges.
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Satyral
A Satyral has the body of a lion, the face of an old man and the horns of an antelope. It is usually only used as a supporter in a coat of arms and is not particularly common in heraldry.
Sceptre
The sceptre is a symbol of justice and a chief emblem of royal authority. It is seldom borne alone. Frequently it occurs in the hand of a king or a saint, and it can also be found crossed, saltirewise, with a sword.
Scythe
The image of a sickle or a scythe, also sometimes termed a sned, expresses the hope of a fruitful harvest of things desired.
Sea horse
In heraldry, the sea-horse is an emblem of safe travel, particularly by sea.
The heraldic sea-horse, however, does not resemble the natural seahorse at all. It is an imaginary creature with the head, chest and forelegs of a horse, webbed feet like a frog in place of its hooves and a scaled body that flows into the large powerful tail of a fish, which if properly drawn, circles around itself in a coil.
The mane may not be scalloped. It is a popular symbol found quite regularly in heraldry.
Serpent
The serpent is an emblem of wisdom and defiance in heraldry.
In Ireland, the serpent may be used as an emblem of St. Patrick, an association derived from the legend of St. Patrick clearing Ireland of snakes.
Serpents also represent knowledge. There is nothing to distinguish a serpent or a snake from any of the other names given to it in heraldry such as cobra, adder, or bis.
The serpent may be found in a variety of positions such as erect, gliding or fessways, or involved, meaning in a curly-queue.
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Ship
The ship is an emblem of joy, happiness and adventure in heraldry. It usually points to some notable quest at sea, by which the first bearer became famous, but in more ancient bearings the emblem may have simply been derived from a long-standing seafaring tradition.
In heraldic terms there are three basic ships that may be used as a device on a shield: The ship, the lymphad and the galley. A lymphad usually only has one mast and a galley has three but the main differences between them are found in the shape and style of the vessel.
Because there are so many different types of ships they must be carefully described in the blazon with respect to the number of masts and top-masts, the sails and the rigging.
There are also ships in the forms of an ark, yacht, and steamer in more recent grants of arms.
Shuttle
In heraldry the shuttle is a symbol of industry and productivity. Sometimes in blazon it is called a weaver’s shuttle and it is often found in arms with some connection to that trade.
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Spear
Though the spear, the spearhead and the broken spear are all very similar devices, they each have a distinct symbolic meaning in heraldry.
The spear, lance or tilting-spear is an emblem of knightly service that signifies devotion to honour and chivalry.
The broken spear is a symbol of peace.
On the other hand, the spearhead, or javelin, is a deadly device of ancient origin, first made of iron and later of fine steel. It is said to represent dexterity and nimbleness of wit, a person able to penetrate and understand matters of the highest consequence.
The spear is distinct form the lance, javelin and the heraldic tilting-spear, in that it is always drawn with a sharp point for warfare, instead of blunt, as it would have been for a tournament.
The arms of William Shakespeare were composed of a gold tilting-spear of the field on a black bend.
Sphinx
The sphinx, a mythological creature derived from the Egyptian figure is usually depicted with a lion’s body, legs and ail and a woman’s head and chest.
The sphinx may also at times be winged. It represents omniscience and secrecy in heraldry.
The sphinx is more often used in crests than in coats of arms.
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Spur
A crest or coat or arms with the device of a spur on it was awarded to men who had done magnificent deeds. The spur could appear more ornate if it was winged, or the simpler device of a spur-rowel or spur-revel might be used.
They are more often termed ‘mullets of five points pierced’ which translates to five pointed stars with a hole in the centre, or the part of the spur used to actually cut the horse. This was a dangerous implement, used by knights to stimulate their war-horses into action. It signifies preparedness for active service in heraldry.
Squirrel
The squirrel’s habit of storing nuts to ensure a supply of food for the winter makes him a symbol of thrift, caution and conception in heraldry. It occurs in many English coats of arms ant it is always depicted sejant (in a sitting position), though with a squirrel the arms are always raised, and very frequently, cracking a nut.
Staff
In heraldry, the staff is a common symbol of office or authority.
The pastoral crosier is one type of staff that is an emblem of a shepherd’s watchfulness over his flock. It denotes Episcopal jurisdiction and authority.
Another is the palmer’s staff that is a symbol of the traveller, borne in reference to the early pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Stag
The stag has a variety of symbolic meanings in heraldry. It can indicate someone skilful in music and a lover of harmony.
It may also indicate a person who foresees opportunities well. In the latter case it is a symbol used for one who is unwilling to assail enemies rashly, who would rather stand his own ground that harm another wrongfully, and one who will not fight unless provoked.
Harmony, polity and peace are particularly associated with the female deer, called a hind or a doe.
Antlers represent strength and fortitude.
The stag or hart is also an emblem of purity and fleetness.
The stag was associated with healing, for he knew which medicinal plants to take in order to shake off the hunter’s arrow. The person bearing this symbol was considered impervious to weapons.
Other names for a deer include a brocket, which is a young stag, a buck, roe, roebuck, and a fawn.
Staple
Although their exact meaning is not known, it is thought that staples were used as trade symbols.
It is sometimes referred to as a door-staple and it is usually used in heraldry as a pun on a name like Dunstaple, for example.
Staples are drawn boldly and angularly with wide bases sharpening severely to points.
Star
The star symbolizes honour, achievement and hope in heraldry.
In some cases, a star may represent a falling star and denote a divine quality bestowed from above, whereby men ‘shine in virtue like bright stars on the earth’.
Stars with wavy points are emblems of God’s goodness.
In England, mullets have five points unless another number is specified. In France, a mullet has no less than six points.
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Sun
The sun is an emblem of glory and brilliance in heraldry. It is also a symbol of authority. It represents happiness, life and spirituality.
The rising sun is a symbol of hope. The sun, when not rising, is always blazoned the ‘sun in splendour’. The rays are alternatively straight and wavy, which symbolize the head and light that we derive from them, and the heraldic sun usually has a human face though this is not strictly necessary.
Rays of the sun, also called beams, are sometimes borne singly as in the ancient rolls, bur more often they issue from other charges when described by one of the terms as radiant, rayonne or rayonnant.
One ray of the sun signifies ‘by the light of heaven’.
Sunflower
The sunflower signifies that just as the flower turns toward the sun, so the bearer turns to the light and glory, symbolized by the sun.
It may also be called a heliotrope in heraldic terms.
The marigold is an ancient heraldic emblem of devotion and piety, very close to a sunflower in shape and meaning.
Swan
The swan is the ensign of poets and musicians. It symbolized perfection, beauty and grace in heraldry.
For a bearer of the swan it represents a lover of poetry and harmony, or a learned person.
The swan is a favourite symbol in heraldry, often found on crests and shields. It is most often drawn close, though it can be found in other positions as well and sometimes even swimming.
Sword
The sword is said to be the emblem of military honour and should incite the bearer to a just and generous pursuit of honour and virtue. In heraldry, it is symbolic of liberty and strength.
In the Middle Ages, the sword was often used as a symbol of the word of God. The sword (especially borne with flames) is also a symbol of purification. When borne with a cross in the same field, the sword signifies the defence of the Christian faith.
The usual form is a long straight blade with a cross handle, though the blade may also be waved or embrued. There are also specific types of swords that may be described such as the falchion or seax, which is a broad bladed, slightly curved sword with a semi-circular notch at the back of the blade.
Others include a scimitar, cutlass or sabre. A sword is often depicted piercing an animal or a human heart. Two swords crossed in saltire is an emblem of St. Paul.
Thistle , Thunderbolt , Tiger , Torch , Torteau , Tortoise , Tree , Trefoil , Tressure
Thistle
The thistle is an ancient heraldic emblem of pain and suffering. Legend states that the thistle was chosen as the royal badge of Scotland as a result of the battle of Largs in 1262.
The Danish enemy, King Harco, had landed and was advancing inland under cover of darkness, when one of his barefoot followers trod on a thistle and gave aw howl of pain that raised the alarm.
The first appearance of the thistle as a royal badge was in 1474, when it was stamped on the back of the silver coinage of James III. Durning this period badges were so largely used that it is possible that the King chose the thistle with this legend in mind, though he would have done so mainly to vie with the neighbouring kingdom of England.
The heraldic thistle has a short stalk and two long leaves with the flowered head in the middle. Though it is usually represented proper it can also be found gold.
Thunderbolt
The thunderbolt is an ancient heraldic emblem of sovereignty, power and speed.
It is derived from the classic mythology in which the thunderbolt is ascribed to the Roman god Jupiter, or the Greek god Zeus. It occurs very seldom in heraldry and usually only in crests.
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Tiger
The tiger signifies great fierceness and valour when enraged to combat. In heraldry, it also symbolises one whose resentment will be dangerous if aroused. The tiger depicted in heraldry was the attempt of artist to portray an animal they had never seen and knew only by repute.
Consequently, the creature they drew bore little resemblance to the real animal.
Later the Bengal tiger was added to the armoury due to the influence of India and the Eastern lands. It looks considerably more like the real animal than the heraldic tiger.
The symbol of a tiger and mirror together refers to the medieval belief that after capturing a tiger cub, on could escape from its pursuing mother by throwing down a mirror in her path. She would believe the reflection to be her cub and try to rescue it, thus giving time for the hunter to escape.
Torch
The torch or firebrand signifies truth, knowledge, purification and love in heraldry.
The bearing of a torch in arms is granted to a zealous man who has performed some signal service. It is not a common heraldic symbol.
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Torteau
A torteau is the name given to a red roundel, a roundel being any circular charge of colour or metal. It represents the cakes of bread eaten by crusaders before long battles.
Tortoise
The tortoise signifies invulnerability to attack and is also symbolic of slow, but sure progress. In heraldry, it is usually blazoned displayed, from an above view with its legs extended to the sides; however, it can also be borne upright.
Tree
The tree is a symbol of antiquity and strength in heraldry.
The oak tree was sacred to the ancient Greeks and the Celts; the lime or linden tree was sacred to the Germans and the ash tree was venerated by the Scandinavians.
Trees allude to home or property, and they are also generally considered a symbol of life and strength.
More types of trees that can be mentioned have been blazoned on shields, crests and coats of arms.
Usually these trees do not differ greatly in appearance, though, and the name was really only specified as either a pun on the name of the bearer or in reference to a characteristic of the land held by that family.
Sometimes a hurst of trees, or a wood is found on a shield. Also, a tree stump or tree trunk may be used as a symbol of regrowth and rebirth, especially when it is borne with branches spouting new leaves.
These symbols are not uncommonly found in heraldry.
Trefoil
A trefoil, or a symbol of a three-leafed clover, represents the past, present and future. It is also often used as a symbol of fertility and abundance in heraldry.
The trefoil is derived from the shamrock, which, according to legend, was chose sans an emblem of Ireland because it was used by St. Patrick to illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity.
The shamrock also appears on some arms.
Quatrefoils are not the same as shamrocks, though they do have four leaves; the leaves of a quatrefoil are more circular and they appear without the stem of a trefoil, except for very rarely.
Architects placed this symbol on churches to signify that the gospel, the harbinger of peace and immortality, was preached there. In British rules of inheritance, the double quatrefoil signified the ninth son.
A cinquefoil follows the same guidelines but unlike the quatrefoil, is very common in coats of arms. Notably the cinquefoil was the personal badge of Simon de Montfort, the man who led the baronial revolts against the King of England in the 13thcentury.
He likely used the cinquefoil as a party badge that was worn by his followers and lead to its popularization. Narcissus flowers, primroses and ‘fraises’ or strawberries are also five-petaled flowers that fall under the category of a cinquefoil.
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Tressure
A tressure is tow small borders in the outline of a shield, set close together, one within the other. It is often decorated with flowers that look somewhat like the fleur-de-lis, inserted through the tressure. This is referred to as a tressure-flory-counterflory, and it is a device that is particularly associated with Scottish heraldry.
It is said that in heraldry, the charge commemorates the alliance of Charlemagne with Archalus, King of Scotland. In return for the services of the Scots, Charlemagne added the double tressure fleurs-de-lis to the Scottish lion to represent that the former had defended the French lilies and therefore the latter would surround the lion to be a defence to him.
However, this story is not very securely based on fact. It is more likely that the lion and tressure were derived from the arms of the Earls of Northumberland and Huntingdon, from whom some of the Scottish kings were descended.
U
Unicorn
In heraldry, the unicorn is a mythical beast, said to be famous for its virtue, courage and strength.
Its horn was believed to be a powerful antidote against poison. According to legend, the unicorn could only be captured if a maiden was placed near a location the animal frequented. It would sense her purity and lay its head in her lap.
During the middle ages, this was taken as an allegory of Christ’s reincarnation, with the unicorn representing Christ and the maiden, his mother.
Unicorns symbolized purity, elegance and charm. Until the 17th century unicorns were believed to be real animals, there were even some unicorns’ horns in existence, though now they are recognized to be the horns of narwhales.
The heraldic unicorn has the body of a horse, that tail of a heraldic lion and the legs and feet of a deer. This beautiful symbol is a popular one in heraldry; sometimes the head alone is also found.
V
Vulture
The vulture does not occur often in heraldry, likely because of its association with death in nature. It does however appear on ore or two crests and as a supporter.
W
Weasel , Whale , Wheat-Sheaf , Wheel , Wolf , Wyvern
Weasel
The weasel, stoat, martin, and the ermineare all very similar animals that can be found occasionally as heraldic symbols.
The ermine, which the most common furs in heraldry are based on, symbolizes purity. This association comes from the legend that this small white animal preferred death to defilement.
The martinet is the vanguard of spring and represents one who brings good news.
There is also a type of martin with a white throat, called a foine that is found in blazon.
Whale
According to legend, the whale was often mistaken for an island. Ships that anchored to its side were dragged down to destruction by a sudden plunge of the immense creature.
In this way, in heraldry, the whale came to be used as a symbol of the Devil, and the whale’s open mouth the open gates of hell. Perhaps this is the reason why the whale is an extremely uncommon symbol in heraldry.
French heralds are said to draw the teeth red and blazon the symbol fierte.
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Wheat-sheaf
The garb or wheat-sheaf signifies plenty and commendable hospitality in the bearer. It may also mean that the harvest of the bearer’s hopes is secured.
One of the earliest appearances of garbs in heraldry was on the seal of Ranulph, Earl of Chester who died in 1232.
Garbs became identified thereafter with the Earldom of Chester, though they also appear in the arms of other families, some with a distant connection to the Earls and some without, as well ass in armouries of other countries.
Wheel
In the heraldic tradition, the wheel is used as an emblem of fortune.
It figures occasionally on rests and coats of arms, but the real heraldic wheel is the Catherine-wheel.
According to legend, ST. Catherine of Alexandria publicly confessed to being a Christian at a feast held by the Roman emperor Maximus. When she refused to renounce her faith, she was beaten and imprisoned. An attempt was made to tear her apart on a spike wheel, but it fell apart and she was unhurt.
The Catherine-wheel is the emblem of one who is prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith.
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Wolf
The crest of a wolf has been granted to valiant captains who service loyally through long sieges or hard enterprises. It signifies valour and guardianship in heraldry.
Wolves were viewed as ferocious and merciless and it was thought that they could paralyze their enemies with a look before destroying them. The bearer of this symbol was a deadly enemy to have.
Early wolves were drawn very crudely and do not resemble the animal very closely so later representations are preferred.
The head of a wolf is particularly common in Scottish heraldry.
Wyvern
The wyvern or wivern is a mythical beast with the upper part of a dragon, two legs and a body that curves into the tail of a serpent. In heraldry, it is usually depicted resting on its legs and tail or just on the curve of its tail with its legs in the air, in a rampant position.
The wyvern was supposed to have a keen sense of sight, which enabled it to guard treasures. The bearer of this symbol may have been a keen defender, or was thought to have slain a wyvern.
Wyverns, like dragons, have the ability to breathe fire and can also be drawn vomiting flames.
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Which tennis player won the 2005 Wimbledon Men’s Finals? | Heraldry words and meanings
Heraldry words and meanings
More glossary of terms
Or ~ should be metalic gold, or a bright clear yellow
Argent ~ Is often left unpainted, however if you must, (or if your paper isn't white) use zinc white.
Gules ~ Should be a clear, vibrant red, not so dark as crimson, not too light or orange. "Fire engine red" is usually thought of as gules.
Azure ~ Royal Blue. Prussian is too green, and navy is too dark. When emblazoning Atenveldt's Arms, azure should be powder blue by tradition. This is not the same as "baby blue". A reasonable substitute for cerulean blue gouache here is pthalo blue (cerulean tends to be expensive and can be difficult to work with.)
Vert ~ grass green is what is thought of as vert.
Sable ~ Black
Purpure ~ Light Purple but not as light as lavendar.
Anno societatis: year of the society.
May 1, 1966 - April 30 1967 = year 1 (I)
May 1, 1967 - April 30 1968 = year 2 (II)
May 1, 1968 - April 30 1969 = year 3 (III)
May 1, 1969 - April 30 1970 = year 4 (IV)
May 1, 1970 - April 30 1971 = year 5 (V)
May 1, 1971 - April 30 1972 = year 6 (VI)
May 1, 1972 - April 30 1973 = year 7 (VII)
May 1, 1973 - April 30 1974 = year 8 (VIII)
May 1, 1974 - April 30 1975 = year 9 (IX)
May 1, 1975 - April 30 1976 = year 10 (X)
May 1, 1976 - April 30 1977 = year 11 (XI)
May 1, 1977 - April 30 1978 = year 12 (XII)
May 1, 1978 - April 30 1979 = year 13 (XIII)
May 1, 1979 - April 30 1980 = year 14 (XIV)
May 1, 1980 - April 30 1981 = year 15 (XV)
May 1, 1981 - April 30 1982 = year 16 (XVI)
May 1, 1982 - April 30 1983 = year 17(XVII)
May 1, 1983 - April 30 1984 = year 18 (XVIII)
May 1, 1984 - April 30 1985 = year 19 (XIX)
May 1, 1985 - April 30 1986 = year 20 (XX)
May 1, 1986 - April 30 1987 = year 21 (XXI)
May 1, 1987 - April 30 1988 = year 22 (XXII)
May 1, 1988 - April 30 1989 = year 23 (XXIII)
May 1, 1989 - April 30 1990 = year 24 (XXIV)
May 1, 1990 - April 30 1991 = year 25 (XXV)
May 1, 1991 - April 30 1992 = year 26 (XXVI)
May 1, 1992 - April 30 1993 = year 27 (XXVII)
May 1, 1993 - April 30 1994 = year 28 (XXVIII)
May 1, 1994 - April 30 1995 = year 29 (XXIX)
May 1, 1995 - April 30 1996 = year 30 (XXX)
May 1, 1996 - April 30 1997 = year 31 (XXXI)
May 1, 1997 - April 30 1998 = year 32 (XXXII)
May 1, 1998 - April 30 1999 = year 33 (XXXIII)
May 1, 1999 - April 30 2000 = year 34 (XXXIV)
May 1, 2000 - April 30 2001 = year 35 (XXXV)
May 1, 2001 - April 30 2002 = year 36 (XXXVI)
May 1, 2002 - April 30 2003 = year 37 (XXXVII)
May 1, 2003 - April 30 2004 = year 38 (XXXVIII)
May 1, 2004 - April 30 2005 = year 39 (XXXIX)
May 1, 2005 - April 30 2006 = year 40 (XXXX)
Argent ~ Litterally means "silver", argent is called a metal, but is generally painted as white, not metalic. Argent is used in blazon all shades of silver, white, off white, pale grey, and uncolored paper.
Armiger ~ In the society, a person who has been awarded arms by Poyalty. "armigerous" meaning "entitled to bear arms".
Armorial ~ A listing of armory, arranged by the names of the persons to whom they are registered
Armory ~ Now usually comprised within the general term "heraldry", it refers specifically to the arts and science of the design and description of devices borne on the shield and its accompaniments. Encompasses devices, badges, ensigns, augmentations, mon, seals...
Badge ~ Armory other than arms that may be used on standards, to mark retainers, and to identify small articles of personal property.
Blazon ~ The heraldic description or representation of a particular piece of armory.
Brisure ~ A system of indicating cadency by adding a single standard charge to base arms. In the society, armory may not differ from another bearing solely by the addition of a brisure mark.
Byname ~ Any name or word that distinguishes an individual from others with the same given name.
Cadency ~ A term used to describe any of several systems of showing familial or feudal relationships in armory. In society, children may use (without registration) the registered arms of either parent with the addition of a standard indication of cadency.
Color ~ tinctures sable, gules, azure, vert, purpure
Cornet ~ Literally a small horn: in some Kingdoms this is a term for herald in training
Fiapering ~ Artistic decoration for the tincture of a field or charge done to add richness to the banner or shield. It may be a geometric pattern or some other detailing of the surface. It must not change the overall appearance of the device.
Diminutive name ~ shortened or pet name.
Ermine ~ One of the two principal furs in heraldry. Consists of black ermine tails on a white (not silver) field. Variations: Counter ermine (white tails on black) pean (gold tails on black) erminois (black tails on gold)
Line of Partition ~ A line used to divide fields or charges. The complex lines of partition currently accepted by society college of arms include: invected, engraved, wavy, indented, embattled, raguly, potenty, urdy, nebuly, rayonny, dovetailed.
Abased - This term is used (1) when the wings, for instance, instead of being expanded, with their apices pointing upward, either look down toward the point of the shield, or else are shut; (2) when a chevron, fesse or another ordinary is borne lower than its usual situation.
Abatelement - (Ab-a-te'-le-mang) - A mark of disgrace affixed to an escutcheon.
Abatement - Abatements are real or imaginary marks of disgrace affixed to an escutcheon on account of some flagrantly dishonorable action on the part of the bearer. There is scarcely an instance on record, however, of such marks of disgrace having been actually affixed to an escutcheon. (Some times called rebatements.)
Abyss - The center of an escutcheon. For example, to bear a fleur-de-lis in abyss is to have it placed in the middle of the shield free from any other bearing.
Abyssal - Pertaining to an abyss
.
Accident - An additional mark on a coat of arms, which may be retained or eliminated without altering its essential character.
Accolade - The ceremony by which in mediaeval times one was dubbed a knight. Antiquaries are not agreed on what this was. It has been made an embrace around the neck, a kiss or a slight blow upon the cheek or shoulder.
Accolle - Gorged or collared, as lions, dogs and other animals sometimes are in escutcheons. Wreathed, entwined or joined together, as two shields sometimes are by their sides. The arms of a husband and wife were often thus placed. (Gloss. of heraldry, 1847.) Used substantively: (1) An animal with a crown on its head or a collar around its neck; (2) two shields united to each other by their sides; (3) a key, baton, mace, sword or other implement or weapon placed saltirewise behind the shield.
Accompanied - Between. For example, accompanied by four crescents, would mean between four crescents.
Accompaniment - Any additions made to a shield by way of ornament, as supporters, etc.
Accosted -Applied to a charge supported on both sides by other charges. Example: A pale accosted by six mullets. This term is also applied to two animals proceeding side by side.
Accoutre -To dub a knight.
Achievement - A complete heraldic composition, showing a shield with its quarterings, impalements, supporters, crest, motto, etc. This term is applied especially to a funeral escutcheon, exhibiting the rank and family of a deceased nobleman or gentleman, which at his death is placed in front of his house or in some other prominent place.
Acorned - An oak with acorns on it. (Placed on an escutcheon.)
Addition - Something added to a coat of arms as a mark of honor, such as, for instance, a bordure, a quarter, a canton, a gyron or a pile.
Addorse - To place back to back.
Addorsed - Two animals on a coat of arms set or turned back to back. This term is occasionally used for other figures capable of being placed back to back.
Adosse - The French word sometimes used for addorsed.
Adoptive - Adoptive arms are those held by a person not by right of descent or in virtue of himself, but merely by the gift or consent of another.
Adorned - Ornamented or furnished with a charge.
Adumbration - A figure on a coat of arms traced in outline only, or painted in a darker shade of the same color as the field on which it is represented. Families who had lost their estates, but not their armorial bearings, are said to have occasionally adopted this method of indicating their peculiar position.
Affrontee - Two animals on a coat of arms facing each other. Face to face, as contradistinguished from back to back.
Agacella - An antelope, or a tiger with horns and hoofs.
Aiguisee - Sharply pointed. Applied especially to a cross on an escutcheon which has its four angles sharpened, but still terminating in obtuse angles. It differs from the cross fitchee in that whereas the latter tapers by degrees to a point, the former does so only at the ends.
Ailettes - Small escutcheons fastened to the shoulders of armed knights. (Sometimes called emerasses.) They were of steel; were introduced in the reign of Edward I, and were the ancestor of the modern epaulet.
Aisle -Winged.
Alaund - A dog. Specifically, a hunting dog.
Albany - One of the herald's of the Lord Lyon's Court. Scotland.
Alberia - A plain shield; without ornament or armorial bearings.
Allerion -An eagle without a beak or feet, and with wings expanded, their points turned downward. (Denoting imperialists vanquished and disarmed.)
Allocamelus - The asscamel, a mythical animal compounded of the camel and the ass. This was used as a crest by the Eastland Company.
Allumee - This term is used to describe the eyes of animals when they are depicted sparkling or red.
Alternate - Alternate quarters: A term applied to the first and fourth quarters on an escutcheon, which are generally of the same kind. Also applied to the second and forth , which also similarly resemble each other.
Ambulant - This signifies walking: coambulant, walking together.
Amethyst - The term applied to the color called purpure when describing the armorial bearings of peers.
Amphisien cockatrice - A name for the mythical animal called the Basilisk. It resembles a cockatrice, but is two headed, the second head being affixed to its tail.
Anchor - In heraldry the anchor is an emblem of hope.
Anchored Cross - In this cross the four extremities resemble the flukes of an anchor. It is also called anchry or ancre. It is emblematic of hope through the cross of Christ.
Ancient - The guidon used at funerals. A small flag ending in a point.
Anime - Of a different tincture from the animal itself. The term is used when wild animals are represented with fire proceeding from their mouths. Also called incensed.
Annodated - Bowed, embowed or bent like the letter S.
Annulate - Having a ring or annulet. (Used specifically of a cross with its extremities thus fretted.)
Annulet-A ring borne on an escutcheon. Originally it stood as the symbol of nobility and jurisdiction, being the gage of royal favor and protection. In describing the arms the color of the annulet should always be expressed. When used as a difference, the annulet represents the fifth son.
Anserated Cross -A cross with one of its extremities shaped like the heads of lions, eagles, etc.
Ante - Engrafted or joined into each other in any way, as by dovetails, swallowtails or rounds.
Antelope - Agacella is the heraldic antelope. Brooke, Lord Cobham, had for a dexter supporter an agacella, horned, tusked and armed or.
Apaume - Appalmed. A hand opened so as to exhibit the palm. A baronet of England or Ireland bears a sinister hand couped gules on an inescutcheon or a canton. It is blazoned "argent, a sinister hand, couped at the wrist, and apaume, gules."
Apple of Grenada - The pomegranate.
Appointee -Pointed. Applied to things which touch at the points or ends, as two swords touching each other at their points or tips.
Aquilate - To adorn with eagles' heads.
Aquilated - Adorned with eagles' heads. (Used almost exclusively in the past participle.)
Arbalest -A crossbow, consisting of a shaft of wood and furnished with a string and trigger. It was not a popular weapon, as it required no strength or manliness in its use. (Also written arbalist, arbalest and arbalet.)
Arched - Signifies that an ordinary on an escutcheon is bent or bowed. (Sometimes called archy.)
Argent - White. The silvery color on coats of arms. In the arms of princes it is sometimes called lune, and in those of peers pearl. In engravings it is generally represented by the natural color of the paper. It represents purity, innocence, beauty or gentleness.
Arm - The human arm is sometimes used in emblazoning. Tremaine of Colacombe bore gules, three dexter arms conjoined at the shoulder, flexed in triangle or, fisted argent. The arm is often found as part of the crest.
Armed - (1) Furnished with arms. (2) Adding to anything that which will give it greater strength or efficiency. (3) The term armed of applies to a beast of prey when his teeth and claws are differently colored from the rest of his body. It applies also to predatory birds when their talons and beaks are differently colored from the rest of the body. (4) Armed at all points, in days gone by, meant a man covered with armor except his face.
Armor - Coat Armor.
Armor Buckle - A lozenge shaped buckle.
Armorial - Pertaining or relating to heraldic arms. As substantive: A book containing coats of arms. Thus the phrase occurs, "the French armorial," "the Spanish armorial," etc.
Armorist - One well acquainted with coats of arms; skilled in heraldry.
Armory - From the word armor, appertaining to coats of arms.
Arms - Arms or Armories were so called because originally displayed upon defensive arms, and coats of arms because formerly embroidered upon the surcoat or camis worn over the armor. The term coat of arms, once introduced, was afterward retained, even when displayed elsewhere than on the coat. In the days when knights were so encased in armor that no means of identifying them was left, the practice was introduced of painting their insignia of honor on their shield as an easy method of distinguishing them. Originally these were granted only to individuals, but were afterward made hereditary by King Richard I, during his crusade to Palestine. They may be divided into two general classes: (1) Public, as those of kingdoms, provinces, bishoprics, corporate bodies, etc. And (2) private, being those of private families. These two classes are again separated into many subdivisions, founded mainly on the different methods by which they were granted.
Arms of Adoption - This term is used in a case where the last representative of an aristocratic family adopts an outsider to assume his armorial bearings and inherit his estates.
Arms of Alliance - Arms which came into a mans possession by matrimonial alliances, as the arms of his wife which are impailed with his own, and those of heiresses, which he in like manner quarters. To illustrate: When Gilbert Talbot (who died in 1274) married Gwenllian, heiress of the Welsh Prince Rhys ap Griffith, he laid aside his paternal coat - "bendy of 10 pieces, argent and gules" - and adopted that of the lady - "gules, a lion rampant or, within a border engrailed of the field" - as still used by the Earls of Shrewsbury.
Arms of Assumption - Those arms which a person may legitimately assume.
Arms of Attribution - Arms that are fictitious, such as indulged in to absurd extent by the heralds of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Arms of Community - Those borne by corporations, religious houses, colleges, cities and boroughs, inns of court, guilds and the cinque ports, some of which go back to an early period.
Arms of Concession - Arms granted by a sovereign to commemorate some great deed. The heart on the arms of the Douglases is in memory of the mission of James Lord Douglas with the heart of Robert Bruce to the Holy Land. The families of De la Warr, Pelham, Vane and Fane bear arms in allusion to the share their ancestors had in the capture of John of France at Poitiers.
Arms of Dominion - Are those belonging to empires, kingdoms, principalities, states, etc., officially used by the ruler de facto. The origin of some of these arms is obscure, such as the three legs conjoined in triangle of the Isle of Man and the lion of Scotland. Occasionally the arms of dominion were those of an early sovereign or governor. Thus the lions of England belonged to the Plantagnet kings. In the United States the Stars and Stripes, now so well known throughout the world, had their origin in the coat of arms of the first President, the immortal George Washington, whose English ancestors bore "argent, two bars gules, in chief three mullets of the second." The arms of the State of Maryland are those born by Cecililus Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, Lord Proprietary of the Colony.
Arms of Family - Those received by some distinguished person and borne with modifications by all his descendants.
Arms of Honor - The same as Arms of Concession.
Arms of Office - Those borne by holders of certain offices which designate that office. For instance, the ancestors of the Dukes of Ormond, being hereditary butlers of Ireland, bore three covered cups. Garter, the principal king-at-arms of England, bears "argent, a cross gules, on a chief azure a crown or, encircled with a garter of the order buckled and nowed betwen a lion of England and a lily of France."
Arms of Patronage - (1) Arms borne by the lesser gentry which were derived from the arms of the greater; arms on which there is some mark of subjection or dependence. (2) Arms to indicate the connection between the follower and his feudal lord. (3) Arms added to the family arms as a token of superiority, right or jurisdiction.
Arms of Pretension - Arms quartered by a sovereign belonging to a state over which he does not hold authority. Nearly all the earlier European sovereigns bore arms of this character. The kings of England, from Edward III until 1801, in the reign of George III, bore the lilies of France. The treaty of Amiens (January 1, 1801) stipulated that this quartering of the French arms should be abandoned.
Arms of Succession - The same as Feudal Arms.
Arms Royal - The personal arms borne by the sovereign of a country, as distinguished from those borne by him in his official capacity, being those of the country over which he rules. As set forth in Arms of Dominion, the personal arms of a ruler sometimes become those of the country. On the other hand, neither the arms of Baliol, Bruce nor Stuart ever became the arms of Scotland. Cromwell placed his arms on an escutcheon of pretense over those of the commonwealth, and William of Nassau did the same with those of England.
Allusive Arms - (Called also canting or punning arms, and by the French Armes parlantes) are those in which the charges suggest the bearers name. Thus were the castle and lion for Castile and Leon, the fers de cheval of Ferrers, the corbeau or raven for Corbet, the herons of Heron, the falcon of Falconer, the swine's head of Swinebourne, the hammers of Hammerton and the swallows (hirondelles) of Arundel. Allusive arms were treated with respect until the time of James I, when they fell into disrepute.
Assumptive Arms - This now applies to arms which have been appropriated without proper authority. Originally, however, the term had a different meaning, as seen in the following:
Canting Arms - The same as Allusive Arms.
Feudal Arms - The arms borne by the possessors of certain lordships or estates .
Paternal Arms - Those that descend by custom to the male heir. The descendants of females (heiresses) can only quarter their arms, except by special license.
Arriswise - With one angle facing; showing the top and two sides. Said of a rectangular bearing, such as an altar.
Arrondee - Made round.
Arrow - The arrow is frequently displayed in heraldry, either singly or in sheaves.
Ashen Keys - The seed vessels of the ash tree. Occasionally represented on an escutcheon.
Aspect - The position which an animal occupies with regard to the eye of the spectator. It may be (1) full aspect, that is full-faced, looking toward the spectator; (2) passant, which is side toward him; (3) trian aspect, neither the one or the other, but between the two.
Aspectant - A term applied to two birds facing each other, or looking at each other.
Aspersed - Strewn or powdered with a number of small charges.
Assaultant - Assailant. Applied to a predatory animal when represented on the escutcheon as if leaping on its prey.
Assurgent - Rising out of.
At Gaze - Applied to the hart, buck, stag or hind when represented full-faced, or with the face directly to the front.
Athole - One of the pursuivants of the Ofice of Arms, Ireland.
Attire -The single horn of a stag. (The plural attires is used for two horns.)
Attired - Ornamented with horns or antlers. Applied to the stag or hart. A reindeer is represented with double attires - one pair erect and the other drooping. (Boutell: English Heraldry.)
Augmentation - Arms of Augmentation of Honor - A grant from a sovereign of an additional charge on a coat of arms to commemorate some great deed or a notable event.
Aulned - Awned; bearded (Used of ears of corn.)
Au vol - [French.] On the wing. (Said of a bird.) [VOLANT.]
Avellane Cross -A cross resembling four filberts.
Beauseant -The banner borne by the Knights Templar in the thirteenth century. It was of cloth, sable and argent.
Bebally - A word used by some of the old writers for party per pale. (Parker: Gloss. of Her.)
Bee - Sometimes made use of in heraldry. Sir Robert Peel used bees in his arms, and so did Sir Richard Arkwright.
Belie -A term sometimes used for gules. (Universal Dict.)
Bell - Church bells have been made use of in heraldry, though not frequently. The same can be said of hawks' bells.
Belled - When a falcon or hawk has bells affixed to its legs it is said to be belled.
Belt - A badge of knighthood.
Bend - One of the ordinaries. It is formed of two lines, and is drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base point of the escutcheon. It generally occupies one-fifth of the field; but formerly it was one-fifth only when plain, and one-third when charged.
BEND SINISTER - An ordinary resembling the bend in form, but extending from the sinister chief to the dexter base. The diminutives of the bend sinister are the scarpe, which is half its width; and the baton, half as wide as the scarpe and couped.
IN BEND - When bearings are placed bendwise the term in bend is used.
Bending - The same as BENDY. (Chaucer.)
Bendlet - A diminutive of the bend. Generally it is half the width of the bend; but sometimes it appears much narrower. In ancient heraldry a bendlet azure on a coat was a mark of cadency.
Bendy - An escutcheon having bends which divide it diagonally into four, six or more parts is called bendy. The lines are drawn in the same direction described under BEND: when drawn in the contrary direction they are styled bendy sinister.
BENDY LOZENGY - Having each lozenge placed in bend.
BENDY PILEY - Divided into an equal number of pieces by piles placed bendwise across the escutcheon.
Beque - Beaked. This term is used of a bird having its bill of a color different from that of the body.
Bevilled - When the outward lines of an ordinary turn in a sloping direction.
Bevilways - At a bevil. This term is used of charges or anything similar.
Bezant -A gold roundlet, representing a coin of that name. It is supposed to have been introduced into English heraldry by the Crusaders, who had received the gold coin while in the East
Bezante - Covered or studded with bezants; seme of bezants.
Bicapitated - Having two heads, such as the two-headed eagle on the arms of Russia, as well as on those of Austria.
Bicorporate -Having two bodies; having the hinder parts in duplicate, with one head and one pair of forepaws.
Bigg - Barley. Specifically, the barley common to the north of Scotland, having six rows of seed. Bigland of Bigland bore "Azure, two ears of bigg or." (Also written big.)
Billhead - The head of a bill. Generally borne on a charge. (The bill was a war instrument - a species of halberd.)
Billet -(1) An oblong square, supposed to represent a sheet of paper folded in the form of a letter. Its proportion is two squares. (2) A staff as a billet, raguled and tricked, meaning a ragged staff in pale. (Gloss.of Her.)
Billetty - Seme of billets.
Bird - Birds figure to a large extent in heraldry, and represent the contemplative as well as active life. Among the terms applied to birds are Membered, Armed, Closed, Disclosed, Rising and Volant.
BIRD AND BANTLING - A Lancashire term, applied to the well-known crest of the Stanleys of an eagle preying on a child.
Bird-bolt - A short arrow with a broad, flat end.
Bitted - Said of a horse when borne with a bit of a different tincture from the animal itself, when it is said to be bitted of that color. This term is also used to describe a horse's head with bit and rein; as, "Three horses' heads couped, bitted and reined or."
Black - This color in heraldry is known as SABLE.
Blackamoor - A negro. Channing of Foxcote bore: "Argent, three blackamoors' heads couped sable, capped or, fretty gules."
Bladed - A term used when the stalk of any grain is of a color different from the ear.
Blanch - White. {Argent.]
Blasted - When a tree is leafless it is said to be blasted.
Blaze - To emblazon: to blazon. (Contracted from blazon.)
Blazing star - A comet.
Blazon - To describe a coat of arms; to give an accurate description.
Blazoned - That which is blazoned ; a blazoned coat of arms.
Blazoner - One who blazons coats of arms.
Blazonry - The art of blazoning: to describe a coat of arms in the technical language of heraldry. The rules of blazon are remarkable for their precision, simplicity, brevity and completeness. The proper order of describing arms is: First, give the field, its color (or arrangement of colors, if more than one), and the character of partition lines when parted; second, the charges, and first those of most importance, their name, number and position (when an animal, its attitude); third, marks of difference, cadency, baronet's badge, etc.
Blemished - Having an abatement or rebatement. (Used of a sword with its point broken.)
Blighted - The same as BLASTED.
Block Brush - A bunch of the plant Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus). It is borne by the butcher's company of London.
Blood Color - Sanguine. (Not to be confused with BLOODY.)
Bloody - Gules.
Bloody Hand - A hand tinctured gules. The device of Ulster, hence borne by baronets.
Blue - This color in heraldry is known as AZURE.
Blue Mantle - One of the pursuivants in the College of Arms.
Boar - The boar is one of the ancient charges of heraldry. With the exception of the lion, it is the only beast borne in the roll of Henry III.
Boltant - Bolting; springing forward. (Used of a hare or rabbit.)
Bomb-shell - A fire ball; a projectile of oval shape.
Bonnet - The velvet cap within a coronet.
Bordure - The border of an escutcheon, occupying one-fifth of the shield. It is sometimes the mark of a younger branch of a family; and, again, when charged, may refer to maternal descent, especially in ancient heraldry. When used in an impaled coat the bordure is not continued around the inner side.
BORDER COMPONY - This should be composed of 16 pieces. It implies augmentation, or, in more recent times, illegitimacy.
Bote-roll - The same as CRAMPIT.
Bottoned - Having bottonies, buttons, round buds or knots. They are generally displayed in threes. The term is essentially the same as treffled (trefoiled).
Bottony -A bud-like projection, of which three are generally together.
Cross BOTTONY - A cross of which each limb terminates in three bud-like prominences, presenting a slight resemblance to the trefoil.
Bouget - A bucket for carrying water. It is an early charge, and is identified with the names of Ros and Rose. [See WATER BUDGET.]
Bourdonnee - With the extremity shaped like the handle of a pilgrim's staff; as, a cross bourdonnee. This was the original cross on the arms of Jerusalem, now blazoned "A cross potent."
Bow - The bow occurs in heraldry occasionally, though not as frequently as might have been expected, it was once an essential weapon of war.
Bozon - The same as BIRD-BOLT.
Braced - Interlaced. (Also written brazed.)
Bracelet - The same as BARRULET.
Brazed - Braced; Interlaced. [Interfretted.]
Bretage - Having embattlements on each side.
Brick - Somewhat resembling a billet, but showing its thickness in perspective.
Broad Arrow - The head represents a pheon, except the engrailing, or jagging, on the inner edge is wanting.
Broom Plant - The badge of the Plantagenets.
Buffaloe - A name applied by some of the earlier writers to the common bull.
Builler - A wild bull.
Bullet - A name sometimes given to the ogress or pellet.
Bute - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland
Cabled - The same as CABLEE.
Cablee - A cross composed of two cable ends.
Caboshed - The head of a beast borne full-faced, and without any neck showing.
Cadence - The different steps in the descent of a family.
Cadency - As the original object of armorial bearings was to distinguish one iron encased warrior from another, it was also necessary to provide distinctive bearings for different members of a family all entitled to bear the paternal arms. This gave rise to the use of Marks of Cadency, or differences (called by the French brisure.)
They are as follows:
Annulet
Cadet - A younger brother; a junior branch of a family.
Calf - The Calf appears in heraldry occasionally. Le Vele of Tortworth bore "Argent, on a bend sable three calves or," and Calverley, "Argent, on a fess gules three calves or."
Calthrop - An implement of war, four-spiked, and when thrown on the ground one point always stood upright. Also known as caltrop and chevaltrap.
Calvary Cross - A cross mounted on three steps. The steps allude to the three Christian graces - Faith, Hope and Charity.
Camelopardel - An imaginary beast, with neck and head like a camel, spotted like a pard, with two straight horns similar to those of a giraffe.
Campane - A bell; a bell shaped object.
Campaned - Bearing bells, or furnished with bells. (Campane and Campaned are terms that are little used.)
Cannet - A charge of ducks represented without beaks or feet.
Canting Arms - The same as Allusive Arms, which see, under ARMS.
Canton -A division of the field placed in the upper dexter corner. It is classed by some heraldic writers as one of the honorable ordinaries; but, strictly speaking, it is a diminutive of the Quarter, being two-thirds the area of that ordinary. However, in the roll of Henry III the quarter appears in several coats which in later rolls are blazoned as cantons. The canton, like the quarter, is an early bearing, and is always shown with straight lines.
Cantoned -Applied to a shield in which the four spaces around a cross or saltier are filled with any pieces.
Cap of Maintenance - The cap of state carried before a sovereign at his coronation. Occasionally used as a bearing on a shield.
Cat - The cat figures in heraldry as the Musion, the Catamount, Cat-a-mountain, Wildcat and just plain cat.
Chafant - Applied to a boar when depicted as enraged.
Chain - The chain was borne by the kings of Navarre, the arms being blazoned: "Gules, a trellis of chains or, in cross saltire."
Chalbot - The heraldic name of the fish commonly known as Bullhead or Miller's Thumb.
Chamber - The Cylindrical part of ordnance is blazoned as Chamber. Example: "Three chambers sable, fired proper."
Champ - The field or ground of a field.
Champain - A mark of dishonor in the coat of arms of one who has killed an opponent after he has asked for quarter.
Chancellor - A functionary in an order of knighthood. For example, the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, who acts in the capacity of secretary of that order.
Chapeau - A cap of state borne by a duke.
Chaperon - An ornamental hood worn by the Knights of the Garter when in full dress.
Chaperonnet -A small hood.
Chapournet -A chaperonnet borne in arms dividing the chief by a bow-shaped line.
Chaplet - A garland or wreath; a head band of leaves borne in coats of arms in token of great military prowess. The chaplet made its first appearance in the roll of Edward II.
Charge - To place upon an escutcheon.
Charge - Anything occupying the field in an escutcheon. There are two kinds of charges - proper and common.
PROPER CHARGES - So called because they peculiarly belong to the art of heraldry. [See ordinary.]
COMMON CHARGES - Those charges which have been imported into heraldry from all quarters, representing an array of objects, natural and artificial, from reptiles and insects to human being and celestial figures.
Charged - A charge placed upon the field.
Chausse - This term denotes a section in base formed by a line from the extremity of the base ascending to the side of the escutcheon , joining it at about the base point.
Checky -A field divided into small squares, of different tinctures, resembling a chess board. Usually made up of seven squares in the top line, and in depth according to the length of the shield.
Chess-rook - A bearing which resembles the rook, or castle, in chess.
Chester - One of the heralds of the College of Arms.
Chevalier -A horseman armed at all points.
Cheveron - - One of the honorable ordinaries. It is rafter shaped, and its breadth is one-fifth of the field. Its diminutives are the Chevronel, which is one-fifth of its breadth; and the Couple-close, one-quarter.
CHEVRON COUPED - Applied to a chevron which does not reach the sides of an escutcheon.
CHEVRON IN CHIEF - One which rises to the top of the shield.
Chevronel - A diminutive of the chevron, being half its breadth.
Chevronny -A shield laid out in partitions chevronwise.
Chief - The head or upper part of the shield, containing a third of the field, and is divided off by one line, either straight or crenell� (indented). When one chief is borne upon another it is called surmounting.
IN CHIEF - Anything borne in the chief.
ON CHIEF - When the chief is charged with anything.
Chief Point - The uppermost part of the shield, and can be either dexter, middle or sinister.
Chim�ra - A modification of some existing animal, such as the winged lion of St. Mark, the dragon, etc.
Cinquefoil - A five pointed leaf; usually borne without a stem.
Clarenceux - The title of the second King-of-Arms. He ranks next to Garter.
Clarion - An instrument somewhat resembling a trumpet. The clarion borne by Granville, however, resembles the pan-pipe.
Cleche - A cross charged with another of the same design, but having the same color as the field, leaving only a narrow border of the first cross visible. (Can be used of other bearings.) [Compare with VOIDED.]
Clouee - Said of the fretty when nailed at the joints.
Close - The wings of a bird close to the body.
Closed - Applied to a bird borne with wings folded close to the body.
Closet - A diminutive of the bar, being one-quarter the breadth of that bearing.
Closeted - Inclosed within closets; supplied with closets.
Coambulant - Walking together.
Coat - Coat of arms, Coat-Armor, Cote-Armure, etc. - Originally armorial bearings were embroidered on the surcoat of the wearer. The term is now used for the escutcheon, or shield, when arms are displayed. [For further information on coats of arms see ARMS.]
Cock - This fowl is generally borne as a crest, but occasionally appears on the shield. When the beak, comb, wattles and spur are given, he is said to be beaked, wattled (or jewlapped) and armed.
Cockatrice - A fabulous animal supposed to have been produced from a cock's egg hatched by a serpent. [See BASILISK.]
Co-erectant - Applying to things set up side by side.
Coeur - The heart of the shield. The same as the center or fess point.
Collar - An ornament for the neck worn by a knight or other member as a badge of that order.
Collared - The same as GORGED.
College of Arms - (Or Herald's College) is located on Queen Victoria street, E. C. , London, a royal corporation founded by King Richard III. It consists at present of the Earl Marshall, his secretary, a Registrar, three Kings at Arms - Garter, Clarenceux and Norry - and the following Heralds: Chester, Lancashire, York, Somerset, Richmond and Windsor. There are also four Pursuivants - Rouge Croix, Bluemantle, Rouge Dragon and Portcullis - besides various other officers. This institution determines all questions relating to arms and grants of armorial bearings. The office of Earl Marshal is now hereditary, being held by the Dukes of Norfolk. The corresponding college for Scotland is known as Lyon Court, and that of Ireland Office of Arms.
Color - For the colors of heraldry see TINCTURE.
Combatant - A term applied to beasts borne face to face, as in the attitude of fighting. (Also written Combattant.)
Community - Arms of Community [See under ARMS.]
Companion - A term applied to a certain grade of members in some of the knightly orders, as, a Companion of the Bath.
Companionship - The rank of a knight companion of certain orders.
Compartment - The partitions and quarterings of the escutcheon according to the coat in it.
Compony - A border, bend, etc., composed of a row of squares consisting of colors and metals. (Sometimes written compon�.)
COMPONY COUNTER-COMPONY - The same as above, but arranged in two rows.
Composed - Arms Composed are the addition by a gentleman to his own armorial bearings of a portion of those borne by his wife. The practice is now obsolete, the device of marshalling the arms of one's wife with his own having rendered its continuance unnecessary. (Gloss. of Her.)
Concaved - When ordinaries, etc., are bowed in the form of an arch they are sometimes referred to as concaved.
Concession - Arms of Concession. [See under ARMS.]
Confronte - Face to face; two animals facing each other.
Conger - An eel. Specifically, the large sea eel found on the coast of Britain.
Contourne - Turned in a direction not the usual one. Applied to a lion or other animal statant, passant, courant, etc., with its face to the sinister side of the escutcheon. (Some writers use the word "counter" in this sense.)
Contre - Used in composition, to describe several bearings when they cut the shield in a contrary and opposite manner. Example: Contre-chevron, alluding to two chevrons opposite to each other - where color opposes metal and metal opposes color.
Contey - This is the heraldic rabbit. (Also written cony, coni, conni and conig.)
Corbeau - The same as CORBIE.
Corbie - A raven; a crow. (Also written CORBY.)
Corby - The same as CORBIE.
Cordal - A string of the robe of state, composed of silk and gold threads, twisted like a cord, and having a tassel at the end.
Corded - Bound or wound round with cords.
Cordon - A ribbon worn across the breast by knights of some orders.
Cork - One of the herald's of the Office of Arms, Ireland.
Corned - When the horns of a beast, such as the bull, are of a different tincture from that of the body he is then said to be corned of that tincture. [See ARMED 3.]
Cornished - Adorned with a cornish or molding.
Coronet - An inferior sort of crown worn by nobles. The Prince of Wales coronet consists of a circle of gold, jeweled, edged above with four crosses pat�e and as many fleur-de-lis, and closed with four bars and an orb and cross. A duke's coronet is bordered with eight strawberry leaves; that of a marquis with four, alternating with four pearls; that of an earl has eight strawberry leaves alternating with eight pearls; the viscount uses pearls only, but of an indefinite number, while the baron is restricted to four pearls only.
Cost - One of the subordinaries, being a diminutive of the bend. When borne in pairs, it is called Cottise.
Cottise - The same as COST.
Cottised - A term applied to ordinaries when borne between two cottises.
Couchant - Applied to an animal lying down, with head raised..
Couche - Said of anything lying sideways, as a chevron couche -- a chevron placed sideways.
Counter - In an opposite direction; contrary to the usual position. Sometimes used to denote an animal facing the sinister side of the shield. [In this sense see Contourn�.]
COUNTER-ATTIRED - Applied to the double horns of animals when borne two one way and two another -- in opposite directions.
COUNTER-CHEVRONNE - Chevronny divided palewise. (Said of the field.) The equivalent of chevronn�, of chevronny.
COUNTER-COMPONY - A border, bend, etc., which is composed of two rows of checkers of alternate tinctures.
COUNTER-COUCHANT - Animals borne couchant, their heads being in opposite directions.
COUNTER-COURANT - Said of two animals borne courant, and with their heads in opposite directions.
COUNTER-EMBATTLED - Applied to an ordinary embattled on both sides.
COUNTER-ERMINE - The contrary of ermine, being a black field with white spots. {See Ermines.}
COUNTER-FLEURY - A term used to show that the flowers adorning an ordinary stand opposite to each other.
COUNTER-PASSANT - Applied to two animals borne passant going in contrary ways.
COUNTER-POTENCE - Said of potences when placed opposite each other.
COUNTER-QUARTERED - When each quarter of an escutcheon is again quartered.
COUNTER-SALIENT - Applied to two animals borne salient in opposite directions.
COUNTER-TRIPPANT - Animals trippant in opposite directions.
COUNTER-TRIPPING - The same as Counter-Trippant.
COUNTER-VAIR - A variety of vair, in which the cups or bells are arranged base to base and point to point.
COUNTER-VAIRY - The same as Counter-Vair.
Counterchanged - A term which denotes that the field is of two tinctures, metal and color; that part of the charge which lies in the metal being of color, and that part which lies in the color being metal.
Counterpaled - A term used of an escutcheon which is divided into an equal number of pieces palewise by a line fesswise, the tinctures above and below the fess line being counterchanged.
Counterpointe -Made use of to describe two chevrons which meet with their points in the center of the shield, counter to each other. (The French use contrepoint�.)
Couped - Said of an animal having the head or any limb cut clean off from the body. A head couped is a head having the appearance of being cut off with a sharp knife.
Couple-Close - One of the diminutives of the chevron, being one-quarter the breadth of that ordinary. It is borne in pairs, inclosing the chevron. (Sometimes written couple-closs.)
Couple-Closed - Inclosed by the couple-close; as, "A chevron couple-closed."
Coward - Said of beasts represented with the tail between the legs.
Crampit - The cramp-iron of a scabbard.
Cramponee -A cross having at each end a cramp or crampoon.
Crenellated - An ordinary indented as with crenelles.
Crescent - A bearing resembling the half moon with the points turned up. When used as a mark of cadency it denotes the second son. When the points of the crescent face dexter it is increscent; toward sinister, decrescent.
Crest - Originally the crest was the ornament of the helmet, or headpiece, and also afforded protection against a blow. In the early rolls it was scarcely noticed, but in later armorial grants it came into general use. Crests, like arms, were sometimes allusive. Thus, Grey of Wilton used a gray, or badger, and Lord Wells a bucket and chain. In the early days of the crest it was confined to persons of rank, but in later times it has been included in every grant of arms.
Crined - Used to describe an animal having its hair of a different tincture.
Croisant - A cross the ends of which terminate in crescents.
Cross - One of the earliest and noblest of the honorable ordinaries. When borne plain it is blazoned simply as a cross. There are, however, more than a hundred varieties, some of the better known being the following:
Anchored
CROSS ANCHORED - A cross in which the limbs terminate in anchors.
CROSS AVELLANE - Ending in filbert husks.
CROSS BEZANT - A cross composed of bezants joined together.
CROSS BOTTANY - With the limbs terminating in budlike prominences.
CROSS CABLEE - A cross made up of two cables.
CROSS CORDED - A cross bound or wound round with cords. (This term is sometimes applied, though erroneously, to the Cabl�e.)
CROSS CLECHE - A cross charged with another cross, of the same color of the field, so large that only a narrow border of the first cross remains visible.
CROSS CROSSLET - A cross having the three upper ends terminating in three little crosses. It is usually borne in numbers, but this is not always the case.
CROSS FITCHEE - Sharpened at the lower part; pointed like a dagger. The arms of the See of Canterbury represent four crosses pat�e fitch�e.
CROSS FLEURY - Adorned at the ends with flowers, generally the fleur-de-lis.
CROSS FOURCHEE - Having the ends forked as branches, with the ends terminating abruptly, as if cut off.
CROSS FORMEE - Resembling the cross pat�e, but differing in that its extremities reach the edge of the field.
CROSS MOLINE - So called because its shape resembles a millrind (the iron clamp of the upper millstone). It is borne both inverted and rebated, and sometimes saltirewise or in saltire. When used as a mark of cadency it represents the eighth son.
CROSS OF CALVARY (or Cross of the Crucififixion) - Represented mounted on three steps.
CROSS OF ST. GEORGE - A plain red cross on a white field. It would be blazoned "Argent, a cross gules."
CROSS PATEE - The emblem of the Knights of St. John, and is known as the Croix de Malthe. It spreads out at the ends.
CROSS PATONCE - This has expanded ends like the cross pat�e, but each terminates in three points.
CROSS POMMEE - With the ends terminating in single balls.
CROSS POTENT - One which has its ends T-shaped, or resembling a crutch. (Also written potence.)
CROSS RAGULY - A notched or jagged cross.
CROSS RECERCELEE - A cross whose ends are split and curled outward. It is usually voided.
CROSS URDEE - Differs from an ordinary cross only in that the extremities are drawn to a sharp point instead of being cut straight.
CROSS VOIDED - A cross in outline only.
Cross-bar - Sometimes used to designate the bar sinister; a mark of illegitimacy.
Crossed - Borne crosswise.
Crosswise - In the figure of a cross. (Essentially the same as CROSSED.)
Crown - The crown of a sovereign prince is usually closed at the top by four arched bars, called diadems, and surmounted by a globe and cross. A crown placed below the crest does not denote the rank of the bearer.
IRON CROWN - A crown which, besides its gold and jewels, contains a thin circle of iron, said to have been made from a nail of Christ's cross. It was first used at the coronation of the Lombard kings in A.D. 591. Napoleon I was crowned with it in Milan in 1805.
Crowned - Surmounted by a crown. Sometimes a beast, generally the lion, is crowned royally or ducally.
Crucilly - Said of a charge or field strewn with crosses.
Crusade - One of the several expeditions of Christian knights against the Mohammedans in the Holy Land. There were seven distinct crusades.
Crusader - One who took part in the crusades.
Cubit Arm - An arm cut off at the elbow.
Cuppa - A fur composed of any metal and color. Also called Potent-counter-potent.
Currant - The same as courant.
Curvant -Curved; bowed.
Cygnet royal - A swan gorged with a ducal coronet, and a chain attached thereto, being reflexed over the back.
Damasked -A field or charge covered with small squares. [See DIAPER.]
Dancette - Divided into large zigzags; resembling the zigzag molding peculiar to Norman architecture.
Dancett� differs from indented in that the former has deeper and wider notches.
Dancy - The same as DANCETTE.
Dauphin - The title of the eldest son of the King of France or the heir apparent to the throne under the old monarchy.
Debased - Turned over; inverted.
DEBASED HERALDRY - Unheraldic. There are a number of examples that could be placed under this head. For instance, one grant of arms shows negroes working on a plantation; another has Chinamen carrying cinnamon; a Bishop of Elybore, among other things, three kings, on bezants, crowned, robed sable, doubled ermine, a covered cup in the right hand and a sword in the left, both or; the grant to Lord Nelson, as well as some of his officers, were altogether unheraldic.
Debruised - Applied to a bend when placed over an animal in such a manner as to seem to restrain its freedom.
Dechausse - The same as DISMEMBERED.
Decked - Said of a bird when its feathers are trimmed or edged with a small line of another color.
Declinant - Used in describing a serpent whose tail is represented straight downward. (Also called Declivant.)
Declivant - The same as DECLINANT.
Decouple - Parted; severed. (The same as UNCOUPLED.)
Decrement - The wane of the moon from full to last quarter. [See DECRESCENT.]
Decrescent - Said of the moon when in her decrement. When the crescent is borne with its points toward the sinister side of the shield it is termed decrescent.
Defamed - An epithet applied to an animal which has lost its tail.
Degraded - This word describes a cross that has steps at each end, diminishing as they ascend toward the center.
CROSS DEGRADED AND CONJOINED - A plain cross having degraded steps joined to the sides of the shield.
Delf - One of the abatements; a mark of disgrace, indicating that a challenge has been revoked or one's word broken. The delf is represented by a square-cut sod of earth, turf, etc. [See also ABATEMENT.]
Delve - The same as BILLET.
Demembre - The same as DISMEMBERED.
Demi - Said of any charge borne half, as a demi-lion. (Also written deny.)
Dent - Indented. (Universal Dict.)
Dentelle - The same as INDENTED.
Depressed - The same as DEBRUISED.
Descending - Said of an animal or bird the head of which is represented turned toward the base of the shield.
Descent - Coming down from above. Example: A lion in descent == with its head toward the base point and its heels toward one of the corners of the chief, as if in the act of leaping down from some high place.
Detriment - Used sometimes to describe the moon on the wane or in eclipse.
Developed - Unfurled, as colors flying.
Device - An emblem, intended to represent a family, person, action or quality, with a suitable motto. It generally consists in a metaphorical similitude between the thing representing and the person or thing represented.
Devouring - The same as VORANT.
Dexter - The right; situated on the right. The dexter side of the shield is that opposite the left hand of the spectator.
DEXTER CHIEF POINT - A point in the upper right-hand corner of the shield.
Diaper - A ground pattern, usually in squares or lozenges.
Diapered - A shield diapered is one covered with a ground pattern, generally of squares or lozenges, with a flower scroll work or other ornament in each compartment. The idea is supposed to have been copied from the linen cloths of Ypress.
While there are a number of early examples of diapered shields, it cannot be called strictly heraldic.
Diadem - An arch rising from the rim of a crown and uniting with other arches to form a center, which serves to support the globe and cross or fleur-de-lis as a crest.
Difference - Some figure or mark added to a coat of arms to distinguish one family from another. Modern marks of difference, or Marks of Cadence are:
Lable
Differenced - Marked or distinguished by a difference.
Dimidiate - To represent the half of any charge.
Diminution - The defacing of some particular point in an escutcheon.
Diminutive - Something smaller than the regular size; on a smaller scale. For instance, the diminutive of the Bend is the Bendlet, being half its width.
Dingwall - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court. Scotland.
Disarmed - Applied to a bird or beast deprived of claws, teeth or beak.
Disclosed - A term used to describe a bird when its wings are spread open on each side, but the points downward.
DISCLOSED ELEVATED - The same as disclosed, except that the points are elevated.
Dismembered - Applied to birds having neither feet nor legs; also, to animals whose members are separated.
Displayed - Said of any bird of prey borne erect, with the wings expanded. Applied especially to the eagle.
Distillatory - A charge borne by the Distillers' Company, and usually blazoned: "A distillatory double armed, on a fire, with two worms and bolt receivers." (Ogilvie.)
Disveloped -Displayed, as a standard or colors when open and flying. (Universal Dict.)
Dog - The dog figures in heraldry in various forms and under different names. The alaund, or hunting dog, seems to have been the most popular. Lord Dacre used it as a supporter. Henry VIII had his arms and badge placed on the collars of his hunting dogs. In the brass of Sir Brian Stapleton at Ingham the knight rests his foot on a dog. The earls of Shrewsbury use the talbot, or mastiff, to support their shield. Burton of Falde bore three talbot's heads erased or, while Mauleverer of Allerton Mauleverer had three greyhounds on his shield.
Dolphin - The dolphin is heraldically a fish, irregardless of what it may be zoologically or astronomically. When used as a charge it may be extended and natant or hauriant, etc. Fishacre of Fishacre bore "Gules, a dolphin natant argent." The dolphin was the emblem of the Dauphins of France. [See also DAUPHIN.]
Dormant - In a sleeping posture.
Dorsed - The same as AVERSANT.
Doubling - The lining of robes of state; also the mantlings borne around the achievement of arms.
Dragon - The dragon is of ancient date and played a prominent part in early romance, though little used in English heraldry. He is usually depicted with four legs and wings, a long barbed tail, usually knotted, and a body protected by scales. When the dragon is drawn without wings he is called a lindworm; without feet, a serpent; when he hangs by the head, it represents a conquered dragon.
Dragonnee - A fabulous beast, the upper part resembling a lion, and the lower part the wings and tail of a dragon.
Drops - The same as GUTTEES.
Dublin - One of the heralds of the Office of Arms, Ireland.
Ducal coronet - The head attire of a duke, consisting of a circle of chased gold, with eight strawberry leaves on its upper edge, a cap of crimson velvet, terminating at the top with a gold tassel. When a coronet is used in a crest it is generally the ducal.
Duke - The highest rank in the peerage of Great Britain.
Dwale - The tincture sable, or black, when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures..
Eagle - The eagle plays an important part in heraldry in almost every part of the globe. Its earliest rise to popularity, however, was in Germany, where, after it became the emblem of the empire, it was adopted by some of the princes and many of the nobles. A double-headed eagle is also the emblem of Russia and Austria. On the roll of Henry III the eagle appears but twice, but in the roll of Edward II there are forty-three examples of it. Nobles of the Holy Roman Empire place their shields on the breast of an eagle, examples of which may be seen in the arms of the Duke of Marlborough , the Earl of Denbigh and Lord Arundel of Wardour.
Eared - Applied to animals borne with the ears of a different color from that of the body. In such a case the animal is said to be "eared of" such a color or metal. Earl - The title of an English noble, the third in rank, coming next below a marquis.
EARL'S CORONET - The head attire of an earl, sometimes used in blazonry. The crest of Davidson in Carlisle Cathedral shows a bird rising out of an earl's coronet. This is unusual, however. Generally a ducal coronet is used.
EARL MARSHAL - An English office of great antiquity, and is now hereditary with the Dukes of Norfolk. The Earl Marshall is the head of the College of Arms, which institution determines all questions relating to arms and grants of armorial bearings.
EARL MARSHAL'S COURT - An institution formerly existing in England, presided over by the Earl Marshal, in which all questions and disputes concerning coats of arms were settled. It has since been abolished.
Edged - Applied to an ordinary to denote that the edging is placed only between the ordinary and the field, and not where it joins the escutcheon.
Effare - Said of an animal when represented as rearing on its hind legs from fright or rage.
Eight-foil - A grass that has eight leaves. [See OCTOFOIL.]
Elevated - Applied to the wings of a bird when upright and expanded.
Embattled - Indented like a battlement.
EMBATTLED COUNTER-EMBATTLED - Embattled on both faces of the ordinary.
EMBATTLED GRADY - One embattlement upon another.
Emblazon - To blazon; to place and arrange figures armorial.
Emblazoner - One who blazons.
Emblazonment - The act or art of blazoning; blazonry.
Emblazonry - Heraldic representations or decorations.
Embordered - Having a border of the same tincture as the field.
Embordured - The same as EMBORDERED.
Embowed - Bent or bowed.
Embraced - Braced together; bound or tied together.
Embroidery - A term applied to a hill or mount with several copings or rises and falls.
Embrued - Said of the mouths of beasts when bloody from devouring their prey; also applied to a weapon represented as covered or sprinkled with blood.
Emerald - Green. [See VERT.]
Empaled - This is a term used to describe a shield in which coats of arms are placed side by side, each occupying one-half the escutcheon. The shield is divided by a line down the center (per pale). The arms of the husband are placed on the dexter side, and those of the wife on the sinister.
Empalement - Two coats of arms placed on a shield palewise..
Enaluron - Applied to a bordure charged with eight birds.
Enarched - Arched.
Enarmed - Represented with horns, hoofs, etc., of a different color from that of the body.
Enclave - Anything which is represented as let into something else, particularly when the bearing so let in is square.
Endorse - One of the diminutives of the pale, being one-eighth the breadth of that ordinary. The endorse is used only in pairs - one on each side of the pale. This subordinary, like the pallet, was unknown in ancient heraldry.
Endorsed - A pale having an endorse on each side.
Enfiled - Used to describe a sword drawn as transfixing the head of a man or animal, a coronet or other object.
Englante - Bearing acorns or something similar.
Englislet - An escutcheon of pretense.
Engoulee - An epithet applied to a bend, cross, saltire, etc., when the ends enter the mouths of lions, tigers or other animals.
Engrail - To indent in curved lines; to make ragged at the edges; to spot as with hail.
Engrailed - Indented in a series of curves.
Engrailment - The state of being engrailed or indented in curved lines.
Enhanced -Applied to an ordinary when removed from its proper position and placed higher up in the field.
Enleve - Raised or elevated.
Enmanche - Covered with or resembling a sleeve. Said when the chief has lines drawn from the center of the upper edge to the sides to about half the breadth of the chief. [MAUNCH.]
Enraged - In a leaping posture. It is sometimes used to describe the position of a horse which in the case of other animals would be saliant.
Ensign - To distinguish by a mark or ornament, such as a crown, coronet, mitre, etc. A bishop, for instance, ensigns his arms with a mitre.
Ente -Applied to an engrafted emblazonment. (Also written ant�.)
Entoured - Said of a shield decorated with branches.
Entwined - The same as ENVELOPED.
Entwisted - The same as ENVELOPED.
Enurny - A term used to describe a bordure charged with eight animals of any kind.
Enveloped - Applied to charges around which serpents are entwined. Also used in the case of laurel or other plants.
Environed - Encircled; bound round or about.
Erased -A term applied to the head of an animal or other bearing having the appearance of being forcibly torn off, leaving jagged or uneven ends.
Eradicated - A tree torn up by its roots.
Ermine -One of the furs used in blazoning, representing the skin of the little animal of that name. A field of ermine is white with black spots of a particular shape.
The animal ermine is scarcely known in heraldry, although its fur is widely borne.
Ermines - The reverse of Ermine, being white spots on a black field. (Sometimes described as counter-ermine.)
Erminites - The same as Ermine, but with one red hair on each side of the ermine spots.
Erminois - The same as Ermine, except that the field is gold and the spots black.
Escarbuncle - A charge or bearing supposed to represent the precious stone carbuncle, being a cross of eight rays set with knobs and the arms ending in fleur-de-lis. In another representation of this bearing the ends are connected by cross-bars. (Also called Carbuncle.)
Escallop - The figure of a scallop shell. THis was originally worn to signify that the wearer had made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James, Compostella, Spain. Later on it was placed on the shield to show that the bearer or an ancestor had been a Crusader or had made a long pilgrimage.
Escallopee - An escutcheon or a bearing which is covered with curved lines resembling scallop shells. These lines should represent the lines as overlapping each other.
Escalloped - The same as ESCALLOPEE.
Escartel - To cut or notch in a square form or across.
Escartelee - Cut or notched in a square form or across.
Esclatte - A term applied to anything shivered by a battle axe.
Escrol - The same as SCROLL.
Escutcheon - The shield, on which all lines are drawn and charges delineated; the background on which coat armor is represented; known in blazon as the field. It originally represented the war shield of a knight, upon which his arms were displayed.
ESCUTCHEON OF PRETENSE - A small shield bearing the arms of an heiress placed in the center of her husband's shield, instead of being impaled with his arms.
Escutcheoned - Having a coat of arms; supplied with an escutcheon; placed in an escutcheon.
Esquire - Formerly an armor bearer or attendant upon a knight.
Essorant - Said of a bird represented with its wings half open, as if preparing to take flight.
Estoile - A star with six wavy points. It is different from a mullet , the later having only five points, and these are straight.
Estoilee - A star with four long rays in the form of a cross, tapering from the center to the points. (Also called a Cross Estoil�e.)
Extendant - The same as DISPLAYED. (Wings extended.)
Eyed - A term made use of in speaking of the spots in a peacock's tail.
Eyrant -Applied to eagles or other birds in their nests.
Faillis - A fracture in an ordinary, as if it were broken or a splinter taken from it.
Falcon - The Falcon makes its appearance frequently in heraldry. When it is borne with jesses (leather thongs about its legs), a hood and bells, it is said to be "jessed, hooded and belled." When represented as feeding, it is "at prey." The falcon is also known as a gerfalcon, peregrine falcon and tiercelet.
False - Said of a charge when the central area is removed.
Family - Arms of Family. [See under ARMS.]
Feathered - Applied to an arrrow in which the feather is of a different tincture from the shaft.
Fer de cheval - A horseshoe.
Fer de moline - The same as MILLRIND.
Fesse - (fes) One of the ordinaries. A strip or band placed horizontally across the shield, occupying one-third of the field. Its diminutives are the bar, the barrulet and the closet.
FESSE LINE - The line constituting the fesse.
FESSE POINT - The exact center of the shield.
Fesseways - The same as FESSEWISE.
Fessewise - In the shape of a fesse; after the manner of a fesse.
Fetterlock - Sometimes borne as a charge.
Feudal - Feudal Arms. [See under ARMS.] Field - The surface of a shield upon which the charges or bearings are blazoned; or, of each separate coat when the shield is quartered or impaled.
Fillet -A bearing equaling in breadth one-fourth of the chief. It is a narrow strip laid upon the chief, a little above its lower margin. Guillim mentions the fillet as the diminutive of the chief.
Fimbriated - Ornamented with a narrow border or hem of another tincture.
Fireball - A charge resembling the ancient war instrument of that name, which was an oval-shaped projectile made of canvas and filled with combustible composition.
Fish - Fishes do not appear frequently in heraldry, and are rarely seen in the earlier coats.
Fissure - The fourth part of the bens sinister. [See BATON.]
Fitchee - Pointed like a dagger; sharpened at the lower extremity. Fitchee is generally applied to crosses that taper from the center downward. Fitchee at the foot is used when the tapering begins near the bottom of the cross.
Flamant - Flaming, burning, blazing; a torch; a firebrand. Flanch - The segment of a circle taken out of the two sides or flanks of the shield, the margin of which forms the cord. (Also written flasque, flanque and flaunch.)
Flasque - The same as FLANCH.
Fleetant - Bent serpentine fashion, like the letter S. (Essentially the same as EMBOWED.)
Fleur-de-lis -Heraldically this is a flower, and stands at the head of the flowers of heraldry. Its origin is unknown, one "authority" claiming that it was brought down from heaven by an angel for the arms of France. It is also said to mean the flower of Louis (Fleur de Louis), and was certainly used by Louis VII. It is undoubtedly the "flower of the lilly."
Fleury - (flu'ry) A bearing adorned with fleur-de-lis, trefoils, etc. (Also written flory, floretty, flury and fleurettee.)
FLEURY CROSS - (Cross Fleury) A cross adorned with fleur-de-lis, trefoils, etc. A cross whose ends terminate in flowers. (Also called a Flourished Cross.)
Flexed - Bent, as an arm or limb. [EMBOWED.]
Floretty - The same as FLEURY.]
Flory - The same as FLEURY.
Flotant - Flying or streaming in the air, as a flag flying to the breezes. When applied to a bird it is the same as VOLANT.
Foldage - Applied to leaves having several foldings and turnings, one from the other.
Formee - A cross having the arms expanding toward the ends and flat at the outer edges. It differs from the cross patee in that the extremities of the formee reach the edge of the field.
Fountain - A bearing resembling the roundel. It is a disk divided by six lines wavy, tinctured argent and azure, to represent water.
Fourchee - Applied to a cross having the ends forked as branches, and with the ends of the branches terminating abruptly as if cut off.
Fracted -Having a part displaced, as a chevron fracted.
Fraise - A strawberry leaf.
Free - A term applied to a horse when represented in a field.
Fret - A bearing composed of bars crossed and interlaced, representing a trellis. This was originally borne fretty. Usually composed of eight pieces. When the joints are nailed it is clouce
Fretted - Aplied to charges interlaced with each other.
Fretten - The same as FRETTED.
Fretty - Applied to a bordure of eight, ten or more pieces, each reaching the extremity of the shield, and interlaced after the manner of the fret. The fret of eight parts was originally blazoned as fretty. For instance, Maltravers bore "Sable, fretty or." This later became "Sable, a fret or."
Fructed - Bearing fruit. Applied to a tree or plant when so represented.
Furiosant - An epithet applied to a bull or other animal when represented as in a rage or fury. (Also called Rangant.)
Furnished - Said of a horse when borne bridled, saddled and completely caparisoned.
Fusil - An elongated lozenge. The word comes from the French fuscan = a spindle, and the bearing is supposed to represent a distaff charged with a yarn.
Gamb - The whole foreleg of a lion or other beast. If couped or erased near the middle joint it is called a paw.
Garb - A sheaf of wheat. This was a popular bearing, especially in Cheshire. Sometimes it is banded of a different color.
Gardant - Applied to a beast represented full-faced, or looking at the spectator, whether the animal be rampant, passant or otherwise. A beast of the chase - such as the hart, stag or hind - when depicted in this attitude is described as at gaze.
Garnished - Applied to any charge provided with an ornament.
Garter - The same as BENDLET.
GARTER KING-AT-ARMS - The principal king-at-arms in England, by whom arms are granted and conferred under the authority of the Earl Marshall. The office was created by Henry V, in 1420.
ORDER OF THE GARTER - This is the most illustrious order of British knighthood. It was instituted at Windsor by Edward III in 1348. It consists of the sovereign and 25 companions, of whom the Prince of Wales is always one. In more recent times foreign princes have been admitted. The knights place the initials "K. G." after their names, which takes precedence of all other titles except those of royalty.
Gauntlet - Originally a glove of leather, covered with plate metal to correspond with the other parts of the armor. It was at first worn without separate fingers.
Gemel - Parallel bars. [BAR.]
Gemelled - Supplied with bars gemel; placed between barrulets. [BARRULET.] [BARS GEMEL.]
Genuant - Kneeling.
Gerbe - The French word sometimes used for GARB.
Gobonated - Applied to a bordure, bend, etc., divided into equal parts forming squares, gobbets. (Called also gobon� or gobony.) [Essentially the same as COMPONY.]
Gold - This metal in heraldry is known as OR.
Golden Balls - The three golden balls now universally seen as the pawnbrokers' sign were taken from the arms of Lombardy. Lombards having been the first bankers and money lenders in London.
Golden Fleece - Order of the Golden Fleece. - An order of knighthood instituted by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. It now belongs to both Spain and Austria.
Gonfalon - A banner fixed in a frame made to turn like a ship's vane; with streamers or tails, generally three.
Gore - A charge consisting of two curved lines - one from sinister chief point, the other from base middle point, meeting in an acute angle at the fess point.
Gorged - An animal or bird is said to be gorged when represented with a crown or something similar around its neck. It is then blazoned as "gorged with a crown," etc.
Goshawk - A bird often used in falconry, and sometimes seen as a charge. Ridley of Blaydon bore three goshawks argent.
Gradient - Applied to a tortoise represented as walking.
Grady - Steps or degrees, or one battlement upon another. (Also called battled-embattled and embattled grady.)
Gray - A badger.
Green - This color in heraldry is known as VERT.
Grieee - A step; one of the steps upon which crosses are sometimes placed.
Griffon - A fabulous beast, generally drawn with the body, legs and tail of a lion, the head of a cock or an eagle, a pair of wings and long, sharp claws. When represented on his hind legs he is segreant.
GRIFFON - MALE - A griffon without wings and having large ears.
Grittie - Said of a field when composed equally of metal and color.
Guelphic Order - An order of knoghthood instituted for Hanover on August 12, 1815, by George IV of England, while still Prince Regent.
Gule - To color red; to give the color of gules to.
Gules -Red. This color on engraved escutcheons is represented by vertical lines.
Gusset - An abatement; a mark of disgrace. It somewhat resembles a gusset, and is formed by a line drawn from either dexter or sinister chief point one-third across the shield, thence descending perpendicularly to the base. When on the dexter side of the escutcheon it is an abatement for adultry; when on the sinister, for drunkenness. In this connection it is scarcely necessary to say that the gusset has been rarely used. (Sometimes called a gore.)
Gutte - A drop. It is pear shaped, with a tail like a tear on funeral drapery, or like a Rupert's drop. [See also GUTTEE.]
Guttee - A shield sprinkled with guttes, or drops. Like the roundel, their name changes with the color, as follows: Or, gutt�e d'or; gules, gutt�e de sang; argent, gutt�e de l'eau; sable, gutt�e de poix; azure, gutt�e de larmes; vert, gutt�e d'huile.
Guze - A roundel tinctured sanguine, representing an eyeball. [See also ROUNDEL.]
Gyron - A subordinary, consisting of two straight lines, drawn from any given part of the field, meeting in an acute angle in the fess point. It is a Spanish ordinary, and is supposed to come from the word giron, a gusse. The gyron, which is an old bearing, is seldom used singly.
Gyronny - A field divided into gyrons, generally eight sections. When more than eight, the number must be specified. For examplr: Bassing - bourne - "Gyronny of 12, or and azure."
Habited - Used to describe a man when borne clothed.
Hand - The human hand plays its most prominent part in heraldry as the device of Ulster and the badge of baronets.
DEXTER HAND - The right.
SINISTER HAND - The left.
Harbored - Applied to the hart, stag, etc., when lying down. The same as couchant in beasts of prey.
Harrington knot - Another name for thr fret.
Harp - The harp is the emblem of Ireland. Its origin as the badge of Erin is obscure, but probably alludes to the instrument of Brian Boroimhe.
Harpy - The heraldic Harpy is a vulture with the head and breast of a woman.
Hart - The Hart, like the stag, is an old bearing, though not of the earliest. John Trie, son and heir of Alicia de Hertley, bore "a hart's head caboched."
Hatchment - A black panel, lozenge-shaped or square, but hung corner-wise, on which the arms of a deceased person are displayed; usually hung on the walls of his or her house.
Haurient - Applied to a fish when borne palewise, or upright, as if putting its head out of the water to draw or suck in air.
Hausse -The same as ENHANCED.
Heart - The human heart is sometimes borne. A case in point is the arms of the Douglas family in allusion to the mission of James Lord Douglas to the Holy Land with the heart of Robert Bruce. Douglas: "Argent, a man's heart gules, ensigned by a royal crown proper, on a chief azure two mullets of the first."
Hedgehog - Also known in heraldry as the herisson and the ericus. The family of Heriz bore "Azure, three hedgehogs or. The Maxwells bearthe hedgehog for the lordship of Herris.
Helm - The part of a coat of arms which bears the crest.
Helmet - The helmet is borne above the shield and beneath the crest. Like the coronet, it denotes the rank of the wearer. Those used by English heralds are: (1) For sovereigns and princes of the blood, borne full-face, with six bars, all of gold; (2) for the nobility, of steel, with five bars of gold, shown somewhat in profile; (3) for baronets and knights, of steel, full-faced and open; (4) for an esquire or gentleman, of steel, with the visor closed, and represented in profile.
Herald - An officer whose duties, among other things, consist of deciding on the proper badges or coat armor of the nobility; to grant, record and blazon arms; record genealogies, etc. The three principal English heralds are called Kings-of-Arms (or king-at-arms). The principal herald of Scotland is called Lyon King-of-Arms; of Ireland, Ulster King-of-Arms. The Lancaster herald is inspector of regimental colors.
Heraldic - Of or pertaining to heralds or heraldry.
Heraldical - Heraldic.
Heraldically - In a heraldic manner; according to the rules of heraldry.
Heraldry - The art or science of blazoning or describing in proper terms coats of arms. It treats also of the history and meaning of armorial bearings, rules governing their use and transmission, and their connection with titular rank, family dignities and genealogies.
Herald's College - {See COLLEGE OF ARMS.]
Heraldship - The office or dignity of a herald.
Herisson - A hedgehog.
Heron - The heron is found in early coats of arms, being one of the few birds entitled to this distinction. The family of Heron of Chipchase and Ford, according to the roll of Henry III, bore "Gules, three herons argent."
Herring - The fish is seen in the roll of Edward II.
Hirondelle - A Swallow.
Honor point - The point immediately above the center of the shield, dividing the upper portion into two equal parts.
Hood - The binding cap on the head of a hawk (in falconry) to make him sit quietly on his perch.
Hooded - Applied to a hawk or other bird of prey when borne with a hood over its head.
Horned - Applied to animals represented with horns of a different color from the animal itself, or from the proper color of the horns. For instance, a bull with red horns would be described as horned gules.
Horse - The horse does not appear in early examples of heraldry, although the winged horse is seen as the badge of the Order of the Temple. A bay horse is known as a bayard, while the grey horse is a liard. When the horse id displayed caparisoned; when in the field, he is free.
Horseshoe - Sometimes used as a bearing, one of the earliest examples being that of William de Ferrars, sixth earl of Derby. (Also called fer de cheval.)
Humettee - Said of an ordinary when cut off, or couped, so that its extremities do not reach the sides of the shield.
Hunting horn - A bearing representing the bugle used in the chase.
Hurst - A charge representing a small group of trees, generally borne upon a mount or base.
Hurt - A roundel tinctured azure; a blue ring. Some claim that it represents a wound or hurt, while others say it is a representation of the hurtleberry. [See also ROUNDEL.]
Hurty - Sown with hurts; a field covered with hurts, without regard to number.
Icicle - A charge resembling a drop; the same as the gutt�e except that it is reversed.
Illegitimacy - The Marks of Illegitimacy are varied, and in early examples are scarcely to be distinguished from marks of difference. The earliest known instance in English heraldry is the six lioncels borne by William Longspee, derived from his father, Henry II. Sir John Lovell le Bastard (in the roll of Edward II) bore Lovell, with a label azure. The cognizance of the Black Prince, the three ostrich plumes, became part of the arms of his natural son, Sir Roger Clarendon. Arthur Viscount Lisle, son of Edward IV, placed a baton over his father's arms. In some cases a baton sinister was used, and sometimes it was a border. The descendants of Charles II use the whole arms with a baton sinister or border; those of William IV the baton. With the house of Bourbon the baton distinguished the cadets, while the baton sinister marked the illegitimates.
Impale - To join two coats of arms palewise. (Also written empale.)
Impalement - The marshaling or arranging of two coats of arms on one shield, divided palewise, or by a vertical line. When a husband impales his arms with those of his wife, his generally occupy the dexter side, while the wife's take the sinister. This was not always the case, however. In the impaled shield of John of Gaunt his wife, daughter of Peter of Castile and Leon, occupies the dexter; and the same is true of William Daiziel.
Impresa - A device, a motto; an impress.
Incensant - Applied to the boar when borne in a furious or angry position.
Incensed - A tern applied to the eyes of any wild creature when represented with fire issuing from them.
Inclave - A form resembling dovetail joints. This is applied to the lines of division on the borders of ordinaries.
Increscent - A term denoting the crescent when represented with its horns toward the dexter side of the shield.
Inde - A name sometimes given to azure in ancient blazonry. The only reason or excuse for the use of the word seems to be that azure represents saphire, and India was the principal source of supply for those gems.
Indented - Notched like the teeth of a saw. Applied to partition lines, as well as to some of the ordinaries. It differs from the dancette in that the notches in indented are smaller and apply only to the outer edge, whereas dancette affects the whole ordinary.
Indentee - Having indents, not joined to each other, but set apart.
Indentilley - An ordinary having long indents, somewhat resembling piles conjoined.
Inescutcheon -A small escutcheon, or shield, borne within and upon the greater shield. When voided it becomes an orle. It is smaller than the escutcheon of pretense. The inescutcheon can be seen in some of the earliest coats.
Infamed - Applied to a lion or other beast which has lost its tail.
Inflamed - Applied to anything represented as burning or in flames. [FLAMANT.]
Interchangeably posed - Said of bearings placed across each other, as three fishes the head of each appearing between the tail of the other; three swords with hilts in like position; three arrows, etc.
Interfretted - Linked together; interlaced. Said of any charges or bearings linked together, as interlaced crescents, interlaced keys, etc.
Interlaced - The same as INTERFRETTED.
Inveckee - A word sometimes employed by heraldic writers to describe double arching.
Invected - The opposite of engrailed. Having a border or outline with the points turning inward toward the ordinary and the convexity toward the field.
Invertant - The same as INVERTED.
Inverted - In a contrary direction; turned the wrong way, as a pair of wings with the points downwards.
Invexed - Arched or enarched.
Islay - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Iron Cross - Order of the Iron Cross - A Prussian order of knighthood, instituted in 1813.
Issuant - Issuing or coming out of. A charge represented as issuing from another charge. When an animal is represented as issuant only the upper half is depicted.
Jelloped - Said of the comb and gills of the cock when of a different color from the body. (Also written jowlopped.) [WATTLED.]
Jessant - Springing up or shooting forth, as a plant. Also applied to an animal, in the same sense as issuant.
Jessant-de-lis - Used to describe the head of a leopard having a fleur-de-lis passing through it.
Jessed - Having jesses on. (Said of a hawk.)
King-of-Arms - An officer who has jurisdiction over armory, etc. There are three in England - Garter, the principal; Clarenceaux, whose jurisdiction extends south of the Trent; and Norry, who officiates north of that river. The King-of-Arms for Scotland is called Lyon; and for Ireland, Ulster. The office of King-of-Arms is one of great antiquity.
Kintyr - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Knight - One who holds the dignity of knighthood, conferred by the sovereign, entitling the holder to the title of Sir prefixed to his name. Unlike a baronet, however, the dignity is not hereditary. The wife of a knight is legally entitled to the designation of Dame, but by common consent is addressed as Lady.
Lace d'amour -A cord of running knots surrounding the arms of widows and unmarried women. (Universal Dict.)
Lambrequin - The point of a lable.
Lampasse - The same as LANGUED.
Lancaster - One of the six heralds of the College of Arms.
Lance - Shakespeare's father was granted arms as follows: "Or, on a bend sable a lance of the field."
Langued - Tongued; having the tongue visible. Applied to the tongue of a bird or beast when of a different tincture from that of the body.
Lattice - A bordure formed of perpendicular and horizontal bars, interlaced or otherwise.
Laver - A green vegetation, a bunch of which is held in the mouth by the liver on the arms of Liverpool.
Leaf - The leaves common to heraldry are the strawberry, hazel, oak and elm.
Legged - The same as MEMBERED.
Leopard - The title of one of the heralds under Henry V.
Leo-parde - "A lion as a leopard." The early heralds seem to have gotten the lion confused with the leopard, and when describing him in any attitude except passant he was leo-pard�.
Liard - A gray horse.
Lion - The lion is the most popular beast in heraldry. He appears in the arms of Great Britian, Denmark, Spain, Holland, Bohemia, Saxony and numerous lesser countries. As early as 1127 Henry I used the lion as an ornament on a shield. Of the 918 bannerets of Edward II, 225 bore lions. The early English heralds seem to have confused the lion with the leopard. While never drawn spotted as the real leopard, he was described in most attitudes as leo-pard�, or a lion as a leopard.
LION'S WELP - The same as lioncelle
LION OF ENGLAND - In allusion to the lions on the arms of Great Britain. In English heraldry a lion passant gardant or is generally blazoned as "a lion of England."
Lionced- A bearing adorned with lions' heads, as, for instance, a cross with its ends terminating in lions' heads.
Liver- A fabulous bird, after which Liverpool is supposed to have derived its name. It resembles the cormorant. The arms of Liverpool are blazoned: "Argent, a liver sable, billed and legged gules, holding in his bill a bunch of laver vert."
Lodged - Applied to the buck, hart, hind, etc, when represented lying down.
Lowered - Applied to ordinaries abated from their common position.
Lozenge - 1. A diamond-shaped bearing, usually with its upper and lower angles slightly acute. 2. The form of the escutcheon upon which women place their arms. Specifically, for spinsters and widows. As the shield was used in war, it was peculiar to men, and the female had no part therein; hence an unmarried woman from earliest times placed her arms on a lozenge, perhaps in allusion to the fusil, or distaff; when married, she shares the shield of her husband.
Lozengy - A bearing or the field divided into lozenge-shaped compartments of different tinctures, the lines being drawn in the direction of the bend and bend sinister.
Luce - A fish; a full-grown pike.
Lure - A bunch of feathers. (The lure was used in falconry to recall the hawks.)
Lymphad - A galley; an ancient vessel, having one mast. It is not uncommon in Scottish heraldry; it is the feudal ensign of the lordship of Lorne, being quartered by the Dukes of Argyll, and is also borne by the Clan Campbell
Lyon Court - The office or court of Lyon King-of-Arms; the Scottish college of arms.
Lyon King-of-Arms - A Scottish official (also called Lord Lyon) who derives his title from the lion rampant on the arms of Scotland. He has authority to inspect the arms and ensigns armorial of all noblemen and gentlemen in the kingdom; to give proper arms to those entitled to bear them; to matriculate such arms , and to fine those bearing arms which are not matriculated. He is assisted by heralds, pursuivants and messengers-at-arms.
Macle -The same as MASCLE.
Majesty - A term used to describe an eagle crowned and holding a scepter.
Maltese cross - A cross formed of four arrow heads meeting at the points. It was the badge of the Knights of Malta, and its eight points are said to symbolize the eight beatitudes.
Man - The full human figure is a rare bearing, but can be seen occasionally. When displayed naked, he is salvage; when clothed, habited.
Mantiger - A monster with the body of a lion or tiger and a human face, usually with a scorpion's tail and long spiral horns. (Also written Mantichor and Manticor.)
Mantle - The cloak or robe behind the shield, sufficiently large to include the entire arms. Those of sovereigns are of gold doubled with ermine, and are called pavilions.
Marchmont - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Marcassin - A young wild boar.
Marined -An animal having the lower part of the body like a fish.
Marquis - A nobleman of England, ranking next below a duke.
Mars - The name of the color gules (red) on the arms of sovereign princes.
Marshal - To dispose or arrange in order such coats of arms as have to be included in one shield.
Marshaling - The act of arranging two or more coats on one shield.
Martlet -A fanciful bird somewhat resembling a swallow, but having short tufts of feathers in the place of legs. When used as a difference it denotes the fourth son.
Mascle -A lozenge-shaped bearing, perforated or vioded. When used in numbers it becomes masculy.
Massacre -When the antlers of a stag are attached to a fragnemt of the skull bone it is called a massacre.
Masoned - Applied to a field or charge which is divided with lines resembling a wall or building of stones.
Maul - A heavy wooden hammer.
Maunch -A bearing representing a sleeve with long hanging ends.
Membered - A term applied to a bird when its legs are of a different tincture from that of the bird itself.
Merchant's marks - Certain marks or bearings used by merchants of England such as the block and brush (butchers' broom) of the Butcher's Company; the distillatory, of the Distillers' Company, etc. They are not to be considered strictly heraldic, but were protected by law, and are occasionally seen on merchants' tombs and in architecture.
Metal - [For the four metals of heraldry see under TINCTURE.]
Millrind - A bearing supposed to represent the iron which holds a millstone by being set into its center.
Miter - The headdress of a bishop, sometimes used as a charge, either singly or in numbers.
Mitry - Charged with eight miters. (Said of a bordure.)
Moon - The moon in heraldry is always borne as a crescent, usually with the cavity upward. When the cavity is toward the dexter side of the shield, it is increscent; when toward the sinister, decrescent.
Mooted - Torn up by the roots; eradicated.
Morion - A steel cap; a kind of helmet, shaped something like a hat, and having no beaver or visor.
Morne - Without teeth, tongue or claws.
Motto - A word or sentence carried on the scroll, and supposed to have some connection with the name of the bearer, the deeds of his ancestors or as setting forth some guiding principle or idea. Mottos, like arms, were sometimes punning, as Carendo tutus the motto of the Cavendishes; Ver non semper viret, of the Vernons. The Scotch borderers, whose chief delight in life seemed to be that of harrying their neighbors by moonlight, used stars and crescents for their arms and adopted such mottos as Watch weel (Halyborton) and Reparabit cornua Phoebe (Scott of Harden).
Mound - A ball or globe forming part of the regalia of a king or emperor. It is surmounted by a cross and represents sovereign authority.
Mount - The representation of a mound or hill, covered with grass, occupying the base of the shield. It is generally borne with a tree or trees on it. When depicted green it is blazoned as a mount vert.
MOUNT-GRECED - A mount cut in the form of steps.
MOUNT-MOUNTED - A mount with a hill upon it.
Mounted - 1. Applied to a horse when depicted bearing a rider. 2. When a cross or similar bearing is placed upon steps, as a cross mounted upon greces, or degrees.
Mullet - A bearing resembling a five-pointed star. It is sometimes called a spur rowel, but it was in use long before the rowelled spur. When used as a difference it denotes the third son.
Muraille - Walled; masoned and embattled.
Murrey - The same as SANGUINE.
Muschetor - One of the arrow-headed marks used in depicting ermine, but without the three round dots employed in blazing that fur.
Musca - The common housefly. In some coats, however, this becomes a butterfly.
Musion - A cat.
Muzzled - Having a muzzle. Said of an animal, such as a bear, borne with a muzzle.
Naiant -The same as NATANT.
Naissant - Rising or coming forth. Applied to any living creature represented as issuing out of a fesse or other ordinary.
Natant - Represented horizontally across the field, as if swimming toward the dexter side of the shield. Applied to any fish excepting the flying fish and shell fish.
Naval crown - A crown formed with the stern and square sails of ships placed alternately upon the circle or fillet.
Naval point - The point in the shield between the middle base point and the fesse point. (Also called the nombril.)
Nebuly - 1. Composed of undulations, like the wavy edges of clouds. 2. A shield or bearing divided by such lines. 3. A wavy line of partition, or by which ordinaries and subordinaries may be bounded.
Nombril - A point in the shield between the fesse point and the middle base point. (Also called the naval point.)
Norroy - The third English King-at-Arms. He has jurisdiction north of the Trent.
Nowed - Knotted: tied in a knot, as a serpent or the tail of a lion.
Nowy -A term applied to a projection in the middle of a cross or other ordinary.
Nowyed - Applied to a projection not in the center of a cross, but in its branches
Octofoil - A double quartrefoil: a leaf of eight points. When used as a difference it denotes the eighth son.
Office - Arms of Office [See under ARMS.]
Ogress - A black ball or pellet. [See ROUNDEL.]
Onde - Wavy; curved and recurved like waves. [UNDE.]
Opinicus - An imaginary animal having the head and wings of a griffin or eagle, a short tail like that of a camel and the body of a lion. The Opinicus is sometimes borne without wings.
Or - Gold. In engraving it is denoted by small dots or points spread all over the bearing or field.
Orb - A globe encircled, bearing a cross; a mound.
Ordinary - A charge or bearing of simple form. The ordinaries, or, as they are called by the majority of heraldic writers, honorable ordinaries, are nine in number as follows:
Chief, Cross, Pale, Saltire, Fesse, Pile, Chevron, Quarter, and Bend.
Orle - (orl) 1. One of the subordinaries; in the form of a fillet, within the border, but some distance from it. 2. The wreath or chaplet surmounting or encircling the helmet of a knight and bearing the crest. (Webster.)
Ormond - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Out of - Signifies rising from, as "out of a ducal coronet an eagle."
Overt - Applied to the wings of a bird, etc., when spread open on each side of its head , as if taking flight.
Pale - One of the nine honorable ordinaries. It is a vertical line, set upright in the middle of the shield and occupying one-third of the field. It seldom contains more than three charges.
Palewise - In the manner of a pale or pales; divided by perpendicular lines; to divide the field palewise.
Pall - A figure having the form of the letter Y. It consists of half a pale issuing from the base, and conjoined in the fesse point with half a saltier from the dexter chief and sinister chief.
Pallet - A diminutive of the pale, being one-fourth of its breadth. (Some writers say one-half.)
Palletted - Being conjoined by a pallet; as "A chevron palletted."
Palmer's staff - A branch of a palm tree carried by a palmer in token of his having been to the Holy Land.
Paly -A field divided into four or more equal parts by perpendicular lines of two tinctures alternating. The number should always be specified; as, "Paly of six argent and gules."
PALY BENDY - When the divisions are again cut by diagonal lines, either dexter or sinister.
Papagay - A popinjay. An early bird in English heraldry.
Pard - A leopard.
Partition - One of several divisions made in a coat when the arms of several families are borne on one shield, from intermarriage, etc. (In this connection see QUARTERING.)
PARTITION LINES - The lines by which a shield may be divided. They are closely allied to the ordinaries for which they are named. When a field is divided in the direction of an ordinary it is said to be "party per" that ordinary; as, party per pale, party per bend, etc. Unless otherwise specified, the partition lines are straight; they may, however, be drawn in a variety of ways, such as undy, embattled, dancette, etc.
Party - Parted: divided. Used in reference to any division of a field or charge. When a field is divided toward an ordinary it is said to be "party per" that ordinary.
PARTY PER BEND - When the field is divided by a line running diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.
PARTY PER CHIEF - Divided by a horizontal line one-third the distance of the field from the top of the shield. (Party per chief is rare.)
PARTY PER CROSS - This is called Quarterly.
PARTY PER PALE - Divided by a perpendicular line.
PARTY PER FESSE - Divided by a horizontal line in the center of the shield.
Passant - Walking; said of any animal, except beasts of the chase, when represented as walking, with the dexter paw raised.
Patee - Spreading out at the extremity: applied principally to a cross. (Also written as pat� and pat�e.)
Paternal - Paternal Arms. [See under Arms.]
Patonce - Applied to a cross having expanded ends, like the cross pat�e, each end terminating in three points.
Patriarchal cross - ) A cross in which the shaft is twice crossed, the lower arms being longer than the upper.
Pavilion - A sort of mantling or claok in the form of a tent investing the coat of arms of a sovereign. [MANTLING.]
Pavon - A flag borne by a knight in the Middle Ages, upon which his arms were displayed. It was of triangular form, smaller than the pennon, and affixed to the upper part of his lance.
Penn - One of the furs. The ground is sable, with the spots or tufts or.
Pearl - The same as argent.
Pelican - While this bird is ocassionally seen in arms, it is more common as a crest. When represented as wounding herself, she is vulning; when feeding her young, in her piety. Pelham bore "Azure, three pelicans vulning themselves proper."
PELICAN IN HER PIETY - A pelican represented in the act of wounding her breast to feed her young with her own blood. This came from a fabulous tale in natural history told in the Middle Ages, and which made the bird the adopted symbol of the Redeemer.
Pellet - A black roundel. (Also called ogress and gunstone.) [See also ROUNDEL.]
Penned - Having wings. (Applied to a hawk's lure.) {See LURE.]
Pennon - A small flag or streamer half the size of the guidon.
Per - By: by the means of: by way of.
Perclose - The lower part of the garter with the buckle, etc. (Also called the demi-garter.)
Perculaced - The same as LATTICE.
Pheon - A bearing representing the head of a broad arrow or javelin, with long barbs which are engrailed on the inner edge.
Pick - An instrument used in the chase; a spike; a pike.
Pierced - Applied to any bearing which is perforated so as to show the field under it.
Pike - A military weapon, consisting of a long, narrow lance head fixed to a pole. It was used by musketeers to repel cavalry.
Pile - One of a honorable ordinaries, having the form of a wedge, issuing from the chief, with the point ending with the lower point of the shield. When borne plain it contains one-third of the chief in breadth; when charged, two-thirds. The pile is a very early bearing, and its origin is obscure. It has no diminutives.
PER PILE - Applied to an escutcheon which is divided by lines in the form of the pile.
Plate - A roundel tinctured argent. {See also ROUNDEL.]
Plenitude - Fullness. When the moon is represented full it is described as "the moon in her plenitude."
Plie - The same as CLOSE.
Ploye - Bowed and bent.
Poing - The fist; the hand closed, as distinguished from apaum�.
Point - 1. One of the several parts denoting the local positions on the escutcheon of any figure or charges. The principal points are:
Dexter Chief
2. A small part of the base of a shield variously marked off.
POINT IN POINT - When the base somewhat resembles the pile.
Pointed - Said of a cross when its ends are so cut; as, a cross pointed.
Pomey -A figure representing an apple; it is always of a green color. A roundel tinctured vert.
Pommee - A cross having the ends terminating in single balls.
Pommette - A cross having two balls or buttons at each end.
Pommeled - Having a pommel, as a sword or dagger.
Portant - The same as PORTATE.
Portate - Borne bendwise; diagonally across the escutcheon. Example: A cross portate = a cross lying as if carried on a persons shoulder.
Portcullis - The same as LATTICE.
Portcullis - One of the pursuivants of the College of Arms.
Pose - Said of a lion, horse or other beast when represented standing still, with all four feet on the ground.
Potence - A cross having ends that resemble the head of a crutch.
Potent - One of the heraldic furs, composed of patches, supposed to represent crutch heads; the color is usually argent and azure alternating. If otherwise, this should be specified. Potent is a variety of vair, and in early times was often blazoned "vair potent."
COUNTER POTENT - A fur differing from potent only in the arrangement of the patches. (Also written potent counter-potent, potency counter-potency and potency in point.)
Potented - Applied to a bearing when the outer edges are T-shaped, or form into potents.
Powdered - The same as SEME.
Prancing - Applied to a horse represented rearing.
Prester John - A mythical descendant of Ogier the Dane. In the Middle Ages he was believed to rule as a Christian sovereign and priest in the interior of Asia. A representation of the Prester John may be seen on the arms of the See of Chichester.
Pretense - Escutcheon of Pretense. [See under ESCUTCHEON.]
Pretension - Arms of Pretension. [See under ARMS.]
Prey - At prey is applied to the falcon when represented feeding.
Preyant - The same as PREYING.
Preying - Applied to any beast or bird of prey when represented standing on and in a proper position for devouring its prey.
Pride - A term applied to the peacock, turkey cock and other birds which spread their tails in a circular form and drop their wings; as, "A peacock in his pride."
Prince - Heraldically speaking, the title of Prince belongs to dukes, marquises and earls of Great Britain; but in ordinary usage it is restricted to members of the royal family.
PRINCE OF WALES - The official title of the heir apparent to the throne of England.
PRINCES OF THE BLOOD - The younger sons of a sovereign.
PRINCE ROYAL - The eldest son of a sovereign.
Proper - Represented in its natural color. Said of charges; as, "a lion proper."
Purfle - To ornament with a bordure of ermines, etc.
Purfled - Trimmed or garnished. Applied to the studs and rims of armor, being gold; as, "a leg in armor purfled or."
Purflew - A border of fur shaped exactly like vair. When of one row only, it is called purflewed; when of two, counter-purflewed; when of three, vair.
Purple - This color in heraldry is known as PURPURE.
Purpure -Purple. It is represented in engraving by diagional lines declining from the right top of the shield to the left base (from sinister chief to dexter base).
Pursuivant - An official in the English College of Arms. There are four pursuivants - Rouge Croix, Blue Mantle, Rouge Dragon and Portcullis. There were formerly six pursuivants attached to the court of Lyon King-of-Arms, in Scotland - Unicorn, Carrick, Bute, Kintyre, Ormond, and Dingwall. The last three have been abolished.
PYE - The popinjay; the woodpecker.
Quarter - One of the ordinaries (also called franc-quartier), occupying one-fourth of the shield, and usually placed in dexter chief. If placed in sinister chief, this must be specified. The diminutive of the quarter is the canton, of two-thirds its area.
Quarter - To add to other arms on a shield; to bear as an appendage to the hereditary arms. 2. To be quartered.
GRAND QUARTER - the same as sub-quarter
SUB-QUARTER - A quarter set aside in quartering arms out of the regular order for the royal arms or for an heiress when her quarterings are not broken.
Quartered - A term sometimes applied to the cross when voided in the center; as "a cross quartered."
Quartering - The arrangement of two or more coats of arms on one shield to form one bearing, as for instance, the royal arms of England, where those of the several countries are conjoined; when a man inherits from both father and mother the right to bear arms; when an alliance of one family with the heiress of another is to be perpetuated.
Quarterly - Placed in quarters; an escutcheon divided into quarters.
Quatrefoil - A four-leaved grass. This is frequently seen in heraldry.
Quarter-pierced - Said of a cross when the central square is removed; as, a cross quarter-pierced.
Queue -The tail of a beast.
QUEUE FURCHEE - The same as double queued.
Queued - Tailed; having a tail of a different tincture.
DOUBLE QUEUED - Having a double tail, as a lion. Sometimes the tails are placed saltirewise.
Quilled -This term is used in describing a feather when the quill differs in color from the rest.
Quinque vulnera - The five wounds of the crucifixion. This is an ecclesiastical bearing.
Radiant - Edged with rays or beams; giving off rays; as, "A sun radiant."
Raguled - Raguly - Notched or jagged in an irregular diagonal manner. Said of a line or bearing having such an edge.
Rampant - Said of a beast of prey, as a lion, rising with fore paws in the air., as if attacking. The right fore leg and the right hind leg should be raised higher than the left. Unless otherwise specified, the animal faces dexter.
COUNTER RAMPANT - Said of two animals rampant in opposite directions. (Sometimes used to denote a beast rampant toward sinister.)
RAMPANT GARDANT - The same as rampant, but with the animal looking full-faced.
RAMPANT PASSANT - Said of an animal when walking with the dexter fore paw raised somewhat higher then the mere passant position.
RAMPANT REGARDANT - In a rampant position and looking behind.
RAMPANT SEJANT - A beast in a sitting posture, with the fore legs raised.
Rangant - The same as FURIOSANT.
Range - Arranged in order.
Raping - Applied to any ravenous beast represented devouring its prey.
Ravissant - In a half-raised position, as if about to spring on prey. (Said of the wolf and such beasts when in the attitude saliant.)
Ray - A ray of the sun. [See SUN.]
Razed - The same as ERASED.
Rebate - A diminution or abatement of a bearing, as when the point of a weapon is broken off, or a part of a cross is cut off.
Rebated - Having the points cut short or broken off.
Rebending - Bent first one way and then the other, like the letter S. [RECURVANT.]
Rebus - A pictorial suggestion on a coat of arms of the name of the owner; a bearing or bearings containing an allusion to the owner's name. Thus the Arches family bore three arches; the Dobell family, a doe between three bells. [See also Allusive Arms, under ARMS.]
Reclinant - The same as DECLINANT.
Recouped - The same as COUPED.
Rectangled - When the line of length is apparently cut off in its straightness by another straight line, which at the intersection makes a right angle, it is then termed rectangled.
Recursant - Said of an eagle displayed, with the back toward the spectator.
RECURSANT VOLANT IN PALE - An eagle represented flying upward, with its back toward the spectator.
Recurvant - Curved and recurved like the letter S.
Red - This color in heraldry is known as GULES.
Reflected - Curved or turned round, as the chain or line from the collar of an animal thrown over his back.
Regardant - Said of an animal whose face is turned toward the tail in an attitude of vigilance; looking backward.
Reined - Said of a horse when the reins are of a different color from the animal. [BITTED.]
Rempli - Said of the chief when filled with any other color or metal, leaving only a border of the first tincture visible.
Renverse - Reversed; turned contrary to the natural position; with the head down; set upside down; as, "A chevron renverse."
Repassant - A lion or other animal passant, facing the sinister side of the shield.
Reremouse - A bat.
Reserved - Contrary to the usual way or position.
Resignant - Concealed. Said of a lion when his tail cannot be seen.
Respectant - Two animals borne face to face.
Rest - A bearing the origin and meaning of which have been disputed. By some it is said to represent a spear rest, and perhaps this is correct. By others it is taken for a musical instrument of some kind. Hence it is sometimes called an organ rest.
Retorted - Said of serpents when wreathed one in another, or fretted in the form of a knot.
Retracted - Applied to charges when one is shorter than the other.
Reversed - A coat of arms or escutcheon turned upside down. This was done by way of ignominy, as in the case of a traitor.
Revertant - Bent and rebent.
Reverted - Bent or curved twice in opposite directions, like the letter S; revertant.
Ribbon - A diminutive of the bend, being one-eighth its size, and often used as a difference. When couped or cut short it becomes a baton.
Richmond - One of the heralds of the College of Arms.
Ringed - Provided with a ring or rings. (Said of the falcon.)
Rising - A bird represented as if in the act of taking flight; rising from the ground.
Rizon - The grain of oats.
Roach - A fish.
Rompu -Fracted; broken; parted asunder, as a chevron, bend, etc.
Rose - The Rose, which is popular in English heraldry, is generally borne singly and full-faced, with five petals, barbs and seeds.
Ross - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Rothesay - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Rook - A rook in heraldry is the bird of that name common in Great Britain. It resembles the crow, but is smaller. When the piece in chess known as a rook is borne, it is blazoned a chess-rook. They are sometimes seen on the same arms, as in the case of Rook of Kent: Argent, on a chevron engrailed between three rooks sable, as many chess-rooks of the first.
Rouge Croix - One of the pursuivants in the College of Arms.
Rouge Dragon - One of the pursuivants in the College of Arms.
Roundel - A subordinary in the form of a circle. If of a metal it is a simple disk; if of a color, it is convex, half a globe. It takes its name from its color, unless in case of counter-changes, which follow the tinctures of the field, or when the roundel is of fur or of equal tinctures, as "a roundel ermine," "a roundel checky or and azure." Otherwise roundels have distinguishing names, according to their tinctures.
FALSE ROUNDEL - This was a name given in early lists for the annulet. Thus the arms of Vipont were blazoned "Gules, six false roundels or."
Rousant - Rising. Said of a bird in the attitude of rising; preparing to take flight. Sometimes this term is applied to a bird in profile, as a swan with wings addorsed.
Rudented - The same as CABLED.
Rustre - A lozenge pierced round in the center, and exposing the field through it.
Sable - The tincture black. In engraving it is represented by perpendicular and horizontal lines crossed.
St. Andrew's cross - A cross made in the form of the letter X. [See SALTIRE.]
St. Patrick - The title of one of the pursuivants of the Office of Arms, Ireland. There are three pursuivants bearing this title, designated as Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
Saliant - Leaping; springing. Applied to the lion or other beast represented in a leaping posture - his fore feet in dexter chief and his hind feet in sinister base.
Saltant - Springing forward; in a leaping position. Applied especially to the squirrel, weasel, rat; also applied to the cat, greyhound and monkey.
Saltire - One of the honorable ordinaries. It is made in the form of a St. Andrew's cross, or the letter X. Its breadth should be one-third of the field. The saltire is popular in Scottish heraldry.
Saltirewise - In the manner of a saltire; when the shield is divided by two lines drawn in the direction of a bend and a bend sinister and crossed at the center. Long-shaped charges, such as swords, oars, batons, etc., placed in the direction of the saltire are said to be borne saltirewise.
Salvage - Said of a man when borne nude. Thus, "Three salvage men ambulant."
Sanglier - A wild boar.
Sanguine -A dark red color. It is represented in engraving by diagonal lines crossing each other.
Sapphire - The same as AZURE.
Saturn - Black; representing sable. In blazoning the arms of sovereign princes.
Scallop - The same as ESCALLOP.
Scarf - A small ecclesiastical banner hanging down from the top of a crosier.
Scarp - A diminutive of the bend sinister, occupying the same position as that bearing, but being only half its breadth. It is supposed to represent an officer's shoulder belt or scarf.
Scroll - The ribbon-like appendage to a crest or escutcheon, on which the motto is inscribed.
Sea Lion - A monster consisting of the upper part of a lion combined with the tail of a fish.
Seruse - The same as TORTEAU.
Seeded - Represented with seeds of a different tincture, such as the rose, lily, etc., when it is said to be seeded of that color.
Segreant - Said of a griffon when depicted standing on its hind legs, with the wings elevated and addorsed.
Sejant - In a sitting posture. Applied to the lion, cat, etc.
SEJANT ADDORSED - Said of two animals sitting back to back.
SEJANT AFFRONTE - Full-faced, sitting with the fore paws extended sideways.
Seme - A field or charge powdered or sprinkled with small charges, such as stars, crosses, etc. (Sometimes called powdered.)
Shack bolt - A fetter, such as might be put on the wrists or ankles of prisoners.
Shackle bolt - The same as SHACK BOLT.
Shake fork - A bearing somewhat resembling the pall in form, but the ends, which have points like the pile, do not touch the edges of the shield.
Sheldrake - A water fowl somewhat larger than the ordinary duck. It has been said that this bird was introduced into English heraldry to accommodate Sheldon, Lord Mayor of London in 1676. He bore "Sable, a fesse between three sheldrakes argent."
Shield - The escutcheon or field on which are placed the bearings of coats of arms. There are various forms, mostly taken from the shapes in vogue when shields were used in warfare. Maiden ladies and widows have no shield, but place their arms on a lozenge. [LOZENGE.] [ESCUTCHEON.]
Shoveller - A river duck. It has a broad bill and beautifully variegated feathers.
Sinister -The left side of the shield - the side opposite the the right hand of the spectator. Applied to the escutcheon, as the sinister chief point, sinister base point, etc.
Sinople - The Continental term for vert (green).
Slashed - A term used to describe the opening or gashings in a sleeve when the puffing is of a different tincture. It is then slashed of a different tincture.
Slipped - Applied to a flower or branch depicted as torn from the stalk.
Snowdown - One of the heralds of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Soarant - A word used by some modern heraldic writers as a synonym of VOLANT.
Sol - A term implying or (gold) in blazoning the arms of sovereign princes.
Somerset - One of the heralds of the College of Arms.
Soustenu - A chief apparently supported by a small part of the escutcheon beneath it of a different tincture from the chief itself, and reaching, as the chief does, from side to side; being, so to speak, a small part of the chief of another color, and supporting the real chief.
Spade iron - The iron part, or shoeing, of a spade
Spancelled -Said of a horse that has the fore and hind feet fettered by means of fetterrlocks fastened to the ends of a stick.
Spayade - A stag in his third year.
Spear - The spear was an ancient instrument of war and hunting, and was introduced into heraldry under various forms. Generally called a lance.
Spear head - The metal point of the spear: a common bearing among the Welsh.
Speckled - Spotted; speckled over with another tincture.
Spectant - The attitude of an animal looking upward with nose bendwise. Also applied to an animal at gaze, or looking forward. (Sometimes called in full aspect.)
Speller - A branch shooting out from the first part of a buck's horn at the top.
Sperver - A tent.
Splendor - Glory; brilliance. Said of the sun when represented with a human face and environed with rays. It is then a Sun in splendor.
Spread eagle - An eagle having the wings and legs extended on both sides. [DISPLAYED.]
Springing - Leaping. Applied to beasts of the chase in the same sense as saliant to beasts of prey. Also applied to fish when placed in bend.
Spur rowel - The mullet is often called a spur rowel, which it is supposed to represent. However, the mullet was in use long before the rowelled spur.
Stainand - Applied to the sanguine and tenne when used in the figures called abatements == marks of disgrace.
Standard - A flag or ensign. The ancient military standard consisted of a symbol carried on a pole, like the Roman eagle. In medieval times the standard, instead of being square like the banner, was elongated, but much larger, becoming narrow and rounded at the end, which was slit, unless the standard belonged to a prince of the blood royal. The standard, which ranged in size from eleven yards for an emperor to four yards for a baron, was usually divided into three portions - one containing the arms of the knight, another for his cognizance or badge, and the other for his crest - these being divided by bands, on which was inscribed his war cry or motto, the whole being fringed with his livery or family colors.
Star - An estoile. It differs from the mullet in that it usually has six rays wavy, and is seldom pierced. When more than six points are displayed, the number must be specified. Usually, when more than six, the points alternate straight and wavy.
Statant - Standing. (The same as pose.)
Stone bill - A wedge.
Subordinary - A bearing not so common and of less importance than the ordinary, or honorable ordinary. According to one writer, any ordinary occupying less than one-fifth of the field is deemed a subordinary. Again, different writers place different bearings among the subordinaries.
Subvertant - Reversed; turned upside down; contrary to the natural position or usual way of bearing.
Succeedant - Succeeding or following one another.
Succession - Arms of Succession. The same as Feudal Arms, which see, under ARMS.
Sun - The sun is seen in heraldry occasionally. When represented as giving light, it is blazoned a sun radiant; when depicted with a human face, it is a sun in splendor, or a sun in his splendor. Louis XIV used it as his cognizance. Jean de la Hay bore "Argent, a sun in his splendor gules." Ralph de la Hay differenced this coat by bearing only a ray of the sun. John de Fontibus, Bishop of Ely, bore the sun, moon and seven stars.
Sunburst - A flag having a sun in splendor on a green field. This is said to have been the flag of the pagan Irish. It is frequently alluded to in Irish national poetry.
Supercharge - 1. To place one figure upon another. 2. As a noun: One charge placed upon another charge; as, a rose upon a fesse.
Supported - Applied to a bearing that has another under it by way of support; as, a chief supported.
Supporter - A figure on each side of a shield, apparently supporting it. They may be men, beasts or birds -- sometimes real, sometimes fabulous, as the lion and unicorn in the arms of Great Britain.
Sur-aneree - A cross with double anchor flukes at each end.
Surcharged - One charge placed upon or within another.
Surgiant - The same as ROUSANT or RISING.
Surmounted - Partly covered. Said of an ordinary when it has another charge of a different tincture laid over it. When it is an animal which has a charge laid over it, the term used is debruised.
Surtont - A shield of pretense; an inescutcheon placed upon a shield of arms. The arms of William III were so disposed of.
Suspectant - Looking upward. (The same as SPECTANT.)
Swallow - This bird, which is also known as the hirondelle, is an early bearing. One of the best known of the early examples is the arms of the Arundells of Wardour, who bore "Sable, six swallows argent."
Swan - The swan was the cognizance of the Bohuns. Sometimes it is borne whole, sometimes only the head, like the arms of the Guests. When gorged with a ducal coronet having a gold chain attached to it, it is called a cygney-royal.
Swift - The dolphin.
Sweep - The balista or engine anciently used for casting stones into fortresses.
Sword - The sword of heraldry is two handed.
Tabard - Originally a light garment worn over the armor embroidered with the arms of the wearer. The tabard is now worn only by heralds and pursuivants-at-arms, and is embroidered with the arms of the sovereign.
Talbot - A dog. Specifically a hound whose race is nearly, if not quite extinct. His color was pure white, with large head, broad muzzle and long ears. Talbot is the family name of the Earls of Shrewsbury, who had a talbot for a badge and two talbots for supporters.
Talent - The same as BEZANT.
Tau - The cross of St. Anthony, also called the cross Tau. It derives its name from its resemblance to the Greek letter tau. This cross is somewhat similar to the cross potent.
Tegulated - Composed of small plates as of horn or metal, overlapping. (Used in ancient armor.)
Templar - A member of the order called Templars, Knights Templar, Knights of the Temple, etc. It was founded in 1118 or 1119 by nine Christian knights, the original object of the organization being to maintain free passage for the pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. Baldwin II King of Jerusalem gave them part of his palace, and they kept their arms in the Temple, hence their name of Templars.
Tenant - Held; holding.
Tenanted - Tallied or let into another thing; one bearing worked into another bearing; having something let in; as, a cross tenanted -- having rings let into its extremities.
Tenne - A tincture of a bright brown, which is considered to represent orange color. This color is almost unknown in English heraldry. In engraving it is represented by diagonal lines from sinister to dexter, traversed by horizontal ones -- a compound of purpure and azure.
Tent - The representation of a tent used as a bearing. (See also PAVILLION.)
Tergant -Showing the back part; as, an eagle tergant displayed. [In this connection compare RECURSANT.]
Terras - The representation of ground at the bottom of the base of the shield, generally tinctured vert.
Teutonic cross - A name sometimes given to the cross potent from the fact of its having been the original badge assigned by Emperor Henry VI to the knights of the Teutonic Order.
Teutonic Order - A religious military order of knights established near the end of the twelfth century somewhat like the Templars and Hospitaliers, being composed in the main of Teutonic crusaders. It attained high power, but declined in the fifteenth century, and was finally abolished by Napoleon in 1809.
Thane - A title of dignity or honor among the Anglo-Saxons. There were two orders - the king's thanes, or those who attended at his court and held lands immediately from him, and ordinary thanes, or lords of the manor. After the Norman conquest thanes and barons were classed together, the title falling into disuse in the reign of Henry II.
Thistle - The Order of the Thistle, a Scottish order of knighthood, was instituted by James VII (James II of England) in 1687. It fell into abeyance during the reign of William and Mary, but was revived by Queen Anne in 1703.
Thunderbolt - The thunderbolt is represented in heraldry by a twisted bar in pale, inflamed at the ends, surmounting two jagged darts in saltire, between two wings expanded, and usually has streams of fire issuing from the center.
Tiara - The triple crown worn by the popes of Rome.
Tierce - Divided into three equal parts of three different tinctures. (Said of the field when so divided.)
Tiercelet -A falcon.
Tiger - The heraldic tiger has the body of a wolf, the tail of a lion and is studded with tufts of hair. It is not an early bearing, nor is it often seen.
Timber - 1. A row of ermine in a nobleman's coat. 2. The helmet, miter, coronet, etc., when placed over the arms in a complete achievement. 3. As a verb. To surmount or decorate the coat of arms. "A purple plume timbers his stately crest." Sylvester.
Timbre - The crest which in an achievement is shown on the top of a helmet.
Tincture - The name given to the colors, metals and furs used in heraldry. The tinctures may be classed as follows:
METALS
Ermine - Represents the skin of that little animal, and is white powdered with black spots.
Ermines - A black field, with white spots.
Erminois - The field is gold and the spots sable.
Erminites - The same as ermine, except that the two lateral hairs of each spot are red.
Vair - Similar in shape to small escutcheons, the wings representing the fore legs and the point the tail.The skins are arranged alternately white and blue.
Vair-en-point - A variety of vair, the point of one escutcheon being placed opposite to the base of the one below.
Counter-vair - Another variety of vair, those of the same color being placed base to base and point to point. (VAir was originally drawn bell-shaped.)
Pean - The reverse of erminois, being golden spots on a black field.
Potent - The skins are T-shaped, resembling somewhat a gallows or a crutch head. It is akin to vair, and is sometimes blazoned "vair-potent."
Counter-potent - A variety of potent, being placed point to point. (Also called potent counter-potent.)
The practice of representing the several colors by lines and marks, which dates from the sixteenth century, is as follows:
Argent - A plain white surface.
Or - Small dots.
Topaz - The name given to the metal or when borne by peers.
Torce - The same as WREATH.
Torqued -Twisted: wreathed; bent. This term is used to describe a dolphin haurient, twisted into a form nearly resembling the letter S.
Torteau -A roundel tinctured gules. (Plural, torteaux.) [See also ROUNDEL.]
Tourne - The same as CONTOURNE or REGARDANT.
Transfixed - Pierced by an arrow or similar weapon. Said of an animal.
Transfluent - Passing or flowing through the arches of a bridge. (Said of water when so represented.)
Transmuted - The same as COUNTERCHANGED.
Transpierced - [TRANSFIXED.]
Transposed - Reversed; changed to a position opposite of the proper or usual position; as, a pile transposed.
Traversed - Turned to the sinister side of the shield.
Treflee - Having a three-lobed extremity or extremities, as a cross. [CROSS BOTTONY.] Ordinaries, such as the bend, are sometimes borne treflee - that is, with trefoils issuing from the side.
Trefoil - A charge representing the three-leaved clover. Like the rose, it is generally, though not always, borne without a stalk.
Trefoiled - The same as TREFLEE.
Treille -Cross-barred work; lattice work. It differs from fretty in that the pieces do not interlace under and over, but cross athwart each other, being nailed at the joints. Also called trellis.
Trellis - The same as TREILLE.
Tressure - (tresh'-ur) A kind of border or hem, being, in fact, a diminutive of the orle, of which it is one-half its breadth. It passes around the field, following the shape and form of the escutcheon, whatever shape it may be;usually borne double. Being used in the royal arms of Scotland, it is naturally popular in Scottish heraldry.
TRESSURE FLEURY - A tressure ornamented with fleur-de-lis on one side, with their ends inward.
TRESSURE FLEURY-COUNTER-FLEURY - A double tressure ornamented with fleur-de-lis on both sides, the flowers being reversed alternately. In the arms of Scotland, as in nearly all examples, the flower is divided by the border.
Tressured - Provided with a tressure; arranged in the form or occupying the place of a tressure.
Trian - The aspect of an animal when neither affronte nor gardant, but midway between these positions.
Triarchee - Formed of three arches; having three arches.
Trick - To draw in outline, as with a pen; to delineate without color, as coats of arms.
Tricorporal - Three bodies conjoined to one head, as a lion; the bodies of three beasts represented issuing from the dexter, sinister and base points, and conjoined to one head in the center of the shield.
Tricorporate - The same as TRICORPORAL.
Trien - Three. The word is made use of by some heralds in the phrase a trien of fish == three fish.
Triparted - Parted into three pieces; having three parts or pieces. This can be applied to the field or to the ordinaries and charges; as, triparted in pale, a cross triparted, etc.
Triple crown - The crown or tiara worn by the popes of Rome.
Triple pile - A truncated pile, ending in three projections.
Triple plume - The device of the Prince of Wales.
Trippant - Having the right forefoot lifted, the other three remaining on the ground, as if trotting. This term is applied to beasts of chase, as a buck, hart, etc., and is the same as passant, which is applied to beasts of prey.
Tripping - The same as TRIPPANT.
Triton - A variety of sea shell.
Tronconee demembre -Separated; applied to a bearing, such as a cross, cut in pieces and separated, but still retaining it's original form.
Truncheon - A baton, or staff of authority.
Trunked - 1. When the trunk of a tree is of a tincture different from the branches it is said to be trunked of such a tincture. 2. Applied to a tree which has been shorn of its branches and separated from its roots.
Tuberated - Knotted or swelled out.
Turnstile - A revolving frame in a footpath to prevent the passage of horses or cattle, but admitting that of a person. A representation of this is occasionally seen as a bearing.
Tusked - Having tusks of a different tincture from that of the body. Said of an elephant, boar, etc. Example: If a boar was white with red tusks, he would be blazoned "A boar argent, tusked gules."
Twyfoil - Having only two leaves.
Tyrwhit - The lapwing.
Ulster Badge - The badge of the province of Ulster, Ireland - a sinister hand., couped at the wrist apaume gules. ("A bloody hand"}. This was assigned by James I as the badge to the baronet's who were to colonize Ulster. It is now borne by all baronets of England and Ireland.
Ulster King-at Arms - The chief heraldic officer for Ireland. The office was created by Edward VI in 1552.
Unde - Waving or wavy. This term is applied to ordinaries or lines of division. (Also written undy; the French call it onde.)
Undy - The same as UNDE.
Unescutcheoned - Without an escutcheon; without a coat of arms.
Unglued - Having hoofs of a tincture different from that of the body. (Said of a horse, stag, etc.)
Unicorn - A fabulous animal, with the head, neck and body of a horse, a beard like that of a goat, the legs of a buck, the tail of a lion, and a long tapering horn, spirally twisted, in the middle of the forehead. The royal arms of Scotland had unicorns for supporters until the union with England, in 1603. The sinister supporter of the present arms of Great Britain is, "A unicorn argent, armed, crined and unglued or, gorged with a coronet of crosses patee and fleur-de-lis, with a chain affixed passing between the fore legs and reflected over the back of the last."
Unicorn - One of the pursuivants of the Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland.
Unifoil - A plant with only one leaf.
Urdee -Pointed. The cross urdee is an ordinary cross with the ends drawn to a sharp point instead of being cut straight.
Urinant - (The opposite of haurient. The term is applied to the dolphin or other fish when represented with the head downward and the tail erect.
Urvant - Turned or bowed upward.
Vair - One of the furs of heraldry, composed of a number of pieces cut to resemble little shields, and arranged alternately argent and azure. When of different tinctures they must be specified; as, "vairy argent and vert." Other varieties of vair are: vair -en-point, where the point of one shield, or skin, is placed opposite to the base of the one below; counter-vair, where those of the same color are placed base to base and point to point. (Vair was originally drawn bell-shaped.)
Vaire - The same as VAIRY.
Vairy - Checkered or charged with vair.
Vambraced - Armed with a vambrace. The vambrace was the portion of the armor which covered the arm from the elbow to the wrist.
Varment - The escallop when represented without the ears.
Varriated - A bearing cut in the form of vair; as, a bend varriated on the outsides.
Varries - Separate pieces of vair, the form resembling a small shield or secutcheon.
Varvelled - When the leather thongs which tie on the bells to the legs of hawks are borne flotant, with rings at the ends, the bearing is then termed jessed, belled and varvelled.
Velloped - HAving gills of a different tincture from that of the bird itself. Applied to a cock when so borne. [WATTLED.]
Venus - When blazoning arms of princes by planets, as some foolish heralds have done, Venus represents the tincture vert.
Verdoy - Applied to a bordure charged with leaves, fruits, flowers, etc.; as, a bordure verdoy of trefoils.
Vergette - A small pale: a pallet; also, a shield divided with pallets.
Versant -Erected or elevated.
Vert - The tincture green. In engraving it is represented by diagonal lines from dexter chief to sinister base. In fanciful blazonry vert is also known as emerald and Venus.
Vertant - Formed like the letter S. [The same as FLECTED and REFLECTED.]
Vigilant - Applied to a cat when represented as on the lookout for prey.
Virole - The hoop, ring or mouthpiece of a bugle or hunting horn.
Viroled - Furnished with a virole or viroles. Said of a bugle or horn when borne with rings of a different tincture from the bugle itself.
Viscount - In Great Britain, the fourth rank of nobility, being above a baron and below an earl.
Visitation - An official visit made by a king-at-arms to take note of all armorial bearings within his jurisdiction. These visitations were made about every thirty years. A provincial king-at-arms, either personally or by deputy, would visit the principal town of his province or county and summon all the gentry to come forward and record their respective pedigrees and show title to their armorial bearings, all of which data would later be recorded at the College of Heralds. The first regular commission of visitation was issued by Henry VIII in 1528-9, but there had been visitations of one form or another as early as 1412. The last visitation took place early in the reign of James II.
Visor - That part of a helmet in old armor which protected the face, and which could be lifted up or down at pleasure.
Visored - With the visor down or closed.
Voided - Having the inner part cut away, leaving a narrow border, with the tincture of the field showing in the vacant space: a bearing in outline only.
Voider - One of the subordinaries, being the diminutive of the flanch. It resembles the flanch, but it is smaller and has a flatter curve. In defensive armor the voider was a gusset piece, of plate or mail, which was used to cover an unprotected space at the elbow or knee joints.
Vol - A pair of wings; two wings conjoined and displayed in base.
Volant - Represented as flying, or having the wings spread as in flight. Applied to a bird; as, an eagle volant.
Vorant - Devouring. Applied to an animal or bird depicted devouring another.
Vulned - Wounded. Applied to an animal or bird depicted as wounded and bleeding; as, a leopard vulned.
Vulning - Wounding; in the act of wounding. This term is applied more particularly to the pelican, which, when shown in profile, is generally represented as wounding her breast. [PELICAN IN HER PIETY.]
Water budget - A bearing which represents the ancient water budget, or bucket, consisting of two leather vessels connected by a stick or yoke and carried over the shoulder. They were used by soldiers for carrying water on long marches, and were also utilized by water carriers to convey water from the conduits to the houses of the citizens.
Watery - A term sometimes used to express UNDE.
Wattle - The fleshy lobe that grows under the throat of a domestic fowl.
Wattled and combed - When the gills and comb are of a different tincture from that of the body. (Said of the cock.)
Waved - The same as UNDY.
Wavy - The same as UNDY.
Welt - A narrow border to an ordinary or charge.
Whelk - The ordinary sea shell.
Whelk's shell - The same as WHELK.
White - This color in heraldry is known as argent.
White Cross Knight - A Hospitaller. These knights wore a white cross to distinguish them from the Knights Templar, who wore a red cross.
White spur- A kind of esquire.
Windsor - The name of one of the six heralds in the College of Arms.
Winged - Depicted as having wings; or having wings of a different tincture from the body.
Winged lion - This was the symbol of St. Mark, and was adopted as the heraldic device of the Venetian republic, when St. Theodore was supplanted as the patron saint of Venice by St. Mark. The bearing may be blazoned: "Azure, a winged lion sejant gardant, with a glory or; in his fore paws an open book, thereon "Pax tibi, Mare, Evangelista Meus," over the dexter page a sword erect, all proper.
Wreath - The roll or chaplet above the shield, supporting the crest. It is supposed to represent a twist of two silken cords, one tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the principal color, in the arms. Wreaths may also be circular, but the straight wreath is by far the more common.
Wyvern - An imaginary animal - a two-legged dragon, the body passing off into a long tail barbed at the end and generally borne nowed or knotted
York - The name of one of the six heralds in the college of arms
| i don't know |
In which 1979 film did Pierce Brosnan make his movie debut as an IRA hitman? | Great Conversations: Pierce Brosnan | The Huffington Post
Great Conversations: Pierce Brosnan
Alex Simon Co-editor, The Hollywood Interview.com
I interviewed Pierce Brosnan in conjunction with his third outing as James Bond, in Michael Apted's The World Is Not Enough, in 1999. Brosnan was alternately charming, erudite, thoughtful and intense during our two hour chat. His native intelligence shone through it all, as did a sense of decency which many people seem to acquire after enduring and surviving hardship in their formative years.
BONDING WITH BROSNAN
There are several dangers in becoming a cultural icon, not the least of which is the stigma that your public will forever keep you imprisoned in the mold of your iconography, allowing the recipient a privileged, if imprisoned, existence, particularly if that person is an artist. Sean Connery faced just such a dilemma during the height of James Bond-mania in the mid-60s. A serious actor, Connery desperately wanted to break out of the action hero mold that was British Superspy James Bond, agent 007, and tackle more "serious" roles, finding it an uphill and bloody battle the whole way. Since Connery's day, the torch of James Bond has been passed to four different men, the latest being Irishman Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan, also a serious actor with roots in the British theater, has also begun his own attempt at breaking the Bond mold, forming his own production company, Irish Dream Time, with partner Beau St. Clair, and producing small, personal projects such as The Nephew (1998) as well as commercial blockbusters such as last summer's The Thomas Crown Affair. Brosnan carries himself onscreen with the debonair flair of an Oxbridge gentleman, but in fact, like his predecessor Sean Connery, his roots are the antithesis of the iconography which has been imposed upon him.
Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born May 16, 1953 in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. Shortly after his birth, his father walked out on he and his mother. Soon thereafter, his mother went to London to work as a nurse, leaving her only child in the care of various relatives. Being the only lad in the tiny community without either parent at home, Brosnan found himself in the position of an outsider, and did his best to fit in by being an altar boy in his local parish. At the age of 11, Brosnan was sent to London to live with his mother in the city's tough south side, where they struggled financially. Again an outsider, he was labeled "Paddy," and "the Mick" by his classmates, and turned to humor to defend himself from harm's way, not always with success. Brosnan cites a life-changing moment at this period, when his mother and stepfather took him to see the James Bond classic Goldfinger (1964) in a swank London cinema. At 16, he left school, aspiring to be a commercial artist, but was soon diverted after tagging along to an audition with a friend, and was bitten by the acting bug. Needless to say, the bite never healed.
Brosnan spent the next ten years doing both experimental and legitimate theater, working with the likes of Tennessee Williams and Joan Plowright on the London stage. It was here Brosnan met his late wife, the actress Cassandra Harris (Bond fans will remember her as "Countess Lisl" in For Your Eyes Only (1981)), who succumbed to ovarian cancer in 1991. Brosnan credits Harris with pushing and encouraging him in his craft, saying "Without her, I would most likely still be back in London doing plays."
After some bit roles in British TV, Brosnan's first movie role came in the gangster classic The Long Good Friday (1981), in a terrifying turn as an IRA hitman. Brosnan had no dialogue and only two scenes, but the juxtaposition of his cheerfully boyish looks and his deadly behavior made an impression on everyone who saw the film. This led to his being offered the lead in the epic American mini-series The Manions of America (1981). The ratings hit prompted Brosnan and Harris to relocate their family to the U.S. Almost immediately, Brosnan was cast as the lead in the hit NBC series Remington Steele (1982-87), solidifying his fame as a sex symbol and a debonair leading man. Many fans hailed him as a modern day Cary Grant, prompting James Bond producer Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli to pursue him as the new James Bond, following the retirement of Roger Moore, in 1986. Just hours away from signing his Bond contract, Remington Steele was renewed on NBC, forcing Brosnan to abandon the lucrative franchise to finish his commitment to the network. Timothy Dalton donned the Aston-Martin for two Bond films The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989). After Steele ended its run in 1987, Brosnan did a variety of TV and film work, most notably the spy thriller The Fourth Protocol (1987) in a terrifying turn as a cold-blooded Russian agent, the miniseries James Clavell's Noble House (1988), Bruce Beresford's acclaimed drama of culture clash in colonial Africa Mr. Johnson (1991), a comic foil to Robin Williams' Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and the other object of Annette Benning's affections in Love Affair (1994). 1995 finally brought Brosnan back to the role he was born to play. Many Bond scholars (for lack of a better word) consider Brosnan's debut as Bond in GoldenEye, the move that saved the series from extinction. A box office smash world-wide, it was followed by appearances in The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996, again as the "other man"), the spoof Mars Attacks! (1996), the volcanic thriller Dante's Peak (1997), then Brosnan Bond #2, Tomorrow Never Dies (also 1997). In 1998, Brosnan and St. Clair formed Irish Dream Time, producing the charming The Nephew (1998) in which Brosnan had a small part, and John McTiernan's dynamite remake of the Steve McQueen classic The Thomas Crown Affair.
Brosnan's latest release is Bond #3, The World is Not Enough, directed by veteran helmer Michael Apted. In this latest high octane adventure, Bond must guard the life of a woman (the excellent Sophie Marceau) against that of her former kidnapper (The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle, also wonderful), a psychotic terrorist, who is slowly dying from a bullet that didn't kill him enough. The World is not only the best Brosnan Bond, but one of the best films of the series, hearkening back to the earliest Bond adventures, Dr. No (1962) and From Russia With Love (1963), with its hard-edges and wonderfully drawn characterizations. This is a thriller about real people that never stops moving, the best of both worlds. Fine support is given by Denise Richards, the marvelous Dame Judi Dench, the venerable Desmond Llewelyn, and former Monty Python (himself an icon) John Cleese. The MGM/UA release opens November 19. Don't miss it.
Something of a renaissance man, Brosnan is active in many philanthropies in addition to his film work. A tireless campaigner for environmental issues, he is also a champion of women's health issues (particularly the fight against ovarian cancer), and even made the bold move of boycotting the French premiere of GoldenEye to protest nuclear testing in the Pacific. Brosnan spoke to us from his home in Malibu, where he lives with fiancee Keely Shaye Smith and their young son, about these, and other topics. Needless to say, the conversation left us stirred, but never shaken.
We felt that The World is Not Enough is your best Bond, and one of the best of the series.
Pierce Brosnan: Yeah, I think it's pretty damn good, actually. It's found a certain stride to itself. From my perspective, I was very comfortable with it. When it's your third one, you'd better know what you're doing, and enjoy what you're doing. Having Michael Apted there was great, too, because he paid attention to character and to story, not that the other guys didn't, but Michael just listened. So we had a good time with it.
I liked the moral ambiguity that was brought back to Bond's character.
When (Michael and I) met and talked about it, our conversations were about that exactly. Who is this man? What's at stake for him? Seeing behind the curtain of who he is a little bit more, making it so the writing has some meaning, some emotional cornerstone so the character has a motivation and can have more of a relationship with someone like 'M' (Judi Dench), for example. So you end up caring about them.
I felt like it was a throwback to the first two Bond films, which were more straightforward spy films rather than live action cartoons.
Good, because that's what we were going for. If anything, the bells and whistles around (Bond) have gotten so big, it was a challenge to make it a real drama within the context of a Bond movie. I was really impressed with the final result, especially the fact that Michael really paid attention to the casting of it, and used his cinematic flair. He's not the obvious choice, maybe, for a Bond film, but he's a wonderful filmmaker and has a touch with the camera and story. And he was clever enough to let the guys who do all the technical wizardry get on with it. He used them without interfering with what they did, and used them as a theatrical director should use them.
Sean Connery had to really fight for non-action hero roles during the height of Bondmania. Has it been difficult for you, as well?
No, not really. The last three Bond movies have come fast and furious. I deliberately when I did GoldenEye said to my representatives 'Don't go seeking the obvious action roles. I want to just work quietly on things like Mars Attacks! or The Mirror Has Two Faces. I just wanted to be tucked away in a film where I didn't have too much responsibility. I just wanted to see what else was going on out there. So there has been a game plan in there, especially since forming my own company. I'm aware of the vast kind of impact that Bond creates not only on my own career, but on the rest of the world. He travels well, this character, and he proceeds me. You have to live with this character and I kind of made peace with that at the beginning because I had the knowledge of what Connery had gone through. I grew up with Connery as James Bond, and contrary to what you might have read, I never dreamt of, or wanted to play, this character, until '86 when they offered me the role the first time.
How does your interpretation of Bond differ from your predecessors?
Well, that's a tough question, and I can't really give a good answer without shooting myself in the foot. But I guess if I had to say one thing, it would be that I try to make him human. Making him real for myself. When you come to play the role, you have so much fucking baggage, so much mythology. How do you make him real for yourself?
Your Bond seems to have the most heart of any previous interpretation.
He probably does. There's only one man that you want to take the belt from, and that's Connery. So you go into the ring to win. It's a challenge. Connery had a sadistic side to him. The killings in this film. I don't know. I live with more heart.
Actress Sophie Marceau, Brosnan and director Michael Apted on location for The World Is Not Enough.
What accounts for the longevity of the Bond films?
There's so many... the music, Monty Norman. "The name's Bond, James Bond." The whole mystique. The women. The locations. The tongue-in-cheek humor. The stunts. The gadgets. There are so many different elements. It's really hard to pinpoint exactly why.
What you're really saying is that, politics aside, the elements that make it work are timeless.
Yeah, they are timeless. People say, "The cold war is over, who's he going to fight?" Well, you're always going to have bad guys. You don't need a cold war to make James Bond fly. They kind of met on the landscape back in the 60s, and that was the shit that was going on. But he was a spy. Spies still exist. MI6 and the CIA still exist. Countries still have secrets. Hopefully I'll do another one after this one. We'll see about a fifth after that, but at some point I'll have to give it up. But (the Broccolis) are still a young family, and it's a family enterprise, so they'll find someone else. But it's all those elements that make it work. It's family entertainment, that's been passed on for generations. People loved Roger Moore. Roger did a great job, did seven films and it was entertaining. His Bond was what it was. I think you've got to respect the role. You've got to really pay attention to that. You can't just walk through it and play it flippantly. You've got to have an aside to the audience and take those moments when they come. It's a very loved role. When you read the books, the guy was human. He was hard man, but he had fear, he had doubts. He was pretty brutal. I don't know, the next time out, it would be nice to get a little more dark. But, you've got a 'PG,' so I don't know how you do that. I know that Michael would like to do one again, and I'd love to go out the door with Michael because what we set down here is a foundation, I think, certainly for another Bond film, and I think it'll whet people's appetites who liked Connery. They'll say "Ah, this is good. It goes back to the old days, but we're still in a 1990s movie." Besides, Bond is universal now. I think if you tried to go back and play him as Ian Fleming wrote it (in the 1950s and early 60s) I don't know that it would work today.
Brosnan as a grade schooler in Ireland.
Let's talk about your background. You spent your early childhood in Ireland.
It was a very tiny farming town called Navan, about 30 miles north of Dublin. I'm actually going back there next week, and they're giving me the keys to the town, which is pretty cool. (laughs) I go back there every other year, sometimes twice a year. I have a company called Irish Dream Time, and my intention is to go back there and work with young Irish writers and do Irish films to put back into my own country what I've garnered from living and being educated in England and having a career in Hollywood. Those are the intentions, those are the dreams, the desires. So far I've done it with one film, and we'll see where it leads us.
Up until the time you moved to England in 1964, you led a pretty solitary childhood, living with various relatives and so forth. Did that sense of isolation and loneliness help you develop your creative side?
I would say it played a big part in being a creative person and living within the imagination, and surviving within a community where you're the odd man out. In the 50s in southern Ireland in a tiny country town ruled by religion, to have your father leave and be the only kid without parents, yeah, that impacts your life in a very profound way. You do have to survive it, and you keep your own council, and consequently keep your own dreams. The first theatrical performance of being in front of an audience for me was being an altar boy. I didn't want to be an actor then, but thinking back on it, serving mass is a very theatrical experience. But it wasn't until I went to London, music is what pulled me into the arts. Music still plays a very important part in my life. Actually making movies and doing something like Thomas Crown has given me the opportunity to say 'Okay, we've made this movie, now let's put music on it.' So I guess living the life I've led has brought me to being an actor, yeah.
What are some of your favorite music and musicians?
The Who. I actually had dinner with Roger Daltrey the other night, and it was just amazing. The Who colored a lot of my life at that time with the mods. Pink Floyd is another band. (English) West coast music was very influential for me. Ska and bluebeat, with Desmond Dekker and the Israelites and all that. When I discovered Floyd, a lot of doors opened up (laughs) because of what it came with. Not that I was an acid head. Never done it, never will. But there was a consciousness and a freedom there where the doors just burst off their hinges. I discovered theater at the same time in this art lab. John Mayall was someone that I really dug, also. Then you have Buffalo Springfield, Love, Spirit, and then it moves on to Springsteen, the Clash. I was living in south London and the punk movement was happening. The apartment I was living in was full of punks. But then you drop the ball, and you don't know what's going on. Right now is one of those times for me. I don't know what the heck's going on in music because I don't listen to enough. My mind's somewhere else now and that kind of freaks me out because you think 'Shit, I'm not connected and I don't know what the sound is.' But you have to let that go and you find yourself listening to Coltrane, or someone else you've read about for a long time, but never really paid attention to. Or Chopin, who reinvented the piano for himself.
Late teens in England.
London must've been incredible culture shock for a little kid from a small Irish town.
I was back to surviving again, surviving in the sense that now I was Irish. It's 1964 and you're a "mick," you're a "paddy." I was in a huge school with over 2,000 kids, whereas two days before I was in a classroom of maybe 20 kids in school with seven classrooms. It was a good time. The education was shit, but the survival instincts kick in, and you end up fighting, which is kind of a miserable thing to have to do, and so I turned to comedy. I survived through mimicking and finding the funny side of the situation. Plus, I was good at art. So I came out and became a commercial artist, which was going nowhere because I realized I wasn't that great, that I'd be sitting in a studio with guys who'd been there for many years, griping about the boss, their wages, their wives, and just generally griping.
I understand seeing Goldfinger was a life-changing event for you.
It was the first film I saw in London. I wish I could remember more of the story, but I think Pink Floyd sort of got in the way, there! (laughs) I saw Goldfinger one weekend and Lawrence of Arabia the next. So the seed was sown for the movies, because I'd never seen anything like either one. I was just blown away. I was used to two little cinemas that showed black and white movies. Suddenly, you're seeing this unbelievable character. Actually, it was Oddjob that captured my imagination in that film, he and Shirley Eaton, covered in gold paint. And the fight sequence at the end in Fort Knox, where all the money in the world was. The gold bars. The music. It was just kind of visceral. You could feel it. I was hooked on movies ever since. And that was the start of my movie education, so to speak, and I started going to the movies every weekend. The films of Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen were big influences, as well.
It must've been a thrill for you to re-interpret Thomas Crown.
I didn't know much about McQueen as a person until I was working on the movie, and on the plane they showed a documentary called Steve McQueen: King of Cool. And that always scared the shit out of me, because he was the coolest dude. How do you out-cool the king of cool? Well, you don't! (laughs) But when I watched that film, I was blown away by the similarities of our childhoods. But when I was making the movie it was just a lovely affirmation that maybe he would have dug what I was doing. He had an influence on me, without question, the way he moved, his style. At the same time, when I discovered acting, I wanted to do theater, I wanted to do Shakespeare. When I discovered the theater, I finally got an education in literature and life.
Tell us about some of your favorite theatrical work.
I did a play with Tennessee Williams called The Red Devil Battery Site. It wasn't one of his most famous pieces, theatrically... Tennessee was near the end at that point. He didn't know that. No man does, but he was very gracious and always this twinkle in his eye. He was captivating. Brando was a mighty influence on me when I started as an actor, but he wasn't accessible, because he was so gifted. Whereas McQueen I always felt was accessible. By the time I discovered Brando, he had a complexity and a spirit of nature that was from another planet! So here I am working with Tennessee Williams, who'd worked with Brando. And Tennessee was very gracious to me. I was understudying the second male lead in the play. I had two lines in the end, as a member of a gang. About eight days into rehearsal, the guy I was understudying, I could see he was in trouble. They called me into the office and said "Do you know this role?" I said 'I know it inside out.' So I went out to Tennessee's house to audition. And I knew then that a door to an opportunity had opened. You just know that shit when you're young, and you've got to know it when you're older, too. So I went round to his place in Sloan Square, and there was Tennessee. I did the scene and I got the role, and it was a huge break. Franco Zeffirelli saw me and cast me in a play that he did. Tennessee was there for me, so to speak. He sent me a telegram opening night which said "Thank God for you, dear boy. Tennessee Williams." (laughs) I still have (the telegram)." When I worked with Joan Plowright, I got to have lunch with her and the great Laurence Olivier. I did workshops with La Mama, which was an amazing American company that opened my eyes to a whole new learning experience... You find the people that you can learn from, sit at their feet, and learn. I've been very lucky.
Your first film was the gangster classic The Long Good Friday.
My agent called me up and said "You've got a job." That was it. I didn't get a script. They told me I was an IRA hitman. I had no idea what I was in. I knew Bob Hoskins was great. I knew the guy who wrote it, Barrie Keeffe, had written some good plays. I knew it had violence to it, that it took place in South London. That's as much as I knew. Nobody invited me to the premiere. I went to a regular screening, and it turned out to be a killer movie, a classic.
Then you did The Manions of America, moved to the U.S., and did Remington Steele.
Yes, it was the happiest, wildest, greatest time of my life. It had endless opportunities, possibilities and it also came with the disillusionment that I wasn't quite there yet. I came here with the idea that I'd work with Scorsese. Taxi Driver, one of my all-time favorite films, I saw it 12 times during my days at drama school. I had dreams of doing films. I came and they offered me a TV series. And I was very happy, very proud. I owe a lot to my late wife, Cassandra, because she was the one who spurred me on to do it. If she'd listened to me, we'd still be back in South London, doing theater work. But coming to America was mighty. I'd always dreamt about America. When I was a little boy and came to England from Ireland, I looked for all the big cars and high rises, thinking England was America. I confused it. It wasn't. (laughs) But The Manions of America was my ticket to America and the performance had a rawness and an energy to it that I haven't had onscreen since then, irony of ironies, which I'd like to get back to.
Brosnan and co-star Stephanie Zimbalist in a publicity shot for Remington Steele.
Losing the chance to play Bond in '86 because of the contractual obligation to Steele must have been devastating.
It was. It was a knife in the heart. And not just for me, for my family, because we moved our children back to England and got fucked over by very short people. You get over it. It's just being an actor. Shit happens like that. But Remington Steele, fond memories. It was scary, too, because I'd never worked so fast before. Bob Butler, who created Hill Street Blues, let me play with a lot of pace, and move dialogue around a lot, and consequently they wrote more dialogue for me. It was a wonderful learning experience, but I also learned bad habits that didn't translate to movies. But I created a character that I loved, and I hope that others loved as well.
Your Thomas Crown Affair is the only remake I can think of that's better than the original.
Yeah, I've gotta say, thank you. It is. (laughs) It was a glorious finding of each other, John McTiernan and myself. We had a good script and I came bearing gifts to this guy, and he's someone that I really respect and admire as a filmmaker. Once he signed on, it went to another elevation of story. We made it our own, and I tried to make it my own, and not be too fearful of "the king of cool." Somewhere I think he was looking over us going "Way to go.". But now it's time to shake that sort of cinematic confidence up and get down and be mean, or do a romantic comedy. It's an exciting time. It's been a great ride.
I know you're very concerned about environmental and women's health issues.
I think they go hand-in-hand. First of all, I've got a great woman in my life right now and lucky me that I found someone that can make me feel strong and want to stand up and face the world together. I've stood up for woman's health care because it pissed off and angered me to see my children go through the loss of their mother. It was one of the most devastating things that any person can go through, to lose their partner and the parent to their child. So cancer I would love to see eradicated. The environmental work I've done stems from that. The people I've met and the journey I've been on has taught me that we've got a small planet and we're growing very fast. I love the forests. I love the oceans. So I've lent my name to certain causes and issues and it's all come about at a time when I've become a little more famous than I was.
Do you think a lot of that environmental concern stems from your childhood in Ireland?
Sure. I grew up in the countryside in one of the tiniest islands on the planet. One of the lushest, one of the greenest, one of the cleanest. I love nature, but if we carry on the way we've been going, we won't have a lot of it left. I have children, and for my children's children, I'd like to leave something behind. I travel the world and see a lot of negligence. Negligence from corporations and people trying to make a fast buck by pulling the guts out of a forest, or down in Baja, Mexico at St. Ignacio lagoon, Mitsubishi wants to go down there and make it into a salt mine. It's where the gray whales go, their breeding ground. That's one of my things. You have to choose one or two things, otherwise you spread yourself too thin, and can't be effective.
Brosnan with first wife, actress Cassandra Harris, and their children, Sean and Charlotte.
I heard that you and Keely had an interesting meeting with Newt Gingrich not long ago.
Yeah, a couple years ago. We went to talk to him about the dolphin bill. We met up with him after we saw him on the Jay Leno show. We got to him through his mom, who's a big Remington Steele fan. So there you go. You use it anyway you can. Our meeting helped things for a while, but the dolphin issue bill is still pending, and they're still going out there, trying to kill dolphins.
Is there an address or website people can contact who'd like to get involved with these causes?
There are. You can go to the NRDC, the National Resources for Defense, for which I'm a board member. You can go to the American Oceans Campaign, for which I'm also on the board. They're both brilliant. Planet Ark, an Australian outfit, is also wonderful. They're non-confrontational, and just deal with information, and education for young people. If this planet is gonna survive, it's gonna be through the kids. Our forefathers really botched it up here, and didn't pay attention.
What's next on your slate?
I've got a film called Grey Owl that I did last year for Richard Attenborough. It's a true story. Grey Owl was an Ojibwa Indian who later became a well-known conservationist, wrote a great deal about the environment. It was a wonderful experience because I got to spend time in the Indian community and had a wonderful educational experience. I think it's a good film. It's a film that's close to my heart. I think it will find an audience, and already has up in Canada, where it's been released. It's a quiet piece, and I think it has resonance at the story's end. Grey Owl was a character I related to a great deal. His background was similar to mine. He was abandoned by his parents and brought up by his aunts. He left Hastings, England in the 1930s and dreamt about becoming an Indian, and did it. We portrayed the nice side of his life, but he was an alcoholic, a bigamist, a scalawag at heart. But he became an Indian, became an amazing trapper, then a young woman turned his life around and he began to write. She was a full-blooded Pawnee. She got him to stop trapping and start writing. He became a sensation and toured the world. In England, he was like a rock star. Then on his deathbed, they discovered he was a white Englishman! I think they're waiting to release it here until Bond and Thomas Crown die down. That's the wonderful thing about having a character like Bond in my back pocket: I can do these small films, big films, or anything I damn well please, really. It's a sweet time.
Follow Alex Simon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexRsimon
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| The Long Good Friday |
What is the longest chapter in a book of the Bible? | The Long Good Friday (1980) - IMDb
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The Long Good Friday ( 1980 )
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Harold, a prosperous English gangster, is about to close a lucrative new deal when bombs start showing up in very inconvenient places. A mysterious syndicate is trying to muscle in on his ... See full summary »
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Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X
George has just been released from prison, and manages to get a job driving a call girl from customer to customer. Initially they don't get on; he doesn't fit in with the high class customers Simone services. Will they ever get on?
Director: Neil Jordan
When his brother dies under mysterious circumstances in a car accident, London gangster Jack Carter travels to Newcastle to investigate.
Director: Mike Hodges
Brutal gangster Don Logan recruits "retired" safecracker Gal for one last job, but it goes badly for both of them.
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Uncompromising story of life in a Borstal prison, a British juvenile offender institution in the 70's
Director: Alan Clarke
Detective Philip Marlowe tries to help a friend who is accused of murdering his wife.
Director: Robert Altman
Chronicles the rise and fall of a prominent, and particularly ruthless English gangster.
Director: Paul McGuigan
Edit
Storyline
Harold, a prosperous English gangster, is about to close a lucrative new deal when bombs start showing up in very inconvenient places. A mysterious syndicate is trying to muscle in on his action, and Harold wants to know who they are. He finds out soon enough, and bloody mayhem ensues. Written by Marty Cassady <[email protected]>
Who lit the fuse that tore Harold's world apart? See more »
Genres:
2 April 1982 (USA) See more »
Also Known As:
Crni petak za gangstere See more »
Filming Locations:
Apparently, real life gangsters attended the filming. See more »
Goofs
The last shot of the swimming pool being drained is actually water coming in, but shown in reverse. See more »
Quotes
(Boston,MA) – See all my reviews
I love movies and this is one of my all time favorites. I think Bob Hoskins is one of the most underrated actors of all time. The movie is incredibly entertaining to watch and interestingly enough it marks the beginning of Pierce Brosnan's career (pool scene). The characters are fascinating especially Harold. It is also very interesting to observe him as his grip upon his gangster empire on brink of creating a partnership across the Atlantic slips through his fingers because of a mistake. In the final scene Bob Hoskins does an awe inspiring job of relaying all the emotion and anguish without saying a single word. Fantastic. I highly recommend that everyone see this movie.
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| i don't know |
What is the branch of medicine called that is concerned with the causes and effects of disease? | Branches of medicine | Medicine branches | Medicine | Medical Schools
Branches of Medicine
Medical schools » Medicine » Branches of medicine
Branches of medicine
Medicine as a career has a variety of specializations; but focusing in the branches with more demand that help you as a future doctor to define your specialty, the list is as follow. Consider that depend of your country, some of the branches of medicine could get a difference in the names. In this sense we make a reference to the main branches offered in the majority of countries.
Basic sciences
In general the basic sciences are related to the study and to the training; receive by every student as a part of their medicine career.
Anatomy is the branch of medicine and biology which is concerned with the shape and structure of body and the relationship of its organs. Also related to morphology of animals and plants.
Biochemistry is the branch of chemistry studying the chemical behavior in living systems. It also applied to dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacology in which a biochemist could investigate a drug action.
Biostatistics, also referred as a biometry, it is the use of statistical tests to analyze biological data and the interpretation of its results.
Cytology or cell biology is the branch of science life that deals with the structure, composition, function of cells, and also the interaction between them in an environment in which they exists.
Embryology is the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms, from the ovum´s fertilization to the fetus stage.
Endocrinology is the branch of medicine and biology related to the specific secretions called hormones and their effect of the endocrine organs which include thyroid, adrenals, pituitary, ovaries, pancreas and testes.
Epidemiology is the study of the occurrence, distribution, and control of diseases in populations within public health, causes by a virus, bacteria or some other factor.
Genetics is part of the biology and concern the study of genes, heredity and their effects on inheritance of specific traits and on other biological processes.
Histology is the branch of medicine and biology that study the microscopic structure of cells and tissues under a light microscope.
Immunology considered as the main branch of medical science that deals with all mechanics physiological of the biological integral defense of all organisms, called the immune system.
Microbiology is the science that studies microscopic organisms, specifically for them which are under the power of human eye.
Molecular biology is the branch of biology and chemistry and deals with the study molecular of the process developed in the organisms.
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Actually is part of chemistry, engineering, mathematics, philosophy and psychology fields.
Nutrition is the study of dietary requirements for people. Know the composition of food will help to prevent health problems.
Pathology is the study of disease, its causes, mechanisms and effects on the organisms.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their origin, nature, properties and effects upon living organisms. Is related to biological effects causes by drugs on organisms.
Physiology is the branch of medicine and closely related to the anatomy, physiology deals with the activities and processes of living organisms, as well as mechanical and physical functions.
Toxicology is closely related to medicine, chemistry and biology, basically is the study of the nature, effects and detection of poisons and the treatment of poisoning.
Medical Specialties
Once students have concluded the medical school is common that they want to reinforce their studies following a specialty of medicine inside surgical, internal medicine, diagnostic or clinical specialties. Consider these common specialties around world-wide to take a final decision.
Diagnostic Specialties
These specialties are generally take place inside a clinical laboratory, where investigation and screening procedures are realized also taking a count transfusion and the cell therapy.
Allergology concern the study of allergies and hypersensitivity disorder on immunology system.
Angiology is the study of circulatory and lymphatic system, their arteries, vases, veins and its diseases.
Cardiology deals with the disorders of the heart as a subspecialty of internal medicine and at the same time it is divided in congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease and electrophysiology.
Cellular pathology is the study of cellular alterations in disease.
Clinical chemistry is related with diagnosis by making biochemical analysis of blood, body fluids and tissues.
Clinical microbiology is concerned with the in vitro diagnosis of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Clinical immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms.
Endocrinology as a subspecialty of internal medicine concern the diagnostic and treat of endocrine organs.
Gastroenterology is part of internal medicine and comprises the study of gastrointestinal tract whereby the digestive system, diseases and treatments.
Hematology is the study of blood diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Interventional radiology is an area of specialty within the field of radiology which uses various radiological techniques.
Nephrology is a branch of the internal medicine and study the function of kidney, treatments and disease that include dialysis and renal transplant.
Nuclear Medicine is a branch of medicine specializing within the field of radiology in the use of radionuclides for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Ophtalmology is dealing with disorders and surgery of the visual pathways closely related to anatomy, physiology of the eye.
Paediatrics or pediatrics deals with the health care of children to adolescents´ average to 18 years old.
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery is a branch of internal medicine and it concerns all operations in order to restore parts of body to look normal.
Transfusion medicine is related with the transfusion of blood and blood component, as well as the maintenance of a "blood bank".
Urology is inside surgical and internal specialty and are closely related to the nephrology, it study the diseases of the male reproductive system and the urinary tract.
Clinical Specialties
As a part of medical specialties we can mention the main specialties considered world-wide.
Anesthesiology (AE) or anaesthesia (BE) an anesthesiologist administers anesthesia and monitors patients under anesthesia during surgery and other medical procedures.
Dermatology is the branch of medicine and the unique specialty that join medical and surgery specialties. It deals with diseases and disorders of the skin and its appendages.
Emergency medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with care and treatment of a condition resulting from an accident or other urgent need.
Hospital medicine is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Doctors whose principal professional focus is hospital medicine are called hospitalists.
Internal medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions for adult people.
Naturopathic medicine is a system of medicine that believes in the body's natural healing forces.
Neurology is the branch of science that deals with the structure, functioning and diseases of the nervous system.
Obstetrics and gynecology (often abbreviated as Ob/Gyn) is the field of medicine devoted to conditions specific to women.
Palliative care is an approach to life-threatening chronic illnesses, especially at the end of life.
Interdisciplinary fields
The interdisciplinary fields include sub-specialties of medicine. Consider the list below.
Aviation medicine applies medical knowledge to human activities to prevent diseases in pilots and aircrews as patients, in the aviation field.
Bioethics is the branch of ethics that studies moral values in the biomedical sciences.
Biomedical Engineering is a field that deals with the application of engineering principles to medical practice.
Clinical pharmacology is a field of medicine that studies the effects of drugs on people.
Conservation medicine is the study the connection between human and animal health, and environmental conditions.
Diving medicine (or hyperbaric medicine) is the avoidance and treatment of diving-related problems.
Forensic medicine is the branch of medical science that uses medical knowledge for legal purposes.
Keraunomedicine is a division of medical study pertaining to lightning injuries.
Medical informatics, medical computer science, medical information and eHealth are moderately recent fields that deal with the application of computers and information technology to medicine.
Nosology is the branch of medical science dealing with the classification of disease.
Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variation underlying differential response to drugs.
Sports medicine deals with the treatment and preventive care of athletes, amateur and professional
Therapeutics is the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of disease.
Travel medicine or emporiatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and management of health problems of international.
| Pathology |
Who wrote the 1973 novel ‘A Fairy Tale of New York’? | Piles: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments - Medical News Today
Piles: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Written by Christian Nordqvist
4 194
Piles are hemorrhoids that become inflamed. Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal - they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers.
Although hemorrhoids are thought of as unpleasant inflammations, we all have them.1 It is when the hemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed) that problems occur - when this happens they are called piles or pathological hemorrhoids.2
Contents of this article:
You will also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that have been covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about related conditions.
Fast facts on piles
Here are some key points about piles. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
Piles are hemorrhoids that become inflamed.
The size of piles can vary and are found inside or outside the anus.
Half the US population are affected by piles, usually before the age of 50.4
Around 10% of patients who go and see their doctor about piles, require surgical treatment.2
Piles are often not serious and go away on their own.5
Internal hemorrhoids are ordered into four grades.7
External hemorrhoids are called perianal hematoma.
Piles occur due to chronic constipation , chronic diarrhea , lifting heavy weights, pregnancy or straining when passing a stool.
A doctor can usually diagnose piles rapidly on examination.
For grades 3 or 4 hemorrhoids, surgery may be necessary.
What are piles?
Piles can be of various sizes and may be internal (inside the anus) or external ones (outside the anus). Typically, internal piles occur from 2 to 4cm above the opening of the anus. External piles (perianal hematoma) occur on the outside edge of the anus. The internal ones are much more common.3
According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), symptomatic hemorrhoids affect at least half the American population at some time in their lives before the age of 50.4
In the majority of cases, piles are effectively treated with over-the-counter medications, a good fluid intake, and by following a diet high in fiber. In severe cases, the piles may have to be surgically removed. About 10% of patients who go and see their doctor about piles eventually require surgical intervention.2
Symptoms of piles
In most cases piles are not serious and go away on their own after a few days.5
An individual with piles may experience the following symptoms:6
A hard lump may be felt around the anus. It consists of coagulated blood, called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. This can be painful
After going to the toilet, a feeling that the bowels are still full
Bright red blood after a bowel movement
Itchiness around the anus
Mucus discharge when emptying the bowels
Pain while defecating
The area around the anus may be red and sore.
Internal hemorrhoids are classified into four grades:7
Grade 1 - there are small inflammations, usually inside the lining of the anus. They are not visible
Grade 2 - larger than grade 1 hemorrhoids, but also inside the anus. When passing a stool, they may get pushed out, but return unaided
Grade 3 - often called 'prolapsed hemorrhoids'; these appear outside the anus. The patient may feel them hanging out. They can be pushed back in if the patient presses with their finger
Grade 4 - these cannot be pushed back in and need to be treated by a doctor. They are large and stay outside the anus all the time.
External hemorrhoids are called perianal hematoma. These are small lumps that are located on the outside edge of the anus. They are very itchy and can be painful if a blood clot forms inside (thrombosed external hemorrhoid). Thrombosed external hemorrhoid requires medical treatment straight away.8
On the next page we look at why piles occur and how they are diagnosed. On the final page we discuss possible complications caused by piles and the available treatments for them.
| i don't know |
Flora, Merryweather and King Hubert are all characters in which Disney film? | Flora, Fauna and Merryweather | Disney Fanon Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Flora, Fauna and Merryweather
Fauna: Quiet, soft spoken, peaceful
Merryweather: Feisty, impulsive, outspoken
Appearance
Flora: Obese, fair skin, gray hair in a bun, brown eyes, both red pointy hat and gown, clear red wings on her back
Fauna: Slender, fair skin, brownish-gray hair in a bun, brown eyes, both green pointy hat and gown, clear green wings on her back, black spectacles (in Sofia the First)
Merryweather: Obese, fair skin, black hair, blue eyes, both blue pointy hat and gown, clear blue wings on her back
Birthday
Headmistresses of Royal Prep (Sofia the First)
Affiliations
Goal
To make sure Aurora doesn't prick her finger on a spinning wheel before the sun sets on her 16th birthday (failed)
Home
Magic, happiness, helping others, joy
Dislikes
Maleficent's evil plots, sadness, Aurora upset, Aurora in danger
Powers and abilities
Wand
Fate
Flora and Merryweather argue over the color of Aurora's gown while Fauna cries tears of joy
Quote
[Source]
Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (known collectively as the Three Good Fairies) are major characters in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty . In the film, Flora is voiced by Verna Felton , Fauna is voiced by Barbara Jo Allen , and Merryweather is voiced by Barbara Luddy .
Contents
[ show ]
Background
The three good fairies are clothed in medieval-styled dresses with a particular color predominating. In addition to the dresses, the outfits are complimented with matching capes and pointy hats secured to their heads with colored veils.
Flora's dress is predominantly red with her petticoat, cape clasp cuffs and hat veil a dark yellow. She appears to be the leader of the group, and based on her dialogue in the film, she seems to deal heavily with flowers and nature; her favorite color is pink. Fauna's outfit is a dark green with accents in a lighter shade of green and she appears to be second-in-command. Despite her tendency towards absentmindedness and obliviousness, she is the quieter and the more introspective than the other two fairies, and often functions as a peacemaker between Flora and Merryweather. Merryweather is dresses in shades of blue, her favorite color, and is distinguished from the others by her diminutive stature. She is feisty, yet pessimistic, resourceful and often challenges Flora's leadership.
As a group they all have powerful magical abilities, channeled by their wands. They can do many things such as shrinking in size, fly, bring inanimate objects to life, and putting people to sleep. Their wings allow them to fly and they maneuver adroitly through the air. Despite their claims that they could only do good things with their magic, they were not above using their powers in morally ambiguous ways: Flora gifted a sword and shield to Prince Phillip (which could be interpreted as promoting violence) while Merryweather turned Diablo into stone. They were also not above using magic for their own convenience and personal desires, as demonstrated through their preparations of gifts for Aurora's 16th birthday party, and in the pink/blue color war between Flora and Merryweather.
Though their magic was stated to be inferior to Maleficent's in raw power, when they work together they were capable of granting people extremely powerful weapons to be used in the cause of righteousness. Such weapons could triumph over the darkest of evil. When they gave Prince Phillip the Shield of Virtue and the Sword of Truth for final fight with Maleficent the sword (boosted by the fairies' combined magic and Flora's incantation) was so empowered it could destroy Maleficent and her evil with one well-aimed blow.
Physical appearance
The three fairies dress very much alike in long medieval style dresses and pointy hats reminiscent of the traditional witches' hat. Flora's signature color is red, but her favorite color is pink. Fauna and Merryweather's favorite and signature colors are green and blue, respectively.
Both Flora and Fauna's eyes are brown while Merryweather's eyes are blue. Flora's hair is gray and Fauna's hair is brownish-gray and they wear it swept back and up into a pompadour and a bun. Merryweather's hair is black and she also wears it in a bun, but her veil, which covers the entire back of her head makes it hard to see exactly how the hair is styled. This suggests that Merryweather is younger than both Flora and Fauna.
Powers and abilities
As members of the Fair Folk, the three fairies function as forces of good and use their magic in its service. They possess various magical abilities that seem to be channeled solely through their wands, and hence they were practically powerless without them. Their first notable acts of magic were the blessings they gave to the baby Princess Aurora. Flora blessed the child with the Gift of Beauty, while Fauna gave the child the Gift of Song.
Before Merryweather could give the child her gift, Maleficent appeared and invoked a curse that would cause the princess to die upon pricking her finger on the spindle of spinning wheel. While Merryweather did not have the power to break the curse, she was able to weaken it and provide a means for the curse to be broken. Instead of dying, Aurora would instead fall into a deep sleep from which only True Love's Kiss would awaken her, breaking the spell.
Flora, while brainstorming ideas to keep the princess safe, stated she could turn Aurora into a flower reasoning that as flowers have no fingers Aurora could not prick hers on a spinning wheel or anything else. Merryweather derailed that course of action by pointing out that it would work fine until Maleficent sent a frost.
The fairies choose instead to disguise themselves as humans by dressing as peasants, hiding their wings and swearing off magic for the duration. It was only during their preparations for Aurora's 16th birthday did they start using magic again: bringing inanimate objects to life to do their bidding, moving objects without touching them (telekinesis), manipulate colors (Flora and Merryweather changing the birthday gown from pink to blue and back again), conjuring a crown out of thin air for Aurora to wear as a Princess (conjuration), making objects disappear, and lighting the tips of their wands to provide light. After Aurora had pricked her finger and fallen into the enchanted sleep, they cast a spell to put the entire kingdom into a similar sleep that will only end when she awakened.
In their quest to rescue Phillip and escort him to Aurora, they again displayed how powerful their magic could truly be: using their wands as cutting torches to free him of his shackles and open the locked door of his cell, conjuring holy weapons (the Shield of Virtue and Sword of Truth), transforming objects (boulders into bubbles, arrows into flowers, burning oil into a rainbow, transformation), and turning living creatures to stone, as Merryweather did to Diablo in an effort to prevent the raven from alerting Maleficent. The most powerful feat they performed was, apparently, blessing the Sword of Truth so that it could kill Maleficent with one well-aimed blow.
Appearances
File:Sleeping-disneyscreencaps com-111.jpg
Flora, Fauna and Merryweather first appear as the invited guests of King Stefan at Aurora's christening. Each fairy intends to give a gift to Princess Aurora . Flora grants her the gift of beauty, while Fauna grants her the gift of song. But before Merryweather can give her gift, Maleficent appears. Insulted by her lack of invitation, Maleficent curses the infant to die, from pricking her finger on a spinning wheel spindle before the sun sets on the princess' 16th birthday. As Maleficent leaves, the fairies realize that Merryweather still hasn't given her gift. Although Merryweather can't undo the curse, as Maleficent's magic is far too powerful, she's able to weaken it by making Aurora fall asleep until awakened by True Love's Kiss.
Feeling that the princess is still in danger, they decide to raise Aurora themselves. An agreement with Aurora's parents is reached: the fairies will raise Aurora for 16 years, until the curse is no longer a threat, and then return her to the palace. They change the princess's name to Briar Rose, and hide her in a cottage in the woods. The fairies then decide to hide as mortals, as their magic will raise attention, and disguise themselves as Briar Rose's aunts.
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16 years later, the fairies prepare a party for Briar Rose on her birthday. After failing in their attempts to bake a cake (Fauna has never cooked before) and sew a dress normally (with Flora, using Merryweather as the mannequin), they decide to use magic after closing off (almost) every crack. Flora uses it to sew the dress, Fauna uses it to bake the cake (and later decorate it), and Merryweather uses it to clean up the room (until she is distracted by seeing the dress being pink).
After she starts an argument over the color of the dress by turning it blue, they try changing the dress and each other's clothes to the opposite colors, and the magic blasts fly up the chimney and attracts the attention Maleficent's henchman, Diablo . The argument ends when both rays hit the dress at exactly the same time, making it a mixture of pink and blue. As Briar Rose is returning from berry picking, Flora quickly turns it to pure pink and hides. Then Merryweather turns it to blue. After Flora points out that the mop is still running, Merryweather uses her magic to make it stop. Briar Rose, who has returned home from berry picking, is surprised. When she tells her "aunts" about the man she met in the woods, they forbid her from seeing him again. The fairies also reveal her true identity as Princess Aurora, as well as the fact that she's already betrothed in an arranged marriage.
The fairies take Aurora back to the castle and take her to a room. After using magic to create a tiara for her, they choose to leave her alone for some time, so as to allow her time to become used to the revelation. However, they hear a faint sound from the room and, realizing that it is Maleficent enchanting Aurora, frantically try to stop the princess, who keeps following Maleficent (as a will-o-the-wisp) up the tower. They warn her not to touch anything, but Maleficent orders Aurora to touch the spindle to trigger the curse. The fairies arrive too late as they run into Maleficent, who briefly mocks them of their efforts of stopping her. She then reveals the fallen princess, who has pricked her finger, before she disappears.
The fairies initially feel guilty for what they have done, but Flora insists that they put everyone in the castle to sleep until Aurora awakens. However, when putting King Hubert to sleep, Flora learns that the man Aurora met in the woods was actually her fiancé, Prince Phillip . Phillip has previously intended to go to the cottage to meet Aurora, so the fairies race back to the cottage. Upon arrival, they are shocked to discover that Phillip's hat is left behind. Deducing that the prince has been captured by Maleficent, the fairies decide to go to Maleficent's domain, the Forbidden Mountain, to rescue him.
The fairies sneak into the Forbidden Mountain and witness a group of Maleficent's Goons celebrating the prince's capture by partying around the bonfire. The fairies follow Maleficent, who has been watching the celebration, to the dungeon, where Phillip is chained to the walls. They wait until Maleficent leaves the dungeon to go sleep in her tower, then they free Phillip and melt the dungeon lock. They arm him with the magical Sword of Truth and Shield of Virtue, both believed to be weapons of righteousness that will triumph over evil. As Phillip and the fairies exit the dungeon, they are confronted by Maleficent's pet raven, Diablo , who calls the Goons.
The Goons drop giant rocks, shoot arrows and pour hot oil, but Flora uses her magic to turn them into bubbles, flowers and a rainbow, respectively. After escaping the Forbidden Mountain, the fairies aid Phillip by protecting him from various obstacles as they make their way to Stefan's castle. Eventually, Phillip is forced into fighting Maleficent in dragon form. The fairies assist Phillip in retreating, but he is cornered at the cliff and loses his shield. Under Flora's direction, the fairies empower his sword, allowing Phillip to throw it straight into the dragon's chest, finally killing the evil enchantress.
With Maleficent gone for good, Phillip and the fairies enter Stefan's castle and go up to the tower where Aurora is in her enchanted sleep. The fairies watch as Phillip gives Aurora Love's First Kiss that awakens her from that sleep. Lastly, the three fairies go to the throne room, where they watch happily as Phillip and Aurora descend the stairs, reunite with their respective parents, and share a dance. But then, Flora notices that Aurora's dress is blue, and uses her magic to turn it pink. This upsets Merryweather, who turns the dress blue, leading to another argument. The argument continues, with the dress keep alternating colors (pink and blue) as the storybook is closed.
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The Three fairies reappear in the first Sleeping Beauty story since the original. Since the death of Maleficent, the fairies have become almost desperate to help Aurora out with anything. While King Stefan, King Hubert, Prince Phillip and Queen Leah are away; Aurora is left in charge. Hubert accidentally forgets his speech at Stefan's castle so the fairies finally help Aurora by going to return it.
While Flora and Fauna leave, Merryweather stays for a few moments to give Aurora her wand in case things become too difficult. After giving Hubert his speech, Flora and Fauna learn the secret Merryweather has been hiding about the wand. While they were gone, the wand's power began to get out of hand but eventually due to Aurora's calm attitude; things were settled down. The fairies returned along with the kings, queen and Phillip. Merryweather regains her wand and they all gather for a banquet put together by Aurora without the use of magic.
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Flora, Fauna and Merryweather appear in the Disney Junior series as the supporting sidekick characters to the titular character Sofia . They are the magical tutors of the young princess and teaches her the ways of the royal highness she will one day become. It is shown in several episodes that Flora and Merryweather have yet to settle the blue-pink debate.
Their largest role in the series to date is in the episode " Make Way for Miss Nettle " where the fairies' former apprentice, Miss Nettle visits the academy to (supposedly) teach an after school gardening class to Sofia and friends. However, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather soon discover Nettle's actually after their spell book, in an attempt to become more powerful than the three fairies combine, betraying them. Fortunately, due to the efforts of Sofia and friends, the fairies are rescued and peace is restored.
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The Three Fairies appear in the 2014 live-action film under different names and are reffered to as The Flower Pixies. Flora (now called Knotgrass) was played by Imelda Staunton , Fauna (Thistlewit) was played by Juno Temple , and Merryweather (Flittle) was played by Lesley Manville .
They grant the infant Aurora with magical gifts but when Maleficent places a curse on the young princess, they take her into hiding and raise her as their niece. They claim they are very good with children but it turns out they are incapable of looking after a child so while they struggle living like humans, Maleficent secretly cares for the princess from a distance and through Diaval while at the same time, pranks the trio just to kill her boredom. They are depicted very differently in this film.
Cameos
The Three Fairies make several cameos in the television series, House of Mouse . In episode "Humphrey in the House", they performed on stage attempting to cook without magic. It is in that episode that they are "revealed" to be sisters. In "Jiminy Cricket", they gave Aurora a sewing machine so she wouldn't have to use a spinning wheel.
In The Lion King 1½ , the Three Fairies make a brief cameo at the end of movie.
Video games
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Flora, Fauna and Merryweather live with Master Yen Sid in his tower in Kingdom Hearts II . They originally come from the Enchanted Dominion world and appear in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep . The three fairies also appear on Aurora's pillar during Sora's Awakening in Kingdom Hearts .
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
The three fairies appear during Ventus 's visit after Maleficent took Aurora 's heart using Terra 's darkness. Together, they descend into Maleficent's castle to retrieve her heart. After her heart is released, Ventus meets Maleficent in a battle and before Aqua arrives. With Ventus gone, the three fairies find Aqua in a cell, where they meet Prince Phillip , the only true love who can break the curse laid upon Princess Aurora. The three fairies help Aqua and Prince Phillip to the castle and defeat Maleficent in dragon form. At the end of the story, Prince Phillip kisses Aurora and breaks the spell.
During the ending credits, the three fairies observe the couple as they dance. But when Flora sees the blue color on Aurora's dress, she changes it to pink and Merryweather changes it back to blue. This continues until the video fades out on the couple.
Kingdom Hearts II
The three fairies give Sora his new outfit after he wakes from his year-long sleep, as well as the Star Seeker Keyblade and the ability to use Drive. When Diablo brings Maleficent's robe to Yen Sid's tower , the fairies' memories accidentally bring her back to life.
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Template:KHWiki Although they don't appear physically, The three fairies were briefly mentioned in the game. Yen Sid mentions to Mickey , Donald and Goofy that Lea is being trained to summon the Keyblade in a magically suppressed training session under the three fairies and Merlin .
Fandom
They are also members of the Council of Royals helping in anyway they can. And bless children all over royalty or not with gifts that cannot be bot with gold.
| Sleeping Beauty |
Footvolley, a variation of football, originated in which country? | Flora, Fauna and Merryweather | Jack Miller's Webpage of Disney Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Jack Miller's Webpage of Disney Wiki
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess
Maleficent
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (mentioned only)
Kinect Disneyland Adventures (mentioned only)
Voice
Verna Felton Tress MacNeille (House of Mouse) Barbara Dirikson Susanne Blakeslee (current)
Fauna: Barbara Jo Allen Russi Taylor (current)
Merryweather: Barbara Luddy Tress MacNeille (current)
Portrayed by
Fauna: Quiet, soft spoken, peaceful, pragmatic
Merryweather: Feisty, impulsive, outspoken
Aurora, Prince Phillip, King Hubert, Queen Leah, King Stefan
Enemies
Magic, happiness, helping others, joy, Aurora's dress being pink (Flora), Aurora's dress being blue (Merryweather)
Dislikes
Maleficent's evil plots, sadness, Aurora upset, Aurora in danger, Aurora's dress being pink (Merryweather), Aurora's dress being blue (Flora)
Quotes
Merryweather: "Make it blue!"
Fauna: (sniffles happily in tears) "Oh, I just love happy endings."
Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (known collectively as the Three Good Fairies) are major characters in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty . In the film, Flora is voiced by Verna Felton, Fauna is voiced by Barbara Jo Allen, and Merryweather is voiced by Barbara Luddy.
Background
Edit
The three good fairies are clothed in medieval-styled dresses with a particular color predominating. In addition to the dresses, the outfits are complimented with matching capes and pointy hats secured to their heads with colored veils.
Flora's dress is predominantly red with her petticoat, cape clasp cuffs and hat veil a dark yellow. She appears to be the leader of the group, and based on her dialogue in the film, she seems to deal heavily with flowers and nature; her favorite color is pink. Fauna's outfit is a dark green with accents in a lighter shade of green and she appears to be second-in-command. Despite her tendency towards absentmindedness and obliviousness, she is the quieter and the more introspective than the other two fairies, and often functions as a peacemaker between Flora and Merryweather. Merryweather is dressed in shades of blue, her favorite color, and is distinguished from the others by her diminutive stature. She is feisty, yet pessimistic, resourceful and often challenges Flora's leadership.
As a group they all have powerful magical abilities, channeled by their wands. They can do many things such as shrinking in size, fly, bring inanimate objects to life, and putting people to sleep. Their wings allow them to fly and they maneuver adroitly through the air. Despite their claims that they could only do good things with their magic, they were not above using their powers in morally ambiguous ways: Flora gifted a sword and shield to Prince Phillip (which could be interpreted as promoting violence) while Merryweather turned Diablo into stone. They were also not above using magic for their own convenience and personal desires, as demonstrated through their preparations of gifts for Aurora's 16th birthday party, and in the pink/blue color war between Flora and Merryweather.
Though their magic was stated to be inferior to Maleficent's in raw power, when they work together they were capable of granting people extremely powerful weapons to be used in the cause of righteousness. Such weapons could triumph over the darkest of evil. When they gave Prince Phillip the Shield of Virtue and the Sword of Truth (possible parodies of the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit from the Bible, seeing as how their names are almost synonyms [ref. John 14:6]) for the final fight with Maleficent the sword (boosted by the fairies' combined magic and Flora's incantation) was so empowered it could destroy Maleficent and her evil with one well-aimed blow.
Physical Appearance
Edit
The three fairies dress very much alike in long medieval style dresses and pointy hats reminiscent of the traditional witches' hat. Flora's signature color is red, but her favorite color is pink. Fauna and Merryweather's favorite and signature colors are green and blue, respectively.
Both Flora and Fauna's eyes are brown while Merryweather's eyes are blue. Flora's hair is gray and Fauna's hair is brownish-gray and they wear it swept back and up into a pompadour and a bun. Merryweather's hair is black and she also wears it in a bun, but her veil, which covers the entire back of her head makes it hard to see exactly how the hair is styled. This suggests that Merryweather is younger than both Flora and Fauna.
Powers and Abilities
Edit
As members of the Fair Folk, the three fairies function as forces of good and use their magic in its service. They possess various magical abilities that seem to be channeled solely through their wands, and hence they were practically powerless without them. Their first notable acts of magic were the blessings they gave to the baby Princess Aurora. Flora blessed the child with the Gift of Beauty, while Fauna gave the child the Gift of Song.
Before Merryweather could give the child her gift, Maleficent appeared and invoked a curse that would cause the princess to die upon pricking her finger on the spindle of spinning wheel. While Merryweather did not have the power to break the curse, she was able to weaken it and provide a means for the curse to be broken. Instead of dying, Aurora would instead fall into a deep sleep from which only True Love's Kiss would awaken her, breaking the spell.
Flora, while brainstorming ideas to keep the princess safe, stated she could turn Aurora into a flower reasoning that as flowers have no fingers Aurora could not prick hers on a spinning wheel or anything else. Merryweather derailed that course of action by pointing out that it would work fine until Maleficent sends a frost.
The fairies choose instead to disguise themselves as humans by dressing as peasants, hiding their wings and swearing off magic for the duration. It was only during their preparations for Aurora's 16th birthday did they start using magic again: bringing inanimate objects to life to do their bidding, moving objects without touching them (telekinesis), manipulate colors (Flora and Merryweather changing the birthday gown from pink to blue and back again), conjuring a crown out of thin air for Aurora to wear as a Princess (conjuration), making objects disappear, and lighting the tips of their wands to provide light. After Aurora had pricked her finger and fallen into the enchanted sleep, they cast a spell to put the entire kingdom into a similar sleep that will only end when she awakened.
In their quest to rescue Phillip and escort him to Aurora, they again displayed how powerful their magic could truly be: using their wands as cutting torches to free him of his shackles and open the locked door of his cell, conjuring holy weapons (the Shield of Virtue and Sword of Truth), transforming objects (boulders into bubbles, arrows into flowers, burning oil into a rainbow, transformation), and turning living creatures to stone, as Merryweather did to Diablo in an effort to prevent the raven from alerting Maleficent. The most powerful feat they performed was, apparently, blessing the Sword of Truth so that it could kill Maleficent with one well-aimed blow.
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In which country was actress Audrey Hepburn born? | Audrey Hepburn - Biography - IMDb
Audrey Hepburn
Biography
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Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (4) | Trivia (92) | Personal Quotes (23) | Salary (16)
Overview (5)
5' 7" (1.7 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Audrey Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She was a blue-blood and a cosmopolitan from birth. Her mother, Ella van Heemstra, was a Dutch baroness; Audrey's father, Joseph Victor Anthony Hepburn-Ruston, was born in Úzice, Bohemia, of English and Austrian descent, and worked in business.
After her parents divorced, Audrey went to London with her mother where she went to a private girls school. Later, when her mother moved back to the Netherlands, she attended private schools as well. While she vacationed with her mother in Arnhem, Netherlands, Hitler's army took over the town. It was here that she fell on hard times during the Nazi occupation. Audrey suffered from depression and malnutrition.
After the liberation, she went to a ballet school in London on a scholarship and later began a modeling career. As a model, she was graceful and, it seemed, she had found her niche in life--until the film producers came calling. In 1948, after being spotted modeling by a producer, she was signed to a bit part in the European film Dutch in Seven Lessons (1948).
Later, she had a speaking role in the 1951 film, Young Wives' Tale (1951) as Eve Lester. The part still wasn't much, so she headed to America to try her luck there. Audrey gained immediate prominence in the US with her role in Roman Holiday (1953) in 1953. This film turned out to be a smashing success, and she won an Oscar as Best Actress. This gained her enormous popularity and more plum roles.
In contrast to the "sex goddesses" of the silver screen, Audrey Hepburn had a more wholesome beauty and an aura of innocence and class about her which gained her many devoted fans.
Roman Holiday (1953) was followed by another similarly wonderful performance in the 1957 classic Funny Face (1957). Sabrina (1954), in 1954, for which she received another Academy nomination, and Love in the Afternoon (1957), in 1957, also garnered rave reviews. In 1959, she received yet another nomination for her role in The Nun's Story (1959).
Audrey reached the pinnacle of her career when she played Holly Golightly in the delightful film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)in 1961. For this she received another Oscar nomination. She scored commercial success again in the espionage caper Charade (1963). One of Audrey's most radiant roles was in the fine production of My Fair Lady (1964) in 1964. Her co-star, Rex Harrison , once was asked to identify his favorite leading lady. Without hesitation, he replied, "Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady.'" After a couple of other movies, most notably Two for the Road (1967), she hit pay dirt and another nomination in 1967's Wait Until Dark (1967).
By the end of the sixties, after her divorce from actor Mel Ferrer , Audrey decided to retire while she was on top. Later she married Dr. Andrea Dotti. From time to time, she would appear on the silver screen. One film of note was Robin and Marian (1976), with Sean Connery in 1976.
In 1988, Audrey became a special ambassador to the United Nations UNICEF fund helping children in Latin America and Africa, a position she retained until 1993. She was named to People's magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. Her last film was Always (1989) in 1989.
Audrey Hepburn died on January 20, 1993 in Tolochnaz, Switzerland, from appendicular cancer. She had made a total of 31 high quality movies. Her elegance and style will always be remembered in film history as evidenced by her being named in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time."
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson and Volker Boehm
Spouse (2)
Often cast opposite leading men who were considerably older than she was.
Often played classy High Society women.
Charming characters who try to wear their troubles lightly
Delicate thin frame
Was first choice for the lead in A Taste of Honey (1961).
Ranked #50 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Mother of Sean H. Ferrer , with first husband, Mel Ferrer .
Son, Luca Dotti (b. 8 February 1970), with second husband, Dr. Andrea Dotti.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1990]
After Wait Until Dark (1967) was offered the leads in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), 40 Carats (1973), Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), The Exorcist (1973), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and The Turning Point (1977) but decided to stay in retirement and raise her sons.
Interred in Tolochenaz, Vaud, Switzerland.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#8). [1995]
Turned down the film Gigi (1958) after creating the character in the Broadway non musical play.
Had a breed of tulip named after her in 1990.
Died on January 20, 1993, the day of Bill Clinton 's first inauguration as President of the United States and the 67th birthday of Patricia Neal . They starred together in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).
She won the 1953 Best Actress Academy Award for Roman Holiday (1953). On March 25th, 1954, she accepted the award from the much revered Academy president Jean Hersholt . After accepting the award, Audrey kissed him smack on the mouth, instead of the cheek, in her excitement. Minutes after accepting her 1953 Oscar, Audrey realized that she'd misplaced it. Turning quickly on the steps of the Center Theater in New York, she raced back to the ladies' room, retrieved the award, and was ready to pose for photographs.
Christened simply Audrey Kathleen Ruston, her mother Baroness Ella Van Heemstra temporarily changed her daughter's name from "Audrey" to "Edda" during the war, feeling that "Audrey" might indicate her British roots too strongly. During the war, being English in occupied Netherlands was not an asset; it could have attracted the attention of the occupying German forces and resulted in confinement or even deportation. After the war her father Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston found documents about his ancestors, some of whom bore the name "Hepburn". This is when he added it to his name, which caused her daughter to have to add Hepburn to her legal name as well, thus Audrey Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston.
Was fluent in English, Dutch, Spanish, French, and Italian. She was raised bilingually; speaking English and Dutch (resulting in her unique accent). Throughout her life, she used multilingualism to great advantage with international press in both her careers as an actress and humanitarian.
Was briefly considered for the main role in Cleopatra (1963) but the part went to Elizabeth Taylor
She confessed to eating tulip bulbs and tried to bake grass into bread during the hard days of World War II.
Audrey felt that she was miscast as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) although it was one of her most popular roles.
Was trained as a dental assistant before making it big.
Henry Mancini said of her: "'Moon River' was written for her. No one else had ever understood it so completely. There have been more than a thousand versions of 'Moon River', but hers is inquestionably the greatest".
Turned down a role in the film The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) because, as a young girl in the Netherlands during the war, she had witnessed Nazi soldiers publicly executing people in the streets and herding Jews onto railroad cars to be sent to the death camps. She said that participating in the film would bring back too many painful memories for her. Years later, in 1990, during her humanitarian career, she accompanied composer Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony orchestra to narrate portions of Frank's diary for a symphonic work he had written, "From The Diary of Anne Frank", which she performed on a small tour in the United States and London. Proceeds from all the concerts benefited UNICEF.
Like Humphrey Bogart , Hepburn also starred in five of the movies listed by American Film Institute in its Top 100 U.S. love stories (2002). They are Roman Holiday (1953), ranked #4 on the list, Sabrina (1954) ranked #54, which co-starred Bogart, My Fair Lady (1964) ranked #12, Two for the Road (1967) at #57 and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) #61.
During the battle of Arnhem, 16-year-old Audrey was a volunteer nurse in a Dutch hospital. The hospital received many wounded Allied soldiers, one of whom young Audrey helped nurse back to health was a young British paratrooper - and future director - named Terence Young . More than 20 years later, Young directed Hepburn in Wait Until Dark (1967).
In 1954 she was presented with her Best Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday (1953) by Jean Hersholt . In 1993 she was posthumously awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
During World War II, she lived in Arnhem, Netherlands. She worked with the Dutch Underground, giving ballet performances to collect donations for the anti-Nazi effort and as an occasional courier. She also received dance training and later studied ballet in London.
Presented the Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards four times (in 1955, 1960, 1966, and 1975), more than any other actress.
Told People Magazine that she was very self-conscious about her size-10 feet.
She was voted the 21st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
In 1993 she became the thirteenth performer to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Oscar - Best Actress for Roman Holiday (1953), Tony for Best Actress in a Play for "Ondine" (1954) and Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement
Was fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy 's muse, who dressed her for the films Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), Love in the Afternoon (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Paris When It Sizzles (1964), How to Steal a Million (1966), Charade (1963) and Love Among Thieves (1987).
In 1996 the British magazine Harpers & Queen conducted a poll to find the most fascinating women of our time. She was in the #1 spot.
As of 2005, she is one of only nine performers to win an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy and a Grammy Award.
Her father was of approximately one quarter English and three quarters Austrian descent. Her mother was Dutch, with remote French and English roots. Some reports incorrectly identified Audrey as having Irish ancestry on her paternal side (which even she believed), but her father's only ties to Ireland were having resided there in the latter part of his life.
Followed winning the Academy Award for Roman Holiday (1953) with winning Broadway's 1954 Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "Ondine."
Voted #1 in TheAge.com's Top 100: Natural Beauties of all time.
She owned a Yorkshire Terrier called "Mr. Famous".
She was voted the 18th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.
Was named #3 on The American Film Institute's 50 Greatest Screen Legends
Her biggest film regret was not getting the Anne Bancroft role in The Turning Point (1977). "That was the one film", she later admitted, "that got away from me."
Is portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt in The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000)
When she failed to receive an Academy Award nomination for her role as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1964), Katharine Hepburn wired her with a message of encouragement: "Don't worry about it. You'll get it one day for a part that doesn't rate it." Ironically, when Audrey's next (and last) nomination came for Wait Until Dark (1967) in 1967, Hepburn beat her in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) - in a part that arguably didn't rate it.
Her character in Funny Face (1957) was inspired by Suzy Parker , who made a fashionable cameo appearance in the film (her first film) in the "Think Pink" sequence.
According to her biography, "Audrey Hepburn: An Intimate Portrait", she made a vow to herself never to exceed 103 pounds. With the exception of her pregnancies, she succeeded.
Turned down the title role in Gigi (1958) to make Funny Face (1957). Ironically, her agent initially rejected the film, but Hepburn overrode the decision after reading the script. Her mother, Baroness Ella Van Heemstra , makes a cameo appearance as a sidewalk café patron, and her Yorkshire terrier "Mr. Famous" appears as the dog in the basket during the "Anna Karenina" train shot. Hepburn did not want to be separated from husband Mel Ferrer , so filming of the Paris scenes was timed to coincide with Ferrer's filming of Elena and Her Men (1956). Paris' unseasonably rainy weather had to be worked into the script, particularly during the balloons photo shoot scene. During filming of the Paris scenes, much of the crew and cast were on edge because of riots and political violence that were gripping the city. The soggy weather played havoc with the shooting of the wedding dress dance scene. Both Fred Astaire and Hepburn were continually slipping in the muddy and slippery grass. In "Funny Face" she was lucky enough to sing several songs. Her next full musical, My Fair Lady (1964), had her singing voice dubbed by Marni Nixon , much to Hepburn's disappointment. The face portrait unveiled in the darkroom scene was photographed by Richard Avedon . The film was shot back-to-back with Love in the Afternoon (1957).
According to director William Friedkin , Audrey was Warner Bros. first choice for the role of Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973) after her box-office successes with the studio's productions The Nun's Story (1959), My Fair Lady (1964) and Wait Until Dark (1967). She would only agree to star if the film were made in Rome, so that she would be able to remain home to raise her sons. Both Friedkin and writer William Peter Blatty rejected the proposal, and eventually cast Ellen Burstyn .
Her performance as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is ranked #32 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
Asked for the part of Emma Jacklin in The Turning Point (1977) but Anne Bancroft had already been cast in the role.
Hepburn was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer on November 1, 1992 (not colon cancer, as it is often mistakenly called). The cancer spread into the lining of her small intestine. She had one foot of intestine removed in surgery and went through chemotherapy, but in a second surgery it was decided that the cancer had spread too far and could not be treated. Her son Sean H. Ferrer believes it had probably been developing over the course of the previous five years.
From 1980 until her death, she lived together in Switzerland with her partner, Dutch actor Robert Wolders .
The US Postal Service issued a 37 cent commemorative stamp honoring her as a Hollywood legend and humanitarian (2003).
Her famous "little black dress" from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), designed by Hubert de Givenchy , was sold at a Christie's auction for approximately $920,000 (5 December 2006).
Was voted "most beautiful woman of all time" by the readers of "New Woman" magazine (2006).
Godmother of Victoria Brynner , the daughter of Doris Kleiner and Yul Brynner .
Saved the life of her friend Capucine , who attempted suicide on several occasions.
In Italy she was almost exclusively dubbed by Maria Pia Di Meo , except in her first two films ( Roman Holiday (1953) (Vacanze Romane) and Sabrina (1954)) and in Green Mansions (1959) (Verdi dimore), where she was dubbed by Fiorella Betti .
She was presented with her 1953 Best Actress Oscar for "Roman Holiday" by actor and humanitarian Jean Hersholt . Forty years later she would posthumously receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her work with UNICEF.
As of 2007, she and Katharine Hepburn are the only "Best Actress" Oscar-winners to share a last name. Of course, they are not related.
Met future husband Mel Ferrer at a party hosted by Gregory Peck . It was Ferrer who sent Hepburn the script for "Ondine", which Hepburn agreed to play on Broadway, in which the couple co-starred.
Was friends with Eva Gabor .
Once admitted that she would not have accepted the role of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady (1964) if she had known that producer Jack L. Warner planned to have all of her singing dubbed.
Hepburn was offered the role of a Japanese bride opposite Marlon Brando in Sayonara (1957) but turned it down. She later explained that she "couldn't possibly play an Oriental. No one would believe me; they'd laugh. It's a lovely script, however, I know what I can and can't do. And if you did persuade me, you would regret it, because I would be terrible".
Broke her back during filming of a horse-riding scene in The Unforgiven (1960).
Won a 1968 Special Tony Award (New York City).
Was considered for the part of Tony Gromeko in Doctor Zhivago (1965), but Geraldine Chaplin was cast instead.
Was a close friend of Gregory Peck , Ben Gazzara and French actress Capucine .
Was a three-pack-a-day smoker.
In December 1992, President George Bush presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work for UNICEF. She did not attend the ceremony, due to being ill with cancer.
Nearly married James (later Lord) Hanson, a businessman, after filming Roman Holiday (1953). An ivory satin wedding gown was designed by the Fontana sisters, but Hepburn called off the wedding at the last minute.
Her last humanitarian mission for UNICEF was to Somalia in September 1992. She was reported to have begun experiencing stomach pains towards the end of the trip, leading to her cancer diagnosis, two months later.
Returned to work nine months after giving birth to her son Sean H. Ferrer in order to begin filming Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).
Suffered from hydrophobia, a condition that severely hampered some of her scenes in Two for the Road (1967). When a shot called for co-star Albert Finney to throw Hepburn into a swimming pool, divers were placed on standby (off-camera) just to placate the actress after it was learned that she had a morbid fear of water.
During his acceptance speech honoring her work for UNICEF, Sean H. Ferrer dedicated his mother's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to "the children of the world".
Is one of the only 12 people who are an EGOT, which means that she won at least one of all of the four major American entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. The other ones in chronological order are Richard Rodgers , Barbra Streisand , Helen Hayes , Rita Moreno , Liza Minnelli , John Gielgud , Marvin Hamlisch , Jonathan Tunick , Mel Brooks , Mike Nichols and Whoopi Goldberg . Streisand, however, won a Special Tony Award, not a competitive one, and Minnelli won a Special Grammy.
She donated all the salaries she earned for her final projects to UNICEF ( Love Among Thieves (1987), Always (1989), and Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn (1993)).
Art was one of her longtime hobbies, she drew pictures of stories when she was a child to distract herself from chronic hunger pains during WWII. As an adult, she took up painting to pass time while pregnant with her son, Luca. Samples of her work can be seen in the book "Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit".
In addition to her first son Sean H. Ferrer , Hepburn became pregnant another four times by her husband Mel Ferrer (in 1954, 1958, 1965, and 1967). However, she suffered miscarriages on all of those occasions. She fell pregnant twice with Dr. Andrea Dotti; giving birth in 1970 to her second son, Luca, but miscarried in 1974.
Is one of 15 actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Helen Hayes , Ingrid Bergman , Shirley Booth , Liza Minnelli , Rita Moreno , Maureen Stapleton , Jessica Tandy , Anne Bancroft , Vanessa Redgrave , Maggie Smith , Ellen Burstyn , Helen Mirren , Frances McDormand and Jessica Lange .
Ranked #82 in Men's Health 100 Hottest Women of All Time (2011).
She auditioned for, and did a costume test for, the role of Lygia in Quo Vadis (1951), but M-G-M turned her down because she was too unknown at the time and went with Deborah Kerr .
When Hepburn was in the final stages of her illness, the press took pictures of her while she was at home, and published the photos, much to the disapproval of everyone who knew her.
While working in a minor movie, We Go to Monte Carlo (1951), in Monaco in 1951, Hepburn was spotted by novelist Colette , who deemed her the ideal choice to play the title role in the upcoming Broadway version of her play "Gigi." Although she lacked experience and confidence, she ultimately got the part.
She never singled out any of her films as a favorite, but often spoke fondly of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Roman Holiday (1953), Funny Face (1957), The Nun's Story (1959), and Charade (1963) in interviews. She reportedly did not enjoy working on The Unforgiven (1960) due to injuries sustained while shooting, and Wait Until Dark (1967) from the stress of her failing marriage. She was said to have also disappointed with the results of Paris When It Sizzles (1964) and Bloodline (1979). Nonetheless, she had a great reputation for her professionalism and almost always got along well with her co-stars and directors.
Studied Ballet in London under Madame Rambert.
Release of the biography, "Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn" by Donald Spoto . [2006]
Release of the biography, "Audrey Hepburn: An Elegant Spirit" by her son, Sean H. Ferrer . [2003]
Was the 40th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday (1953) at The 26th Annual Academy Awards (1954) on March 25, 1954.
Is one of 26 actresses to have won an Academy Award for their performance in a comedy; hers being for Roman Holiday (1953). The others, in chronological order, are: Claudette Colbert ( It Happened One Night (1934)), Loretta Young ( The Farmer's Daughter (1947)), Josephine Hull ( Harvey (1950)), Judy Holliday ( Born Yesterday (1950)), Goldie Hawn ( Cactus Flower (1969)), Glenda Jackson ( A Touch of Class (1973)), Lee Grant ( Shampoo (1975)), Diane Keaton ( Annie Hall (1977)), Maggie Smith ( California Suite (1978)), Mary Steenburgen ( Melvin and Howard (1980)), Jessica Lange ( Tootsie (1982)), Anjelica Huston ( Prizzi's Honor (1985)), Olympia Dukakis ( Moonstruck (1987)), Cher ( Moonstruck (1987)), Jessica Tandy ( Driving Miss Daisy (1989)), Mercedes Ruehl ( The Fisher King (1991)), Marisa Tomei ( My Cousin Vinny (1992)), Dianne Wiest ( Bullets Over Broadway (1994)) Mira Sorvino ( Mighty Aphrodite (1995)), Frances McDormand ( Fargo (1996)), Helen Hunt ( As Good as It Gets (1997)), Judi Dench ( Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Gwyneth Paltrow ( Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Penelope Cruz ( Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), and Jennifer Lawrence ( Silver Linings Playbook (2012)).
Hepburn is mentioned by name in the Frank Sinatra standard "Nancy with the Laughing Face.".
She accepted her final role as "Hap" in Always (1989) simply for the opportunity to work with Director Steven Spielberg . Hepburn was moved by Spielberg's film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) after taking her youngest son to see it in Rome, and remarked: "The man is a genius!" She vowed to work with him, ever since.
Was to play the lead in a screen version of the Henry Cecil novel "No Bail for the Judge," which was to be Alfred Hitchcock's followup to North by Northwest. Hepburn was to play the daughter of an English judge who enlists the aid of a thief ( Laurence Harvey ) to exonerate her father, a High Court Judge who has been arrested for the murder of a prostitute. Hepburn dropped out of the project when she became pregnant, and that, along with subsequent changes in British law regarding prostitution, caused Hitchcock to lose interest in the project, and it was never made. A few years later Hepburn starred with Cary Grant in Charade (1963) , which is sometimes referred to as "the best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made.".
Spoke 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian and Dutch.
Increased her smoking habit to 60 cigarettes a day while filming The Unforgiven (1960).
Personal Quotes (23)
I never thought I'd land in pictures with a face like mine.
I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing "Funny Face" when I couldn't sing and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance
and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like
mad to cope with it.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: the first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.
I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.
My own life has been much more than a fairy tale. I've had my share of difficult moments, but whatever difficulties I've gone through, I've always gotten a prize at the end.
For me, the only things of interest are those linked to the heart.
I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.
I probably hold the distinction of being one movie star who, by all laws of logic, should never have made it. At each stage of my career, I lacked the experience.
My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.
Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same.
I know I have more sex appeal on the tip of my nose than many women in their entire bodies. It doesn't stand out a mile, but it's there.
[talking about a severe coughing attack she had when she was six weeks old, slowly turning blue and finally stopping breathing until her mother's prayers and spanking brought her back to life] If I were to write a biography, it would start like this: I was born in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, 1929 . . . and I died six weeks later.
[about her "comeback" in 1976] Whatever happens, the most important thing is growing old gracefully. And you can't do that on the cover of a fan magazine.
It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it.'
[on filming Funny Face (1957), while coping with extreme Paris weather and a grumpy co-star] Here I've been waiting for 20 years to dance with 'Fred Astaire', and what do I get? Mud in my eye!
I think sex is overrated. I don't have sex appeal and I know it. As a matter of fact, I think I'm rather funny looking. My teeth are funny, for one thing, and I have none of the attributes usually required for a movie queen, including the shapeliness.
You can't let yourself worry when you play a classic role. I'm an introvert anyway. Playing the extroverted girl in Breakfast at Tiffany's was the hardest thing I ever did. If I had stopped to think about comparison with my predecessors as Eliza, I'd have frozen completely. But I loved this part. Eliza is vulnerable, but she has a beautiful inner strength. I made myself forget the problems. I threw myself into it and tried to make it me.
I understood the dismay of people who had seen Julie on Broadway. Julie made that role her own, and for that reason I didn't want to do the film when it was first offered. But Jack Warner never wanted to put Julie in the film. He was totally opposed to it, for whatever reason. Then I learned that if I turned it down, they would offer it to still another movie actress. So I felt I should have the same opportunity to play it as any other film actress. - On My Fair Lady (1964).
You can even say that I hated myself at certain periods. I was too fat, or maybe too tall, or maybe just plain too ugly ... you can say my definiteness stems from underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority. I couldn't conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive.
[on "The Diary of Anne Frank"] I was given the book in Dutch, in galley form, in 1946 by a friend. I read it...and it destroyed me. It does this to many people when they first read it but I was not reading it as a book, as printed pages. This was my life. I didn't know what I was going to read. I've never been the same again, it affected me so deeply.
When I've made about 70 films and the public still wants me, then I shall think of myself as a star.
Only the absolutely determined people succeed.
[1991 - Comparing her acting ability with her contemporaries] I couldn't do what Cher , or Michelle Pfeiffer , or even Meryl Streep do. No, I think Cher, for instance, is so versatile. She deals with dialogue as if it's just coming out of her skin, you know, it's just part of her. She has enormous scale of emotions, and total lack of inhibitions, which I envy. Michelle Pfeiffer, for instance, can sing, and she can be very dramatic, and she can be very sexy. Meryl Streep is a highly dramatic actress, and also, again, can do anything she wants. I can't.
Salary (16)
| Belgium |
Pearl and Moonstone are traditional modern birthstones for which month of the year? | Audrey Hepburn born - May 04, 1929 - HISTORY.com
Audrey Hepburn born
Publisher
A+E Networks
On this day in 1929, Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston–who will one day be better known to legions of film fans as Audrey Hepburn–is born near Brussels, Belgium.
The daughter of an English banker and a Dutch baroness, Hepburn was attending school in London when World War II erupted in Europe. During the war, the Nazis occupied Holland, where the young Audrey and her mother were staying, and the family suffered many hardships. Hepburn continued to pursue her ballet studies, and at war’s end, she returned to London, where she modeled and began acting in small parts on stage and screen. In 1951, Hepburn was “discovered” by the French writer Colette while in Monaco shooting a film. Colette insisted Hepburn be cast in the title role of the Broadway version of her novel Gigi, and the young actress made her Broadway debut that same year.
Hepburn’s success in Gigi led directly to her being cast as the lead in the 1953 film Roman Holiday. For her portrayal of a headstrong young princess who falls in love with a journalist (played by Gregory Peck) while on the loose in Rome, Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She won a Tony Award for Best Actress the same year, for her starring turn in Ondine. Over the next decade, Hepburn proved herself more than a match for Hollywood’s top leading men in such hits as Sabrina (1954, with William Holden and Humphrey Bogart), Funny Face (1957, with Fred Astaire) and Love in the Afternoon (1957, with Gary Cooper).
As the inimitable Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Hepburn earned her fourth Oscar nod for Best Actress (she was also nominated for Sabrina and 1959’s A Nun’s Story). She sparked a controversy when she was picked to star as Eliza Doolittle in the film version of the musical My Fair Lady (1964), beating out Julie Andrews, who had originated the role on Broadway. Three years later, Hepburn scored a fifth Academy Award nomination for Wait Until Dark, a film that was produced by her then-husband, Mel Ferrer (they married in 1954). She left full-time acting shortly thereafter (though she would continue to appear sporadically in movies, notably as Maid Marian opposite Sean Connery’s Robin Hood in 1976’s Robin and Marian) and spent most of her time at her home in Switzerland. Hepburn and Ferrer, who had two sons, divorced in 1968, and Hepburn married Andrea Dotti, an Italian psychiatrist, the following year; they had one son together. After divorcing Dotti, Hepburn began a relationship with Robert Wolders, a Dutch actor, in 1980.
In her semi-retirement from acting, Hepburn devoted most of her energy to charitable causes, most notably UNICEF, the United Nation’s children’s fund, for which she was named a special ambassador in 1988. Hepburn’s field trips for UNICEF took her around the globe, from Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela and El Salvador, to Turkey, Thailand, Bangladesh and Sudan. She was also an eloquent public voice for the organization, helping to raise money and awareness for its work by speaking before the U.S. Congress, among other venues. In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hepburn made her final film appearance in Steven Spielberg’s film Always (1989), in which she played an angel. In 1992, shortly after returning from a UNICEF trip to Somalia, Hepburn was diagnosed with colon cancer. After undergoing surgery that November, she died on January 20, 1993, at her home near Lausanne, Switzerland, at the age of 63.
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In religion, what is the name of the place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship? | BBC - Religions - Sikhism: Worship
Religions
This article looks at Sikh worship and prayer.
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Sikh worship
Sikhs worship God and only God. Unlike members of many other religions they worship God in his true abstract form, and don't use images or statues to help them.
Sikh worship can be public or private.
Private worship
Sikhs can pray at any time and any place.
Sikh aims to get up early, bathe, and then start the day by meditating on God.
The Sikh code of conduct lays down a stern discipline for the start of the day:
A Sikh should wake up in the ambrosial hours (three hours before the dawn), take a bath and, concentrating his/her thoughts on One Immortal Being, repeat the name Waheguru (Wondrous Destroyer of darkness).
Reht Maryada (Sikh code of conduct), chapter 3
There are set prayers that a Sikh should recite in the morning and evening, and before going to sleep.
Prayer - spending time with God
Although the Sikh God is beyond description Sikhs feel able to pray to God as a person and a friend who cares for them.
Sikhs regard prayer as a way of spending time in company with God.
For prayer to be really effective a person tries to empty themselves of everything of this world so that they can perceive God.
Guru Arjan wrote of the importance of prayer.
The praising of His Name is the highest of all practices. It has uplifted many a human soul. It slakes the desire of restless mind. It imparts an all-seeing vision.
Guru Arjan
Public worship
Although Sikhs can worship on their own, they see congregational worship as having its own special merits.
Sikhs believe that God is visible in the Sikh congregation or Sangat, and that God is pleased by the act of serving the Sangat.
Congregational Sikh worship takes place in a Gurdwara .
Sikh public worship can be led by any Sikh, male or female, who is competent to do so.
| Gurdwara |
Josephine Cochran(e) made which first practical mechanical household appliance in 1886? | All About the Sikh Gurdwara, Where Sikhs Worship
By Sukhmandir Khalsa
Updated September 28, 2016.
The door to the Guru's house of worship is always open and welcoming to the worshiper. Step inside the gurdwara and leave aside differences. A sublime atmosphere of devotion greets the senses. Strains of hymns beckon the ear. An array of vivid hues engage the eye. Bow before the Guru Granth in a moment of humility. A helping of the sacred delicacy, prashad, delights the palate. The scent of food cooking promises the tongue fulfillment. Sit with the congregation and discover a sanctuary for the soul. The opportunity for selfless service presents an unparalleled inner cleansing experience while at worship in a gurdwara.
Gurdwara Hall. Photo © [Khalsa Panth]
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The Sudirman Cup is a challenge trophy contested by mixed teams in which sport? | Sudirman Cup Results 2015: Updated Points and Group Standings | Bleacher Report
Sudirman Cup Results 2015: Updated Points and Group Standings
By Rob Blanchette , Featured Columnist
May 10, 2015
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Kin Cheung/Associated Press
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Hosts China prevailed in the 2015 Sudirman Cup in Dongguan on Sunday as they beat Japan in the final.
It was a sixth consecutive win for the Chinese in the tournament that sees the 12 best mixed badminton teams compete in Level 1 for the right to win the trophy.
Here are the results of the play-off stages:
Sudirman Cup 2015: Quarter-Final Schedule
Date
Here are the updated groups after each day, with daily breakdowns of the action:
Sudirman Cup 2015: Updated Points and Group Standings
Group
Day 8
Kin Cheung/Associated Press
China won their sixth consecutive Sudirman Cup on Sunday, as the pre-tournament favourites swept Japan aside in the final, beating their fellow Asian giants 3-0 in Dongguan.
With the home support behind them and their immense record in the tournament, it always looked set to be China's day.
Japan, appearing in the final for the first time ever, started well, as they put up a brave fight in the opening tie of the final in the men's doubles.
Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa pushed Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan all the way, but the Chinese pair eventually prevailed 21-17, 20-22, 21-17 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Kin Cheung/Associated Press
The women's singles was a much more straightforward affair for China as the world No. 1 Li Xuerui beat Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 21-14.
Li admitted to feeling pre-game nerves in the final, but she was impressive in claiming the second tie of the day for China, per Channel News Asia : "Because it's a big contest, I felt pressure. The reason why the score was so close in the first game was because I made a few mistakes."
The win was sealed by double Olympic gold medalist Lin Dan in the men's singles. The 31-year-old dispatched Takuma Ueda 21-15, 21-13 at the Dongfeng Nissan Sports Centre to his great delight, per Badminton Updates:
#SudirmanCup | Lin Dan of China celebrates the winning point of the Sudirman Cup in the final. pic.twitter.com/9sYW7Ax9Fe
— Badminton Updates (@badindiaupdates) May 17, 2015
China have completely dominated the Sudirman Cup since its inception in 1989, the 2015 triumph their sixth in a row in the biennial event and 10th overall.
Japan put up a decent fight but simply never looked in with a chance of claiming victory on Sunday, especially following a late Saturday night finish in the semi-final as they edged South Korea 3-2.
China emerged victorious in some style after eight days of fierce competition between the world's best mixed badminton sides, and they hold the trophy now for at least another two years.
Day 7
Favourites China easily qualified for the final of the Sudirman Cup by beating Indonesia 3-1, while Japan shocked South Korea to set up a tantalising final between Asian badminton powerhouses.
Nozomi Okuhara's shock win over Sung Ji Hyun in the women's singles would prove the difference, as the small Japanese star defended with incredible intensity throughout the match and found a way to let her opponent beat herself.
It was a massive morale boost, particularly following the news in-form Kento Momota would not be playing in the men's singles match. Japan were staring at a quick 3-0 defeat before the mixed doubles and women's doubles would give the team their best chance of beating Korea.
Kin Cheung/Associated Press
Instead, the score was 2-1 in favour of Korea when the final two matches started, and when Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi ran right through their opponents, the mixed doubles would prove decisive.
Kenta Kazuno and Ayane Kurihara may be relative unknowns to followers of the sport, but the newly formed pair has shown since the start of this year's Sudirman Cup that they have what it takes to beat the best of them.
The Japanese duo easily won the final match, giving their team the chance to win their first Sudirman Cup.
That will be easier said than done, however. Waiting for them in the final is China, the team that has dominated this tournament in recent years en route to nine total titles.
Kin Cheung/Associated Press
Indonesia stood little chance against the experienced side, although they shocked the crowd in attendance by taking a 1-0 lead after the men's doubles.
But the lead would not last long. Bellaetrix Manuputty retired from her women's singles match with an injury, and world champion Chen Long gave the defending champions the lead in two short games.
Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari managed to steal one more game from China in the women's doubles, but the favourites shifted gear in the second game and delivered the win.
Day 6
Japan and Indonesia joined China and South Korea in the semi-finals of the 2015 Sudirman Cup, beating Denmark and Taiwan, respectively. Both teams entered the tournament with young sides and have exceeded expectations, putting on a show Friday.
Denmark took a shock lead over Japan after winning the mixed doubles, but the Thomas Cup winners regained their composure and battled their way to a 3-2 win.
Kento Momota's 2-1 win over Viktor Axelsen would prove key, with the latter suffering from an illness and nearly collapsing in the third game. As he shared on Twitter, it was but the latest setback to plague Denmark all week:
2-3 loss against Japan in the QF here at Sudirman Cup. We have faced quite a few obstacles this week with... http://t.co/3HcVyfuQVU
— Viktor Axelsen (@ViktorAxelsen) May 15, 2015
Nozomi Okuhara cruised to a win in the women's singles before Denmark again shocked the Japanese side, this time in the men's doubles. Ultimately, the duo of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi held on to win the final game of the women's doubles 21-19, sending Japan through to their first ever semi-final by the skin of their teeth.
Seventeen-year-old Jonatan Christie recorded the biggest upset of the day, beating Taiwan's Hsu Jen-hao in the men's singles to lead Indonesia to a comfortable 3-1 win.
Taiwan's only game came courtesy of Tai Tzu-ying in the women's singles, and Indonesia cruised the rest of the way. The team looks to be in great shape and will have to be at its best when it takes on tournament favourites China in the semi-finals.
The Chinese teams has been nothing short of sensational and blew past Germany in the previous round. Meanwhile, Japan and Korea will resume their rivalry in the other semi-final, to be played on Saturday as soon as the first semi-final ends.
Day 5
Tournament favourites China romped past Germany into the semi-finals of the 2015 Sudirman Cup, winning 3-0 without surrendering a single game to their European opponents.
Lin Dan led the way with a 21-11, 21-15 win over Marc Zwiebler, and BADMINTON Europe shared this action shot of their match:
Chinese superstar Lin Dan in today's Sudirman Cup tie vs Germany's Marc Zwiebler. The Chinese won 21-11, 21-15. pic.twitter.com/syeNnARLHk
— BADMlNTON Europe (@EuropeBEC) May 14, 2015
Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei had little difficulty beating Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels in their mixed-doubles clash, and Fu Haifeng and Zhang completed the job in the men's doubles, needing just 33 minutes to beat Fuchs and Peter Kaesbauer.
China's dominance wasn't a big surprise, and the entire team deserves credit for the way it cruised past Germany. But once again, it was five-time Dan who stole the show. This incredible rally was one of many highlights from his match:
Tweet
In Thursday's other semi-final, South Korea eliminated Malaysia 3-1, with Lee Chong Wei winning Malaysia's only match of the series. The Koreans took revenge for their group-stage loss, finding much more success in the doubles matches this time around.
The quarter-finals will continue on Friday, as Denmark face Japan and Indonesia take on Chinese Taipei. The Danes are the final European team left in the competition and face a very tough challenge, as Japan are seen as the only real threat to China's chances of winning this year's tournament.
Day 4
1-4
bwfbadminton.org
Thailand, Russia, England and India were eliminated from the 2015 Sudirman Cup on Wednesday after failing to claim even a single group-stage victory between them.
BADMINTON Europe posted an image of the quarter-final lineup, with China facing Germany and Korea taking on Malaysia this Thursday before Indonesia meet Chinese Taipei and Denmark battle Japan on Friday:
The draw for the Sudirman Cup quarter-finals has been released. Denmark will face Japan while Germany meet China. pic.twitter.com/AfFAshJF7t
— BADMlNTON Europe (@EuropeBEC) May 13, 2015
Indonesia progressed into the next phase of the contest at the head of Group 1C following a dramatic 3-2 win over runners-up Denmark.
Danish representatives Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen started well in the men’s doubles and clinched the first game but failed to hold off Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, losing 21-23 21-16 21-12.
Bellaetrix Manuputty dominated the women's singles to make it 2-0 in Indonesia's favour and although Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen did his best to start a revival, the Asian nation sealed their progress thanks to a women's doubles triumph for Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda.
Following defeat to Malaysia, Korea needed to defeat India on Wednesday, and though Star Sports confirmed Saina Nehwal's sense of fight, the latter couldn't avoid a 4-1 defeat:
World no. 2 @NSaina was India's lone winner in the #SudirmanCup today! Watch the highlights: http://t.co/uKOnVH0ycf pic.twitter.com/FQTFv5YxP6
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 13, 2015
Nehwal's heroic performance against Bae Yeon Ju was fully deserving of credit, but her team-mates were unable to match those standards as India finished bottom of Group 1D.
And if revenge was on their minds, Korea will have the chance to redeem themselves against group opponents Malaysia in the final eight.
Day 3
4-1
bwfbadminton.org
China sent out a strong message to the other competitors with a second 5-0 win on Tuesday.
Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng opened the scoring in the men's doubles, the only match in which Thailand came close to matching their opponents.
As expected, former women's world champion Wang Yihan and current men's world champion Chen Long were comfortable winners in their singles matches, before the women's doubles and mixed doubles teams dispatched Thailand to complete the rout.
Tweet
Japan also ran out comfortable victors as they took on Chinese Taipei in Group 1B.
As in their opener against Russia, the Japanese raced to a 4-0 lead in the match, but once again their mixed doubles pairing of Kenta Kazuno and Ayane Kurihara could not close out the contest with a perfect 5-0.
Japan have shown themselves to be strong contenders so far, but their lack of depth in mixed doubles could prove costly as the tournament wears on.
Day 2
3-2
bwfbadminton.org
Malaysia continued their excellent start to the tournament by following up their stunning win over Korea with a victory over India in Group 1D.
Goh Shem and Tan Wee Kiong drew first blood, as they beat B. Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri 15-21, 16-21 in the men's doubles.
Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal leveled the contest for India with a narrow victory over world No. 56 Tee Jing Yi before two-time Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei dispatched world No. 4 k. Srikanth 21-16, 21-15.
Tweet
India once again leveled the score, as Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa avenged their defeat in the Glasgow final to Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Woon Khe Wei.
The match was evenly poised, as N. Sikki Reddy and Arun Vishnu faced off against Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the mixed double's decider, with Malaysia triumphing to take the match 3-2 and consolidate their position atop Group 1D.
England needed a win to avoid an early exit in Dongguan but slipped to a narrow defeat at the hands of Indonesia.
There were some positives for Jakob Hoi's squad, though, as Chris and Gabby Adcock beat their Indonesian mixed doubles rivals for the first time in five matches:
Tough loss against the better team on the day! All credit to Indonesia who beat us 3-2 however me and @ChrisAdcock1 managed a good win...
— Gabrielle Adcock (@gabbywhite011) May 11, 2015
Over world no3's Ahmed/natsir! Really happy with our performance! #SudirmanCup
— Gabrielle Adcock (@gabbywhite011) May 11, 2015
This will give them valuable ranking points ahead of the Olympics in Rio in 2016.
Day 1
4-1
Source: bwfbadminton.org
Malaysia stunned the badminton world by beating tournament favourites Korea in their opening gambit in Group 1D.
The Malaysians were inspired by the brilliant Lee Chong Wei, who made a winning return to action after an eight-month absence.
Goh Shem and Tan Wee Kiong, who beat the World No. 1 pair of Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong, set up the victory. However, Korea levelled to 1-1 after Sung Ji Hyun defeated Lim Yin Fun in the women's singles.
Wei then gave Malaysia the lead once again, with the superstar cruising past Lee Dong Keun for an easy win. The former No. 1 looked short of full fitness and practice but still produced moments of magic to remind the crowd of his talent.
Korea's women's doubles temporarily levelled the score once again before Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying caused the shock of the evening, defeating the World No. 8 pair of Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na to complete a famous victory.
England were left shocked as they fell in a surprise loss to Denmark. The Danes took the tie 4-1, leaving the English to regroup for the rest of the tournament. There were also straightforward Level 1 wins for China and Japan, who beat Germany and Russia with ease.
Korea will undoubtedly recover from their bad night and push on to the final stages. Malaysia were inspired, and it will be interesting to see if they can repeat their form.
England are in trouble and looked jaded against Denmark. They do not look in good order to progress and could find themselves victims of an early exit.
| Badminton |
Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson play the head butler and housekeeper in which 1993 film? | NOTHING but BADMINTON
NOTHING but BADMINTON
Li Ning 2009 Sudirman Cup - Why is it significant to Team Phils?
- Dan Rupinta
First held in 1989 and consequently, being held bi annually, The Sudirman Cup is the only international badminton competition that does not stage a qualification round. The competing teams are divided into groups based on their past Sudirman Cup performances. For this year's edition, there have been 4 main groups while each group has 2 subgroups (or a total of 8 groups).
I don't recall any previous participation of the Philippines in past Sudirman Cups (at least for the past 10 yrs). With no prior Sudirman Cup record, Philippines has been bracketed in Group 4a.
This essentially works like Tennis' Davis Cup or Fed Cup. Only teams in Group 1 will have a chance to lift the trophy as the teams in other groups fight for "promotion". The teams who finish last in the group will be relegated to the lower group, except the final group.
Group 1 - 8 teams (The elite group - composed of Malaysia, Denmark, Korea, HK, Indonesia, China, Japan & England)
Group 2 - 8 teams
Group 3 - 8 teams
Gropu 4 - 10 teams (2 sub-groups). Top of Group 4a and 4b will have a "play off" on May15. The wiinner will be promoted to Group 3 in the next Sudirman Cup.
The best possible achievement for Team Philippines will be to top Group 4a and then defeat the top team in Group 4b on the May 15 "playoff" in order to be elevated to Group 3 in 2011. {As of this writing, Phils defeated South Africa in May 10 (4-1) and Luxembourg in May 12 (4-1). It succumbed to Switzerland in May 11 (1-4)}
For me, our participation, by itself, has been a milestone. For the first time in a decade or even more, Philippines was able to form a team on its own. It absolutely feels good to see competing badminton camps in the country playing together as one unified Philippines team (at least in the perception department).P
hilippine badminton is still fragmented today but the Sudirman Cup will be remembered as one bold step for the advancement of a solid & unified Philippine team. This is why it has elicited so much enthusiasm in me and to many people
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2009 Li Ning Sudirman Cup Update (May 10, 2009): Philippines vs. Republic of South Africa (RSA)
Subgroup 4a: Philippines vs. Republic of South Africa (Phils Won 4-1). Mabuhay ang Filipinas!
Mixed Doubles: Kennevic & Kennie Asuncion def. James & Viljoen (Rep. of South Africa): 21-13, 21-14
Men's Singles: Antonino Gadi def. Maliekal (RSA): 21-12, 21-6
Men's Doubles: Dednam/Dednam def. Paul Jefferson Vivas & Ronel Estanislao: 21-17, 21-12
Ladies Singles: Malvinne Anne Alcala def. Doubell: 21-8, 21-17
Ladies Doubles: Karyn Cecilia Velez & Gelita Castilo def. Edwards/Viljoen: 21-13, 24-22
It feels good to see a Phils team composed of the the country's best shuttlers.
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Vivas, Paul Jefferson
Coach Nelson Asuncion is also currently in Guangzhou to support the team.
- This is the first time that we are seeing a solid team composed of experienced Phils team members like Vic and Kennie together with young and upcoming stars like Alcala, Castilo, Velez and Gadi. This is truly a good sign for Philippine Badminton. Hopefully , this will be the start of a unified Phils team!
- In behalf of the Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open Badminton Championships Organizing Committee, all the best to the Phils team, many of which are the reigning champions in the Open categories of The 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open Badminton Championships
Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion - Mixed Doubles Champion, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
Ronel Estanislao & Malvinne Anne Alcala - Silver Medallist Mixed Doubles, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
Gelita Castilo - Ladies Singles Champion, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
Malvinne Anne Alcala - Silver Medallist Ladies Singles, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
Kennie Asuncion & Karyn Velez - Ladies Doubles Champion, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
Antonino Gadi - Mens Singles Champion, 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Phils Nat'l Open
- Past Champions in the Sudirman Cup are:
China - 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2007
Korea - 1991, 1993, 2003
The 7th All-Citi Badminton Tournament, 2009 Edition Tournament Recap
Acosta wins Fifth Title; Amores completes "Hat-trick"
Jojo Amores completed his own “hat-trick” (3 titles) while Migs Acosta snared his fifth All-Citi A1 title to become the first pairing to win back-back championship crowns in the 7th annual All-Citi Badminton tournament held last April 25-26, 2009 at the YPBC, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City. Amores and Acosta, representing the Violet team defeated the tandem of Jon Chua and Louie Bonzon (Yellow team), 20-18, 21-16 in a hotly-contested Level A1 Finals. Acosta, who now holds a 5-0 record in the annual All-Citi finals said: “We were just lucky enough to capitalize on breaks that we got during the latter part of both sets. All four of us played well and it was a hard fought match that could have gone either way”.
The pairing of Acosta and Amores appeared to be vulnerable in their preliminaries matches as they succumbed to Chua and Bonzon in a tight 3 sets, 14-21, 21-16, 21-17. Meanwhile the eventual runners-up sent strong signals early on to their opponents by sweeping the preliminary assignments in dominating fashion, using their athleticism and uncanny teamwork. However, there was a reversal of roles in the Finals as Chua and Bonzon appeared tentative with their shots and committed more unforced errors. The crucial point in the match came at 17-16 in the 2nd set when Acosta, showcasing his experience, scored two consecutive points with powerful smashes into the middle of the court. At championship point, Bonzon’s defensive block caught the top of the net and sealed Amores' & Acosta’s victory. This was the second runner-up finish for Bonzon and Chua in 3 years.
In the Level A2 category, Erwin Amurao of Citiphone (partnering with Oliver Pangan this year) successfully defended his championship crown by outclassing the pairing of Kailas Raina (CBPS) and Alana Olavides (CRMS CoE) in straight sets. Raina played as a substitute player for Michelle Guerrero who withdrew from the level A2 finals with a back injury. Earlier in the afternoon, Raina partnered with Mawi Acosta to capture the Level B1 trophy. In Ladies Doubles Level A3, Citi Team A standouts, Kathleen Ng and Jheng Galang ended the amazing run of the Ramos sisters (Rachel and Reana) in 2 straight sets to bag the Level A3 crown for the first time.
The B3, B4 and B9 categories also provided a lot of excitement as the finals matches all stretched to 3 hard-fought sets. Basketball standout, George Monsod, ably proved his mettle in his second sport by garnering the B4 crown with partner, Dama Cid.
“One Citi”. It was another well-participated badminton tournament with a total of 170 players coming from the different businesses and departments from the various legal vehicles comprising Citi Philippines joining the event. Truly the event has lived up to its objective of promoting camaraderie, work-life balance, and a healthy lifestyle among Citi employees.
It was a reunion of sorts this year with the inclusion of Ex-Citibankers into the tournament. At least 20 former Citibankers joined the 2-day tournament and quite a few of them emerged victorious, among them - Oliver Pangan (A2), Mawi Acosta (B1), Eric Salamillas & Renee Carpio (B7), Janet Ching (B8) and Esther Sta. Maria (C2). “As an Ex-Citi staff, we surely appreciate being able to attend an event like this where we can meet up with old friends and meet new ones”, Level B6 Runner-up and former Corporate Bank Relationship Mgr, Jehan Dayrit remarked.
The tournament kicked-off with the Opening Ceremonies highlighted by the presentation of the 5 participating teams. It was followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by Level A2 champion, Mr. Oliver Pangan. The Opening prayer and Opening remarks, delivered by Nona Reyes and Dan Rupinta, followed shortly after. Jojo Amores and Nona Reyes then led the participating players in the Oath of Sportsmanship
Big battle for team championships. If there’s one indication on how competitive the games were during the 2-day tournament, it was definitely the battle for team supremacy. During the two-day tournament, leadership in the team standings changed 5 times and after all the Preliminary matches were tallied, there was a triple tie for first place (Violet, Red and Yellow teams) while the Blue and White teams had identical team points to tie for 4th and 5th places. The over-all championship was decided via the Finals matches and the Yellow team of Mr. Jonas Baradas only edged out the Red Team of Mr. Bobby Colores by a mere 2 points. It was a very successful weekend for Baradas, as he and partner Mike Ramos also copped the C1 championship
Enhorabuena Organizers!. The tournament is currently one of the longest running Corporate Badminton tournaments in the country today. Special thanks to the hard working Core Group members who once again, through team effort produced a top-calibre tournament. Congratulations and well done indeed!
Tournament Organizing Committee: Alejandro, Jeff; Baga, Lynneth; Bautista, Darius B; Catani, Amie F; Dayrit, Dindo; Galang, Josephine; Guerrero, Michelle; Mabanag, Ronald; Olavides, Alana; Ramos, Rachel Erika; Ramos, Reana Evita; Reyes, Nona; Sia, Jerwin M
Tournament Captains and Co-captains: Jonas Baradas & Mike Ramos, Bobby Colores & Edgar Matacot, Jun Macabasco & Jojo Amores, Rigor Roxas & Wilbur Po and Joel Calo & Erwin Amurao.
And to the Core Group heads: Dan Rupinta and Dindo Dayrit.
Kudos also to the Citi Camera Club, under the able stewardship of Pres. Winston Baltasar of CBS Asia for their support in the Badminton photo contest.
See you all in next year's 8th edition of the tournament
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’s finest universities.
Opened Wide By Youth and Experience. Marquee matches of the Open Category had their own interesting twists this year. Interestingly, almost all of the ex-National team players joined this year’s Open Category events, many paired with the newer, younger stars. It was a case of experience matching up with youth, and in a few cases, mentor/coach with erstwhile student. To add even more fever to the excitement and nail-biting, this tournament likewise witnessed cardiac matches showcasing youth versus experience. Athletes literally young enough to compete in Juniors matches opted to stretch themselves to their limits by joining the Open Category. They can only be called admirable; they appeared unfazed and undaunted as they toughed it up against wiser opponents who have had much wider experience, even from international tournaments. Some of the younger ones emerged victorious. Others bowed out during the second set of the match, but not before making their more experienced opponents work hard for every point earned.
This is what the Yonex-Sunrise National Open Badminton Championships is all about: power, grit, skill and talent. A venue to discover emerging talents, to offer the opportunity to cast a wider net, and to hone and stretch skills to the limit.
With this, we conclude this year’s Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships. It just keeps getting better, and next year will definitely not be an exception.
The 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships was presented to you by YONEX-SUNRISE and co-presented by PHITEN. This event was also brought to us by: Badminton Hub, Sportshub, My Shaldan, Makati Shangri-la, BSI Medicated Spray, Fish Designs, Potraitme.net, Potato Corner and our official & exclusive print partner, The Philippine Star
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The European city of Rome lies on which river? | Tiber River | river, Italy | Britannica.com
Tiber River
Rome
Tiber River, Italian Fiume Tevere, historic river of Europe and the second longest Italian river after the Po , rising on the slope of Monte Fumaiolo, a major summit of the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano. It is 252 miles (405 km) long. Twisting in a generally southerly direction through a series of scenic gorges and broad valleys, the Tiber flows through the city of Rome and enters the Tyrrhenian Sea of the Mediterranean near Ostia Antica. Its major tributaries are the Chiascio, Nestore, Paglia, Nera, and Aniene. Below Rome, the Tiber branches out into a delta , the main channel being the Fiumara, with the Fiumicino functioning as a distributary branch on the north side. Some ancient writers allege that it was known originally as Albula—a reference to the whiteness of its waters—but it was renamed Tiberis after Tiberinus, a king of Alba Longa (an area centred on Lago Albano , south of Rome) who was drowned in it.
Sant’Angelo Bridge over the Tiber River, Rome.
Andreas Tille
Although the Romans made some effort to control the river’s lower course, their ignorance of hydraulic principles prevented the development of adequate protection against floods. It is only in modern times that the Tiber has flowed through Rome between high stone embankments. Though the river varies in depth between 7 and 20 feet, there is some evidence that navigation upstream to the Val Tiberina was significant for the grain trade as long ago as the 5th century bce. Later, the shipment of building stone and also of timber became important. In its zenith, Classical Rome was supplied with vegetables grown in the gardens of riverside villas.
The Tiber River, with Saint Peter’s Basilica in the background, Rome.
© Mirec/Shutterstock.com
The importance of the lower Tiber was first recognized in the 3rd century bce, when Ostia was made a naval base during the Punic Wars. It later became a commercial centre for the import of Mediterranean wheat , oil, and wine . Successive attempts to maintain Ostia, on the Fiumara, and the port of the emperors Claudius and Trajan , on the Fiumicino, were defeated by the processes of silting and by the deposition of sandbars at the river mouths. In later centuries, several popes tried to improve navigation on the lower Tiber, and ports were built at Rome in 1692, 1703, and 1744. Navigation and trade upon the lower Tiber flourished again between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries, when further dredging took place on the lower course. Silting continued, however, with such persistence that, within another century, the Tiber was navigable only at Rome itself. The Tiber delta, meanwhile, had advanced about two miles seaward since Roman times.
Learn More in these related articles:
| Tiber |
The 11th Century nobleman Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar was better known by what name? | Rome, Italy, Europe. Pictures Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Pantheon
Rome
Rome, the capital of Italy is one of the world’s major tourist destinations, receiving an amazing 7-10 million tourists every year. Rome is situated on the banks of the River Tiber, and its attraction for tourists is the incredible amount of interest that can still be found in its numerous historical sites. Rome has a population of over three and a half million, and it contains a separate state, the Vatican City, population just 920.
What to see in Rome:
The Roman Forum. The monumental complex whose remains lie between the Capitol, the Imperial Forums, the Colosseum and the Palatine. This was the centre of the administration of the Roman Empire, and what strikes the modern day visitor is how small it was. Don’t miss the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vesta – all along the Via Sacra, the main Roman road through the Forum.
(The Forum is open daily from 9am; the ticket is valid for two days and includes entrance to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill.)
The Capitol has remained the nucleus of Roman life for thousands of years. On this southern summit of the Capitoline Hill were the three most important temples in ancient Rome.
The Palatine, another historic Roman hill. The Emperors and patrician families lived on the Palatine, which is where, according to legend, Romulus founded Rome in the 8th century BC. Remains of fine villas can be seen here.
The Colosseum, just east of the Forum was one of the greatest marvels of Roman civilization. This entertainment amphitheatre was begun by Vespasian in A.D. 72 and completed by his son 8 years later. Its 80 entrances could admit 55,000 spectators, all of whom had seats. It is not, in fact, circular, but an ellipse 188m (617ft) long and 156m (512ft) wide. (The Colosseum is open every day and is very busy, but you can avoid the queue by buying a one- or three-day pass in the Forum.)
Piazza Venezia (which takes its name from the Palazzo Venezia) is the traffic-heart of Rome. The Victor Emmanuel Monument was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi.
Fontana di Trevi. Perhaps the most famous baroque fountain in the world, this Renaissance construction at the end of a Roman aqueduct carries the legend that if you throw a coin in you will return to Rome. It is in the form of the facade of a large palace decorated with statues. (The fountain is to be found at the Poli Palace in the Trevi District.)
Not far from the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon is the most perfect of all classical monuments in Rome. Built by the Emperor Hadrian as a temple to “every god” (pan-theon), it was converted to a Christian church by the pope in 609AD. (Open daily with no entrance fee, but no entry for visitors during Masses.)
Piazza Navona occupies the place of the Stadium of Domitian, three magnificent fountains.
Terme di Caracalla. The ruins of ancient Rome's public bathhouse, dating back to the 3rd century.
St. Angel's Castle. On the banks of the Tiber, this former Mausoleum of Hadrian, later used as a fortress by popes, is still linked to the Vatican by a covered passageway. (Open daily at 9am; take bus 40 from the main railway station or Metro Line A to Lepanto.)
Vatican State: An independent papal state enclosed by Rome, the Vatican has been the residence of the popes since 1377. St. Peter's Square is by far largest in Rome. The colonnade is the finest work of Bernini. St Peter's Basilica is the greatest church of Christianity (open from 7am every day, admission free).
The Vatican City has 11 museums, the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s great ceiling, and the enchanting Vatican Gardens.
Where to stay in Rome:
For a hotel with a view of St Peter’s Square from its roof-terrace, try the 4 star Residenza Paolo VI, five minutes walk from the River Tiber and Castel Sant Angelo. A 2 star hotel still within walking distance from the Castel and St Peter’s is the Angel Hotel. Each room has an ensuite bathroom and air conditioning, and Wifi is free.
For a hostel offering good value, head for Carlito’s Way Hotel and Hostel on Via Villafranca. This small hotel only has 8 rooms, so book ahead. Or to experience luxury in a hotel that is more like a private house, choose the Villa Spalletti Trivelli, a historic residence in the heart of Rome, set in a private Italian garden and having only 12 elegant rooms and suites, with a fitness centre and spa. The rooms are furnished with antiques and you will be constantly reminded that you are in one of the most historic cities in the world!
Tourist tip:
Rome is a fantastic city to visit and however long you are able to stay won’t be enough, but it does suffer from its share of crime, so take precautions against pickpockets and scam artists who prey on tourists.
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Isaan is the northeast region of which Asian country? | The northeast: Isaan Guide | Thailand Travel | Rough Guides
Asia » Thailand » The northeast: Isaan
Bordered by Laos and Cambodia on three sides, the scorching-hot tableland of northeast Thailand – known as Isaan, after the Hindu god of death and the northeast – comprises a third of the country’s land area and is home to nearly a third of its population. This is the least-visited region of the kingdom, and the poorest: almost three-quarters of Isaan residents are in debt, and it’s thought that the majority still earn less than the regional minimum wage of B164–183 a day. Farming is the traditional livelihood here, despite appallingly infertile soil (the friable sandstone contains few nutrients and retains little water) and long periods of drought punctuated by downpours and intermittent bouts of flooding. As you’d expect, the landscape is mostly flat, but there are plenty of lively festivals and ancient temples to make a visit worth the effort.
In the 1960s, government schemes to introduce hardier crops set in motion a debt cycle that has forced farmers into monocultural cash-cropping to repay their loans for fertilizers, seeds and machinery. For many families, there’s only one way off the treadmill: of the twenty-one million people who live in Isaan, an average of two million economic refugees leave the area every year, most of them heading for Bangkok, where northeasterners now make up the majority of the capital’s lowest-paid workforce. Children and elderly parents remain in the villages, increasingly dependent on the money sent back every month from the metropolis and awaiting the annual visit in May, when migrant family members often return for a couple of months to help with the rice planting.
Rather than the cities – which are chaotic, exhausting places, with little going for them apart from accommodation and onward transport – Isaan’s prime destinations are its Khmer ruins and Khao Yai National Park . Five huge northeastern festivals also draw massive crowds: in May, Yasothon is the focus for the bawdy rocket festival; the end of June or beginning of July sees the equally raucous rainmaking festival of Phi Ta Kon in Dan Sai near Loei; in July, Ubon Ratchathani hosts the extravagant candle festival; in October, strange, pink fireballs float out of the Mekong near Nong Khai; while the flamboyant, though inevitably touristy, “elephant round-up” is staged in Surin in November.
It’s rural life that really defines Isaan though, and you can learn a lot about the local residents by staying at one of the family-run guesthouses and homestays in the southern part of the region. If you make it this far you should endeavour to see at least one set of Isaan’s Khmer ruins: those at Phimai are the most accessible, but it’s well worth making the effort to visit either Phanom Rung or Khao Phra Viharn as well, both of which occupy spectacular hilltop locations, though the latter was closed at the time of writing. Relics of an even earlier age, prehistoric cliff-paintings also draw a few tourists eastwards to the little town of Khong Chiam , which is prettily set between the Mekong and Mun rivers.
Isaan’s only mountain range of any significance divides the uninspiring town of Loei from the central plains and offers some stiff walking, awesome scenery and the possibility of spotting unusual birds and flowers in the national parks that spread across its heights. Due north of Loei at Chiang Khan , the Mekong River begins its leisurely course around Isaan with a lush stretch where a sprinkling of guesthouses has opened up the river countryside to travellers. The powerful waterway acts as a natural boundary between Thailand and Laos, but it’s no longer the forbidding barrier it once was; with Laos opening further border crossings to visitors, the river is becoming an increasingly important transport link.
At the eastern end of this upper stretch, the border town of Nong Khai is surrounded by wonderfully ornate temples, some of which are used by the significant population of Chinese and Vietnamese migrants. The grandest and most important religious site in the northeast, however, is Wat Phra That Phanom , way downstream beyond Nakhon Phanom , a town that affords some of the finest Isaan vistas.
Brief history
Most northeasterners speak a dialect that’s more comprehensible to residents of Vientiane than Bangkok, and Isaan’s historic allegiances have tied it more closely to Laos and Cambodia than to Thailand. Between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, the all-powerful Khmers covered the northeast in magnificent stone temple complexes, the remains of which constitute the region’s most satisfying tourist attractions. During subsequent centuries the territories along the Mekong River changed hands numerous times, until the present border with Laos was set at the end of World War II. In the 1950s and 1960s, Communist insurgents played on the northeast’s traditional ties with Laos; a movement to align Isaan with the Marxists of Laos gathered some force, and the Communist Party of Thailand, gaining sympathy among poverty-stricken northeastern farmers, established bases in the region. At about the same time, major US air bases for the Vietnam War were set up in Khorat, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani, fuelling a sex industry that has plagued the region ever since. When the American military moved out, northeastern women turned to the tourist-oriented Bangkok flesh-trade instead, and today the majority of prostitutes in the capital come from Isaan.
The northeast: Isaan
| Thailand |
Which scientist wrote a letter in 1704 in which he predicted the end of the world in 2060 after studying Biblical texts? | Northeastern Thailand - Lonely Planet
Northeastern Thailand
Adventures
Welcome to Northeastern Thailand
The northeast of Thailand, or Isan (pronounced ee-săhn) as it’s usually known, stretches from the wild Mekong River (Mae Nam Khong in Thai) down to the edges of the Khorat Plateau, and is home to Thailand's best national parks and most ancient temple ruins. Rich in religious significance and influenced by nearby Cambodia and Laos, it has a culture and food all its own... Read More
Top experiences in Northeastern Thailand
Sights in Northeastern Thailand
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Which actress played Sid James’ wife in the UK television series ‘Bless This House’? | BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Actress Diana Coupland dies at 74
Actress Diana Coupland dies at 74
Diana Coupland played Maureen Carter in EastEnders in 2000
Actress Diana Coupland, best known for her role in 1970s sitcom Bless This House, has died in hospital aged 74.
The comedy actress died at Coventry's University Hospital, after she failed to recuperate from surgery to resolve long-term heart problems.
"The operation was a success but because of Diana's longstanding illness, her condition continued to deteriorate," the surgeon said.
Coupland more recently played roles in EastEnders, Casualty and Doctors.
Bond role
"Diana's chances of a full recovery were discussed with her family and they made a decision that she should be allowed to pass away peacefully," said heart surgeon Ramesh Patel.
"May I offer my condolences to the family for the loss of their wife and mother, who I know will be greatly missed."
Diana Coupland (r) appeared in Triangle during the 1980s
Coupland had not wanted to act initially. Ballet dancing was her first choice of career, but a horse-riding accident prevented her pursuing that ambition.
She began acting in the 60s. Her early career saw her singing voice dubbed over the voice of Ursula Andress in the James Bond film Dr No.
But it was her role in Bless This House, opposite Sid James, that brought her television fame.
She continued to work solidly through the 1980s, and featured in popular shows including police drama Juliet Bravo and Triangle, the series set on a North Sea ferry.
The actress was also well known for her charitable works, becoming patron for National Lupus UK, a charity supporting people suffering from Systemic and Discoid Lupus.
| Diana Coupland |
The medical condition ‘epicondylitis’ is better known by what name? | BLESS THIS HOUSE WELCOME
http://robinstewartproject.com
On the 2nd of February 1971 one of TV's most popular sitcoms was born, Bless This House made by Thames Television. The series was created by the well established comedy writing duo Vince Powell & Harry Driver. There were various writers for the show including the aforementioned creators plus Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Dave Freeman and others. The producer and director for the whole of the series was William G Stewart, perhaps now more famous in the UK for the Channel 4 quiz show 15-to-1.In total there were 65 episodes produced spread over 6 series broadcast between 1971 and 1976. The show centres around the life of the Abbott family, husband and wife Sid & Jean, and their two children Mike and Sally who live in Birch Avenue in Putney, but this was changed to 2 Howard Road in later episodes. The various writers used just about every typical sitcom plot you can think of which meant the usual misunderstandings, arguments, comic situations etc, you know the type of thing!
Sidney Abbott is played with all the brilliant comic talent you would expect from Sid James. He is a sales representative for a local stationary company and is very successful at his job. Outside of work, he likes to relax (or try to!) at home smoking his pipe listening to his favourite classical piece of music, at weekends he would sometimes go fishing with his next-door neighbour who is also his best mate Trevor (played by Anthony Jackson). Sid's most popular activity is going to his local boozer The Hare and Hounds with Trevor to sink a few pints and discuss the burning issues of the day eg. would Chelsea win the cup this year, or the length (or lack of it) of the barmaid's skirt! The main cause of frustration in Sid's life is trying to understand his children. The generation gap seems to him to be not so much a gap as (perhaps he might say) a great big bloody hole! He holds very traditional views on many things especially sex, and while he encourages his son Mike to enjoy himself (as quoted on the show Here a bit, there a bit, everywhere a bit bit!) he is very protective about his daughter Sally whom he still thinks of as his little girl.
Jean Abbott, played by Diana Coupland, is a devoted wife and mother, she is the 'real' head of the house, but dont tell Sid! She seems to understand her children more than Sid ever could, usually seeing their side of any argument. Her best friend is next-door neighbour Betty (played by Patsy Rowlands) who is married to Trevor. Sid is not too keen on her as she always seems to be coming round to borrow things which usually is food!
Mike Abbott, played by Robin Stewart, is the oldest of the two children and the most gifted but Sid would disagree with you on that one! He is unemployed but occasionally sells pieces of art which he has made. Art is his passion and he is always working on his next masterpiece which unfortunately for Sid usually means a lot of banging and clattering from the garage which never seems to have the space for the car! Sid also struggles to hold a decent conversation with his son as he uses phrases such as Dig it and I'm gonna split which sounds very painful!
Sally Abbott, played by Sally Geeson, is the youngest member of the family but she is rapidly growing up. Her attitude to sex leaves her father in turmoil, and she seems to go through boyfriends like there is no tomorrow. Mike and her have very strong opinions and they often go on various demonstrations together in support of the latest cause, this usually ends up with them in trouble with the police which means a trip to the station for Sid!
As with any successful sitcom of the 1970's there was a good chance that a spin-off feature film would be made and Bless This House was no exception. Made in 1972 by Rank, the screenplay was written by Dave Freeman who had also penned scripts for the TV series, producer was Peter Rogers and director was Gerald Thomas who of course had both worked on the immensely successful Carry On films. The film retained most of the regular cast from the TV series with the exceptions of Robin Stewart as Mike who was replaced by Robin Askwith, and Anthony Jackson as next-door neighbour Trevor who was replaced by carry on stalwart Peter Butterworth. There was a good supporting cast of many familiar faces from the British comedy scene of the time including Terry Scott and June Whitfield as the new next-door neighbours Mr & Mrs Baines, George A Cooper as the propietor of a local cafe and Bill Maynard as the owner of an antiques market.
Bless This House was constantly in the Top 10 of the UK TV ratings and many regard the series as Sid James' finest hour. The series is gaining new fans all the time via DVD releases by Network Video in the UK and various releases in Australia. The feature film is also repeated regularly on UK television.
I hope you enjoy your visit to the site and like what I have produced, please feel free to contact me about the show or the site using the email icon below, your feedback is very much appreciated.
Dear Richard,
Thank you for getting in touch regarding Bless This House.
It was such a very happy time of my life.We almost felt like a true family having worked together for so long.Sid once said to me "It's such fun and so successful,we'll still be working on Bless This House 'till one of us kick's the bucket". How right he was. Dear Sid - irreplacable!
Bill (William G) kept us all in order and besides being an excellent producer and director,he did all the comedy 'warm ups' for the show,very good too.I was delighted when he started presenting '15 to 1' because I think he secretly always wanted to be on our side of the camera.
I was chosen for Bless This House after doing one episode of Please Sir! (the only comedy I had done thus far).Luckily Bill saw it and cast me as Jean Abbott.Of course,I had a great deal to learn about comedy - timing etc. but luckily Sid was a master and a great example to learn from.
I love knowing that people are still interested in Bless This House after so many years.I also love it when strangers say "hello" and talk about how they'd enjoyed it-it's like having so many friends.
Kindest regards,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Richard,
In the 1970's I auditioned for the role of Sally Abbott in Thames Television's production of "Bless This House".I was introduced to Sid,who was quiet and charming,we got on really well and I was lucky enough to get the part.
Having recently discovered your "Bless This House" website I am now delighted to be able to view so many happy memories.You really have done an excellent job in collecting and presenting such a variety of photographs,video clips and messages.
My years at Thames working with Sid,Diana and Robin were extremely happy.Every week we started rehearsing a new episode with guest actors joining us.Being a situation comedy there was always a light hearted and fun atmosphere.Each Saturday we would have a technical rehearsal for the camera crew,they would often laugh as the episode unfolded.We as a cast would take heart from their reaction and often comment "looks as though we might have a winner this week".Sunday was the recording day and an audience of several hundred would pack into the studio seats.The director would always introduce us,but it was when Sid appeared that the applause and cheers for this great artist was simply deafening!They absolutely loved him.It was the same when we were on location filming outdoor scenes,shopkeepers and neighbours would fill the street hoping to catch a glimpse of Sid and his television family.
This letter may sound like a tribute to Sid,well why not,as Diana and Robin agreed - without Sid in the starring role it would never have been the big hit it was.Sid was irreplaceable,and after his sad death no other actor could have taken his place.
Such happy years and thanks to you Richard there is now a lovely record of it all.
With many thanks,
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My dear Richard,
I have only once had the opportunity to say thank you for all your hard work and loyalty to Bless This House and wonderful support towards us all.
Meeting you at Stourbridge was just such a great experience to finally meet the man who has kept us all in the public eye. Doing a series like Bless This House with such an amazing cast and regular guests was a highlight in my life and never will be forgotten, with William G Stewart at the helm and Sid leading the way it was just such a unique experience for Diana, Sally and myself. We laughed and cried together and for six glorious years we were the perfect television family.
Without you my dear Richard, we would be on the comedy scrap heap, you have kept the joy and the dream we all enjoyed alive and in the public eye, for this I am eternally grateful and saying thank you so very much seems such a small token of respect for all you have done and continue to do.
Bless you my friend and thank you once again.
With the greatest of respect,
Robin Stewart
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Dear Richard,
Thank you for your introduction to the Bless This House website you have set up.It is always satisfying to know that there are people who liked the series enough and remember it all these years later.
I have very happy memories of Bless This House.It began in 1970 with the late and much-missed Philip Jones,Head of Light Entertainment at Thames Television,inviting me to be the producer/director of "a new series for Sid James",and continued until Sid's untimely death in 1976.Unusually for situation comedy series in those days,I was the only producer/director on the series.
I had first come across Sid at the BBC in the early 1960s.As a stagehand I had worked in the Hancock studio when Sid was still Tony's sidekick,and we had talked a few times.From the beginning we got on well.We discussed all aspects of the series - casting,scripts and filming.
We had several script writers,including Vince Powell and Harry Driver,Dave Freeman and Carla Lane.If you watch the episodes carefully you can see their different styles.I became firm friends with Sid and his family (his wife Val and their children Susie and Steven) and visited his home in Buckinghamshire.And I remember him with affection.
Best wishes,
| i don't know |
What was the name of the river by which Julius Caesar stood when he reputedly said ‘The die has been cast’? | Julius Caesar - Wikiquote
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (Classical Latin: G
AIVS
C
ÆSAR
) ( 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC ) was a Roman religious , military, and political leader. He played an important part in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire . His conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, with the first Roman invasion of Britainia in 55 BC. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders.
For the famous play by William Shakespeare , see Julius Caesar (play) .
Contents
Men willingly believe what they wish.
The die is cast.
Fortune, which has a great deal of power in other matters but especially in war, can bring about great changes in a situation through very slight forces.
Veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
Written in a report to Rome 47 B.C., after conquering Pharnaces at Zela in Asia Minor in just five days; as quoted in Life of Caesar by Plutarch ; reported to have been inscribed on one of the decorated wagons in the Pontic triumph, in Lives of the Twelve Caesars , Julius , by Suetonius
Variant translation:
Came, Saw, Conquered
Inscription on the triumphal wagon reported in The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius , as translated by Robert Graves (1957)
Alea iacta est .
The die is cast.
As quoted in Vita Divi Iuli [The Life of the deified Julius] (121 CE) by Suetonius , paragraph 33 (Caesar: … "Iacta alea est", inquit. – Caesar said … "the die is cast".)
Said when crossing the river Rubicon with his legions on 10 January, 49 BC, thus beginning the civil war with the forces of Pompey . The Rubicon river was the boundary of Gaul, the province Caesar had the authority to keep his army in. By crossing the river, he had committed an invasion of Italy.
The Latin is a translation; Caesar actually spoke this in Greek, as reported by Plutarch , Plutarch , Life of Pompey, 60.2.9:
Ἑλληνιστὶ πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας ἐκβοήσας, «Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος», [anerriphtho kybos] διεβίβαζε τὸν στρατόν.
He [Caesar] declared in Greek with loud voice to those who were present ‘Let the die be cast’ and led the army across.
He was reportedly quoting the playwright Menander , specifically “Ἀρρηφόρῳ” (Arrephoria, or “The Flute-Girl”), according to Deipnosophistae , Book 13 , paragraph 8, saying «Ἀνερρίφθω κύβος» (anerriphtho kybos). The Greek translates rather as “let the die be cast!”, or “Let the game be ventured!”, which would instead translate in Latin as Jacta Alea Est. According to Lewis and Short ( Online Dictionary: alea , Lewis and Short at the Perseus Project. See bottom of section I.), the phrase used was a future active imperative , “let the die be cast!”, or “Let the game be ventured!”, which would instead translate in Latin as iacta alea est.
Gallia est pacata.
Gaul is subdued.
Written in a letter with which Caesar informed the Roman Senate of his victory over Vercingetorix in 52 BC
Sed fortuna, quae plurimum potest cum in reliquis rebus tum praecipue in bello, parvis momentis magnas rerum commutationes efficit; ut tum accidit.
Fortune, which has a great deal of power in other matters but especially in war, can bring about great changes in a situation through very slight forces.
The Civil War, Book III, 68; variant translation: "In war, events of importance are the result of trivial causes."
I assure you I had rather be the first man here than the second man in Rome.
On passing through a village in the Alps, as attributed in Parallel Lives , by Plutarch , as translated by John Langhorne and William Langhorne (1836), p. 499
Variant: First in a village rather than second in Rome.
I will not … that my wife be so much as suspected.
His declaration as to why he had divorced his wife Pompeia , when questioned in the trial against Publius Clodius Pulcher for sacrilege against Bona Dea festivities (from which men were excluded), in entering Caesar's home disguised as a lute-girl apparently with intentions of a seducing Caesar's wife; as reported in Plutarch's Lives of Coriolanus, Caesar, Brutus, and Antonius by Plutarch , as translated by Thomas North, p. 53
Variant translations:
Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
It is not the well-fed long-haired man I fear, but the pale and the hungry looking.
As reported in Plutarch 's Anthony'; William Shakespeare adapted this in having Caesar declare Cassius as having "a lean and hungry look."
Καὶ σύ, τέκνον;
And you, son?
Reported as Caesar's last words, spoken to Marcus Junius Brutus , as recorded in Divus Iulius by Suetonius , paragraph 82; this gave rise to William Shakespeare 's famous adaptation in Julius Caesar : "Et tu, Brute? — Then fall, Caesar!"
He seated himself at the head of the lines in front of the camp, the Gallic chieftains are brought before him. They surrender Vercingetorix , and lay down their arms.
Commentarii de Bello Gallico [Commentaries on the Gallic War]
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres.
All Gaul is divided into three parts
Book I, Ch. 1 ]; these are the first words of De Bello Gallico, the whole sentence is "All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who in their own language are called Celts, in ours Gauls, the third." [1]
Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae.
Of all these, the Belgae are the bravest/strongest .
Book I, Ch. 1
Consuesse enim deos immortales, quo gravius homines ex commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro scelere eorum ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum res et diuturniorem impunitatem concedere.
The immortal gods are wont to allow those persons whom they wish to punish for their guilt sometimes a greater prosperity and longer impunity, in order that they may suffer the more severely from a reverse of circumstances.
Book I, Ch. 14, translated by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn
Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.
In most cases men willingly believe what they wish.
Book III, Chapter 18
Variant translation: Men willingly believe what they wish to be true.
As quoted in The Adventurer No. 69 (3 July 1753) in The Works of Samuel Johnson (1837) edited by Arthur Murphy, p. 32
Compare: "What each man wishes, that he also believes to be true" Demosthenes , Olynthiac 3.19
Sunt item, quae appellantur alces. Harum est consimilis capris figura et varietas pellium, sed magnitudine paulo antecedunt mutilaeque sunt cornibus et crura sine nodis articulisque habent neque quietis causa procumbunt neque, si quo adflictae casu conciderunt, erigere sese aut sublevare possunt. His sunt arbores pro cubilibus: ad eas se applicant atque ita paulum modo reclinatae quietem capiunt. Quarum ex vestigiis cum est animadversum a venatoribus, quo se recipere consuerint, omnes eo loco aut ab radicibus subruunt aut accidunt arbores, tantum ut summa species earum stantium relinquatur. Huc cum se consuetudine reclinaverunt, infirmas arbores pondere adfligunt atque una ipsae concidunt.
There are also animals which are called elks [alces "moose" in Am. Engl.; elk "wapiti"]. The shape of these, and the varied colour of their skins, is much like roes, but in size they surpass them a little and are destitute of horns, and have legs without joints and ligatures; nor do they lie down for the purpose of rest, nor, if they have been thrown down by any accident, can they raise or lift themselves up. Trees serve as beds to them; they lean themselves against them, and thus reclining only slightly, they take their rest; when the huntsmen have discovered from the footsteps of these animals whither they are accustomed to betake themselves, they either undermine all the trees at the roots, or cut into them so far that the upper part of the trees may appear to be left standing. When they have leant upon them, according to their habit, they knock down by their weight the unsupported trees, and fall down themselves along with them.
Book VI
Vercingetorix , having convened a council the following day, declares, "That he had undertaken that war, not on account of his own exigencies, but on account of the general freedom; and since he must yield to fortune, he offered himself to them for either purpose, whether they should wish to atone to the Romans by his death, or surrender him alive." Ambassadors are sent to Caesar on this subject. He orders their arms to be surrendered, and their chieftains delivered up. He seated himself at the head of the lines in front of the camp, the Gallic chieftains are brought before him. They surrender Vercingetorix, and lay down their arms.
Book VII
Misattributed[ edit ]
Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.
This statement by an unknown author has also been wrongly attributed to William Shakespeare , but there are no records of it prior to late 2001. It has been debunked at Snopes.com
Quotes about Caesar[ edit ]
Caesar overtook his advanced guard at the river Rubicon, which formed the frontier between Gaul and Italy. Well aware how critical a decision confronted him, he turned to his staff, remarking:
"We may still draw back but, once across that little bridge, we shall have to fight it out"
As he stood, in two minds, an apparition of superhuman size and beauty was seen sitting on the river bank playing a reed pipe. A party of shepherds gathered around to listen and, when some of Caesar's men broke ranks to do the same, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, ran down to the river, blew a thunderous blast, and crossed over. Caesar exclaimed:
"Let us accept this as a sign from the Gods , and follow where they beckon, in vengeance on our double-dealing enemies. The die is cast."
He led his army to the farther bank, where he welcomed the tribunes of the people who had fled to him from Rome. Then he tearfully addressed the troops and, ripping open his tunic to expose his breast, begged them to stand faithfully by him.
Suetonius , in The Twelve Caesars, as translated by Robert Graves (1957), ¶ 31-33
Variant translations:
He caught up with his cohorts at the River Rubicon, which was the boundary of his province, where he paused for a while, thinking over the magnitude of what he was planning, then, turning to his closest companions, he said: "Even now we can still turn back. But once we have crossed that little bridge, everything must be decided by arms." As he paused, the following portent occurred. A being of splendid size and beauty suddenly appeared, sitting close by, and playing music on a reed. A large number of shepherds hurried to listen to him and even some of the soldiers left their posts to come, trumpeters among them. From one of these, the apparition seized a trumpet, leapt down to the river, and with a huge blast sounded the call to arms and crossed over to the other bank. Then said Caesar: "Let us go where the gods have shown us the way and the injustice of our enemies calls us. The die is cast." And so the army crossed over and welcomed the tribunes of the plebs who had come over to them, having been expelled from Rome. Caesar addressed the sol- diers, appealing to their loyalty, with tears, and ripping the garments from his breast.
As translated by Catherine Edwards (2000)
Brutus, quia reges eiecit, consul primus factus est; Hic, quia consules eiecit, rex postremo factus est.
Brutus was elected consul, when he sent the kings away; Caesar sent the consuls packing, Caesar is our king today.
Note left on a statue of Caesar in Rome, prior to the Ides of March, as reported in Suetonius , in The Twelve Caesars, as translated by Robert Graves (1957), Divus Iulius ¶ 80
In that man were combined genius , method, memory, literature, prudence, deliberation, and industry. He had performed exploits in war which, though calamitous for the republic, were nevertheless mighty deeds. Having for many years aimed at being a king, he had with great labor, and much personal danger, accomplished what he intended. He had conciliated the ignorant multitude by presents, by monuments, by largesses of food, and by banquets; he had bound his own party to him by rewards, his adversaries by the appearances of clemency. Why need I say much on such a subject? He had already brought a free city, partly by fear, partly by patience, into a habit of slavery. With him I can, indeed, compare you [Mark Antony] as to your desire to reign; but in all other respects you are in no degree to be compared to him.
| Rubicon |
Retinol is a form of which vitamin? | Anatomy of a Debt Crisis that appears, only Julius Caesar ever understood. | Armstrong Economics
Anatomy of a Debt Crisis that appears, only Julius Caesar ever understood.
Copyright Martin A. Armstrong, all right reserved March 18th, 2012
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Anatomy of a Debt Crisis
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC)
that appears, only Julius Caesar ever understood
Copyright Martin A. Armstrong, all right reserved March 18th, 2012
here is no question that we are in the early stages of a major Sovereign Debt Crisis that is beyond all comprehension of those who fail to investigate the lessons of our past. There have been numerous panics where the stock market has crashed and burned, and the wailing for new regulation that would prevent losses while allowing unlimited profits have caused more economic harm than benefits. The sheer ignorance of those who preside over the affairs of men creates the cycle of real economic doom, for they never consult the past, constantly try the same measures, and inevitably set in motion the same cycle of mistakes and events that lead us to conclude that indeed history repeats. As a society, we are plain too stupid unable to learn from our mistakes. We keep sticking our finger in the flame to see if perhaps this time, it will not burn.
For those of us not afraid of the past, a review of history produces a very clear answer for it contains the solutions since man has never managed to change his passions compelling the past to repeat. The rise and fall of mere speculative booms transformed into busts do not topple society outside the debt markets. However, when that boom and bust takes place within the broader debt market, it affects everyone, not just investors, and suppresses economic solutions. This is what a Debt Crisis is always distinguished from a mere speculative bubble. I have hinted at in previous writings that the only
politician in history who has ever in fact understood the nature of a Debt Crisis and came up with practical solutions, was Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
Nevertheless, there was intense political corruption, and those who have been mistakenly hailed as hero’s against tyranny such as Marcus Porcius Cato (or Cato the Younger) (95-46 BC) and Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) have taken credit that they do not deserve and have confused countless generations attempting to present Caesar as a dictator lusting for personal power. To set the record straight, a “Dictator” in Roman times was a political appointment that was a power in times of national stress where the Senate would appoint an individual to deal with a situation that the power was granted in one year intervals. Cicero himself asked for the same powers and was so granted. Today, we have the same system, but we call it “Marshall Law” where the President can be granted that same power that suspends the Constitution and individual rights. The only way to understand history and events, is not to only listen to the words written by contemporaries, we must review the actions of men, for that reveals what words often overlook. What I am about to discuss to many will be a shocking revelation of history. But let me state now, what Caesar faced, we now also face. The corruption of the Republic of Rome is widespread today as well. If we understand the mistakes of the past, we can escape the same outcome, or choose to repeat events.
The Debt Crisis & Julius Caesar
Of all the various economic declines throughout history of mankind, not only is the Debt Crisis the major destroyer of civilization, but it was faced head-on by one man who grasped what it was, and came up with a very unique plan of resolution. That man was Julius Caesar (100-44 BC).
There have been many books written about Julius Caesar, but never have I seen any modern writing that detailed the Politician and major Economic Reformer. The countless books I have seen published on this exceptional figure in history focus upon his military career. It is true that but for his conquest of Gaul, the world we live in today may have been very different. He was a master at strategy, engineering, and administration. His conquest of Gaul was by far the foundation of Western Civilization. The victory secured Europe for about 400 years and as the generations came and went, they no longer saw themselves as Gauls, but as Romans. This is the man who created Europe.
Yet there is a strange twist to history. Who, when, and how it is written often determines both its quality and its bias. Caesar has indeed provided a wealth of military and political key lessons. He was also a man who was an inspirational leader who would wear a red cloak so his troops would see him in battle. He would at critical times instinctively know that this was the moment and he would lead his men into battle charging at the front, not directing from behind. This amazing talent is rare and even general Patton in World War II with whom my father served and retired as a colonel, wore a red cloak as Caesar did.
Caesar was truly what is commonly termed a “Renaissance Man” long before the term was ever coined. It meant truly that the person was skilled in more than one field. It is a term that truly denotes to me something more than wide interests. It means to me a man who has also wide experience. Perhaps like Socrates, I have met many people who were often considered the top in their field. There was a basic trait that was hidden from most. It is what I can only describe as a “feel” that is indescribable. I have personally explored this Indescribable Feel and found it to exist that perhaps makes that person among the best in the field. This is true from military on through to music. If you do not “feel” the correct timing of the events, you are at best average. To rise above that, you have to “feel” what other cannot even see.
I was certainly one of the last traders to have the old fashioned paper tape. When Trans Lux told me they were not going to support it anymore because computer screens were making their product obsolete, the industry changed. A paper tape would make noise. Each trade had to be printed on the tape and that was sound of clicks like a typewriter. On a quiet day, the sound would be – “click … click …… click….” When things were happening, it would sound like a machine gun. The sound became part of our sense of what was going on. Being trained with sight, charts, discussion among peers to read sentiment, and connecting all that input with also sound gave me a “feel” for the markets that became virtually instinctive. I could “feel” the blood flowing in panics and sell-offs. I have discussed this with many people from different fields, and they too acquired a “feel” for their field. This is what I meant that my discussion with former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher showed me she too possessed a “feel” for events and she could feel cycles in her veins. She told me that John Major would lose his election long before it began. She told me “It’s Just Time.”
One cannot comprehend history and write about it in a dry fashion and this was the event and this is why it took place, without a truly comprehensive and deep “feel” for the field of which that person resided within at that moment of time. When Caesar surrounded Alesia in the final battle against the Gauls led by Vercingetorix, he knew that another Gallic army was coming. He built a second wall and defended against two armies about twice his strength. When one was breaking through a narrow area, Caesar could “feel” the moment, put on his red cloak, and told his men to follow him. He could “feel” that moment in time, and unless he could “feel” events, he would have gone down as just another defeated general.
Yet the amazing thing is this man could master more than one field. He not merely was accomplished in battle, he was accomplished in politics and knew the state, how it functioned, and what was wrong with it, and how to fix it. When we look at history, we must understand one thing. It is often written by one who remains standing. Consequently, there is an inherent bias that one must be quite careful to filter out.
The corruption within the Roman Republic was certainly at its peak during the first century BC. Gaius Marius (157-86 BC) was elected consul an unprecedented 7 times during his career. He was a tribune and defender of the plebs (common people) in 119 BC. He had even become a praetor, a judicial magistrate (judge) in 115 BC, and was a governor of Spain. He fought against the rising corruption within
the Roman Republic and took Rome by force with Cinna in 86 BC and they were elected consul before he died. Marius was what one you would call a true revolutionary and he was married to Julia, the aunt of Julius Caesar.
Marius was a Roman general and statesman who instituted dramatic reforms of the Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens which established the military career as a means of acquiring status in life. He eliminated the manipular military formations, and reorganized the structure of the legions into separate cohorts. Marius also defeated the invading Germanic tribes invading Italy (the Teutones, Ambrones, and the Cimbri), for which he was often called “the third founder of Rome.”
In 95 BC, Rome passed a decree expelling from the city all residents who were not Roman citizens. In 91 BC Marcus Livius Drusus was elected tribune and proposed a greater division of state lands, the enlargement of the Senate, and a conferral of Roman citizenship upon all freemen of Italy. The rising oligarchy within Rome did not wish to accept anyone other than Romans as citizens denying that to all other Italians. They assassinated Drusus for making such a proposal, and this resulted in many of the Italian states then revolting against Rome in the Social War of 91–88 BC. Marius took command (following the deaths of the consul, Publius Rutilius Lupus, and the praetor Quintus Servilius Caepio) and fought along with Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138 – 78 BC) against the rebel cities.
After the Social War, King Mithridates VI the Great of Pontus (134-63BC) began his bid to conquer Rome’s eastern provinces and invaded Greece. In 88 BC, Sulla was elected consul. The choice before the Senate was to put either Marius or Sulla in command of an army which would aid Rome’s Greek allies and defeat Mithridates. The Senate chose Sulla, but soon the Assembly appointed Marius. In this unpleasant episode of low politics, he was helped by the unscrupulous actions of Publius Sulpicius Rufus, whose debts Marius had promised to erase. Sulla refused to acknowledge the validity of the Assembly’s action.
Sulla left Rome and traveled to the army waiting in Nola, the army the Senate had asked him to lead against Mithridates. Sulla urged his legions to defy the Assembly’s orders and accept him as their rightful leader. Sulla was successful and the legions stoned the representatives from the Assembly. Sulla then commanded six legions to march with him to Rome and institute a civil war. This was a momentous event, and was unforeseen by Marius, as no Roman army had ever marched upon Rome—it was forbidden by law and ancient tradition.
Once it became obvious that Sulla was going to defy the law and seize Rome by force, Marius attempted to organize a defense of the city using gladiators. Unsurprisingly Marius’ ad-hoc force was no match for Sulla’s legions. Marius was defeated and fled Rome. Marius narrowly escaped capture and death on several occasions and eventually found safety in Africa. Sulla and his supporters in the Senate passed a death sentence on Marius, Sulpicius and a few other allies of Marius. A few men were executed but (according to Plutarch), many Romans disapproved of Sulla’s actions; some who opposed Sulla were actually elected to office in 87 BC. (Gnaeus Octavius, a supporter of Sulla, and Lucius Cornelius Cinna, a supporter of Marius, were elected consul). Regardless, Sulla was confirmed again as the commander of the campaign against Mithridates, so he took his legions out of Rome and marched east to the war.
While Sulla was on campaign in Greece, fighting broke out between the conservative supporters of Sulla, led by Octavius, and the popular supporters of Cinna, back in Rome. Marius along with his son then returned from exile in Africa with an army he had raised there and combined with Cinna to oust Octavius. This time it was the army of Marius that entered Rome.
Some of the soldiers went through Rome killing the leading supporters of Sulla, including Octavius. Their heads were exhibited in the Forum. In all, some dozen Roman nobles had been murdered. The Senate passed a law exiling Sulla, and Marius was appointed the new commander in the eastern war. Cinna was chosen for his third consulship and Marius to his seventh consulship. After five days, Cinna and the Popularis general Quintus Sertorius ordered their more disciplined troops to kill the rampaging soldiers.
In his Life of Marius, Plutarch relates several opinions on the end of C. Marius: one, from Posidonius, holds that Marius contracted pleurisy; Gaius Piso has it that Marius walked with his friends and discussed all of his accomplishments with them, adding that no intelligent man ought leave himself to Fortune.[12] Plutarch then anonymously relates that Marius, having gone into a fit of passion in which he announced a delusion that he was in command of the Mithridatic War, began to act as he would have on the field of battle; finally, ever an ambitious man, Marius lamented, on his death bed, that he had not achieved all of which he was capable, despite his having acquired great wealth and having been chosen consul more times than any man before him. Marius died just seventeen days into his seventh consulship.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla’s dictatorship came during a high point in the struggle
between Optimates and Popularis, the former seeking to maintain the power of the oligarchy in the form of the Senate while the latter resorted in many cases to naked populism, culminating in Caesar’s dictatorship. Sulla was a highly original, gifted and skilful general, never losing a battle; he remains the only man in history to have attacked and occupied both Athens and Rome. His rival, Gnaeus Papirius Carbo, described Sulla as having the cunning of a fox and the courage of a lion – but that it was the former attribute that was by far the most dangerous. This mixture was later referred to by Machiavelli in his description of the ideal characteristics of a ruler.
Sulla used his armies to march on Rome twice, and after the second he revived the office of dictator, which had not been used since the Second Punic War over a century before. He used his powers to enact a series of reforms to the Roman constitution, meant to restore the balance of power between the Senate and the tribunes; he then stunned the Roman World (and posterity) by resigning the dictatorship, restoring normal constitutional government, and after his second Consulship, retiring to private life. When Sulla ordered Caesar to divorce his wife and he refused to obey the dictator, this showed a keen streak of independence of character. But of all those who pleaded with Sulla to spare the young Caesar, his comment was one upon his clear observation that this was a remarkable man. He warned, “There are many a Marius in this man.” Sulla thus saw in Caesar at this young age, the ability and the independence of a man. These qualities would be no doubt nurtured with time.
We must understand that like today, the oligarchy in Rome was corrupting the internal workings of the state for several decades. When Caesar was a boy, there was the Social War 90-89 BC that was a rebellion waged by the other Italian allies who were being denied the rights of citizenship of Rome, although conquered by them. In 91 BC, Marcus Livius Drusus was the tribune and he proposed legislation granting citizenship to the Italians for this was becoming a rising problem. He was then assassinated for proposing the legislation and that sparked the revolt.
The Italians created their own confederacy and even minted their coinage with the name “Italia”. They gathered an army of 100,000 and actually defeated the Romans. It was Lucius Julius Caesar, the grandfather of Mark Antony, who sponsored a law that granted citizenship to all Italians who did not revolt and who laid down their arms. Eventually, the rebels were defeated in the south by the Romans led by Lucius Cornelius Sulla and in the north by Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. All of Italy south of the Po river thus became Roman.
The century in which Caesar lived was the second 224 year phase of the Republic -the first was 492-268 BC culminating in the Punic Wars – from 268-44 BC that had culminated with the assassination of Caesar and the birth of another civil war that led to the new Imperial Age of Rome peaking with the reign of Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD where the line is drawn by Edward Gibbon for the Decline and Fall of Rome.
This century was an age of the corruption of the Republic Oligarchy. It is preceded by the Social War 90-89 BC demanding the equal rights (no taxation without representation), that is followed by what the victors called the Catiline Conspiracy, that takes its name from another hell bent antagonist who rose against the Senatorial Oligarchy.
Lucius Sergius Catiline (108-62 BC) the victors claimed was a demagogue who had unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the Republic of which Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was consul in 63 BC. Catiline served under Pompey’s father in the Social War of 89 BC and it is said he became such a zealot in Sulla’s proscriptions, he killed his own brother-in-law. He was a praetor in 68 BC, governor of Africa 67-66 BC, but could not run for election in 65 or 64 BC for consul when charges of extortion were pending, of which he was cleared.
Catiline was also against the oligarchy. Rumors were planted that he intended to kill the consuls and seize power in 65. However, there was never any evidence of this so called First Catilinarian Conspiracy. It is significant, however, that there is even an allegation that predates the conflict. In 64 BC, Catiline stood for election against Cicero after all charges were dismissed, but lost. He stood for the elections again the following year, yet lost again.
Cicero was his opponent, and we must not forget that. Catiline was a popular man of the people and advocated for the cancellation of debt. He attracted the old victims of Sulla’s proscriptions who were dispossessed of their property. So we must understand that there was a brewing debt crisis in Rome and the oligarchy was determined to keep power at any cost. Cicero was counsel in 63 BC and he employed spies and informers making it very personal to attack Catiline. Whether Cicero even acted in an ethical manner is highly questionable when one resorts to spies and KGB informer tactics. Cicero on October 21st, 63 BC stood before the Senate and denounced Catiline charging him with treason and was granted what the Romans called the “ultimate decree” that was essentially a declaration of martial law – Dictatorship.
Catiline was quite popular. He had the support of Gaius Antonius and some of the tribunes were already following his line working for the cancellation of debts, as noted by historian Cassius Dio (Historia Romana 37,25,4). He was clearly sharing this idea with Crassus and Caesar and their view of the corruption within the oligarchy cannot be ignored. Cicero was the leader of a party known as the “Concord of the Orders” claiming to be the party of law and order. This was a life-long source of pride of Cicero. We must also understand that Catiline tried the constitutional approach and stood for elections against Cicero twice and lost. He clearly knew that the opposition included Pompey. Note keenly that the thrust was the cancellation of debts. The constitutional course of elections was always subject to bribery.
Catiline tried the constitutional approach. When Cicero accused him of being a threat to the Republic and guilty of treason, Catiline fled Rome on November 8th and joined a gathering of destitute veterans whom the oligarchy had never lived up to their promises of pensions. Despite the fact that the Senate handed the “ultimate decree” to Cicero, it does not appear from the contemporary accounts that the Senate fully believed in this Catiline Conspiracy created by Cicero.
On December 3rd, Cicero’s informers and spies managed to get signed documents, or so they claimed, of others involved in the Catiline Conspiracy. Cicero won the Senate, arrested those, he alleged, signed the documents, and had them executed by December 5th and mobilized an army to attack Catiline. In January 62 BC, Catiline was attacked by Gaius Antonius Hybrida who commanded the Republican army and was killed in the battle at Pistoria. The victors portrayed those senators who sided with Catiline as the men who were facing bankruptcy. Cicero essentially eliminated any idea of revolution against corruption, and recast it as a bunch of losers who were bankrupts.
Marcus Licinius Crassus (115-53 BC) was one of the richest men in the history of
Rome. He fled Rome when the city was taken in 87 BC by Gaius Marius. He supported Sulla during the civil war 83-82 BC. It was he who put down the famous slave uprising led by Spartacus in 71-72 BC, although Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (106–48 BC) took credit for the victory. During this Catiline Conspiracy, Crassus seems to have fed Cicero with critical inside information on the night of October 20/21 in the form of an anonymous letter. Crassus being a rather keen moneylender, funded the election often in politics, which is one of the reasons why Caesar was attracted to Crassus with whom ultimately the First Triumvirate was formed between Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey.
Catiline had been part of a growing popular movement against the corruption of the Republican Oligarchy known as the Popularis that no doubt Caesar was a major and profound political advocate. During December 4th session at the Senate, a witness appeared who then alleged that he had been entrusted with a message from Crassus to Catiline. Cicero knew the popular movement was indeed widespread, and no doubt he also knew that Crassus and Caesar were involved. He feared that exposing the true extent of the so called plot, would expose too many legitimate politicians, not the least would be Crassus and Caesar. This is why there was the quick execution within two days to hide the truth, not to vindicate the law. Cicero even made a motion to now reject this new information. Quintius Catulus and Gaius Piso made great efforts to throw suspicion now upon the heavily indebted Caesar and even reproached Cicero for protecting him. They tried the indebtedness of Caesar to show he supported Catiline in order to escape his debts. Cicero then did his best to contain the new allegations to limit them to only Catiline.
On December 5th, the Senate deliberated over the sentencing of the conspirators. Crassus did not attend. Caesar attended and was one praetor (judge) designate. But there was a constitutional conflict. Cicero had been given the “ultimate decree” meaning he was operating under a dictatorial power to defend the Roman state. The two consuls were the first to speak and asked the Senate for the “ultimate penalty” meaning death. Caesar was the next to speak. His speech one must regard again as perhaps one of the most brilliant devised resolutions resting firmly upon the Rule of Law rather than dictatorial powers. Caesar argued that the conspirators should be imprisoned for life and that imposing death was no punishment at all for it would come to everyone by natural necessity as a rest from toil and misery.
Perhaps he was familiar with the incredible speech of Socrates when he told the Athenian Senate that their penalty of death he did not fear for it was either a migration of the soul to be rejoined with old friends departed, or it was like a mid-summer night’s sleep where it would be so peaceful, one is not even disturbed by a dream. Either way, he told the Senate, he feared not.
Caesar argued that to allow the consuls under dictatorship decree to impose the death penalty was contrary to law. The law of Gaius Gracchus of 123 BC was that any magistrate who had put Roman citizens to death without trial should be brought before the popular court and outlawed, and that never should a decision be made concerning the life of a citizen except by the people at trial. Cicero argued that once they were arrested as criminals on treason, they forfeited their citizenship even for a trial. Caesar stood his ground and admirably argued that this result was inconsistent with the Rule of Law and was a totally new kind of punishment and thus there was no good reason why to abandon the framework of the Rule of Law. He argued why they should not also propose flogging the guilty before executing, showing that also the lex Porcia forbade the flogging of citizens. Also under Roman law, the guilty could opt for the voluntary exile as criminal penalty that the death penalty would negate. He also argued that to execute such men of high rank would produce the image that the Senate was being ruled by its passions, rather than law, and that never had such thing ever taken place in Roman history.
Caesar opened a window into his mind and soul on this day. He showed his true inner nature, that he was a man still loyal to his friends and to the principles of the Popularis, yet displayed his respect for the law and what Aristotle had said it represented the separation of passion from objectivity. Caesar defended the conspirators, yet he could not be assailed himself.
Caesar’s speech was amazing. He even won over another praetor designate, Quintus Cicero, the counsel. However, then Tiberius Claudius Nero suggested that a decision should be postponed and conducted under military protection. To this Marcus Cicero objected fearing any postponement would be dangerous.
Marcus Cicero then spoke again, a speech he later published as his Fourth Catilinarian. He turned to Decimus Junius Silenus who was consul, who immediately claimed that when he asked for the “ultimate penalty” he had only intended that meant imprisonment, not death. Only Catulus, a natural enemy of Caesar, still argues for the death penalty. It appeared that the Senate had been won by Caesar’s speech.
The tide was turned, however, by the tribune Marcus Porcius Cato (95-46 BC) who was to be the famed statesman. Cato was the antithesis of Caesar. Cato many believed was a true stoic, but kept his conviction deep inward. His brother-in-law was Silanus, but we must remember, actions are the true revelation of character. Plutarch’s biography of Cato is based on the writings of his close political friend Munatius Rufus. Again, given the climate of corruption and the Republican Oligarchy, we cannot assume the honor of Cato as some devout Republican who stood tall against tyranny. It was Caesar who was on the side of the people and the Popularis whereas it was Cato and Cicero who kept championing the Republic that was clearly deep in corruption. In fact, the corruption was so widespread, that interest rates doubled from 4% to 8% for the elections of 54 BC because there was so much bribery going on to gain votes.
Cato attacked Caesar not on any noble ground. He accused him of trying to just terrify the Senate, and argued he should be glad to be escaping scot-free himself. He accused Caesar of trying to confuse the Senate and defend common enemies to save them from a just punishment. He accused Caesar of having no pity for his own city, while sounding a cry of lament for these criminals. Cato proposed that the death penalty should be carried out immediately, with no trial, so much for the Rule of Law, and that their property should be confiscated from their families. These were neither the demands of a reasonable stoic, nor of a compassionate man to inflict the confiscation of property that would deprive even their families of a place to live. The actions of Cato are not that of a man of the people.
Cicero moved immediately to put the proposal of Caesar and Cato to vote. Caesar argued that there should be two votes, the death penalty and the confiscation of property. Cicero opposed and Caesar appealed to the tribunes who were to protect the people from such unlawful acts, but they gave him no support. The knights who were in charge of protecting the Senate rushed toward Caesar with swords drawn and Caesar could only leave under the protection of the consuls. After Caesar departed, Cicero put Cato’s proposal to a vote without mentioning anything about the second proposal to confiscate the property. It was thus decreed, and the five were there and then immediately executed; so much for trial by jury and the dignity of law. Cato and Cicero showed their true colors, that they were part of the oligarchy that stood against the Popularis. From that day forward the feelings against Caesar from both Cato and Cicero were hostile. Caesar stayed away from the Senate for some time. From that day forward, the people knew where Caesar truly stood. He was a man of extreme loyalty who stood against corruption and was the champion of the people.
Cato Instigates the Civil War
Caesar was clearly a Popularis, a man of the people who stood against the corruption of the Republic. Like today, we have no real voting control over the fate of the nation, those who are in charge of the political machine control the real political state. We have no right to vote for judges, administration heads, or department heads. Obama brought in about 70% of those who served in the last Clinton administration. So there is no real fresh start. Likewise, had McCain won, the same thing would have happened. This is the normal course of the nature of all political states. This internal corruption was rising all the time within Rome and there was building a debt crisis of untold proportion. Just as today the state confiscates all property it can get its hands on this is the same that took place in Rome.
Far too many people reviewing history have been unable to fully comprehend the subtle differences often in words then and now. They seem to have been unable to see beyond the word “dictator” and envision some military banana republic leader who just slaughters all his enemies and rapes the young woman as the fruits or the spoils of his privilege.
Cato was an obstructionist and a leader among the Optimates who were basically a conservative right-wing group seeking and believing in the right of supreme political power in the Republic, which in Latin was res publica whereas res means this thing and publica meaning the people. So a direct translation would be “this thing of the people” that they saw themselves as the only qualifies rulers to protect the people which in fact was the political state, not actually the population. It is much like our problem today with federal judges. They have convinced themselves they have the “right” to make “policy” as to what the law should be, but that is a legislative power that is supposed to be subject to popular vote. By claiming the courts have the power to make “policy” decisions, they delude themselves into assuming the tyrannical power to supersede the law and eliminate the power of the people to even have a democracy. This is what the Optimates truly were, a right-wing usurpation of power that had devolved into an “Oligarchy” that they justified to retain power.
Cato committed suicide eventually in the civil war during 46 BC. Cato had assumed control of Sicily, but could not hold the island and fled to join Pompey at Dyrrachium, yet when Pompey was defeated at Pharsalus, Cato fled with a small band of troops to Africa. He shut himself up in Utica. After the oligarchy was defeated at Thapsus, Cato’s troops evacuated by sea and he committed suicide.
There are no writings of Cato that have survived other than one letter to Cicero. Immediately upon his death, the Optimates did their best to enlarge propaganda in an attempt to justify themselves. Thus, there raged a debate over the character of Cato and Cicero’s panegyric Cato was answered by Caesar’s Anticato that when compared to events, appears to be a far more objective assessment. We must also not forget that Cicero’s writing was at the request of Brutus. The “Oligarchy” succeeded in distorting history, for even in the 1st Century AD the poet Lucan writes his Bellum Civile portraying Cato as the model of virtue.
Caesar’s Anticato has largely been ignored by historians and summarily just regarded as an obscene personal attack. Caesar characterized Cato as an eccentric and self-serving individual who was a drunkard and a miser, who had even agreed to sell his own wife for profit. Nature, Caesar argued, had made Cato different from everyone else. There is no doubt that there was a profound hatred between Caesar and Cato and judging independently Cato’s action in the Catiline affair, he certainly was not a man of the people nor concerned with Republican ideas. If Cato were in charge of the terrorists today, his actions would be to deny them any trial. Argue that they threaten the state. Order that the law should not apply. And that they should be summarily executed within 3 days. Not a single nation today would regard the acts of Cato as even remotely civil no less worthy of praise.
Caesar’s personal attack upon Cato aside, it is clear that Caesar viewed Cato with not just contempt and incomprehension that he never displayed toward any other opponent, nonetheless he rightly places the blame for the civil war upon Cato. It is clear that Cicero’s writing about Cato is untrustworthy and is in itself a very self-serving product that was acknowledged to have been instigated by Brutus. Hence, the Optimates hailed Cato in death and covered over his unconstitutional actions to support their own cause. For if we look at events, clearly it was indeed Cato who pushed the civil war upon the Roman people as a power grab to maintain the very corrupt Oligarchy.
Caesar’s opponents in Rome were led by Cato, whose personal hatred of Caesar is perhaps the epic center for the civil war to come. Cato was no doubt the most dangerous of the lot and he failed to secure the election as consul in 51 (Plutarch’s Cato minor 49-50, Cassius Dio, Historia Romana 40,58). Marcus Claudius Marcellus won the election, but he too was an Optimates and agreed with Cato that the objective was to strip Caesar of his command, and they conspired to convict him and then as a private citizen he would be a criminal and then politically at least condemned. Cato was persistent demanding that Caesar be impeached, and put on trial.
Caesar knew who his enemies truly were. He clung to his belief that if the majority of the Senate were free of the Oligarchy of Cato and Cicero, they would surely see the light. To persuade them, Caesar wrote his seven books on his truly remarkable conquest of Gaul – de bello Gallico. His work was strictly objective in tone showing again the true character between his words. The amazing conquest of essentially Europe took 7 years. Even Cicero could only praise his work stating “In the writing of history nothing is more pleasing than unaffected and lucid brevity.” (Cicero, Brutus 262). Of course, there was the typical muck-raking by people like Cato, a man whom I believe history has unduly crowned him with dignity he never deserved. The deep-seated hatred against Caesar from the Oligarchy is exposed by the comments of Ariovistus who remarked that Rome had no real claim to Gaul and boasted that there were men of great distinction in Rome who would be most grateful to have Caesar removed.
Caesar’s 7th volume provides a glimpse of truly this man’s genius, and that his talents were truly unlimited. This would be made even clearer after he wins the Civil War and embarks upon the most ambitious economic reform in world history.
The breach began by not merely the demand that Caesar give up his legions, the Senate rejected the word of Caesar who granted citizenship on the Latins who had settled north of the Po River and aided Caesar. The rejection of these 5,000 colonists showed the anti-Popularis attitude in the Senate led by Cato. This is as if the Senate ruled that an American who settled in Alaska lost his citizenship as an American before Alaska became a state. This further demonstrates that Cato was willing to punish the people for supporting Caesar.
Among the cities of Campania the people believed that the Senate was trying to slap the citizens and Caesar in the face. The enemies of Caesar spread rumors that Caesar had instructed the townspeople to reconstitute themselves as Roman municipia, which was of course false. They were trying to instigate affairs against Caesar who they knew could see into their souls and fell their corruption. Pompey was at Tarentum and took no part in their behind-the-scene-machinations, merely vowing to help only if Caesar actually did something (Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 5,7; 5,11,3; ad Familiares 2,8; 3,8,10; Cassius Dio, Historia Romana 40,59,2).
The townspeople seem to have beaten a judge with rods over a questionable legal decision in Comum. This seems to have given Marcellus excuse to take some action against the people that prompted Caesar to send two legions into Northern Italy to protect them from a possible barbarian invasion. It was like sending in aircraft carriers to put on a show of force. The dispute and ultimate confrontation against the corrupt Republic was brewing.
This is much like the French Revolution and Bastille Day (July 14th) when the people rise up and storm the prisons to set free the political prisoners of the state. Cato and his Oligarchy were so intensely anti-Caesar, that they were willing to do anything to anybody. This event to punish the people because of corrupt judges again reveals that Cato and his following were no Republicans.
Pompey had lent a legion to Caesar back in 53 BC for the war effort. On July 22, Pompey stopped in Rome on his way to Spain at ask about the pay for his troops. He was reminded about the legion he lent Caesar and was told he should ask for its return. He agreed, but objected letting them know he was not agreeing at the demands of Caesar’s enemies. The Senate was conspiring that Pompey should take over the legions in Gaul. Pompey at least agreed that Caesar should not be consul without giving up his legions and his province. Thus on March 1st, 50 BC, Pompey’s father-in-law Scipio delivered his vote. It was thus decided that all of the new provinces would be stripped from Caesar and that anyone who tried to veto those bills, which could procedurally take place on most, was an act that would be regarded as Caesar was rebelling against the Senate.
What is truly interesting is that Pompey joined this legislation believing that he truly knew Caesar and his loyalty and honor would compel him to comply. He does not seem to believe that this was a break inviting civil war. The Oligarchy also seems to believe that Caesar would just hand himself over because of his loyalty. But this was a moment in time where the corruption had simply gone too far. Those who hated Caesar like Cato wanted the man dead and would have pulled off whatever manipulations of law to accomplish that. Caesar clearly knew, there would be no possibility of a fair trial. This was an oligarchy hell bent on ensuring that they would win by any means possible.
By September 29th, 51 BC, Caesar ran out of civilized options. The Senate even attempted to decide the discharge of his own soldiers. To counteract the Senate, Caesar immediately doubled the pay of his legions granting them bonuses and awards thereafter. Meanwhile, Caesar was still funding the elaborate buildings in Rome under construction that began 54 BC paid for by the Gallic victories – the huge Basilica Julia in the Forum, a new Forum, and another building at the Campus Martius. Much like the Empire State Building under construction during the Great Depression provided some hope for the future, this construction gave hope that there would be no war. He also funded festivities in honor of his late daughter Julia who had been married to Pompey.
There was much political maneuvering. There was even a proposal that Caesar would give up his legions if Pompey did the same. But the corrupt Oligarchy would not allow that. The clash in political circles was deepening. The later noted historian Gaius Sallustius Crispus lost his seat and sent a memorandum to Caesar warning him that the Senate was under an unbearable oppressive reign of absolute terror under the Oligarchy that surrounded Pompey. He argues that Caesar had to act to restore the government.
Had Caesar truly been seeking personal power to become a “king” within the Republic, he could have just invaded and avoided the foreplay. Yet he did not. He was a true man of the People and was faced with a government so inherently corrupt that Cato had counted on the honor of Caesar to simply disarm him and then Cato would have killed Caesar or declared him to be a criminal to neutralize any political future resistance in Rome.
Crossing the Rubicon
The Romans had a god they called Janus who was pictured as having two faces. He was the symbol of a cyclical change, the departing of one era and the birth of another. His shrine consisted of two doorways that traditionally were left open in time of war and kept closed when Rome was at peace. Leaving the doors open in time of war symbolized the new era that was possible. According to Livy, the celebrated Roman historian, the gates to the shrine were closed only twice, during the period of Numa Pompilius in the 7th century BC, and again for the Pax Romana during the reign of Augustus. We still celebrate Janus indirectly for January is named after him and we celebrate the “new year” with its
dawn January 1st. Crossing the Rubicon was a new dawn in civilization as we would know it.
Crossing the Rubicon became the only option. Caesar was outnumbered, but he was always outnumbered in Gaul. He crossed the Rubicon in January 49 BC and the famous words attributed to him, “the die is cast”, were actually “Let the dice fly high” quoting a half line of his favorite Greek poet, Menander. The letter of Crispus stands alongside Cicero’s own political works where he at least admits and offers some reforms himself regarding the unjustified power of the present nobility and the corruption of money and bribes must be broken to restore the dignity of the Roman
Republic (C. Sallusti Crispi Epistulae ad Caesarem 2,13,5; compare Introduction to C. Sallustius Crispus, 1953). Of course Caesar’s other famous quote, “Veni, vidi, vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered.”) is a Latin sentence reportedly written by Julius Caesar in 47 BC as a comment on his short war with Pharnaces II of Pontus in the city of Zela (currently known as Zile), in Turkey. Pictured here is a medieval Paduan Medallion with that famous quote.
We all know the end results of the Civil War. Cities opened their gates and cheered the invasion of Caesar who was regarded as honorable and a true man of the people – a Popularis. What I have provided here is the “feel” of the political conditions of the times. It was far different than the one sided story of those in the Oligarchy clinging to their corruption.
Property values were collapsing. Debts were excessive. Those who held mortgages refused to accept just the property back. The core of the Popularis from the time of the Catiline Conspiracy was the cancellation of all debts. Even before the Civil War was over there was rioting in Rome. Mark Antony (82-30BC) was the magister equitum in charge of Rome. However, Dolabella brought forward the proposals to cancel all debts and rents and the Senate was again deeply alarmed. They anointed Antony with the senatus consultum ultimum bringing in strong troop reinforcements. There had been street riots and fighting but Antony took action. These troops stormed the Forum that had been barricaded by rioters. The troops attacked and over 800 were killed. The tablets inscribing the law were smashed. Most leaders were killed.
Antony himself was clearly trapped politically. He lost favor with the people and yet he himself was in favor of the cancellation of debts. He in fact bought the estate of Pompey at public auction on the assumption that when Caesar took full power, he would cancel the debt as originally floated by Catiline.
Indeed, Caesar showed his disapproval of Antony and essentially dropped him as a favorite for nearly 2 years. Caesar showed his confidence in Dolabella and granted some relief awarding home-owners a rent reduction for the current year of up to 500 denarii in Rome, and 125 denarii throughout Italy. However, Caesar again stood by a decree he made in 49 BC rejecting quite decisively the cancellation of all debts (Cassius Dio, Historia Romana 42,50,2-5; Suetonius, Divus Iulius 51). Caesar explained that he had to borrow to fund the war and it was unethical for him to cancel all debts since he himself would benefit. Caesar forced Antony to pay the full price that he had bid for Pompey’s estate that included everything within it including all its slaves. Only Caesar’s mistress, Servilia, is said to have secured some bargains at these auctions of property of people who died or were not pardoned (Cicero, Philippica 2,64-69; 2,71-73; 13,10-11; Suetonius, Divus Iulius 50,2).
Caesar hesitated concerning the debt crisis. He gave it much thought and clearly this was a man who was not prone to be simply partisan. His widespread forgiveness of his enemies was perhaps his undoing. But he perhaps wrongly thought that by showing he was a man of reason, he would be able to lead Rome to a new dawn and eliminate the corruption setting the Republic back on track. There is no indication of tyranny, for his reasons were not self-serving, but clearly cut deep in those who had controlled the Oligarchy. Caesar spared many, and they merely came back to conspire against him again. Even in this act of forgiveness that Cato surely was never capable of doing, we must understand again the subtlety of the words used by Caesar. In Gaul, he often pardoned the offense of his captives by showing clemency that in Latin was clementia but was truly an act of mercy that amounted to the waiver of the Roman right to punish.
Caesar avoided the word clementia during the Civil War against Romans. What he did instead was use the terms of compassion (misericordis), generosity (liberalitas), and leniency (lenitas). These terms were slightly different than clementia insofar as they did not imply “mercy” that was more appropriate toward a non-Roman. Even Caelius wrote in a letter to Cicero: “Have you ever read or heard of anyone fiercer in attack and more moderate in victory?” Yet this is a tyrant?
I believe that the words of Caelius are the correct summation of the true and profound nature of the man Gaius Julius Caesar. His compassion, generosity and his leniency was starkly different from the dictator Sulla who was more interested in retaining the institutes of government while eliminating the people occupying them whereas Caesar was far more compelled to act to restore the institutions of the Government and to spare the people, even his more threatening enemies. These are not the actions of a man interested in personal power, but a man interested in saving his country.
It is very clear that Caesar always regarded that there was hope for Cicero. There were moments when Cicero’s ideas showed brilliant independence. Yet this calls into question his personal judgment. To have been rather hostile to Caesar, yet to follow blindly the lip-service of Cato and the Optimates who were the true extreme right-wing Republican Oligarchy, leaves one to question these inconsistencies.
Cicero was not one of the conspirators against Caesar who participated in his public assassination on the Ides of March (15th) in 44 BC. Yet it is curious why he was not present. No doubt he was invited, but declined. Like Crassus who failed to show up in the Senate for the hearing concerning the conspirators in the Catiline affair, one must ask if here too Cicero must have known, but avoided the public connection.
Upon the assassination of Caesar, we find Cicero came out in a strong defense of the conspirators and portrays Caesar as a merely power hungry man. Caesar was vilified by Cicero who launched his personal attack upon his character as they had accused Caesar in reply to Cicero’s Cato. Cicero stated that all the gifts of Caesar within his character, were directed to only one end – the subjugation of the free state to his lust for power (Cicero, Philippica 5,49). What Cicero did in his Philippics, as they became known referencing the famous speeches of Demosthenes (384-322 BC), the Athenian who roused the Greeks to defend against Philip of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great), was such self-
justification that they cast serious doubt about his judgment. Was he so blind, or could he fluctuate upon the moment listening to every speech and believing that he who spoke last was always the best? There can be no question that the control over the so called “free state” by the Senate was a dictatorship in the cloak of a multi-headed oligarchy that was simply unconstitutional (factio paucorum) and represented nothing akin to a democracy, but a façade of self-interest.
The Economic Reforms
~ of Caesar ~
Actions speak louder than words. The most curious aspect I have found regarding the story of Caesar is the obsession with only his military career and the willingness to even listen to often the self-serving rantings of the oligarchy to justify their own crimes not merely against Caesar, but in the suppression of the Roman people. If we only consider Caesar’s military career, there would be no real interest on my part. What I have always found fascinating, is his diversity of true genius. Generals come and go, but true economic reformers of the state to save the nation are rare indeed. Neither Republican nor Democratic today seems to have any interest in being a statesman for that requires looking beyond personal interest, and looking into the eyes of fate herself, and realizing it is his country he must save, often from himself.
When Caesar turned toward domestic reforms, he did so with lightning speed. The famous saying of Caesar, “I came, saw, conquered” (“Veni, vidi, vici“) was at the time reflecting not just the events, but the speed with which he had accomplished such conquest. Even after defeating all contenders, Caesar returned to Rome in 46 BC and began such a sweeping economic reform, that it puts to shame any pretended accomplishments of the first 100 days that began with Roosevelt.
There can be no greater example of political corruption that required desperate reform than the calendar. I can see absolutely no defense whatsoever by Cato or the more moderate Cicero than the sheer fact that Caesar even had to revise the calendar. What we must understand is that the office of pontifex maximus (high priest) was in charge of the calendar. The Romans used the moon calendar but knew it was incorrect and thus it required adjustments by inserting days. The corruption degenerated to such a point that elections could be postponed by the insertion of days. This realization led to bribing the high priest to even insert months to effect the political elections.
If Caesar were truly corrupt as Cato, then why bother with reforms? Caesar replaced the typical lunar year and introduced his new calendar based on 365¼ solar days on January 1st, 45 BC. He actually inserted 67 days between November and December making the year 46 BC a one-time calculation of 445 days. He may have even consulted with Greek astronomical calculations assisted by the scholar Sosigenes (Suetonius, Divus Iulius 40; Cassius Dio, Historia Romana 43,26; Plutarch, Caesar 59,5-6). It was Plutarch who reported that when a friend of Cicero remarked that the constellation of Lyra was due to rise next day, Cicero snapped – “Yes, by edict.” This is merely an example that the Optimates were
constantly complain about every reform Caesar would make, illustrating the true character and anti-Republican attitudes those who pretended to be Republicans truly possessed. This was about their power being lost, not about their country.
Caesar instituted labor reforms intent upon reducing what we would call the unemployment rate. If one could replace workers that had to be paid salary with slaves, given the high degree of agricultural economic activity that was at least 70% of the economy if not more, the competition between slaves and the poor was a serious problem. To this issue, Caesar enacted legislation against the owners of latifundia obligating them to recruit a third of their employees in pasturage from free men.
Caesar also sought to further education and medical care. To accomplish this, he offered citizenship to doctors and teachers of liberal arts who would agree to settle in Rome. It was indeed trying to create a new dawn of civilization and saw education and medical care as critical to achieve that goal.
Caesar reformed the corruption within the welfare system. For far too long the list of the alleged poor had far too many “no shows” so that grain paid for by Rome was being handed out to people who were not there and resold. Suetonius tells us of his genius in reforming welfare, Caesar conducted a census in a novel way:
“Caesar changed the old method of registering voters: he made the City landlords help him to complete the list, street by street, and reduced from 320,000 to 150,00 the number of householders who might draw free grain. To do away with the nuisance of having to summon everyone for enrolment periodically, he made the praetors keep their register up to date by replacing the names of the dead men with those of others not yet listed.”
(Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Julius Caesar 41,3)
(Penguin Classics ed., translation by Robert Graves)
By making the landlords account for their properties, Caesar eliminated the hoax of creating fake residences and fake names to collect free grain and then resell it. The reduction of more than 50% by just forcing a census exposed the corruption that infiltrated even this expenditure.
Suetonius also tells us “Caesar dissolved all workers’ guilds except the ancient ones.” (Id./42,3). He also addressed criminal reforms whereby the Oligarchy when caught, would essentially exonerate themselves. In an effort to create a more just Equal Protection of the law, Suetonius informs us that Caesar “increased the penalties for crime; and since wealthy men had less compunction about committing major offences, because the worst that could happen to them was a sentence of exile, he punished murderers of fellow-citizens (as Cicero records) by the seizure of either their entire property, or half of it.” (Id./42,3). Often, a relative would murder another to clear the line for inheritance. If caught, they could merely opt for exile walking away with their spoils. Caesar closed this loophole.
Caesar dealt with the same corruption we have today in the courts. For example, just this past January the Supreme Court ruled in John Van de Kamp v. Thomas Lee Goldstein (decided January 26, 2009), that were previously it was held that a citizen could only sue a government prosecutor for administrative acts, a suit was filed in California where a person was imprisoned for murder on false testimony that the government knew about. The prosecutor refused to produce the evidence that would show he was prosecuting the wrong person. After he won on habeas corpus, he filed a lawsuit for damages. The district court and the Ninth Circuit allowed the lawsuit to proceed holding it was “administrative”. The
Supreme Court overruled and effectively held that the government prosecutors are absolutely immune even if they intentionally wrongly prosecute a person for whatever reason. So if you live next to one of these people and he just doesn’t like you, he can criminally indict you, lie to the courts, manufacture false testimony, and even seek the death penalty. The Supreme Court has held that this is OK because the state’s need to prosecute supersedes all civil rights whatsoever. In this one decision, they have eliminated the entire purpose of the Constitution. You live in an oligarchy no different today than what Caesar faced back then. For the one maxim always holds true; Absolute power, corrupts absolutely!
The judicial reforms of Caesar were profound. Suetonius tells us that “he arranged with the commons that, apart from the consuls, half the magistrates should be popularly elected and half nominated by himself. Allowing even the sons of proscribed men to stand, he circulated brief directions to voters.” (Id./41,2). One might focus immediately on his retaining a right to nominate half the judges. Please note, today 100% of the judges are nominated by the President, none are elected by the people. The form of the nomination was also given by Suetonius:
“Caesar the Dictator to such-and-such a tribe of voters: I recommend
So-and-so to you for office.”
Id./41,2
What you will note is that it is still not a command. It would remain as purely a recommendation that applied to half the magistrates. Today, the President nominates all federal judges and justices to the Supreme Court. There is no option for the people today as was the case under the tyranny of the Republican Oligarchy.
It is also clear from his personal experience during the Catiline affair, that the treatment the accused received at the hand of Cato was uncivilized, violated every principle of law, and eliminated the entire body of constitutional rights that Roman citizens possessed as a matter of right of birth. Cato’s vile act of eliminating the right to a jury trial for the accused and the summary execution he demanded within 3 days of their charges, was conduct that was unacceptable to Caesar. For this very reason, Caesar undertook the reform of the legal rights to secure the right to trial by jury. The audacity of the Optimates to even argue against such reforms shows very clearly that they are not worthy of any office, but are the worst possible criminals of all, for what they did deprived every Roman of their birth right. This was conduct unfitting any country claiming to be “free” that respects either the rule of law or the rights of the people as individuals.
Caesar was deeply concerned about the degrading of the jury. The juries were being stacked with treasury tribunes who were notoriously up for sale. Where Cato simply refused to provide a trial by jury in the Catiline affair just as President George W. Bush refused to give the alleged terrorists a trial by jury seeking to give them only a military tribunal with none of the Constitutional rights, the reforms of Caesar were aimed at stopping the practice of stacking juries. Again, we find Suetonius informs us: “He limited jury service to knights and senators, disqualifying the Treasury tribunes.” (Id./41,2).
Throughout history, the right to trial by jury has always been one of the first rights to be assailed. We find Thomas Jefferson list among the injuries within the Declaration of Independence again the same charge: “For depriving us in many cases of the benefit of Trial by Jury.” In Jefferson’s correspondence, he again makes it clear “I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by men, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” (Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3, Washington Ed. 71).
Tyranny always seeks to eliminate, for there is no better way to have absolute control. When the United States first began the First Supreme Court Justice John Jay made it clear “the jury have a right to determine the law as well as the facts in criminal cases.” George v. Brailsford, 3 U.S. 1, 3 Dall. (1794). This view was based upon a trial of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. The king put him on trial, and the jury refused to find him guilty and would not comply with a law they regarded as unjust. Penn walked out of the court, but the judge imprisoned the jury on contempt. In the United States, judges fail to instruct the jury that it is their constitutional right to act as a check and balance against all branches of government that includes the legislative. Judges claim the jury must follow the law just as the judge did in the Penn trial. But that is unconstitutional. Congress could pass a law stating you must kill your first-born. There is nothing to prevent that from taking place. You are supposed to stand trial for refusal, and the jury is told they must follow the law and find you guilty. It is then the defendant’s right to appeal claiming the law is unconstitutional. If the judge disagreed, you are executed. This is what they want. Mindless citizens pretending that they have no right to decide the law as was the case in the trial of William Penn. This is an insult to freedom. There is no government by the people and for the people when the people are removed from the government. That is tyranny no matter what we call it.
The elimination of the jury in the United States has been systemic. To the credit of Justice Scalia, he began to notice that courts were cleverly using two sets of facts and claiming that one was merely a sentencing factor that judges were to decide. Scalia dissented Monge v. California, 521 U.S. 721 (1998). He wrote :
“I do believe that that distinction is … simply a matter of the label… Suppose
that a State repealed all of the violent crimes in its Criminal code and replaced them with only one offense, ‘knowingly causing injury to another’, bearing a penalty of 30 days in prison, but subject to a series of ‘sentencing enhancements’ authorizing additional punishments up to life imprisonment or death on the basis of various levels of mens rea (intent) … Could the state then grant the defendant a jury trial, … solely on the question whether he ‘knowingly cause[d] injury to another’, but leave to the judge to determine … whether the defendant acted intentionally or accidentally …? If the protections extended to criminal defendants … can be so easily circumvented, most of them would be, to borrow a phrase from Justice Field, “vain and idle enactment[s].”
Justice Scalia’s persistent objections to creating new sets of facts that judges could withdraw from the jury came to a head in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). Here, a man was tried for shooting at a house. The jury was given only that question. The court reserved for itself to determine if the man knew the race of people within and thus convert that into a hate crime carrying a much more serious penalty. Finally, Justice Scalia gathered the support to overrule the lower courts and uphold the Constitution. But this was only the start of the battle for the dissent was Justices O’Connor, Rehnquist, Kennedy, and Breyer. None of these Justices would uphold the rights of citizens.
As the battle to retain arbitrary powers for judges against the people of the United States continued, finally it came to a head in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004). But this was a case concerning state law, and the Justice Department immediately argued it did not apply to federal courts trying to still eliminate jury determinations of key facts. To illustrate how corrupt the judiciary has become, they split hairs in the words used to keep the game going. The words at issue were decided in Apprendi:
“Other than the fact of prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond reasonable doubt.”
Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 490
Blakely held that the defendant was entitled to a jury trial on all facts that increased the sentence. There was virtually a revolt among the inferior courts and their arrogance is reflected in a Second Circuit decision presided over by the whole court led by President’s George W. Bush’s First Cousin, Chief Judge John M. Walker, Jr. The very Sentencing Guidelines clearly stated that never could any sentence ever exceed the statutory power to eliminate jury trials.
“[W]e have understood Apprendi to be limited, as the majority opinion in that case states, to ‘any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum.’…, and therefore have not required that any fact-finding necessary for application of the Guideline be done by a jury.”
U.S. v. Peñaranda, 375 F.3d 238, 243 (2d Cir. 2004) (en banc)
Because of such an uproar among the judges basically saying to the Supreme Court “How dare you diminish our arbitrary powers”, a few months later in U.S. v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), Justice Ginsberg jumped ship joining both the Scalia and Breyer camps admitting the practice was unconstitutional, but claiming the Guidelines were just advisory and judges still had discretion to find facts for sentencing. Scalia lost, despite the fact that the law up until 1985 had always been “[n]o fact, not even an undisputed fact, may be determined by the Judge.” U.S. v. Harvey, 756 F.2d 636, 645 (8th Cir. 1985). Americans no longer have any right to trial by jury, for even if a jury acquits you on 9 out of 10 charges, the judge can still sentence you to the acquitted conduct rendering a jury verdict irrelevant. There is no right to trial in federal courts any more thanks to the usurpation of power by judges as always.
Caesar was fighting the same pervasive corruption then as we face today. Again we find Suetonius informs us: “In his administration of justice he was both conscientious and severe, and went so far as to degrade senators found guilty of extortion.” (Id./43,1.) We even find he addressed women’s right by reforming the divorce laws. Suetonius tells us: “Once, when a man of praetorian rank married a woman on the day after her divorce from another man, he annulled the union, although adultery between them was not suspected.” (Id./43,1).
Caesar also dealt with the problem of international trade deficit that even Cicero had warned that if the importation of luxuries was not curtailed, Rome would go bankrupt for all its gold would be exported in payment. Suetonius tells us once again.
“He imposed a tariff on foreign manufactures; he forbade the use, except on stated occasions, of litters, and the wearing of either scarlet robes or pearls by those below a certain rank and age. To implement his laws against luxury he placed inspectors in different parts of the market to seize delicacies offered for sale in violation of his orders; sometimes he even sent lictors and guards into dining-rooms to remove illegal dishes, already served, which his watchmen had failed to intercept.”
Id./43,1-2
Caesar’s legal reforms were extensive. Suetonius tells us:
“Another task he set himself was the reduction of the Civil Code to manageable proportions, by selecting from the unwieldy mass of statutes only the most essential, and publishing them in a few volumes.” (Id./ 44,2). He also planned “to provide public libraries, by commissioning Marcus Varro to collect and classify Greek and Latin books on a comprehensive scale.”
(Id./44,2).
Caesar also had on the drawing board major building projects. Suetonius tells us:
“Caesar continually undertook great new works for the embellishment of the City, or for the Empire’s protection and enlargement. His first projects were a temple of Mars, the biggest in the world… and an enormous theatre sloping down the Tarpeian Rock.” (Id./44,1). “His engineering schemes included the draining of the Pomptine Marshes and of Lake Fukinus, also a highway running from the Adriatic across the Apennines to the Tiber, and a canal to be cut through the Isthmus of Corinth.” (Id./44,3). His military plans Suetonius tells us included the “expulsion of the Dacians from Pontus and Thrace, which they had recently occupied, and then an attack on Parthia by way of lesser Armenia…”
(Id./44,3).
~ Resolving the Debt Crisis ~
Since the Popularis movement with Catiline championing the cancellation of all debt, it was widely assumed that when Caesar came to power, this was his intention. He faced a very serious problem, for a debt crisis embraces the entire economy, not just an isolated sector. Caesar in this area showed a remarkable insight and it is lost to modern politicians who only want to be the head of state, yet lack any practical knowledge of how the economy truly functions. It would be as if I bought a hospital, and merely because I now own it and am in charge, I assume that also qualifies me to walk down to the operating room and push the brain surgeons aside and proclaim I am the boss, so I cannot be wrong, and assume control of the operation with no medical training at all. That is what politicians do.
Suetonius informs us on this subject that Caesar did not do what everyone had expected. Aside from instructing Antony that he would have to pay the full value of his bid for Pompey’s estate, he did not merely cancel all debt.
“He disappointed popular agitators by cancelling no debts, but in the end decreed that every debtor should have his property assessed according to pre-war valuation and, after deducting the interest already paid directly, or by way of a banker’s guarantee, should satisfy his creditors with whatever sum that might represent. Since prices has risen steeply, this left debtors with perhaps a fourth part of their property.”
Id./42,2
Suetonius’ Latin text:
“De pecuniis mutuis disiecta novarum tabularum expectatione, quae crebro movebatur, decrevit tandem, ut debitores creditoribus satis facerent per aestimationem possessionum, quanti quasque ante civile bellum comparassent, deducto summae aeris alieni, si quid usurae nomine numeratum aut perscriptum fuisset; qua condicione quarta pars fere crediti deperibat.”
Despite the desperate self-serving arguments of the Optimates that Caesar was seeking only personal power, his actions speak far beyond their biased words. This was truly a man who acted with incredible speed making decisions in the remarkable short time he had as the Economic Reformer of Rome. He understood that the value of money is in itself a commodity. It rises and falls against all things tangible effectively no different than the price of a common stock of a corporation.
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of our economy. People assume they can fix the value of money such as a gold standard. Such attempts have always collapsed because of the very nature of our economy. Capital will concentrate in one sector within an economy domestically. It will also do the same thing internationally concentrating within a single nation. This causes that sector to rise in terms of value expressed in the currency due solely to investment trends.
There are also trends set in motion due to changes in supply. For example, a drought or storm may wipe-out the majority of a food crop. This will be reflected in the rise in prices of that commodity due purely to a collapse in supply relative to a steady demand. This is opposite of the speculative bubble where it is demand that rises in the face of a steady supply. Here it is supply that declines with steady demand. Money rises and falls in purchasing power regardless of the management of the money supply because of this natural effect of the concentration of capital domestically and internationally as well as among individuals (DEMAND) and due to drastic changes in SUPPLY. This is the contest between INFLATION and DEFLATION.
Note: pre-1913, volatility was significant higher lacking seasonal/panic smoothing
Caesar was confronted by a collapse in real estate values most like as a percentage far greater than we have seen today. Lacking a central bank to smooth-out seasonal problems and to lend money to a particular bank area, the lack of any centralized control over the economy had produced the same higher volatility reflected in the Call Money Rates before the birth of the U.S. central bank – the Federal Reserve in 1913. As we can see from this chart on Call Money, interest rates had nearly risen to 200% during short-term financial panics. Hence the Debt Crisis that he faced was widespread and resulted in a crisis whereby if someone could not pay, it was not a question of just walking away and letting the lenders repossess the property. The lenders would refuse to accept a simple return of the original asset to settle the debt. Thus, this Debt Crisis was much more difficult to solve. There was no option to print money or guarantee debts. Caesar had to truly understand the problem and come up with a solution that would not destroy the economy as the majority of the Popularis had been advocating. That would result in a Marxist style transfer of all wealth. By spreading the capital evenly among everyone, he realized this would in fact wipe out the economy as a whole. This would be disturbing the natural flow of commerce that would be no different than trying to outlaw all animals from devouring another. The uneven distribution of wealth is a similar natural phenomenon caused by the mere fact that there are entrepreneurs and innovation that produces new industry from ideas.
We can see from the above chart on the US Wholesale Commodity Price Index between 1800 and 1924 that the three great waves of inflation that made up the Kondratieff Wave were to a large extent caused by war, which disrupts supply. It is not hard to image what Caesar faced given the Civil War. Indeed, during the Great Depression there was the Dust Bowl. That was equally as disruptive to supply as war. During this period of the Great Depression, land values collapsed to about 30 cents an acre at public auction.
In the United States, a dramatic expansion in farming took place. The number of
farms tripled from 2.0 million in 1860 to 6.0 million in 1905. The number of people living on farms grew from about 10 million in 1860 to 22 million in 1880 to 31 million in 1905. The value of farms soared from $8.0 billion in 1860 to $30 billion in 1906. The first years of the 20th century were prosperous for all American farmers. The years 1910-1914 became a statistical benchmark, call “parity” that organized farm groups wanted the government to use as a benchmark for the level of prices and profits they felt they deserved. As always, they tried to fix profits and prices to the detriment of consumers.
Rome had undergone a similar expansion following the end of the Punic Wars. Rome was the rising star overshadowing Greece and taking on the mantle of the Financial Capital of the World. Land values soared and thus borrowing was extensive. With the advent of the Civil War, the value if cash rose as it always does in an economic decline and tangible asset values collapse. Thus, the moneylenders no longer accept the land in return and demand more assets to cover the loan.
Caesar dealt with this major extraordinary situation in a truly astonishing manner, realizing that assets and money are in a union of opposing forces acting as two
free radicals, yet bound together forming an Economic-dimer that in fact resides at the core of the very economy. This is the ying/yang or the Dia-oikonomos (hidden opposing force creating the essence of economy).
Caesar understood that as the value of property rose, the measurement is money which in itself rises and fall in purchasing power. When property declines, it is measured in money. This is not a constant relationship for money itself is not like a ruler etic in metal or wood. Money is more akin to a rubber band even when it may be gold or silver. This is the very essence of our primary confusion because of the presumption that money is somehow a constant value. The way we measure the economy is we presume falsely that money is a constant. The truth of this misconception becomes simply that money is like everything else – subject to the whims of supply and demand. There is no constant in that respect and money as we have fixed it within our mind is printed on a rubber-band and is really very elastic.
~ Money Can Never be a Constant ~
Our greatest problem is trying to see that not merely do we live in a three-dimensional world with objects possessing height, width, and depth, but there is also movement that can only be measured by the one constant that exists – Time.
The problem we have is that the scale I gave on the previous page showing that assets exist on one side and rise and fall against the opposite side being money, now we have to see in our mind that the scale is itself on a real roller coaster. We may think we are making or losing money, but are we if money itself cannot be a constant?
Albert Einstein was seen as a genius. He was asked how he thought. People just assumed that his brain was some sort of a fluke. He replied: “A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way” and his thoughts, he exclaimed, moved in a “wildly speculative way.” He was told that people thought in words. He replied: “I rarely think in words at all. A thought comes and I may try to express it in words afterwards … I have no doubt that our thinking goes on for the most part without the use of signs and, furthermore, largely unconsciously.”
Most people assume that they think only in words. But they are wrong. People assumed that Einstein was just a genius, and did not listen to what he was saying. He visualized relationships and that leads to concepts. The concepts flow so fast, there is no time to even bother to form words. The comprehension suddenly appears, and then you try to rationalize the idea in words.
We all actually think this way. We learn by visual and sound in a much deeper way than in reading just a book. This much has been proven in studies and it is why I believe education must be changed reestablishing apprenticeships.
I find it difficult to try to explain visual concepts in words. What I am trying to provide is an explanation of the economy so that you can visualize the real solution, because it is a dynamic relationship between everything with no real constant. We are at a tremendous disadvantage because we have grown up thinking in a flat linear world that does not exist. We see the assets rise and fall as measured in money, but we do not take it to the next level. The reason this is true, is because money is itself a language in our mind. Just as Einstein was confronted by the question does he think in word, we also limit ourselves by thinking in money, against which we measure gains, losses, winners and losers, and government only thinks in how much money it can take from the people.
The unfortunate misconception about thinking in words created by the press who asked the question, has been a major set-back, I believe, in our evolution process. It may appear that we think in words, but this is not true. You are reading this right now and the words are being submitted to your mind. Individually, they do not form a conception per se. There are some words that stand alone and can spark an entire event that embraces a conception. That is separate. We may have experienced a date with a person where we fell in love. Our mind unconsciously is recording the collateral events; the music in the background, the place, the food and the wine. We are not aware that our mind is recording these events. Yet, we may then hear that music that was playing, and the mind will retrieve that moment based solely upon that sound and bring to the forefront that entire event as a distant memory.
I knew the famous painter Norman Rockwell. A banker friend of mine in Heightstown, New Jersey, had an estate where there was a pencil drawing of a young girl in a straw hat with a monogram “NR” and I believe the date 1907. The woman had died. She had always told her children she lived next to Norman Rockwell as kids and when her family moved to New Jersey, he drew this as a departing gift. The banker knew I knew Norman and asked me if I could verify this story and the drawing. I mailed a photograph of it to Norman and then called him on the phone. He kept me on the phone for at least an hour telling me all about her and how he believed she was his first love, He could recall events from his childhood that were amazing. Our minds record everything and some of it is stored so deep, it seems to surface in
old age as short-term memory fades. But we store events that can be accessed by vision, sound, smell, and all the senses.
The word is not how we think. When we read, we take the words in our mind and translate them into meanings and this will lead to the understanding of a pure concept. Words are merely communication devices. If we can speak more than one simple language, you may still translate in your mind foreign words into the native word. However, you begin to acquire the thinking process of that foreign language and suddenly you conceptualize an understanding for a concept that exists in a foreign word for which there is no direct translation to your native language. We are truly thinking in concepts that the core is the visual and spatial reasoning. If this were not true, then language would not require teaching and would be inherent.
Therefore, if we try to visualize relationships in our mind, you will find a clear way of understanding that broadens one’s knowledge. This leads to what I call dynamic thinking that is a break with the linear relationship so common in western thinking. This allows us to see the scale with the assets against the money, but by moving into dynamic thinking processes, we begin to visualize relationships and can see that the only constant is time.
~ Time is the Only Constant ~
What Caesar saw in his mind’s eye, was that the value of assets relative to money fluctuates so much that it is all different depending on the Time. Now we must stop and realize that the value of anything can only be measured in a split second. At any time thereafter, its value will constantly fluctuate. The value we see in a local currency measuring the assets in dollars relative to a moment in time is fixed at that same moment by taking those assets and recasting them in different currencies. Each investor around the world measures profit and losses in terms of money that is his home currency. Hence, what one sees in dollars as rising in value, to another may see a decline if the dollar is declining at a greater percentage than the assets are rising as measured in dollars.
Caesar realized that at the time you purchased a house, the lender was willing to loan you $100,000. Now that real estate crashed and burned, it is worth only at best say $50,000. Your mortgage is now more than the property is worth. The bank still demands the $100,000 even though currently it could buy two homes for the same amount of money. Caesar realized there is a dynamic here. If the bank bought stock in a corporation for $100,000 and the stock went down in value by 50%, it would now have only $50,000 worth of stock. If the stock went to $200,000, the bank would then claim a profit. Mortgages are no different.
This is the problem of the real world. This is the illustration of trying to see where
the airplane is. We can calculate the latitude and the longitude and then apply the depth being the altitude. But that is a brief calculation that is invalid minutes later because the plane is moving.
This is precisely the same thing we face in value. In our mind it may be fixed because we are also measuring that in terms of the money that we wrongly assume is a constant. Our conception is static and unrealistic. This is what Caesar understood and is thus reflected in his solution to recalculate to a point in time when values were equal.
Caesar was urged by the Popularis to just wipe out the debts. This, he realized, would benefit the people, but also wipe out the capital formation. He conceptualized for the first time that any politician has ever seemed to do, that there is a lack of constant. Caesar appointed assessors to revalue all property to before the economic crisis. He then ordered that all interest payments would be credited toward capital. Thus, he balanced the scales by settling the debts at where they originally stood. Suetonius tells us that “the creditors lost about a fourth of what they had lent.” (Id./42,2). [Suetonius: “quarta pars (a fourth part) fere (about) crediti (of the loan/debt) depiribat (got lost)”] This may be true perhaps on an average basis, but I suspect it may have been at least 1/3rd. However, there was no other option to state bailouts. Caesar was no doubt assassinated for it, for the people who were the very creditors were often the senators. Even the image that Shakespeare gave us of Brutus was far from the truth. This was a greedy and ruthless man in his financial dealings. (Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 5,21,10-13).
Therefore, Caesar is the only politician who seems not only to have risen to the level of a statesman and not merely acting out of self-interest for his party or for himself, but he saw the dynamic relationship that constitutes value. He realized that value is merely a tangible concept in and of itself.
Gaius Julius Caesar was a man who could see his conception of how the economy would work and the best way to eliminate corruption. To see the Debt Crisis and the injustice of the economy, did not lead him to insane ideas that our current crop of politicians are trying to create both in Europe and the United States. They are against the individual and convince perhaps themselves that they need to strip the rich of everything they can to simply hand to the crowds whatever they demand. These ideas are Marxist by any label you want to apply to try to hide the truth of their actions be it Silver Denarius of Julius Caesar 44 BC “progressive”, “liberal”, or “socialism”. The label does not matter. It is the action that we must follow.
Caesar was asked to take the Marxist approach and cancel all debts. This is a man that could have taken that concept and ordered it by decree. He still did not, and chose the high road that was best for the country. In contrast, our politicians only listen to Karl Marx. They see the “rich” only for what they possess. They do not see that what they are seeking to destroy is human individualism.
We are headed into fascism where the property remains nominally in the name of the owner, but the state dictates what you may do with that property, how you will manage the property, and what you shall pay to the state. The state is accomplishing the same experiment of Marx with communism insofar it results in a central control dictated by politicians. Just as Russia and China collapsed because the state is not in the front line and thus is incapable of innovation, fascism is leading to the very same end. When the state is concerned about what a business pays in bonuses regardless of if they are justified or not, that is embarking upon fascism.
Government is incapable of providing economic growth. They may own the hospital, but they are not qualified to be a surgeon. We need a divorce! The first time the two words were joined “political economy” it was the marriage in hell. We cannot tolerate what is taking place for our future is being destroyed.
Japan suffered the lost decade because the state dictated whether or not even Japanese investors could hedge. Nipon Life was told by the Government not to hedge because the politician thought that would make the market go down. They lost hundreds of billions of dollars because the Government fails to understand the economy. They created the Japanese “Lost Decade” that is now approaching the “Lost Quarter Century” and we are sadly facing the same insanity in Europe and the United States.
Caesar Died for his Economic Reforms
Caesar realized that money is not a constant. Neither are assets. The only constant is time. By evaluating all property and loans to a fixed point in time pre-war, he discovered the real constant. We may believe we are making money by the sheer increase in the number of dollars, yen, pounds, francs, Euros, or RMB. But if we then calculate that in a different currency and back-test that with time, we end up with a completely different perspective.
This is what I have argued that we need a single world currency created by a new central bank that does not control interest rates or individual values of national currencies. Each currency will float as will its interest rates. The new one-world currency is used among nations in international payments. Thus, capital will be able to freely flow we will rise and fall on a international right to vote in the confidence of our political state. But make no mistake about it the only “fixed” so called constant can only be the creation of money based on a constant formula of world GDP. The supply cannot be constant, just the formula.
Caesar appears to be the only politician who realized there was no constant in money, and its value expressed in assets rose and fell also with the winds of
fortune and fate combined. His economic reforms were more than most politicians can do in 8 years, compared to less than 2 years.
Make no mistake about it. Caesar paid for his economic reform with his life. Cato and Brutus were not the wonderful people their propaganda tried to relay. Even Plutarch reported in his Pompey “that the common talk among the cavalry was to the effect that, once they defeated Caesar, they must get rid of Pompey too. Some say that this was the reason why Pompey never gave Cato any really important command; and that, even when he was marching against Caesar, he left Cato behind … because he was afraid that, if Caesar were eliminated, Cato may insist on him laying down his own command immediately.” (Plutarch, Pompey, 67, 1-2). And as for the celebrated Brutus, Shakespeare’s portrayal was far too flattering. None of his books have survived except the writings to Cicero. He was ruthless and had a nasty reputation for being extortionate and very cruel in his dealings with the provincials as governor. He was pardoned by Caesar, yet was a lead assassin, and when he lost in battle against Mark Antony and Octavian (future Augustus), he committed suicide knowing he would not be spared a second time. He cloaked himself in his
relation to Lucius Junius Brutus who was one of the first consuls that ousted the last Etruscan king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus in 509 BC founding the Roman Republic. He put his own sons to death for their conspiracy to restore the king against their own father.
Cicero met his end on the order of Antony after the assassination of Caesar. His throat was cut, and then his head and hands were severed. They were sent to Rome. Antony ordered that they should be mounted in the Forum. Here were the hands that wrote so profoundly and tore Rome apart. Antony proclaimed, “Now let there be an end of our proscriptions.” (Plutarch, Cicero, 49,1). Rome passed into eventually the hands of Octavian who assumed the purple and became the first of the emperors of Rome who served between 27 BC and 14 AD. Caesar died for his reforms. It is appropriate we have named the month of July & the calendar after him.
~ The light at the End of the Tunnel ~
The only way out of this mess is not to guarantee everything and pour in money into the system through the creation of debt. We need someone like Caesar who takes the unbiased road and cuts down this beast we have created. Borrowing is more inflationary than printing because it pays interest and that necessitates borrowing even more to roll the debt. There is no plan to ever pay anything off. We are in a debt spiral from which there is no escape other than default or monetize. We are going to have to think out of the box to save the world as we know it.
It is the interest expenditures that are the critical component destroying society. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with what we call money! Any “standard” that attempts to fix the value of money is merely a version of communism. We must realize that money and assets are on opposite sides of the seesaw.
Currently, we spend $4 billion per week in interest. That will hit $10 billion by 2016 and $15 billion by 2020 without a rise in rates. We are in a perilous economic state.
Caesar was a Popularis. Yet he did not follow their demands blindly and cancel all debts. Neither did he with a wink-and-a-nod keep the corruption going. This man stood between both sides and decreed what was just and correct. He was a statesman, NOT a politician only concerned with his own party objectives right or wrong. Had we followed this lesson that has been obscured by the propaganda of his opponents who were desperate to keep the corruption going, we too would have been in much better shape.
Instead of bailing out the banks with the $700 billion TARP deal that did NOTHING for the economy since the banks have NOT passed on interest rate savings and refuse to lend without full collateral today because of their own stupidity with mortgage pools, all we had to do was shave off 25% of all mortgages. That would have prevented the massive foreclosures that are keeping all real estate in check. With the supply of houses being up for sale, all prices are diminished and that reflects back in the consumer holding on to cash rather than spending fearing his home is no longer his security-blanket for the future.
Our modern solutions are always taken by the Oligarchy currently in place that claim the world will end if the New York banks must take any loss. This absurd favored status is slowly contracting the banking industry by allowing Bear Sterns & Lehman to fall reducing competition and placing the future at greater risk because the banks know they will always be bailed out. We have to end the debt spiral or there will be no future. We will go over the solutions in more detail at the upcoming conferences in Berlin, San Francisco, and Bangkok.
Effectively, the elimination of usury laws that protected society and tempered and controlled the financial banking greed in order to raise interest rates going into the peak in 1981 has been a disaster. We need to do the same thing that Caesar did. We need to restore the usury laws at 8% cap for credit cards, immediately reduce all interest, ascribe all previous payment to the debt and retroactively reduce the interest to 8% maximum. These 20-30% rates are insane and feed only the financial industry while suppressing economic growth and consumption of product reducing the capacity of other sectors t grow diminishing job growth.
Banks must be banks, not hybrids of everything under the sun. If you want to be a
trader, then be a hedge fund. It is not right that a bank can raise money by deposits, pay for FDIC insurance, use the depositor’s money for trading, keep all profits, share nothing with the depositor, and never reveal what risk is being taken with bank deposits. We can’t be a jack of all trades.
We must adopt a national policy of indirect taxation. Eliminate all direct taxes including income tax. Once it matters not who is here for we will all pay the same, then the illegal alien problem will not matter so much and perhaps we will not be the next East Berlin. Don’t forget. Putting up walls and cameras to monitor all the borders, also keeps citizens in.
These are just a few items we will be discussing at the upcoming conferences.
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A ‘Ruby-tailed’ is what type of creature? | 101 Animal Shots You'll Go Wild Over | Nature Photography
101 Animal Shots You'll Go Wild Over
By Stephanie Pappas, Live Science Contributor |
June 7, 2013 02:23pm ET
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Ghostly Cats
Credit: Sahara Conservation Fund/WildCRU
An elusive Saharan cheetah recently came into the spotlight in Niger, Africa, where a hidden camera snapped photos of the ghostly cat, whose pale coat and emaciated appearance distinguish it from other cheetahs. Its appearance, and how the Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) is genetically related to other cheetahs are open to question. The cat is so rare and elusive that scientists aren't even sure how many exist. Among the threats to the pale cat are scarcity of prey due to poaching and overuse, and conflicts with herders over stock harassment and killing of their animals, according to SCF. Apparently cheetah skins are prized as prayer rugs or used to make slippers.
Giant Jellyfish
Credit: Shin-ichi Uye
Nemopilema nomurai, known as Nomura's jellyfish, can grow up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) in diameter. It is edible, though it hasn't caught on widely. When Nomura's jellyfish bloomed in 2005, some Japanese coped by selling souvenir cookies flavored with jellyfish powder, according to the New York Times.
Glitzy Gala
Credit: Greg Rouse
As if attending an underwater gala, seadragons are adorned with gowns of flowing limbs. These graceful characters belong to a family of fish called Syngnathidae, which also includes seahorses and pipefish. Now, University of California, San Diego, marine biologists Greg Rouse and Nerida Wilson are using genetics to unlock some of the mysteries of this mystical animal. In popular dive spots off the coast of Australia, the duo took tiny snips of tissue from the appendages of seadragons for genetic testing, before releasing the creatures. While seadragons are generally grouped into three species, leafy (shown here), weedy and ribboned, the team's genetic analyses and examinations of body structure have shown the eastern and western populations of weedy seadragons could be divided into two species. They also found the mysterious ribboned seadragon is not related to the leafy and weedy seadragons.
Caught on Camera
Credit: Smithsonian
A jaguar in Peru is captured on an automated camera set by Smithsonian researchers. Such cameras allow scientists to monitor wildlife in remote locations.
Ball of Color
Credit: Spike Walker
This photomicrograph shows the ruby-tailed wasp called Chrysis ignita, which is the most commonly observed of this species. The abdomen's is coloring -- ruby red and bronze – give the wasp its name. The underside of the abdomen is also concave, which allows the wasp to roll itself into a protective ball if threatened. Ruby-tailed wasps are "parasitoids," meaning they eventually kill their hosts. Chrysis ignita parasitizes mason bees: The females lay their eggs in the same nest as mason bees, so when the ruby-tailed wasp larvae hatch, they feed on the mason bee larvae. Ruby-tailed wasps do have a sting but it is not functional and most species have no venom.
The fantastical image snagged a spot on the Wellcome Image Awards 2011, which chooses the most striking and technically excellent images acquired by the Wellcome Images picture library in the prior 18 months.
The Downside of Island Life
Credit: Kesler/University of Missouri
This colorful, tropical bird called the Tuamotu kingfisher lives on one tiny island — Niau in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, in the south Pacific. Today, just 125 of the birds exist, and scientists say they will go extinct without serious intervention.
By working with farmers and residents on the island inhabited by the kingfishers, Dylan Kesler, at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources, has come up with factors critical to the birds' survival. These include: hunting perches; clear ground so they can spot their primary food, lizards; dead trees for nesting; means for keeping predators away from the birds' nests.
Bat Hunt
Credit: © Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org
A Brazilian free-tailed bat flies with its prey -- a moth -- clutched in its mouth. According to an article published April 1, 2011 in the journal Science, bats save U.S. farmers 22.9 billion dollars a year by eating pests that would otherwise destroy crops.
Penguin Pomp: Birds of a Feather
Credit: Todd Stailey, Tennessee Aquarium
A flock of gentoo penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga puts on a show. At heights of almost 3 feet (1 meter), gentoos are the third-largest penguin species in the world. Gentoos build nests out of round, smooth stones, which are highly prized by females. To curry favor with a potential mate, male gentoos sometimes present "gifts" of these coveted rocks.
'You Lookin' at Me?'
Credit: © Piotr Naskrecki
The satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is the smallest of 12 species of bizarre-looking leaf-tailed geckos. The nocturnal creature has extremely cryptic camouflage so it can hide out in forests in Madagascar. This group of geckos is found only in primary, undisturbed forests, so their populations are very sensitive to habitat destruction. Large Uroplatus species have more teeth than any other living terrestrial vertebrate species.
The gecko species was discovered in Mantadia-Zahamena corridor of Madagascar in 1998 during one of the Conservation International (CI) "Rapid Assessment Program" (RAP) surveys. The animal snagged a spot on CI's "Top 20" list of animals discovered during these expeditions, which began 20 years ago today, April 14, 2011.
Pronghorn Dash
Credit: Dr. William Karesh
A pronghorn fitted with a GPS collar leaps through the snow. Scientists in Idaho have set up a similar collaring program to track the migration of these grazing mammals. The Idaho pronghorns make an 80-mile (129 kilometer) journey between their summer and winter ranges, and human development can cut off their migration routes. The collars, which eventually drop off of the animals, will give researchers a better idea of which areas are crucial to pronghorn migration, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Tooth and Claw
Credit: Steve Zak, Wildlife Conservation Society
A red fox trots away with its kill — a smaller arctic fox. This scene in northern Alaska is becoming more common as warming temperatures have opened up new territory to red foxes, threatening the survival of their arctic cousins.
A Bedbug's bite
Credit: CDC/ Janice Haney Carr
This is a close-up look at any homeowner's nightmare: A bedbug. These reddish-brown bugs, each the size of an apple seed, are tough to eliminate once they take hold in the linens. Bedbugs were once virtually wiped out in the United States, but international travelers have carried them back to U.S. soil.
This scanning electron microscope photograph of a bedbug's head reveals its mouthparts, which are used to pierce the skin and suck the blood of its victims. While some people have no reaction to bedbug bites, others experience itchy clusters of hives.
Into the Blue
Credit: T. Moore, NOAA.
Here a close-up shot of a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Gulf of Mexico's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which is about 100 miles (179 kilometers) off the Louisiana coast. Two new studies are showing the turtles are being contaminated with so-called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include banned substances such as DDT and toxaphenes, once used as pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), once used as insulating fluids; and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), once used as flame retardants.
The studies showed the turtles accumulate more of the contaminant chemicals the farther they travel up the Atlantic coast, suggesting their northern feeding grounds in Florida have higher POP levels. The turtles likely consume the POPs when they eat contaminated prey such as crabs, the researchers said. One of the studies was published online April 20, 2011 in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the other will be published in a forthcoming issue of that journal.
Oro y Plata
Credit: Eduardo M. Libby
Robotic insects? The jewelry of an ancient Egyptian queen? No, these bugs are the real thing: Two species of gold and silver beetle found in the rainforests of Costa Rica.
The reflective shells of Chrysina aurgians (gold) and Chrysina limbata (silver) may help the bugs blend into their damp, forest environment, which is studded with shimmering droplets of water. A new study published in the open-access journal Optical Materials Express finds that the beetles' shells are made of progressively thinner layers of the exoskeleton material chitin. As light passes back through each layer of chitin, the waves combine to become brighter and more intense, creating the glint of gold and silver.
According to study researchers, understanding the beetles' beauty may help scientists replicate it -- creating metallic-looking materials out of organic ingredients.
Dreamy Drifters
Credit: Birch Aquarium at Scripps
It's not hard to imagine where these moon jellies got their name. As delicate as they look, jellies are tough: They've been around for 600 million years, predating sharks and surviving multiple mass extinctions, including the one that killed the dinosaurs.
What makes jellies such survivors? Unlike fish, they're able to absorb oxygen directly through their bodies, storing it in their tissues so they can hunt in deep waters. Baby jellies can develop from swimming larvae directly into adults, but they often settle down and turn into polyps. Polyps can go dormant if conditions get bad, survive months without food, and even clone themselves.
Dedicated Mama
Credit: CREDIT: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
If you think gestating one baby is tough, try 3,000. The squid Gonatus onyx carries around her brood of 2,000 to 3,000 eggs for up to nine months. The squid moms have their arms full: While carrying their eggs, they're stuck swimming with their fins and mantle instead of their much more effective arms.
So why would G. onyx take such care of its thousands of offspring? According to a 2005 study published in the journal Nature, the squid carry their eggs to deep water, where predators are rare. The deep-sea offspring are also larger and more capable of survival than shallow water squid -- thanks, mom!
Snow-White Penguin Chick
Credit: Gerald L. Kooyman, Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego.
Not all emperor penguins sport black-and-white tuxedoes. Scripps reseacher Gerald Kooyman spotted this unique all-white emperor chick, dubbed Snowflake, during a penguin survey on the ice shelf of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, in December 1997.
Its white feathers blended in so well with the icy background that Kooyman said he almost missed the chick – emperor penguin chicks are usually covered in a grayish down coat, with dark tail feathers and dark bills and feet.
Scientists don't think Snowflake is an albino, however, as it didn't have the characteristic pink eyes associated with albinism. [Here's a Scripps video of Snowflake ]
What Big Paws You Have
Credit: Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps
A researcher examines the paws of a sedated polar bear in this 1982 photograph taken in Alaska. Polar bears' giant paw pads help them keep traction on ice and snow.
Hitch a Ride on a Dragonfly
Credit: Janice Haney Carr/CDC
A close-up look at a dead dragonfly found in Georgia revealed this miniature hanger-on. The tiny insect seen in this scanning electron microscope image may have been a dragonfly parasite. Or the bug could be nothing more than debris picked up by the dragonfly on its travels.
Ice-cold Adapter
Credit: © Julian Gutt / Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Even in the chilliest water, life can thrive. This Antarctic ice fish, photographed during an Alfred Wegener Institute Polarstern mission, has no red blood cells or red blood pigments. The adaption makes the fish's blood thinner, saving energy that would otherwise be needed to pump the blood around the body.
Cold Crustacean
Credit: Cédric d'Udekem d'Acoz
This shy-looking critter is an inhabitant of Antarctica first found during the research vessel Polarstern's ANTXXIII-8 cruise. Found in water near Antarctica's Elephant Island, the arthropod is about 1 inch (25 mm) long.
Walking the Dog
Credit: Martin Fischer, Jena University
Step right up, come this way, see the amazing see-through Chihuahua!
Okay, it's really just a normal Chihuahua, but scientists in Germany caught the animal on high-speed x-ray film as part of a project to learn more about how canines move. This Chihuahua is one of 327 dogs from 32 different breeds videotaped, a project that the researchers hope will boost knowledge about dog anatomy and evolution. For example, did you now that the length of a dog's foreleg is always 27 percent of that of the entire leg, regardless of breed? Now you've got something to talk about at your next cocktail party.
Yum... You Look Delicious
Credit: © D. Finnin/AMNH/California Academy of Sciences
A common leaf-tailed gecko licks its chops. These Madagascar natives have more teeth than any other land-dwelling vertebrate.
Baby Bat
Credit: Dylan George, Colorado State University
This juvenile big brown bat may be cute, but the animals are major carriers and transmitters of rabies. A new study, published online June 6, 2011 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that hibernation keeps rabies-infected bats alive long enough to pass the disease on to young bats in the next season. These hibernation patterns continue the cycle of rabies infection.
Flirty Fish: You're Pretty Cute
Credit: Tim Griffith, California Academy of Sciences
Come here often? This giant sea bass seems to have an eye for the ladies at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Jealous boyfriends should think twice before challenging their fishy foe: "Buccalo," as he's known, is over four feet long and weighs 165 pounds.
— Stephanie Pappas
All Wrapped Up and Ready to ...
Credit: © D. Finnin/AMNH
The emerald tree boa, which is found in the Amazon basin, is equipped with highly sensitive heat-sensing organs that it uses for 3-D thermal imaging of their prey. Its color pattern and the way the tree boa drapes itself over branches are similar to the green tree python from Australia and New Guinea.
I've Seen a Ghost
Credit: Terry Gosliner, California Academy of Sciences
This pale creature haunts the sea floor near the Philippine island of Luzon. Newly discovered during the California Academy of Sciences’ 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition, this species of sea slug doesn't need ectoplasm (or a shell) to ward off predators.
Instead, sea slugs produce toxins to protect themselves. Some of these toxins are quite dangerous: In 2009, five dogs in New Zealand died after eating gray side-gilled sea slugs that had washed up on the beach. Ingesting half a teaspoon of gray side-gilled slug would kill a human, New Zealand officials said. So while we know it might be tempting, don't eat the slugs. Please.
— Stephanie Pappas
Milk the ... Snake?
Credit: David Williams, AVRU
A Papuan taipan gives up its venom for science. These snakes, which can grow to be 6 feet (2 meters) long, are shy, but they will bite when threatened. And that bite is nasty: According to the University of Melbourne's Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU), taipans will often inflict multiple bites on their victims, injecting bigger payloads of venom with each bite. The venom contains toxins that destroy nerves and prevent the blood from clotting. It can kill within 30 minutes.
The Papuan taipan is responsible for 82 percent of the serious snakebites in the Central province of Papua New Guinea. Now, AVRU scientists have developed a new antivenom for the deadly bites, publishing their preclinical results in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The new antivenom is less expensive than the current taipan bite treatment, which must be imported from Australia. Shortages of that drug have created a black market in antivenom, study researcher David Williams, a doctoral candidate at AVRU, said in a statement.
The researchers are now seeking funding to test the antivenom in rigorous medical trials.
— Stephanie Pappas
Pigeon Cam Gives Birds-Eye View of Forest & Trees
Credit: Talia Moore
Ready for your close-up? This pigeon's head-held camera captures all, including the secret of how these birdbrains navigate tricky forest environments. Researchers from Harvard University attached tiny cameras to the heads of pigeons and trained them to fly through an artificial forest in order to learn how the birds make choices in flight.
The pigeons proved excellent navigators, the researchers reported on July 1 at the Society for Experimental Biology's annual conference in Glasgow. They always chose the straightest route through the trees and seem to exit the forest heading the same direction as when they entered, despite the twists and turns they have to take to avoid crashing. The results will contribute to research in developing robotics and auto-pilots, the researchers said.
— Stephanie Pappas
Director's Cut
Credit: Australian War Memorial
This ringtail possum has the camera, so who's going to provide the action? Taken in 1943 somewhere in northern Australia, this photo is part of the Australian War Memorial collection. The possum, someone's pet, apparently became interested in a Department of Information movie camera and assumed the director's position. Normally, ringtail possums live a less artistic life in dense, brushy forests. Like the more-famous koalas that share their Aussie home, ringtail possums are eucalyptus-loving marsupials.
—Stephanie Pappas
Frog in a Log
Credit: Dennis Demcheck , U.S. Geological Survey
Now you see him ... A gray tree frog peers out of a hole in a tree in Louisiana. Like chameleons, gray tree frogs can change colors to match their surroundings, ranging from gray, brown, green or even white. On the underside of each hind leg, the frogs have a splash of bright orange color, which may confuse predators.
—Stephanie Pappas
Penguins All In A Row
Credit: Wally Walker, National Science Foundation
Three gentoo penguins line up at Gamage Point, Antarctica. Gentoos stand about 22 inches (56 centimeters) tall and weigh about 12 pounds (6 kilograms). Adults are marked by a white strip spanning the top of the head like a bonnet, but babies are grey-and-white balls of fuzz .
Penguin Promenade
Credit: Garwee, Stock.xchg
African penguins take a sidewalk stroll. These two-foot-tall birds are also known as "jackass penguins" because of their loud, donkey-like calls. They nest in burrows along southern Africa's coastal waters, laying two eggs that are cared for by both mom and dad. One major African penguin colony is right near Cape Town, South Africa, at Boulders Beach. There, penguins rub elbows with tourists and swimmers.
Sea Turtle Stare-Down
Credit: Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
A Hawaiian green sea turtle mugs for the camera at the Hawaaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
St. Patty's Puffin
Credit: copyright Jessi Vahling
Ireland: Home of Guinness beer, leprechauns and ... puffins? Yes, the rocky islands on Ireland's west coast are the summer breeding grounds of a variety of birds, including this little fellow photographed on Skellig Michael in July 2011. Atlantic puffins like this one nest in bonded pairs, and both mom and dad help hatch and raise one chick per year.
Wondrous Whale Dance
Credit: Barbara LaCorte, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps
A humpback whale breaches in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. A new study, published Aug. 16 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that to protect marine mammals like these gentle giants, humans need only set aside 4 percent of the world's oceans for conservation. The research found that just 9 conservation sites would protect habitat for 84 percent of all marine mammals species on Earth.
The critical sites are off the coasts of Baja California in Mexico, eastern Canada, Peru, Argentina, northwestern Africa, South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Eye-Popping Undersea Color
Credit: Ken Bondy, NSF
A gelatinous nudibranch (Janolus barbarensis) adds a splash of color to the ocean in Morro Bay, Calif. Nudibranches are ocean-dwelling mollusks without shells; they're often called sea slugs, but some sea slugs are in a family of their own, unrelated to the 3,000 or so species of nudibranch.
Marine scientists believe that the colors on nudibranches keep predators at bay, much like a neon sign reading, "Tastes terrible, do not eat!" And indeed, some nudibranches store up toxins from their diet of poisonous sponges, making the slug-like creatures themselves deadly to predators.
Looking for a Seafood Buffet
Credit: Mark Hay, Georgia Institute of Technology
A moray eel lurks outside a cage full of fish in the Caribbean Sea. The fish are part of a living experiment to find out how different species affect the growth of noxious seaweed that can harm coral reefs. The eel, on the other hand, is just hungry.
Bold Fashion From a Colorful Critter
Credit: Luiz A. Rocha , Shutterstock
This harlequin shrimp isn't clowning around (yeah, yeah, cue groans). Hymenocera elegans here is found in the waters off of Indonesia. Popular among aquarium enthusiasts for their bright colors, harlequin shrimp are nonetheless tough to care for in a tank. One reason is their diet: They eat only starfish (and sometimes sea urchins), and they reportedly prefer to eat them alive. Since the prey is so much larger than the predator, it sometimes takes the shrimp two weeks to finish off a single (living) starfish. No wonder people think clowns are scary.
Nest-Weaving Bird Learns from Experience
Credit: Rachel Walsh
Practice makes perfect for the Botswanan Southern Masked Weaver, shown above weaving a complex nest of out grass. Weavers aren't born knowing how to build these structures, researchers reported today (Sept. 26, 2011) in the journal Behavioural Processess. Instead, the bird vary their technique from one nest to another, sometimes building left to right, sometimes starting from right to left. As the birds gain more experience building nests, they drop grass less often, suggesting that they improve at their art.
Funny Fellow
A blue dragonfly perches on a flower. The insect seems to be making googly eyes, but of course those black dots aren't really pupils; dragonflies have compound eyes with hundreds of tiny lenses.
Snowbird Snuggles In
Credit: Dan Strickland
Nothing like a nice nest of twigs and snow to keep you warm on a winter's night. The gray jay takes the weather in stride, though — these Canadian birds don't fly south for the winter, and they start their breeding season in mid-February when temperatures are below 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius).
A new study by researchers at the University of Guelph finds that these birds survive in their winter wasteland by storing berries, fungi, insects and even bits of scavenged meat in the nooks and crannies of trees. The new research, published in the journal Oecologia, revealed that spruce and pine trees make better treasure troves than deciduous trees, perhaps because the resin in conifers helps preserve the birds' food. The findings explain why gray jays seem to be disappearing from areas without much pine and spruce.
Blood-Red Bats Take to the Skies
Credit: © Margrit Betke, Boston University, via TPWD
We couldn’t wait until Halloween to share this spooky thermal image of bats in flight. Provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, this image was taken by Boston University researchers trying to better understand how bats navigate the air in response to weather, bug activity and climate change.
According to the United State Geological Survey, bats save farmers at least $3 billion a year by scarfing down insects that would otherwise eat crops. But bats are threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that kills them, as well as by deadly collisions with wind turbines.
Researchers estimate that the loss of one million bats in the Northeast alone has probably resulted in between 660 and 1320 metric tons fewer insects being eaten by bats each year. Now that's scarier than blood-red bats any day.
Thumb-Sucking Acrobat
Credit: i359702 , Shutterstock
A baby orangutan takes thumb-sucking to a new level thanks to prehensile feet. Much like human children, baby orangutans remain dependent on their moms for a long time, sometimes being carried most of the time until they're 5 years old. Young orangutans normally don't leave mom's side until they're 10 or so, and even when they do strike out on their own, they often return to "visit" for the next few years.
Miniature Monster
Credit: H. Freitag (2009)
This creepy-crawly is a spider water beetle, a water-loving bug that lives in mountain rivers on Palawan Island in the Philippines. The beetles get their name from their long, spindly legs (imagine if this fellow stretched his out!). They also create their own little scuba-diving bubbles called "plastrons," which allow them to live permanently under the water.
Do You Hear Something Rattling?
Credit: Bill Love
Look out, this rattler is ready to strike. Fortunately, rattlesnakes really are more afraid of you than you are of them. They rarely bite unless provoked and would much prefer to warn you away. Only about 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States each year, and only about 0.2 percent of bites result in death, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Halloween Treat?
Credit: Casey Dunn lab, Brown University
It's hard to miss a flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum), with its mantle splotched with a pattern of irregularly shaped orange, white and black spots. Considered gastropod mollusks, the snails are members of the Mollusca phylum, which includes octopuses and oysters, and the class Gastropoda, which includes marine snails with and without shells.
Mollusks encompass a wide variety of animals, with the lineage dating back some 500 million years. Just recently, in a study published in the Oct. 27, 2011, issue of the journal Nature, Casey Dunn, an evolutionary biologist at Brown University, and colleagues put together the most comprehensive evolutionary tree of mollusks.
The researchers found that a mysterious group of deep-ocean animals that resemble limpets, called monoplacophorans, are a sister clade to cephalopods, which include octopuses, squid and nautiluses. "Cephalopods are so different from all other mollusks, it was very difficult to understand what they are related to. They don't fit in with the rest," Dunn said. "Now, we have a situation where two of the most enigmatic groups within the mollusks turn out to be sister groups." [ Amazing Mollusks: Images of Strange & Slimy Snails ]
Sleepy Seal
Credit: Image courtesy of Christopher J. Brown
Even though the oceans tend to warm slower than the land, researchers report in the Nov. 4 issue of the journal Science that similar movement rates are needed for organisms to stay ahead of climate change on land and in the oceans.
After analyzing 50 years of global temperature and climate data, Michael Burrows of the Scottish Marine Institute in Argyll and his colleagues found that the speed and direction of climate change, along with the arrival time of various seasons, is happening just as fast in the oceans as on land. The research team says that this climate-change velocity and seasonal shifts can be used to predict shifts in habitat ranges and life-cycle changes in a warming world.
For instance, organisms like these marine sea slugs and even elephant seals (shown here in bull kelp in the Southern Ocean) must adapt to new temperatures or move to new areas to stay in an optimal habitat.
Jellies In Leopard-Print
Credit: Matt Gove, National Ocean Service
These leopard-spotted jellies are appropriately decorated, considering they're terrifying predators — if you're a plankton. This species, Mastigias papua is known as the spotted jelly or the lagoon jelly. They live in coastal waters in the South Pacific and grow about 5.5 inches (14 to 16 centimeters) in diameter.
But what makes spotted jellies really cool is that they grow their own gardens. The jellies get their greenish-brown tinge from algae that they harbor. The algae is a handy food source for the jellies. Some of the larger individuals will even keep extra hangers-on: Little minnows that live inside the jellyfish's bell until they're large enough to face the wider ocean.
Jellyfish facts courtesy the Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Scary Clown of the Animal Kingdom
Credit: Justin Marshall, University of Queensland, via NSF
This colorful creature acts more like Stephen King's "It" than Bozo the Clown. The mantis shrimp, a predator that is neither a mantis nor a shrimp, spears and dismembers prey with its powerful claws. Mantis shrimp are also capable of using their claws as hammers to crush snail shells, and larger species can even muster enough force to crack aquarium glass.
Mantis shrimp look shrimp-like, but they're actually their own subgroup of crustacean. According to new research from the University of Queensland, mantis shrimp have a unique way of seeing the world. They detect circular polarized light, a type of light beam that spirals either to the left or right. Filters in their eyes re-orient this light to turn it into the linear polarized light. To the human eye, linear polarized light is only a glare, the sort that requires the need for polarized sunglasses.
Researchers aren't yet sure how the mantis shrimp make use of this ability to filter circular polarized light. It's possible that this visual ability allows animals to see light patterns reflected off the shells of male animals — possible courtship displays visible only to the species that needs to see them.
Incoming!
Credit: Frank Schnorrer / MPI of Biochemistry
Flies are quite adept at buzzing around, despite the fact that their wings are small in comparison to their bulky bodies. Now, new research published Nov. 17 in the journal Nature has uncovered the gene switch responsible for building the flight muscles in flies.
Much like hummingbirds, flies have to flap their wings extremely fast to stay aloft. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster contracts and relaxes its flight muscles 200 times a second. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany have found that a gene transcription factor called "spalt" creates these specialized muscles. Spalt is an important go-between that ensures that genes get translated into functional proteins. Without it, flies develop only slow-moving leg muscles.
Humans can't fly, but our heart muscles contain spalt, according to study researcher Frank Schnorrer. That could mean that the factor is important in regulating heartbeat, although more research is needed.
Back from the Dead
Credit: A. Hausmann
This beetle is a predator in the water but vulnerable in the wider world. Graphoderus bilineatus, a European water beetle, is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and was thought to be locally extinct in Germany. But researchers with the Barcoding Fauna Bavarica project in Germany discovered that these beetles are still kicking around. The project is part of a larger scientific push to "barcode" species based on DNA snippets, enabling researchers to identify flora and fauna more accurately. Researchers engaged in barcoding projects convene these week in Adelaide Austraila for the fourth annual International Barcode of Life Conference.
Hello There, Bear
Credit: Steve Hillebrand , Fish and Wildlife Service
A brown bear rolls on its back in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Hungry, Hungry Puffin
Credit: © Science/AAAS
Yum, anchovies. Actually, this generous puffin meal is made up of sand lances, little fish commonly found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Sand lances and other "forage fish" are critical to the survival of seabirds like this puffin. According to new research published Dec. 23 in the journal Science, seabirds need about a third of the fish in the sea to maintain their current lifestyles. That information is important because it gives researchers a sense of how much overfishing will affect animals that depend on the ocean for dinner.
A Dignified Bunch
Credit: (c) Alex Rogers
Fur seals sun themselves on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean. Oxford zoologist Alex Rogers snapped this shot during an expedition to explore the first known deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Antarctic. The fauna under the water turned out to be even more intriguing than the animals on land. See a gallery of photos from the vents here.
Excuse Me, Waiter ...
Credit: (c) Martine Maan
... But there's a frog in my drink. Or maybe this little guy is an amphibious genie, here to offer three froggy wishes? Either way, it's best not to sip this beverage: This strawberry poison dart frog from Isla Bastimentos in Panama is quite toxic. A new study, published in January 2012 in the journal The American Naturalist, finds that these frogs' coloration patterns, as seen by birds, corresponds to how deadly they really are. Now that's truth in advertising.
Brand-New Snake Species
Credit: Tim Davenport/WCS
This striking black-and-yellow fellow is a brand-new species just discovered in remote Tanzania. Dubbed the Matilda's horned viper after the daughter of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Tanzania program director, the snake measures 2.1 feet (60 centimeters) in length and sports horn-like scales above its eyes.
The WCS announced the discovery of the new horned viper on Jan. 9, but they're keeping the exact location of the snake's habitat a secret to prevent poaching from illegal pet collectors. But the snake is already likely to be placed on the endangered list, as its habitat has been hit hard by logging and charcoal manufacturing.
Fly Behind Bars
Credit: Floris van Breugel
Stuck behind bars for a crime he didn't commit? Nah, this fruit fly is part of an experiment to uncover how insects navigate thousands of miles during migration, or even find their way from flower to flower in the front yard. The "bars" of light demarcate a light-emitting diode (LED) flight arena, but what really holds the fly in is a magnetic field (he's glued to a metal pin, allowing him to move naturally within the field but keeping him in place).
The outcome of this bizarre set-up is the discovery that fruit flies look to the sky to keep their bearings. In naturally polarized light, the flies had no trouble staying on course. But when researchers altered the light polarization patterns, the flies got discombobulated. That means that as long as a bit of sunlight makes its way to the fly's eye, it can use the patterns in light to get where it's going — sort of an all-weather version of sailors navigating by the stars. The researchers reported their results Jan. 10 in the journal Current Biology.
High-Stakes Slug Sex
Credit: The California Academy of Sciences
This banana slug yin-yang is not quite as innocent as it seems. In fact, it's a bizarre mating dance — and just the beginning of how weird things are about to get for these mollusks.
You see, banana slugs are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female sexual organs. These organs are located, oddly enough, near their heads, explaining the cheek-to-cheek position you see here. When banana slugs start to mate, they nip, bite, and eventually intertwine, inserting their penises into one another's genital openings.
Once the sperm transfer is complete, slugs sometimes can't disengage from one another. That's when they do something really strange: a process called apophallation. Not to mince words, this means that one or both slugs chew the other's penis clean off. The organ doesn't regenerate, so these post-apophallation slugs live the rest of their days as females.
For more crazy animal mating strategies, see: Top 10 Swingers of the Animal Kingdom . West-coasters can learn more at a new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco called "Animal Attraction," which opens Feb. 11, 2012.
Deadly Undersea Beauty
Credit: NOAA
The tendrils of a sea anemone bring to mind the petals of a flower — but these petals bite. Sea anemones are predatory animals. Their tentacles are studded with venomous cells called nematocysts, which release toxins into prey such as fish and crustaceans, paralyzing the victims for easy digestion.
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Credit: Jim Abernathy
Strangest class picture of all time? Nope, just a little tourism. A 12-foot-long female tiger shark shows off her size above a row of SCUBA divers at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, a popular ecotourism spot. There have been worries that these eco-tourist spots disrupt sharks' natural wanderings by making them overly dependent on the chum that tour guides throw out to attract the giant, predatory fish. But new research suggests that's not the case. In fact, responsible eco-tourism may benefit sharks by encouraging local governments to protect them. [ Read the full story here ]
Fearsome Jaws
Credit: Dr. Lynn Kimsey, Dr. Michael Ohl
A newly discovered wasp found in Indonesia has enormous sickle-shaped jaws to rival its fearsome sting.
The new species has been dubbed Megalara garuda after the Garuda, a part-human, part-bird legend that is the national symbol for Indonesia. Little is known about the wasps' behavior, but based on other wasp species, males may use their giant jaws to hold females during mating.
The wasp was simultaneously discovered by researchers Lynn Kimsey of the University of California, Davis and Michael Ohl of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, who report their discovery in the journal ZooKeys this week. A specimen of the wasp collected in the 1930s was lurking in the insect collections of the museum, unexamined. At the same time, researchers searching the Indonesia island of Sulawesi found a modern specimen of the same wasp.
Seal Surprise!
Credit: Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives
Welcome to my ice crevasse. Two divers meet an unexpected surprise in the frigid waters of Palmer Land on the Antarctica Peninsula during a 1962-1963 expedition. Their encounter was with a Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), a deep diver that favors a coastal ice habitat. These bruisers can tip the scales at up to 1,360 pounds (600 kilograms) and they live farther south than any other mammal on Earth.
This vintage photograph was taken in 1962 during an Antarctic survey led by biologist Waldo Schmitt, an honorary research associate at the Smithsonian Institution. A crustacean expert, Schmitt travelled the world on multiple research expeditions. The one to Antarctica would be his last. He died in 1977 at the age of 90.
Pretty in Pink
Credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010
Extending its arms 8 inches (20 cm) across, a pink crab perches on a bed of soft coral 2,310 feet (740 meters) deep in the Sangihe Talaud region off of Indonesia. The Little Hercules ROV captured this image of the colorful critter during a 2010 ocean expedition. Crabs like these are only found living on soft coral.
Cozy Penguin Babies
Credit: Paul Ponganis, National Science Foundation
Brrr… It's cold out there! Baby emperor penguins snuggle up with their parents on the chilly Antarctic ice. Recent research headed by Michelle LaRue of Minnesota University turned up good news for these beautiful birds: Using high-resolution satellite imagery, the scientists counted the entire population of emperor penguins in the Antarctic and found twice as many as expected.
Still, LaRue said in a statement, the loss of sea ice in the Antarctic is troubling for emperor penguins, which rely on the ice for their breeding grounds. Knowing the baseline number of birds will help researchers monitor populations over time, better clarifying how environmental change affects these birds.
Emperor penguins are the only species that breeds exclusively on Antarctic sea ice. After the chicks hatch, mom and pop penguin alternate cuddling with baby while the other goes to fish. After about 50 days of this, all the baby penguins huddle together for warmth while their parents strike out to sea, returning occasionally to bring food. These baby penguin huddles, called crèches, can hold thousands of little penguins.
Predator Under Threat
Credit: Marc Nadon
Gliding watchfully over coral and reef fish, a black tip reef shark patrols the waters off the Rose Atoll of American Samoa. A recent study found that reef sharks like this one are vanishing rapidly near populated islands, with up to 90 percent of sharks in these areas missing compared to isolated reefs. The cause could be illegal shark fishing or simply human activity in these reefs that leaves less food for the sharks. For more on these threatened apex predators, visit our gallery of wild sharks.
Pucker Up!
Credit: Paula Keener-Chavis, NOAA, Islands in the Stream Expedition 2002
Ready for fishy kisses? On second thought, it's best to steer clear of this south Atlantic scorpion fish. This fellow is part of the Scorpaenidae family, a group that includes the world's most venomous species. (The lionfish, with its venomous fin rays, is another family member.) This image was taken in 2002 during a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expedition to explore the eastern coast of the U.S. from Florida to North Carolina.
Flee the Flea
Credit: Janice Haney Carr/CDC
Where do fleas get their incredible jumping abilities? Look no further than these massive hind legs. Although fleas only get about 1/8 of an inch (3 millimeters) long, they have a horizontal jump range of up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) — that's more than 1,000 times their body length. Flea bites are to be avoided; it's these jumping insects that are responsible for transmitting the Black Death, or plague, from rats to humans in the 1300s.
The Ocean's Tiny Aliens
Credit: Art Howard, NAPRO. Image courtesy NOAA Ocean Explorer.
Alien or sea creature? This delicate blue organism is a nudibranch, a type of marine mollusk. Nudibranches are often confused for sea slugs, but the two groups are separate.
The blue nudibranch seen here is just an inch (2.5 cm) long. It was found clinging to sargassum seaweed during a NOAA Life on the Edge mission in 2003. Scientists explored the continental slope and shelf edge off the coast of the southern U.S., from North Carolina to Florida. The team observed everything from sea urchins to flying fish on the 11 day mission.
The Pink Lady
Credit: Carsten Pape, Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) plays a key role in the food webs of the South Ocean. In fact, throughout their evolutionary history, these tiny crustaceans have developed many biological rhythms that are closely connected to large seasonal changes in their environment.
But how will marine organisms like the krill react to environmental changes at the poles, such as receding sea ice and ocean warming, given that their vital processes, such as reproduction cycles and seasonable food availability, have been synchronized with the environment over millions of years? To answer this question, researchers in the virtual Helmholtz Institute PolarTime are taking a very close look at Antarctic krill, which serves as a model organism for a polar plankton species that has adapted to the extreme conditions. The Helmholtz institute is part of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
The (Tiny) Face of a Killer
Credit: CDC/ Michael and Paula Smith
The visage of a tiny velvet ant peers up in this scanning electron microscope image magnified 23 times. This tiny creature, genus Dasymutilla is not actually an ant at all, but a wasp. She (this is a female) boasts a nasty sting, especially if you're another wasp or bee. In order to reproduce, velvet ants lay their eggs inside the larvae of wasps and bees. When the eggs hatch, they feed on the still-living but paralyzed larvae that house them.
Points of Light
Credit: David Burdick, distributed by NOAA under a creative commons license.
Here's a marine mystery for you: What is this glowing creature emerging from the depths? If you recognized it as the underside of a jellyfish, congrats! This photograph was captured near the wreckage of the Shinkoku Maru, a World War II-era Japanese oil tanker sunk by a torpedo attack in 1944. The shipwreck now rests in the Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia.
Daring Rescue
Credit: Ray Boland, NOAA/NMFS/PIFD/ESOD
Divers free a Hawaiian Monk Seal entangled in a lost fishing net in this 1997 photograph from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Fortunately for this unlucky seal, the divers were successful. Marine litter remains a problem in the area more than a decade later, however. In July 2012, NOAA divers plucked 50 metric tons of marine debris out of the Pacific near the islands during a single clean-up mission.
Cub Cuddles
Credit: Lucile and William Mann; Smithsonian Institution Archives
Don't try this at home: An unidentified child cuddles a tiger cub during the 1937 National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The purpose of the expedition was to collect zoo animals for the National Zoological Park.
Hello, Friend
Credit: Robert Schwemmer, CINMS, NOAA.
A male northern elephant seal watches a shorebird trot by in this photograph from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California. Male elephant seals earn their name with their enormous size, growing up to 13 feet (4 meters) long and weighing up to 4,500 pounds (2,000 kilograms).
Emperor's Gravity-Defying Leap
Credit: Dr. Paul Ponganis; National Science Foundation
I can fly! I can fly … Well, maybe not. Emperor penguins may be flightless, but as this 2011 shot reveals, they're perfectly adapted to their semi-aquatic lifestyle. These penguins can dive more than 1600 feet (500 meters) down for up to 12 minutes. After a completed hunting spree, the birds launch themselves back onto the ice like feathery torpedoes.
Happy Halloween!
Credit: David Haring/Duke Lemur Center
If you prefer your creatures of the night to be cute rather than cuddly, have we got the critter for you. This is an aye-aye, a species of nocturnal lemur originally found only in Madagascar. The aye-aye is a harmless omnivore with one long, spindly finger it uses to fish grubs out of rotten logs. Like 91 percent of lemur species , aye-ayes are threatened with extinction, but it's not just habitat loss and deforestation that may do this fuzzy creature in. Madagascar superstition holds that aye-ayes are harbingers of death, so the animals are often killed on sight.
This particular aye-aye is a resident of the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C., a research and conservation facility that houses 250 lemurs and their close relatives. In honor of Halloween and the wrongly maligned aye-aye, the Lemur Center has a special deal for the month of October: Pledge a donation and receive not only a packet of information about a lemur of your choice, but also this cute photo.
Guardian of the Lava
Credit: Dmitry Demezhko, Institute of Geophysics UB RAS, Yekaterinburg, Russia. Distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons License.
What are you doing at my rock outcrop? Geology fieldwork sometimes brings scientists face-to-face with local fauna, like this curious red fox living in a lava field on Iturup Island. This volcanic island is part of the disrupted territory between Russia and Japan, with both nations claiming it as their own
Alien Anemone
Credit: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR
Looking nearly unreal with its green-and-purple color scheme, this anemone decorates the ocean floor near Chuuk, one of the Federated States of Micronesia. Despite the vegetal look, anemones are actually animals that prey on small fish and crustaceans.
Cuddly Cuties
Credit: Lucile and William Mann, Smithsonian Institution
Two cuties get cuddly in this 1937 photograph taken on a National Geogrpahic Society-Smithsonian Institution expedition to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). This image is part of the collection of William Mann, director of the National Zoo, and Lucile, his wife and a writer and editor, but the Smithsonian knows little about this strangely cozy primate and tiger cub.
Blooming Jellies!
Credit: Seacology
Swirling in a translucent mass, a bloom of jellyfish-like salps pulsates through the waters off the coast of New Zealand. Some reports have suggested that blooms like this are on the increase, choking fishermen's nets and power plant intake pipes. But while these striking consequences do happen, a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science finds no strong evidence for a global jelly rise over the past 200 years. In fact, jellyfish numbers oscillate from high to low over decade-long periods but remain stable over time, researchers reported online Dec. 31. Some areas, such as Japan and the Mediterranean have seen regional increases in these gelatinous creatures, however. [ Top 10 Underwater Cameras ]
Happy Hitchhikers
Credit: Edgardo Griffith
A load of round yellow eggs weighs down this Hemiphractus fasciatus , the casque headed tree frog. Mama frog will carry these eggs on her back until they hatch as mini-frogs — no tadpoles here! These frogs are threatened with extinction and are one of 11 species of high conservation concern being bred in captivity in Panama.
Zigs and Zags
Credit: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR.
My, what a zig-zaggy mouth you have! The cock's comb oyster (Lopha cristagalli) is a common site in tropical waters in the Indo-West Pacific. This specimen was photographed in Chuuk, one of the Federated States of Micronesia, in 2006. Like other oysters, these creatures survive by cementing themselves to one spot and filtering edible debris out of the water.
Earthbound Stars
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
A huddle of starfish adds a splash of color to the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington State. The Sanctuary protects 2,408 square nautical miles off the coast, the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Living in this protected area are organisms ranging from microscopic plankton to sea otters to albatross to migrating gray whales. It's a high-nutrient environment, which is why intertidal species like these starfish thrive.
Wanna Polyp?
Credit: Nature, 2005
My, how many tentacles you have! This alien-looking creature is known as Nematostella vectensis, or the starlet sea anemone. Like other anemones, starlets start life as free-swimming larvae. They then settle into an appropriately mucky spot on the seafloor and metamorphose into their adult polyp form, seen here. Anemones lack brains, but the section of the larvae containing the sensory organs actually becomes the bulbous root end of the adult, while the other side sprouts delicate tentacles and transforms into a filter-feeding mouth.
Researchers have now found that the "head genes" of N. vectensis, though held in what eventually becomes the animal's "foot," correspond to the head genes found in the actual heads of higher animals. Humans and other brainy beasts share a common, brainless, ancestor with sea anemones that lived 600 million to 700 million years ago. The findings were released Feb. 20, 2013 in the journal PLOS Biology.
Summer's Sparkle
Credit: Fatma Wassar, University of Milan, distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons License
An unidentified dragonfly species shows off delicate wings in this photo taken in a maize field in Italy in 2010.
Blue Beauty
Credit: Eric Vance, U.S. EPA
A Great Blue Heron wades in the wetlands. These majestic birds rely on watery environments for their food supply (fish and other aquatic animals), but humans are no less dependent. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands and streams are a crucial source of water, with 117 million Americans relying on water supplies that, in turn, rely on the nation's hundreds of thousands of miles of streams. Wetlands also provide a buffer against storm-induced flooding. South Carolina's swamps alone can store the equivalent of 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water, according to the EPA. Just constructing a stormwater treatment facility for that amount of water would cost more than $200 million.
Geronimooooo!
Credit: Image courtesy of Elaine Miller Bond, www.elainemillerbond.com
A black-tailed prairie dog gets the jump on a rival in a snowy mating-season fight. A new study published March 8 in the journal Science finds that female prairie dogs like to stay close to mom. Unlike many species that move away from their families to avoid competing with kin, prairie dogs are more likely to disperse when their families move away.
Hanging in the Keys
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
Good new for fish in the Florida Keys: A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report finds that the declaration of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve has done wonders to combat overfishing in this sensitive ecosystem.
Black and red grouper and yellowtail have all rebounded since the formation of the reserve in 2001. Mutton snapper, once thought wiped out by overfishing, have started to return to the area to spawn. Even better, the reserve is a win-win for humans and fish. Commercial catches of reef fish in the area have actually increased with better management, and there were no financial losses among local commercial and recreational fishers. [Read More: Best Underwater Cameras for Reef Photography ]
Bad News for Bats
Credit: Darwin Brock
Bad news for everyone's favorite flying mammals: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that bats at Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama have white-nose syndrome. The disease is a fungus that grows on hibernating bats, causing them to exhibit often-fatal behavior such as flying outside in cold weather. In eastern North America alone. 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have died of white-nose syndrome.
Fern Cave is the winter home for multiple bat species, including the largest documented colony of gray bats, which are federally endangered. So far, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had detected the syndrome in two groups of tri-colored bats in the cave.
Mommy and Me
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Wait up, Mom! Shomili, a four-month old greater one-horned rhinoceros runs behind her mother Sundari at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Shomili, or "Mili" as zookeepers call her, was released into the park's Asian Savanna habitat to join the rest of the zoo's herd on April 23, 2013. Mili is the 65th greater one-horned rhino born at the zoo, which is working to conserve this endangered species. Only about 3,400 of these rhinos survive in the wild.
Bad Birthday Boy
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
Somebody's not sharing his cake! One-year-old Tikal the jaguar keeps his twin sister Maderas away from their birthday party treat at the San Diego Zoo on April 26, 2013. Zookeepers made the young jaguars a "cake" made of ice and frozen blood, and Tikal was not inclined toward generosity. Mama knows best though: The cubs' mother Nindiri wasn't having any of her son's selfishness, and she joined in to enjoy the frozen treat, too.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration executive director Joe Pica meets the locals during a dive off the Dominican Republic. Pica was retrieving an acoustic buoy when this humpback whale stopped by to say hi. Humpbacks are found all over the world's oceans — they migrate as many as 16,000 miles (25,000 kilometers) a year.
Peek-A-Boo!
Credit: Edinburgh Zoo
What's going on out there? At just a few hours old, this baby gentoo penguin peaks out from beneath its parent. The as-yet-nameless chick is the first gentoo born at Edinburgh Zoo this year. According to the zoo, a sibling joined this curious chick several hours later, and a third in the clutch was working its way out of the egg. [ Happy Feet: A Gallery of Pudgy Penguins ]
Awesome Otter
Credit: Denver Zoo
Ahanu the otter slips through the water at the Denver Zoo. The two-year-old male is a new zoo resident, brought from the Oakland Zoo in California to keep Denver's previous male otter, Otto, company. Otto's earlier companion Ariel died of old age last year, and given otters' highly social nature, Otto needed a new friend. For more otter adorableness, check out these pups getting a checkup
Swan Lake
Credit: Department of the Interior
Can you guess the location of this gorgeous sunset scene?
This is Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 110,000 acres of bird-friendly wetlands in eastern North Carolina. Ducks, raptors and black bears call the refuge home, as does the reintroduced endangered red wolf. Streaking across the sunset sky in this image are hundreds of tundra swans. These white birds migrate from their breeding grounds along the Arctic Ocean down the U.S. Atlantic coast in the winter, sometimes reaching as far south as Florida.
Delicate Dragonfly
Credit: Steve Norris/USFWS
A meadowlark dragonfly shows off its delicate wings at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine. Dragonflies are apparently experiencing a moment in the sun : According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, dragonfly festivals and dragonfly field guides are becoming increasingly popular. No surprise — with their jewel-like colors and gossamer wings, dragonflies give butterflies a run for their money in the beauty department. [ See more surprisingly beautiful insects ]
Aww! Baby Okapi Takes a Stroll
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
A 17-day-old female okapi tests out her land legs at the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday (June 4, 2013). This is the public debut for this little girl, who was born May 19 to mother Safarani. Okapis are giraffe relatives native to Central Africa; their shy tendencies kept early European explorers in the dark about their true existence for decades. It wasn't until 1901 that the species was formally classified and scientifically named.
Tadpole Eat ... Tadpole?
Credit: North Carolina State University
Most tadpoles survive on a diet of algae. But not Lepidobatrachus laevis, the tadpole of Budgett's frog. Not only are Budgett's frog tadpoles carnivorous, they're cannibals — as this image of a Budgett's frog tadpole slowly digesting in the gut of another Budgett's frog tadpole reveals.
North Carolina State developmental biologist Nanette Nascone-Yoder and her colleagues are using these carnivorous tadpoles to study how the digestive organs evolved and develop. In a study published in May 2013 in the journal Evolution and Development, Nascone-Yoder and her colleagues genetically engineered algae-eating tadpole guts to look more like that of the Budgett's tadpoles and vice versa.
"Understanding how and why the gut develops different shapes and lengths to adapt to different diets and environments during evolution gives us insight into what types of processes can be altered in the context of human birth defects, another scenario in which the gut also changes its shape and function," Nascone-Yoder said in a statement.
Humpback Whale Kenai Fjords
Credit: Ashley Lindley/U.S. Department of the Interior
For an animal that can weigh more than two-dozen tons, humpback whales sure can catch some air.
As the above image shows, humpback whales often take flight in Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park, at the edge of the North Pacific Ocean. The whales' enormous size makes for spectacular splashdowns. Male humpbacks grow to an average length of 46 feet (14 meters) and an average weight of 25 tons. Females are even bigger, at an average of 49 feet (14.9 m) long and 35 tons in weight.
Humpbacks are identified by their distinctive body shape and unusually long flippers, which are almost one-third of the whale's total body length. Humpback whales' dorsal fins are often a small triangular nubbin with a hump that is noticeable when a whale arches its back to dive. Humpback whales are often white or partially white. A white marking on the underside of the tail is like a marine mammal name tag in that each white marking is unique to each whale.
Humpback whales are an endangered species . Their worldwide population was estimated in 2007 at 30,000 to 40,000 whales. The North Pacific population found in Alaska is thought to be around 6,000 whales.
- Brett Israel, OurAmazingPlanet Contributor
World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals
Credit: Smithsonian Zoo
Giant panda Tai Shan is a celebrity in his own right. When he was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in July 2005he prompted a 50-percent increase in zoo attendance and a rash of fan Web sites. He earned the nickname Butterstick after a zoo worker described him shortly after birth as about the size of a stick of butter. Because Tai Shan's parents are on lease from China, even though the cub was born in the United States, he still belongs to China by law.In February 2010 Tai Shan boarded a special FedEx cargo jet to his permanent home at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan, China. In this image Tai Shan is 11 weeks old.
Author Bio
Stephanie Pappas, Live Science Contributor
Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science. She covers the world of human and animal behavior, as well as paleontology and other science topics. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has ducked under a glacier in Switzerland and poked hot lava with a stick in Hawaii. Stephanie hails from East Tennessee, the global center for salamander diversity. Follow Stephanie on Google+ .
Stephanie Pappas, Live Science Contributor on
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Ghostly Cats
Credit: Sahara Conservation Fund/WildCRU
An elusive Saharan cheetah recently came into the spotlight in Niger, Africa, where a hidden camera snapped photos of the ghostly cat, whose pale coat and emaciated appearance distinguish it from other cheetahs. Its appearance, and how the Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) is genetically related to other cheetahs are open to question. The cat is so rare and elusive that scientists aren't even sure how many exist. Among the threats to the pale cat are scarcity of prey due to poaching and overuse, and conflicts with herders over stock harassment and killing of their animals, according to SCF. Apparently cheetah skins are prized as prayer rugs or used to make slippers.
Giant Jellyfish
Credit: Shin-ichi Uye
Nemopilema nomurai, known as Nomura's jellyfish, can grow up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) in diameter. It is edible, though it hasn't caught on widely. When Nomura's jellyfish bloomed in 2005, some Japanese coped by selling souvenir cookies flavored with jellyfish powder, according to the New York Times.
Glitzy Gala
Credit: Greg Rouse
As if attending an underwater gala, seadragons are adorned with gowns of flowing limbs. These graceful characters belong to a family of fish called Syngnathidae, which also includes seahorses and pipefish. Now, University of California, San Diego, marine biologists Greg Rouse and Nerida Wilson are using genetics to unlock some of the mysteries of this mystical animal. In popular dive spots off the coast of Australia, the duo took tiny snips of tissue from the appendages of seadragons for genetic testing, before releasing the creatures. While seadragons are generally grouped into three species, leafy (shown here), weedy and ribboned, the team's genetic analyses and examinations of body structure have shown the eastern and western populations of weedy seadragons could be divided into two species. They also found the mysterious ribboned seadragon is not related to the leafy and weedy seadragons.
Caught on Camera
Credit: Smithsonian
A jaguar in Peru is captured on an automated camera set by Smithsonian researchers. Such cameras allow scientists to monitor wildlife in remote locations.
Ball of Color
Credit: Spike Walker
This photomicrograph shows the ruby-tailed wasp called Chrysis ignita, which is the most commonly observed of this species. The abdomen's is coloring -- ruby red and bronze – give the wasp its name. The underside of the abdomen is also concave, which allows the wasp to roll itself into a protective ball if threatened. Ruby-tailed wasps are "parasitoids," meaning they eventually kill their hosts. Chrysis ignita parasitizes mason bees: The females lay their eggs in the same nest as mason bees, so when the ruby-tailed wasp larvae hatch, they feed on the mason bee larvae. Ruby-tailed wasps do have a sting but it is not functional and most species have no venom.
The fantastical image snagged a spot on the Wellcome Image Awards 2011, which chooses the most striking and technically excellent images acquired by the Wellcome Images picture library in the prior 18 months.
The Downside of Island Life
Credit: Kesler/University of Missouri
This colorful, tropical bird called the Tuamotu kingfisher lives on one tiny island — Niau in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, in the south Pacific. Today, just 125 of the birds exist, and scientists say they will go extinct without serious intervention.
By working with farmers and residents on the island inhabited by the kingfishers, Dylan Kesler, at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources, has come up with factors critical to the birds' survival. These include: hunting perches; clear ground so they can spot their primary food, lizards; dead trees for nesting; means for keeping predators away from the birds' nests.
Bat Hunt
Credit: © Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International, www.batcon.org
A Brazilian free-tailed bat flies with its prey -- a moth -- clutched in its mouth. According to an article published April 1, 2011 in the journal Science, bats save U.S. farmers 22.9 billion dollars a year by eating pests that would otherwise destroy crops.
Penguin Pomp: Birds of a Feather
Credit: Todd Stailey, Tennessee Aquarium
A flock of gentoo penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga puts on a show. At heights of almost 3 feet (1 meter), gentoos are the third-largest penguin species in the world. Gentoos build nests out of round, smooth stones, which are highly prized by females. To curry favor with a potential mate, male gentoos sometimes present "gifts" of these coveted rocks.
'You Lookin' at Me?'
Credit: © Piotr Naskrecki
The satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) is the smallest of 12 species of bizarre-looking leaf-tailed geckos. The nocturnal creature has extremely cryptic camouflage so it can hide out in forests in Madagascar. This group of geckos is found only in primary, undisturbed forests, so their populations are very sensitive to habitat destruction. Large Uroplatus species have more teeth than any other living terrestrial vertebrate species.
The gecko species was discovered in Mantadia-Zahamena corridor of Madagascar in 1998 during one of the Conservation International (CI) "Rapid Assessment Program" (RAP) surveys. The animal snagged a spot on CI's "Top 20" list of animals discovered during these expeditions, which began 20 years ago today, April 14, 2011.
Pronghorn Dash
Credit: Dr. William Karesh
A pronghorn fitted with a GPS collar leaps through the snow. Scientists in Idaho have set up a similar collaring program to track the migration of these grazing mammals. The Idaho pronghorns make an 80-mile (129 kilometer) journey between their summer and winter ranges, and human development can cut off their migration routes. The collars, which eventually drop off of the animals, will give researchers a better idea of which areas are crucial to pronghorn migration, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Tooth and Claw
Credit: Steve Zak, Wildlife Conservation Society
A red fox trots away with its kill — a smaller arctic fox. This scene in northern Alaska is becoming more common as warming temperatures have opened up new territory to red foxes, threatening the survival of their arctic cousins.
A Bedbug's bite
Credit: CDC/ Janice Haney Carr
This is a close-up look at any homeowner's nightmare: A bedbug. These reddish-brown bugs, each the size of an apple seed, are tough to eliminate once they take hold in the linens. Bedbugs were once virtually wiped out in the United States, but international travelers have carried them back to U.S. soil.
This scanning electron microscope photograph of a bedbug's head reveals its mouthparts, which are used to pierce the skin and suck the blood of its victims. While some people have no reaction to bedbug bites, others experience itchy clusters of hives.
Into the Blue
Credit: T. Moore, NOAA.
Here a close-up shot of a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Gulf of Mexico's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which is about 100 miles (179 kilometers) off the Louisiana coast. Two new studies are showing the turtles are being contaminated with so-called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include banned substances such as DDT and toxaphenes, once used as pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), once used as insulating fluids; and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), once used as flame retardants.
The studies showed the turtles accumulate more of the contaminant chemicals the farther they travel up the Atlantic coast, suggesting their northern feeding grounds in Florida have higher POP levels. The turtles likely consume the POPs when they eat contaminated prey such as crabs, the researchers said. One of the studies was published online April 20, 2011 in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the other will be published in a forthcoming issue of that journal.
Oro y Plata
Credit: Eduardo M. Libby
Robotic insects? The jewelry of an ancient Egyptian queen? No, these bugs are the real thing: Two species of gold and silver beetle found in the rainforests of Costa Rica.
The reflective shells of Chrysina aurgians (gold) and Chrysina limbata (silver) may help the bugs blend into their damp, forest environment, which is studded with shimmering droplets of water. A new study published in the open-access journal Optical Materials Express finds that the beetles' shells are made of progressively thinner layers of the exoskeleton material chitin. As light passes back through each layer of chitin, the waves combine to become brighter and more intense, creating the glint of gold and silver.
According to study researchers, understanding the beetles' beauty may help scientists replicate it -- creating metallic-looking materials out of organic ingredients.
Dreamy Drifters
Credit: Birch Aquarium at Scripps
It's not hard to imagine where these moon jellies got their name. As delicate as they look, jellies are tough: They've been around for 600 million years, predating sharks and surviving multiple mass extinctions, including the one that killed the dinosaurs.
What makes jellies such survivors? Unlike fish, they're able to absorb oxygen directly through their bodies, storing it in their tissues so they can hunt in deep waters. Baby jellies can develop from swimming larvae directly into adults, but they often settle down and turn into polyps. Polyps can go dormant if conditions get bad, survive months without food, and even clone themselves.
Dedicated Mama
Credit: CREDIT: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
If you think gestating one baby is tough, try 3,000. The squid Gonatus onyx carries around her brood of 2,000 to 3,000 eggs for up to nine months. The squid moms have their arms full: While carrying their eggs, they're stuck swimming with their fins and mantle instead of their much more effective arms.
So why would G. onyx take such care of its thousands of offspring? According to a 2005 study published in the journal Nature, the squid carry their eggs to deep water, where predators are rare. The deep-sea offspring are also larger and more capable of survival than shallow water squid -- thanks, mom!
Snow-White Penguin Chick
Credit: Gerald L. Kooyman, Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego.
Not all emperor penguins sport black-and-white tuxedoes. Scripps reseacher Gerald Kooyman spotted this unique all-white emperor chick, dubbed Snowflake, during a penguin survey on the ice shelf of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, in December 1997.
Its white feathers blended in so well with the icy background that Kooyman said he almost missed the chick – emperor penguin chicks are usually covered in a grayish down coat, with dark tail feathers and dark bills and feet.
Scientists don't think Snowflake is an albino, however, as it didn't have the characteristic pink eyes associated with albinism. [Here's a Scripps video of Snowflake ]
What Big Paws You Have
Credit: Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps
A researcher examines the paws of a sedated polar bear in this 1982 photograph taken in Alaska. Polar bears' giant paw pads help them keep traction on ice and snow.
Hitch a Ride on a Dragonfly
Credit: Janice Haney Carr/CDC
A close-up look at a dead dragonfly found in Georgia revealed this miniature hanger-on. The tiny insect seen in this scanning electron microscope image may have been a dragonfly parasite. Or the bug could be nothing more than debris picked up by the dragonfly on its travels.
Ice-cold Adapter
Credit: © Julian Gutt / Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Even in the chilliest water, life can thrive. This Antarctic ice fish, photographed during an Alfred Wegener Institute Polarstern mission, has no red blood cells or red blood pigments. The adaption makes the fish's blood thinner, saving energy that would otherwise be needed to pump the blood around the body.
Cold Crustacean
Credit: Cédric d'Udekem d'Acoz
This shy-looking critter is an inhabitant of Antarctica first found during the research vessel Polarstern's ANTXXIII-8 cruise. Found in water near Antarctica's Elephant Island, the arthropod is about 1 inch (25 mm) long.
Walking the Dog
Credit: Martin Fischer, Jena University
Step right up, come this way, see the amazing see-through Chihuahua!
Okay, it's really just a normal Chihuahua, but scientists in Germany caught the animal on high-speed x-ray film as part of a project to learn more about how canines move. This Chihuahua is one of 327 dogs from 32 different breeds videotaped, a project that the researchers hope will boost knowledge about dog anatomy and evolution. For example, did you now that the length of a dog's foreleg is always 27 percent of that of the entire leg, regardless of breed? Now you've got something to talk about at your next cocktail party.
Yum... You Look Delicious
Credit: © D. Finnin/AMNH/California Academy of Sciences
A common leaf-tailed gecko licks its chops. These Madagascar natives have more teeth than any other land-dwelling vertebrate.
Baby Bat
Credit: Dylan George, Colorado State University
This juvenile big brown bat may be cute, but the animals are major carriers and transmitters of rabies. A new study, published online June 6, 2011 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that hibernation keeps rabies-infected bats alive long enough to pass the disease on to young bats in the next season. These hibernation patterns continue the cycle of rabies infection.
Flirty Fish: You're Pretty Cute
Credit: Tim Griffith, California Academy of Sciences
Come here often? This giant sea bass seems to have an eye for the ladies at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Jealous boyfriends should think twice before challenging their fishy foe: "Buccalo," as he's known, is over four feet long and weighs 165 pounds.
— Stephanie Pappas
All Wrapped Up and Ready to ...
Credit: © D. Finnin/AMNH
The emerald tree boa, which is found in the Amazon basin, is equipped with highly sensitive heat-sensing organs that it uses for 3-D thermal imaging of their prey. Its color pattern and the way the tree boa drapes itself over branches are similar to the green tree python from Australia and New Guinea.
I've Seen a Ghost
Credit: Terry Gosliner, California Academy of Sciences
This pale creature haunts the sea floor near the Philippine island of Luzon. Newly discovered during the California Academy of Sciences’ 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition, this species of sea slug doesn't need ectoplasm (or a shell) to ward off predators.
Instead, sea slugs produce toxins to protect themselves. Some of these toxins are quite dangerous: In 2009, five dogs in New Zealand died after eating gray side-gilled sea slugs that had washed up on the beach. Ingesting half a teaspoon of gray side-gilled slug would kill a human, New Zealand officials said. So while we know it might be tempting, don't eat the slugs. Please.
— Stephanie Pappas
Milk the ... Snake?
Credit: David Williams, AVRU
A Papuan taipan gives up its venom for science. These snakes, which can grow to be 6 feet (2 meters) long, are shy, but they will bite when threatened. And that bite is nasty: According to the University of Melbourne's Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU), taipans will often inflict multiple bites on their victims, injecting bigger payloads of venom with each bite. The venom contains toxins that destroy nerves and prevent the blood from clotting. It can kill within 30 minutes.
The Papuan taipan is responsible for 82 percent of the serious snakebites in the Central province of Papua New Guinea. Now, AVRU scientists have developed a new antivenom for the deadly bites, publishing their preclinical results in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The new antivenom is less expensive than the current taipan bite treatment, which must be imported from Australia. Shortages of that drug have created a black market in antivenom, study researcher David Williams, a doctoral candidate at AVRU, said in a statement.
The researchers are now seeking funding to test the antivenom in rigorous medical trials.
— Stephanie Pappas
Pigeon Cam Gives Birds-Eye View of Forest & Trees
Credit: Talia Moore
Ready for your close-up? This pigeon's head-held camera captures all, including the secret of how these birdbrains navigate tricky forest environments. Researchers from Harvard University attached tiny cameras to the heads of pigeons and trained them to fly through an artificial forest in order to learn how the birds make choices in flight.
The pigeons proved excellent navigators, the researchers reported on July 1 at the Society for Experimental Biology's annual conference in Glasgow. They always chose the straightest route through the trees and seem to exit the forest heading the same direction as when they entered, despite the twists and turns they have to take to avoid crashing. The results will contribute to research in developing robotics and auto-pilots, the researchers said.
— Stephanie Pappas
Director's Cut
Credit: Australian War Memorial
This ringtail possum has the camera, so who's going to provide the action? Taken in 1943 somewhere in northern Australia, this photo is part of the Australian War Memorial collection. The possum, someone's pet, apparently became interested in a Department of Information movie camera and assumed the director's position. Normally, ringtail possums live a less artistic life in dense, brushy forests. Like the more-famous koalas that share their Aussie home, ringtail possums are eucalyptus-loving marsupials.
—Stephanie Pappas
Frog in a Log
Credit: Dennis Demcheck , U.S. Geological Survey
Now you see him ... A gray tree frog peers out of a hole in a tree in Louisiana. Like chameleons, gray tree frogs can change colors to match their surroundings, ranging from gray, brown, green or even white. On the underside of each hind leg, the frogs have a splash of bright orange color, which may confuse predators.
—Stephanie Pappas
Penguins All In A Row
Credit: Wally Walker, National Science Foundation
Three gentoo penguins line up at Gamage Point, Antarctica. Gentoos stand about 22 inches (56 centimeters) tall and weigh about 12 pounds (6 kilograms). Adults are marked by a white strip spanning the top of the head like a bonnet, but babies are grey-and-white balls of fuzz .
Penguin Promenade
Credit: Garwee, Stock.xchg
African penguins take a sidewalk stroll. These two-foot-tall birds are also known as "jackass penguins" because of their loud, donkey-like calls. They nest in burrows along southern Africa's coastal waters, laying two eggs that are cared for by both mom and dad. One major African penguin colony is right near Cape Town, South Africa, at Boulders Beach. There, penguins rub elbows with tourists and swimmers.
Sea Turtle Stare-Down
Credit: Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
A Hawaiian green sea turtle mugs for the camera at the Hawaaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
St. Patty's Puffin
Credit: copyright Jessi Vahling
Ireland: Home of Guinness beer, leprechauns and ... puffins? Yes, the rocky islands on Ireland's west coast are the summer breeding grounds of a variety of birds, including this little fellow photographed on Skellig Michael in July 2011. Atlantic puffins like this one nest in bonded pairs, and both mom and dad help hatch and raise one chick per year.
Wondrous Whale Dance
Credit: Barbara LaCorte, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps
A humpback whale breaches in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. A new study, published Aug. 16 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that to protect marine mammals like these gentle giants, humans need only set aside 4 percent of the world's oceans for conservation. The research found that just 9 conservation sites would protect habitat for 84 percent of all marine mammals species on Earth.
The critical sites are off the coasts of Baja California in Mexico, eastern Canada, Peru, Argentina, northwestern Africa, South Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Eye-Popping Undersea Color
Credit: Ken Bondy, NSF
A gelatinous nudibranch (Janolus barbarensis) adds a splash of color to the ocean in Morro Bay, Calif. Nudibranches are ocean-dwelling mollusks without shells; they're often called sea slugs, but some sea slugs are in a family of their own, unrelated to the 3,000 or so species of nudibranch.
Marine scientists believe that the colors on nudibranches keep predators at bay, much like a neon sign reading, "Tastes terrible, do not eat!" And indeed, some nudibranches store up toxins from their diet of poisonous sponges, making the slug-like creatures themselves deadly to predators.
Looking for a Seafood Buffet
Credit: Mark Hay, Georgia Institute of Technology
A moray eel lurks outside a cage full of fish in the Caribbean Sea. The fish are part of a living experiment to find out how different species affect the growth of noxious seaweed that can harm coral reefs. The eel, on the other hand, is just hungry.
Bold Fashion From a Colorful Critter
Credit: Luiz A. Rocha , Shutterstock
This harlequin shrimp isn't clowning around (yeah, yeah, cue groans). Hymenocera elegans here is found in the waters off of Indonesia. Popular among aquarium enthusiasts for their bright colors, harlequin shrimp are nonetheless tough to care for in a tank. One reason is their diet: They eat only starfish (and sometimes sea urchins), and they reportedly prefer to eat them alive. Since the prey is so much larger than the predator, it sometimes takes the shrimp two weeks to finish off a single (living) starfish. No wonder people think clowns are scary.
Nest-Weaving Bird Learns from Experience
Credit: Rachel Walsh
Practice makes perfect for the Botswanan Southern Masked Weaver, shown above weaving a complex nest of out grass. Weavers aren't born knowing how to build these structures, researchers reported today (Sept. 26, 2011) in the journal Behavioural Processess. Instead, the bird vary their technique from one nest to another, sometimes building left to right, sometimes starting from right to left. As the birds gain more experience building nests, they drop grass less often, suggesting that they improve at their art.
Funny Fellow
A blue dragonfly perches on a flower. The insect seems to be making googly eyes, but of course those black dots aren't really pupils; dragonflies have compound eyes with hundreds of tiny lenses.
Snowbird Snuggles In
Credit: Dan Strickland
Nothing like a nice nest of twigs and snow to keep you warm on a winter's night. The gray jay takes the weather in stride, though — these Canadian birds don't fly south for the winter, and they start their breeding season in mid-February when temperatures are below 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius).
A new study by researchers at the University of Guelph finds that these birds survive in their winter wasteland by storing berries, fungi, insects and even bits of scavenged meat in the nooks and crannies of trees. The new research, published in the journal Oecologia, revealed that spruce and pine trees make better treasure troves than deciduous trees, perhaps because the resin in conifers helps preserve the birds' food. The findings explain why gray jays seem to be disappearing from areas without much pine and spruce.
Blood-Red Bats Take to the Skies
Credit: © Margrit Betke, Boston University, via TPWD
We couldn’t wait until Halloween to share this spooky thermal image of bats in flight. Provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, this image was taken by Boston University researchers trying to better understand how bats navigate the air in response to weather, bug activity and climate change.
According to the United State Geological Survey, bats save farmers at least $3 billion a year by scarfing down insects that would otherwise eat crops. But bats are threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that kills them, as well as by deadly collisions with wind turbines.
Researchers estimate that the loss of one million bats in the Northeast alone has probably resulted in between 660 and 1320 metric tons fewer insects being eaten by bats each year. Now that's scarier than blood-red bats any day.
Thumb-Sucking Acrobat
Credit: i359702 , Shutterstock
A baby orangutan takes thumb-sucking to a new level thanks to prehensile feet. Much like human children, baby orangutans remain dependent on their moms for a long time, sometimes being carried most of the time until they're 5 years old. Young orangutans normally don't leave mom's side until they're 10 or so, and even when they do strike out on their own, they often return to "visit" for the next few years.
Miniature Monster
Credit: H. Freitag (2009)
This creepy-crawly is a spider water beetle, a water-loving bug that lives in mountain rivers on Palawan Island in the Philippines. The beetles get their name from their long, spindly legs (imagine if this fellow stretched his out!). They also create their own little scuba-diving bubbles called "plastrons," which allow them to live permanently under the water.
Do You Hear Something Rattling?
Credit: Bill Love
Look out, this rattler is ready to strike. Fortunately, rattlesnakes really are more afraid of you than you are of them. They rarely bite unless provoked and would much prefer to warn you away. Only about 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States each year, and only about 0.2 percent of bites result in death, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Halloween Treat?
Credit: Casey Dunn lab, Brown University
It's hard to miss a flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum), with its mantle splotched with a pattern of irregularly shaped orange, white and black spots. Considered gastropod mollusks, the snails are members of the Mollusca phylum, which includes octopuses and oysters, and the class Gastropoda, which includes marine snails with and without shells.
Mollusks encompass a wide variety of animals, with the lineage dating back some 500 million years. Just recently, in a study published in the Oct. 27, 2011, issue of the journal Nature, Casey Dunn, an evolutionary biologist at Brown University, and colleagues put together the most comprehensive evolutionary tree of mollusks.
The researchers found that a mysterious group of deep-ocean animals that resemble limpets, called monoplacophorans, are a sister clade to cephalopods, which include octopuses, squid and nautiluses. "Cephalopods are so different from all other mollusks, it was very difficult to understand what they are related to. They don't fit in with the rest," Dunn said. "Now, we have a situation where two of the most enigmatic groups within the mollusks turn out to be sister groups." [ Amazing Mollusks: Images of Strange & Slimy Snails ]
Sleepy Seal
Credit: Image courtesy of Christopher J. Brown
Even though the oceans tend to warm slower than the land, researchers report in the Nov. 4 issue of the journal Science that similar movement rates are needed for organisms to stay ahead of climate change on land and in the oceans.
After analyzing 50 years of global temperature and climate data, Michael Burrows of the Scottish Marine Institute in Argyll and his colleagues found that the speed and direction of climate change, along with the arrival time of various seasons, is happening just as fast in the oceans as on land. The research team says that this climate-change velocity and seasonal shifts can be used to predict shifts in habitat ranges and life-cycle changes in a warming world.
For instance, organisms like these marine sea slugs and even elephant seals (shown here in bull kelp in the Southern Ocean) must adapt to new temperatures or move to new areas to stay in an optimal habitat.
Jellies In Leopard-Print
Credit: Matt Gove, National Ocean Service
These leopard-spotted jellies are appropriately decorated, considering they're terrifying predators — if you're a plankton. This species, Mastigias papua is known as the spotted jelly or the lagoon jelly. They live in coastal waters in the South Pacific and grow about 5.5 inches (14 to 16 centimeters) in diameter.
But what makes spotted jellies really cool is that they grow their own gardens. The jellies get their greenish-brown tinge from algae that they harbor. The algae is a handy food source for the jellies. Some of the larger individuals will even keep extra hangers-on: Little minnows that live inside the jellyfish's bell until they're large enough to face the wider ocean.
Jellyfish facts courtesy the Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Scary Clown of the Animal Kingdom
Credit: Justin Marshall, University of Queensland, via NSF
This colorful creature acts more like Stephen King's "It" than Bozo the Clown. The mantis shrimp, a predator that is neither a mantis nor a shrimp, spears and dismembers prey with its powerful claws. Mantis shrimp are also capable of using their claws as hammers to crush snail shells, and larger species can even muster enough force to crack aquarium glass.
Mantis shrimp look shrimp-like, but they're actually their own subgroup of crustacean. According to new research from the University of Queensland, mantis shrimp have a unique way of seeing the world. They detect circular polarized light, a type of light beam that spirals either to the left or right. Filters in their eyes re-orient this light to turn it into the linear polarized light. To the human eye, linear polarized light is only a glare, the sort that requires the need for polarized sunglasses.
Researchers aren't yet sure how the mantis shrimp make use of this ability to filter circular polarized light. It's possible that this visual ability allows animals to see light patterns reflected off the shells of male animals — possible courtship displays visible only to the species that needs to see them.
Incoming!
Credit: Frank Schnorrer / MPI of Biochemistry
Flies are quite adept at buzzing around, despite the fact that their wings are small in comparison to their bulky bodies. Now, new research published Nov. 17 in the journal Nature has uncovered the gene switch responsible for building the flight muscles in flies.
Much like hummingbirds, flies have to flap their wings extremely fast to stay aloft. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster contracts and relaxes its flight muscles 200 times a second. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany have found that a gene transcription factor called "spalt" creates these specialized muscles. Spalt is an important go-between that ensures that genes get translated into functional proteins. Without it, flies develop only slow-moving leg muscles.
Humans can't fly, but our heart muscles contain spalt, according to study researcher Frank Schnorrer. That could mean that the factor is important in regulating heartbeat, although more research is needed.
Back from the Dead
Credit: A. Hausmann
This beetle is a predator in the water but vulnerable in the wider world. Graphoderus bilineatus, a European water beetle, is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and was thought to be locally extinct in Germany. But researchers with the Barcoding Fauna Bavarica project in Germany discovered that these beetles are still kicking around. The project is part of a larger scientific push to "barcode" species based on DNA snippets, enabling researchers to identify flora and fauna more accurately. Researchers engaged in barcoding projects convene these week in Adelaide Austraila for the fourth annual International Barcode of Life Conference.
Hello There, Bear
Credit: Steve Hillebrand , Fish and Wildlife Service
A brown bear rolls on its back in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Hungry, Hungry Puffin
Credit: © Science/AAAS
Yum, anchovies. Actually, this generous puffin meal is made up of sand lances, little fish commonly found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Sand lances and other "forage fish" are critical to the survival of seabirds like this puffin. According to new research published Dec. 23 in the journal Science, seabirds need about a third of the fish in the sea to maintain their current lifestyles. That information is important because it gives researchers a sense of how much overfishing will affect animals that depend on the ocean for dinner.
A Dignified Bunch
Credit: (c) Alex Rogers
Fur seals sun themselves on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean. Oxford zoologist Alex Rogers snapped this shot during an expedition to explore the first known deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Antarctic. The fauna under the water turned out to be even more intriguing than the animals on land. See a gallery of photos from the vents here.
Excuse Me, Waiter ...
Credit: (c) Martine Maan
... But there's a frog in my drink. Or maybe this little guy is an amphibious genie, here to offer three froggy wishes? Either way, it's best not to sip this beverage: This strawberry poison dart frog from Isla Bastimentos in Panama is quite toxic. A new study, published in January 2012 in the journal The American Naturalist, finds that these frogs' coloration patterns, as seen by birds, corresponds to how deadly they really are. Now that's truth in advertising.
Brand-New Snake Species
Credit: Tim Davenport/WCS
This striking black-and-yellow fellow is a brand-new species just discovered in remote Tanzania. Dubbed the Matilda's horned viper after the daughter of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Tanzania program director, the snake measures 2.1 feet (60 centimeters) in length and sports horn-like scales above its eyes.
The WCS announced the discovery of the new horned viper on Jan. 9, but they're keeping the exact location of the snake's habitat a secret to prevent poaching from illegal pet collectors. But the snake is already likely to be placed on the endangered list, as its habitat has been hit hard by logging and charcoal manufacturing.
Fly Behind Bars
Credit: Floris van Breugel
Stuck behind bars for a crime he didn't commit? Nah, this fruit fly is part of an experiment to uncover how insects navigate thousands of miles during migration, or even find their way from flower to flower in the front yard. The "bars" of light demarcate a light-emitting diode (LED) flight arena, but what really holds the fly in is a magnetic field (he's glued to a metal pin, allowing him to move naturally within the field but keeping him in place).
The outcome of this bizarre set-up is the discovery that fruit flies look to the sky to keep their bearings. In naturally polarized light, the flies had no trouble staying on course. But when researchers altered the light polarization patterns, the flies got discombobulated. That means that as long as a bit of sunlight makes its way to the fly's eye, it can use the patterns in light to get where it's going — sort of an all-weather version of sailors navigating by the stars. The researchers reported their results Jan. 10 in the journal Current Biology.
High-Stakes Slug Sex
Credit: The California Academy of Sciences
This banana slug yin-yang is not quite as innocent as it seems. In fact, it's a bizarre mating dance — and just the beginning of how weird things are about to get for these mollusks.
You see, banana slugs are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female sexual organs. These organs are located, oddly enough, near their heads, explaining the cheek-to-cheek position you see here. When banana slugs start to mate, they nip, bite, and eventually intertwine, inserting their penises into one another's genital openings.
Once the sperm transfer is complete, slugs sometimes can't disengage from one another. That's when they do something really strange: a process called apophallation. Not to mince words, this means that one or both slugs chew the other's penis clean off. The organ doesn't regenerate, so these post-apophallation slugs live the rest of their days as females.
For more crazy animal mating strategies, see: Top 10 Swingers of the Animal Kingdom . West-coasters can learn more at a new exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco called "Animal Attraction," which opens Feb. 11, 2012.
Deadly Undersea Beauty
Credit: NOAA
The tendrils of a sea anemone bring to mind the petals of a flower — but these petals bite. Sea anemones are predatory animals. Their tentacles are studded with venomous cells called nematocysts, which release toxins into prey such as fish and crustaceans, paralyzing the victims for easy digestion.
We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Credit: Jim Abernathy
Strangest class picture of all time? Nope, just a little tourism. A 12-foot-long female tiger shark shows off her size above a row of SCUBA divers at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas, a popular ecotourism spot. There have been worries that these eco-tourist spots disrupt sharks' natural wanderings by making them overly dependent on the chum that tour guides throw out to attract the giant, predatory fish. But new research suggests that's not the case. In fact, responsible eco-tourism may benefit sharks by encouraging local governments to protect them. [ Read the full story here ]
Fearsome Jaws
Credit: Dr. Lynn Kimsey, Dr. Michael Ohl
A newly discovered wasp found in Indonesia has enormous sickle-shaped jaws to rival its fearsome sting.
The new species has been dubbed Megalara garuda after the Garuda, a part-human, part-bird legend that is the national symbol for Indonesia. Little is known about the wasps' behavior, but based on other wasp species, males may use their giant jaws to hold females during mating.
The wasp was simultaneously discovered by researchers Lynn Kimsey of the University of California, Davis and Michael Ohl of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, who report their discovery in the journal ZooKeys this week. A specimen of the wasp collected in the 1930s was lurking in the insect collections of the museum, unexamined. At the same time, researchers searching the Indonesia island of Sulawesi found a modern specimen of the same wasp.
Seal Surprise!
Credit: Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives
Welcome to my ice crevasse. Two divers meet an unexpected surprise in the frigid waters of Palmer Land on the Antarctica Peninsula during a 1962-1963 expedition. Their encounter was with a Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), a deep diver that favors a coastal ice habitat. These bruisers can tip the scales at up to 1,360 pounds (600 kilograms) and they live farther south than any other mammal on Earth.
This vintage photograph was taken in 1962 during an Antarctic survey led by biologist Waldo Schmitt, an honorary research associate at the Smithsonian Institution. A crustacean expert, Schmitt travelled the world on multiple research expeditions. The one to Antarctica would be his last. He died in 1977 at the age of 90.
Pretty in Pink
Credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010
Extending its arms 8 inches (20 cm) across, a pink crab perches on a bed of soft coral 2,310 feet (740 meters) deep in the Sangihe Talaud region off of Indonesia. The Little Hercules ROV captured this image of the colorful critter during a 2010 ocean expedition. Crabs like these are only found living on soft coral.
Cozy Penguin Babies
Credit: Paul Ponganis, National Science Foundation
Brrr… It's cold out there! Baby emperor penguins snuggle up with their parents on the chilly Antarctic ice. Recent research headed by Michelle LaRue of Minnesota University turned up good news for these beautiful birds: Using high-resolution satellite imagery, the scientists counted the entire population of emperor penguins in the Antarctic and found twice as many as expected.
Still, LaRue said in a statement, the loss of sea ice in the Antarctic is troubling for emperor penguins, which rely on the ice for their breeding grounds. Knowing the baseline number of birds will help researchers monitor populations over time, better clarifying how environmental change affects these birds.
Emperor penguins are the only species that breeds exclusively on Antarctic sea ice. After the chicks hatch, mom and pop penguin alternate cuddling with baby while the other goes to fish. After about 50 days of this, all the baby penguins huddle together for warmth while their parents strike out to sea, returning occasionally to bring food. These baby penguin huddles, called crèches, can hold thousands of little penguins.
Predator Under Threat
Credit: Marc Nadon
Gliding watchfully over coral and reef fish, a black tip reef shark patrols the waters off the Rose Atoll of American Samoa. A recent study found that reef sharks like this one are vanishing rapidly near populated islands, with up to 90 percent of sharks in these areas missing compared to isolated reefs. The cause could be illegal shark fishing or simply human activity in these reefs that leaves less food for the sharks. For more on these threatened apex predators, visit our gallery of wild sharks.
Pucker Up!
Credit: Paula Keener-Chavis, NOAA, Islands in the Stream Expedition 2002
Ready for fishy kisses? On second thought, it's best to steer clear of this south Atlantic scorpion fish. This fellow is part of the Scorpaenidae family, a group that includes the world's most venomous species. (The lionfish, with its venomous fin rays, is another family member.) This image was taken in 2002 during a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expedition to explore the eastern coast of the U.S. from Florida to North Carolina.
Flee the Flea
Credit: Janice Haney Carr/CDC
Where do fleas get their incredible jumping abilities? Look no further than these massive hind legs. Although fleas only get about 1/8 of an inch (3 millimeters) long, they have a horizontal jump range of up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) — that's more than 1,000 times their body length. Flea bites are to be avoided; it's these jumping insects that are responsible for transmitting the Black Death, or plague, from rats to humans in the 1300s.
The Ocean's Tiny Aliens
Credit: Art Howard, NAPRO. Image courtesy NOAA Ocean Explorer.
Alien or sea creature? This delicate blue organism is a nudibranch, a type of marine mollusk. Nudibranches are often confused for sea slugs, but the two groups are separate.
The blue nudibranch seen here is just an inch (2.5 cm) long. It was found clinging to sargassum seaweed during a NOAA Life on the Edge mission in 2003. Scientists explored the continental slope and shelf edge off the coast of the southern U.S., from North Carolina to Florida. The team observed everything from sea urchins to flying fish on the 11 day mission.
The Pink Lady
Credit: Carsten Pape, Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) plays a key role in the food webs of the South Ocean. In fact, throughout their evolutionary history, these tiny crustaceans have developed many biological rhythms that are closely connected to large seasonal changes in their environment.
But how will marine organisms like the krill react to environmental changes at the poles, such as receding sea ice and ocean warming, given that their vital processes, such as reproduction cycles and seasonable food availability, have been synchronized with the environment over millions of years? To answer this question, researchers in the virtual Helmholtz Institute PolarTime are taking a very close look at Antarctic krill, which serves as a model organism for a polar plankton species that has adapted to the extreme conditions. The Helmholtz institute is part of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
The (Tiny) Face of a Killer
Credit: CDC/ Michael and Paula Smith
The visage of a tiny velvet ant peers up in this scanning electron microscope image magnified 23 times. This tiny creature, genus Dasymutilla is not actually an ant at all, but a wasp. She (this is a female) boasts a nasty sting, especially if you're another wasp or bee. In order to reproduce, velvet ants lay their eggs inside the larvae of wasps and bees. When the eggs hatch, they feed on the still-living but paralyzed larvae that house them.
Points of Light
Credit: David Burdick, distributed by NOAA under a creative commons license.
Here's a marine mystery for you: What is this glowing creature emerging from the depths? If you recognized it as the underside of a jellyfish, congrats! This photograph was captured near the wreckage of the Shinkoku Maru, a World War II-era Japanese oil tanker sunk by a torpedo attack in 1944. The shipwreck now rests in the Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia.
Daring Rescue
Credit: Ray Boland, NOAA/NMFS/PIFD/ESOD
Divers free a Hawaiian Monk Seal entangled in a lost fishing net in this 1997 photograph from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Fortunately for this unlucky seal, the divers were successful. Marine litter remains a problem in the area more than a decade later, however. In July 2012, NOAA divers plucked 50 metric tons of marine debris out of the Pacific near the islands during a single clean-up mission.
Cub Cuddles
Credit: Lucile and William Mann; Smithsonian Institution Archives
Don't try this at home: An unidentified child cuddles a tiger cub during the 1937 National Geographic Society-Smithsonian Expedition to the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The purpose of the expedition was to collect zoo animals for the National Zoological Park.
Hello, Friend
Credit: Robert Schwemmer, CINMS, NOAA.
A male northern elephant seal watches a shorebird trot by in this photograph from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California. Male elephant seals earn their name with their enormous size, growing up to 13 feet (4 meters) long and weighing up to 4,500 pounds (2,000 kilograms).
Emperor's Gravity-Defying Leap
Credit: Dr. Paul Ponganis; National Science Foundation
I can fly! I can fly … Well, maybe not. Emperor penguins may be flightless, but as this 2011 shot reveals, they're perfectly adapted to their semi-aquatic lifestyle. These penguins can dive more than 1600 feet (500 meters) down for up to 12 minutes. After a completed hunting spree, the birds launch themselves back onto the ice like feathery torpedoes.
Happy Halloween!
Credit: David Haring/Duke Lemur Center
If you prefer your creatures of the night to be cute rather than cuddly, have we got the critter for you. This is an aye-aye, a species of nocturnal lemur originally found only in Madagascar. The aye-aye is a harmless omnivore with one long, spindly finger it uses to fish grubs out of rotten logs. Like 91 percent of lemur species , aye-ayes are threatened with extinction, but it's not just habitat loss and deforestation that may do this fuzzy creature in. Madagascar superstition holds that aye-ayes are harbingers of death, so the animals are often killed on sight.
This particular aye-aye is a resident of the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, N.C., a research and conservation facility that houses 250 lemurs and their close relatives. In honor of Halloween and the wrongly maligned aye-aye, the Lemur Center has a special deal for the month of October: Pledge a donation and receive not only a packet of information about a lemur of your choice, but also this cute photo.
Guardian of the Lava
Credit: Dmitry Demezhko, Institute of Geophysics UB RAS, Yekaterinburg, Russia. Distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons License.
What are you doing at my rock outcrop? Geology fieldwork sometimes brings scientists face-to-face with local fauna, like this curious red fox living in a lava field on Iturup Island. This volcanic island is part of the disrupted territory between Russia and Japan, with both nations claiming it as their own
Alien Anemone
Credit: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR
Looking nearly unreal with its green-and-purple color scheme, this anemone decorates the ocean floor near Chuuk, one of the Federated States of Micronesia. Despite the vegetal look, anemones are actually animals that prey on small fish and crustaceans.
Cuddly Cuties
Credit: Lucile and William Mann, Smithsonian Institution
Two cuties get cuddly in this 1937 photograph taken on a National Geogrpahic Society-Smithsonian Institution expedition to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). This image is part of the collection of William Mann, director of the National Zoo, and Lucile, his wife and a writer and editor, but the Smithsonian knows little about this strangely cozy primate and tiger cub.
Blooming Jellies!
Credit: Seacology
Swirling in a translucent mass, a bloom of jellyfish-like salps pulsates through the waters off the coast of New Zealand. Some reports have suggested that blooms like this are on the increase, choking fishermen's nets and power plant intake pipes. But while these striking consequences do happen, a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science finds no strong evidence for a global jelly rise over the past 200 years. In fact, jellyfish numbers oscillate from high to low over decade-long periods but remain stable over time, researchers reported online Dec. 31. Some areas, such as Japan and the Mediterranean have seen regional increases in these gelatinous creatures, however. [ Top 10 Underwater Cameras ]
Happy Hitchhikers
Credit: Edgardo Griffith
A load of round yellow eggs weighs down this Hemiphractus fasciatus , the casque headed tree frog. Mama frog will carry these eggs on her back until they hatch as mini-frogs — no tadpoles here! These frogs are threatened with extinction and are one of 11 species of high conservation concern being bred in captivity in Panama.
Zigs and Zags
Credit: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR.
My, what a zig-zaggy mouth you have! The cock's comb oyster (Lopha cristagalli) is a common site in tropical waters in the Indo-West Pacific. This specimen was photographed in Chuuk, one of the Federated States of Micronesia, in 2006. Like other oysters, these creatures survive by cementing themselves to one spot and filtering edible debris out of the water.
Earthbound Stars
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
A huddle of starfish adds a splash of color to the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington State. The Sanctuary protects 2,408 square nautical miles off the coast, the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Living in this protected area are organisms ranging from microscopic plankton to sea otters to albatross to migrating gray whales. It's a high-nutrient environment, which is why intertidal species like these starfish thrive.
Wanna Polyp?
Credit: Nature, 2005
My, how many tentacles you have! This alien-looking creature is known as Nematostella vectensis, or the starlet sea anemone. Like other anemones, starlets start life as free-swimming larvae. They then settle into an appropriately mucky spot on the seafloor and metamorphose into their adult polyp form, seen here. Anemones lack brains, but the section of the larvae containing the sensory organs actually becomes the bulbous root end of the adult, while the other side sprouts delicate tentacles and transforms into a filter-feeding mouth.
Researchers have now found that the "head genes" of N. vectensis, though held in what eventually becomes the animal's "foot," correspond to the head genes found in the actual heads of higher animals. Humans and other brainy beasts share a common, brainless, ancestor with sea anemones that lived 600 million to 700 million years ago. The findings were released Feb. 20, 2013 in the journal PLOS Biology.
Summer's Sparkle
Credit: Fatma Wassar, University of Milan, distributed by EGU under a Creative Commons License
An unidentified dragonfly species shows off delicate wings in this photo taken in a maize field in Italy in 2010.
Blue Beauty
Credit: Eric Vance, U.S. EPA
A Great Blue Heron wades in the wetlands. These majestic birds rely on watery environments for their food supply (fish and other aquatic animals), but humans are no less dependent. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wetlands and streams are a crucial source of water, with 117 million Americans relying on water supplies that, in turn, rely on the nation's hundreds of thousands of miles of streams. Wetlands also provide a buffer against storm-induced flooding. South Carolina's swamps alone can store the equivalent of 7,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water, according to the EPA. Just constructing a stormwater treatment facility for that amount of water would cost more than $200 million.
Geronimooooo!
Credit: Image courtesy of Elaine Miller Bond, www.elainemillerbond.com
A black-tailed prairie dog gets the jump on a rival in a snowy mating-season fight. A new study published March 8 in the journal Science finds that female prairie dogs like to stay close to mom. Unlike many species that move away from their families to avoid competing with kin, prairie dogs are more likely to disperse when their families move away.
Hanging in the Keys
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
Good new for fish in the Florida Keys: A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report finds that the declaration of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve has done wonders to combat overfishing in this sensitive ecosystem.
Black and red grouper and yellowtail have all rebounded since the formation of the reserve in 2001. Mutton snapper, once thought wiped out by overfishing, have started to return to the area to spawn. Even better, the reserve is a win-win for humans and fish. Commercial catches of reef fish in the area have actually increased with better management, and there were no financial losses among local commercial and recreational fishers. [Read More: Best Underwater Cameras for Reef Photography ]
Bad News for Bats
Credit: Darwin Brock
Bad news for everyone's favorite flying mammals: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that bats at Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama have white-nose syndrome. The disease is a fungus that grows on hibernating bats, causing them to exhibit often-fatal behavior such as flying outside in cold weather. In eastern North America alone. 5.7 million to 6.7 million bats have died of white-nose syndrome.
Fern Cave is the winter home for multiple bat species, including the largest documented colony of gray bats, which are federally endangered. So far, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had detected the syndrome in two groups of tri-colored bats in the cave.
Mommy and Me
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Wait up, Mom! Shomili, a four-month old greater one-horned rhinoceros runs behind her mother Sundari at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Shomili, or "Mili" as zookeepers call her, was released into the park's Asian Savanna habitat to join the rest of the zoo's herd on April 23, 2013. Mili is the 65th greater one-horned rhino born at the zoo, which is working to conserve this endangered species. Only about 3,400 of these rhinos survive in the wild.
Bad Birthday Boy
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
Somebody's not sharing his cake! One-year-old Tikal the jaguar keeps his twin sister Maderas away from their birthday party treat at the San Diego Zoo on April 26, 2013. Zookeepers made the young jaguars a "cake" made of ice and frozen blood, and Tikal was not inclined toward generosity. Mama knows best though: The cubs' mother Nindiri wasn't having any of her son's selfishness, and she joined in to enjoy the frozen treat, too.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration executive director Joe Pica meets the locals during a dive off the Dominican Republic. Pica was retrieving an acoustic buoy when this humpback whale stopped by to say hi. Humpbacks are found all over the world's oceans — they migrate as many as 16,000 miles (25,000 kilometers) a year.
Peek-A-Boo!
Credit: Edinburgh Zoo
What's going on out there? At just a few hours old, this baby gentoo penguin peaks out from beneath its parent. The as-yet-nameless chick is the first gentoo born at Edinburgh Zoo this year. According to the zoo, a sibling joined this curious chick several hours later, and a third in the clutch was working its way out of the egg. [ Happy Feet: A Gallery of Pudgy Penguins ]
Awesome Otter
Credit: Denver Zoo
Ahanu the otter slips through the water at the Denver Zoo. The two-year-old male is a new zoo resident, brought from the Oakland Zoo in California to keep Denver's previous male otter, Otto, company. Otto's earlier companion Ariel died of old age last year, and given otters' highly social nature, Otto needed a new friend. For more otter adorableness, check out these pups getting a checkup
Swan Lake
Credit: Department of the Interior
Can you guess the location of this gorgeous sunset scene?
This is Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 110,000 acres of bird-friendly wetlands in eastern North Carolina. Ducks, raptors and black bears call the refuge home, as does the reintroduced endangered red wolf. Streaking across the sunset sky in this image are hundreds of tundra swans. These white birds migrate from their breeding grounds along the Arctic Ocean down the U.S. Atlantic coast in the winter, sometimes reaching as far south as Florida.
Delicate Dragonfly
Credit: Steve Norris/USFWS
A meadowlark dragonfly shows off its delicate wings at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine. Dragonflies are apparently experiencing a moment in the sun : According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, dragonfly festivals and dragonfly field guides are becoming increasingly popular. No surprise — with their jewel-like colors and gossamer wings, dragonflies give butterflies a run for their money in the beauty department. [ See more surprisingly beautiful insects ]
Aww! Baby Okapi Takes a Stroll
Credit: Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo
A 17-day-old female okapi tests out her land legs at the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday (June 4, 2013). This is the public debut for this little girl, who was born May 19 to mother Safarani. Okapis are giraffe relatives native to Central Africa; their shy tendencies kept early European explorers in the dark about their true existence for decades. It wasn't until 1901 that the species was formally classified and scientifically named.
Tadpole Eat ... Tadpole?
Credit: North Carolina State University
Most tadpoles survive on a diet of algae. But not Lepidobatrachus laevis, the tadpole of Budgett's frog. Not only are Budgett's frog tadpoles carnivorous, they're cannibals — as this image of a Budgett's frog tadpole slowly digesting in the gut of another Budgett's frog tadpole reveals.
North Carolina State developmental biologist Nanette Nascone-Yoder and her colleagues are using these carnivorous tadpoles to study how the digestive organs evolved and develop. In a study published in May 2013 in the journal Evolution and Development, Nascone-Yoder and her colleagues genetically engineered algae-eating tadpole guts to look more like that of the Budgett's tadpoles and vice versa.
"Understanding how and why the gut develops different shapes and lengths to adapt to different diets and environments during evolution gives us insight into what types of processes can be altered in the context of human birth defects, another scenario in which the gut also changes its shape and function," Nascone-Yoder said in a statement.
Humpback Whale Kenai Fjords
Credit: Ashley Lindley/U.S. Department of the Interior
For an animal that can weigh more than two-dozen tons, humpback whales sure can catch some air.
As the above image shows, humpback whales often take flight in Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park, at the edge of the North Pacific Ocean. The whales' enormous size makes for spectacular splashdowns. Male humpbacks grow to an average length of 46 feet (14 meters) and an average weight of 25 tons. Females are even bigger, at an average of 49 feet (14.9 m) long and 35 tons in weight.
Humpbacks are identified by their distinctive body shape and unusually long flippers, which are almost one-third of the whale's total body length. Humpback whales' dorsal fins are often a small triangular nubbin with a hump that is noticeable when a whale arches its back to dive. Humpback whales are often white or partially white. A white marking on the underside of the tail is like a marine mammal name tag in that each white marking is unique to each whale.
Humpback whales are an endangered species . Their worldwide population was estimated in 2007 at 30,000 to 40,000 whales. The North Pacific population found in Alaska is thought to be around 6,000 whales.
- Brett Israel, OurAmazingPlanet Contributor
World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals
Credit: Smithsonian Zoo
Giant panda Tai Shan is a celebrity in his own right. When he was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in July 2005he prompted a 50-percent increase in zoo attendance and a rash of fan Web sites. He earned the nickname Butterstick after a zoo worker described him shortly after birth as about the size of a stick of butter. Because Tai Shan's parents are on lease from China, even though the cub was born in the United States, he still belongs to China by law.In February 2010 Tai Shan boarded a special FedEx cargo jet to his permanent home at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan, China. In this image Tai Shan is 11 weeks old.
| Wasp |
The town of Ilkley in Yorkshire lies on which river? | Hymenoptera | ferrebeekeeper | Page 2
February 27, 2015 in Art , Crowns , Hymenoptera | Tags: Art , bee , charity , doll , hairdo , hive , Illustration , Mark , Painting , Ryden , small , WWF | by Wayne | Leave a comment
Queen Bee (Mark Ryden, 2014, oil on canvas)
Today we are featuring a small painting by a contemporary painter, Mark Ryden (whose work has showed up on this blog before). This is “Queen Bee” a portrait which stands somewhat in contrast with Ryden’s usual style: although the painting does have the jewel-like illustration quality which constitutes half of his trademark; it notably lacks the dark narrative extravagance of earlier works. The best of Ryden’s oeuvre has the feel of a fairytale which has fallen through a dark hole in the world. “Queen Bee” is more elegiac. The emotionally empty pouting expression on the figure’s doll-like face works as a receptacle for whatever emotion the viewer wishes to project into it.
The glorious golden bee who is desperately assembling a hive from hair, grass, and leaves is the true subject of the work. Of course a single honey bee is an anomaly and a failure—honey bees are social organisms which can only survive and flourish as a hive. So the viewer is left to draw her own conclusions about the thematic meaning of the piece.
Although Ryden paints his own paintings (unlike many artworld superstars who leave lowly creative tasks to underpaid interns, apprentices, and assistants), he does hire Asian artisans to build the remarkable frames to spec. Look at how lovely the gilded hive is! Are these bees in the frame the real workers for the bee in the painting? There might be a subtle sting for the entire concept of fine art buried in that question.
Detail
This particular painting was made for charity. Ryden auctioned the piece off in the spring of last year and donated the proceeds to the World Wildlife Fund. While the piece did not fetch the princely multi-million dollar price associated with works by annointed art world insiders, you could certainly buy several houses in West Virginia with the proceeds. It is very good of Ryden to give to such a meaningful cause. One of these days, I’ll have to host a charity auction of my own paintings for the world’s endangered animals (sometime on down the road when I am not one of them).
November 26, 2014 in Art , Color , Farm , Fowl , Hymenoptera , Serpents , Trees , turkeys , Uncategorized | Tags: family , farm , sketch , Thanksgiving , Turkey , watercolor , Wayne Ferrebee , woods | by Wayne | 2 comments
The Edge of the Woods (Wayne Ferrebee, 2012, watercolor)
Well, it’s already Thanksgiving…2015 will be here before you know it. This year I’m staying in Brooklyn instead of going home to the fields and hardwood forests of Appalachia, but I’ll definitely miss visiting family, going hunting, and seeing all of the goodly farm creatures. I probably should have organized things better, but to be frank, organization is really not my métier. How does everybody do so well with all of these infernal lists, and applications, and invoices, and calendars, and spreadsheets? Anyway, to celebrate the holiday, here is a summertime watercolor picture of the family farm. The trees look a bit crooked and a bit too green…but they were crooked and extremely green in real world (plus I didn’t realize I was sitting on an anthill when I first chose the location—so I was painting faster and faster). Of course there was no wild turkey running through the painting–at least not that I could see—however they are supremely canny at blending in when they want to be (and I did find some feathers at the entrance to the forest). The snake, chipmunk, and skulking frog are likewise inventions, although they are definitely out there in the woods. I should really have painted an anthill: those guys were very much present!
Yes, like that…but bitier.
I’m sorry I don’t have a November painting which show the beautiful browns, russets, and grays of the woodland. The wild turkey would look extremely good against such a backdrop! But the ants were bad enough—I don’t even want to think about watercolor in snow, sleet, and freezing rain…
Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers! I hope you enjoy your turkeys and have a lot to be thankful for. All of you foreign folk will have to make do with my best wishes and imagine how succulent the turkey and mashed potatoes taste. But wherever or whoever you are, you should know that I am most thankful for my readers! You are all the best!
October 19, 2014 in Farm , Hymenoptera | by Wayne | 2 comments
We are rapidly coming up to Halloween! In years past, Ferrebeekeeper has celebrated this scary holiday with these week-long special topics: Flowers of the Underworld , Echidna Mother of Monsters , and the Undead . This year I want to write about dreams and dream monsters—so look for a whole series concerning suchlike dream phantasms on the last week of October! Spooky!
Before we get to dream monsters we have plenty of seasonal topics in the real world to get through. Today’s post is once again about pumpkins —but instead of talking about their color, their long agricultural history, or their seasonal mythology we will instead cut right to the quick and write about pumpkin reproduction. For pumpkins have male and female flowers and thus require a very special third party in order to reproduce. Originally pumpkins were (mostly) pollinated by two related genera of new world bees—the squash bees Peponapis and Xenoglossa (which together constitute the very Roman-sounding tribe Eucerini).
Male Squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) photo by Douglass Moody
These large bees live symbiotically with pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers (the plant genus Cucurbita) and have historically had almost exactly the same range as cucurbits. Bees of this tribe are about the same size as bumblebees and are pollen specialists adapt at dealing with the narrow-necked but elastic flowers of squash and pumpkins. The bees also have large coarse hairs on their legs to better carry the exceptionally large pollens of pumpkins and heavy squash. I remember after planting a pumpkin patch as a child I fearfully avoiding my vegetable charges because of the fierce buzzing of the doughty bees hiding in the many flowers strewn through the maze of abrasive vines. Brrgh, my skin still shivers to recall the noise, smell, and texture of that part of the garden (which, as an added bonus, was located in clinging gelatinous red-clay mud).
Male squash bee – Peponapis pruinosa (photo by Ron Hemberger)
Sadly the thirteen species of Eucerini bees, like many native bees, have been hit very hard by commercial pesticides. Modern industrial pumpkin growers sometimes call upon honey bees to undertake pumpkin pollination, but the hard-working domestic bees are not nearly as adept at the task as their wild native kin.
A honeybee seems slightly overwhelmed by large grains of sticky pumpkin pollen (Photograph ©2007 John Kimbler)
October 1, 2014 in Color , Hymenoptera | Tags: ant , colorful , comments , female , Ferrebeekeeper , hairy , painful , reader , sting , top , velvet , wasp | by Wayne | Leave a comment
It’s weird down there at ground level. We humans go around building Dairy Queens, discarding old credit cards, and prospecting for fossil fuels when beneath us, at grass level, strange alien life forms share our world all but unbeknownst to us. The fourth top post of all time illustrates this fact by featuring a tiny animal which is simultaneously endearing and frightening. The velvet ant is not an ant at all—it is a wasp from the family Mutillidae (which has more than 3000 species worldwide). Mutillidae wasps are furry and colorful—like cute little Jim Henson puppets with extra eyes—but they pack a ferocious wallop in their stingers. Female velvet ants are rated a ferocious 3.0 out of 4 on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index (a subjective scale which quantifies the agony caused by the stings from Hymenopterans). Male ants have no sting although they do have wings and thus look more wasplike.
Panda Ant – (Mutillidae) photo from rikiblundell
The velvet ant post is notable for being the most-commented on Ferrebeekeeper post of all time. Nearly 70 readers have chimed in with anecdotes about running across the furry little bugs. They seem to be quite prolific in the American South and Southwest (goodness help us). Some of the comments were quite amazing. Adam Riley told us about a terrible childhood experience writing, “I was 6 or 7 years old, playing in the sand of our driveway in S.E. Alabama, when I encountered a velvet ant. I tried to smash it with my hand to painful consequences. Aside from breaking my arm, that is still the most memorable pain I’ve experienced to date. The ‘cow ant,’ as my mom referred to it, was fairly indestructible; trying to crush one was like trying to crush a pebble.”
Unknown female Mutillidae wasp (photo by jaiprox)
Reader Erica captured one and then became trapped in a riding-the-tiger type predicament. She wrote, “I was stung by one on a hiking trip and caught it in a bottle just in case it was poisonous. I have made a little habit for her and put a little drip of sugar water. I don’t want to release her in the city nor do I have the heart to kill such a beautiful exotic creature.”
Perhaps most dramatically of all, Kathy became involved in a protracted battle with a velvet ant. Industrial poisons and specialized weapons were barely sufficient to grant her (eventual) victory. Her story reads like Sci-Fi horror: “They are in my yard in Ohio…actually took video of it after I had hit it four times with fly swatter and sprayed it two times with wasp spray it still lived for the next day just kept curling its body and jabbing its stinger out which reached over its head, freaked me out…….! Hope my kids don’t get stung playing outside.”
Yeesh! Be careful out there people! And keep commenting and writing your stories. I have made a resolution to respond more to comments and to post quotations from the best ones!
July 17, 2014 in Color , Hymenoptera | Tags: Chrysis ignita , cuckoo , iridescent , prasitoid , pretty , purple , ruby-tailed , shiny , wasp | by Wayne | 2 comments
Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita) by Frupus
Ah glorious summer is here, a time for reflection and relaxation when a person can kick back and…think about really beautifully colored parasitoid wasps . This is the ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita) which lives in Western Europe and Great Britain. Although the wasp has a long stinger, it has no sting, so people who are afraid of bees and hornets can stop shuddering and enjoy the lovely iridescent blue-greens and purples of this jaunty little wasp. When the ruby-tailed Wasp is feeling alarmed, frightened, or just plain overwhelmed by modern life, it can curl into a protective ball. Although these wasps are very pretty, their behavior is less than beautiful–for they are a sort of cuckoo wasp. They find the nest of their hosts (ruby tailed wasps parasitize masonry bees) and lay their own eggs among the eggs of their victims. The different clutches of eggs hatch at the same time and the wasp larvae devour the bee larvae before morphing into adult insects. So, like nature itself, the ruby-tailed wasp is simultaneously beautiful and horrifying.
Now I sort of want to curl into a ball too…
July 3, 2014 in China , Color , Crowns , Farm , Fowl , Gardens , Hymenoptera , Mammals , Mascots , Mollusca , Opinion , Serpents , Space , Trees | Tags: celebration , day , fireworks , Fourth of July , Independence , United States | by Wayne | Leave a comment
Happy Birthday to the United States of America!
In past years we have celebrated Independence Day with an historic picture gallery , possible national animals , and an essay concerning the lackluster national mascot, Uncle Sam . This year, let’s return to the basics: recreational explosives, or, as they are more commonly called “fireworks”. Blowing things up artistically in the sky has been the preferred method of celebrating this nation’s birthday since the 18th century.
Fireworks were first made in China, but today they are almost entirely manufactured in, um, China. As such, Chinese symbols and names are a big part of fireworks. This is lucky for ferrebeekeeper since snakes, poultry, bees, wasps, flowers, and badass mammals like tigers, cats, and wolves are mainstay names for mass produced fireworks.
I live in Brooklyn, and I can’t buy fireworks (much less light them off). Nevertheless the best part of fireworks is looking at the packages and fantasizing about the awesomeness which is just a spark away. Here is a gallery of firework packages which fit in Ferrebeekeeper’s topics array. Bees and birds are the best represented since not only do they fly but they are also beautiful and dazzling. I especially like the egg-laying hens which shoot exploding “eggs” out of their tail feathers. Unsurprisingly there are plenty of flowers, snakes, tigers, and hissing cats, but I was surprised to find pine trees, crowns, and octopus fireworks. Naturally outer space was featured, yet sadly there were no fireworks named for gods of the underworld (although I did find some “banshees”, which almost count).
Wow! I’m sorry we can’t wait for dusk and light these all off, but local laws prohibit that (as does the nature of reality). Enjoy the colorful exploding anemones in the sky at your local show and have a lovely weekend of feasting and drinking with your family and friends (and, for my international readers, I guess just keep savoring the world cup…your own national fireworks celebrations should be just around the corner). Fireworks remind everyone that life is brief and it isn’t safe, but it is beautiful and amazing!
Huzzah!
June 16, 2014 in Farm , History , Hymenoptera | Tags: Abundance , Agriculture , allegories , bees , bills , cents , Ceres , confederate , hornets , money , North Carolina , worthless | by Wayne | 2 comments
My roommate and I were talking about the history of the United States and the subject of times when states printed their own money came up. One of these times was during the era from 1777 to 1789 when the new nation was governed by the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (the not-very-successful precursor to the constitution which left the new states plunged in debt and squabbling with each other). Another time when the states printed their own money was during the civil war when the southern states each printed wads of increasingly useless paper money to hold up the faltering southern economy. Sadly I could not find any pretty samples of the former online, but I did discover some images of North Carolina paper money from the Civil War.
The notes are surprisingly lovely with Roman and agrarian symbolism and hand-written copperpoint calligraphy. A the top of this post is a ten-cent note (coins were expensive to make and metals were needed for the war—although soon rampant inflation did away with sub-dollar bills). The hornet’s nest symbolizes anti-Union defiance and military puissance. The second note down is a seventy-five cent note which features the allegorical figure of commerce surrounded by hives of industrious bees which represent prosperity and fruitful labor. Thhe note below is a twenty-five cent note which features a very Roman looking (and bare-breasted!) imager of the goddess Ceres, the kind mother of agriculture—which was the root and mainstay of the southern economy. Such money became worthless even before the war was lost: money printed with hymenopteran insects and naked ladies must have seemed like a good idea, but apparently it did not hold up the same way as bills with dead presidents and creepy Masonic images!
May 29, 2014 in Art , History , Hymenoptera , Opinion | Tags: ant , ants , Escher , futility , hive , infinity , lithograph , M.C. , metaphor , occupied , prints , Symbol , woodcut , World War II | by Wayne | Leave a comment
Ant (M.C. Escher, 1943, Lithograph)
Here are two beautiful prints of ants by the great Dutch artist M.C. Escher. In art, ants are frequently metaphors for over ripeness, rottenness or ruin (think of Dali’s ants). Yet in Escher’s works they are something else entirely. The first print, a lithograph from the grim year 1943, shows a single ant. An ant alone hardly seems to exit—they are pieces of a larger superorganism. Yet here we have one of the creatures all by herself. How lovely and delicate she is: look at her crimped antennae and graceful segmented legs. Yet the ant’s head is down, and she has a slightly forlorn cast—as though she is about to be crushed. The print was made at a time when the nations of the world organized themselves into vast battling hives and individual humans hardly seemed to exist any more than individual ants. Working in the occupied Netherlands, the comparison could hardly have escaped the artist.
Möbius Strip II (M.C. Escher, 1963, Woodcut)
The second print is a woodcut from 1963. A line of red ants march stolidly along a Möbius strip. Because the strip they are on is non-orientable, their little universe has only one endless side. The insects are literally traveling forever. Is this print a tableau of futility or a metaphor for the infinite? The question is about more than just the microcosm the ants are trapped within.
May 22, 2014 in Hymenoptera | Tags: ants , dreamtime , engorged , genera , hives , honeypot , hunter-gatherer , living , storage , underground | by Wayne | 7 comments
Like bee hives, ant colonies have all sorts of specialized ants. Soldier ants with mighty mandibles guard the hive. The queen ant becomes a gargantuan reproductive machine and pumps out an endless swarm of underlings. Drone ants develop wings to fly high into the air to mate with fledgling queens. Yet the strangest of all ant jobs (to my mind at least) is held by honeypot ants.
Honeypot ant repletes (Camponotus inflatus) hanging from the roof a hive tunnel
Honeypot ants are found in six or seven genera of seasonal ants located in Africa, Australia, Melanesia, and North America. The ants function as living granaries/reservoirs. They find an underground location deep in the hive and use their own bodies as storehouses to protect the hive from drought and famine. As soon as they develop from larvae, the specialized honeypot ants transform into grapelike spheroids capable of ballooning to many time the size of normal ants. During the rainy season, when food is plentiful, worker ants stuff the honeypot ants to the edge of bursting with prey and provender. These living warehouses can store liquids, body fat, and water for long periods in their grotesquely distended abdomens. When the dry season hits and resources become scarce, worker ants stroke the antennae of the honeypot ants and the latter to disgorge their precious stores of liquids and nutrients.
image credit: lonelyplanetimages.com
Living deep underground, honeypot ants are seldom seen by people. They were first documented in 1881 by Henry Christopher McCook (a civil war chaplain, polymath, and entomological pioneer). Yet hunter gatherers have known of them since time immemorial. The strange grapelike ants are regarded as a unique delicacy to Australia’s indigenous people who have worked the strange bulbous ants into stories of the dreamtime—the ancient magical creation of the world. Of course the world is not finished and the dreamtime is still ongoing and honeypot ants are out there, engorged in the darkness, doing their part. We just never see them.
April 15, 2014 in Humor , Hymenoptera , Literature | Tags: bee , Cupid , Edmund , Elizabethan , English , erotic , Love , poem , poetry , Spenser , Venus | by Wayne | Leave a comment
Edmund Spenser, oil painting by an unknown artist; in the collection of Pembroke College, Cambridge, England.
April is poetry month! For years I have shared my home and/or my heart with various poets—so I was going to feature some colorful and enigmatic contemporary poetry. Unfortunately none of my (living) poet friends has yet come to my aid with any relevant works. It therefore looks like I am going to have to rely on one of the great canonical poets of classical English literature to celebrate the beautiful discipline of poetry.
I wanted to feature a poem which combined three aspects: 1) the poem should have classical Greco-Roman flair; 2) it should be about bees or crowns (or maybe both); and 3) it should be really suggestive (because, let’s face it, we are talking about poetry—if you are reading this, you are old enough for adult things). The poem I found is actually a series of connected short poems by the great Edmund Spenser who was born around 1552 and died in 1599. Spenser is best known for The Faerie Queen, one of the most important and beautiful epic poems in English, but the work I selected by him has no formal title. I found a scholarly note which reads “These four short poems immediately follow Spenser’s “Amoretti” and precede his “Epithalamion”. Nothing seems known of their history. Editors have usually styled them “Poem I. Poem II.” &c. but they have no titles in any of the old impressions. We so continue them.”
The lack of title or history is appropriate. The work seems self-explanatory—an allegory concerning the pain of love written in the vein of both Catullus and Chaucer. However just as Roman and Medieval poetry had unsettling edges and disconcerting depths, so to does Spenser’s poem about Cupid and the bee.
Detail of “Cupid Complaining to Venus” (Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1526, oil on canvas)
IN youth before I waxed old.
The blynd boy Venus baby,
For want of cunning made me bold,
In bitter byue to grope for honny.
But when he saw me stung and cry,
He tooke his wings and away did fly.
As Diane hunted on a day,
She chaunst to come where Cupid lay,
his quiuer by his head:
One of his shafts she stole away,
And one of hers did close conuay,
into the others stead:
With that loue wounded my loues hart,
but Diane beasts with Cupids dart.
I Saw in secret to my Dame,
How little Cupid humbly came:
and sayd to her All hayle my mother.
But when he saw me laugh, for shame:
His face with bashfull blood did flame,
not knowing Venus from the other,
Then neuer blush Cupid (quoth I)
for many haue err’d in this beauty.
VPon a day as loue lay sweetly slumbring,
all in his mothers lap:
A gentle Bee with his loud trumpet murm’ring,
about him flew by hap.
Whereof when he was wakened with the noyse,
and saw the beast so small:
Whats this (quoth he) that giues so great a voyce,
that wakens men withall.
In angry wize he flyes about,
and threatens all with corage stout.
TO whom his mother closely smiling sayd,
twixt earnest and twixt game:
See thou thy selfe likewise art lyttle made,
if thou regard the same.
And yet thou suffrest neyther gods in sky,
nor men in earth to rest:
But when thou art disposed cruelly,
theyr sleepe thou doost molest.
Then eyther change thy cruelty,
or giue lyke leaue vnto the fly.
NAthlesse the cruell boy not so content,
would needs the fly pursue:
And in his hand with heedlesse hardiment,
him caught for to subdue.
But when on it he hasty hand did lay,
the Bee him stung therefore:
Now out alasse (he cryde) and welaway,
I wounded am full sore:
The fly that I so much did scorne,
hath hurt me with his little horne.
VNto his mother straight he weeping came,
and of his griefe complayned:
Who could not chose but laugh at his fond game,
though sad to see him pained.
Think now (quod she) my sonne how great the smart
of those whom thou dost wound:
Full many thou hast pricked to the hart,
that pitty neuer found:
Therefore henceforth some pitty take,
when thou doest spoyle of louers make.
SHe tooke him streight full pitiously lamenting,
and wrapt him in her smock:
She wrapt him softly, all the while repenting,
that he the fly did mock.
She drest his wound and it embaulmed wel
with salue of soueraigne might:
And then she bath’d him in a dainty well
the well of deare delight.
Who would not oft be stung as this,
to be so bath’d in Venus blis.
THe wanton boy was shortly wel recured,
of that his malady:
But he soone after fresh againe enured,
his former cruelty.
And since that time he wounded hath my selfe
with his sharpe dart of loue:
And now forgets the cruell carelesse elfe,
his mothers heast to proue.
So now I languish till he please,
my pining anguish to appease.
| i don't know |
In which year was the first Olympic Commemorative Coin minted? | Olympic Coins | Coin Update
Olympic Coins
By Dennis Hengeveld 3 Comments
With the 2012 Summer Olympics underway, it is a good time to look back at this famous sporting event in a numismatic context. With its history in ancient Greece, known for their elaborate coinage designs, it should not come as a surprise that the first coins with Olympic themes (or sporting themes, for that matter) originate from there. Commemorative coinage, in fact, finds its roots with ancient coinage and what better to commemorate than the most famous sporting event known to man. What we have thus are a plethora of Greek coins with commemorative themes such as chariot racing and the awards given to the winners of the sporting events.
Our focus this time however, will be on the modern Olympic Games and their commemorative coinage. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, a revival of the ancient games held in the same country. Athens was chosen unanimously as the host city, appropriate since it was the birth grounds of the Olympics (at first it was considered to hold all future Olympics in Athens, but this plan was later abandoned in favor of rotating host countries and cities). Commemorative coinage for these modern Olympics, however, had to wait. First of all the concept of commemorative coinage in modern times was relatively new; even though the Ancients had released many commemorative coins it had become somewhat of a rarity, with the next two millennia only rarely seeing commemorative coins issued, and if they were, they were mostly released for general circulation (unlike most modern commemoratives, which are released for collectors and generally sold at a premium over face value).
Image: Wikidot.com
Even though commemorative stamps were issued from the start of the modern Olympics (quite frankly because stamp collecting was popular at the time and commemorative stamps were well accepted by the collecting community) the first modern commemorative coin with an Olympic theme would not be issued until after the Second World War. The Olympics were the 15th; held in Helsinki, Finland, it was the second Summer Olympics held after the war. Unprecedented, the Finnish Mint decided to release a 500 Markkaa coin in both 1951 and 1952. The coins depicted a relatively simple design with a wreath and value on one side and the Olympic rings and the date on the other side, as well as the legend “OLYMPIA XV”. Struck in silver, the coins were meant for general circulation, and were available for the public at face value or straight out of circulation. Unlike later issues, no Proof coins were specifically struck for collectors, although most of the 1951 coins were picked up by collectors, who soon noticed the low mintage of only 19,000 coins. The 1952 had a much higher mintage of 586,000 coins.
Image: Coinfactswiki.com
The coin collecting community had to wait another twelve years before the next Olympic coins were released. This time, the Japanese Mint released two silver coins (100 yen and 1000 yen coins in circulation strike format) to commemorate the Summer Olympics held in Tokyo during the summer of 1964. The coins once again featured the Olympic rings. That same year another Olympics coin was released, this time to commemorate the ninth Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria. The Winter Olympics were held since 1924 (with the exception of the war years), and had grown in popularity since inception, as winter sports in general had grown in popularity over the years. The Austrian Mint used the opportunity to release the first Winter Olympics coin, a silver 50 schilling piece struck in both circulation strike as well as Proof format. The coin depicted a ski jumper on the obverse with the Alps in the background. This was the first time that a specific sport was depicted on a coin commemorating the modern Olympics.
At first, the Winter Olympics did not see commemorative coins issued as often as the Summer Olympics, which had commemoratives released every year from the 1964 Olympics on, but the Winter Olympics soon caught on. Over the years the number of issues released for both has grown exponentially, as have all modern commemorative issues. The so-called “exploit” of collectors with a large number of commemorative issues released really took off with the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, West-Germany. Released in six different series and designs between 1970 and 1972, a total of twelve 10 DM pieces were released, both in uncirculated and Proof quality. The uncirculated pieces remained available at face value but a 5 DM premium was charged to collectors for the Proof versions.
If twelve coins seemed like a lot, the Canadian Olympic coin program for the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal must have seemed enormous. The Canadian Mint, between 1973 and 1976 released a total of 28 different designs in seven series (each with a different theme, ranging from Canadian sports to Olympic souvenirs). All were struck in sterling silver (.925 fine), in both uncirculated and proof format, plus two $100 gold coins (one uncirculated coin in 14K and one Proof in 22K) for a total of 58 different coins. It would be the start of many Olympic coin issues that have been released to this date. Most Olympics have several dozen different issues produced.
As for the United States, the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles only had six commemorative released, but the United States Mint came back in 1996 with a series of 32 different commemorative gold and silver coins. Many of these were unpopular at first (most likely because of the cost of the whole program) but are now considered to be low-mintage modern commemoratives.
There are several ways of collecting Olympic coins. A complete set of Olympics coins released by the nations that organized the Olympics in any given year is almost impossible thanks to the large number of issues and very expensive issues such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics 100,000 Yuan coin, having a mintage of only 29 pieces (of which only one was allocated for the American market) and struck in pure gold with a total weight of 10 kg (321.17 ounces, having an intrinsic gold value of approximately half a million dollars). With rising prices of bullion such issues such as that have been totally out of reach except for the wealthiest collectors, and even than they are rarely available.
The collector also has to remember that in addition to the pieces struck by the organizing nations many countries now release NCLT (non-circulating legal tender) issues to commemorate the Olympic Games (and many other subjects). Not only the United States (which has released commemorative Olympic coins on a number of occasions since the 1980s) but also many small island nations and microstates are notorious in this practice, having found a way to generate potential income by releasing Olympic coins even if that particular nation is not even participating in the Olympic Games. While these coins are collectible in their own right, it is up to the collector whether or not to include them in a collection of Olympic commemorative coins.
That said, Olympic coinage still provides plenty of opportunities even for the collector on a limited budget, as there are many ways to fill in such a collection. One could assemble a “type” set of one coin from each Olympics game since 1964, a set which has a modest amount of coins, and every Olympic game usually has several affordable issues released. Another option is to collect coins commemorating a single sport, such as athletics, fencing or whatever suits you. Collecting coins in uncirculated or Proof condition only is also an option, as are collecting coins only struck in one metal like silver, gold or base-metal. The possibilities, as is often the case with world coins , are basically endless.
| one thousand nine hundred and fifty one |
What is the name of the traditional Japanese hand-concealed weapon, often in the form of a star with projecting blades or points? | Olympic Coins | Coin Update
Olympic Coins
By Dennis Hengeveld 3 Comments
With the 2012 Summer Olympics underway, it is a good time to look back at this famous sporting event in a numismatic context. With its history in ancient Greece, known for their elaborate coinage designs, it should not come as a surprise that the first coins with Olympic themes (or sporting themes, for that matter) originate from there. Commemorative coinage, in fact, finds its roots with ancient coinage and what better to commemorate than the most famous sporting event known to man. What we have thus are a plethora of Greek coins with commemorative themes such as chariot racing and the awards given to the winners of the sporting events.
Our focus this time however, will be on the modern Olympic Games and their commemorative coinage. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, a revival of the ancient games held in the same country. Athens was chosen unanimously as the host city, appropriate since it was the birth grounds of the Olympics (at first it was considered to hold all future Olympics in Athens, but this plan was later abandoned in favor of rotating host countries and cities). Commemorative coinage for these modern Olympics, however, had to wait. First of all the concept of commemorative coinage in modern times was relatively new; even though the Ancients had released many commemorative coins it had become somewhat of a rarity, with the next two millennia only rarely seeing commemorative coins issued, and if they were, they were mostly released for general circulation (unlike most modern commemoratives, which are released for collectors and generally sold at a premium over face value).
Image: Wikidot.com
Even though commemorative stamps were issued from the start of the modern Olympics (quite frankly because stamp collecting was popular at the time and commemorative stamps were well accepted by the collecting community) the first modern commemorative coin with an Olympic theme would not be issued until after the Second World War. The Olympics were the 15th; held in Helsinki, Finland, it was the second Summer Olympics held after the war. Unprecedented, the Finnish Mint decided to release a 500 Markkaa coin in both 1951 and 1952. The coins depicted a relatively simple design with a wreath and value on one side and the Olympic rings and the date on the other side, as well as the legend “OLYMPIA XV”. Struck in silver, the coins were meant for general circulation, and were available for the public at face value or straight out of circulation. Unlike later issues, no Proof coins were specifically struck for collectors, although most of the 1951 coins were picked up by collectors, who soon noticed the low mintage of only 19,000 coins. The 1952 had a much higher mintage of 586,000 coins.
Image: Coinfactswiki.com
The coin collecting community had to wait another twelve years before the next Olympic coins were released. This time, the Japanese Mint released two silver coins (100 yen and 1000 yen coins in circulation strike format) to commemorate the Summer Olympics held in Tokyo during the summer of 1964. The coins once again featured the Olympic rings. That same year another Olympics coin was released, this time to commemorate the ninth Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria. The Winter Olympics were held since 1924 (with the exception of the war years), and had grown in popularity since inception, as winter sports in general had grown in popularity over the years. The Austrian Mint used the opportunity to release the first Winter Olympics coin, a silver 50 schilling piece struck in both circulation strike as well as Proof format. The coin depicted a ski jumper on the obverse with the Alps in the background. This was the first time that a specific sport was depicted on a coin commemorating the modern Olympics.
At first, the Winter Olympics did not see commemorative coins issued as often as the Summer Olympics, which had commemoratives released every year from the 1964 Olympics on, but the Winter Olympics soon caught on. Over the years the number of issues released for both has grown exponentially, as have all modern commemorative issues. The so-called “exploit” of collectors with a large number of commemorative issues released really took off with the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, West-Germany. Released in six different series and designs between 1970 and 1972, a total of twelve 10 DM pieces were released, both in uncirculated and Proof quality. The uncirculated pieces remained available at face value but a 5 DM premium was charged to collectors for the Proof versions.
If twelve coins seemed like a lot, the Canadian Olympic coin program for the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal must have seemed enormous. The Canadian Mint, between 1973 and 1976 released a total of 28 different designs in seven series (each with a different theme, ranging from Canadian sports to Olympic souvenirs). All were struck in sterling silver (.925 fine), in both uncirculated and proof format, plus two $100 gold coins (one uncirculated coin in 14K and one Proof in 22K) for a total of 58 different coins. It would be the start of many Olympic coin issues that have been released to this date. Most Olympics have several dozen different issues produced.
As for the United States, the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles only had six commemorative released, but the United States Mint came back in 1996 with a series of 32 different commemorative gold and silver coins. Many of these were unpopular at first (most likely because of the cost of the whole program) but are now considered to be low-mintage modern commemoratives.
There are several ways of collecting Olympic coins. A complete set of Olympics coins released by the nations that organized the Olympics in any given year is almost impossible thanks to the large number of issues and very expensive issues such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics 100,000 Yuan coin, having a mintage of only 29 pieces (of which only one was allocated for the American market) and struck in pure gold with a total weight of 10 kg (321.17 ounces, having an intrinsic gold value of approximately half a million dollars). With rising prices of bullion such issues such as that have been totally out of reach except for the wealthiest collectors, and even than they are rarely available.
The collector also has to remember that in addition to the pieces struck by the organizing nations many countries now release NCLT (non-circulating legal tender) issues to commemorate the Olympic Games (and many other subjects). Not only the United States (which has released commemorative Olympic coins on a number of occasions since the 1980s) but also many small island nations and microstates are notorious in this practice, having found a way to generate potential income by releasing Olympic coins even if that particular nation is not even participating in the Olympic Games. While these coins are collectible in their own right, it is up to the collector whether or not to include them in a collection of Olympic commemorative coins.
That said, Olympic coinage still provides plenty of opportunities even for the collector on a limited budget, as there are many ways to fill in such a collection. One could assemble a “type” set of one coin from each Olympics game since 1964, a set which has a modest amount of coins, and every Olympic game usually has several affordable issues released. Another option is to collect coins commemorating a single sport, such as athletics, fencing or whatever suits you. Collecting coins in uncirculated or Proof condition only is also an option, as are collecting coins only struck in one metal like silver, gold or base-metal. The possibilities, as is often the case with world coins , are basically endless.
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In 1407, Dick Whittington was simultaneously Lord Mayor of London and Mayor of which French town? | Calais, the last English possession in Europe
What happened on this day in history.
JANUARY 7th
On this day in history in 1558, Calais, the last English possession in Europe, was lost.
Calais had been an English possession since the time of Edward III who took the city after an eleven-month siege. After he captured the city, the king ordered the citizens to be massacred. He was, however persuaded to spare the citizens and accepted a token of six men, provided they would volunteer for execution. Six courageous volunteers duly appeared, with ropes around their necks, in accordance with the king�s demand. When Edward�s queen, Philippa, saw the sight, she was moved with pity and begged Edward to relent, which he duly did. The event was commemorated in the Nineteenth Century by the sculptor, Rodin, with his great work, The Burghers of Calais.
Although he had spared the citizens� lives, Edward evacuated the city and populated it with English people. Calais was used as a �staple� that is a warehousing town for the distribution of English wool exports and a means of collecting taxes levied on wool. Calais was thought of as part of England and even sent representatives to the House of Commons. Over one of the gates of Calais were recorded these words:
�Then shalle the frenchmen Calias winne
When iron and leade lyke corke shall swimme�.
In 1407, Dick Whittington was simultaneously Lord Mayor of London and Mayor of Calais.
During the Hundred Years War , England gained and lost numerous possessions in France until they were finally beaten back and only held Calais.
During the reign of Mary I, the garrison was weakened and security relaxed as France was not, at that time, thought to be hostile. This was a mistake for the French under Francis, Duke of Guise, took advantage of English negligence and took the city. When the news of the loss reached Queen Mary, she exclaimed �When I am dead and opened, you will find Calais written on my heart�.
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History
Early history
Although the early history of habitation in the area is limited, the Romans called the settlement Caletum. Julius Caesar mustered 800 to 1,000 sailing boats, five legions and some 2,000 horses at Calais due to its strategic position to attack Britannia . [1] At some time prior to the 10th century it would have been a fishing village on a sandy beach backed by pebbles and a creek. [2] With a natural harbour [3] located at the western edge of the early medieval estuary of the River Aa . As the pebble and sand ridge extended eastward from Calais, the haven behind it developed into fen , as the estuary progressively filled with silt and peat. Subsequently, canals were cut between Saint-Omer , the trading centre formerly at the head of the estuary, and three places to the west, centre and east on the newly formed coast: respectively Calais, Gravelines and Dunkirk . [4] Calais was improved by the Count of Flanders in 997 and fortified by the Count of Boulogne in 1224. [1] [3]
The first document mentioning the existence of this community is the town charter granted by Mathieu d'Alsace in 1181 to Gerard de Guelders , Count of Boulogne ; Calais thus became part of the county of Boulogne. [1] [5] In 1189, Richard the Lionheart is documented to have landed at Calais on his journey to the Third Crusade . [1] In medieval times, the settlement was inhabited by people who spoke Dutch, and who called it Kales.[ citation needed ] It is mentioned in Welsh documents as Caled, in Irish documents as Calad and in Breton documents as Kaled.[ citation needed ]
Medieval history
The Burghers of Calais , by Rodin, with the Hôtel de Ville behind.
The English needed a foothold on the continent to serve as a trading centre, mainly for exports of English wool to further European destinations and to compete with the marts of the low-countries, through which much of this trade had formerly been conducted. [6] It was largely due to French interference in this vital trade, that the campaign was fought, which culminated in the Battle of Crécy which commenced on 4 September 1346. [7] The town was most conveniently situated as the closest landing point from England, and adjacent to the low-country marts. Immediately after the English victory at Crécy, the English army, under King Edward III , marched north and, during 1347, besieged the town for eleven months, after which it was recaptured. [8] Edward's campaign had also a dynastic rationale, as, following the death of his uncle, Charles IV of France in 1328, Edward saw himself as the Capetian heir to the Kingdom of France, but the French chose to follow an all-male line of descent from his great grandfather and the House of Valois . Angered, Edward demanded reprisals against the town's citizens for holding out for so long and ordered that the town's population be killed en masse. He agreed, however, to spare them, on condition that six of the principal citizens would come to him, bareheaded and barefooted and with ropes around their necks, and give themselves up to death. [9] On their arrival he ordered their execution, but pardoned them when his queen, Philippa of Hainault , begged him to spare their lives. [10] [11] This event is commemorated in The Burghers of Calais (Les Bourgeois de Calais), one of the most famous sculptures by Auguste Rodin , erected in the city in 1895. [12] Though sparing the lives of the delegation members, King Edward drove out most of the French inhabitants, and settled the town with English, so that it might serve as a gateway to France. The municipal charter of Calais, previously granted by the Countess of Artois , was reconfirmed by Edward that year (1347). [13]
File:VlaanderenArtesie1477.png
Map showing the situation of 1477, with Calais, the English Pale and neighbouring counties
In 1360 the Treaty of Brétigny assigned Guînes , Marck and Calais—collectively the " Pale of Calais "—to English rule in perpetuity, but this assignment was informally and only partially implemented. [6] On 9 February 1363 the town was made a staple port . [14] It had by 1372 become a parliamentary borough sending burgesses to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England . [15] It remained part of the Diocese of Thérouanne from 1379, keeping an ecclesiastical tie with France. [16]
The town came to be called the "brightest jewel in the English crown" owing to its great importance as the gateway for the tin , lead , cloth and wool trades (or "staples"). [17] Its customs revenues amounted at times to a third of the English government's revenue, with wool being the most important element by far. Of its population of about 12,000 people, as many as 5,400 were recorded as having been connected with the wool trade. The governorship or Captaincy of Calais was a lucrative and highly prized public office; the famous Dick Whittington was simultaneously Lord Mayor of the City of London and Mayor of the Staple in 1407. [18]
File:MarchesOfCalaisTempHenryVIII.jpg
The Marches of Calais temp. Henry VIII. (Top: south, bottom:north): "Cales Market" within citadel, shown at bottom, top " Gyenes Castel ", bottom left " Graveling ", bottom right " Sand Gat "
Calais was regarded for many years as being an integral part of Kingdom of England , with its representatives sitting in the English Parliament . This was, however, at odds with reality. The continued English hold on Calais depended on expensively maintained fortifications, as the town lacked any natural defences. Maintaining Calais was a costly business that was frequently tested by the forces of France and the Duchy of Burgundy , with the Franco-Burgundian border running nearby. [19] The British historian Geoffrey Elton once remarked "Calais—expensive and useless—was better lost than kept". [20] The duration of the English hold over Calais was, to a large extent, the result of the feud between Burgundy and France, under which both sides coveted the town, but preferred to see it in the hands of the English rather than their domestic rivals. The stalemate was broken by the victory of the French crown over Burgundy following Joan of Arc 's final battle in the Siege of Compiègne in 1430, and the later incorporation of the duchy into France. [21]
16th century
In 1532, Henry VIII visited Calais and his men calculated that the town had about 2400 beds and stabling to keep some 2000 horses. [22] In September 1552, the English adventurer Thomas Stukley , who had been for some time in the French service, betrayed to the authorities in London some French plans for the capture of Calais, to be followed by a descent upon England. [23] Stukley himself might have been the author of these plans. However, the reprieve for English rule in Calais was momentary.
Six years later, on 7 January 1558, the French under Francis, Duke of Guise took advantage of a weakened garrison and decayed fortifications to retake Calais. [24] When the French attacked, they were able to surprise the English at the critical strongpoint of Fort Nieulay and the sluice gates, which could have flooded the attackers, remained unopened. [25] The loss was regarded by Queen Mary I of England as a dreadful misfortune. When she heard the news, she reportedly said, "When I am dead and opened, you shall find ' Philip ' [her husband] and 'Calais' lying in my heart." [26] The region around Calais, then-known as the Calaisis , was renamed the Pays Reconquis ("Reconquered Country") in commemoration of its recovery by the French. [27] Use of the term is reminiscent of the Spanish Reconquista , with which the French were certainly familiar—and, since it occurred in the context of a war with Spain ( Philip II of Spain was at the time Queen Mary's consort), might have been intended as a deliberate snub. [28] After that time the Dutch-speaking population was forced to speak French.
The town was captured by the Spanish on 24 April 1596 in an invasion mounted from the nearby Spanish Netherlands by Archduke Albert of Austria , but it was returned to France under the Treaty of Vervins in May 1598. [29] [30]
19th century to World War II
File:Old bunkers at Calais 1 (Piotr Kuczynski).jpg
World War II bunkers at Calais
Calais was also on the front lines of France's conflict with the United Kingdom during the Napoleonic Wars . In 1805, it hosted part of Napoleon's army and invasion fleet for several months before his aborted invasion of Britain . [31] From October to December 1818, the British army used Calais as their departing port to return home after occupying post-Waterloo France. General Murray appointed Sir Manley Power to oversee the evacuation of British troops from France. Cordial relations had been restored by that time and on 3 December the mayor of Calais wrote a letter to Power to express thanks for his "considerate treatment of the French and of the town of Calais during the embarkation." [32]
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-383-0337-19, Frankreich, Calais, zerstörte Fahrzeuge.jpg
Debris from the Siege of Calais
In the 1930s, Calais was known as a socialist stronghold. [33] The British returned to Calais again during World War I ; it was near the front lines in Flanders , and a key port for the supply of arms and reinforcements to the Western Front . [34] The town was virtually razed to the ground during World War II . [35] In May 1940, it was a key objective of the invading German forces and became the scene of a last-ditch defence—the Siege of Calais —which diverted a sizable amount of German forces for several days immediately prior to the Battle of Dunkirk . 3,000 British and 800 French troops, assisted by Royal Navy warships, held out from 22 to 27 May 1940 against the 10th Panzer Division . The town was flattened by artillery and precision dive bombing and only 30 of the 3800-strong defending force were evacuated before the town fell. Their sacrifice may have helped Operation Dynamo , the evacuation of Allied forces at Dunkirk, as 10th Panzer would certainly have been involved on the Dunkirk perimeter had it not been busy at Calais. [36] Between 26 May and 4 June 1940, some 330,000 Allied troops escaped from the Germans at Dunkirk. [37]
During the ensuing German occupation, it became the command post for German forces in the Pas-de-Calais/Flanders region and was very heavily fortified, as it was generally believed by the Germans that the Allies would invade at that point. [38] It was also used as a launch site for V1 flying bombs and for much of the war, the Germans used the region as the site for railway guns used to bombard the south-eastern corner of England. In 1943 they built massive bunkers along the coast in preparation for launching missiles on the southeast of England. [39] Despite heavy preparations for defence against an amphibious assault, the Allied invasion took place well to the west in Normandy on D-Day . Calais was very heavily bombed and shelled in a successful effort to disrupt German communications and persuade them that the Allies would target the Pas-de-Calais for invasion (rather than Normandy). The town, by then largely in ruins, was liberated by General Daniel Spry 's 3rd Canadian Infantry Division between 25 September and 1 October 1944. [40] On 27 February 1945 Calais suffered a last bombing raid—this time by British bombers who mistook the town for Dunkirk, which was at that time still occupied by German forces. [41] After the war there was little rebuilding of the historic city and most buildings were modern ones.
Recent history
Calais is currently home to around 1,000 illegal migrants, mostly looking to enter the UK avoiding the strict immigration controls at the port. Since 2011 the numbers of people attempting to enter the UK illegally from Calais increased year-on-year, the UK government reported in 2014. [42] [43] Many of the illegal migrants try to board lorries headed for the UK through this port. In one case, some men claiming to be refugees were able to sneak into a tanker lorry carrying chocolate. [44] Some 700–800 migrants, mostly Afghan, were camped in an area among the dunes near the port, locally called 'The Jungle', but this was destroyed by French authorities in a dawn raid on 22 September 2009. [45] The inhabitants were partly imprisoned at the nearby Centre de Rétention of Coquelles , but many more were taken to detention centres all over France before being released and making the long journey back to Calais by foot. After the closing of the camp, the French authorities have threatened to repatriate "sans-papiers" ("immigrés en situation irrégulière") to Afghanistan. [46]
Geography and climate
File:Côte d'Opale topographic map-fr.svg
Map of the Côte d'Opale
Calais is located on the Pas de Calais , which marks the boundary between the English Channel and North Sea and located at the opposite end of the Channel Tunnel , Script error: No such module "convert". from Dover . On a clear day the White cliffs of Dover can be viewed across the channel. [47] Aside from being an important port and boarding point between France and England, it is at the nucleus of many major railway and highway networks and connected by road to Arras , Lens , Béthune and St. Omer . Dunkirk is located about Script error: No such module "convert". by road to the east. [48] Calais is located Script error: No such module "convert". north by road from the French capital of Paris , roughly a 3-hour 15 minute journey. [48] The commune of Calais is bordered by the English channel to the north, Sangatte and Coquelles to the west, Coulogne to the south and Marck to the east. The core area of the city is divided into the Old Town area within the old city walls, and the younger suburbs of St. Pierre, which are connected by a boulevard.
Côte d'Opale is a cliff-lined section of coast that parallels the white cliffs on the British coast and is part of the same geological formation . It is known for its scenic cliffs such as Cape Blanc Nez and Cape Gris Nez and for its wide area of dunes. Many artists have been inspired by its landscapes, among them the composer Henri Dutilleux , the writers Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens , and the painters J. M. W. Turner , Carolus-Duran , Maurice Boitel and Eugène Boudin . It was the painter Édouard Lévêque who coined the name for this area in 1911 to describe the distinctive quality of its light. [49]
The climate is temperate oceanic in Calais. Temperature ranges are moderate and the winters are mild with unstable weather. It rains on average about Script error: No such module "convert". per year.
File:Calais pier.jpg
Pier and lighthouse on the Calais seafront
The city's proximity to England has made it a major port for centuries. It is the principal ferry crossing point between England and France, with the vast majority of Channel crossings being made between Dover and Calais. Companies operating from Calais include SeaFrance (currently in liquidation [56] ), DFDS Seaways , [57] and P&O Ferries . [58] The French end of the Channel Tunnel is situated in the vicinity of Calais, in Coquelles some Script error: No such module "convert". to the west of the town. Calais possesses direct rail links to Paris, Script error: No such module "convert". to the south. More than 10 million people visit Calais annually. [31]
From medieval times, English companies thrived in Calais. Calais was a particularly important centre in the production and trade of wool and cloth, which outweighed the costs of maintaining the town as part of England. In 1830 some 113 manufacturers were based in Calais and the St Pierre suburbs, the majority of which were English. [59] There are still two major lace factories in Calais with around 700 looms and 3000 employees. [59] The town exports in the early 20th century were lace, chemicals, paper, wines, especially champagne, spirits, hay, straw, wool, potatoes, woven goods, fruit, glass-ware, lace and metal-ware. [60] Principal imports in the early 20th century included cotton and silk goods, coal, iron and steel, petroleum, timber, raw wool, cotton yarn and cork. [60] During the five years 1901–1905 the average annual value of exports was £8,388,000 (£6,363,000 in the years 1896–1900), of imports £4,145,000 (£3,759,000 in 1896–1900). [60]
As a fishing port, Calais has several notable fishing markets including Les Délices de la Mer and Huîtrière Calaisenne on the Boulevard La Fayette, the latter of which is noted for its oysters , lobster and crabs from Brittany. The Emile Fournier et Fils market on the Rue Mouron sells mainly smoked fish including salmon , trout , herring and halibut . [61]
Mayors of Calais
Natacha Bouchart (16 March 2008–
Notable landmarks
File:Calais - Tour du Guet.jpg
The bustling Place d'Armes and the Tour de Guet in the background
Place d'Armes is one of the largest squares in the city of Calais, adjoins the watchtower, and during medieval times was once the heart of the city. During the English occupation (1347–1558), it became known as Market Square (place du Marché). Only at the end of English occupation did it take the name of Place d'Armes. After the reconquest of Calais in 1558 by Francis, Duke of Guise, Francis II gave Calais the right to hold a fair twice a year on the square, which still exists today, as well as a bustling Wednesday and Saturday market. [63]
Hôtel de Ville
The town centre, which has seen significant regeneration over the past decade, is dominated by its distinctive town hall (Hôtel de Ville) at Place du Soldat Inconnu. It was built in the Flemish Renaissance style between 1911 and 1925 to commemorate the unification of the cities of Calais and Saint Pierre in 1885. [64] A previous town hall had been erected in 1818. [65] One of the most elegant landmarks in the city, its ornate 74 metre (246 ft) high clock tower and belfry can be seen from out to sea and chimes throughout the day and has been protected by UNESCO since 2005 as part of a series of belfries across the region. [66] The building parts have also been listed as a series of historic monuments by government decree of 26 June 2003, including its roofs and belfry, main hall, glass roof, the staircase, corridor serving the first floor, the rooms on the first floor (including decoration): the wedding room, the VIP lounge, the lounge of the council and the cabinet room. The hall has stained glass windows and numerous paintings and exquisite decor. [64] It houses police offices. [33]
Église Notre-Dame
File:Calais - Eglise Notre-Dame.jpg
Église Notre-Dame
Église Notre-Dame is a cathedral which was originally built in the late 13th century and its tower was added in the late 14th or early 15th century. Like the town hall it is one of the city's most prominent landmarks. It was arguably the only church in the English perpendicular style in France. [67] Much of the current 1400 capacity church dates to 1631–1635. [67] It contains elements of Flemish, Gothic, Anglo-Norman and Tudor architecture. In 1691, an 1800 cubic metre cistern was added to the church under orders by Vauban . [68] The church is dedicated to the Virgin, and built in the form of a cross, consisting of a nave and four aisles— [69] The old grand altar dated to 1628 and was built from Carrara marble wrecked on the coast, during its transit from Genoa to Antwerp . It contained eighteen figures, the two standing on either side of the altar-piece—representing St. Louis and Charlemagne . [69] The organ—of a deep and mellow tone, and highly ornamented by figures in relief—was built at Canterbury sometime around 1700. The pulpit and reading-desk, richly sculptured in oak, is another well-executed piece of ecclesiastical workmanship from St. Omers . The altar-piece, the Assumption, was often attributed to Anthony van Dyck , though in reality it is by Van Sulden; whilst the painting over the side altar, believed to be by Peter Paul Rubens . [69] A high and strongly built wall, partaking more of the fortress than a cathedral in its aspect, flanks the building, and protects it from the street where formerly ran the old river, in its course through Calais to the sea. [69]
The square, massive Norman tower has three-arched belfry windows on each face, surmounted by corner turrets, and a conically-shaped tower of octagonal proportions, topped again by a short steeple. The tower was a main viewing point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790) which linked the Paris Observatory with the Royal Greenwich Observatory using trigonometry . Cross-channel sightings were made of signal lights at Dover Castle and Fairlight, East Sussex .
The church was assigned as a historic monument by decree of 10 September 1913, only to have its stained glass smashed during a Zeppelin bombardment on 15 January 1915, falling through the roof. [70] [71] General de Gaulle married Yvonne Vendroux on 6 April 1921 at the cathedral. [68] The building experienced extensive damage during World War II, and was partially rebuilt, although much of the old altar and furnishings were not replaced.
Towers
File:P1040491 tour du guet et phare Calais.JPG
Tour de Guet
The Tour du Guet (Watch Tower), situated in Calais Nord on the Places d'Armes, is one of the few surviving pre-war buildings. Dating from 1229, when Philip I, Count of Boulogne , built the fortifications of Calais, it is one of the oldest monuments of Calais, although the oldest remaining traces date to 1302. [72] It has a height of 35–39 metres (sources differ). An earthquake in 1580 split the tower in two, and at one time it threatened to collapse completely. [73] The tower was repaired in 1606, and then had the purpose of serving as a hall to accommodate the merchants of Calais. [73] It was damaged in 1658 when a young stable boy set fire to it, while it was temporarily being used as royal stables during a visit of King Louis XIV . [74] It was not repaired for some 30 years. In 1770, [38] a bell identical to the original bell of 1348 was cast. Due to its height, from the late 17th century it became an important watchout post for the city for centuries until 1905; [72] the last keeper of the tower was forced to leave in 1926. Abraham Chappe , (a brother of Ignace Chappe ) installed a telegraph office in the tower in 1816 and operated for 32 years. [65] It was this office which announced the death of Napoleon I to the French public in 1821. It also had the dual function as lighthouse with a rotating beacon fuelled by oil from 1818. [72] The lantern was finally replaced by a new lighthouse on 15 October 1848. During the First World War, it served as a military observation post and narrowly missed destruction during World War II. [73] This tower has been classified as a historic monument since 6 November 1931. [73]
The Calais Lighthouse (Le phare de Calais) was built in 1848, replacing the old watch tower as the lighthouse of the port. The 55 metre high tower was electrified in 1883 and automated in 1992. The staircase has 271 steps leading up to the lantern. By day it is easily distinguishable from other coastal lighthouses by its white color and black lantern. The lighthouse was classified as a historical monument on 22 November 2010.
Forts
File:Citadelle de Calais - La Porte de Neptune.JPG
The Citadel of Calais
The Citadel, located on the Avenue Roger Salengro, was built between 1560 and 1571 on the site of a former medieval castle which was built in 1229 by Philippe de Hureprel. [29] Its purpose of its construction was to fend off would-be invaders, but it wasn't long until the city was successfully invaded by Archduke Albert of Austria on 24 April 1596. Both Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu at one time considered expanding the citadel and Calais into a great walled city for military harbour purposes but the proposals came to nothing. [29]
File:Fort risban phare calais.jpg
Fort Risban
Fort Risban , located on the coast on the Avenue Raymond Poincaré at the port entrance, was besieged by the English in November 1346 and was used by them until 1558 when Calais was restored to France. In 1596, the fort was captured by the Spanish Netherlands until May 1598 when it was returned to the French following the Treaty of Vervins. It was rebuilt in 1640. [75] Vauban, who visited the fort some time in the 1680s, described it as "a home for owls, and place to hold the Sabbath" rather than a fortification. [76] During World War II it served as an air raid shelter. It contains the Lancaster Tower, a name often given to the fort itself. [73]
Fort Nieulay, located along the Avenue Pierre Coubertin originally dated to the 12th or 13th century. During the English invasion in 1346, sluices gates were added as water defences and a fort was built up around it in 1525 on the principle that the people of the fort could defend the town by flooding it. [77] In April and May 1677, Louis XIV and Vauban visited Calais and ordered a complete rebuilding of Fort Nieulay. It was completed in 1679, with the purpose to protect the bridge of Nieulay crossing the Hames River . [78] By 1815 the fort had fallen into a ruined state and it wasn't until 1903 that it was sold and improved by its farmer tenants. [77] The fort was briefly the site of a low-key scuffle with Germans in May 1940.
Museums, theatres and cultural centres
File:Calais theatre.jpg
Calais Theatre
Calais contains several museums. These include the Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle de Calais , Cité internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais and the Musée de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale (World War II museum). Cité internationale de la Dentelle et de la Mode de Calais is a lace and fashion museum located in an old Boulart factory on the canalside and contains workshops, a library and a restaurant and regularly puts on fashion shows. [59] The World War II museum is located at Parc St Pierre opposite the town hall and south of the train station. The building is a former Nazi bunker and wartime military headquarters, built in 1941 by the Todt Organisation . The 194-metre-long structure contains twenty rooms with relics and photographs related to World War II, and one room dedicated to World War I. [59] [79]
Theatres and cultural centres include Le théâtre municipal, Le Centre Culturel Gérard Philipe, Le Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental (CRD), L'auditorium Didier Lockwood, L'École d'Art de Calais, Le Channel, Le Cinéma Alhambra and La Médiathèque municipale. Le théâtre municipal or Calais Theatre is located on the Boulevard Lafayette and was built in 1903 on a plot of land which was used as a cemetery between 1811 and 1871. [80] The theatre opened in 1905. On the first floor of the façade are statues which represent the performing arts subjects of Poetry, Comedy, Dance and Music. [80]
Monuments and memorials
File:Calais colonne louis XVIII.JPG
Louis XVIII column
Directly in front of the town hall is a bronze cast of Les Bourgeois de Calais (" The Burghers of Calais "), a sculpture by Auguste Rodin to commemorate six men who were to have been executed by Edward III in 1347. The cast was erected in 1895, funded by a public grant of 10,000 francs. [12] Rodin (who based his design on a fourteenth-century account by Jean Froissart ) intended to evoke the viewer's sympathy by emphasizing the pained expressions of the faces of the six men about to be executed. [12]
File:Monument 'Le Pluviose', rond point de l'avenue Poincaré - Calais.JPG
Monument Le Pluviôse
The Monument des Sauveteurs ("Rescuers' Monument") was installed in 1899 on Boulevard des Alliés, and transferred to the Quartier of Courgain in 1960. It is a bronze sculpture, attributed to Edward Lormier .
The Monument Le Pluviôse is a Script error: No such module "convert". bronze monument built in 1912 by Émile Oscar Guillaume on the centre of the roundabout near the beach of Calais, commemorating the accidental sinking of the submarine Pluviôse in May 1910, off the beach by the steamer Pas de Calais. [81] Armand Fallières , president of the Republic, and his government came to Calais for a state funeral for its 27 victims. One of these victims, Delpierre Auguste, (1889–1910), drowned at age 21 before the beach at Calais; a dock in the city is named for him. The monument was dedicated on June 22, 1913.
Monument "Jacquard" was erected on the square in 1910, opposite the entrance to the Calais theatre. It commemorates Joseph Marie Jacquard , popular in Calais because of his contribution to the development of lace through his invention of the Jacquard loom . [82]
A tall column in the Courgain area of the city commemorates a visit by Louis XVIII .
Parc Richelieu, a garden behind the war memorial, was built in 1862 on the old city ramparts and redesigned in 1956. [83] It contains a statue designed by Yves de Coëtlogon in 1962, remembering both world wars with an allegorical figure, representing Peace, which clutches an olive branch to her breast. [84]
Hotels and nightclubs
Hôtel Meurice de Calais is a hotel, established in 1771 as Le Chariot Royal by the French postmaster, Charles-Augustin Meurice , who would later establish the five-star Hôtel Meurice , one of Paris' most famous luxury hotels. It was one of the earliest hotels on the continent of Europe to specifically cater for the British elite. [85] The hotel was rebuilt in 1954–55. [86] It has 41 en-suite rooms.
The main centre of night activity in Calais is at the Casino Le Touquet’s on the Rue Royale and at the 555 Club. Every month, Casino Le Touquet hosts a dinner and dance cabaret. The casino features slot machines, blackjack, roulette, and poker facilities. [87]
Education
There are several schools in Calais. These include Groupe Scolaire Coubertin , Eglise Saint-Pierre , Universite du Littoral , Centre Universitaire , [48] Lycée HQE Léonard de Vinci on Rue du Pasteur Martin Luther-King, École d'Art de Calais on Rue des Soupirants, and the Centre Scolaire Saint-Pierre on Rue du Four à Chaux which provides education in the primary grades, high school, and vocational school. [88] There are at least seven colleges in the city, such as Collège Martin Luther King on Rue Martin Luther King, Collège Nationalisé Lucien Vadez on Avenue Yervant Toumaniantz, Collège Les Dentelliers on Rue Gaillard, College Jean Mace on Rue Maréchaux, Collège République on Place République, Collège Vauban on Rue Orléansville, and Collège Privé Mixte Jeanne d'Arc on Rue Champailler.
Sport
Calais is represented in association football by the Calais RUFC , who compete in the Championnat National . The club was founded 1902 as Racing Club de Calais and in 1974 was renamed as Calais Racing Union Football Club. [89] Calais RUFC have a good reputation in French cup competitions and went as far as the final in the 1999/2000 season , losing out finally to Nantes . Since 2008 they have played at the Stade de l'Épopée , a stadium which holds about 12,000 spectators. The rugby club in Calais is Amicale Rugby Calaisien . [90] Basketball is popular in Calais with the teams Calais Basket (male) [91] and COB Calais (female) [92] as is volleyball with the Lis Calais (male) [93] and Stella Calais (female) teams. [94] There is also the SOC club which caters in a range of sports including athletics, handball and football and Yacht Club de Calais , a yachting club. [95] Calais also has Les Seagulls , an American football team. [96]
Transport
File:Calais, rue Royale (France, August 2011).jpg
Boulevard Jacquard
The Port of Calais was the first cable ship port in Europe and is the fourth largest port in France and the largest for passenger traffic. [97] The port accounts for more than a third of economic activity of the town of Calais. Cargo traffic has tripled over the past two decades. In 2007 more than 41.5 million tonnes of traffic passed through Calais with some 11.52 million passengers, 1.4 million trucks and trailers, 2.249 million cars and 4,700 crossings a year. [97] On average, ships sail from the port every 30 minutes. [97] A new 400 million euro project is underway at the port to create a breakwater protecting a pool of 700 meters long, thus allowing virtually all types of ships to stop at Calais.
As well as the large port, the town is served by three railway stations: Gare de Calais-Fréthun , Gare de Calais-Ville , and Gare des Fontinettes , the former being the first stop on mainland Europe of the Eurostar line. Gare de Calais-Ville is the nearest station to the port with trains to Gare de Boulogne-Ville and either Gare de Lille Flandres or Gare de Lille Europe .
Local bus services are provided by STCE. Free car parking facilities are available in front of the Calais ferry terminal and the maximum stay is of three days. [98] Calais is served by an airport and an airfield. Calais – Dunkerque Airport is located at Marck , Script error: No such module "convert". east north east of Calais. Saint-Inglevert Airfield is located at Saint-Inglevert , Script error: No such module "convert". south west of Calais.
Notable people
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Who was Prime Minister of Australia at the outbreak of World War I? | First World War 1914–18 | Australian War Memorial
First World War 1914–18
Australian troops in the Lone Pine trenches. A02022 A02022 Australian troops in the Lone Pine trenches.
AWM A02022
Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when Britain and Germany went to war on 4 August 1914, and both Prime Minister Joseph Cook and Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher, who were in the midst of an election campaign, pledged full support for Britain. The outbreak of war was greeted in Australia, as in many other places, with great enthusiasm.
The first significant Australian action of the war was the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force’s (ANMEF) landing on Rabaul on 11 September 1914. The ANMEF took possession of German New Guinea at Toma on 17 September 1914 and of the neighbouring islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in October 1914. On 9 November 1914 the Royal Australian Navy made a major contribution when HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider SMS Emden.
On 25 April 1915 members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) landed on Gallipoli in Turkey with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. This began a campaign that ended with an evacuation of allied troops beginning in December 1915. The next year Australian forces fought campaigns on the Western Front and in the Middle East.
Throughout 1916 and 1917 losses on the Western Front were heavy and gains were small. In 1918 the Australians reached the peak of their fighting performance in the battle of Hamel on 4 July. From 8 August they then took part in a series of decisive advances until they were relieved in early October. Germany surrendered on 11 November.
The Middle East campaign began in 1916 with Australian troops taking part in the defence of the Suez Canal and the allied re-conquest of the Sinai Desert. In the following year Australian and other allied troops advanced into Palestine and captured Gaza and Jerusalem; by 1918 they had occupied Lebanon and Syria and on 30 October 1918 Turkey sued for peace.
For Australia, the First World War remains the costliest conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
A03771 An Australian digger uses a periscope in a trench captured during the attack on Lone Pine, Gallipoli, 8 August 1915.
AWM A03771
When Britain declared war against Germany in August 1914, Australia, as a dominion of the British Empire, was automatically also at war. While thousands rushed to volunteer, most of the men accepted into the Australian Imperial Force in August 1914 were sent first to Egypt, not Europe, to meet the threat which a new belligerent, the Ottoman Empire, posed to British interests in the Middle East and the Suez Canal.
After four and a half months of training near Cairo, the Australians departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula, along with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. On 25 April 1915 the Australians landed at what became known as Anzac Cove, whereupon they established a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach. During the early days of the campaign the allies tried to break through Turkish lines, while the Turks tried to drive the allied troops off the peninsula. Attempts on both sides ended in failure and the ensuing stalemate continued for the remainder of 1915. In fact, the most successful operation of the campaign was the large-scale evacuation of troops on 19 and 20 December. As a result of a carefully planned deception operation, the Turks were unable to inflict more than a very few casualties on the withdrawing forces.
After Gallipoli the AIF was reorganised and expanded from two to five infantry divisions, all of which were progressively transferred to France, beginning in March 1916. The light horse regiments that had served as additional infantry during the Gallipoli campaign remained in the Middle East. By the time the other AIF divisions arrived in France, the war on the Western Front had long been in a stalemate, with the opposing armies facing each other from trench systems that extended across Belgium and north-east France, all the way from the English Channel to the Swiss border. The development of machine-guns and artillery favoured defensive over offensive operations, and this compounded the impasse that lasted until the final months of the war.
A03042 Troops of 53rd Battalion wait to don equipment for the attack at Fromelles, 19 July 1916. Only three of these men survived.
AWM A03042
While the fighting continued throughout 1916 and 1917, the Australians and other allied armies repeatedly attacked the German trenches, preceded by massive artillery bombardments intended to cut barbed wire and destroy defences. After these bombardments, waves of attacking infantry would emerge from the trenches into no man’s land and advance towards the enemy positions. The surviving Germans, protected by deep and heavily reinforced bunkers, were usually able to repel the attackers with machine-gun fire and artillery support from the rear. These attacks often resulted in limited territorial gains followed, in turn, by German counter-attacks. Although this style of warfare favoured the defensive armies, both sides sustained heavy losses.
In July 1916 Australian troops were introduced to this type of combat at Fromelles, where they suffered 5,533 casualties in 24 hours. By the end of the year about 40,000 Australians had been killed or wounded on the Western Front. In 1917 a further 76,836 Australians became casualties in battles such Bullecourt, Messines, and the four-month campaign around Ypres known as the battle of Passchendaele.
E01202 Australian wounded infantrymen at the first battle of Passchendaele, near Zonnebeke railway station.
AWM E01202
In March 1918 the German army launched a massive Spring Offensive, hoping for a decisive victory before the industrial strength of the United States could be fully mobilised in support of the allies. The Germans initially met with great success, advancing 64 kilometres past the Somme battlefields of 1916, but eventually lost momentum. Between April and November the stalemate of the preceding years began to give way. When the German offensive failed, the allied armies began their own counter-offensive combining infantry, artillery, tanks, and aircraft to great effect, demonstrated in the Australian capture of Hamel on 4 July 1918. Beginning on 8 August, this offensive contributed to further Australian successes at Mont St Quentin and Péronne and to the capture of the Hindenburg Line. In early October, after the fighting at Montbrehain, the Australian divisions withdrew from the front for rest and refitting; they were preparing to return to the fighting when Germany signed the Armistice on 11 November.
B01697 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment machine-gunners in action at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith, near Palestine, 31 December 1917.
AWM B01697
The Australians in the Middle East fought a mobile war against the Ottoman Empire in conditions completely different from the mud and stagnation of the Western Front. Mounted troops of the Australian Light Horse and the Imperial Camel Corps endured extreme heat, harsh terrain, and water shortages, yet casualties were comparatively light, with 1,394 Australians killed or wounded in three years of fighting.
The desert campaign began in 1916 when Australian troops took part in the defence of the Suez Canal and the allied action to take back the Sinai Desert. In the following year Australian troops participated in a British push into Palestine that captured Gaza and Jerusalem; by 1918 they had occupied Lebanon and Syria and were riding into Damascus. On 30 October 1918 Turkey sued for peace.
Australians also served at sea and in the air. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN), under the command of the British Royal Navy, made a significant contribution early in the war, when HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider SMS Emden near the Cocos–Keeling Islands in November 1914. The Great War was the first armed conflict in which aircraft were used; some 3,000 Australian airmen served with the Australian Flying Corps in the Middle East and France, mainly in observation capacities or providing air support for the infantry.
EN0470 HMAS Sydney at full speed, ten minutes after the ceasefire was ordered in her battle with the German cruiser Emden.
AWM EN0470
Australian women volunteered for service in auxiliary roles: as cooks, nurses, drivers, interpreters, munitions workers, and farm workers. While the government welcomed the service of nurses into the armed forces, it generally rejected offers from women in other professions to serve overseas. Australian nurses served in Egypt, France, Greece, and India, often in trying conditions or close to the front, where they were exposed to shelling and aerial bombardment as well as outbreaks of disease.
The effects of the war werealso felt at home. Families and communities grieved for the loss of so many men, and women increasingly assumed the physical and financial burden of caring for families. Anti-German feeling also emerged with the outbreak of the war, and many Germans living in Australia were sent to internment camps. Censorship and surveillance, regarded by many as an excuse to silence political views that had no effect on the outcome of war, increased as the conflict continued. Social division also grew, reaching a climax in the bitterly contested (and unsuccessful) conscription referendums of 1916 and 1917. When the war ended, thousands of ex–servicemen and servicewomen, many disabled with physical or emotional wounds, had to be re-integrated into a society keen to consign the war to the past and resume normal life.
P00228.023 9th Australian Light Horse bring in Turkish prisoners in the Sinai, 13 April 1916.
Sources and further reading:
C.E.W. Bean, Anzac to Amiens , Penguin Books Australia, New York, 1993.
J. Beaumont, Australia’s war 1914–1918 Allen and Unwin, St Leonards, New South Wales, 1995.
Peter Dennis et al., The Oxford companion to Australian military history, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1995.
Essays, articles, and talks
Find a person
Roll of Honour : details of members of the Australian armed forces who died while on active service
First World War Nominal Roll : details of approximately 324,000 AIF personnel, recorded to assist with their repatriation to Australia from overseas service following the First World War; see the introduction for further details
First World War Embarkation Roll : details of approximately 330,000 AIF personnel, recorded as they embarked from Australia for overseas service during the First World War
Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files : approximately 32,000 individual case files of Australian personnel reported as wounded or missing during the First World War
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Which Essex town was granted city status for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II? | BBC - History - World Wars: Australia in World War One
Australia in World War One
By Dr Peter Stanley
Last updated 2011-03-10
Dr Peter Stanley argues that a new sense of Australian identity was born when Australian soldiers returned home after the horrors of World War One.
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Willingly at war for the Empire
A postcard photograph, supposedly of 'the firing line' in Shrapnel Gully on Gallipoli, circulated in Australia in 1915. Beside the photograph of Australian troops waiting in shallow trenches under a warm sun it bore the hand-lettered inscription 'Here Australia became a nation'. This sentiment expresses the essential Australian interpretation of the Great War. The Australian official historian, Charles Bean, expanded those five words into six volumes. He elaborated how Australians had responded to the challenge of the Great War, how the war had cost the young nation dearly and how it had created a new understanding of what being Australian meant.
With the outbreak of war, the new Commonwealth of Australia found itself willingly at war for the empire...
Despite the colonial pride in the virtues of the 'native-born', Australian movements in art and literature and the very fact of Federation in 1901, Australians early in the 20th century remained ambivalent toward ideas of Australian nationhood. Most thought of themselves as 'Australasian Britons', bound to Britain by 'the crimson thread of kinship' and a proud junior partner in the empire. The service of over 320,000 Australians in the Great War would offer the first substantial challenge to that view and would stimulate the growth of a self-conscious Australian nationalism.
With the outbreak of war the new Commonwealth of Australia found itself willingly at war for the empire. Australian leaders were not consulted, but demonstrated their unqualified loyalty. Andrew Fisher, Labour prime minister from 1914 to 1916, declared that Australia would support Britain to 'the last man and the last shilling'.
Australia's dual loyalty was evident in the name of the volunteer force formed in September 1914, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Its first members sailed for the war in November 1914. They had enlisted with mixed motives: to serve King and Empire, to have an adventure, to see the world, to do the right thing. One man in five had been born in Britain; many enlisted in the hope of a trip home before seeing active service.
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Worlds apart
Kitchener passes curious Australian troops at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli © The AIF first went to Egypt, destined to go the Dardanelles. On arriving in Egypt many of its members were struck by the contrast between themselves and the British soldiers they met. Though most Australians were city men, they had been raised in one of the world's most prosperous and progressive democracies. They towered above the shorter Lancashire territorials they called the 'Chooms', aware of the physical and even linguistic differences between the empire's armies. For the rest of the war, Australians would measure themselves against the British army. As their awareness of their own prowess grew, so would their disillusionment with their senior imperial partner.
...'Why do you not salute?' a British colonel demands of a slouching Australian private...
Differences between the two emerged immediately. British troops insisted on rigid adherence to the forms of military custom, notably saluting. Australian volunteers, all citizen soldiers who regarded the army's demands as limited, especially out of action, tended to salute only those superiors they respected personally. A cartoon of 1917 hardly exaggerated: '"Why do you not salute?" a British colonel demands of a slouching Australian private. "To tell you the truth, digger", he replies, "we've cut it right out"'. British insistence prompted Australian resistance, generating friction throughout the war.
Sister Narelle Hobbes, an Australian who joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Medical Service in 1915 and died of illness in the Red Sea in 1918, was repeatedly frustrated by British military procedures and by condescension. 'Thank God I'm Australian!', she recorded in exasperation in her diary.
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A bloody shambles
Like the Anzac soldiers, the encounter with an imperial culture often sharpened the nurses' sense of Australian-ness © The Australians went into the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 carrying a heavy metaphorical burden as well as their packs. Conscious of their national identity, they wondered how they would meet the test of battle. Though it was costly and close-run, out of the bloody shambles of the landing at Anzac Cove the Australians (with the New Zealanders) quickly developed as soldiers. Though newcomers to war they soon gained a resilience, toughness and skill which contrasted with what a South Australian school teacher called the 'inefficient, incapable, and badly led' British troops. A Victorian farmer complained of the 'lack of organisation, spirit and individual initiative' of a British unit he had served with at Suvla. Other Australians felt that inexperienced 'New Army' units had let them down (though AIF volunteers had been no more experienced than those for Kitchener's Army). They had expected to learn from the British, but on Gallipoli they looked down on them as amateurs.
On Gallipoli, errors of command and failures of supply and medical care had been obvious to every soldier.
Searching for explanations, they fell back on the archetype of the Australian bushman. A self-reliant, ingenious, practical man who could shoot fitted the bill for Charles Bean. Though Australian-born, Bean had been classically educated in Britain. Returning to Australia and discovering the inland in a series of visits as a journalist, he idealised the virtues of the bushman. On Gallipoli he virtually created what has become known as the 'Anzac legend', the celebration of the archetypal virtues of the Australian soldier. The Anzac Book, an annual he edited on Gallipoli, became the defining expression of those qualities. Anzacs were almost defined by their differences with Britain. Many qualities - independence, casual proficiency, and a disregard of rank for its own sake - specifically contrasted with the qualities of the British regular.
On Gallipoli, errors of command and failures of supply and medical care had been obvious to every soldier. Further disillusionment would follow. On the Western Front, where the five AIF infantry divisions served from 1916 to 1918, they had ample opportunity to ponder British successes and failures. With the command and logistic structure essentially British, Australians identified the shortcomings of a straining imperial military system with Britain.
The AIF divisions fought on the Somme in 1916, losing as many casualties in eight weeks as had been lost on Gallipoli in eight months. In 1917 they attacked at Bullecourt, Messines and in the battles of Passchendaele (Ypres). In 1918, now combined as a self-conscious Australian Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General John Monash, they helped to both stop the German March offensive and lead the advance to final victory.
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'British staff, British methods and British bungling'
Australians encountering British troops found that the shared experience of the Western Front exposed differences of attitude and temperament © Until 1918, failures were the norm. The 1916 offensives, particularly Fromelles and Pozières, left many Australians disappointed with the performance of flanking British units. The historian Bill Gammage, whose 1974 book The Broken Years did so much to renew interest in the Great War in Australia, summed up the impact of the 1916 battles. 'The Australians never forgot Pozières', he wrote, 'nor the English staff which had sent them there, nor the mates killed, nor the New Army divisions which had failed so often on their flanks'. Of course British troops lost mates in horrific battles and suffered from poor command and staff work, but they were led by their own. Australians felt particularly aggrieved because they increasingly felt different to them.
The evidence of Australian attitudes towards British troops is found in abundance in soldiers' writings held in the collections of the Australian War Memorial (established by Charles Bean) and other libraries. At Fromelles and on the Somme, British formations failed to take or hold trenches often enough for Australians to notice. A Tasmanian grazier, a gunner lieutenant, cursed the British officers he had seen at Fromelles as 'only a b____ lot of Pommie Jackeroos and just as hopeless... most of them crawlers or favourites of some toff'.
Many Australians continued to express their admiration for British formations which struggled on in the face of such losses...
A Victorian mining engineer (an officer, writing in the aftermath of Passchendaele) damned 'British staff, British methods and British bungling'. 'We are all "military socialist",' he told his father, 'and all overseas troops have had enough of the English'. He, like many Australians, exempted Scottish units from their condemnation. Indeed, many Australians continued to express their admiration for British formations which struggled on in the face of such losses. Bean's own history, while often critical of British shortcomings, also fairly praises British units which met the Australians' exacting standards.
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Back to Blighty
Gallipoli held special significance for Australians and New Zealanders © Like their British (and, indeed, German) counterparts, many Australians hoped for a wound that would send them at least back to Blighty. Britain - 'Blighty' - was more than a reprieve from the horror of the Western Front. A Blighty wound or the leave that came around occasionally gave Australian soldiers the opportunity to visit the heart of the empire. Many looked up family in the 'old country'. They expressed amazement at buildings older than their country, disgust at slums, despair at the weather and an appalled fascination with British women who had taken men's jobs for the duration. While Britain remained 'home' - for some for the rest of their lives - it was not Australia, and many said so. A verse tersely expressing the new-found awareness of their homesickness circulated in the AIF: 'Blighty is a failure, take me to Australia'.
'This war... has made me intensely British and absolutely Australian'
In the early 21st century, with Australian national identity flourishing, it is important not to read retrospectively into the troops' condemnation of an imperial war machine the triumphant nationalism of post-Olympic Australia. Many, perhaps most, remained proud of the dual loyalties to Australia and to the Empire. 'This war', the critical South Australian schoolteacher wrote from Gallipoli, 'has made me intensely British and absolutely Australian'. Not until after the stress of another wartime crisis - after Greece, Crete and Singapore - would Australians' faith in Britain falter and develop into a self-reliant pride in a nation independent of Britain.
Find out more
Books
The Anzac Illusion: Anglo-Australian Relations during World War I by Eric Andrews (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918 by Charles Bean (Angus & Robinson, 1921-42)
The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War by Bill Gammage (ANU Press, 1974)
The Australian People and the Great War by Michael McKernan (William Collins, 1984)
Links
Australian War Memorial Museum and website commemorating the sacrifice of Australians in war. Includes online collections of art, artefacts, official and private documents and photographs.
Spartacus Educational Spartacus' World War One website offers a growing encyclopaedia of entries about the war, as well as links to other websites.
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About the author
Dr Peter Stanley is Principal Historian at the Australian War Memorial, where he has worked since 1980. One of Australia's most active military historians, he has contributed to the development of the Memorial's exhibitions and has published 11 books, with three more in press in 2002. He was born in Liverpool and migrated to Australia as a child.
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In the William Wordsworth poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’, how many daffodils are mentioned? | I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth | Poetry Foundation
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
Related Poem Content Details
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Discover this poem's context and related poetry, articles, and media.
Poet
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
Related Poem Content Details
Biography
Discussing prose written by poets, Joseph Brodsky has remarked, “the tradition of dividing literature into poetry and prose dates from the beginnings of prose, since it was only in prose that such a distinction could be made.” This insight is worth bearing in mind when considering the various prose works of the poet William Wordsworth. For Wordsworth poetic composition was a primary mode of expression; prose was secondary. Wordsworth seems to have written prose mostly in order to find a structure for his poetic beliefs and political enthusiasms. Over the course of a prolific poetic career, in fact, Wordsworth produced little prose, though he did compose two works of lasting general interest, one on poetics—“Preface to Lyrical Ballads”—and the other on the landscape of his native region—his tourist handbook, A Guide through the District of the Lakes, which retains more than a local interest as geographical background to his poems...
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Which two states border the US state of Florida? | I wandered lonely as a Cloud... | Poetry | Scottish Poetry Library
I wandered lonely as a Cloud...
I wandered lonely as a Cloud...
Poem
I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host of dancing Daffodils; Along the Lake, beneath the trees, Ten thousand dancing in the breeze. The waves beside them danced, but the Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:- A Poet could not but be gay In such a laughing company: I gazed – and gazed – but little thought What wealth the shew to me had brought: For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood. They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils.
William Wordsworth
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Which English football team is nicknamed ‘The Cobblers’? | Northampton Town FC History
Northampton Town FC History
By Gareth Willsher
From 1897 to the present day
Northampton Town Football Club, nicknamed the Cobblers were founded on 6th March 1897, when a group of local school teachers got together with the well known local solicitor, AJ "Pat" Darnell in the Princess Royal Inn, Wellingborough Road, Northampton to form the Town's first professional football club. Problems were encountered before a ball was kicked, when the Rugby club objected to the club name; Northampton Football Club. Arbitration was sought at the Football Association and the club were to be called Northampton Town Football Club.
Northampton Town Football Club joined the Northants League (U.C.L.), and spent just two seasons there during which time they recouped their first transfer fee, £50 from Derby County for Frank (Wall) Howard, who was club's first professional player, and later became a gateman at the County Ground! The Cobblers won the Championship in only their second season. This was followed by a further two seasons in the Midland League, before joining the Southern League in the 1901-02 which saw the clubs heaviest defeat was recorded, 11-0 to Southampton, on a brighter note the F.A. Cup Proper was reached for the first time, a game which was lost 2-0 to League side Sheffield United in front of a lock-out crowd of 15,000, the gate receipts totalling £399.
National headlines were made in October 1902, when a 1-0 win was recorded over Portsmouth at Fratton Park, this was Portsmouth first ever defeat at Fratton Park, after an incredible 66 matches. The going was tough to start off with in the Southern League and the Cobblers twice finished bottom, mainly due to players being snapped up by league clubs, who were able to pay better wages.
During the 1904-05 season, Northampton used their first substitute in a friendly game against Port Vale. Len Benbow was injured, and permission was granted for him to be replaced by Herbert Chapman, who became the first ever Manager at the club, although on a Player/Manager basis. His appointment was certainly a wise one, with the contact had built up he was able to persuade many ex-professionals to join the club and was responsible for the club paying their first transfer fee, £400 to Stoke City for Welsh International Edwin Lloyd Davies who still has the record number of International caps won (12) and was the oldest player to play for the club (42). The transformation was incredible, within two years Northampton were champions of the Southern League (1908-09) and met Newcastle United in the Charity Shield, losing 2-0 at the Oval.
1909-10 saw the Cobblers achieve their two biggest wins in the Southern League, 11-1 against Southend United and 10-0 against Croydon Common, they went onto to finish 4th that season and followed that up by finishing Runners-up to Swindon Town in 1910-11.
October 1911 saw the Cobblers sign their first black player, Walter Tull from Tottenham Hotspur who incidentally was the leagues first black outfield player. During his first season he played as a forward and scored 9 goals from just 12 games, including 4 in a 5-0 win over Bristol Rovers. He went on to play 110 games for the club, mainly as a wing half, before he died in the second battle of the Somme in the first World War where he was Britain's first black army officer. On July 11th 1999, over eighty years after his death, an 8 foot high marble memorial was unveiled at Sixfields Stadium, the centrepiece for the Garden of Rest at Northampton Town Football Club.
By the start of the 1912-13 season Herbert Chapman had left Northampton for Leeds, he then went onto to Huddersfield Town, winning two league championships and setting them up for a third before joining Arsenal, where he again won two league championships before he died in 1934.
After the war and the resumption of Southern League football in 1919-20, the Cobblers conceded 103 goals which is the only season to date that the club have conceded over 100 goals, however re-election was avoided by three points and were ready to start life as a Football League club, joining Division Three (South). On Christmas day 1920 The Cobblers won 5-2 at Gillingham, the next away league win was not achieved until September 6th 1922, a 3-0 win at Gillingham (again!) a run of 33 away matches without a win. 1922-3 saw the club become a public company and 8,000 shares at £1 were released, a then record crowd of 18,123 was recorded for the Plymouth match on Boxing day and gate receipts for the first time exceeded £1,000.
1923-24 started with the club rasing £5,000 to build a stand with players tunnel underneath and also improved terracing was installed in the Hotel End. In 1924-25 and incredible an unenviable record was set when 9 penalties were missed during the course of the season, which also saw the formation of the Supporter Club. The following 1925-26 season witnessed the clubs first foreign transfer, ex-Scarborough player William Shaw was signed from Spanish side Barcelona, having scored 31 goals from 38 games the previous season.
1927/28 saw a record Division Three (South) victory, 10-0 against Walsall) which helped ensure that 102 league goals were scored that season finishing 2nd, behind Millwall. On Boxing day, there the club entertained Luton Town at the County Ground, and at half time were trailing 5-1, however the second half proved to be more successful for the home side who put five past their visitors to win the match 6-5. Spare a thought for Luton's Jimmy Reid, who despite scoring 4 goals still finished on the losing side. A new ground record was set for the F.A. Cup Third round replay with Sunderland, 21,148 turned up to see the Cobblers lose 3-0
Disaster occurred at the County Ground during December 1929, when a fire destroyed stands A, B and C, of which the damage was estimated at £5,000, only stand D was saved although this was charred. The source of the fire was thought to be in the away dressing room, the Cobblers had earlier entertained AFC Bournemouth reserves. The stand had been re-built by February 1930.
1932-33 created history when brothers Fred and Albert Dawes both scored in an 8-0 win over Newport County. The latter finished the season scoring 32 league goals, 5 FA Cup goals, and even scored all 4 in a 4-0 win over the Dutch National side whilst the club was on tour. In 1933-34 the free scoring Albert Dawes was sold to Crystal Palace for a then club record fee of £1,650, and the FA Cup Fifth round was reached for the first time courtesy of a Fourth round win away to Huddersfield Town who at the time were top of Division One, not bad for a mid table Division Three (South) side. The Cobblers finally bowed out to Preston North End 4-0 at Deepdale, setting a new ground record of 40,180.
New manager, Ex-England International Syd Puddefoot joined prior to the end of the 1934-35 season and helped the club win nine out of their remaining twelve fixtures. The following 1935-36 season, the club broke their record transfer fee when they bought James Bartram from Falkirk for £1,000. However, this was later offset by another record transfer fee received again from Crystal Palace, this time £3,000 for Fred Dawes, the brother of Albert who was transferred two seasons earlier.
In the three seasons prior to the breakout of World War II, the Cobblers finished 7th, 9th and 17th respectively in Division Three (South), in 1938 signed John Parris from Luton Town who was the first ever black player to play for Wales. In the final match prior to the War, the Cobblers travelled to Deans Court and lost 10-0, the clubs record League defeat. During the war the Cobblers had the record for the first transfer fee received during the hostilities when Bobby King was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a substantial four-figure fee.
After the War, the club finished 13th in Division Three (South) with Archie Garrett scoring 26 league goals before joining Birmingham City for a then club record of £10,000 during the early part if the following 1947-48 season. A player who would go onto become the clubs all time leading scorer joined the club, his name was Jack English, the son of Jack English, former manager between 1931-35, as did a certain Mr Dave Bowen, who would go onto have a very long association with the Cobblers and also become the Manager of Wales.
In 1948-49, the club thankfully avoided re-election on goal difference, but the following 1949-50 season, the clubs fortunes had changed dramatically for the better and runners-up spot was achieved behind Notts County. The Cobblers also reached the 5th round of the FA Cup, creating new attendance records, firstly at the County Ground, when 23,209 were present in the Third round tie with Southampton and secondly 38,063 turned up at the Baseball Ground in Derby, where the home side ran out 4-2 winners. Cup success continued the following season when the Cobblers reached the 4th round, this time losing 3-2 away to Arsenal in front of a mammoth crowd of 72,408, the highest crowd that any Cobblers team has played in front of.
1952-53 Northampton Town Football Club finished 3rd in Division Three (South), just two points behind the winners, Bristol Rovers. The Cobblers scored 109 goals in the process.
1957-58 was The Cobblers last season in Division Three South, which also saw an amazing FA Cup third round 3-1 win at home to Arsenal, and then losing by the same scoreline to Liverpool at Anfield. The Cobblers finished the season 13th, just one place below the cut off point and were elected to Division Four.
However, the clubs stay in the Fourth Division only lasted for three seasons, the £7,000 re-arrival of Dave Bowen from Arsenal, in 1959 as Player Manager was to be the start of a truly remarkable decade. The Cobblers finished 3rd in Division Four in 1960-61 and were promoted to Division Three, incidentally, this was the season that club first had floodlights installed and also saw the first league encounters with local rivals Peterborough United.
1961-62 saw Laurie Brown transferred to Arsenal for £35,000 and the Cobblers finish 8th in Division Three with Cliff Holton scoring a club record of 36 league goals. Tommy Fowler played the last of his record breaking 552 games for the club in the 2-2 home draw with Lincoln City.
In 1962-63 The Cobblers were crowned champions of the Third Division scoring 109 goals. Five players reached double figures, the top scorer was Alec Ashworth with 25 league goals in just 30 matches, he was then transferred to Preston North End in the close season for an estimated £20,000. Frank Large joined the club in the March from QPR, beginning the first of three spells with club in which he scored 96 goals in just over 250 appearances.
1963-64, the Cobblers signed Bobby Hunt from Colchester United for £25,000 and finished 11th in Division Two. The following season saw Northampton Town Football Club finished Division two runners-up in 1964-65 by just one point from Champions, Newcastle United, Cobblers goalkeeper, Bryan Harvey saved seven penalties during the season, including two in one match against Southampton, which were taken by Terry Paine, England's penalty taker at the time.
1965-66 is the only season that the Cobblers have ever spent in the top flight of English football. A County Ground record of 24,523 supporters witnessed the penultimate home Division One fixture with Fulham which was lost 4-2 and relegation followed shortly to Division Two, which prompted Manchester City Manager Joe Mercer to state "The miracle of 1966 was not England winning the World Cup, but Northampton reaching Division One". Barry Lines made history by becoming first player to play and score in all four divisions for the same club. A new transfer record was set, when the club paid £27,000 to take Joe Broadfoot from Ipswich Town. Incidently, the Cobblers only double that season was against Aston Villa, and therefore as our paths have never crossed since then in the league, they are the only club that we have a 100% record against, Played 2, Won 2!
1966-67 was another season to end in relegation, this time to Division Three. It was hard to fathom out why the club was relegated, perhaps the twelve cartlidge operations played a large part. In 1967-68 the club just managed to avoid relegation to the Fourth Division, finishing 18th. By 1968-69 the cycle was complete and the Cobblers finished 21st, despite having an outside chance of promotion with 10 games to go, and were relegated to the basement division. Rising from top to bottom and back down again, just as quickly, all in the space of a decade.
In 1969-70 the Cobblers played a staggering nine matches in the F.A. Cup, which culminated in a Fifth Round 8-2 home thrashinng by Manchester United. The genius George Best scored a double hat-trick, coming off the back of a six week suspension!
For the first time since becoming a League side the club had to apply for re-election in 1971-72, thankfully they finished the most favoured club with 49 votes, closely followed by Crewe Alexandra and Stockport County with 46 votes. However, re-election had to be applied for again the following season when this time 43 votes were gained. A strange occurrence of the season saw the biggest gate of the season recorded for a match which did not involve the Cobblers, 11,451 turned up to Birmingham's Trevor Francis score the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Luton Town in the League Cup second round second replay!
1974-75, a star of the future is sold, after 200 games in the claret colours of the Cobblers, Liverpool buy Phil Neal for a then club record of £65,000, whilst playing in the same side of another future England International, a certain John Gregory.
1975-76, the Cobblers finished 2nd in Division Four without losing a home game, and were promoted to Division Three behind Champions Lincoln City, who were also undefeated at home. Every regular player scored during the season, including the goalkeeper, Alan Starling, who netted from a penalty in the penultimate home game against Hartlepool United. On the downside Gary Mabee was forced to retire from football through injury at just 20 years old, he had scored 13 goals the previous season.
1976-77 brought relegation back to Division Four, the season started with ex-Manchester United Assistant Manager, Pat Crerand in charge, however his resignation was accepted following a 2-0 defeat at Brighton just into the new year. No new manager was appointed, instead a Committee was formed consisting of the Chairman, the coach and three senior players.
Both the incoming and outgoing transfer records were broken during the 1979-80 season, prior to the start of the season George Reilly was sold to Cambridge United for a then record of £165,000, he had been the clubs top scorer for the previous two seasons whilst winger Mark Heeley was bought from Arsenal for £33,000. New floodlights were installed in time for the 1980-81 season, but they failed during the first match against Southend United and the game had to be abandoned. There was also little success on the pitch, the club finished 10th, and the following season matters worsened when the club finished 22nd and again had to apply for re-election, which was successful.
1982-83 brought a little improvement, 15th position was achieved, with Bristol City being the unlucky opponents when the club put 7 goals past them on a Sunday afternoon. The reward for beating Wimbledon and Gillingham in the FA Cup was a lucrative home tie with Aston Villa, which a full house of just under 15,000 witnessed a superb volleyed goal by Mark Walters, who later went on to play for England, to give Aston Villa a 1-0 victory.
The club seemed anchored to bottom section of the Fourth Division, finishing 18th in 1983-84, where 16 year old Aidy Mann became the clubs youngest player and 23rd in 1984-85, which included the lowest ever league attendance at the County Ground. A mere 942 diehard supporters turn up to watch the Cobblers lose 2-0 at home to Chester City, the only ever league attendance under 1,000. The club appointed Graham Carr an ex-player to manage the club for the final seven games of the 1984-85 season which produced six wins and a draw.
Graham Carr was relishing his first Football League management position and prior to the start of the 1985-86 season he bought in several players from the non-league in addition to a number of quality league players which was the tonic that the club needed and 8th position was gained. The club won a cash prize for being the first in the Country to score 50 league goals, which was achieved before Christmas. The County Ground lost the main stand, which had been condemned following the fire at Bradford City, a small stand was erected which was nicknamed the "Meccano Stand" due to the amount of scaffolding that surrounded it.
The Cobblers picked up where they had left off the previous season and the 1986-87 Fourth Division Championship was emphatically won, gaining a club record total of 99 points and scoring 103 goals, 29 of them to Richard Hill, who was transferred in the Summer to Watford for a club record fee of £265,000. The club adjust to life in Division Three quickly and just miss out on a play-off place despite finishing 6th. The then record signing Tony Adcock was signed from Manchester City as part of an exchange deal for Trevor Morley, Tony Adcock's part of the fee is £85,000.
The 1988-89 season saw the Cobblers struggle, mainly as a direct result of selling the best players in the previous season and letting Eddie McGoldrick join Crystal Palace for £200,000. The following season the club were relegated to Division Four, but did manage a FA Cup upset by beating Coventry City in the third round, 1-0 with then record gate receipts of £47,292. The club looked on course to return to the Third Division at the first attempt, they were top of the table in February, but with only 3 wins coming in the final 18 games, the club finished a disappointing 10th.
Things worsened for the club financially, and went into administration in April 1992, with debts of around £1,600,000, ten of the clubs players were sacked and youth players were drafted in to make up the numbers, needless to say the results did not improve. These unhappy events sparked the formation of the Northampton Town Supporters Trust, which has a share holding in the club and a representative on the Board of Directors.
History was made at the County Ground in the match with Hereford United, they finished the match with only seven players, four had been sent off, despite this obvious disadvantage the match ended 1-1. It was a sign of things to come and the club needed to win the final game of the season to avoid being relegated to the Conference. Over 2,500 made the trip to Shrewsbury Town and were distraught at half-time with home club leading 2-0. What happened after the interval was nothing short of a miracle, the game finished 3-2 in favour of the Cobblers, the winner being a fortuitous goal which came off of the incoming Pat Gavin and rolled into the net following an attempted clearance from the goalkeeper.
Despite the warning bells from the previous season, the Cobblers finished bottom of the Football League in 1993-94, the only time in the club's history that the have finished bottom of any division since joining the Football League. Relegation was only escaped due the Conference Champions, Kidderminster Harriers not meeting the necessary ground criteria.
Tuesday 12th October 1994 was the last ever match at the County Ground, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mansfield Town. This was the start of a new era, Northampton Town Football Club moved to Sixfields Stadium and a capacity crowd on Saturday 15th October 1994 witnessed the first match at the new Stadium, a 1-1 draw with Barnet. The first player to score at the new stadium was Martin Aldridge. The change of ground did not change the clubs fortunes, and by Christmas the club were in danger of finishing bottom again.
In a desperate attempt to climb away from the foot of the table the Manager John Barnwell was replaced by Ian Atkins, he set about his task quickly and had guided the club to 17th by the end of the season.
In his first full season in charge improvement was made and 11th position was achieved, with only 44 goals conceded from 46 games. Jason White was acquired for £35,000 from Scarborough and finished the season as top scorer with 16 goals. The League Cup 1st round, 2nd leg at home to West Bromwich Albion produced record gate receipts of £52,373. Promotion parties for both Preston and Gillingham were put on hold as the Cobblers won at Deepdale and held Gillingham to a draw, in addition to beating Wigan at Springfield Park in the final match of the season to deny them a play-off place.
1996-97 saw the Cobblers appear at Wembley for the first time in 100 years, beating Swansea City 1-0 in the play-off final in front of 46,804 (32,000 Northampton supporters!) with John Frain scoring the winning goal from a free kick deep into injury time, which added to the clubs centenary celebrations. Again, only 44 goals were conceded from 46 games which resulted in Town finishing 4th. Record gate receipts of £59,464 were recorded for the Play-off semi-final with Cardiff. Neil Grayson top scored with 12 goals which included the fastest ever hatrick from a Cobblers player, in just five minutes against Hartlepool United.
1997-98 again saw a Wembley appearance, this time in the Division Two play-off final which was lost 1-0 to third placed Grimsby Town in front of a then record 62,998 crowd, over 40,000 Northampton supporters, which is a record, the most supporters taken to Wembley by one team). Just 37 goals were conceded from 46 league games, the lowest total since joining the Football League. David Seal was bought from Bristol City for a club record £90,000 in at the start of the season and finished top scorer with 14 league and cup goals, in addition he was also the leading goalscorer for the reserves with 12 goals from 10 games which helped win the Reserve League. The clubs average attendance of 6,392 was the highest since the 1975/76 season.
1998-99 was a season littered with injury problems, no fewer than 16 players suffered from long term injuries, which completely decimated the squad from start to finish. On the final day of the season the "Cobblers" were unfortunately relegated to Division Three, despite being undefeated in the last 9 games of the season. On the positive side a memorable 2-1 aggregate win was recorded over West Ham United in the Worthington Cup before bowing out to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur 3-1, after taking the lead. The match produced then record receipts of £102,979, a figure that was overtaken by the January 2004 FA Cup 4th round tie with Manchester United. The club was awarded the enterprise award from the Avon Insurance Combination Reserve League, for efforts in promoting reserve team football locally and nationally. The clubs transfer record was broken for the second successive season, £90,000 was paid to Hartlepool United for Steven Howard, with up to another £45,000 due on appearances and goals.
1999-2000 season saw the club bounce back to Division Two, finishing third and holding the third automatic spot for promotion, a run of 6 consecutive wins in the final 6 matches made outright promotion possible. Ian Atkins parted company with the club in October following an indifferent start to the season, his assistant, Kevin Wilson and coach, Kevan Broadhurst , took joint charge for the remainder of the month. Kevin Wilson was appointed manager at the start of November and recorded four wins and a draw in his first month in charge, earning him the Division Three manager of the month award, he followed that up in April with his second manager of the month award. Personal success was achieved by Ian Hendon, who was voted in the PFA team of the season for Division Three.
Promotion to the higher division allowed the club to make changes to the playing staff over the summer, something it hadn't done during the season. Carlo Corazzin, Sean Parrish and Simon Sturridge were allowed to leave on free transfers and Marco Gabbiadini (Bosman), Christian Hargreaves (Bosman) and Jamie Forrester (a then club record signing at £150,000 from FC Utrecht) were brought in as replacements. The Cobblers made a good start to life in Division Two and flirted with the play off's during the early part of the campaign before slipping away to finish a disappointing 18th. A series of injuries after Christmas depriving the club of a number of the senior players and stretching the already paper thin squad.
The club bought in Gerard Lavin, Daryl Burgress, Paul McGregor, Derek Asamoah and loan players Sam Parkin, Rob Wolleaston and Ian Evatt at the beginning of the campaign but a crippling injury crisis saw the Cobblers make a disappointing start to the new season. Kevin Wilson was relieved of his duties at the end of September 2001 following a 3-1 home defeat against Blackpool. Shortly afterwards Kevan Broadhurst was appointed as Caretaker Manger and following an upturn in the club's fortunes he was confirmed as full time manager in October 2001. His task was immediately made harder by news of a transfer embargo, one that would run for the course of the season, preventing him from strengthening what was already one of the smallest squad in the entire Football League. Mixed fortunes were experienced in the remainder of the year but things were to improve greatly in 2002. Despite finding themselves nine points adrift of safety in mid-January a remarkable run of promotion form, with only one defeat at Sixfields, saw the Cobblers secure their safety with a game to spare. Mission impossible had been accomplished and Northampton Town finished a remarkable five points above the relegation zone.
Over the summer Kevan Broadhurst managed to strengthen the squad with eight new faces. He managed to compliment experienced players like Lee Harper, Paul Rickers, Nathan Abbey, Paul Trollope and Jerry Gill with promising youngsters Darryn Stamp, Greg Lincoln and Paul Harsley. The season was little over a month old when the club was forced to launch a 'Save our Season' campaign in a bid to see out the remainder of the year. The SOS appeal was required after the collapse of ITV Digital and much publicised takeover attempts by John Fashanu and Giovanni Di Stefano had failed and left the club with a big deficit to make up in the budgets. Supporters rallied and managed to raise over £230,000 to keep the club afloat with a string of fundraising events, the total was still some way short of the target of half a million pounds which was required by the end of January. In December 2002 a consortium headed by Andrew Ellis took a majority shareholding in the club and Chairman Barry Stonhill stood down. On the pitch the side had made a reasonable start to the season but suffered from a lack of consistency. In November 2002 Kevan had been pipped to the Manager of the Month award by Wigan's Paul Jewell, a disastrous run of results followed which ultimately cost him his job in January 2003. He was replaced by former England, Spurs and QPR defender Terry Fenwick, who had previously managed Portsmouth. Terry's spell in charge of the side proved to be the eighth shortest managerial reign in English football history, after a winless spell of seven games he was relieved of his duties and replaced by Martin Wilkinson as Caretaker Manager for the remainder of the season. The change could not keep the Cobblers in Division 2, but Martin was appointed permanent Manager in April 2003.
Colin Calderwood replaced Martin in October 2003 and the Cobblers are looking to bounce back to League 1 (Division 2) as soon as possible. May 2004 saw the club suffer play off heartbreak with a penalty shoot out semi final defeat, and 12 months later similar heartbreak followed with a 1-0 play off semi final at Southend (again a penalty) but with Chairman David Cardoza at the helm, the club can look forward with excitement and optimism.
The claret and white juggernaut began to move in 2005/2006, with the club securing automatic promotion to League One. A 1-0 victory over Chester at Sixfields on April 29 2006 saw wild celebrations begin. A squad with a backbone of strength and experience in the shape of Sean Dyche, Ian Taylor, Eoin Jess and Scott McGleish had steered the Cobblers away from the clutches of League Two.
However, just as the celebrations died down, Calderwood decided to accept the position of Nottingham Forest's new manager, meaning John Gorman would lead Northampton Town in to League One. Gorman resigned for personal reasons in December 2006, with Stuart Gray his replacement.
In his first full season (2007/2008), Gray led the Cobblers to a top half finish in League One, a final placing only bettered twice in the previous 41 years. Sadly that success was not sustained the following season, with a last day defeat at Leeds condemning the club to relegation back to League 2. The 2009/10 season started with the team struggling to find consistency, and Gray left his post in early September 2009. His successor was club legend Ian Sampson, the club's second highest appearance maker of all time, who was appointed after a spell in caretaker charge. In September 2010 he oversaw one of the biggest results in the club's history, beating Liverpool at Anfield in the Carling Cup. Sampson left the club in March 2011 after 17 years service as player, coach and manager. He was replaced by the former Yeovil Town, Bristol City and Peterborough United boss Gary Johnson on a two and a half year contract. A win over Stevenage in the penultimate game of the season secured the club's Football League status. Johnson left the club by mutual consent in November 2011.
Aidy Boothroyd was named as Johnson's replacement, and he arrived with assistant Andy King, steering the club to safety in 2011/12. He enjoyed a fine first full season, leading the team to a Wembley play off final where they sadly lost to Bradford City in front of more than 47,000 fans. In July 2013 Coventry City Football Club agreed a 3 year deal to play their home games at Sixfields on a temporary basis. Boothroyd left Sixfields in December 2013 after a 4-1 home loss to Wycombe Wanderers meant that the Cobblers spent Christmas 2013 at the foot of the Football League. Chris Wilder was appointed his replacement in January 2014, assisted by Alan Knill. Wilder kept the club up after a successful battle against relegation thanks to a 3-1 win over Oxford United on the final day of the season. His first full season at Sixfields saw the Cobblers secure a mid-table finish.
David Cardoza left the club in November 2015, to be replaced as Executive Chairman by Kelvin Thomas and after a remarkable season, that included 10 successive wins, the Cobblers were promoted back to League 1 on April 9 2016 after a 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers at Sixfields. They secured the club's first title for 29 years the following week, winning League 2 after a 0-0 draw at Exeter City. After ending the season with a joint club record 99 points, and on an unbeaten run of 24 matches without defeat, Chris Wilder left Sixfields at the end of the season to take over at Sheffield United. His replacement was Port Vale boss Rob Page, the former Welsh international defender, in May 2016. Page left the club in January 2017. Justin Edinbugh was named manager a few days later.
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| Northampton Town F.C. |
If someone suffers from ‘Stendhal Syndrome’ they suffer giddiness and confusion when exposed to what? | Northampton Town: From the brink of oblivion to League Two promotion - BBC Sport
BBC Sport
Northampton Town: From the brink of oblivion to League Two promotion
By Joe Townsend
Northampton will reach the magical 100-point mark with four wins in their last five games
From the brink of oblivion to winning promotion.
A familiar tale, but one rarely told from start to finish in only 135 days.
That is the story of Northampton Town's season, however, after their 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers on Saturday made them the first Football League side to win promotion in 2015-16.
Four months earlier, a much unhappier ending looked the most likely to be written.
Back in November, outstanding repayments on a £10.25m loan were being called in by the Borough Council as they petitioned for Northampton Town to be put into administration.
Now, that's a lot of money. Enough to pay the annual fuel bill for 7,900 people - a sold-out Sixfields Stadium. Ironic.
Ten million. It wasn't a figure you could escape from around Northamptonshire, indelibly etched on the psyche of every casual observer as much as the 20-minute Wembley capitulation against Bradford in 2013 is on the minds of Cobblers fans. Adebayo Akinfenwa couldn't save Northampton then and, try as he might, he couldn't now.
That number really was everywhere. Eight figures that transcended sport in the county, giving its professional football club unwanted national attention.
Cobblers fans have stood by the team despite troubled times off the pitch
But, in actual fact, it was the much smaller £166,000 tax bill and consequent winding-up hearing that presented the real danger. With Northampton Town's bank account frozen, there existed an imminent threat of oblivion.
No football team, no commentator
When I accepted the role of Northampton Town commentator for BBC Radio Northampton in February 2015, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind, if I'm honest.
Plenty of supporters made sure they told me straight that I too would be out of job if the Cobblers went bust. Brackley, Corby, Kettering, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Daventry would have been the alternative in reality. But, with respect, the job description at BBC Radio Northampton had said "patch contains only English town with professional cricket, rugby and football".
I've never liked being dragged around the shops on a Saturday afternoon. Luckily for every Northamptonian, I don't think Chris Wilder has either - a veteran of 700 managerial games, not forgetting the long playing career in his younger days.
Cue an impassioned five-minute pitchside rant at Notts County, during which he said the off-field problems were "tearing us all apart". Trust me, it really was more soliloquy than interview. I tentatively held out that microphone, just far enough away to feel safe - well, safeish.
Wilder has been in charge of Northampton since January 2014
"I get pulled up about that a lot," grins Wilder. "It'll stick with me for a long time, possibly as long as I'm in football management.
"There's a time for honesty in football. That was one of them."
It's certainly something I'll never forget. A manager publicly speaking out against his employer takes real courage. But, moreover, that person has to really care about their football club. Supporters value passion and commitment almost as highly as results - and that's what makes this season extra special for Cobblers fans.
"We'd kept quiet for a long time, possibly far too long," explains Wilder. "People weren't getting paid, so I spoke for the players and staff, hopefully the supporters as well. There was a great reaction.
"Obviously, things moved on very quickly after that and if I played a little part in it, then great."
Ending the long wait
That comment from Wilder is something of an understatement. Forty-eight hours later and former Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas had agreed a takeover from David Cardoza. Wilder's players then stepped into another gear - and they've lost just one league game since.
The defeat, inflicted by Portsmouth, had no effect on the Cobblers, who then won 10 in a row, equalled a fourth tier record of eight successive away victories, and are now unbeaten in 19 games.
Such form has ended a decade-long wait for promotion. Back then BBC Radio Northampton summariser Lee Harper was in the Cobblers goal.
"I remember the adulation after beating Chester City to go up, that's the overriding memory of what was a fantastic season," said Harper. "This season, when I did my first game away at Barnet in August, I never saw this coming.
"From the start, I thought they'd go close because there was quality in the team, but with all the turmoil going on off the pitch, it didn't look like it would go their way.
"But the fans' reaction to it all is what's galvanised the club - and not just the club, but the whole town of Northampton. I have to be honest, I don't think anyone envisaged this."
Scoring goals for fun
The Cobblers are the highest goalscorers in League Two with 75, and have scored three or more goals a staggering 14 times in all competitions this season, drawing a blank in just five of 48 matches.
"The side I played in and Chris Wilder's are very different," added Harper. "Under Colin Calderwood we were very defensively strong and set up to be difficult to beat.
"I mean we had some good players, but this team at the moment, it's really offensive football. They just score goals for fun, and play with a real style - it's been a pleasure to watch them this year.
"Our achievement was great, but people only remember champions, and this current Cobblers team deserve that. They deserve to be remembered for what they've achieved this season, especially given the circumstances they've achieved it in."
Northampton Town fans celebrate promotion after an astonishing four months
Long before 'doomsday' at Meadow Lane on 21 November, Sixfields wasn't the happiest of places. A home defeat by Dagenham left Northampton Town 16th on the first Saturday in September, already eight points off the pace.
Supporters demonstrated against the ownership the following weekend, and the lack of progress on the unused, concrete East Stand at the ground - it was a development 18 months behind schedule.
Two thousand claret and white seats are open for business there now, while three wins will see Wilder's side pass the haul of Graham Carr's 1987 Cobblers team to join York, Swindon and Plymouth as fourth-tier centurions.
'No big interview this time'
"It's been an unbelievable effort," said a proud Wilder.
"Everybody in and around the club during that difficult period deserves enormous credit. To think the players kept up great performances, and staff got on with their jobs while not getting paid is phenomenal.
"Managers come and go, players come and go, but supporters and the football club will remain. I always said survival of the football club was the first and foremost thing.
"It'll just be great if we can put the icing on the cake and add a title that we really deserve. No big interview this time though - I'll have my head in the fridge."
I think he's earned that beer. A BBC Radio Northampton interview is in the contract though Chris. I'll be sure to keep a safe distance.
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Ehud Olmert became Prime Minister of which country in 2006? | FRONTLINE/WORLD . Israel - The Unexpected Candidate . Profiles . Ehud Olmert . PBS
React to this Story
Acting Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when he became acting prime minister on January 5, 2006, after Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke and fell into a deep coma. Until then he had served as Israel’s deputy prime minister, with little standing in his own country and barely known outside. One of the most right-wing “Likudniks” and more conservative than Sharon himself, Olmert had a history of supporting the dream of a greater “Eretz” Israel and strongly backing the settler movement.
Olmert’s family emigrated from China to Israel in the late 1930s. He was born in 1945 and grew up in a small community -- Nahalat Jabotinski -- named after a famous militant nationalist leader, where less than 30 families settled in the 1940s. These families were separated from and ostracized by the majority of the Jewish community at the time because of their underground militancy, and what was considered ultra-nationalism. Olmert’s father became a member of parliament, representing the right wing party Herut.
Olmert grew up with three brothers, who were all aggressive and competitive. And it wasn’t long before young Ehud was off and running in the same direction. After attending law school, he ran for the Knesset, then became a minister without portfolio and a minister of health. Following that, in 1993, he ran and was elected mayor of Jerusalem, which launched him firmly into the political spotlight. He remained Jerusalem’s mayor for 10 years before joining Sharon’s cabinet in 2003, and he devoted his mayoral term to improvements in the city’s infrastructure, especially in the area of transportation.
Despite his longstanding support of the settlements, Olmert was surprisingly one of the first to advocate withdrawal from Gaza. At first, the idea was controversial, and advocates for Israeli settlers accused him of caving in to terrorism. Later, however, Olmert’s idea was endorsed by Sharon and developed into the country’s disengagement plan. Olmert has recently announced a plan for unilaterally withdrawing from 70 percent of the West Bank, effectively drawing the borders of Israel and a new Palestinian state -- yet another step in his shift from the hard right to a more centrist political position.
In November 2005, Olmert joined Ariel Sharon in leaving Likud and founding Israel’s new centrist party, Kadima. He will be the party’s candidate in the March elections and is strongly favored to win.
Olmert is a lawyer by trade and has degrees in psychology, philosophy and law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His wife, Aliza, is a successful artist and author. They have four children.
| Israel |
Which English airport features in a television advert for ‘Specsavers’? | CNN.com - World News: Election Watch
Seats won in last election: 3
* Kadima Party was formed in November 2005.
When was the last parliamentary election?
The last parliamentary election was held on January 28, 2003.
Population and number of registered voters:
Population: 6,276,883* (July 2005 est.)
Number of registered voters: 5,014,622 (March 2006 est.)
* This figure includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, more than 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem.
Of Interest:
The entire country is considered one electoral district. A threshold of 2% of total votes cast is required for any party to win a seat in the Knesset.
The parliamentary poll was called 8 months earlier following the decision of Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, to leave his Likud party and form the more centrist Kadima party. The poll had been initially set for November 2006.
Following the elections, the president will assign a prime minister from the new Knesset members and task him/her to form a government. Traditionally, the prime minister is the leader of the largest party. The direct election of the prime minister, instituted in Israel in 1996, was abolished in 2001.
SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS (IFES)
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Villain Hugo Drax appears in which 1979 James Bond film? | Hugo Drax | Villains Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Meeting Bond
Bond meets Drax at his estate in California.
When a plane carrying a Moonraker space shuttle on loan to the UK by Hugo Drax crashes, James Bond is sent to investigate what happened to the shuttle. As the shuttle was crafted by Drax Industries, Bond travels to California, where the shuttles are manufactured. There, he is picked up by Drax's pilot Corinne Dufour and flown to Drax's estate, which is from France. Bond is then welcomed by Drax's butler and brought to the drawing room, where Drax is playing Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude in D flat major (op. 28) on his grand piano. He is then interrupted by the butler, who introduces him to Bond. After his female companions have left, Drax welcomes Bond, believing that his government sent him to apologize for the loss of the space shuttle. Bond tells him that an apology will be made to the American government when the British Secret Service has found out why there was no trace of the Moonraker in the crash site. They are then interrupted by Drax's henchman Chang , who delivers tea. While drinking, Bond asks Drax about the Moonraker. Dufour then returns and Drax tells Bond that she will bring him to Dr. Holly Goodhead, who will show her around. After Bond and Dufour are gone, Drax tells Chang to make sure that some harm comes to Bond.
After having been shown around by Dr. Goodhead, Bonds returns to Drax' office at night and opens his safe. Inside he finds files containing blueprints. He takes pictures of the files and returns them to the safe. This is witnessed by Chang.
Hunt
Bond and Drax on the hunt.
The next day, Drax is having a pheasant hunt on the countryside surrounding his estate. He invites Bond, but Bond declines as he is leaving. He stops by to bid Drax farewell and thank him for his hospitality. Drax convinces him to participate, as a pheasant could fly over. Having posted an armed henchman in the trees nearby, Drax intends to kill Bond. When a pheasant flies, Drax points at it and Bond takes the rifle. He shoots, not hitting the pheasant but the sniper that falls to the ground. Not having seen that, Drax tells Bond that he missed but Bond responds "Did I?". Uncomfortable because his man is not shooting Bond, Drax takes his rifle back when Bond gives it to him and watches Bond drive off.
He then turns to see Corinne Dufour arrive. He tells her that he knows that he and Bond were in his office last night and that she showed Bond the safe. Although Corinne denies it, Drax tells her that her employment is terminated and that she will leave immediately. Corinne then turns, but Drax orders Chang to release his doberman pinschers, which follow Corinne into the forest and rip her apart.
Venice
Drax tricks Bond and the MI6.
After finding out that Drax is manufacturing a highly lethal toxin in his Museum Of Antique Glass in Venice, Bond reports this to his superiors. However, when they arrive at the place instead of a laboratory they only find a vast office. They are greeted by Drax, which forces them to apologize to Drax. Leaving the building, M tells Bond that he has never been so humiliated in his life. Bond then hands him a flask of the toxin which he took from the laboratory.
Expecting to have defeated the MI6, Drax calls an associate in order to employ a replacement for Chang, who was killed by Bond. This leads him to employ Jaws as his new henchman.
Brazilian Jungle
Bond is eventually captured by Drax's henchwomen while investigating the Brazilian jungle for the plant Drax uses to create his toxin. He is brought before Drax, who brings him into the control room of the base. He there tells him about his toxin. On a screen, Bond and Drax then witness the lift-off of four Moonraker shuttles, causing Bond to ask for Drax's motivation for stealing the shuttle he lend to the British government. Drax tells him that he needed it as one of his own was faulty.
Bond is brought before Drax.
Claiming that Bond has distracted him enough, Drax tells Jaws to place Bond somewhere where he can get warm after his swim. Bond is brought into the chamber underneath the last Moonraker shuttle, where Dr. Goodhead already awaits him. Drax then enters the shuttle, leaving Bond and Goodhead to die in the fire when the rocket lifts off. By use of his watch, Bond and Goodhead manage to flee into the air vent and escape their fiery demise. To uncover Drax's plan, Bond and Goodhead enter the sixth Moonraker shuttle which takes them to Drax's space base.
Space base
On Drax's base, Bond and Goodhead mix with the rest of the pilots, listening while Drax holding a speech. Finally explaining his plan, Drax explains that he, in a scheme similar to that of Karl Stromberg's plan, seeks to destroy the entire human race except for a small group of carefully selected humans, both male and female, which he views as physically perfected specimen to create a super race with. Using chemical weapons created by Drax's scientists, derived from his toxin, he intends to wipe out the remainder of humanity, while keeping all animals on Earth alive. The biological agents were to be dispersed around the earth from a series of 50 strategically placed globes, each containing enough toxin to kill 100 million people. After a period of time, when the chemical agents has become harmless, Drax plans for his master race to return to Earth to reinhabit the planet.
Drax adresses his henchmen.
After Bond and Goodhead deactivate the bases radar jammer, the space station appears on the radar of the Americans and a shuttle full of soldiers is sent to investigate. When told about this, Drax orders his men to use the bases laser to destroy the approaching shuttle. He is interrupted when Bond and Goodhead, who have been captured by Jaws, are brought before him. He then introduces to Bond the airlock chamber, intending to eject him and Goodhead into space. Intending for Jaws to hear, Bond inquires whether anyone not fulfilling his ideals of perfection will be exterminated, which Drax confirms. Realizing that neither he or his girlfriend meet Drax's ideals, Jaws switches sides and attacks Drax's men. They are however overwhelmed by Drax's men. To evade the destruction of the approaching shuttle and their own death, Bond quickly moves and pushes the bases emergency stop button, causing the entire facility to violently shake. As the base is no longer rotating, it also has no gravity. Bond, Goodhead and Jaws use this advantage to escape from the main room.
Drax tries to kill Bond.
Meanwhile, Drax's men and the approaching US soldiers meet in space and battle each other, with heavy casualties on both sides. One technician also manages to get the station rotating again, however the soldiers have already managed to dock their shuttle and have boarded the station, creating a massive battle in the control room. Bond witnesses Drax running off and follows him, following him near the airlock chamber. There, Drax grabs a gun from a fallen soldier and points it at Bond, claiming that he will at least have the chance to put Bond out of Drax's misery. However, Bond acts first, shooting Drax with a cyanide dart out of his wristgun. Mortally wounded, Drax stumbles back and Bond opens the airlock chamber to blast the dying Drax into space.
Gallery
| Moonraker |
The volcano Hekla is on which island? | Villains :: MI6 :: The Home Of James Bond 007
Appearance: Tall average figure with blue eyes, clean cut black hair and well manicured beard.
Organisations & Alliances: The Drax Corporation, Jaws , Chang
Profile
Debonair and charming, but with a sinister hostile edge, Drax revels in the lap of luxury and constantly seeks out the very finest in life. His estate stretches for miles across California and what he doesn't own he simply doesn't want. He enjoys the high life, the arts, 18th Century French architecture and classical music and often plays his grand piano. Behind the mast of highbrow sophistication is a short temper and a ruthless lust for perfection.
If any of his employees do not hold true to the highest standard of work they are instantly and brutally disposed of. Hugo Drax is a control freak and a ruthless businessman who will stop and nothing till his his life's goal is achieved. Even the conquest of space is not sufficient reward for Drax's megalomaniac tendencies - Drax wishes to control the fate of the entire human race.
“Allow me to introduce you to the airlock chamber. Observe, Mr Bond, your route from this world to the next. And the treacherous Dr Goodhead; your desire to become America's first woman in space will shortly be fulfilled.”
Scheme
Obsessed with the domination of the globe and indeed outer space, Drax selects a small army of the "finest" humans on earth. Being the head of huge company that manufactures space shuttles and other space exploration equipment, he uses his resources to build a huge space station to temporarily house the model humans of his master race. In a sick and twisted plot, Drax' scientists have developed a biological weapon that to be deployed from space, to wipe out human civilization, while his master race was lives and breeds on the space station. Drax expects 100% loyalty from the selected few and truly sees himself as a God - holding the fate of the human race in his hands.
"You have arrived at a propitious moment, considered to be your country's one indisputable contribution to Western Civilization: Afternoon tea. May I press you to a cucumber sandwich?"
I've Been Expecting You
James Bond is tasked with the investigation of the missing Moonraker shuttle - on loan from the US Space Administration and the Drax Corporation. Over afternoon tea, Hugo Drax assumes that Bond has come to apologise in person and a wisp of disdain crosses his calm persona when he finds Bond is tasked with a formal investigation. By the world, he is seen as a great businessman, a philanthropist and a genius. To Bond, he is a madman whose over-inflated ego now threatens the world.
Headquarters
Hugo Drax has all that money can buy - lavish cars, helicopters and even a private French Chateau, imported stone by stone from France. The Californian climate suited Drax and there he made his home and his production centre for the Moonraker space programme. With outposts from Venice to Rio, Drax can relocate to the various operation centers in order to carry out aspects of his manic plan. His plan to annihilate the inhabitants of Earth in favour of his own "super-race" is made possible by his space station based headquarters.
Gadgets & Vehicles
In charge of 10 Moonraker space shuttles - the first of their kind in the world - Drax elects to fly to his space station in Moonraker 5, armed with a deadly laser. The space station itself is fortified against any attack and cloaked against radar. The authorities have no clue of its existence.
"At least I shall have the pleasure of putting you out of my misery."
Dress Code
Formal and proper, Drax's dress sense reflects his taste for fine food, lavish architecture and formal civilisation. Mostly cut in black, with white trim, Drax's suits are impeccably tailored to his physique.
Goodbye, Mr Bond
With Drax's space station being blasted to bits by US Space Marines, Bond comes face to face with this manic villain for the last time. It is 007 who holds the ace up his sleeve and shoots a deadly dart from Q 's latest contraption into Drax - before assisting him into the wrong side of his own airlock.
Biography
Michael Lonsdale (born Alfred de Turris) was born to an English father and French mother, in 1931 - Paris, France. He is renowned for being perfectly bilingual in both English and French and wins many a role with this skill. In the 1950's Lonsdale began winning roles in various French television and film productions. His career blossomed during the 1970's with a rush of French films, making a name for himself in the industry.
"Look after Mr. Bond... see that some harm comes to him."
It was in 1979 that Lonsdale came to Hollywood attention after performing in two Hollywood productions - J. Lee Thompson's war film, "The Passage" and the 11th James Bond production, "Moonraker" as the arch villain, Drax. With the success and popularity of "Moonraker" Lonsdale won roles in a variety of Hollywood productions including "Chariots of Fire", "Enigma", "Name of the Rose" and more recently Robert De Niro's "Ronin" and Steven Spielberg's "Munich". Despite the Hollywood break, Michael Lonsdale remains in high demand for many French productions as well as maintaining his Hollywood spotlight.
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An 18th Century dandy and a type of pasta share which name? | macaroni - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com
Random Word
macaroni
Macaroni is a short, skinny, tube-shaped pasta. Many kids — and adults — would name "macaroni and cheese" as one of their favorite foods.
At some Italian restaurants, you can order macaroni as a side dish, and it's easy to cook at home with tomato sauce or butter and cheese. Macaroni and cheese can be cooked on the stove or baked in the oven with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Macaroni began to have the second meaning of "fop" or "dandy" around 1780, named for the well-traveled youths who ate what was considered fancy and exotic at the time — macaroni.
| Macaroni |
Which American philosopher built a hut near Walden pond, Concord in 1845, and lived there as a hermit for a few years? | How a Yank Doodles his Dandy, or London’s Macaroni Clubs | Making History Tart & Titillating
Making History Tart & Titillating
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni
When I was a little girl, I always thought this song sort of silly. Yankee Doodle. First of all, ridiculous name. Split it into a noun and a verb and it becomes positively mystifying. Yank was how my Georgia-born grandfather referred to me when I asked him about the “aggressor” in the American Civil War and doodle was what I did when I absolutely, for the dozenth time, feigned total lack of spelling comprehension so I wouldn’t have to partake in the spelling bee.
Then there’s the “A-riding on a pony” part which is just as confusing as the first bit. I mean, come on! What man in his right mind a-rides on a pony without losing all sense of dignity? Exactly my point. And feathers? Mortifying. Feathers belonged not to a hat but to boa wrappers and old ladies who wore magenta lipstick that smeared on their teeth when they smiled. Calling “it” macaroni (whatever “it” was) merely exacted the mortal blow that prevented me from singing this ditty. After all, a little girl who likes to roll unfamiliar words off her tongue can only be so careless before she’s kicking her heels against the naughty chair in detention.
But back to how Yankee Doodle gets equated with macaroni. Late in the 18th century, an establishment called the Macaroni Club was formed wherein a London dandy could nosh on pasta, strut his affected airs, and in general, be fabulous. Card carrying members (okay, I don’t really think there was a card) consisted of gentlemen who had gone on a continental Grand Tour and returned with a passion for all things Italian.
Given their outrageous sartorial choices including the much caricatured club wigs with shruken Nivernois hats, the French-style red heels and striped stockings, not to mention the occasional thrown in parasol and sword garlanded with ribbons, “macaroni” quickly became a choice insult for unmanly behavior. Homoerotic connotations abounded and gender boundaries blurred. If a fellow was proclaimed a Macaroni, he was not only a peacock of fashion, but weak, effeminate, and altogether contrary to stereotypical masculine authority. Perhaps worst of all, in the insular minds of proper Georgian Englishmen, he was a xenophile.
At a time when France and Spain were aggressively encroaching on British territory and the American colonials were stirring in their breeches, possessing continental sympathies was akin to being unpatriotic. Britain didn’t become an empire by imitating Italy. Well, actually they did. It’s called the Roman Empire, but that’s ancient history, long forgotten, rubbish, rubbish. Point is, stiff upper lips shuddered at what these fancy poodles were doing to their country’s reputation.
Fortunately, a solution soon arrived where dandified Londoners weren’t the lone targets of mockery. Enter the Americans. During the Revolutionary War, British soliders ridiculed the unkempt colonials who thought it the height of fashion to stick feathers in their hats and how better to unman the enemy, I ask, than by breaking out into song?
Yankee Doodle keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy
P.S. Still wondering how a Yank doodles his dandy? Doodle, as used in the ditty, refers to a fool or simpleton. In the early 18th century, however, doodle was also a verb, as in “to swindle or make a fool of”. A derivation of the German word, dudeln, it is possibly the root for the modern American “dude”.
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Which band released an 1984 album entitled ‘Legend’? | The White Album: How Bob Marley Posthumously Became a Household Name | Village Voice
The White Album: How Bob Marley Posthumously Became a Household Name
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The White Album: How Bob Marley Posthumously Became a Household Name
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 3:05 a.m.
At the time of his death, in May 1981, Bob Marley was 36 years old, reggae's biggest star, and the father of at least eleven children. He was not, however, a big seller.
For Dave Robinson, this presented an opportunity.
Two years after Marley's passing, Chris Blackwell, the founder of Marley's label, Island Records, brought Robinson in to run his U.K. operation. Robinson's first assignment was to put out a compilation of Bob Marley's hits. He took one look at the artist's sales figures and was shocked.
Marley's best-selling album, 1977's Exodus, had only moved about 650,000 units in the U.S. and fewer than 200,000 in the U.K. They were not shabby numbers, but they weren't in line with his profile.
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"Marley was a labor of love for employees of Island Records," says Charly Prevost, who ran Island in the United States for a time in the '80s. "U2 and Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Robert Palmer is what paid your salary."
Blackwell handed Robinson — the cofounder of Stiff Records , famous for rock acts such as Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello — an outline of his vision for the compilation, which Blackwell says presented Marley as somewhat "militant."
"I always saw Bob as someone who had a strong kind of political feeling," he says, "somebody who was representing the dispossessed of the world."
Robinson balked. He'd seen the way Island had marketed Marley in the past and believed it was precisely this type of portrayal that was responsible for the mediocre numbers.
"Record companies can, just like a documentary, slant [their subjects] in whatever direction they like," Robinson says. "If you don't get the demographic right and sorted in your mind, you can present it just slightly off to the left or the right. I thought that was happening and had restricted his possible market."
Robinson believed he could sell a million copies of the album, but to do it he would have to repackage not just a collection of songs but Marley himself.
"My vision of Bob from a marketing point of view," Robinson says, "was to sell him to the white world."
The result of that coolly pragmatic vision was
Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers
, an album that became one of the top-selling records of all time, far exceeding even the ambitious goals Robinson had set for it. Unlike the Backstreet Boys' Millennium, 'N Sync's No Strings Attached and many other best-selling albums in recent decades,
Legend
isn't a time capsule of a passing musical fad. Selling roughly 250,000 units annually in the U.S. alone, it has become a rite of passage in pop-music puberty. It's no wonder that on July 1 Universal released yet another deluxe reissue of the album, this time celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Few artists have hits collections that become their definitive works. But if you have one Bob Marley album, it's probably Legend, which is one reason members of his former backing band, the Wailers, are performing it in its entirety on the road this summer. Legend also defines its genre unlike any other album, introducing record buyers to reggae in one safe and secure package. In fact, it has been the top-selling reggae album in the U.S. for eight of the past ten years.
"It doesn't just define a career, it defines a genre," says SoundScan analyst Dave Bakula. "I don't think you've got another genre where you've got that one album."
Robert Nesta Marley was born on his grandfather's farm in the Jamaican countryside in 1945. His father, Norval Marley, was white, of British descent. He was largely absent from his son's life and died when Marley was ten. Two years later, his mother, Cedella Booker, an African Jamaican, moved the family to Trench Town, a poor, artistically fertile neighborhood in Kingston.
A budding musician at age sixteen Marley scored an audition with a not-yet-famous Jimmy Cliff, then a label scout.
"My first impression of him was he was a poet and he had a great sense of rhythm," says Cliff, now 66 and on tour himself this summer. "And I think he carried that on throughout his career."
See also: " Beyond the Mascot, The Man (and His Faults) in Marley "
In 1962, Cliff's label, Beverley's, released Marley's first single, "Judge Not," a ska shuffle. Soon after, Marley formed the Wailing Wailers (later shortened to the Wailers) with a core group of musicians that included Neville Livingston (a.k.a. Bunny Wailer) and Peter Tosh. All three men practiced Rastafari, a religion and lifestyle that emphasizes the spiritual qualities of marijuana.
"We didn't use no drugs; we only used herb," says Aston "Family Man" Barrett, a bass player, long-time Marley collaborator and current leader of the Wailers. "We use it for spiritual meditation and musical inspiration."
The band released two albums for Island Records that merged reggae with rock & roll. The initial printing for the first LP, 1973's Catch a Fire, opened on a hinge to look like a Zippo lighter, at a time when Americans could do hard time for possessing even a single joint. Burnin', also from 1973, featured the Marley composition "I Shot the Sheriff," a song about police brutality, which became a hit for Eric Clapton. On the back cover of the LP, Marley is smoking a fatty.
When Livingston and Tosh left the band, in 1974, Marley continued on as Bob Marley and the Wailers. He also became entrenched in Jamaica's often violent political wars. In 1976 he and several members of his entourage were shot two days before he performed at the Smile Jamaica Concert, an event intended to help ease tensions ahead of an election. The gunmen were never found.
In 1980 Marley visited Cliff at a studio in Kingston. By this time both men were internationally recognized reggae stars; Cliff had broken through with the 1972 movie The Harder They Come and its corresponding soundtrack. Though Marley had been treated for a malignant melanoma on his toe in 1977, Cliff noticed nothing out of the ordinary about his health as Marley embarked on a tour in support of his latest album, Uprising.
Al Anderson, a guitarist with Bob Marley and the Wailers, remembers the Uprising tour as "an amazing time," with the band picking up momentum. But when the tour got to Ireland, Anderson says, Marley mentioned that he was having trouble singing and performing. "He knew he wasn't well," says Anderson.
On September 20, 1980, following a two-night stand at Madison Square Garden, Marley went for a jog in Central Park. He collapsed, had what appeared to be a seizure, and was rushed to a hospital. Doctors told him that cancer had spread throughout his body. His next show would be his last.
Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Marley's bass player, continues performing Marley's music with his version of the Wailers
It's not that Bob Marley didn't have white fans when he was alive. Caucasian college students in the United States — particularly those around Midwestern schools like the University of Michigan, Prevost says — constituted a large percentage of his base. But in order for the compilation to meet Robinson's lofty sales goals, those students' parents had to buy the album, too.
Robinson had a hunch that suburban record buyers were uneasy with Marley's image — that of a perpetually stoned, politically driven iconoclast associated with violence. And so he commissioned a London-based researcher named Gary Trueman to conduct focus groups with white suburban record buyers in England. Trueman also met with traditional Marley fans to ensure the label didn't package the album in a way that would offend his core audience.
Less than a decade before violence and drugs became a selling point for gangsta rap, the suburban groups told Trueman precisely what Robinson suspected: They were put off by the way Marley was portrayed. They weren't keen on the dope, the religion, the violent undertones, or even reggae as a genre. But they loved Marley's music.
"There was almost this sense of guilt that they hadn't got a Bob Marley album," Trueman says. "They couldn't really understand why they hadn't bought one."
At home one night, Trueman mentioned to his wife that many of the respondents referred to Marley as a "Legend." He said he was going to recommend the title The Legendary Bob Marley. She shot back: "No, just call it Legend: The Best of Bob Marley."
An Island employee named Trevor Wyatt, known as the label's reggae guy, gave Robinson an initial list of songs, which were played to focus groups for feedback. Robinson spent months arranging the order of the tracks. At the time, his wife was pregnant; they'd go for drives, listening to different sequences of the album on cassette. Robinson swears that his unborn son would "kick his mother to pieces" when he liked what he heard.
"The running order is so crucial," Robinson says. "Some people like to do it chronologically, and I think that's all rubbish. When you're doing a greatest-hits, you have to get it to work. It has to get to the end and you want to put it back on again."
Perhaps most critically, Robinson softened Marley's image. He chose a cover photo in which Marley appears more reflective than rebellious. He tapped Paul McCartney to make a cameo in the music video for the album's first single, "One Love," which portrayed Marley as a smiling family man. He even chose not to use the word "reggae" to promote the record in a marketing campaign that included radio and television commercials — a novel and expensive idea at the time, but one Robinson felt was necessary.
Released three years after Marley's death, Legend was an immediate, unqualified hit in the U.K. In the sprawling U.S., success didn't come as quickly. Prevost says Island spent $50,000 on TV commercials that didn't move the needle. But the album sold gradually and relentlessly. SoundScan didn't start tracking album sales in the U.S. until seven years after Legend's 1984 release, yet it's still one of the top ten sellers in the SoundScan era, with more than 11 million albums sold. Universal Music Group, which is now Island's parent company, says that worldwide, more than 27 million copies of Legend have shipped.
Above: Dave Robinson, cofounder of Stiff Records, worked on Legend for Island Records in the early '80s.
Amelia Troubridge
Despite, or perhaps because of, its success, Legend left behind it a host of problems.
The millions of dollars that Marley albums have brought in have sparked a tug of war between Marley's musicians and the songs' rights holders; numerous lawsuits have been filed by members of the Wailers against Island and Universal. In 2006, a justice in London's High Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Aston Barrett against Island seeking $113 million for royalties and songwriting credits.
"There was a lot of hard work from the Wailers band members to help produce Bob's music that just never got credited," says guitarist Anderson, who, like Barrett, recorded extensively with Marley and who appears on Legend cuts like "Could You Be Loved."
(Neither Chris Blackwell's spokesperson nor Universal's spokesperson responded to requests for comment about the allegation.)
Meanwhile, Barrett's and Anderson's camps have been involved in lawsuits over the right to perform under the Wailers name, and today each musician leads a competing version of the group. Anderson's group is called the Original Wailers, and Barrett's band is known simply as the Wailers.
Even Legend's music itself is not without its critics.
Writing for Slate , Field Maloney called the album "a defanged and overproduced selection of Marley's music. Listening to Legend to understand Marley is like reading Bridget Jones's Diary to get Jane Austen."
For their parts, Blackwell calls the album "wonderful," Anderson says it is "likable" and Cliff is ambivalent. "I have not listened to that record, really," he says.
While it's unfortunate that Marley didn't live to see the success of Legend, Robinson speculates that the album might never have been made on his watch.
"Greatest-hits projects, the ones that really work, unfortunately work mainly because the people are dead," he says. "These kinds of artists, left to their own devices, would have a different greatest-hits. A living artist will tell you that the greatest song he's ever written is the one he's last written."
Marley's son Julian has another theory: "Why do a greatest-hits album when you're still here doing great things?"
And yet musically, it's hard to argue that Legend isn't an iconic work. The songwriting on tracks like "No Woman, No Cry" and "Redemption Song" is so compelling that the works transcend genre, as Clapton's success with "I Shot the Sheriff" demonstrates.
It's also worth noting that Robinson didn't intend for the record to be comprehensive; he just wanted to get Marley's music onto stereos worldwide. In doing so, he did something bigger: He helped make Marley's image and message ubiquitous. Today you'll see the artist's face on beach towels and his lyrics on posters in countries from Russia to Chile.
And ironically, over the past three decades, rebelliousness and violence have become a routine method of marketing pop stars. Robinson may have softened Marley's image, but he didn't whitewash it. Marley remains an international touchstone of rebellion, known as much for his social and cultural convictions (and his affinity for good bud) as for his musical oeuvre.
Though Legend may be the preferred dinner-party soundtrack for polite company, it's also been the gateway drug for generations of Marley aficionados, who heard something in the record and wanted more.
| Bob Marley and the Wailers |
The medical condition aphagia is the inability or refusal to do what? | Legend (Remastered) by Bob Marley & The Wailers on Apple Music
16 Songs
iTunes Review
The 12th album by Bob Marley & The Wailers was also Marley's second posthumous LP. Legend was released in 1984 and has since become the best-selling reggae album ever, boasting more than 25 million global sales. Legend sequenced Marley's greatest hits and singles from their original vinyl format. It opens with the sunny "Is This Love" before stretching out a live version of the beautifully melancholy "No Woman No Cry." Legend also boasts three songs that were recorded by The Wailers' original lineup, back when Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh were in the band: the infectious "Stir It Up," the politically charged "Get Up, Stand Up," and the outlaw hit "I Shot the Sheriff" (which was covered by Eric Clapton in 1974).
Customer Reviews
by BuddyMcKarthur
WOW!! This is an absolutely amazing album. 16 tracks of pure perfection, peacefulness and true reggae spirit. This album is a sign that the legend does, in fact, live on. Highly recommend this album, no matter what you do, no matter what music you like, THIS ALBUM IS AN ESSENTIAL!!!!!!!
He lives on!!!
Bob marley is the boss. one love one heart lets get together and feel alright :)
Biography
Born: February 6, 1945 in St. Ann, Jamaica
Genre: Reggae
Years Active: '60s, '70s, '80s
Reggae's most transcendent and iconic figure, Bob Marley was the first Jamaican artist to achieve international superstardom, in the process introducing the music of his native island nation to the far-flung corners of the globe. Marley's music gave voice to the day-to-day struggles of the Jamaican experience, vividly capturing not only the plight of the country's impoverished and oppressed but also the devout spirituality that remains their source of strength. His songs of faith, devotion, and revolution...
Top Albums and Songs by Bob Marley
1.
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The 1988 film ‘Frantic’, starring Harrison Ford, is set in which European city? | Frantic [DVD] [1988]: Amazon.co.uk: Harrison Ford, Betty Buckley, Emmanuelle Seigner, Djiby Soumare, Dominique Virton, Gérard Klein, Stéphane D'Audeville, Laurent Spielvogel, Alain Doutey, Jacques Ciron, Roch Leibovici, Louise Vincent, Witold Sobocinski, Roman Polanski, Thom Mount, Tim Hampton, Gérard Brach, Jeff Gross, Robert Towne: DVD & Blu-ray
Frantic [DVD] [1988]
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Subtitles: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, Romanian, Bulgarian
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Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
DVD Release Date: 25 Oct. 1999
Run Time: 115 minutes
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Please note that this DVD contains a French language soundtrack that is a blended mixture of English and French and not entirely in French. The DVD has French subtitles that provide a translation for the dialogue parts of the French soundtrack that are spoken in English.
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Living in exile in Paris after eluding a controversial charge of statutory rape in America, director Roman Polanski seemed professionally adrift during the 1980s, making only one film (the ill-fated Pirates) between 1979 and 1988. Then Polanski found inspiration--and a major star in Harrison Ford--to make Frantic, a thriller that played directly into Polanski's gift for creating an atmosphere of mystery, dread, escalating suspense and uncertain fate. Set in Paris (Polanski couldn't go to Hollywood, so Hollywood came to him), the story begins when an American heart surgeon (Ford) arrives in the City of Lights with his wife (Betty Buckly) for a medical convention. They check into a posh hotel, and in a brilliantly directed scene, Ford takes a shower and emerges to find that his wife has vanished. This mysterious disappearance--and a confusion between two identical pieces of luggage--leads Ford into the Paris underground and a plot that grows increasingly dangerous as he approaches the truth of his wife's disappearance. The plot of Frantic gets too complicated, and the pace drops off in the cluttered second half, but in Polanski's capable hands the film is blessed with moments of heightened suspense in the tradition of classic thrillers. --Jeff Shannon
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Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters and Bourbon Whiskey are the ingredients of which cocktail? | Frantic Review | Movie - Empire
Frantic Review
Last updated: 10 Oct 2015 18:57
Release date
While attending a medical conference in Paris, Dr. Richard Walkers wife mysteriously disappears. With the authorities proving no help, he takes matters into his own hands, hooking up the awkward beautiful Michelle who knows something shes not telling.
★★★★★
Here’s a terrific set-up. Roman Polanski does Hitchcock in Paris with Harrison Ford in the lead, and for the first half it more than lives up to its billing. Ford working well against type, ditches the macho-crap, that aura of dominant certainty, for a nerveball academic stumped that a situation like this would ever force entry into the safe confines of his life. During an early action sequence, he stumbles after the heroin-chic fatale-charms of Emmanuelle Seigner’s Michelle across slippery rooftops desperately trying to quell the tide of vertigo-induced nausea. Never have we seen Indiana Jones so unmanned.
Suffused with paranoia, as Walker bounces off the faceless wall of indifference of the authorities — he traverses the usual stations of concierge, embassy and police to no avail — Polanski both references the sharp trill of the master’s games and also plays with the form. Walker’s xenophobic tendencies are teasingly forced back into his face. And he must sink beneath the city’s glittery surface into the sordid haunts of the Parisian underworld where the film starts to hint at obviousness, swiftly exhausting its invention.
This stiff doctor, his face a picture of frustration and distaste, is tugged through punkish nightclubs and across the regulation parade of weirdoes toward some kind of denouement. And this being Polanski, he gets suitably excited by the effect this sleek, sexy girl is having on Walker. Seigner, in her first film, is quite something, pouty and exotic, a livewire. You half want Walker to forgo the absconded wife for this slender flame of a girl.
The film finally collapses in its writing. Out of all this labyrinthine plotting and flirting, emerges a flaccid ending so silly it threatens to ruin the film. It certainly spoils the clammy atmosphere of alien threat — that it could be this strange city itself that has stolen his wife. And from the director of Chinatown that is unforgivable.
Frantic is Polanski's most satisfying film since Chinatown, and one of the best traditional thrillers to come down the pike in quite some time.
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‘Jam and Jerusalem’ is associated with which British institution? | Women's Institute: It's not all jam and Jerusalem | The Independent
This Britain
Women's Institute: It's not all jam and Jerusalem
Posing naked for calendars, indulging in pole-dancing: member of the Women's Institute have come a long way. Now comes the ultimate endorsement - a satire featuring French, Saunders and Lumley. What is going on? Ian Herbert reports
Friday 11 November 2005 00:00 BST
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The Independent Online
With a media savvy that the Calendar Girls of nearby Rylstone and District WI would be proud of, the Wythit ladies - whose average age is 32 - will disclose only that the dancing club's location is "some distance north of York" as they have no wish to be followed by photographers.
Welcome to the edgy new world of the Women's Institute, in which young members indulge in parachute-jumping, quad-biking and - if Wythit's chairman has her way - will be at Glastonbury next year on a charabanc-come-recruitment drive. This injection of vigour may come as a disappointment to the latest comedy writers seeking to draw inspiration from images of the blue rinse and twin set brigade.
Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley have started filming a new satire for BBC1 based on the experiences of a WI - or the Women's Guild, as their group is known. Their comedy, Jam and Jerusalem, brings Saunders and Lumley together for the first time since Absolutely Fabulous and Lumley's few words on the subject suggest that pole dancing will not be forming a part of the plot.
"I only have a tiny little role as an old woman in the village where it takes place," she said. "It's a straight-up comedy. Irreverent and very funny."
The National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI), which has not been formally consulted about the programme, has reason to feel some mild apprehension. Its members' last comic reincarnation arrived courtesy of Little Britain, in which they were depicted as projectile-vomiting, homophobic racists, distressed to find that their scones and jams have been made by immigrants and homosexuals.
The 90-year-old institution that the comedy writers are drawing inspiration from certainly has something of an image problem to contend with. The average age of its women remains in the 50 to 60 bracket and its membership - currently 215,000 or so - is falling at between one and two per cent a year.
Little wonder the institute's website is adorned with pictures of young women going white-water rafting and tells the story of a 23-year-old Guernsey member who "may finally dispel the myth of the WI being full of old people and fuddy-duddies." The marketing experts Interbrand recently said that the organisation needed to "turn around what people associate with the Women's Institute or get a new name that is a truer signal of what they do".
The nine-month-old Wythit branch has opted for the former. Its 30 members meet at the local pub, the White Rose ("I knew I'd never get the girls to the village hall," says the founder, Alison Mason) and are proud to be the first branch in the WI's history to meet on a Sunday.
A glance at the branch's first year itinerary indicates that this is not a place for those in search of home-made jam and "100 ways with broccoli". There has already been African singing, a drama workshop and a pretty hairy few hours flying around the treetops on an outward-bound challenge. ("When they heard who we were, they asked me, will you need any help up the ladders?" says Mrs Mason.)
Then came the pole dancing. The concept of "pole pilates" seemed uncomplicated at first but the local paper got wind of the idea and an instructional visit to the Spearmint Rhino lap dancing club in Leeds was cancelled in favour of a Thai cooking evening - just to prevent any embarrassment.
When it came to deciding whether to resurrect the idea, there was Yorkshire pride at stake. "Fulham [another of the WI youth brigade, which meets at Novello's pub opposite Parsons Green Tube station in London, once a month] have done it so we decided that so must we," says Mrs Mason, 39.
This modern reincarnation of the WI has been quietly taking place over a number of years, with Yorkshire at the vanguard with its famous Calendar Girls of 1999. The NFWI cannot quantify what the Ryedale branch's strip routine did for national membership but it was quite substantial - especially when Helen Mirren and Julie Walters put their names up in lights in the 2003 film, based on their story. "Calendar Girls injected not only a sense of fun but showed what women's institutes do for the community," says the NFWI general secretary, Jana Osborne. "People saw that we were a vibrant organisation."
That impression was also enhanced in 2000 when members gave Tony Blair a handbagging at their annual conference, with one of the most memorable slow handclaps of modern times. So much for the image of old biddies in pearls. As Mirren declared in the film: "It's not just a load of middle-aged women standing mysteriously behind fruitcakes you know."
The WI has always had a reputation as a stout campaigner at the vanguard of women's issues. This dates to its work helping facilitate women's suffrage and demanding better pay and conditions for nurses in 1937. It campaigned for equal pay for equal work in 1943, for protection against women suffering domestic violence in 1975, and in 1986 was the first organisation to lobby the Government to tackle the Aids crisis.
More recent projects have included its contribution to a government committee's examination of how to deal with thousands of tons of radioactive nuclear waste, campaigning against human trafficking (for which it has joined forces with Amnesty International and Anti-Slave International) and work on other issues including fair trade, genetically modified food, food labelling and sustainable communities. The federation in Cornwall hit the headlines last month for its campaign to encourage a boycott of out-of-town superstores which are destroying trade at village shops.
Behind much of the effort was its inspirational chairman Barbara Gill who, rather than highlight the WI's more traditional activities, pointed to its campaigning work. The organisation is still mourning Mrs Gill, who died last week.
Of course, most of the women who pay their £21 a year WI subscription have more prosaic thoughts in mind as they pitch up at draughty village halls. At 86, Ann Coupe, twice branch president and a county organiser in Ripon, North Yorkshire, counts as her "proudest achievement" her fight to keep "the little North Bridge post office [in Ripon] open."
She recalls: "We made posters and went around with banners and we eventually won. Now it's the loveliest post office and shop."
The institution is not all nude calendars and energetic activity these days, she says. "Calendar Girls did a lot to give people a rough idea of what we're about, although people aren't as droll as they were in the film - even though we have a number of very clever ladies who have degrees." Country dancing, competitions and "enjoying seeing people" are her reasons for being in the WI.
Keeping people like Mrs Coupe happy while attracting new members is the big challenge. "The membership we attracted in the 1970s when we had 500,000 members is getting elderly," says Jana Osborne. Although that figure has halved in 30 years, the WI attracts 8,000 to 10,000 new members a year - not bad by anyone's standards - and remains the largest women's organisation in the UK.
The NFWI has not always been enamoured by the way television has portrayed its membership. It was the only organisation to lodge an objection to Little Britain, a move which resulted in accusations of over-sensitivity from some commentators. "Our members have a great sense of fun and can laugh at themselves but we objected to any suggestion of racism," says Ms Osborne.
There were some positive signs yesterday that Saunders, Lumley and Co have struck more of a chord, after roping in members of the local WI as extras during filming for the comedy in the Devon village of North Tawton.
The request for help from the ladies was unanticipated but - true to an organisation whose motto is "For Home and Country" - they leapt into action after a ring-around from their president, Claire Weller.
The biggest problem for members during filming appears to have been keeping a straight face - especially during filming for a funeral scene. (The plot of the comedy, to be aired next year, turns on the death of a town's GP, whose widow seeks company by joining the local Women's Guild.)
"We were supposed to look very, very serious but Joanna Lumley was playing the organ very badly," said the local vice-president, Gill Cripps.
"[On another occasion,] a director came up to me and told me 'show some concern. It's not meant to be funny.' I [simply] hadn't realised I was on camera." Marion North, a fellow member, chipped in: "If we can't laugh at ourselves, then it's a great shame really - and I think that's half the fun of it."
Another problem the women knew they might face was long periods of inactivity between scenes - and for this they again proved themselves to be true WI stalwarts. "It was just like another meeting in North Tawton town hall," said Ms Cripps "I was told there was going to be a lot of hanging about. So I took my embroidery along."
A British institution
* The Women's Institute movement in Britain started with a meeting on 11 February 1915, between John Nugent Harris, secretary of the Agricultural Organisations Society (AOS) and a Canadian, Madge Watt. Mrs Watt had been involved with the Women's Institute in British Columbia, and Mr Harris wanted to get women involved in the AOS, formed in 1901.
* On 16 September 1915 the first WI in Britain was set up, in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey. Mrs Watt went on to form more WIs in Wales and then England. There is a debate as to which was the first in England. Singleton, in West Sussex, and Wallisdon, in Dorset, have both claimed to be the first in November 1915. Hamworthy, Dorset, also created a group around December 1915. At the end of 1915 there were six WIs in Britain.
* The first chairman of the Women's Institute Committee, set up by the AOS, was Lady Denman, daughter of Weetman Pearson, an oil magnate and newspaper baron.
* The National Federation of WIs was formed in 1917. Lady Denman was elected chairman, a post she held until 1946. The WI college, opened just after she retired in 1948, was named Denman College, near Oxford, in her honour.
* After "Jerusalem" was sung at the annual meeting in 1924 it became the "institute song".
* This year is the 90th anniversary of the WI in Britain.
* WIs were originally just in rural areas but are now also in towns. Each is self-governing within the WI constitution and rules. There are 215,000 members in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. There are 70 county and island federations, each with a regional office.
Karl Mansfield
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Anserine relates to which creature? | Orsett Womens Institute - Home
Orsett Womens Institute
Tips & Recipes from our Members
A friendly group of women who meet once a month to inspire each other to learn new skills and exchange information on various topics.
The WI movement originated in Canada in 1897, subsequently the British Women's Institute was formed in 1915 in Anglesey, Wales. It had two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.
Every individual WI meets at least once a month and there is usually a speaker, demonstration or activity at every meeting. Craft has always played an important role in the WI , and thousands of members are involved in a range of crafts across England and Wales.
Jam and Jerusalem
The WI is often associated with food, cooking and healthy eating, and this forms an important part of the WI's history. Modern hygiene regulations have made this activity more complicated. The hymn Jerusalem is associated with the fight for women's suffrage and was appropriate for the newly emerging WI movement , but so entwined are the ideals of the hymn and ongoing self-sufficiency that the ideology of the organisation is often summarised as"Jam and Jerusalem".
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What is the name of Tom and Barbara’s goat in the UK television series ‘The Good Life’? | The Good Life (Series) - TV Tropes
The Good Life
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This is the life...
Brit Com about a married couple (Tom and Barbara Good) who decide to give up the rat race and become completely self-sufficient. On his 40th birthday, Tom Good gives up his job as a draughtsman in a company that makes plastic toys for boxes of breakfast cereal. Their house is paid for, so he and his wife decide to live a sustainable, simple and self-sufficient lifestyle while staying in their home in Surbiton. They dig up their gardens and convert them into allotments, growing fruit and vegetables. They buy chickens, pigs, a goat and a rooster. The Goods generate their own electricity, attempt to make their own clothes, and barter for essentials which they cannot make themselves.
Their actions horrify their conventional, and conventionally materialistic, next-door neighbors, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Well, they horrify Margo. Tom's friend and former colleague Jerry is mostly just bemused. Hilarity Ensues . Notable for being a sitcom about Sustainability before sustainability was a common topic of discussion.
Came ninth in Britain's Best Sitcom .
Known as Good Neighbors in the US because NBC had an unrelated one season series called "The Good Life" a couple years before.
This program provides examples of:
Acting Unnatural : In one episode, Tom and Barbara think Margo is having an affair. When Jerry walks in, Tom tells Barbara to 'be natural'. They then both stand to attention and grin like idiots.
The Alleged Car : In series 3 episode "A Tug At The Forelock" Tom decides to build his own, powered by the engine from the rotary cultivator, as an alternative to the (less economical but more sensible) horse Barbara got from the coal-man, who was upgrading to motor power. Despite Jerry's quizzing them on the lack of tax and insurance, its general roadworthiness is not brought up in that episode.
Almost Famous Name : One episode revolves around Tom and Barbara being interviewed by a newspaper that turns out, after they've told everyone they know, to be a low-circulation student paper with a similar name to the famous national paper they thought they would be appearing in.
Annoying Laugh : Jerry. A heh. Heheheheh.
Arrow Cam : At least one episode includes an example of 'Goat Cam': "Geraldine! Kill!"
Billed Above the Title : "Richard Briers in The Good Life". Briers had been playing sitcom leads for over a decade when he was offered the role of Tom, while Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington were primarily known for their stage work. note At the time of casting, all four cast members had just appeared in West End runs of new plays by Alan Ayckbourn - Briers and Eddington in Absurd Person Singular (not at the same time), Kendal and Keith in The Norman Conquests.
"Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word : Margo says almost exactly this line (minus "such") to her choir mistress in the series 1 episode "The Pagan Rite" regarding the fact that she, not the choir mistress, is the one baking gingerbread cookies for the meetings.
Butt Monkey : Margo - Deconstructed in one episode, where she tipsily pours her heart out about being fully aware of this trope ever since she was in school:
Margo: I never understood jokes ... so I became the butt of them.
Christmas Episode : "Silly, But It's Fun"
Continuity Nod : A few. The show has pretty good continuity, in particular in limiting Tom and Barbara's wardrobe. In "The Day Peace Broke Out", Barbara mentions Tom missing a chicken when trying to shoot it, which occurred in "Say Little Hen...".
Contrived Coincidence : Margo and Jerry go on holiday, Tom does his back out and a freak storm hits Surbiton the week the Goods need to get their first harvest in at the end of series one.
Coupled Couples : Tom and Barbara, and Jerry and Margo.
Deadpan Snarker : The whole cast, but Jerry in particular.
Earth Mother : Barbara Good, who is frequently an Unkempt Beauty .
Emotions Versus Stoicism : A couple of episodes revolve around this. Emotion usually wins.
"Home Sweet Home": Tom decides they should move to a farm and Barbara tries to support him because there are very sensible arguments for it, even though she's very attached to the house. Tom soon realizes that he doesn't want to leave either, but he tries to let Barbara take all the blame when she confesses. (When Jerry lets slip that Tom was pining as well, she throws an egg at him.)
"The Happy Event": When their sow gives birth to a runt, Tom is all for letting it die because that's what you do with runts. Barbara is not happy with how "[his] efficiency has become [his] god" and the Leadbetters are disgusted with the callousness. Ends up with an emergency run to the hospital for some oxygen, with the help of a constable.
The Engineer : Tom, an excellent draftsman, is very good at building (and occasionally inventing) machinery and gadgets for the house and garden, from an effluence digester to an oxygen tent for a piglet.
Epic Fail : Tom tries to shoot a chicken with an air pistol. He misses from six inches away. On the other hand he does scare it into (finally) laying an egg!
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep" : Jerry's (and formerly Tom's) boss Andrew is often referred to as "Sir", even in the third person.
Everything's Messier with Pigs : Particularly when they dig their way into Margo's garden.
Gargle Blaster : Tom's home-made "peapod burgundy"; one episode features the foursome getting plastered on it.
Tom: It's hurting the back of my eyes!
George Jetson Job Security : In the Series 2 episode "Mutiny" Jerry is fired by "Sir" for telling him his Dutch colleague cannot stay at his house because Margo is performing in The Sound of Music that evening. When Tom confronts "Sir" over Jerry's firing, "Sir" explains that the firing was temporary, and was intended to shake Jerry out of thinking that he is irreplaceable.
The Ghost : A number of Margo's acquaintances, including Miss Mountshaft of the music society, are talked about regularly but are never seen.
Happily Married : Both couples fight — Jerry and Margo constantly — but have very strong relationships.
Henpecked Husband : Jerry, although he doesn't hesitate to put his foot down when needs be.
Homemade Sweater from Hell : Traditional version in the Christmas Special but the Goods have a habit of wearing their own home-made clothes as well.
Ho Yay : In-universe example. Tom and Jerry make a few jokey comments about being married to each other.
Hypocritical Humor : A staple. Often it will be Barbara or Tom dismissing the other's anger / frustration, a few pertinent lines of dialogue, and then becoming just as outraged. That, or one of them expressing an opinion and the other dismissing it until the other acts like they're the one who came up with it .
Innocent Innuendo :
Barbara's first attempts to barter to pay the window-cleaner's bill turn into this, partly because of the recent success of Confessions of a Window Cleaner and similar films. In this case, the milkman is so abashed by his mistake he leaves without taking payment... and then Barbara realises what he must have thought she was suggesting.
"Tom, you will take down my dress or I will call the police—and I'm aware that didn't come out right."
It's All About Me : Tom strays into this occasionally, doing things without regard to Barbara's or his neighbours' feelings and causing the problem of the episode. Richard Briers has said he didn't find Tom very likable because of this.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold : Margo. She may be stuck-up, but she isn't afraid to apologise when she's wrong, and she does genuinely care about her friend Barbara even if she is condescending.
Kick the Dog : In the Series 4 finale, "Anniversary", the Goods' home is burgled and instead of leaving when they couldn't find anything worth stealing they proceed to completely vandalise the interior of the house - even going as far as to rip up Tom's birthday card. The look on Barbara's face should tell you all you need to know about how pointless it was.
Law of Inverse Fertility : Averted; both couples have active sex lives, and neither has or desires children. In one episode Jerry comments sardonically that he and Margo use so much protection they barely touch.
Limited Wardrobe : Justified Trope . Tom and Barbara sold the majority of their clothes because they needed the money.
Man Child : Tom, who often has a twelve-year-old boy's sense of enthusiasm (and humor, to Margo's chagrin).
Market-Based Title : As noted, it has a different name in the US.
Mistaken for Cheating : Tom and Barbara think Margo is having an affair in one episode. She's actually visiting a weight loss clinic.
M�bius Neighbourhood : Other members of the neighbourhood are occasionally mentioned, but we never seem to meet the next-door neighbours on the other side of the Goods' house—in one episode the house is explicitly up for sale, then an artist named Mrs. Weaver moves in, and later moves out. Nothing is said of people who live across the street or a few doors down.
Mood Whiplash : The episode where the Goods find out they've been burgled.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! : Tom wheedles Margo into buying an expensive spinning wheel so that he can borrow it for homemade cloth; he assumes that Margo simply order "chequebook, Jerry" as she always does with no problem. Back at home, Barbara is convincing Jerry that he needs to stand up to Margo when she starts overspending. (Of course, Tom and Margo are being selfish and Jerry should stand up for himself once in a while, but Barbra didn't mean to scuttle Tom's plan.)
Noodle Incident : The amateur production of The Sound of Music . Margo prepares for it for a few episodes and eventually we see her getting ready to perform. The episode cuts directly to Tom, Barbara and Jerry discussing what transpired. It begins with Tom asking, "That was The Sound of Music we saw wasn't it?" and goes downhill from there.
Tom: Why did Margo sing "Maria"?
Jerry: That's the name of her character.
Tom: I know, but I thought that song came from West Side Story .
Barbara: It did.
When asked about it later Margo confesses that at that point she might have done anything... and begins to laugh finally seeing the funny side of the disaster.
Video Inside, Film Outside
Vitriolic Best Buds : The Leadbetters' relationship with the Goods pretty much amounts to this, especially Margo. They constantly criticise Tom and Barbara for their choice of lifestyle, but when it comes down to it they're in fact also their staunchest defenders.
What the Hell, Hero? : Barbara and Jerry each give one to Tom for his complete dismissal of Barbara's feelings in "The Last Posh Frock". After Tom gave her a big spiel about how he didn't care if she was unglamorous and then fawned all over her very glamorous school friend, she tears into him for dismissing her feelings as silly and "acting like a woman". When Tom goes to Jerry for some "women eh" sympathy he gets a sharp lecture instead and is chased home by Jerry's signature laugh.
Wrench Wench : Barbara, who was at least as mechanically capable as Tom.
Yes-Man : Jerry is a cheerfully unapologetic example; in one episode as he's about to call up his boss on the phone and grovel, he whips out a comb and works over his hair. When Tom tries to appeal to his dignity, Jerry shrugs it off. He doesn't mind "crawling" because it gets him the comfortable lifestyle he enjoys.
:: Indexes ::
| Geraldine |
Jenny Pitman was the trainer of which 1995 Grand National winning horse? | The Good Life (Series) - TV Tropes
The Good Life
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This is the life...
Brit Com about a married couple (Tom and Barbara Good) who decide to give up the rat race and become completely self-sufficient. On his 40th birthday, Tom Good gives up his job as a draughtsman in a company that makes plastic toys for boxes of breakfast cereal. Their house is paid for, so he and his wife decide to live a sustainable, simple and self-sufficient lifestyle while staying in their home in Surbiton. They dig up their gardens and convert them into allotments, growing fruit and vegetables. They buy chickens, pigs, a goat and a rooster. The Goods generate their own electricity, attempt to make their own clothes, and barter for essentials which they cannot make themselves.
Their actions horrify their conventional, and conventionally materialistic, next-door neighbors, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Well, they horrify Margo. Tom's friend and former colleague Jerry is mostly just bemused. Hilarity Ensues . Notable for being a sitcom about Sustainability before sustainability was a common topic of discussion.
Came ninth in Britain's Best Sitcom .
Known as Good Neighbors in the US because NBC had an unrelated one season series called "The Good Life" a couple years before.
This program provides examples of:
Acting Unnatural : In one episode, Tom and Barbara think Margo is having an affair. When Jerry walks in, Tom tells Barbara to 'be natural'. They then both stand to attention and grin like idiots.
The Alleged Car : In series 3 episode "A Tug At The Forelock" Tom decides to build his own, powered by the engine from the rotary cultivator, as an alternative to the (less economical but more sensible) horse Barbara got from the coal-man, who was upgrading to motor power. Despite Jerry's quizzing them on the lack of tax and insurance, its general roadworthiness is not brought up in that episode.
Almost Famous Name : One episode revolves around Tom and Barbara being interviewed by a newspaper that turns out, after they've told everyone they know, to be a low-circulation student paper with a similar name to the famous national paper they thought they would be appearing in.
Annoying Laugh : Jerry. A heh. Heheheheh.
Arrow Cam : At least one episode includes an example of 'Goat Cam': "Geraldine! Kill!"
Billed Above the Title : "Richard Briers in The Good Life". Briers had been playing sitcom leads for over a decade when he was offered the role of Tom, while Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington were primarily known for their stage work. note At the time of casting, all four cast members had just appeared in West End runs of new plays by Alan Ayckbourn - Briers and Eddington in Absurd Person Singular (not at the same time), Kendal and Keith in The Norman Conquests.
"Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word : Margo says almost exactly this line (minus "such") to her choir mistress in the series 1 episode "The Pagan Rite" regarding the fact that she, not the choir mistress, is the one baking gingerbread cookies for the meetings.
Butt Monkey : Margo - Deconstructed in one episode, where she tipsily pours her heart out about being fully aware of this trope ever since she was in school:
Margo: I never understood jokes ... so I became the butt of them.
Christmas Episode : "Silly, But It's Fun"
Continuity Nod : A few. The show has pretty good continuity, in particular in limiting Tom and Barbara's wardrobe. In "The Day Peace Broke Out", Barbara mentions Tom missing a chicken when trying to shoot it, which occurred in "Say Little Hen...".
Contrived Coincidence : Margo and Jerry go on holiday, Tom does his back out and a freak storm hits Surbiton the week the Goods need to get their first harvest in at the end of series one.
Coupled Couples : Tom and Barbara, and Jerry and Margo.
Deadpan Snarker : The whole cast, but Jerry in particular.
Earth Mother : Barbara Good, who is frequently an Unkempt Beauty .
Emotions Versus Stoicism : A couple of episodes revolve around this. Emotion usually wins.
"Home Sweet Home": Tom decides they should move to a farm and Barbara tries to support him because there are very sensible arguments for it, even though she's very attached to the house. Tom soon realizes that he doesn't want to leave either, but he tries to let Barbara take all the blame when she confesses. (When Jerry lets slip that Tom was pining as well, she throws an egg at him.)
"The Happy Event": When their sow gives birth to a runt, Tom is all for letting it die because that's what you do with runts. Barbara is not happy with how "[his] efficiency has become [his] god" and the Leadbetters are disgusted with the callousness. Ends up with an emergency run to the hospital for some oxygen, with the help of a constable.
The Engineer : Tom, an excellent draftsman, is very good at building (and occasionally inventing) machinery and gadgets for the house and garden, from an effluence digester to an oxygen tent for a piglet.
Epic Fail : Tom tries to shoot a chicken with an air pistol. He misses from six inches away. On the other hand he does scare it into (finally) laying an egg!
Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep" : Jerry's (and formerly Tom's) boss Andrew is often referred to as "Sir", even in the third person.
Everything's Messier with Pigs : Particularly when they dig their way into Margo's garden.
Gargle Blaster : Tom's home-made "peapod burgundy"; one episode features the foursome getting plastered on it.
Tom: It's hurting the back of my eyes!
George Jetson Job Security : In the Series 2 episode "Mutiny" Jerry is fired by "Sir" for telling him his Dutch colleague cannot stay at his house because Margo is performing in The Sound of Music that evening. When Tom confronts "Sir" over Jerry's firing, "Sir" explains that the firing was temporary, and was intended to shake Jerry out of thinking that he is irreplaceable.
The Ghost : A number of Margo's acquaintances, including Miss Mountshaft of the music society, are talked about regularly but are never seen.
Happily Married : Both couples fight — Jerry and Margo constantly — but have very strong relationships.
Henpecked Husband : Jerry, although he doesn't hesitate to put his foot down when needs be.
Homemade Sweater from Hell : Traditional version in the Christmas Special but the Goods have a habit of wearing their own home-made clothes as well.
Ho Yay : In-universe example. Tom and Jerry make a few jokey comments about being married to each other.
Hypocritical Humor : A staple. Often it will be Barbara or Tom dismissing the other's anger / frustration, a few pertinent lines of dialogue, and then becoming just as outraged. That, or one of them expressing an opinion and the other dismissing it until the other acts like they're the one who came up with it .
Innocent Innuendo :
Barbara's first attempts to barter to pay the window-cleaner's bill turn into this, partly because of the recent success of Confessions of a Window Cleaner and similar films. In this case, the milkman is so abashed by his mistake he leaves without taking payment... and then Barbara realises what he must have thought she was suggesting.
"Tom, you will take down my dress or I will call the police—and I'm aware that didn't come out right."
It's All About Me : Tom strays into this occasionally, doing things without regard to Barbara's or his neighbours' feelings and causing the problem of the episode. Richard Briers has said he didn't find Tom very likable because of this.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold : Margo. She may be stuck-up, but she isn't afraid to apologise when she's wrong, and she does genuinely care about her friend Barbara even if she is condescending.
Kick the Dog : In the Series 4 finale, "Anniversary", the Goods' home is burgled and instead of leaving when they couldn't find anything worth stealing they proceed to completely vandalise the interior of the house - even going as far as to rip up Tom's birthday card. The look on Barbara's face should tell you all you need to know about how pointless it was.
Law of Inverse Fertility : Averted; both couples have active sex lives, and neither has or desires children. In one episode Jerry comments sardonically that he and Margo use so much protection they barely touch.
Limited Wardrobe : Justified Trope . Tom and Barbara sold the majority of their clothes because they needed the money.
Man Child : Tom, who often has a twelve-year-old boy's sense of enthusiasm (and humor, to Margo's chagrin).
Market-Based Title : As noted, it has a different name in the US.
Mistaken for Cheating : Tom and Barbara think Margo is having an affair in one episode. She's actually visiting a weight loss clinic.
M�bius Neighbourhood : Other members of the neighbourhood are occasionally mentioned, but we never seem to meet the next-door neighbours on the other side of the Goods' house—in one episode the house is explicitly up for sale, then an artist named Mrs. Weaver moves in, and later moves out. Nothing is said of people who live across the street or a few doors down.
Mood Whiplash : The episode where the Goods find out they've been burgled.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! : Tom wheedles Margo into buying an expensive spinning wheel so that he can borrow it for homemade cloth; he assumes that Margo simply order "chequebook, Jerry" as she always does with no problem. Back at home, Barbara is convincing Jerry that he needs to stand up to Margo when she starts overspending. (Of course, Tom and Margo are being selfish and Jerry should stand up for himself once in a while, but Barbra didn't mean to scuttle Tom's plan.)
Noodle Incident : The amateur production of The Sound of Music . Margo prepares for it for a few episodes and eventually we see her getting ready to perform. The episode cuts directly to Tom, Barbara and Jerry discussing what transpired. It begins with Tom asking, "That was The Sound of Music we saw wasn't it?" and goes downhill from there.
Tom: Why did Margo sing "Maria"?
Jerry: That's the name of her character.
Tom: I know, but I thought that song came from West Side Story .
Barbara: It did.
When asked about it later Margo confesses that at that point she might have done anything... and begins to laugh finally seeing the funny side of the disaster.
Video Inside, Film Outside
Vitriolic Best Buds : The Leadbetters' relationship with the Goods pretty much amounts to this, especially Margo. They constantly criticise Tom and Barbara for their choice of lifestyle, but when it comes down to it they're in fact also their staunchest defenders.
What the Hell, Hero? : Barbara and Jerry each give one to Tom for his complete dismissal of Barbara's feelings in "The Last Posh Frock". After Tom gave her a big spiel about how he didn't care if she was unglamorous and then fawned all over her very glamorous school friend, she tears into him for dismissing her feelings as silly and "acting like a woman". When Tom goes to Jerry for some "women eh" sympathy he gets a sharp lecture instead and is chased home by Jerry's signature laugh.
Wrench Wench : Barbara, who was at least as mechanically capable as Tom.
Yes-Man : Jerry is a cheerfully unapologetic example; in one episode as he's about to call up his boss on the phone and grovel, he whips out a comb and works over his hair. When Tom tries to appeal to his dignity, Jerry shrugs it off. He doesn't mind "crawling" because it gets him the comfortable lifestyle he enjoys.
:: Indexes ::
| i don't know |
The 17th Century explorer Robert Cavelier (or Robert de la Salle) canoed down which American river and claimed the entire river basin for France? | René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle - Inmemory
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
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René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de La Salle (November 21, 1643 – March 19, 1687) was a French explorer.
He explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. La Salle claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France.
Robert de La Salle was born on November 21, 1643, into a comfortably well-off family in Rouen, France, in the parish Saint-Herbland. When La Salle was younger he enjoyed science and nature.
As a man, he studied with the Jesuit religious order and became a member after taking initial vows in 1660.[a] At his request on March 27, 1667, after he was in Canada, he was released from the Society of Jesus after citing “moral weaknesses.” Although he left the order, never took final vows in it, and later became hostile to it, historians sometimes described him incorrectly as a priest or a leader.
La Salle never married, but has been linked to Madeleine de Roybon d’Allonne, an early settler of New France. He had an older brother named Jean who was a Sulpician priest. His parents were Jean Cavelier and Catherine Geest.
Required to reject his father’s legacy when he joined the Jesuits, La Salle was nearly destitute when he traveled as a prospective colonist to North America.
He sailed for New France in the spring of 1666. His brother Jean, a Sulpician priest, had moved there the year before. La Salle was granted a seigneurie on land at the western end of the Island of Montreal, which became known as Lachine. (This was apparently from the French la Chine, meaning China. Some sources say the name referred to La Salle’s desire to find a route to China, though the evidence for this claim is unclear and has been disputed.)
La Salle immediately began to issue land grants, set up a village and learn the languages of the native peoples, mostly Mohawk in this area. The Mohawk told him of a great river, called the Ohio, which flowed into the Mississippi River. Thinking the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, La Salle began to plan for expeditions to find a western passage to China.
He sought and received permission from Governor Daniel Courcelle and Intendant Jean Talon to embark on the enterprise. He sold his interests in Lachine to finance the venture. In 1682, he named the area Louisiana after King Louis XIV of France.
On July 12, 1673, the Governor of New France, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, arrived at the mouth of the Cataraqui River to meet with leaders of the Five Nations of the Iroquois to encourage them to trade with the French. While the groups met and exchanged gifts, Frontenac’s men, led by René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle, hastily constructed a rough wooden palisade on a point of land by a shallow, sheltered bay.
Originally the fort was named Fort Cataraqui but was later renamed Fort Frontenac by de La Salle in honor of La Salle’s patron.
The purpose of Fort Frontenac was to control the lucrative fur trade in the Great Lakes Basin to the west. The fort was also meant to be a bulwark against the English and Dutch, who were competing with the French for control of the fur trade. La Salle was left in command of the fort in 1673.
Thanks to his powerful protector, the discoverer managed, during a voyage to France in 1674–75, to secure for himself the grant of Fort Cataraqui and acquired letters of nobility for himself and his descendants.[3] With Frontenac’s support, he received not only a fur trade concession, with permission to establish frontier forts, but also a title of nobility.
He returned and rebuilt Frontenac in stone. An Ontario Heritage Trust plaque describes René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle at Cataraqui as “[a] major figure in the expansion of the French fur trade into the Lake Ontario region, Using the fort as a base, he undertook expeditions to the west and southwest in the interest of developing a vast fur-trading empire.”[10] Henri de Tonti joined his explorations as his lieutenant.
In early 1679, La Salle’s expedition built Fort Conti at the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario. There they loaded supplies from Fort Frontenac into smaller boats (canoes or bateaux), so they could continue up the shallow and swiftly flowing lower Niagara River to what is now the location of Lewiston, New York. There the Iroquois had a well-established portage route which bypassed the rapids and the cataract later known as Niagara Falls.
La Salle built Le Griffon, a seven-cannon, 45-ton barque, on the upper Niagara River at or near Cayuga Creek. She was launched on August 7, 1679.
La Salle sailed in Le Griffon up Lake Erie to Lake Huron, then up Huron to Michilimackinac and on to present-day Green Bay, Wisconsin. Le Griffon left for Niagara with a load of furs, but was never seen again.
La Salle continued with his men in canoes down the western shore of Lake Michigan, rounding the southern end to the mouth of the Miami River (now St. Joseph River), where they built a stockade in January 1680. They called it Fort Miami (now known as St. Joseph, Michigan). There they waited for Tonti and his party, who had crossed the Lower Michigan peninsula on foot.
Tonti arrived on November 20; on December 3, the entire party set off up the St. Joseph, which they followed until they had to take a portage at present-day South Bend, Indiana. They crossed to the Kankakee River and followed it to the Illinois River.
There they built Fort Crèvecoeur, which later led to the development of present-day Peoria, Illinois. La Salle set off on foot for Fort Frontenac for supplies.
While he was gone, the soldiers at Ft. Crevecoeur mutinied, destroyed the fort, and exiled Tonti, whom La Salle had left in charge.
Later La Salle captured the mutineers on Lake Ontario. He eventually rendezvoused with Tonti at St. Ignace, Michigan.
La Salle reassembled a party for another major expedition. In 1682 he departed Fort Crevecoeur with a group of Frenchmen and Indians and canoed down the Mississippi River.
He named the Mississippi basin La Louisiane in honor of Louis XIV and claimed it for France. At what later became the site of Memphis, Tennessee, La Salle built the small Fort Prudhomme. On April 9, 1682, at the mouth of the Mississippi River near modern Venice, Louisiana, La Salle buried an engraved plate and a cross, claiming the territory for France.
In 1683, on his return voyage, La Salle established Fort Saint Louis of Illinois, at Starved Rock on the Illinois River, to replace Fort Crevecoeur.
He appointed Tonti to command the fort while La Salle traveled to France for supplies. On July 24, 1684, La Salle departed France and returned to America with a large expedition designed to establish a French colony on the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Mississippi River. They had four ships and 300 colonists.
The expedition was plagued by pirates, hostile Indians, and poor navigation. One ship was lost to pirates in the West Indies, a second sank in the inlets of Matagorda Bay, and a third ran aground there. They founded Fort Saint Louis, on Garcitas Creek in Victoria County, Texas.
La Salle led a group eastward on foot on three occasions to try to locate the mouth of the Mississippi.
During a final search for the Mississippi River, some of La Salle’s remaining 36 men mutinied, near the site of present Navasota, Texas. On March 19, 1687, La Salle was slain by Pierre Duhaut during an ambush while talking to Duhaut’s decoy, Jean L’Archevêque. They were “six leagues” from the westernmost village of the Hasinai (Tejas) Indians.
Duhaut was killed to avenge La Salle, while Jean L’Archevêque was killed in 1720 by Indians during the Villasur expedition—coincidentally in an ambush beside a river.
The colony lasted only until 1688, when Karankawa-speaking Native Americans killed the 20 remaining adults and took five children as captives. Tonti sent out search missions in 1689 when he learned of the settlers’ fate, but failed to find survivors.
There is some disagreement about accepting Navasota as the site of La Salle’s death. The historian Robert Weddle, for example, believes that La Salle’s travel distances have been miscalculated. Weddle thinks that La Salle was murdered just east of the Trinity River, which would put the site somewhere about 20 miles (32 km) east or north-east of today’s Huntsville, Texas.
La Salle’s major legacy was establishing the network of forts from Fort Frontenac to outposts along the Great Lakes, Ohio, Illinois and Mississippi rivers that came to define French territorial, diplomatic and commercial policy for almost a century between his first expedition and the 1763 cession of New France to Great Britain.
In addition to the forts, which also served as authorized agencies for the extensive fur trade, LaSalle’s visits to Illinois and other Indians cemented the French policy of alliance with Indians in the common causes of containing both Iroquois influence and Anglo-American settlement.
He also gave the name Louisiana to the interior North American territory he claimed for France, which lives on in the name of a US state. His efforts to encompass modern-day Ontario and the eight American states that border the Great Lakes became a foundational effort in defining the Great Lakes region.
In 1995, La Salle’s primary ship La Belle was discovered in the muck of Matagorda Bay. It has been the subject of archeological research.
Through an international treaty, the artifacts excavated from La Belle are owned by France and held in trust by the Texas Historical Commission. The collection is held by the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
Artifacts from La Belle are shown at nine museums across Texas.
The wreckage of La Salle’s ship L’Aimable has yet to be located. A possible shipwreck of Le Griffon in Lake Michigan is the subject of a lawsuit concerning ownership of artifacts.
A more promising wreck has now been identified in the depths of northern Lake Michigan, divers Monroe and Dykster happened upon an ancient wreckage in 2011 while looking for Confederate gold. The bowsprit of their find includes what appears to be a carved wooden Griffin, similar to other examples of the French 17th Century.
News of the find was not released to the public until December 2014, when it was published in the editor’s note of issue #34 of “Wreck Diver” Magazine. Authentication of the find is expected to be painstaking, but forthcoming.
The ghost town of Indianola, Texas near Matagorda Bay has a statue of La Salle.
Many places were named in La Salle’s honor, as was the LaSalle automobile brand. (See La Salle for a list of
places, most of which were named after him).
Fort LaSalle at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario
LaSalle, in Essex County, Ontario, south of Windsor on the Detroit River
LaSalle, Quebec is a borough of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Avenue La Salle, located in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.
Lasalle Road, a prominent east-west road to the south of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
LaSalle County, Illinois, the city of LaSalle and the La Salle Speedway within it.
LaSalle Parish, Louisiana
LaSalle-Peru Township High School in LaSalle, Illinois has the mascot of the Cavaliers (Cavs) and Lady Cavaliers (Lady Cavs).
La Salle Avenue in Waco, Texas.
LaSalle Elementary School in Creve Coeur, Illinois, located near the site of Fort Crevecoeur.
La Salle Street in Navasota, Texas. It also contains a statue given by the French Government in honor of the explorer.
La Salle Avenue, a prominent downtown street in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The La Salle Neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, the place where La Salle’s ship, Le Griffon, was built in 1679.
The La Salle Expressway, a prominent roadway through Niagara Falls, New York and its outer suburbs.
LaSalle Street, a major north-south thoroughfare in Chicago, leads directly to the Board of Trade, and is the center of Chicago’s financial district.
LaSalle Avenue, a thoroughfare in South Bend, Indiana, which traverses the downtown area and carries a portion of U.S. Route 20 Business.
LaSalle Park, Burlington, Ontario
Robert LaSalle County Park, Door County, Wisconsin. The Door County Historical Society commemorates the site as a
Robert de LaSalle landing place in 1679.
Jardin Cavelier de La Salle in the 6ème arrondissement in Paris
La Salle Hotel in downtown Bryan, Texas
The La Salle Causeway, connecting Kingston, Ontario to neighbouring Barriefield, Ontario.
La Salle Hotel, Chicago
École secondaire publique De La Salle in Ottawa, Ontario
Six Flags Over Texas opened with an animatronic attraction named La Salle’s River Adventure Ride. It closed in 1982, but a recreation of Ft. Saint Louis remains.
La Salle Secondary School in Kingston, Ontario
LaSalle Boulevard and Cavelier Road in Marquette Heights, Illinois, near Fort Crèvecoeur
La Salle Park in Burlington, Ontario.
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Which French port did RMS Titanic call at after leaving Southampton in April 1912? | 'La Belle' and Fort St. Louis | Texas Almanac
'La Belle' and Fort St. Louis
Filed Under:
Timeline of Texas History
As Chuck Meide ran his hand over the rough, heavy, cylindrical metal object at the bottom of 12 feet of murky water in Matagorda Bay, his heart began to race. Was it a centuries-old cannon? Or was it something mundane and modern?
Unable to see in the muddy water, the Florida State University student archaeologist felt carefully along the cylinder until he found a lump, which he thought might be one of two handles used to lift a cannon. Then his hand found the second lifting handle, which confirmed that it was indeed a cannon, heavily encrusted with marine deposits from long years under water. The jubilant Meide reported his find to the waiting crew in the dive boat above. Carefully they raised the cannon to the deck of a barge and moved it to the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History for cleaning and further inspection.
The site of La Belle in Matagorda Bay, Fort St. Louis on Garcitas Creek and the present-day cities in the area.
Meide was part of a team assembled by the Texas Historical Commission. What they were searching for in the muddy Matagorda in the summer of 1995 was La Belle, a ship brought to the Texas coast by French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, more than 300 years before.
The lifting handles that Meide had identified by touch were in the shape of gracefully leaping dolphins. Also decorating the barrel in bas-relief were two crests: One was an "L" surmounted by a crown – the crest of King Louis XIV of France; the other was the crest of the Comte de Vermandois. Vermandois was Louis' illegitimate son, who was two years old when Louis appointed him Admiral of France in 1669. These features confirmed to the anxious investigators that they had found La Salle's ill-fated ship.
The find on July 5, 1995, marked the high point of a 17-year on-and-off search for historic shipwrecks by state marine archaeologist Barto Arnold, who led the team that discovered the shipwreck site. It also marked the beginning of a painstaking, time-consuming effort to excavate what remained of the historic French ship, which had lain encased in muddy silt at the bottom of Matagorda Bay for three centuries. It is, according to many archaeologists, the most important shipwreck discovery in North American waters to date.
Who was La Salle and Why Was He in Texas?
Born in Rouen, France, in 1643, the adventurous La Salle arrived in the French area of Canada in the 1660s, from which the young Frenchman launched several fur-trading and exploration ventures. La Salle was perpetually in debt from his habit of overspending his resources.
In 1682, accompanied by about 50 fellow Frenchmen and American Indians, he canoed down the Mississippi River from a base camp in Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Arriving at the mouth of the Mississippi in April, La Salle claimed the entire Mississippi basin in the name of France and King Louis XIV. The drainage basin of the Mississippi includes almost half of today's continental United States. He named the area Louisiana to honor the king, then retraced his steps to Illinois. In November 1683 he returned to France.
The following year La Salle persuaded Louis to finance an expedition to find a sea route to the mouth of the Mississippi with the intention of establishing a permanent settlement there. Spain considered the Gulf of Mexico to be exclusively Spanish territory, off-limits to all non-Spaniards. Louis welcomed the opportunity to established a French presence there, especially since it was believed to be very near the silver mines of northern Mexico.
La Salle was ill-suited to be a leader. One of the colonists, Henri Joutel, kept a detailed diary of the journey, from which historians have gained substantial understanding of the events of the colonization effort as well as of La Salle himself. Joutel deplored his commander's wild mood swings and erratic behavior, which alienated many of the officers and men. An engineer named Minet, who also journeyed to Texas, described La Salle as brooding, suspicious, secretive, paranoid, headstrong and egotistical. "This is a man who has lost his mind," he wrote in his journal.
Some modern historians believe that La Salle may have been a manic-depressive.
On August 1, 1684, La Salle set sail for the Gulf of Mexico with about 300 people in four ships. La Belle, a barque longue or light frigate, was a navy ship assigned to La Salle for his exclusive use. She was built at Rochefort in 1683 and had a crew of 27. The Belle was accompanied by the 180-ton storeship, L'Aimable; a 34-gun man-of-war, Le Joly, which was to transport the colonists to their new home, then return to France; and the ketch Saint-François, carrying additional supplies.
La Salle's group included supposed artisans and craftsmen, some of whom did not have the skills they claimed to have. Recruited from the human dregs of French port towns were 100 soldiers. There were also six French missionary priests and at least a dozen women and children.
Just before the small fleet made a stop in the West Indies in late September, Spanish pirates seized the Saint-François, along with the supplies it carried.
At Cuba's western cape, a sudden squall caused the Belle to tangle rigging with the Aimable. The Belle lost one of her two anchors, a loss that later proved most unfortunate. In late November, the three ships continued their attempt to find the mouth of the Mississippi.
Probably because he was relying on highly inaccurate maps, La Salle overshot the Mississippi by some 400 miles. On Feb. 18, 1685, the Belle entered Matagorda Bay, about halfway between present-day Galveston and Corpus Christi.
Two days later, the Aimable ran aground and broke up while attempting to enter the bay through a narrow channel. Many supplies were lost, including arms, medicines, trade goods, numerous casks of wine and brandy, bacon, beef and much of the clothing. The Joly returned to France in mid-March as planned; on board were a number of would-be colonists who had taken one look at the Texas coast and wanted no part of it. This left about 200 people to establish the French colony on the Gulf. They constructed a temporary camp on Matagorda Island.
Still believing that he had reached a western arm of the Mississippi, La Salle, accompanied by 52 men in five canoes, left the temporary camp on March 24 to find a site for a colony. He chose a spot on a low hill a league and a half (about four and a half miles) inland from the mouth of Garcitas Creek in today's Victoria County. In April, construction began. In mid-June, 70 settlers arrived at the colony, which La Salle had named Fort St. Louis to honor the French king. La Salle drove them mercilessly on short rations to finish the structures. Felled by diseases, poisonous berries, poisonous snakes and malnutrition, half the colonists were dead by July.
In October, La Salle and 50 men departed in canoes to search for the Mississippi. He ordered the Belle again loaded with items that would be needed in the new colony: trade goods for the natives; a forge; hand tools; muskets, cannon and barrels of powder; foods; and even a litter of piglets. Wooden chests packed with clothing, utensils, plates and dishes were stowed in the hold, as well. The Belle, with 27 aboard, was to follow La Salle's party. There was no contact between the two groups for a month, while La Salle pursued a band of hostile Indians.
In December, La Salle returned to the Belle, to find that the pilot and five men had been murdered by Indians while they were sleeping ashore.
In January 1686, La Salle once again left to explore, this time by land. He ordered the crew to stay on board ship until he returned, which was supposed to be in about 10 days. Instead, the group did not return to the coast until two months later, after a long trek which may have taken them far into West Texas. The Belle was nowhere to be found.
On May 1, a group of six survivors from the Belle arrived at Fort St. Louis, telling a tale of death and destruction. Shortly after La Salle and his party had left, a group of six from the Belle, who had gone ashore for water, failed to return, leaving the ship without a boat.
The lack of drinking water aboard the Belle became critical, but the ship's drunken master refused to move the ship. The unskilled crew, although weak from thirst and disease, tried to sail the Belle toward Fort St. Louis. When a stiff north wind came up, the ship, dragging her one remaining anchor, was blown across the bay and driven stern-first into Matagorda Peninsula.
Although the crew unloaded as much as they could into a canoe that had drifted across the bay, much of the cargo remained on the ship, some of it submerged. All the crew except the six were dead; the survivors had stayed on the peninsula near the wreck for three months.
By this time, the colonists numbered fewer than 40. At least four had deserted to live with Indians. In mid-January 1687, La Salle left with 17 men to find a post on the Illinois River that he had established in 1683 as part of his trading empire. About 20 people, mostly women, children, the sick and misfits, remained behind at Fort St. Louis.
Several of the men accompanying La Salle grew mutinous as they made their way slowly to the northeast. On March 17, at a spot probably a short distance west of the Trinity River, three of La Salle's group were murdered by several of their comrades. Two days later, La Salle was lured into an ambush by some of his men and shot dead.
Only five members of the group, including Joutel, finally reached French Canada; some remained behind among the Indians. The pitiful remnants of the colony at Fort St. Louis were finished off by Karankawas in January 1688. The Indians took a few children captive; these were later rescued by the Spanish and taken to Mexico. The French threat to Spanish domination of the Gulf of Mexico was temporarily ended by disease, nature, Indians and the French themselves.
The Spanish found the remains of the Belle on April 4, 1687. The Spanish pilot Juan Enríquez Barroto's diary describes the ship's condition at the time: The Belle was heeled over on her starboard side, with the deck and the prow submerged. Shipworms had cut down the masts. The Spanish carried away several cannons and the anchor, along with tools and rigging. The rest was left to rot.
Although La Salle failed miserably at establishing a French colony at the mouth of the Mississippi, his attempt to do so changed history. When Gen. Alonso de León's expedition found the remains of Fort St. Louis on April 22, 1689, the Spanish government became alarmed at this proof of French intention to lay claim to Spanish territory. The French threat goaded the Spanish to establish missions and settlements in East Texas.
The Search for La Belle
Barto Arnold's search for the Belle began with careful historical research. In the early 1970s, he read the diaries kept by some of the survivors of La Salle's expedition, including Henri Joutel, as well as the journals of Spanish explorers who found the Belle aground. This helped Arnold narrow the area of Matagorda Bay in which he might expect to find what was left of the ship.
In 1978, the Texas Historical Commission launched a search, using helicopter, boat and magnetometer. A magnetometer detects distortions, called anomalies, in the Earth's magnetic field. A ship that contains large amounts of iron will distort the magnetic field, producing a detectable anomaly.
While magnetometers can signal the presence of iron, they cannot identify the ages of the objects. The muddy Matagorda's shifting sandbars have claimed at least 200 ships over the years, so searchers often check out anomalies that turn out to be modern wreckage or trash.
During his early searching, Arnold found some interesting old wrecks, but not the Belle. The search was postponed.
By summer 1995, Arnold was able to put together enough donations from foundations, organizations, companies and individuals for a two-month project, and he narrowed his list of promising anomalies to about three dozen. Arnold explains that one of the "givens" in archaeology is that you always find the most important artifacts on the last day of the dig, when you are out of money and out of time. On the first dive on the first anomaly, a site designated 41MG86, one diver found a hand-made wooden plank. The team speculated that it couldn't be old, because wood exposed to sea water for a long time would have disintegrated.
The second dive yielded some cast-lead shot, which could have been made after the Civil War. The third dive brought up a bronze belt buckle of a type common before the 1800s.
Then, on the fourth dive, Chuck Meide found the cannon while groping around in the murky water, doing what he calls "archaeology by Braille." The cannon was a bronze, six-foot-long four-pounder, weighing 793 pounds. Even better, the elaborate decorations on the barrel, Arnold says, "made it seriously old."
And the discovery of this cannon, which would firmly establish the shipwreck as the Belle, adds Arnold happily, "was before lunch on the first day."
In addition, the divers found and took to the museum in Corpus Christi a number of ceramic vessels of various sizes and designs; a stack of 22 pewter plates; hawk bells and straight pins, possibly intended for trade with the Indians; several wooden staves from barrels; and personal objects, including the hand guard from a sword.
Once the artifacts were positively identified as being from the Belle, the problems of excavating the ship were considered – and the fund-raising went into high gear.
Because of the low visibility of the waters of the Matagorda, attempting a complete archaeological excavation by "Braille" is almost impossible. However, those murky waters are only 12 feet deep at most. The Texas Historical Commission contracted with marine engineers to build a $1.3 million octagonal, double-walled cofferdam around the shipwreck in the summer of 1996.
Sixty-foot long, three-foot wide sheets of steel piling were hammered 40 feet into the floor of the bay to create the inner octagon. Then a second octagon was built outside the first, creating a structure 148 feet long and 118 feet wide extending about eight feet above the surface of the water. The space between the two walls was filled with 10,000 tons of sand, to stabilize the structure and slow water seepage. The sand was covered by eight inches of gravel to help support a crane and to provide a walkway for workers and visitors. Almost 500,000 gallons of water were pumped out of the center of the cofferdam, and a steel canopy was constructed to protect both workers and artifacts from the relentless sun.
The cofferdam was complete in September 1996, and the excavation began. The Belle team essentially did dry-land archaeology in their man-made hole in the middle of Matagorda Bay.
The team of archaeologists that came from all over the United States to excavate the Belle operated from a warehouse in Palacios, about 15 miles, and an hour's boat ride, from the Belle site. There were 16 to 20 at work on the site at any one time. The project director, Dr. Jim Bruseth, is deputy state historic preservation officer with the Texas Historical Commission. The assistant project director was Toni Carrell, on leave from the Ships of Discovery at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The Ships of Discovery organization is involved with the conservation and display of materials relating to ships of the exploratory period of North American history.
What The Archaeologists Found
The team found that about two-thirds of the Belle's hull – the part that was above the mud – had disintegrated. The bottom third was still packed with barrels and chests of 17th-century goods in remarkably good condition. Because the mud in which the Belle was buried is an anaerobic environment, wood, leather, metal and other substances that would have rotted, rusted or disintegrated in 300 years of exposure to sand and salt water have survived in extraordinarily good shape.
The Belle is not a "treasure ship" in the common meaning of the word. Her hold contained no precious metals or jewels.
But to archaeologists and historians, her cargo – as well as the remains of the ship itself – was a treasure much more valuable than gold or silver. Since they were not merely passing through, as explorers, but expected to settle in the New World, the colonists brought with them everything that they would need to live. As Bruseth told The Dallas Morning News' Bryan Woolley in 1997, "This ship is sort of a colony kit. Many colonies were established in the New World, but the stuff that people brought with them is gone. . . What we have on the Belle is a good inventory of what a country in Europe felt was important for establishing a colony in the New World."
Out of the 80 or so barrels and chests in the Belle's hull came such everyday items as pewter plates and bowls; cooking pots and utensils; chess and backgammon pieces; buckles from clothing; nested brass pots; clay pipe stems; navigators' instruments; candlesticks; a whisk broom; a shoe last; a brass powder flask; and a stoneware jar still containing traces of grease, perhaps for cooking. Some of the pewter dishes were stamped with a maker's mark and the initials of their owners, making it possible to match some of the items with known colonists.
There were also items that were intended for trade with the natives. Archaeologists found more than half a million tiny Venetian glass beads, as well as bronze hawk bells, brass straight pins, iron ax heads and brass finger rings. They were not merely cheap trinkets: The hawk bells were fine enough to bear makers' marks. The metal items were particularly prized by the Indians of the New World, who had little metal of their own.
Two additional cannons bearing decorations identical to the first one were pulled out of the bottom of the ship's hold in January 1997. The Belle carried four bronze cannons in her hold; the fate of the fourth is unknown.
Although dry-land archaeology has its benefits in such muddy waters as Matagorda Bay, there are also problems. Foremost among these is the rapid deterioration of objects suddenly exposed to dry air after several centuries in a watery environment. To keep the artifacts wet, the areas where the archaeologists were working had to be continuously sprinkled with sea water from a garden hose. Exposed areas of the dig were kept covered by wet burlap bags or plastic tarps, and they were sprinkled during periods when they were not being worked.
As the artifacts were extricated from their resting places, the sand and mud that came up with them was put through a fine screen to check for tiny bits that might have escaped the eye. Everything that could be found was excavated, even rat skeletons and cockroach eggs. Except when they were being cleaned or coded, all artifacts were kept immersed in salt water. Most of them were placed in containers of fresh water for their transfer to the conservation lab.
One of the most touching finds was a complete human skeleton. Investigators say that the unfortunate man, found curled in a fetal position on a coil of rope, must have been in pain from arthritis and a badly abscessed tooth, but the most likely cause of death was dehydration. A pewter porringer bearing the name "C. Barange" on its underside was found next to the skeleton. Dr. Gentry Steele, a forensic anthropologist at Texas A&M University, discovered that the skeleton was that of a Caucasian male of about 30 years of age. In addition to the dental problems and arthritis, said Steele, "He had a broken nose and a fracture of the temple area. These were not the cause of death, however. Both wounds showed signs of some healing."
The skull was taken to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for a computerized axial tomography (CT) scan to create a three-dimensional image. Using the scan data, CyberForm, a Richardson company, produced a resin cast of the skull. Dr. Dennis Lee, a forensic prosthetics specialist at the University of Michigan, has used the skull replica to produce facial features, which has given researchers an approximation of the victim's facial appearance.
Additionally, genetic analysis may be possible using tissue from the bones or from the brain matter that was, amazingly, still preserved in the cranium, leading to the possibility of eventually finding the person's nearest living relative.
Other isolated human bones were also found scattered in the wreckage.
When all the contents were finally removed, the Belle's hull was exposed, still resting on its starboard side, as reported by the Spanish pilot Enríquez Barroto in 1687. The Belle was surprisingly small: 51 feet long and 14 feet wide – about the size of a modern shrimp boat. The historic ship was carefully dismantled and the timbers were prepared for conservation. Study of the construction of the two-masted ship will be of great value to historians, since shipbuilders of La Salle's era rarely drew plans, and most of the ships of the period have long since disintegrated. Because of the fragile nature of the wood, conservation and stabilization may take eight to 10 years.
The excavation was completed in April 1997.
Conservation of the Artifacts
The first items to be excavated in 1995 were conserved and prepared for exhibit under the direction of Dr. Donald H. Keith of Ships of Discovery at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The items excavated in 1996 and 1997 from the Belle were taken to the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station, where Dr. Donny Hamilton is the director. There, in a former fire station at a World War II-vintage air field, conservators begin working on each article by carefully cleaning and identifying the item or items. The artifacts were placed in vats of fresh water for several weeks – the amount of time was determined by the type of material – to soak out the salts and to keep them from drying out. Some were further treated with chemicals to keep them from deteriorating when exposed to the air. This step is especially critical for such organic materials as rope and wood. The hundreds of feet of rope brought up from the Belle is being treated using two different new techniques: silicone oil polymerization or polyethylene glycol. These substances stabilize the rope and keep it as pliable as it was on the day it was procured for the voyage.
Any number of concretions were excavated. Concretions form around metal objects that are exposed to sea water for a long time. Corrosion of the metal triggers a chemical reaction with the seawater that forms a hard, solid covering over the entire surface of the item. Conservators X-ray the concretion to determine whether the object survives inside. If it does, they carefully remove the mineral deposits from the surface. If the item is no longer there, they inject epoxy resin into the natural mold formed by the concretions. When the resin cures and the concretions are removed, they have a duplicate of the original, complete with all surface details. This duplicate can be used for display.
Curtis Tunnell, executive director of the Texas Historical Commission, estimated that it would take about five years to analyze the more than 700,000 artifacts excavated from the Belle and write the project's final report. A budget of $5.5 million includes the field work already finished, conservation, analysis of the artifacts and writing the final report, an educational project and an expanded traveling exhibit. A traveling exhibit of the first items recovered, designed and built at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, has toured parts of the state.
Fort St. Louis Found
The site of Fort St. Louis, although documented by both the French and the Spanish at the time, was lost over time.
In 1950, Glen Evans, under the sponsorship of The Texas Memorial Museum in Austin, conducted an investigation at a promising site on the south bank of Garcitas Creek in Victoria County. This site, officially designated site 41VT4, is also known as the Keeran site. Evans' search yielded a large number of European artifacts, including various types of ceramics and metal objects, but did not prove the presence of French colonists.
In 1973, archaeologist Kathleen Gilmore further analyzed the objects that had been excavated in the 1950 investigation. Although she determined that some of the artifacts were of French origin, there was not enough evidence to prove actual French occupation of the site. She felt confident that the Keeran site was the site of Fort St. Louis, however, and recommended further investigation, but no action was taken at that time.
While the Belle was being excavated in 1996, a Victoria County ranchhand exploring the Keeran site with a metal detector found an old buried cannon. Searchers from the historical commission dug at the spot and eventually found eight cast-iron cannons – the French cannons that had been found at Fort St. Louis in 1689 by De León's expedition and buried. They are currently undergoing conservation at the lab at A&M, along with the Belle artifacts. That the Keeran site was the location of the ill-fated French colony had been proved.
Excavation of Fort St. Louis began early in 2000 as a two-tiered project. In 1722, the Spanish built the presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía squarely atop the remains of Fort St. Louis. Today's archaeologists will be excavating two historic sites at once and will have the task of sorting out which objects were associated with Fort St. Louis, which with the presidio, and which were left by indigenous people who had acquired European goods from earlier expeditions.
The Belle artifacts, along with the objects excavated at Fort St. Louis, will be installed in a museum eventually for public viewing. At press time, the location had not been determined.
— written by Mary G. Ramos, editor emerita, for the Texas Almanac 1998–1999.
Books:
The French Thorn: Rival Explorers in the Spanish Sea 1682-1762 by Robert S. Weddle; Texas A&M University Press, College Station, 1991.
The La Salle Expedition in Texas: The Journal of Henri Joutel, 1684-1687; Foster, William C., ed.; translated by Johanna S. Warren; Texas State Historical Association, Austin, 1998.
La Salle, the Mississippi, and the Gulf: Three Primary Documents; Robert S. Weddle, et al. (eds); Texas A&M University Press, College Station, 1987.
Magazine and newsletter articles:
"La Salle Shipwreck"; Special Issue of The Medallion, Texas Historical Commission, Summer, 1996.
"La Salle's Last Voyage" by Lisa Moore LaRoe; National Geographic, May 1997, Vol. 191, No. 5.
"Sieur de La Salle's fateful landfall" by David Roberts; Smithsonian, April 1997, Vol. 28, No. 1.
On the Internet:
• For information on the Texas Historical Commission's Belle project: www.thc.state.tx.us/belle/
• For information on the conservation of the artifacts at the Conservation Research Laboratory:
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Which novelist won the 1993 Booker Prize for his novel ‘Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha’? | Roddy Doyle - Bio, Facts, Family | Famous Birthdays
Roddy Doyle
Author Born In Ireland#15
About
Irish novelist known for his Barrytown trilogy and his stand alone novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, which won the 1993 Booker Prize.
Before Fame
He earned a Bachelor's degree from University College Dublin and worked for several years as a teacher before turning his focus to writing.
| Roddy Doyle |
Barbara Pierce is married to which former US President? | Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha
Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha
Date of entry: Feb-16-1999
Summary
In Roddy Doyle's novel, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, young Patrick is so distressed over his parents' fighting with each other that he stays up all night trying to prevent their quarrels. Like many children whose parents break up, Patrick thinks he is somehow responsible, but he does not understand what is going wrong or why. He loves both of them, especially his mother.
He acts out his anxiety over the discord between his parents by often getting into fights and by being mean and abusive to his younger brother. For awhile he thinks that if he were to run away, his parents would stay together. He thinks of questions to ask them so they will talk to him and not fight with each other. But his father leaves for good, and Paddy is left with the teasing chant of his schoolmates: "Paddy Clarke, Paddy Clarke, Lost his Da, Ha, Ha, Ha."
Miscellaneous
This novel won the Booker Prize (1993).
Publisher
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What is the cube-root of 343? | Cube root of 343
Theorems
What is Cube Root of 343 ?
343 is said to be a perfect cube because 7 x 7 x 7 is equal to 343. Since 343 is a whole number, it is a perfect cube. The nearest previous perfect cube is 216 and the nearest next perfect cube is 512 .
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The city of Linz is in which European country? | Square root of 343 | cube root of 343
Square root of 343
What is the square root of 343 ?
Square root of 343 can be expressed in symbol as √343
√343 = 18.5202591775
Cube root of 343 can be expressed in symbol as ∛343
∛343 = 7
343 cubed = 343 x 343 x 343
343 cubed = 40353607
3√83349=866.106806347
Question: Is 343 a rational number ?.
Answer: Yes 343 a rational number because it is an integer and a whole number. All integers and whole numbers are rational number.
Question: Is 343 an irrational number ?.
Answer: No.
Question: is the sqrt 343 a rational number ?.
Answer: No.
This calculator is a two in one, it calculates both square roots and cube roots of numbers. .
A squareroot of a number b, is a number x such that x2 = b, which means, a number x whose square that is the result of multiplying the number by itself, or x × x is b.
For example, 5 and −5 are squareroots of 25 because 5² = (−5)² = 25.
Every non negative real number c has a unique non negative squareroot, called the principal, which is denoted by √c, where √ is called the radical sign or radix. For example, the principal squareroot of 36 is 6, denoted √36 = 6, because 6² = 6 × 6 = 36 and 6 is non negative. The no whose root is being considered is known as the radicand. The radicand is the number or expression underneath the radical sign, in this example 36.
Every positive number a has two roots: √b, which is positive, and −√b, which is negative. These two roots are denoted ± √b. The principal root of a positive number is only one of its two squareroots, the designation "the square root" is often used to refer to the principal root. For positive b, the principal squareroot can also be written in exponent notation, as b1/2.
If you spot an error on this site, we would be grateful if you could report it to us by using the contact email provided. send email to contact on our site.
Disclaimer - This site does not does not guarantee the accuracy of this information and so is not liable for the content or the way you use information on this site. You are solely responsible for the information you use and the way you use it. Please you are advice to use information here at your sole discretion. But we will try to maintain accurate calculation at the level of the software we are using.
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The bull represents which sign of the Zodiac? | Taurus Zodiac Sign Symbol: Its Meaning and Origin
Get a free online I Ching reading. The 64 hexagrams of the ancient Chinese I Ching, The Book of Change, and what they mean in divination.
Books by Stefan Stenudd:
Tarot Unfolded
The imaginative reading of the Tarot divination cards focuses on what impressions the images and their symbols give. Several spreads are presented, as well as the meanings of all the 78 cards and their pictures. Click the image to see the book at Amazon.
Life Energy Encyclopedia
Qi (chi), prana, pneuma, spiritus, and all the other life force concepts around the world explained and compared. Click the image to see the book at Amazon.
Cosmos of the Ancients
All the philosophers of Ancient Greece and what they thought about cosmology, myth, religion and the gods. Click the image to see the book at Amazon.
Sunday Brunch with the World Maker
Fiction. A brunch conversation slips into the mysterious, soon to burst beyond the realm of possibility. Click the image to see the book at Amazon.
The Taurus Symbol
Its Origin and Meaning in Astrology
The above image is the established symbol (also called glyph) for the Zodiac sign Taurus, the Bull. It's a simple representation of the head of a bull, with its horns. Both the Zodiac sign and its symbol have been along for ages.
The Zodiac division of the ecliptic into twelve parts, each assigned a Zodiac sign, is probably of Babylonian (Mesopotamia) origin. They were very early with astrology, mapping the sky and noting planetary movements thousands of years ago.
The Zodiac, very much like the one we know today, might have emerged in Mesopotamia around 1000 BC. But Babylonian astrology is probably far older than that.
No Bull at First
The Babylonians didn't connect this Zodiac sign to the Bull, though. They called the constellation The Steer of Heaven. But already in Classical Greece, the Bull was established as the name of the sign and the constellation.
It's not that easy to see a bull in the constellation of Taurus. Most images of it mark the horns by connecting a couple of the stars, but that's about it. The rest is up to the imagination. Several of the Zodiac constellations are equally vague. Here's the constellation Taurus, with the image of the Bull added to it in a typical fashion:
As you can see, the formation of the stars doesn't support the idea of a bull very convincingly. The reason for the choice is, as far as I know, buried in history.
Below is an antique illustration of the same constellation, where the figure of the bull has also been added. It's from a 17th century book: Firmamentum sobiescianum, by Johannes Hevelius, 1690.
Taurus in Ink
Below is an ink version of the symbol for Taurus, which I did a number of years back in an experiment of using Japanese ink calligraphy (shodo) for old European astrology symbols. I've used these pictures on my astrology websites, mainly for fun and for the odd graphic effect, and I've seen them copied all over the Internet. I'm fine with that, although I think it wouldn't hurt if the source was mentioned. Well, what to do?
Anyway, here's that ink again, this time in the original black and white (click on the image to see a bigger version):
Taurus the Sign
As for the picture commonly used to represent the Taurus Zodiac sign, it's been an image of a bull for as long as that has been its name - probably longer than the symbol described above has existed. Below is one typical example, where the stars of the constellation Taurus have also been marked. It's an illustration from Poeticon astronomicon, a 1482 book by Hyginus.
For the header of this website, I combined the symbol for Taurus with an image of a bull. Well, actually I think it's an African water buffalo, but the head and the horns are there. I also added the primary symbol of the Taurus traits: agriculture, in the form of crops on a field.
Zodiac Sign Symbols
Here are the symbols (glyphs) of all the twelve Zodiac signs, and links to pages telling more about each Zodiac sign symbol.
| Taurus |
What is the surname of rowing brothers Greg and Jonny, who won Olympic Gold Medals in 1992? | Grendel Astrology in Grendel | GradeSaver
Grendel Astrology in Grendel
Buy Study Guide
John Gardner noted that the twelve chapters of Grendel correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, both in imagery and in the characters featured in each one.
Chapter One is Aries, the Ram. It begins with Grendel frightening off a ram that has come too near his territory. In this chapter, the cyclical view of the universe is expounded, as Grendel notes that he is trapped in the "progression of moon and stars."
Chapter Two features Taurus, the Bull. A bull attacks the tree-trapped Grendel on his adventure in the outside world.
Chapter Three corresponds to the Twins, Gemini. This chapter discusses double-talk, as the Shaper creates one reality to stand alongside the experienced reality.
Chapter Four belongs to Cancer, the Crab, known as a nourishing force in some astrological belief systems. The Shaper 's songs have created and nourished a religion that gives the people a more fixed alternate reality to believe in against their own miserable, hard existence.
Chapter Five is the chapter of Leo, the Lion. Leo is known as a dramatist to some, and in this chapter, Grendel seeks to know his role in the greater scheme of things. The dragon offers him a part to play, but Grendel cannot accept that this is his destiny.
Chapter Six refers to Virgo, the Virgin, in Grendel's comment, "So much for the harvest-virgin." Unferth the would-be hero attempts to do honorable battle with Grendel, only to have his naive view of life trampled underfoot by Grendel's refusal to fight him.
Chapter Seven corresponds to Libra, the sign of balance and conciliation. Here Wealtheow reconciles Hrothgar and her brother Hymgod, as well as their respective warriors. Even Unferth finds some balance in Wealtheow's compassion toward his ill-charmed life.
Chapter Eight introduces Hrothulf , the potential usurper, as a "sweet scorpion," thus connecting to the astrological sign Scorpio.
Chapter Nine alludes to Sagittarius, the archer, in the scene of a Scylding hunting and killing a hart with a bow and arrow. Sagittarius is pictured as a centaur, half-human and half-horse, suggesting a need to reconcile two different natures. Here we see the priests attempting to promote a religion that they themselves do not believe, giving the people of the village hope while simultaneously recognizing that such hope is based on false knowledge.
Chapter Ten belongs to the pessimistic Capricorn, the Goat. Grendel has reached the nihilism of Nietzsche in his philosophical quest, seeing himself and all others as alone and abandoned in an impersonal universe.
Chapter Eleven is the chapter of Aquarius, the Water-Bearer. Aquarians are described as interested in understanding life's mysteries. Grendel has come through his philosophical journey, but he is no wiser other than in the knowledge that no system of thought will satisfy him.
Chapter Twelve refers to Pisces, the Fish. The number two, as well as an inherent dualism, is often connected to Pisces. In this chapter, Grendel fights Beowulf, his opposite number, and is defeated by the latter's empiricism. Thus, his universe of one has temporarily become a universe of two, and this duality ends by destroying him.
| i don't know |
Joe Frazier said ‘He’s phoney, using his blackness to get his way’, about which other boxer? | celebrity insults about famous men
Don't be so humble, you're not that great.
- - - Golda Meir (to Moshe Dayan)
Do you mind if I sit back a little? Because your breath is very bad.
- - - Donald Trump (to Larry King)
I'm not having points taken off me by an incompetent old fool. You're the pits of the world.
- - - John McEnroe (to tennis judge Edward James)
You can't see as well as these fucking flowers - and they're fucking plastic.
- - - John McEnroe (to a line judge)
What other problems do you have besides being unemployed, a moron and a dork?
- - - John McEnroe (to a spectator at a tennis match)
You're like a pay toilet, aren't you? You don't give a shit for nothing.
- - - Howard Hughes (to Robert Mitchum)
Who picks your clothes - Stevie Wonder?
- - - Don Rickles (to David Letterman on 02/5/96 "Late Show")
He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.
- - - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?
- - - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
He's phony, using his blackness to get his way.
- - - Joe Frazier (about Muhammad Ali)
Joe Frazier is so ugly he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wildlife.
- - - Muhammad Ali
His writing is limited to songs for dead blondes.
- - - Keith Richards (about Elton John)
I'm glad I've given up drugs and alcohol. It would be awful to be like Keith Richards. He's pathetic. It's like a monkey with arthritis, trying to go on stage and look young. I have great respect for the Stones but they would have been better if they had thrown Keith out 15 years ago.
- - - Elton John (about Keith Richards)
If I were married to you, I'd put poison in your coffee.
- - - Lady Astor (to Winston Churchill)
If you were my wife, I'd drink it.
- - - Winston Churchill, in reply
You will either die on the gallows or of a loathsome disease.
- - - John Montague (to John Wilkes)
That depends on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress.
- - - John Wilkes, in reply
Do you mind if I smoke?
- - - Oscar Wilde (to Sarah Bernhardt)
I don't care if you burn.
- - - Sarah Bernhardt, in reply
My dear Whistler, you leave your pictures in such a sketchy, unfinished state. Why don't you ever finish them?
- - - Frederic Leighton (to James McNeill Whistler)
My dear Leighton, why do you ever begin yours?
- - - James McNeill Whistler, in reply
Insulting comments about famous actors
He's the type of man who will end up dying in his own arms.
- - - Mamie Van Doren (about Warren Beatty)
You're so vain. You probably think this song is about you.
- - - Carly Simon (about Warren Beatty)
The only reason he had a child is so that he can meet babysitters.
- - - David Letterman (about Warren Beatty, 1991)
What makes him think a middle-aged actor, who's played with a chimp, could have a future in politics?
- - - Ronald Reagan (about Clint Eastwood running for mayor of Carmel)
Most of the time he sounds like he has a mouth full of wet toilet paper.
- - - Rex Reed (about Marlon Brando)
He couldn't ad-lib a fart after a baked-bean dinner.
- - - Johnny Carson (about Chevy Chase)
He acts like he's got a Mixmaster up his ass and doesn't want anyone to know it.
- - - Marlon Brando (about Montgomery Clift)
He got a reputation as a great actor by just thinking hard about the next line.
- - - King Vidor (about Gary Cooper)
I've got three words for him: Am. A. Teur.
- - - Charlie Sheen (about Colin Farrell)
His ears made him look like a taxicab with both doors open.
- - - Howard Hughes (about Clark Gable)
Steve Martin has basically one joke and he's it.
- - - Dave Felton
Nothing happens. At all. Ever. Remember when Steve Martin was funny? Apparently, neither does he.
- - - Robert Wilonsk (about the movie, Cheaper by the Dozen)
Now there sits a man with an open mind. You can feel the draft from here.
- - - Groucho Marx (about Chico Marx)
There were three things that Chico was always on - a phone, a horse, or a broad.
- - - Groucho Marx (about his brother, Chico)
He looked like a half-melted rubber bulldog.
- - - John Simon (about Walter Matthau)
His features resembled a fossilized wash rag.
- - - Alan Brien (about Steve McQueen)
He has turned almost alarmingly blond - he's gone past platinum, he must be plutonium; his hair is coordinated with his teeth.
- - - Pauline Kael (about Robert Redford)
Poor little man, they made him out of lemon Jell-O and there he is. He's honest and hardworking but he's not great.
- - - Adela Rogers St. John (about Robert Redford)
Well at least he has finally found his true love � what a pity he can't marry himself.
- - - Frank Sinatra (about Robert Redford)
Stars The Rock, but The Wood might be a better description of his performance.
- - - Peter Rainer (about wrestler turned actor, The Rock, in the movie, Walking Tall)
His favorite exercise is climbing tall people.
- - - Phyllis Diller (about Mickey Rooney)
Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a condom full of walnuts.
- - - Clive James
He has the vocal modulation of a railway-station announcer, the expressive power of a fence-post and the charisma of a week-old head of lettuce.
- - - Fintan O'Toole, film critic, (about Quentin Tarantino)
Insulting comments about famous athletes
McEnroe was as charming as always, which means that he was as charming as a dead mouse in a loaf of bread.
- - - Clive James (about John McEnroe)
Beyond the hair, tattoos and earrings, he's just like you and me.
- - - Bob Hill (about Dennis Rodman, 1995)
Dennis has become like a prostitute, but now it's gotten ridiculous, to the point where he will do anything humanly possible to make money.
- - - Charles Barkley (about Dennis Rodman, 1997)
He has so many fish hooks in his nose, he looks like a piece of bait.
- - - Bob Costas (about Dennis Rodman)
Insulting comments about famous musicians
I love his work but I couldn't warm to him even if I was cremated next to him.
- - - Keith Richards (about Chuck Berry)
I think Mick Jagger would be astounded and amazed if he realized to how many people he is not a sex symbol but a mother image.
- - - David Bowie
He sings like he's throwing up.
- - - Andrew O'Connor (about Bryan Ferry)
The instant asphalt Elvis from Philadelphia.
- - - Fred Schuers (about Fabian)
Boy George is all England needs - another queen who can't dress.
- - - Joan Rivers
Michael Jackson was a poor black boy who grew up to be a rich white woman.
- - - Molly Ivins
Michael Jackson's album was only called "Bad" because there wasn't enough room on the sleeve for "Pathetic."
- - - The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (about Michael Jackson)
Fame has sent a number of celebrities off the deep end, and in the case of Michael Jackson, to the kiddy pool.
- - - Bill Maher (about Michael Jackson, 1994)
He hasn't just lost the plot, he's lost the whole library!
- - - Melody Maker (about Michael Jackson, 1992)
He now looks like a Barbie doll that has been whittled at by a malicious brother.
- - - Thomas Sutcliffe (about Michael Jackson, 1993)
With his womanly voice, stark white skin and Medusa hair, his gash of red lipstick, heavy eyeliner, almost nonexistent nose and lopsided face, Jackson was making his TV appearance in order to scotch all rumors that he is not quite normal.
- - - Craig Brown (about Michael Jackson, The Times of London, 1993)
He moves like a parody between a majorette girl and Fred Astaire.
- - - Truman Capote (about Mick Jagger)
He sounds like he's got a brick dangling from his willy, and a food-mixer making pur�e of his tonsils.
- - - Paul Lester (about Jon Bon Jovi)
Pamela Lee said her name is tattooed on her husband's penis. Which explains why she changed her name from Anderson to Lee.
- - - Conan O'Brien (about Tommy Lee)
He could be a maneuvering swine, which no one ever realized.
- - - Paul McCartney (about John Lennon)
A deadly, winking, sniggering, snuggling, chromium-plated, scent-impregnated, luminous, quivering, giggling, mincing heap of mother love.
- - - William Connor (about Liberace)
He has become the oldest living cute boy in the world.
- - - Anna Quindlen (about Paul McCartney)
Sleeping with George Michael would be like having sex with a groundhog.
- - - Boy George
When you talk to him, he looks at you and grins and grins and nods and nods and appears to be the world's best listener, until you realize he is not listening at all.
- - - Larry L. King (about Willie Nelson)
He sang like a hinge.
Ethel Merman (about Cole Porter)
Elvis transcends his talent to the point of dispensing with it altogether.
- - - Greil Marcus (about Elvis Presley, 1976)
Presley sounded like Jayne Mansfield looked - blowsy and loud and low.
- - - Julie Burchill (about Elvis Presley)
Bambi with testosterone.
- - - Owen Gleiberman (about Prince, 1990)
He looks like a dwarf who's been dipped in a bucket of pubic hair.
- - - Boy George (about Prince, 1986)
Even the deaf would be traumatized by prolonged exposure to the most hideous croak in Western culture. Richards's voice is simply horrible.
- - - Nick Coleman (about Keith Richards)
He plays four-and-a-half-hour sets. That's torture. Does he hate his audience?
- - - John Lydon (about Bruce Springsteen)
He was so mean it hurt him to go to the bathroom.
- - - Britt Eklund (about Rod Stewart)
'Slavic March' -- "One feels that the composer must have made a bet, for all his professional reputation was worth, that he would write the most hideous thing that had ever been put on paper, and he won it, too.
- - - Boston Evening Transcript (about Tchaikovsky, 1883)
I love Wagner, but the music I prefer is that of a cat hung by its tail outside a window and trying to stick to the panes of glass with its claws.
- - - Charles Baudelaire (about Richard Wagner)
Wagner was a monster. He was anti-Semitic on Mondays and vegetarian on Tuesdays. On Wednesday he was in favor of annexing Newfoundland, Thursday he wanted to sink Venice, and Friday he wanted to blow up the pope.
- - - Tony Palmer (about Richard Wagner)
Wagner's music is better than it sounds.
- - - Edgar Wilson "Bill" Nye
Listening to the Fifth Symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for forty-five minutes.
- - - Aaron Copland
Insulting comments about famous politicians
History buffs probably noted the reunion at a Washington party a few weeks ago of three ex-presidents: Carter, Ford, and Nixon -- See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Evil.
- - - Robert J. Dole, speech, 1983
George Bush
A pin-stripin' polo-playin' umbrella-totin' Ivy-leaguer, born with a silver spoon so far in his mouth that you couldn't get it out with a crowbar.
- - - Bill Baxley (about George Bush)
He can't help it - he was born with a silver foot in his mouth.
- - - Ann Richards (about George Bush)
He' a Boy Scout with a hormone imbalance.
- - - Kevin Phillips (about George Bush)
If ignorance ever goes to $40 a barrel, I want drilling rights on George Bush's head.
- - - Jim Hightower, 1988
GeorgeW. Bush
George W. Bush is like a bad comic working the crowd. A moron, if you'll pardon the expression.
- - - Martin Sheen
He is your typical smiling, brilliant, back-stabbing, bullshitting southern nut-cutter.
- - - Lane Kirkland (about Jimmy Carter)
Winston Churchill
He has devoted the best years of his life to preparing his impromptu speeches.
- - - F. E. Smith (about Winston Churchill)
He is a man suffering from petrified adolescence.
- - - Aneurin Bevan (about Winston Churchill)
He would kill his own mother just so that he could use her skin to make a drum to beat his own praises.
- - - Margot Asquith (about Winston Churchill)
I thought he was a young man of promise; but it appears he was a young man of promises.
- - - Arthur Balfour (about Winston Churchill)
Winston has devoted the best years of his life to preparing his impromptu speeches.
- - - F. E. Smith (about Winston Churchill)
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton's foreign policy experience is pretty much confined to having had breakfast once at the International House of Pancakes.
- - - Pat Buchanan
I'm just sick and tired of presidents who jog. Remember, if Bill Clinton wins, we're going to have another four years of his white thighs flapping in the wind.
- - - Arianna Huffington, 1995
When I was president, I said I was a Ford, not a Lincoln. Well what we have now is a convertible Dodge.
- - - Gerald Ford (about Bill Clinton, 1996)
President Clinton apparently gets so much action that every couple of weeks they have to spray WD-40 on his zipper.
- - - David Letterman, 1998
Clinton is a man who thinks international affairs means dating a girl from out of town.
- - - Tom Clancy, 1998
When he does smile, he looks as if he's just evicted a widow.
- - - Mike Royko (about Bob Dole, 1988)
Gerald Ford
Hark, when Gerald Ford was king--
We were bored with everything.
Unemployment 6 percent,
So he pardoned Richard Nixon.
- - - Bill Strauss and Eliana Newport, 1982
He is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time.
- - - Lyndon Baines Johnson (about Gerald Ford)
He's a nice guy, but he played too much football with his helmet off.
- - - Lyndon Baines Johnson (about Gerald Ford)
Lyndon Baines Johnson
He turned out to be so many different characters he could have populated all of War and Peace and still had a few people left over.
- - - Herbert Mitgang (about Lyndon Baines Johnson, 1980)
Richard Nixon
Avoid all needle drugs - the only dope worth shooting is Richard Nixon.
- - - Abbie Hoffman (1971)
He bleeds people. He draws every drop of blood and then drops them from a cliff. He'll blame any person he can put his foot on.
- - - Martha Mitchell (about Richard M. Nixon, 1973)
He inherited some good instincts from his Quaker forebears, but by diligent hard work, he overcame them.
- - - James Reston (about Richard Nixon)
He is a shifty-eyed goddamn liar....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.
- - - Harry S Truman (about Richard M. Nixon, 1978)
He was like a kamikaze pilot who keeps apologizing for the attack.
- - - Mary McGrory (about Richard M. Nixon, 1962)
Here is a guy who's had a stake driven through his heart. I mean, really nailed to the bottom of the coffin with a wooden stake, and a silver bullet through the forehead for good measure -- and yet he keeps coming back.
- - - Ted Koppel (about Richard M. Nixon, 1984)
I may not know much, but I know chicken shit from chicken salad.
- - - Lyndon B. Johnson (about a speech by Richard M. Nixon)
I worship the quicksand he walks in.
- - - Art Buchwald (about Richard Nixon)
Nixon's motto was: If two wrongs don't make a right, try three.
- - - Norman Cousins (about Richard M. Nixon)
Sir Richard-the-Chicken-Hearted.
- - - Hubert H. Humphrey (about Richard M. Nixon)
Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle is more stupid than Ronald Reagan put together.
- - - Matt Groening, 1993
If life were fair, Dan Quayle would be making a living asking, "Do you want fries with that?"
- - - John Cleese
A triumph of the embalmer's art.
- - - Gore Vidal (about Ronald Reagan)
Compared to the Clintons, Reagan is living proof that a Republican with half a brain is better than a Democrat with two.
- - - P.J. O'Rourke,1997
He doesn't die his hair - he's just prematurely orange.
- - - Gerald Ford (about Ronald Reagan)
He doesn't die his hair, he bleaches his face.
- - - Johnny Carson (about Ronald Reagan)
He has a chance to make somebody move over on Mount Rushmore. He's working for his place on the coins and the postage stamps.
- - - Henry Graff (about Ronald Reagan, 1985)
I believe that Ronald Reagan will someday make this country what it once was... an arctic wilderness.
- - - Steve Martin
I think Nancy does most of his talking; you'll notice that she never drinks water when Ronnie speaks.
- - - Robin Williams (about Ronald Reagan)
In the heat of a political lifetime, he innocently squirrels away tidbits of misinformation and then, sometimes years later, casually drops them into his public discourse, like gum balls in a quiche.
- - - Lucy Howard (about Ronald Reagan 1985)
People say satire is dead. It's not dead; it's alive and living in the White House. He makes a Macy's Thanksgiving Day float look ridiculous. I think he's slowly but surely regressing into movies again. In his mind he's looking at dailies, playing dailies over and over.
- - - Robin Williams (about Ronald Reagan, 1988)
The youthful sparkle in his eyes is caused by his contact lenses, which he keeps highly polished.
- - - Sheila Graham (about Ronald Reagan)
Washington could not tell a lie; Nixon could not tell the truth; Reagan cannot tell the difference.
- - - Mort Sahl
Other Politicians
It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.
- - - Thomas Paine (about John Adams)
A nonentity with side whiskers.
- - - Woodrow Wilson (about Chester A. Arthur)
One could not even dignify him with the name of stuffed shirt. He was simply a hole on the air.
- - - George Orwell (about Stanley Baldwin)
He has the lucidity which is the byproduct of a fundamentally sterile mind.
- - - Aneurin Bevan (about Neville Chamberlain)
Dangerous as an enemy, untrustworthy as a friend, but fatal as a colleague.
- - - Sir Hercules Robinson (about Joseph Chamberlain)
He looks as though he's been weaned on a pickle.
- - - Alice Roosevelt Longworth (about Calvin Coolidge)
How can they tell?
- - - Dorothy Parker (hearing of Calvin Coolidge's death)
He's the only man able to walk under a bed without hitting his head.
- - - Walter Winchell (about Thomas E. Dewey)
You really have to get to know him to dislike him.
- - - James T. Patterson (about Thomas E. Dewey)
He is just about the nastiest little man I've ever known. He struts sitting down.
- - - Lillian Dykstra (about Thomas E. Dewey)
Like the little man on top of the wedding cake.
- - - Source questionable, either: Walter Winchell, Ethel Barrymore, or Grace Hodgson Flandrau (about Thomas E. Dewey, 1944)
The Wizard of Ooze.
- - - John F. Kennedy (about Everett Dirksen)
Why, this fellow don't know any more about politics than a pig knows about Sunday.
- - - Harry S Truman (about Dwight D. Eisenhower)
Oh, if I could piss the way he speaks!
- - - Georges Clemenceau (about David Lloyd George)
It was hard to listen to Goldwater and realize that a man could be half Jewish and yet sometimes appear twice as dense as the normal Gentile.
- - - I. F. Stone (about Barry Goldwater, 1968)
His speeches left the impression of an army of pompous phrases moving over the landscape in search of an idea.
- - - William McAdoo (about Warren Harding)
His writing is rumble and bumble, flap and doodle, balder and dash.
- - - H. L. Mencken (about Warren Harding)
He wouldn't commit himself to the time of day from a hatful of watches.
- - - Westbrook Pegler (about Herbert Hoover)
Such a little man could not have made so big a depression.
- - - Norman Thomas (about Herbert Hoover)
The hustler from Chicago.
- - - George Bush (about Jesse Jackson, 1988)
We know that he has, more than any other man, the gift of compressing the largest amount of words into the smallest amount of thought.
- - - Winston Churchill (about Ramsay MacDonald)
He has no more backbone than a chocolate eclair.
- - - Louise Lamprey (about President McKinley, 1897)
The right honorable and learned gentleman has twice crossed the floor of this House, each time leaving behind a trail of slime.
- - - David Lloyd George (about Sir John Simon)
Canada has at last produced a political leader worthy of assassination.
- - - Irving Layton (about Pierre Trudeau)
To err is Truman.
- - - A popular joke in 1946
Insults about famous writers
He is all ice and wooden faced acrobatics.
- - - Percy Wyndham Lewis (about Wystan Hugh Auden)
His verse . . . is the beads without the string.
- - - Gerard Manley Hopkins (about Robert Browning)
He is mad, bad and dangerous to know.
- - - Lady Caroline Lamb (about Lord Byron)
The world is rid of him, but the deadly slime of his touch remains.
- - - John Constable (about the death of Lord Byron)
A great zircon in the diadem of American literature.
- - - Gore Vidal (about Truman Capote)
He's a full-fledged housewife from Kansas with all the prejudices.
- - - Gore Vidal (about Truman Capote)
Truman Capote's death was a good career move.
- - - Gore Vidal
A huge pendulum attached to a small clock.
- - - Ivan Panin (about Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
His imagination resembles the wings of an ostrich.
- - - Thomas Babington Macaulay (about John Dryden)
T. S. Eliot and I like to play, but I like to play euchre, while he likes to play Eucharist.
- - - Robert Frost (about T. S. Eliot)
Even those who call Mr. Faulkner our greatest literary sadist do not fully appreciate him, for it is not merely his characters who have to run the gauntlet but also his readers.
- - - Clifton Fadiman (about William Faulkner)
He uses a lot of big words, and his sentences are from here to the airport.
- - - Carolyn Chute (about William Faulkner)
He was a great friend of mine. Well, as much as you could be a friend of his, unless you were a fourteen-year-old nymphet.
- - - Truman Capote (about William Faulkner)
Fitzgerald never got rid of anything; the ghosts of his adolescence, the failures of his youth, the doubts of his maturity plagued him to the end. He was supremely a part of the world he described, so much a part that he made himself its king and then, when he saw it begin to crumble, he crumbled with it and led it to death.
- - - John Aldridge (about F. Scott Fitzgerald)
An animated adenoid.
- - - Norman Douglas (about Ford Maddox Ford)
A nice, acrid, savage, pathetic old chap.
- - - I. A. Richards (about Robert Frost)
Gibbon is an ugly, affected, disgusting fellow and poisons our literary club for me. I class him among infidel wasps and venomous insects.
- - - James Boswell (about Edward Gibbon)
He walked as if he had fouled his small clothes and looks as if he smelt it.
- - - Christopher Smart (about Thomas Gray)
Always willing to lend a helping hand to the one above him.
- - - F. Scott Fitzgerald (about Ernest Hemingway)
The stupid person's idea of the clever person.
- - - Elizabeth Bowen (about Aldous Huxley)
He had a mind so fine that no idea could violate it.
- - - T. S. Eliot (about Henry James)
A little emasculated mass of inanity.
- - - Theodore Roosevelt (about Henry James)
I am reading Henry James...and feel myself as one entombed in a block of smooth amber.
- - - Virginia Woolf (about Henry James)
He spares no resource in telling of his dead inventions... Bare verbs he rarely tolerates. He splits infinitives and fills them up with adverbial stuffing. He presses the passing colloquialism into his service. His vast paragraphs sweat and struggle; they could not sweat and elbow and struggle more if God Himself was the processional meaning to which they sought to come.
- - - H. G. Wells (about Henry James)
Reading him is like wading through glue.
- - - Alfred, Lord Tennyson (about Ben Johnson)
There is no arguing with Johnson; for when his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.
- - - Oliver Goldsmith (about Samuel Johnson)
Nothing but old fags and cabbage-stumps of quotations from the Bible and the rest, stewed in the juice of deliberate, journalistic dirty-mindedness.
- - - D. H. Lawrence (about James Joyce, 1928)
That's not writing, that's typing.
- - - Truman Capote (about Jack Kerouac's style)
Mr. Lawrence looked like a plaster gnome on a stone toadstool in some suburban garden . . . he looked as if he had just returned from spending an uncomfortable night in a very dark cave.
- - - Dame Edith Sitwell (about D. H. Lawrence)
There are two ways of disliking poetry; one way is to dislike it, the other is to read Pope.
- - - Oscar Wilde (about Alexander Pope)
Some call Pope little nightingale - all sound and no sense.
- - - Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (about Alexander Pope)
He was humane but not human.
- - - e e Cummings (about Ezra Pound)
To me Pound remains the exquisite showman without the show.
- - - Ben Hecht (about Ezra Pound)
He is able to turn an unplotted, unworkable manuscript into an unplotted and unworkable manuscript with a lot of sex.
- - - Tom Volpe (about Harold Robbins)
The cruelest thing that has happened to Lincoln since he was shot by Booth was to fall into the hands of Carl Sandburg.
- - - Edmund Wilson
A freakish homunculus germinated outside lawful procreation.
- - - Henry Arthur Jones (about George Bernard Shaw)
He writes his plays for the ages--the ages between five and twelve.
- - - George Nathan (about George Bernard Shaw)
Sitting in a sewer and adding to it.
- - - Thomas Carlyle (about Algernon Charles Swinburne)
A dirty man with opium-glazed eyes and rat-taily hair.
- - - Lady Frederick Cavendish (about Alfred, Lord Tennyson)
A tall, thin, spectacled man with the face of a harassed rat.
- - - Russell Maloney (about James Thurber)
That insolent little ruffian, that crapulous lout. When he quitted a sofa, he left behind him a smear.
- - - Norman Cameron (about Dylan Thomas)
A large shaggy dog unchained scouring the beaches of the world and baying at the moon.
- - - Robert Louis Stevenson (about Walt Whitman)
Oscar Wilde's talent seems to me to be essentially rootless, something growing in glass on a little water.
- - - George Moore (about Oscar Wilde)
Dank, limber verses, stuft with lakeside sedges
And propt with rotten stakes from rotten hedges.
- - - Walter Savage Landor (about William Wordsworth)
Insulting comments about miscellaneous men
He couldn't Master Mind an electric bulb into a socket.
- - - Fanny Brice (about her husband Nick Arnstein)
A fat little flabby person, with the face of a baker, the clothes of a cobbler, the size of a barrel maker, the manners of a stocking salesman, and the dress of an innkeeper.
- - - Victor de Balabin (about Honor� de Balzac)
A monstrous orchid.
| Muhammad Ali |
What is the title of the 1978 sequel to the 1970 film ‘Love Story’, starring Ryan O’Neal’? | Talk:Muhammad Ali - Wikiquote
Talk:Muhammad Ali
6 article inconsistency
Import from Wikipedia[ edit ]
I recently removed the following list of quotes from the Wikipedia article on Muhammad Ali; I'll leave it to other editors to determine what is appropriate to add or how to add, since I am not that familiar with Wikiquote. 65.185.187.7 21:07, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
"The hands can't hit what the eyes can't see. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! [shouts] Rumble, young man, rumble!"
"I'm king of the world! I'm pretty! I'm a bad man! I shook up the world!"
"I'm so pretty"
"Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up."
"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was. "
"I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."
"Superman don't need no seat belt."
"Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life."
"No Vietcong ever called me nigger ."
"I'm so fast that i turned the light switch off in my room and was in bed before it was dark."
"I'm so mean I make medicine sick."
Vandalism[ edit ]
im so fast I can run through a hurrican without getting wet
Someone want in and put 'he has parkinsons' on the quotes article, this page was messed up like one of Ali's (LEGEND) opponents faces after a fight with him lol anyway its fixed how-- 194.72.105.222 13:13, 19 December 2006 (UTC) This message was Left by McNoddy.(don,t Know why it wouldn't let me sign?) do you need to create a new account if your going to contribute to wikiquote?
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These should be provided with sources before being moved back into the article.
A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he'll never crow. I have seen the light and I'm crowing.
Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.
All I want now is to be a nice, clean gentleman. I've proved my point. Now I'm going to set an example for all the nice boys and girls. I'm through talking.
Be loud, be pretty and keep their black-hatin' asses in their chairs.
Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up.
Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it, and I didn't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name — it means beloved of God — and I insist people use it when speaking to me and of me.
Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.
Don't count the days, make the days count.
Eat your words! Eat your words! I am the greatest.
Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set except me. There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see, rumble young man, rumble!
Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
God gave me this illness to remind me that I'm not number One; He is.
source: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2672185 under 'classic ali jabs', in full form
Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong.
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
He will be mine, in round nine, and I ain't lyin'.
He must fall in eight, to prove that I am great.
He wanted to go to heaven, so I took him in seven.
If he'd be in a word of fix, I cut it to six.
If he keeps talkin' jive, he will fall in five.
If he makes me sore, I'll get him in round four, like before, with Archie moore, on the floor.
If that don't do, we'll get him in two.
If he runs, we can get him in one.
If he don't wanna fight, he should keep his ugly self at home that night.
Before his fight against the aging champion Archie Moore .
Hell no, I aint gonna go. On the war in vietnam I sing this song, I aint got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. Clean out my cell, and take my tail to jail without bail, cause better to be in jail fed, than in vietnam dead.
Ali on the war in Vietnam, which he refused.
Last night I had a dream.
When I got to Africa I had one helluva rumble.
I had to beat Tarzan's behind first, for claiming to be the king of the jungle.
For this fight I wrestled with alligators.
I tussled with a whale.
I've done handcuff lightining and put thunder in jail.
You know I'm bad I had murdered a rock.
I injured a stone.
And I hospitalised a brick.
I'm so bad I make medicine sick.
I'm so fast man I can run through a hurricane and don't get wet.
When George Foreman meets me, he'll pay his bets.
I can drunk a drink of water and kill a dead tree, wait 'till you see Muhammad Ali.
On his pre-fight in Zaire to George Foreman.
Henry Cooper is nothing to me, if that bum goes over the fifth round I won't return to the United States for 30 days, and that's final.
Then he may be great but he will leave in eight.
If he wanna go to heaven, I'll get'em in seven.
He'll be worth of a fix, if a I cut him to six.
If he keeps talking jive he'll go in five.
If he keeps talking about me I'll get him in three.
If that don't do he'll fall in two.
If you run, you'll go in one.
And if you don't wanna fight, is better keep home that night.
Pre-fight with Sonny Liston
You tell to your camera, your TV-man, your radio-man and you right there and the whole world. If Sonny Liston whups me I'll kiss his feet in the ring I'll crawl out of the ring on my knees, I'll tell'em he is the greatest and get the first jet to get out of the country.
Prediction on is first bout against Sonny Liston
Why doesn't he retire? He's too old
on Archie Moore
If you like to lose your money be a fool and bet on Sonny.
I am America. I am the part you won't recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky — my name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me.
I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own.
I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.
I am tired of talking.
I believe in the religion of Islam. I believe in Allah and peace.
I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know I'm right.
I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."
I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.
I say it again, and I said it before. Archie Moore will fall in round four.
Before his fight against Archie Moore .
I say get an education. Become an electrician, a mechanic, a doctor, a lawyer — anything but a fighter. In this trade, it's the managers that make the money and last the longest.
I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.
If Doug Jones upset me, I will retire.
Prior to his 1963 match with Doug Jones.
If I had lower IQ, I could enjoy your interview.
In an exchange with CBS broadcaster Howard Cosell
I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on.
Prior to a boxing match with Floyd Patterson
I'm a Muslim. I've been a Muslim for 20 years. . . . You know me. I'm a boxer. I've been called the greatest. People recognize me for being a boxer and a man of truth. I wouldn't be here representing Islam if it were terrorist. . . . I think all people should know the truth, come to recognize the truth. Islam is peace.
I'm gonna put him flat on his back,
so he will start acting black.
Cause when he was the champion, he didn't do as he should,
he tries to force himself into an all-white neighbour hood.
About Floyd Patterson
I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.
I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.
I'm the best. I just haven't played yet.
When asked about his Golf game
I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived 'cause there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them.
If my fans think I can do everything I say I can do, then they're crazier than I am.
If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.
If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.
It's gonna be a a killa, a chilla, and a thrilla when I get that gorilla in Manila .
It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.
It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself.
It's not bragging if you can back it up.
Actually the statement " It ain't bragging if you can back it" up was first used by Dizzy Dean in 1934 based on the number of games he would win.
Joe comes out smokin', and I gonna be jokin'. I be packin' and pokin', pouring water on his smokin'. This might shock and amaze ya, but I will destroy Joe Frazier. Some people say you better watch Joe Frazier, he is always strong I said tell them to try BAN ROLL-ON(That's a deoderant you know)
About Joe Frazier before their first fight (March 1971)
Life is a gamble. You can get hurt. But people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents. People die everyday. Same with fighters, some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just dont let yourself believe it will happen to you.
My face is so pretty, you don't see a scar, which proves I'm the king of the ring by far.
Ali about himself.
My toughest fight was with my first wife.
Old age is just a record of one's whole life.
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
People don't realize what they had till it's gone. Like President Kennedy — nobody like him. Like The Beatles, there will never be anything like them. Like my man, Elvis Presley — I was the Elvis of boxing.
People say, I miss my prediction, cause the fight went ten rounds. First I said Jones in four, then I said Jones in six. Six & four is what???.
Response to a reporter who asked him about the Jones fight and his prediction.
Pleasure is not happiness. It has no more importance than a shadow following a man.
Prejudice comes from being in the dark; sunlight disinfects it.
Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams — they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do — they all contain truths.
Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Variant: The service you do for others is the rent you pay for the time you spend on earth.
Silence is golden when you can't think of a good answer.
Sonny's trainer told him at the beginning of the seventh round, he says: "Sonny, son get up the bell is about to ring. Sonny says: My mother didn't raise no fool I'm gonna stay on this stool.
About his first defeat of Sonny Liston .
Related quote: Liston says: This time am I a bigger fool? I flat on my back, instead of the stool.
After knocking Liston out in the first round of their rematch (25 May 1965).
Superman don't need no seat belt.
Comment to a flight attendant, who replied: "Superman don't need no airplane, either."
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
The man who has no imagination has no wings.
This time Norton will see.
Im truly the most,
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Who wrote the children’s story ‘James and the Giant Peach’? | James and the Giant Peach - Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
James and the Giant Peach
Published in 1961
Background
Background
James Henry Trotter lives with his two horrid aunts, Spiker and Sponge. He hasn't got a single friend in the whole wide world. That is not, until he meets the Old Green Grasshopper and the rest of the insects aboard a giant, magical peach!
James and the Giant Peach was Roald Dahl's first classic novel for children. Although The Gremlins is sometimes referred to as an earlier example of his writing for children, James was Roald's first conscious attempt to write for a younger audience after several years of writing primarily adult short stories. Roald started writing it in 1959 after encouragement from his agent, Sheila St Lawrence.
In the orchard at Roald's home in the Buckinghamshire countryside, there was a cherry tree. Seeing this tree made him wonder: what if, one day, one of those cherries just kept on and on growing bigger and bigger? From giant cherries Roald also considered ever-increasing pears and even apples, but eventually settled on a giant peach as the method for James's magical journey. The book is dedicated to his two eldest daughters, Olivia and Tessa. It was first published in 1961 to glowing reviews and marked the beginning of his prolific career as a children's author.
James and the Giant Peach is still a favourite more than 50 years later. In 1996, an animated film version featuring the voices of Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes, Pete Postlethwaite and Susan Sarandon was released, while David Wood's theatrical adaptation remains popular, playing across the UK.
Find out more about the period in Roald Dahl's life during which he wrote James and the Giant Peach
| Roald Dahl |
Soft, Rigid Gas Permeable and Plano are all types of what? | Roald Dahl Wanted His Magical 'Matilda' To Keep Books Alive : NPR
Roald Dahl Wanted His Magical 'Matilda' To Keep Books Alive
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Roald Dahl Wanted His Magical 'Matilda' To Keep Books Alive
Roald Dahl Wanted His Magical 'Matilda' To Keep Books Alive
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Author Roald Dahl stands with his wife, American actress Patricia Neal, and their newborn daughter, Lucy, outside their home in Buckinghamshire, England, in August 1965. Roald Dahl died in 1990. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
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Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Author Roald Dahl stands with his wife, American actress Patricia Neal, and their newborn daughter, Lucy, outside their home in Buckinghamshire, England, in August 1965. Roald Dahl died in 1990.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Every night, author Roald Dahl told his children a story: "Most of them [were] pretty bad," he admitted in a 1972 BBC4 interview, "but now and again you'd tell one and you see a little spark of interest. And if they ever said the next night, 'Tell us some more about that one,' you knew you had something. This went on for quite a long time with a story about a peach that got bigger and bigger and I thought, 'Well heck, why don't I write it.' "
That bedtime story became Dahl's first children's book, James and the Giant Peach.
Lucy Dahl — the youngest of Dahl's five children with his first wife, American actress Patricia Neal — remembers hearing those stories before she fell asleep. She joins Michele Norris to talk about Matilda, this month's pick for NPR's Backseat Book Club . It's the story of a lonely girl with special powers and neglectful parents. Matilda finds her courage facing off with a bully of a headmistress, named Miss Trunchbull.
The magical narrative of Dahl's books makes the writing look easy, but there was a lot of toil behind that playful language. Lucy remembers a letter her father wrote to her in December 1986, two years before Matilda was published:
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"The reason I haven't written you for a long time is that I have been giving every moment to getting a new children's book finished. And now at last I have finished it, and I know jolly well that I am going to have to spend the next three months rewriting the second half. The first half is great, about a small girl who can move things with her eyes and about a terrible headmistress who lifts small children up by their hair and hangs them out of upstairs windows by one ear. But I've got now to think of a really decent second half. The present one will all be scrapped. Three months work gone out the window, but that's the way it is. I must have rewritten Charlie [and the Chocolate Factory] five or six times all through and no one knows it."
Interview Highlights
On writing Matilda
Matilda was one of the most difficult books for him to write. I think that there was a deep genuine fear within his heart that books were going to go away and he wanted to write about it.
On how he loved writing, but he also approached it as a job
My father was really very much a single dad. My mother was in America working throughout most of our childhood. He wrote for the money — he didn't hide that. He also wrote screenplays and he hated writing screenplays, but he did it because the money was good. He wrote Chitty [Chitty] Bang Bang. He adapted Ian Fleming's [James Bond] novel ... You Only Live Twice.
On his work ethic
I remember waking up in the night and going to the bathroom and seeing the glow of the light in the little [writing] hut while it was still dark outside. I don't know what time it was but that was during the days when he was adapting screenplays and the deadlines would kill him. He didn't like working on deadlines. But he did it because he had to.
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre
On the "hut" in the garden where he did his writing
His hut was a sacred place. ... We were all allowed to go in there, but we only disturbed him when we absolutely needed to because he used to say that his hut was his nest. You would walk in and the smells were so familiar — that very old paper from filing cabinets. And he sat in his mother's old armchair and then put his feet up on an old leather trunk, and then on top of that he would get into an old down sleeping bag that he would put his legs into to keep him warm.
He then had a board that he made that he would rest on the arms of the armchair as a desk table and on top of that he had cut some billiard felt that was glued on top of it, and it was slightly carved out for where his tummy was. When he sat down ... the first thing he did was get a brush and brush the felt on his lap desk so it was all clean. He always had six pencils with an electric sharpener that he would sharpen at the beginning of each session. His work sessions were very strict — he worked from 10 until 12 every day and then again from 3 until 5 every day. And that was it. Even if there was nothing to write he would still, as he would say, "put his bottom on the chair."
Next up for the Backseat Book Club: In November, we'll read Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea about a very special fifth-grade teacher and the lives he changed.
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The Battle of Caporetto was fought during which war? | World War I - Battle of Caporetto on the Italian Front
World War I
World War I: Battle of Caporetto
German troops at the Battle of Caporetto. Photograph Source: Public Domain
Battle of Caporetto - Conflict & Dates:
The Battle of Caporetto was fought October 24-November 19, 1917, during World War I (1914-1918).
Armies & Commanders
25 divisions, 2,200 guns
Battle of Caporetto - Background:
With the conclusion of the Eleventh Battle of Isonzo in September 1917, Austro-Hungarian forces were nearing the point of collapse in the area around Gorizia. Faced with this crisis, Emperor Charles I sought aid from his German allies. Though the Germans felt that the war would be won on the Western Front, they agreed to provide troops and support for a limited offensive designed to throw the Italians back across the Isonzo River and, if possible, past the Tagliamento River. For this purpose, the composite Austro-German Fourteenth Army was formed under the command of General Otto von Below.
Battle of Caporetto - Preparations:
In September, the Italian commander-in-chief, General Luigi Cadorna, became aware that an enemy offensive was in the offing. As a result, he ordered the commanders of the Second and Third Armies, Generals Luigi Capello and Emmanuel Philibert, to begin preparing defenses in depth to meet any attack. Having issued these orders, Cadorna failed to see that they were obeyed and instead began an inspection tour of other fronts which lasted until October 19. On the Second Army front, Capello did little as he preferred to plan for an offensive in the Tolmino area.
Further weakening Cadorna's situation was an insistence on keeping the bulk of the two armies' troops on the east bank of the Isonzo despite the fact that the enemy still held crossings to the north. As a result, these troops were in prime position to be cut off by an Austro-German attack down the Isonzo Valley. In addition, the Italian reserves on the west bank were placed too far to the rear to rapidly aid the front lines. For the upcoming offensive, Below intended to launch the main assault with the Fourteenth Army from a salient near Tolmino.
This was to be supported by secondary attacks to the north and south, as well as by an offensive near the coast by General Svetozar Boroevic's Second Army. The assault was to be preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment as well as the use of poison gas and smoke. Also, Below intended to employ a substantial number of storm troopers which were to use infiltration tactics to pierce the Italian lines. With planning complete, Below began shifting his troops into place. This done, the offensive commenced with the opening bombardment which began before dawn on October 24.
Battle of Caporetto - The Italians Routed:
Caught by complete surprise, Capello's men suffered badly from the shelling and gas attacks. Advancing between Tolmino and Plezzo, Below's troops were able to quickly shatter the Italian lines and began driving west. Bypassing Italian strong points, the Fourteenth Army advanced over 15 miles by nightfall. Surrounded and isolated, the Italian posts in its rear were reduced in the coming days. Elsewhere, the Italian lines held and were able to turn back Below's secondary attacks, while the Third Army held Boroevic in check ( Map ).
Despite these minor successes, Below's advance threatened the flanks of the Italian troops to the north and south. Alerted to the enemy breakthrough, Italian morale elsewhere on the front began to plummet. Though Capello recommended a withdrawal to the Tagliamento on the 24th, Cadorna refused and worked to rescue the situation. It was not until a few days later, with Italian troops in full retreat that Cadorna was forced to accept that a movement to the Tagliamento was inevitable. At this point, vital time had been lost and Austro-Germans forces were in close pursuit.
On October 30, Cadorna ordered his men to cross the river and establish a new defensive line. This effort took four days and was quickly thwarted when German troops established a bridgehead over the river on November 2. By this point, the stunning success of Below's offensive began to hinder operations as the Austro-German supply lines were unable to keep up with the speed of the advance. With the enemy slowing, Cadorna ordered a further retreat to the Piave River on November 4.
Though large numbers of Italian troops had been captured in the fighting, the bulk of his troops from the Isonzo region were able to form a strong line behind the river by November 10. A deep, wide river, the Piave finally brought the Austro-German advance to an end. Lacking the supplies or equipment for an attack across the river, they elected to dig in.
Battle of Caporetto - Aftermath:
The fighting at the Battle of Caporetto cost the Italians around 10,000 killed, 20,000 wounded, and 275,000 captured. Austro-German casualties numbered around 20,000. One of the few clear victories of World War I, Caporetto saw the Austro-German forces advance around 80 miles and reach a position from which they could strike at Venice. In the wake of the defeat, Cadorna was removed as chief of staff and replaced with General Armando Diaz. With their ally's forces badly wounded, the British and French sent five and six divisions respectively to bolster the Piave River line. Austro-German attempts to cross the Piave that fall were turned back as were attacks against Monte Grappa. Though a massive defeat, Caporetto rallied the Italian nation behind the war effort. Within a few months the losses of material had been replaced and the army quickly recovered its strength through the winter of 1917/1918.
Selected Sources
| World War I |
What is the name of the official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York? | World War I
Battles & Wars: 1900s
World War I
From the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the final collapse of the German Empire, World War I consumed the globe and produced enormous casualties. These resources will aid in better understanding the conflict.
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‘The Postage Stamp’ is a hole on which Scottish golf course? | 8th Hole : Old Course : Royal Troon Golf Club
PAR 3
Hole Overview
Originally called "Ailsa" because there is a perfect view of the rocky islet of that name, from the tee. The smallness of the putting surface accounted for the current name when William Park writing in "Golf Illustrated" said, " A pitching surface skimmed down to the size of a Postage Stamp".
Much has been written about the famous eighth hole at Royal Troon, aptly named the "Postage Stamp". The tee is on high ground and a dropping shot is played over a gully to a long but extremely narrow green set into the side of a large sandhill. Two bunkers protect the left side of the green while a large crater bunker shields the approach. Any mistake on the right will find one of the two deep bunkers with near vertical faces. There is no safe way to play this hole, the ball must find the green with the tee-shot. Many top players have come to grief at this the shortest hole in Open Championship golf.
Hole Stats
| Royal Troon Golf Club |
Zermatt and Verbier are ski resorts in which European country? | Little poison - Scotland and Ireland boast many of the best par-3 holes in golf
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No. 4 at Royal County Down plays over a sea of gorse to a small green and stunning mountain backdrop. (Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com)
From No. 11 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to the "Postage Stamp" at Royal Troon, from Old Tom Morris' "Dell" hole at Lahinch to No. 4 at Royal County Down, Scotland and Ireland boast many of golf's most influential par 3s.
Good things come in small packages at Scotland and Ireland's most legendary par 3s.
Some of these famous - and infamous shorties have been immortalized by the triumph or follies of famous British Open competitors. Others have earned their reputation as original and influential holes to be duplicated in the coming century all over the world.
Related Articles
Your guide to Scotland golf vacation packages
And the greatest thing today about these world-renowned holes is that unlike the private clubs of America, each golf course offers at least limited public play - helping to keep the legends alive and well.
From the quirky "Dell" at Lahinch to the famous "Postage Stamp" at Royal Troon, Scotland and Ireland have countless storied and influential par 3s. Here's a look at some of the most iconic.
Legendary Par 3s of Scotland and Ireland
No. 14 at Royal Portrush , N. Ireland - "Calamity" is a slicer's worst nightmare , playing more than 210 yards over a steep slope of tall grasses - far more intimidating than any pond or gorse. Try as you might, a nervous swing is going to find trouble way down there more often than not.
"A lot of members will hit it down there," said Head Professional Gary McNeil. "They'll be able to see the ball and still won't go down and get it."
No. 11 at the Old Course at St. Andrews - The last of only two par-3s on the Old Course, the "High" hole is where legendary Bobby Jones admits he experienced perhaps his lowest point in golf at the 1921 Open Championship, taking four shots to get out of the vicious "Hill" bunker before picking his ball up and quitting the Open. Two other potential round-ending bunkers, "Strath" and "Cockie" are worth avoiding as well.
No. 8 at Royal Troon , Scotland - The legendary "Postage Stamp" is among the most replicated par 3s on the planet, which earned its name when Willie Park described its green as, "a pitching surface skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp." Its championship yardage is only 123 yards but is one of the most feared par 3s in the Open rota.
No. 4 at Royal County Down , N. Ireland - One of golf course architect H.S. Colt's finest additions to R.C.D. during his 1920s redesigns, the fourth plays gently downhill over a sea of gorse to a small, crowned green with the Slieve Donard Hotel spire and Mountains of Mourn as an ominous backdrop. The safest spot to miss is in front - an area you can't really see due to the overflowing gorse.
No. 5 at Lahinch, Ireland - Nicknamed "Dell," this may be Old Tom Morris' ultimate signature hole, playing to a slanted hourglass green narrowly tucked within a collection of dunes. Only the smallest edge of the green on the right side is visible - with only a white aiming stone serving as your line. Experienced players will try and play long off the back slope and let the ball kick down towards the green. Local caddies at Lahinch have a reputation for sending one up to forecaddie, then put one ball in the hole to please their touring group - and hopefully get a larger gratuity - a practice the club says stopped years ago.
No.16 at Carnoustie - The 2007 Open venue, this long par-3 16th hole that can often play into the wind is one of five demonizing holes that make up Carnoustie's brutal finishing stretch. Sergio Garcia bemoaned his "bad luck" after his tee shot struck the flagstick in his playoff with eventual winner Padraig Harrington.
No. 15 at North Berwick - The "Redan" hole at North Berwick, built in 1869, created an entirely new genre of a golf hole. It's a par-3 that slopes away from the tee, front-to-back and right-to-left with a bunker guarding the green on either side, with the green blind from the tee. Today, most modern golf architects have their own interpretations of a "Redan" hole somewhere in their body of work.
No. 6 at Ailsa Course, Turnberry - "Tappie Torrie" is the Ailsa's longest par-3 at 231 yards and requires almost all carry uphill. The hole is the first of a series of Turnberry's finest that plays right along the coastline and straight towards the lighthouse. Women actually tee up from behind the championship tees and play this brute as a par 4.
No. 6 at Royal Dornoch , Scotland - "Whinny Brae" isn't long, just 161 yards, but its crowned green built into the side of a gorse-filled slope is surrounded with bunkers, miss your shot to any side and you're faced with a treacherous pitch back up. The slightly elevated tee allows just enough visibility to show you all the trouble and thoroughly intimidate you.
More photos
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In King Arthur’s ‘Camelot’, what is Excalibur? | A Discussion of the Origins of King Arthur's Sword
By David Nash Ford
EXCALIBUR
The Tradition: The Name "Excalibur" was first used for King Arthur 's sword by the French Romancers. It was not the famous "Sword in the Stone" (which broke in battle), but a second sword acquired by the King through the intercession of his druidic advisor, Merddyn ( Merlin ). Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the King to a magical lake where a mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it.
Towards the end of his reign, during the troubled times of Medrod's rebellion, Excalibur was stolen by Arthur's wicked half-sister, Morgan le Fay . Though it was recovered, the scabbard was lost forever. Thus Arthur was mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann. The King then instructed Bedwyr (or Girflet) to return Excalibur to the lake from whence it came. However, when questioned about the circumstances of its return, Bedwyr claimed to have seen nothing unusual. Arthur therefore knew that Bedwyr had kept Excalibur for himself and sent him back to the Lake once more. Hurling the sword into the misty waters this time, Bedwyr saw the mystic hand appear to catch Excalibur and draw it beneath the rippling waters for the last time.
The Name: The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur's sword as Caladfwlch, a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg meaning "Hard Lightning". Later it developed to become the Caliburn of Geoffrey and Monmouth and finally the Frenchified Excalibur that we know today.
Ancient Origins: Legendary figures throughout the World are associated with magical swords, often the symbol of their Kingship. It is interesting to note that Curtana, a 17th century successor of the original sword of Ogier the Dane, is still used at the British Coronation to this day. King Arthur's tale has particular similarities to the Norse Legend of Sigurd, but even closer parallels can be drawn with the Irish hero, Cú Chulainn who also bore a sword named Caladbolg. Such swords were usually said to have been forged by an elfan smith. In Saxon mythology his name is Wayland, but to the Celts he was Gofannon. He is also to be identified with the Roman Vulcan and Greek Hephaestus who made magical weapons for the Muses to give to Perseus, and for Thetis to give to Achilles. The later surrender of the sword is well known as a universal symbol of defeat. Here it is emblematic of death itself.
The deposition of swords, weaponry and other valuables in sacred lakes and rivers was a popular practice amongst the Celtic peoples. Strabo records such rituals near Toulouse and notes that other sacred lakes existed throughout Europe. Gregory of Tours alludes to a three-day festival of deposition at Lake Gévaudan in the Cevennes. Some scholars believe that such rituals were part of Celtic funerary rites. Archaeolgical finds of exotic metalwork deposits at Llyn Fawr in Morgannwg include axes and sickles of around 600 bc. Further weaponry was discovered Llyn Cerrig Bach on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) dating from the 2nd century bc to the 1st century AD. Celtic Iron-Age deposits in rivers are too numerous to count. Especially well known are the superb Battersea Shield and Waterloo Helmet from the Thames. This major British River appears to have been particularly popular for swords like Arthur's.
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What does a philographist collect? | Excalibur - Arthur & Uryens - YouTube
Excalibur - Arthur & Uryens
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Published on Jan 29, 2010
King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early sixth century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum, and the writings of Gildas. Arthur's name also occurs in early poetic sources such as Y Gododdin.
The legendary Arthur developed as a figure of international interest largely through the popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth's fanciful and imaginative 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain). Some Welsh and Breton tales and poems relating the story of Arthur date from earlier than this work; in these works, Arthur appears either as a great warrior defending Britain from human and supernatural enemies or as a magical figure of folklore, sometimes associated with the Welsh Otherworld, Annwn. How much of Geoffrey's Historia (completed in 1138) was adapted from such earlier sources, rather than invented by Geoffrey himself, is unknown.
Although the themes, events and characters of the Arthurian legend varied widely from text to text, and there is no one canonical version, Geoffrey's version of events often served as the starting point for later stories. Geoffrey depicted Arthur as a king of Britain who defeated the Saxons and established an empire over Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and Gaul. Many elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story appear in Geoffrey's Historia, including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, Arthur's wife Guinevere, the sword Excalibur, Arthur's birth at Tintagel, his final battle against Mordred at Camlann and final rest in Avalon. The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes, who added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature. In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table. Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend lives on, not only in literature but also in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone (the proof of Arthur's lineage) are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was associated with the Arthurian legend very early. In Welsh, the sword is called Caledfwlch.
In Arthurian romance, a number of explanations are given for Arthur's possession of Excalibur. In Robert de Boron's Merlin, Arthur obtained the throne by pulling a sword from a stone. In this account, the act could not be performed except by "the true king," meaning the divinely appointed king or true heir of Uther Pendragon. This sword is thought by many to be the famous Excalibur, and its identity is made explicit in the later so-called Vulgate Merlin Continuation, part of the Lancelot-Grail cycle.[7] However, in what is sometimes called the Post-Vulgate Merlin, Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake sometime after he began to reign. She calls the sword "Excalibur, that is as to say as Cut-steel." In the Vulgate Mort Artu, Arthur orders Girflet to throw the sword into the enchanted lake. After two failed attempts he finally complies with the wounded king's request and a hand emerges from the lake to catch it, a tale which becomes attached to Bedivere instead in Malory and the English tradition.
Malory records both versions of the legend in his Le Morte d'Arthur, and confusingly calls both swords Excalibur. The film Excalibur attempts to rectify this by having only one sword, which Arthur draws from the stone and later breaks; the Lady of the Lake then repairs it.
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What is the name of Britain’s highest chalk sea cliff? | Aerial view highest chalk sea cliffs in Britain - Beachy Head Eastbourne - YouTube
Aerial view highest chalk sea cliffs in Britain - Beachy Head Eastbourne
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Published on Apr 25, 2016
Check out this amazing view of the cliffs of Beachy Head, shot by a DJI Phantom 3 Drone.
Beachy Head is a chalk headland in East Sussex, England. It is situated close to Eastbourne, immediately east of the Seven Sisters.The cliff is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 metres (531 ft) above sea level.
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Which British actor played the role of Leon Trotsky in the 1972 film ‘The Assassination of Trotsky’? | Beachy Head Eastbourne England UK - YouTube
Beachy Head Eastbourne England UK
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Published on Apr 4, 2013
Beachy Head Eastbourne England UK.
I'd never heard of Beachy Head until Mario and Vivian, our hosts a Coast B&B in Eastbourne, said we should go have a look. I'm very glad they did, Beachy Head is certainly worth seeing. The white cliffs of Beachy Head are located near Eastbourne in East Sussex, on the South Coast of England. Beachy Head is part of the Eastbourne Borough and the Eastbourne Borough Council owns the land around Beachy Head. Eastbourne purchased the 4000 acres around Beachy Head in 1929 to prevent any development. It is though to have cost Eastbourne 100 000 pounds to purchase Beachy Head and the surrounding land. The name Beach Head apparently has nothing to do with the beach at Beachy Head but is thought to be the evolution of the French term Beauchef meaning Beautiful Headland now Beachy Head. At 530 ft above sea level, the white cliffs of Beachy Head are the highest Chalk sea cliffs in the UK. The height of these beautiful chalk cliffs also gives Beachy Head another unfortunate distinction, that of a popular suicide spot. The white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head are very shear vertical cliffs as the sea is continuously eroding the chalk cliffs at lower levels causing the upper levels of the chalk cliffs to collapse.
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Pumba is what type of animal in the film ‘The Lion King’? | Pumbaa | The Lion King Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
Timon and Pumbaa argue
“
Timon: Forget it, Pumbaa. I've been dragging you down long enough. I'm goin' home...and I suggest you do the same.
Pumbaa: Oh, I—I would if I could, but I can't.
Timon: Oh, sure you can, buddy. I won't stop you.
Pumbaa: No, I mean...I don't have a home.
Timon: You don't? What happened? Are you lost? No place good enough for ya? What, you're all alone in this big empty world? Oh...truth is...I'm all alone, too. Pumbaa, you're the only friend I've ever had.
—Pumbaa
”
The film begins with Timon and Pumbaa in a movie theater, watching the original film. Both of them appreciate the majesty that is " Circle of Life ", but Timon isn't willing to let the movie run its course. He fast-forwards the movie to when they first appear. Timon and Pumbaa argue for a moment, Pumbaa not wanting the audience to become confused and Timon complaining that they aren't in the first half. Finally, they agree to show the viewers about their backstories.
Timon "hires" Pumbaa
Pumbaa makes his first appearance a few days after Timon sets out to go to the big pointy rock at the indirect suggestion of Rafiki. While the meerkat walks through some high grass, he hears something groaning and stalking him. Thinking it's a predator, he flees, but it is merely Pumbaa, who seeks companionship. Timon is briefly against taking another animal with him, but he gives Pumbaa a once-over, taking in his sharp hooves and curved tusks, pleased by the fact that most animals will give him a pretty wide berth.
Pumbaa isn't talking about these "weapons" but his flatulence problem. Despite this, Timon "hires" Pumbaa to take him to the big pointy rock. The warthog suggest they are friends, but Timon clarifies that they are only acquaintances for now.
Pumbaa watches the pyramid of animals
They head toward Pride Rock with high hopes, hopes that are squashed when they see a crowd gathered around it. Timon opts to "look beyond what he sees" (advice that Rafiki gave him before), thinking that his dream home will be in Pride Rock, but he is disappointed when he sees how many animals are there. Pumbaa offers to look behind the Pride Rock, and Timon accepts this idea as his, much to Pumbaa's shock.
As the two try to cross through the crowd, Pumbaa, nervous from the various looks of the crowd, tries to get out of the crowd but accidentally farts when Timon pulls his tail, causing the animals around him to pass out from the smell. The other animals ahead believe that they are bowing, leading everyone to bow before Simba. Pumbaa thinks that his gas will be a problem to Timon, but the meerkat is very happy to have someone with powerful gas as a weapon.
Timon calls Pumbaa to live with him near a small water spring and cave. There, Pumbaa makes a large nest for himself and a little nest for Timon. Timon casually takes Pumbaa's bed. However, the tolerant warthog peacefully goes to sleep in a small bed. He wishes Timon a good night, and the two fall asleep. The duo live there from the time Simba is an infant until the time he is a mischievous and boisterous cub. It's Simba's antics that drive them away. The stack of animals organized during
"Shall we run for our lives?"
" I Just Can't Wait to be King " is aggravated and unbalanced by Timon. The animals fall over, Pumbaa pulling Timon out of harms way as the tower falls. The two continue to search for their dream home. Along the way, Pumbaa tells Timon a story about a beautiful jungle that he once saw which could be exactly what Timon is looking for, but Timon says that such a place is just a fantasy and that he would continue to look for "beyond what he sees." Pumbaa reminds him that he will never know when he finds what he's looking for, but Timon still does not listen.
The Elephant Graveyard is one of their choices for a home. Timon remarks that it has "good bones," but Pumbaa is apprehensive about its atmosphere. Eventually, the sight of various predators (Mufasa rushing to save the cubs and Scar singing " Be Prepared ") drives the two to press on.
Pumbaa offers Timon a platter of bugs
The last place they look is the gorge , where Pumbaa again is not thinking that it makes an appropriate home. Timon persists, saying that what it lacks in water and shade, it makes up for in searing heat and blinding sunshine. Mid-conversation, the ground begins to rumble, and a herd of stampeding wildebeests appear from around the corner. The two animals watch the oncoming herd before Pumbaa asks, "Shall we run for are lives?" The two then try to outrun the stampede, only to get caught up in it and vaulted into a stream leading to a gigantic waterfall. Timon inquires Pumbaa if it's possible to fall of the edge of the earth, and the warthog answers no. It is at this moment that the current carries them over the edge, and they plummet toward the bottom. Suddenly, in the theater, Pumbaa stops the movie and brings in big bags of bugs, like popcorn, but he sees that Timon is picking his nose and has left saliva on the chair. They continue watching the film as Timon and Pumbaa in the film fall into the river.
Come nightfall, the river brings them to a beach. Pumbaa helps Timon out of the river, but then sees that Timon is holding a flower on his stomach, like he is dying. Timon is finally broken and gives up his quest, but Pumbaa says that he cannot give up until they find their dream home. Timon decides to return home and suggests Pumbaa do the same, but the warthog sadly says that he can't because he has not home. Timon asks,
Pumbaa saves Simba
"What's the matter? Are you lost? No place good enough for ya?" Pumbaa shakes his head. Timon asks if he is "alone in this big empty world," to which Pumbaa just positively turns to face Timon with huge dewy eyes. Timon then says that he is all alone, too and that they two are friends now, much to Pumbaa's joy. The two gaze at each other, sniffling. Timon's reflection appears in Pumbaa's eyes as the music swells. Suddenly, the movie pauses and switches back to the theater seats, where Timon is hunched over and sobbing. Pumbaa asks Timon if he is crying and gives him a hanky, in which Timon blows his nose. He tries to hand the hanky back, but Pumbaa is disgusted sarcastically says thanks. The movie continues, and Timon and Pumbaa from the film fall asleep.
It is at this moment that Pumbaa notices the jungle . The two friends indulge in their new home, enjoying the fun and the food until they stumble across Simba's body whilst playing "bowling for buzzards."
Timon and Pumbaa reunite to help Simba and Nala
Both friends become adopted parents to Simba, Pumbaa doing a much more effective job at raising the exiled prince. They teach and raise him with the philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" until Nala arrives and wins Simba's heart despite Timon and Pumbaa's efforts to stop her. After all their plans end in pain, they give up. Simba and Nala soon argue and break up, however, and Timon is elated by this, though Pumbaa doesn't see them separating as a good thing.
When awakened by Nala the next morning, Timon and Pumbaa are told that Simba needs their help in order to defeat Scar. Thinking that Simba has run out on him, Timon decides to stay behind, which causes him to break his friendship with Pumbaa, who wants to help. Pumbaa goes alone, leaving Timon behind until Timon finds him in a desert, and he restores his friendship with Pumbaa. After the two beat off the hungry hyenas at Pride Rock,
Pumbaa with Ma, Timon, and Uncle Max after the battle
Pumbaa meets Ma and Uncle Max and devises a plan to keep the hyenas away from Simba. After mocking the hyenas, Timon and Pumbaa try several tactics to keep the hyenas busy so Ma and Uncle Max can finish their tunnel.
Eventually, they defeat the hyenas, thus helping Simba to reclaim his rightful place as king. After the movie ends, Pumbaa wants to see the movie again, but Timon refuses until several Disney characters come along to see the movie. Timon then surrenders, but Pumbaa warns Timon that he still doesn't do so well in crowds.
Wild About Safety
Pumbaa and Timon star in a series of educational shorts, following several guidelines to a safety and healthy life. Much like the television series, Pumbaa acts as the secret brain of the duo, often providing far more information that Timon does. At the end of every episode, Pumbaa suggests (or sometimes beg) that the duo perform a musical
Pumbaa in "Wild About Safety"
number, reflecting all that they've learned in the adventure. Unlike previous appearances, Pumbaa notices Timon's selfishness, laziness, and insults a lot more often and is shown to be easily annoyed by it, though Timon would make up a way to forgive and forget. Pumbaa also takes a more serious tone in the shorts as apposed to other roles. However, he manages to maintain his childlike persona in some episodes most notably in the health episode and at the end when he insists on a musical number.
Pumbaa, along with Timon, make a brief, non-speaking cameo in the animated mini-series, It's a Small World: The Animated Series, in the episode One Golden Sun.
Disney Parks
Pumbaa in the park
Pumbaa is a semi-common character in the Disney parks. He is usually seen only in parades and some shows, but almost never appears as a walk-around character, with the exception of Disney On Ice and the Disney Cruise Line show Disney Dreams!. Pumbaa was also one of the characters that had a lot named for him at the Disneyland parking lot until the remains of the Lion King section of the lot were closed for Disney California Adventure expansion space. Both Pumbaa and Timon are mascots for the Animal Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. They are also characters for Park Safety. Pumbaa has his own spell card in the attraction Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom known as "Pumbaa's Ordures Gas".
In the Festival of The Lion King Pumbaa appears along with Simba and Timon . Unlike Timon, Pumbaa stays on his float like Simba. During the musical number "Hakuna Matata" both Pumbaa and Timon sing.
It's a Small World
Pumbaa makes a cameo appearance in the attraction It's a Small World along with Simba and Timon.
Fantasmic!
In the live nighttime spectacular Fantasmic!, a clip of Pumbaa appears in the bubble montage along with Simba, Nala , Timon and Zazu .
He's also appeared in Fantasmic! at Tokyo Disney Sea in the jungle scene with Simba, Baloo, and King Louie.
Environmental Fable
Pumbaa in a Disney park
At Epcot, Pumbaa and Timon are planning to build a resort that will involve the destruction of the jungle in which they inhabitant. Luckily, Simba enlightens Pumbaa and Timon on how dangerous it is to destroy the environment and how important it is to take care of it.
Wishes
On the Disney Fantasy cruise ship, Pumbaa and Timon appear as the first Disney characters the three high school graduates; Brandon and Nicole and their best bud, Kayla, meet whilst on their journey. The duo also perform "Hakuna Matata".
Voice Actors
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In September 1951, which three countries signed a mutual defence pact, known as the ANZUS Treaty? | Pumbaa | The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa Wiki
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Pumbaa is a red warthog who is best friends with Timon and Simba . He is a supporting character in The Lion King and The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and the deuteragonist of The Lion King 1½.
Contents
Pumbaa is a red warthog with black hair running down his back and large tusks.
Personality
Edit
Pumbaa is a very likable character as he's truly loyal to Simba and very protective of Timon. He loves to consume grubs, and longs for friends who won't abandon him. In The Lion King 1½, it is revealed he feels awkward when in crowds, which creates a problem he has with his stomach that causes him to flatuate. However, he displays child-like naivety which is sometimes is confused for stupidity, but actually, he comes up with some intelligent plans and insightful ideas, which Timon rapidly claims as his own.
Pumbaa is also kind and caring, as shown in The Lion King where he, unlike Timon, takes sympathy for Simba and is quick to offer assistance to the young cub and in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride when he jumps into a puddle of water to save a supposedly drowning Kiara.
In addition, Pumbaa appears to be polite to those who are friendly, as shown when he greets Nala right after Simba introduces him to her, despite the fact that Nala had tried to eat him a few minutes earlier.
Information
Edit
Pumbaa is a warthog that grew up very lonely. He was always neglected because of his smell and gas problem. Later on in life, he found a meerkat named Timon . They quickly became best friends. For a long time, the friends searched for a home, upon finding a beautiful haven, to which they decided to settle down. Eventually they adopt young Simba after he runs away, and raise him. Pumbaa is very caring and is the protector of Timon .
After the success of The Lion King, Timon and Pumbaa were given their own spin-off TV series , which ran for 86 episodes between September 1995 to November 1998, and occasionally had cameos of other Lion King characters.
The Lion King
Edit
Pumbaa stands over Simba's fallen body.
Pumbaa makes his first appearance moments after Mufasa's death as young Simba has made his way into the searing desert. After scaring off some buzzards, Pumbaa leaves Timon to brush himself off and examines the "corpse" of the lion cub, finding out he is in fact still alive. Timon investigates and flies into a fit of fear when he realizes it's a lion, and even though he is a potential predator, they should keep him and raise him on their side. Timon scoffs at this idea, but in the end Pumbaa gets his way and he gathers Simba from the sands via his tusks and the duo make their way back to the Oasis.
Timon reminds Pumbaa to be mindful of the kids.
When Simba awakens and explains his predicament, Pumbaa is sympathetic and suggest the cub sweep his problems under the rug, or Hakuna Matata , and take one day at a time. Timon and Pumbaa lead Simba into their home, get him used to a diet of insects, and proceed to raise the lion to adulthood according to their philosophy. One night the trio lays out in a clearing and gazes up at the stars, giving their own views of their origin when Pumbaa asks what they are. They coax one out of Simba, but laugh at him, something that drives him away.
A Time later, Timon and Pumbaa stroll through the jungle sing The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the warthog slipping away as a bright blue bug—a dung beetle—catches his eye.
Pumbaa, Timon and Simba view the stars.
He stalks it in preparation to eat it, but ends up getting chased himself by a lioness hiding in the grasses. Pumbaa's rather speedy escape is halted when he gets stuck under the roots of a tree, but Simba leaps to his rescue. He loses the fight, but reveals the lioness as Nala, his childhood friend and introduces her to his two new friends. Pumba, seeming to forget she was trying to eat him, is pleased to make her acquaintance, but Timon is not so forgiving. Simba tells him to relax, but Nala interjects before it can go any further.
Pumbaa and Timon spy on Simba and Nala.
The two talk about Kings and successions, and in this conversation, Pumba learns Simba is the Pride Land King. He grovels at Simba paws, but Timon laughingly tells him to stop, remarking Simba is not the king, then asking Simba if he really is.
Simba denies this, much to Nala's disappointment, and the two lions request Timon and Pumbaa excuse them for a moment. They do but reluctantly, and presumably at Timon's suggestion, they continue to spy on the two lions from inside the Oasis' dense vegetation. Pumbaa and Timon mourn the loss of their friend to this lioness and after watching the two fight when their attempts to break the couple up are failed (as revealed in 1 1/2) Timon and Pumbaa settle down for a nap. Nala disturbs their slumber looking for Simba, Rafiki appearing and telling the three "The King has returned".
Timon and Pumbaa brace for conflict.
Pumba's last appearances are just before, during, and after the battle at pride rock. Pumbaa and Timon vow to fight with Simba till the end, efficiently distracting and mowing down hyenas as Simba battles Scar. When Scar is defeated Pumbaa, Timon, and the rest of the pride look on as Simba takes his rightful place as King. Pumbaa's very last appearance is on the peak of Pride Rock alongside Simba and Nala, during the Presentation of Kiara.
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride
Edit
Timon and Pumbaa argue
The film begins with Timon and Pumbaa in a movie theater, silhouetted while watching the original Lion King film. Both of them appreciate the Majesty that is Circle of Life, but Timon isn't willing to let to movie run it's course. He fast-forwards the movie to when they first appear, Timon and Pumbaa argue for a moment -- Pumbaa not wanting thee audience to become confused, and Timon complaining they weren't IN the second half -- until they both agree to tell the viewers about their backstory.
Pumbaa's first appearance is a few days after Timon has set out to go to the big pointy rock by the indirect suggestion of Rafiki. While the meerkat walks through some high grass, he hears something groaning and stalking him; Thinking it a predator he flees but it is merely Pumbaa who seeks companionship. Timon is breifly against taking another with him, but he gives Pumbaa a once over, taking in his sharp hooves and curved tusk,
Timon "hires" Pumbaa
pleased by the fact most animals give him a pretty wide berth. Pumbaa isn't talking about these "weapons" but his flatulance problem. Despite all this, Timon "hires" Pumbaa to take him to the big pointy rock. The warthog suggest them traveling means their friends, but Timon clarifies they are only aquaintances for now.
They head towards Pride rock with high hopes; hopes that are squashed when they see a crowd has gathered around it. Timon opts to "look beyond what he sees" and finds another spot, Pumbaa pointing out if he kept looking beyond he'd never know if he was there, but Timon ignores his advice as he spots another potential dream home. As the two try and cross through the crowd, Pumbaa, nervous from the various looks of the crowd, accidentally farts, causing the animals around him to pass out from the smell. The other animals ahead believe they are bowing, leading to everone bowing at SImba's birth.
The two companions live in the near the small waterspring and cave from the time Simba is an infant til the time he is a mischevious and boisterous cub. It's Simba's antics that drive them away -- the stack of animals organized during I Just Can't Wait to be King is agrivated and unbalanced by Timon. The animals fall over, Pumbaa pulling Timon from his doom where they would've fell on him, and the two continue to search for their dream home.
The Elephant Graveyard is one of their choices - Timon remarks it has 'good bones' but Pumbaa is apprehensive about it's atmosphere. Eventually the sight of various (Mufasa rushes through to save his son and Nala/Scar singing 'be prepared with the hyenas) carnivores drives the two to continue onwards.
The Last place they look is The Gorge, Pumbaa again not thinking it an appropriate home, but Timon persisting what it lacked in water and shade it made up for in blinding sunshine.
"Shall we run for our lives?"
Mid-conversation the ground begins to rumble, a herd of stampeding wildebeest appearing from around one of the corners. The two animals watch the uncoming herd before trying to outrun it, only to get caught up in it and vaulted into a stream leading to a gigantic waterfall. Timon inquires Pumbaa if it's possible to fall of the edge of the earth, the warthog answering no. It is at this moment the current carries them over the edge and plummeting towards the bottom.
Finally broken, Timon opts to go home and suggest Pumbaa do the same. A chord is struck -- Pumbaa reveals he has no home to go back to and is all alone in this world. It is at this moment that Pumbaa notices the oasis. The two friends indulge in their new home, enjoying the fun and the food until they stumble across Simba 's broken body whilst playing "bowling for buzzards".
Both friends now become seregate parents to Simba, Pumbaa doing a much more effective job at raising the exiled prince. They teach and raise him by the philosophy as three bacheleors, until Nala arrives and wins over Simba's heart despite Timon and Pumbaa's efforts to stop her. After all their plans end in pain (moreso on Timon's behalf) they give up - Simba and Nala would argue and break up anyway. Timon is elated by this, but Pumbaa doesn't see them seperating as a good thing.
Timon and Pumbaa reunite to help Simba and Nala
When awakened by Nala the next morning, she tells the two that Simba needs their help in order to defeat Scar. Thinking Simba ran out on him, Timon decides to stay behind which causes him to break his friendship with Pumbaa who wants to help. Pumbaa goes alone leaving Timon behind until Timon finds him in a desert and he restores his friendship with Pumbaa. After the two beat off the hungry hyenas that they sang to, Pumbaa meets Ma and Uncle Max and devise a plan to keep the hyenas away from Simba. After mocking the hyenas, they try several tactics to keep the hyenas busy so Ma and Uncle Max can finish their tunnel.
After the Battle
Eventually, they defeat the hyenas thus helping Simba reclaim his rightful place as king. After the movie ends, Pumbaa wants to see the movie again, but Timon refuses until several Disney characters come along to see the movie. Timon later surrenders, but Pumbaa warns Timon that he still doesn't do so well in crowds.
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